Gabapentin attenuates cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction by inhibiting M1 macrophage polarization through the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ pathway.

OBJECTIVES: Inflammation regulates ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI), and gabapentin exerts anti-inflammatory effects. We investigated the anti-inflammatory role and mechanism of gabapentin after MI. METHODS: Rats were divided into the sham group (n = 12), MI group (n = 20), and MI + gabapentin group (n = 16). MI was induced by left coronary artery ligation. The effects of gabapentin on THP-1-derived macrophages were examined in vitro. RESULTS: In vivo, 1 week after MI, gabapentin significantly reduced inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS; M1 macrophage marker) expression and decreased pro-inflammatory factors (tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α and interleukin [IL]-1ß). Gabapentin upregulated the M2 macrophage marker arginase-1, as well as CD163 expression, and increased the expression of anti-inflammatory factors, including chitinase-like 3, IL-10, and transforming growth factor-ß. Four weeks after MI, cardiac function, infarct size, and cardiac fibrosis improved after gabapentin treatment. Gabapentin inhibited sympathetic nerve activity and decreased ventricular electrical instability in rats after MI. Tyrosine hydroxylase and growth-associated protein 43 were suppressed after gabapentin treatment. Gabapentin downregulated nerve growth factor (NGF) and reduced pro-inflammatory factors (iNOS, TNF-α, and IL-1ß). In vitro, gabapentin reduced NGF, iNOS, TNF-α, and IL-1ß expression in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages. Mechanistic studies revealed that the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ antagonist GW9662 attenuated the effects of gabapentin. Moreover, gabapentin reduced α2δ1 expression in the macrophage plasma membrane and reduced the calcium content of macrophages. CONCLUSION: Gabapentin attenuates cardiac remodeling by inhibiting inflammation via peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ activation and preventing calcium overload.

Prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in Northern China: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension has always been a worldwide health concern. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control rates of hypertension among adult residents of northern China, where people usually have a high-fat, high-salt diet and heavy alcohol consumption. METHODS: Through the Early Screening and Comprehensive Intervention Project for High Risk Groups of Cardiovascular Diseases in the Inner Mongolia of northern China, we collected data of 70,380 residents, from September 2015 to June 2017. We assessed the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in the total population and sub-populations. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify the factors associated with the prevalence and control of hypertension. RESULTS: Among participants, only 13.4% had optimal blood pressure levels. About 55.7% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 55.3-56.1%) of the participants had hypertension. In addition, the awareness, treatment, control and control under-treatment rate of hypertension were 52.8% (95%CI = 52.3-53.3%), 43.3% (95%CI = 42.8-43.8%), 8.6% (95%CI = 8.3-8.9%) and 19.8% (95%CI = 19.2-20.4%), respectively. Multivariable logistic regression showed that older, male, Han, living in rural areas, current drinker, not married, lower educational level, lower annual income, diabetes, obesity, and dyslipidemia were more likely to be suffered from hypertension (P < 0.05). Controlled hypertension was less common in those younger, Mongol, not married, farmer, current drinker, lower educational level, obesity, diabetes, without prior CHD, and without prior CVD (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Among populations aged 35-75 years in Northern China, more than half have hypertension, fewer than one-tenth have successfully controlled hypertension, and fewer than one-fifth of hypertension patients receiving treatment have controlled hypertension.

[Determination of prim-O-glucosylcimifugin and 5-O-methylvisammisoide in Saposhnikovia divaricata and HPLC fingerprint analysis].

OBJECTIVE: To develop HPLC methods for the determination of prim-O-glucosylcimifugin and 5-O-methylvisammisoide in Saposhnicovia divaricata and of HPLC fingerprint to compare the wild and culture varieties. METHOD: Conditions of determination: Shimadzu C18 column (4.6 mm x 150 mm, 5 microm), methanol-water (40:60) as mobile phase with the flow rate of 1 mL x min(-1). The detection wavelength was 254 nm. Conditions of HPLC fingerprint: MG II C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm), the mobile phase was acetonitrile-water with the flow rate of 1 mL x min(-1), using linear gradient elution, the column temperature was 30 degrees C. RESULT: The average recovery of prim-O-glucosylcimifugin was 99.6% (RSD 0.72%, n=6). The average recovery of 5-O-methylvisammisoide was 102.6% (RSD 0.88%, n=6). The contents of prim-o-glucosylcimifugin in wild and culture varieties were (4.96 +/- 2.59) and (3.61 +/- 1.82) mg x g(-1) respectively. The contents of 5-O-methylvisammisoide were (3.91 +/- 2.09) and (4.37 +/- 2.02) mg x g(-1) respectively. The compositions of S. divaricata were effective separated under the conditions of HPLC fingerprint. CONCLUSION: The HPLC determination method of prim-O-glucosylcimifugin and 5-O-methylvisammisoide is convenient and accurate. The HPLC fingerprint analysis method could be a basis for quality control and classification evaluate of S. divaricata.