Effects of dual inhibition of angiotensin Ⅱ receptor- neprilysin on oxidative stress and fibrosis in the genital tract of female spontaneous hypertensive rats

Objective: In this study, we investigated the effects of LCZ696 on oxidative stress infemale hypertensive genital tract. Methods: We used 16-week-old SPF-grade spontaneously hypertensive rats. They were randomly divided into LCZ696 group, valsartan group, diuretic group (chlorothiazone) and spontaneously hypertensive rat group (SHR group), and control group (WKY group) with 10 rats in each group. During the three-month period of administration, the drugs were given by gavage. After 12 weeks, all rats were operated on in aseptic operation, and their vaginal tissues were dissected for subsequent tests. The oxidative stress index (eNOS, nNOS protein expression) was measured by Western blot, and the degree of vaginal fibrosis was observed by HE staining. Results: (1). Changes of blood pressure in rats: Compared with the SHR group, the LCZ696, valsartan and chlorothiazone groups could significantly reduce blood pressure, including systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial blood pressure;and the decrease of systolic blood pressure in LCZ696 group was more significant than that in valsartan and chlorothiazone group;(2). Western blotting results: Compared with spontaneously hypertensive rats, the expression of eNOS, nNOS protein in LCZ696 group and valsartan group was significantly up-regulated (P < 0.05), but there was no statistical significance in chlorothiazone group;(3). HE staining results: The results of WKY group (control group) showed that the morphology of vaginal epithelium was basically normal, collagen fibers did not increase, and arranged neatly, no obvious pathological changes occurred. In SHR group, the thickness of vaginal epithelium was significantly increased, the keratinization was obvious, collagen fibers increased significantly, and arranged disorder, pathological changes were obvious. Both LCZ696 group and valsartan group were observed the reduce of vaginal epithelial hyperplasia, the increase of collagen fibers. Additionally, LCZ696 could significantly alleviate the increase of vaginal epithelium, collagen fiber and the degree of fibrosis, compared with valsartan group. However, the effect of chlorothiazone on the reduction of vaginal fibrosis is not obvious. Conclusion: The causes of gentital tract fibrosis in spontaneously hypertensive female rats are related to oxidative stress. LCZ696 can inhibit oxidative stress and inflammation to some extent, improve vascular endothelial injury of gentital tract, reduce the degree of fibrosis, and thus ameliorate gentital tract remodeling in spontaneously hypertensive female rats.

Effects of annealing on microstructure and mechanical properties of γ-TiAl alloy fabricated via laser melting deposition

The microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of the as-deposited γ-TiAl-based alloy specimen fabricated via laser melting deposition and as-annealed specimens at different temperatures were investigated.The results show that the microstructure of as-deposited specimen is composed of fineα2(Ti3Al)+γlamellae.With the increase of annealing temperature,the bulk γ m(TiAl)phase gradually changes from single γ phase toγphase+acicularα2 phase,finally small γ phase+lamellar α2+γ phase.Compared with the mechanical properties of as-depositedγ-TiAl alloy(tensile strength 469 MPa,elongation 1.1%),after annealing at 1260℃ for 30 min followed by furnace cooling(FC),the room-temperature tensile strength of the specimen is 543.4 MPa and the elongation is 3.7%,which are obviously improved.

Solid-phase synthesis of Cu2MoS4 nanoparticles for degradation of methyl blue under a halogen-tungsten lamp

The Cu_2MoS_4 nanoparticles were prepared using a relatively simple and convenient solid-phase process, which was applied for the first time. The crystalline structure, morphology, and optical properties of Cu_2MoS_4 nanoparticles were characterized using X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and UV-vis spectrophotometry. Cu_2MoS_4 nanoparticles having a band gap of 1.66 eV exhibits good photocatalytic activity in the degradation of methylene blue, which indicates that this simple process may be critical to facilitate the cheap production of photocatalysts.

Astragalus Membranaceus Improving Asymptomatic Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction in Postmenopausal Hypertensive Women with Metabolic Syndrome： A Prospective, Open-Labeled, Randomized Controlled Trial

Background： Postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome （MetS） have increased cardiovascular morbidity and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction （LVDD）. The various protective effects ofastragalus membranaceus （AM） have been described in previous studies. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of different doses of AM on diastolic function in postmenopausal hypertensive women with MetS. Methods： This was a prospective, randomized controlled study. The postmenopausal hypertensive patients with MetS were enrolled from Lanzhou University Second Hospital from March 2014 to April 2015. Patients were divided into three groups： control group （received conventional medical treatment）, AM Group 1 （received AM capsules at 5 g/d additionally）, and AM Group 2 （received AM capsules at 10 g/d additionally）. Echocardiographic and clinical characteristics were evaluated before and 12 months after treatment. Quantitative data were analyzed using unpaired t-test, analysis of variance, and multiple linear regression analysis. Results： A total of 154 patients were subjected to final analysis. In the AM Group 2, significant improvements were noted in diastolic function 12 months after treatment than those of the control group, including the early diastolic mitral annular velocity （E＇; 0.065±0.007 m/s vs. 0.061 ± 0.008 m/s, P = 0.014）, the ratio of the early diastolic mitral peak flow velocity to the late diastolic mitral peak flow velocity （E/A; 0.81± 0.05 vs. 0.80± 0.06, P = 0.012）, the ratio of E＇ to the late diastolic mitral annular velocity （EVA＇; 0.56 ± 0.12 vs. 0.51 ± 0.13, P 0.048）, and the ratio of the early diastolic mitral peak flow velocity （E） to E＇ （E/E＇; 10.70 ± 1.30 vs. 11.37 ± 1.73, P = 0.031）. After treatment, E/E＇ （ 10.70 ± 1.30 vs. 11.24± 1.56, P = 0.021 ）, deceleration time （DT; 261.49 ± 44.41 ms vs. 268.74 ±53.87 ms P = 0.046）, and EVA＇ （0.56 ± 0.12 vs. 0.52 ±0.13, P = 0.019） values improved more significantly than those of AM Group 2 before treatment. Besides, waist circumference was positively correlated with E＇ （r = 0.472, P = 0.003） and E＇/N （r = 0.321 ; P- 0.047）. In addition, the waist-to-hip ratio was a significant predictor ofDT （r = 0.276; P = 0.041）, E＇ （r= 0.590; P 〈 0.001 ）, E/E＇ （r = 0.454; P=0.004）, and EVA＇ （r= 0.377; P = 0.018）. Conclusions： Conventional medical plus AM therapy improved diastolic function. Moreover, WC and WH R might be risk ihctors tbr LVDD.

Preparation and optoelectronic properties of a-IGZO thin films deposited by RF magnetron sputtering at different working pressures

Transparent oxide semiconductor, a-IGZO, thin films were prepared by high-vacuum RF magnetron sputtering at different working pressures. The effect of working pressure on crystal structure, surface morphology, and electrical and optical properties of the films was studied. The highest ball mobility of 17.45 cmZ-V-l.s- 1 is obtained at 0.3 Pa with annealing at 200 ℃, while the highest carrier concentration of 2.32×10^20 cm^-3 and the lowest resistivity of 0.001568 Ω.cm are obtained at 0.45 Pa with annealing. The highest transmittance of 90.9 % is obtained at 0.9 Pa with annealing treatment. A ＂blue shift＂ of UV absorption edge is observed with the increase of working press ure.