[Effects of Nintedanib associated with Shenfu Injection on paraquat-induced lung injury in rats].

Objective: To study the effects of Nintedanib associated with Shenfu Injection on lung injury induced by paraquat (PQ) intoxication. Methods: In September 2021, a total of 90 SD rats were divided into 5 groups in random, namely control group, PQ poisoning group, Shenfu Injection group, Nintedanib group and associated group, 18 rats in each group. Normal saline was given by gavage route to rats of control group, 20% PQ (80 mg/kg) was administered by gavage route to rats of other four groups. 6 hours after PQ gavage, Shenfu Injection group (12 ml/kg Shenfu Injection), Nintedanib group (60 mg/kg Nintedanib) and associated group (12 ml/kg Shenfu Injection and 60 mg/kg Nintedanib) were administered with medicine once a day. The levels of serum transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-ß1), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß) were determined at 1, 3 and 7 d, respectively. The pathological changes of lung tissue, the ratio of wet weight and dry weight (W/D) of lung tissue, the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in lung tissue were observed and determined after 7 d. Western blot was used to analyse the expression levels of fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1), platelet derivation growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRα), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) in lung tissue after 7 d. Results: The levels of TGF-ß1, IL-1ß in all poisoning groups went up first and then went down. The levels of TGF-ß1, IL-1ß in associated group at 1, 3, 7 d were lower than that of PQ poisoning group, Shenfu Injection group and Nintedanib group at the same point (P<0.05). Pathological changes of lung tissue under the light microscopes showed that the degrees of hemorrhage, effusion and infiltration of inflammatory cells inside the alveolar space of Shenfu Injection group, Nintedanib group and associated group were milder than that of PQ poisoning group, and the midest in associated group. Compared with control group, the W/D of lung tissue was higher, the level of MDA in lung tissue was higher, while the level of SOD was lower, the expressions of FGFR1, PDGFRα and VEGFR2 in lung tissue were higher in PQ poisoning group (P<0.05). Compared with PQ poisoning group, Shenfu Injection group and Nintedanib group, the W/D of lung tissue was lower, the level of MDA in lung tissue was lower, while the level of SOD was higher, the expressions of FGFR1, PDGFRα and VEGFR2 in lung tissue were lower in associated group (P<0.05) . Conclusion: Nintedanib associated with Shenfu Injection can relieve lung injury of rats induced by PQ, which may be related to Nintedanib associated with Shenfu Injection can inhibit the activation of TGF-ß1 and the expressions of FGFR1, PDGFRα, VEGFR2 in lung tissue of rats.

Correlates and predictive models for blood pressure values in residents of two communities in Taiwan.

Factors predicting systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were extensively studied in residents aged 18 years and above from 10 villages in two Taiwanese communities. In women, the associated factors identified included age, body mass index, waist/hip ratio (not selected as a factor for DBP), plasma uric acid, plasma chloride, urinary sodium/creatinine ratio, urinary calcium/creatinine ratio, education level, ancestral origin, parental hypertension status, and marital status. In men, the factors were age, body mass index, plasma triglyceride concentration, urinary sodium/creatinine ratio, smoking status, alcohol drinking status, parental hypertension status (not selected for DBP), and marital status (not selected for DBP). The degree of BP variation which could be significantly explained by the measured factors differed between SBP and DBP, and differed between men and women: 18% in men and 39% in women for SBP variation; 15% in men and 27% in women for DBP variation. Factors other than those included in the models should be explored, particularly for men. This study identifies, for Chinese populations, predictive factors of BP well-known in Western societies (BMI, urinary sodium, plasma uric acid, alcohol consumption) and factors less emphasized in other studies (plasma triglyceride and marital status). A positive association between BP and urinary Na, a lack of association between BP and urinary K, and opposite findings in the relationship between BP and the education level for men (positive relation) and women (negative relation) are worth noting.