Retinal Neurovascular Impairment in Patients with Essential Hypertension: An Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Study.

Purpose: To investigate retinal neurovascular structural changes in patients with essential hypertension. Methods: This observational cross-sectional study consisted of 199 right eyes from 169 nondiabetic essential hypertensive patients, divided into groups as follows: group A, 113 patients with hypertensive retinopathy (HTNR); group B, 56 patients without HTNR; and a control group of 30 healthy subjects. Peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), radial peripapillary segmented (RPC), ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL), and superficial (SVP) and deep (DVP) vascular plexus density at the macula (6 × 6 mm2) were measured by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Results: DVP density was significantly reduced in groups A and B compared to the control group (group A DVP, P = 0.001; group B DVP P = 0.002). GC-IPL, RNFL thickness, and RPC and SVP density in group A were significantly decreased compared to the control group or group B (all P < 0.05). In hypertensive patients, GC-IPL and RNFL thickness were negatively correlated with severity of HTNR (GC-IPL, r = -0.331, P < 0.001; RNFL, r = -0.583, P < 0.001) and level of home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) (GC-IPL, r = -0.160, P = 0.050; RNFL, r = -0.282, P = 0.001) and were positively correlated with SVP (GC-IPL, r = 0.267, P = 0.002; RNFL, r = 0.361, P < 0.001) and RPC density (GC-IPL, r = 0.298, P < 0.001; RNFL, r = 0.663, P < 0.001). Among subjects with grade 2 or 3 retinopathy, the superior RNFL was significantly thinner in patients with high HBPM level than in those with normal HBPM level (grade 2, P = 0.016; grade 3, P = 0.006). Conclusions: Reduction of retinal vessel density and RNFL thickness is observed in patients with HTNR and is inversely associated with level of HBPM.

[Study on the content of curcumin by HPLC and the anti-tumor effect in vivo from different processed products of Curuma kwangsiensis].

OBJECTIVE: To determine curcumin content by HPLC and observe the antitumor effects in vivo from different processed products of Curuma kwangsiensis. METHODS: We determined the content of curcumin by HPLC from different processed products of Curuma kwangsiensis and studied the anti-tumor effects in vivo by establishing S180 transplanted tumors model in mice. RESULTS: The content of curcumin in different processed products of Curuma kwangsiensis as follows: primitive > vinegar-fried > vinegar-cooked. Different processed products had anti-tumor effects in the tumor-bearing mice. The vinegar-fried group and vinegar-cooked group showed obvious effect of inhibiting tumor growth than the primitive group. CONCLUSIONS: Different processed methods may have some affection to the quality of Curuma kwangsiensis.

[Effects of Calotes versicolor on adenohypophysis androgen receptor level in mature castrated male rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of C. versicolor petroleum ether extracts (CVPE) on the adenohypophysis androgen receptor level in mature castrated male rats. METHOD: All the rats in experiment were anesthetized for bilateral testicular and epididymis removal under sterile condition. The rats were randomized into four groups on the 14 th day after operation. The first group was intragastric physiological saline for castratered control group. The second group was intragastric CVPE 2 g x kg(-1) for low-dose group. The third group was high-dose group by giving CVPE 4 g x kg(-1). The fourth group was injected hypodermic testosterone propionate for positive-effect drug treatment group. The drug was given orally to animals one time a day successively for 21 days. The androgen receptor (AR) in adenohypophysis of mature castrated male rats was determined by the immunohistochemistry method and the level of serum testosterone (T) were determined by the radio-immunoassay after ig CVPE for 21 days. RESULT: The immunohistochemistry results showed that positive cell numbers of androgen receptor in positive control and each CVPE groups were more than those in the castrated control group. The serum T level was increased greatly in mature castrated male rats treated with CVPE compared with the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The results show that CVPE can increase the adenohypophysis androgen receptor and serum T level in mature castrated male rats. It is indicated that CVPE has the effects on the hypophysis function.

[Studies of Calotes versicolor on the sexual function amelioration mechanism by hypothalamus inhibition in immature male rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the amelioration mechanism of Calotes versicolor petroleum ether extracts (CVPEE) on hypothalamus inhibition sexual function induced by morphine in immature male rats. METHODS: The hypothalamus inhibition induced by morphine in immature male rats was used as model of the testis reproductive functional disturbance. The rats was given CVPEE for 21 days. The levels of testosterone (T) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in serum were determined by the radio-immunoassay. The nitrogen monoxide (NO) contents in serum and penis tissue were determined by nitrate reductase method. The sexual organ and auxiliary sexual organ coefficient were calculated and the histopathological changes in the testes and epididymides were observed with microscope. RESULTS: CVPEE groups (low and high dosage groups) significantly enhanced the level of serum T, compared with model group (P < 0.05); the low dosage group decreased obviously the level of FSH. CVPEE had the tendency to increase NO contents in serum and penile tissue. The microscopic examination results showed that the testis tissue in CVPEE group was damaged more gently than those in model group. CONCLUSION: CVPEE can enhance the level of serum T and NO contents in penile tissue, improve the sexual functional disturbance in hypothalamus inhibition induced by morphine in immature male rats. It indicated that CVPEE had the effects by the hypothalamus-hypophysis-gonad axial function.

[Effects of osthol on androgen level and nitric oxide synthase activity in castrate rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of osthol on androgen level and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in castrate rats. METHODS: Immature castrate male rats were treated with osthol daily for 20 d. The levels of testosterone(T), luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in serum and the activity of NOS, the nitric monoxide (NO) level in penis tissue were determined. RESULTS: T( P < 0.05), LH( P < 0.05) and FSH( P < 0.01) were significantly increased at the high dose of osthol treatment. The high and low dose of osthol treatment significantly enhanced the activity of NOS (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Osthol could increase androgen, gonadotropin and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity. It suggested that osthol had androgen-like effect and gonadotropin-like effect.