Causal associations between gastroesophageal reflux disease and essential hypertension: A bidirectional Mendelian randomization study

BACKGROUND Clinical studies have reported that patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD)have a higher prevalence of hypertension.AIM To performed a bidirectional Mendelian randomization(MR)analysis to investi-gate the causal link between GERD and essential hypertension.METHODS Eligible single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)were selected,and weighted median,inverse variance weighted(IVW)as well as MR egger(MR-Egger)re-gression were used to examine the potential causal association between GERD and hypertension.The MR-Pleiotropy RESidual Sum and Outlier analysis was used to detect and attempt to reduce horizontal pleiotropy by removing outliers SNPs.The MR-Egger intercept test,Cochran’s Q test and“leave-one-out”sen-sitivity analysis were performed to evaluate the horizontal pleiotropy,heterogen-eities,and stability of single instrumental variable.RESULTS IVW analysis exhibited an increased risk of hypertension(OR=1.46,95%CI:1.33-1.59,P=2.14E-16)in GERD patients.And the same result was obtained in replication practice(OR=1.002,95%CI:1.0008-1.003,P=0.000498).Meanwhile,the IVW analysis showed an increased risk of systolic blood pressure(β=0.78,95%CI:0.11-1.44,P=0.021)and hypertensive heart disease(OR=1.68,95%CI:1.36-2.08,P=0.0000016)in GERD patients.Moreover,we found an decreased risk of Barrett's esophagus(OR=0.91,95%CI:0.83-0.99,P=0.043)in essential hypertension patients.CONCLUSION We found that GERD would increase the risk of essential hypertension,which provided a novel prevent and therapeutic perspectives of essential hypertension.

Cognitive impairment in cerebral small vessel disease induced by hypertension

Hypertension is a primary risk factor for the progression of cognitive impairment caused by cerebral small vessel disease,the most common cerebrovascular disease.Howeve r,the causal relationship between hypertension and cerebral small vessel disease remains unclear.Hypertension has substantial negative impacts on brain health and is recognized as a risk factor for cerebrovascular disease.Chronic hypertension and lifestyle factors are associated with risks for stro ke and dementia,and cerebral small vessel disease can cause dementia and stroke.Hypertension is the main driver of cerebral small vessel disease,which changes the structure and function of cerebral vessels via various mechanisms and leads to lacunar infarction,leukoaraiosis,white matter lesions,and intracerebral hemorrhage,ultimately res ulting in cognitive decline and demonstrating that the brain is the to rget organ of hypertension.This review updates our understanding of the pathogenesis of hypertensioninduced cerebral small vessel disease and the res ulting changes in brain structure and function and declines in cognitive ability.We also discuss drugs to treat cerebral small vessel disease and cognitive impairment.

Efficacy of radiofrequency ablation combined with sorafenib for treating liver cancer complicated with portal hypertension and prognostic factors

BACKGROUND Patients with liver cancer complicated by portal hypertension present complex challenges in treatment.AIM To evaluate the efficacy of radiofrequency ablation in combination with sorafenib for improving liver function and its impact on the prognosis of patients with this condition.METHODS Data from 100 patients with liver cancer complicated with portal hypertension from May 2014 to March 2019 were analyzed and divided into a study group(n=50)and a control group(n=50)according to the treatment regimen.The research group received radiofrequency ablation(RFA)in combination with sorafenib,and the control group only received RFA.The short-term efficacy of both the research and control groups was observed.Liver function and portal hypertension were compared before and after treatment.Alpha-fetoprotein(AFP),glypican-3(GPC-3),and AFP-L3 levels were compared between the two groups prior to and after treatment.The occurrence of adverse reactions in both groups was observed.The 3-year survival rate was compared between the two groups.Basic data were compared between the survival and non-surviving groups.To identify the independent risk factors for poor prognosis in patients with liver cancer complicated by portal hypertension,multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed.RESULTS When comparing the two groups,the research group's total effective rate(82.00%)was significantly greater than that of the control group(56.00%;P<0.05).Following treatment,alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels increased,and portal vein pressure decreased in both groups.The degree of improvement for every index was substantially greater in the research group than in the control group(P<0.05).Following treatment,the AFP,GPC-3,and AFP-L3 levels in both groups decreased,with the research group having significantly lower levels than the control group(P<0.05).The incidence of diarrhea,rash,nausea and vomiting,and fatigue in the research group was significantly greater than that in the control group(P<0.05).The 1-,2-,and 3-year survival rates of the research group(94.00%,84.00%,and 72.00%,respectively)were significantly greater than those of the control group(80.00%,64.00%,and 40.00%,respectively;P<0.05).Significant differences were observed between the survival group and the non-surviving group in terms of Child-Pugh grade,history of hepatitis,number of tumors,tumor size,use of sorafenib,stage of liver cancer,histological differentiation,history of splenectomy and other basic data(P<0.05).Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that high Child-Pugh grade,tumor size(6–10 cm),history of hepatitis,no use of sorafenib,liver cancer stage IIIC,and previous splenectomy were independent risk factors for poor prognosis in patients with liver cancer complicated with portal hypertension(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Patients suffering from liver cancer complicated by portal hypertension benefit from the combination of RFA and sorafenib therapy because it effectively restores liver function and increases survival rates.The prognosis of patients suffering from liver cancer complicated by portal hypertension is strongly associated with factors such as high Child-Pugh grade,tumor size(6-10 cm),history of hepatitis,lack of sorafenib use,liver cancer at stage IIIC,and prior splenectomy.

Dry eye rate and its relationship with disease stage in patients with primary hypertension:a cross-sectional study in Vietnam

AIM:To determine the dry eye(DE)rate and its relationship with disease stage in patients with primary hypertension.METHODS:A cross-sectional study included 432 patients with primary hypertension(with an equal number of patients in each group:144 in stage Ⅰ,Ⅱ,and Ⅲ hypertension)and 144 healthy subjects as a control group.The Ocular Surface Disease Index(OSDI)and Schirmer Ⅰ test without anesthetics were conducted on all 576 subjects.Subjects with OSDI scores<13 and Schirmer Ⅰ values equal to or under 10 mm were diagnosed with DE.RESULTS:The ratio of DE in hypertension patients was higher than in the control group(41.7%versus 18.8%;P<0.001).The proportion of patients with DE increased gradually according to the hypertension stage:27.1% in stage Ⅰ,40.3% in stage Ⅱ,and 57.6% in stage Ⅲ,P<0.001.Age,duration of hypertension,plasma urea,creatinine,and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein(CRP-hs)levels in hypertension patients with DE were higher than those without DE,P<0.001.Advanced age,a long duration of hypertension,diabetes mellitus,elevated plasma creatinine,and CRP-hs levels were independent factors associated with DE in primary hypertension patients,P<0.001.CONCLUSION:DE is a common disorder associated with advanced age,a long duration of hypertension,diabetes mellitus,elevated plasma CRP-hs,and creatinine levels in patients with primary hypertension.

Recent advances in promising drugs for primary prevention of gastroesophageal variceal bleeding with cirrhotic portal hypertension

Background:Gastroesophageal variceal bleeding is one of the most severe complications of patients with cirrhosis.Although primary prevention drugs,including non-selectiveβ-blockers,have effectively reduced the incidence of bleeding,their efficacy is limited due to side effects and related contraindications.With recent advances in precision medicine,precise drug treatment provides better treatment efficacy.Data sources:Literature search was conducted in PubMed,MEDLINE and Web of Science for relevant articles published up to May 2022.Information on clinical trials was obtained from https://clinicaltrials.gov/and http://www.chictr.org.cn/.Results:The in-depth understanding of the pathogenesis and advances of portal hypertension has enabled the discovery of multiple molecular targets for promising drugs.According to the site of action,these drugs could be classified into four classes:intrahepatic,extrahepatic,both intrahepatic and extrahepatic targets and others.All these classes of drugs offer advantages over traditional treatments in prevention of gastroesophageal variceal bleeding in patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension.Conclusions:This review classified and summarized the promising drugs,which prevent gastroesophageal variceal bleeding by targeting specific markers of pathogenesis of portal hypertension,demonstrating the significance of using the precision medicine strategy to discover and develop promising drugs for the primary prevention of gastroesophageal variceal bleeding in patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension.

Bayesian network-based survival prediction model for patients having undergone post-transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt for portal hypertension

BACKGROUND Portal hypertension(PHT),primarily induced by cirrhosis,manifests severe symptoms impacting patient survival.Although transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS)is a critical intervention for managing PHT,it carries risks like hepatic encephalopathy,thus affecting patient survival prognosis.To our knowledge,existing prognostic models for post-TIPS survival in patients with PHT fail to account for the interplay among and collective impact of various prognostic factors on outcomes.Consequently,the development of an innovative modeling approach is essential to address this limitation.AIM To develop and validate a Bayesian network(BN)-based survival prediction model for patients with cirrhosis-induced PHT having undergone TIPS.METHODS The clinical data of 393 patients with cirrhosis-induced PHT who underwent TIPS surgery at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between January 2015 and May 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.Variables were selected using Cox and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression methods,and a BN-based model was established and evaluated to predict survival in patients having undergone TIPS surgery for PHT.RESULTS Variable selection revealed the following as key factors impacting survival:age,ascites,hypertension,indications for TIPS,postoperative portal vein pressure(post-PVP),aspartate aminotransferase,alkaline phosphatase,total bilirubin,prealbumin,the Child-Pugh grade,and the model for end-stage liver disease(MELD)score.Based on the above-mentioned variables,a BN-based 2-year survival prognostic prediction model was constructed,which identified the following factors to be directly linked to the survival time:age,ascites,indications for TIPS,concurrent hypertension,post-PVP,the Child-Pugh grade,and the MELD score.The Bayesian information criterion was 3589.04,and 10-fold cross-validation indicated an average log-likelihood loss of 5.55 with a standard deviation of 0.16.The model’s accuracy,precision,recall,and F1 score were 0.90,0.92,0.97,and 0.95 respectively,with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve being 0.72.CONCLUSION This study successfully developed a BN-based survival prediction model with good predictive capabilities.It offers valuable insights for treatment strategies and prognostic evaluations in patients having undergone TIPS surgery for PHT.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a bridging therapy for patients with thiamine deficiency-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension

Thiamine deficiency is characterized by a deficiency of thiamine(vitamin B1),lactic acidosis,pulmonary arterial hypertension(PAH),right-sided heart failure,and peripheral nerve damage.Thiamine deficiency is easily misdiagnosed and missed during clinical practice and is associated with death in severe cases.[1,2]Here we reported a patient who was admitted to the hospital with severe metabolic acidosis and pulmonary hypertension and finally diagnosed with thiamine deficiency by detecting plasma vitamin B1 levels.Since clinically obvious thiamine deficiency is rare,and cases of thiamine deficiency requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO)treatment are rarer,we believe that our case will be helpful for emergency clinicians.

Portal hypertension in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease:Current knowledge and challenges

Portal hypertension(PH)has traditionally been observed as a consequence of significant fibrosis and cirrhosis in advanced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD).However,recent studies have provided evidence that PH may develop in earlier stages of NAFLD,suggesting that there are additional pathogenetic mechanisms at work in addition to liver fibrosis.The early development of PH in NAFLD is associated with hepatocellular lipid accumulation and ballooning,leading to the compression of liver sinusoids.External compression and intraluminal obstacles cause mechanical forces such as strain,shear stress and elevated hydrostatic pressure that in turn activate mechanotransduction pathways,resulting in endothelial dysfunction and the development of fibrosis.The spatial distribution of histological and functional changes in the periportal and perisinusoidal areas of the liver lobule are considered responsible for the pre-sinusoidal component of PH in patients with NAFLD.Thus,current diagnostic methods such as hepatic venous pressure gradient(HVPG)measurement tend to underestimate portal pressure(PP)in NAFLD patients,who might decompensate below the HVPG threshold of 10 mmHg,which is traditionally considered the most relevant indicator of clinically significant portal hypertension(CSPH).This creates further challenges in finding a reliable diagnostic method to stratify the prognostic risk in this population of patients.In theory,the measurement of the portal pressure gradient guided by endoscopic ultrasound might overcome the limitations of HVPG measurement by avoiding the influence of the pre-sinusoidal component,but more investigations are needed to test its clinical utility for this indication.Liver and spleen stiffness measurement in combination with platelet count is currently the best-validated non-invasive approach for diagnosing CSPH and varices needing treatment.Lifestyle change remains the cornerstone of the treatment of PH in NAFLD,together with correcting the components of metabolic syndrome,using nonselective beta blockers,whereas emerging candidate drugs require more robust confirmation from clinical trials.

2023 Guideline for the management of hypertension in the elderly population in China

Preamble Hypertension is one of the most common chronic diseases and the primary risk factor for stroke,myocardial infarction and even cardiovascular death.More than half of the elderly population has high blood pressure.Elderly people are a unique group,and strategies for the prevention,diagnosis,evaluation,and treatment of hypertension in elderly individuals differ significantly from those in the general population.

Mufangji tang ameliorates pulmonary arterial hypertension through improving vascular remodeling,inhibiting inflammatory response and oxidative stress,and inducing apoptosis

Background:Mufangji tang(MFJT)is composed of Ramulus Cinnamomi,Radix Ginseng,Cocculus orbiculatus(Linn.)DC.,and Gypsum.In clinical settings,MFJT has been effectively employed in addressing a range of respiratory disorders,notably including pulmonary arterial hypertension(PAH).However,the mechanism of action of MFJT on PAH remains unknown.Methods:In this study,a monocrotaline-induced PAH rat model was established and treated with MFJT.The therapeutic effects of MFJT on PAH rat model were evaluated.Network pharmacology was conducted to screen the possible targets for MFJT on PAH,and the molecular docking between the main active components and the core targets was carried out.The key targets identified from network pharmacology were tested.Results:Results showed significant therapeutic effects of MFJT on PAH rat model.Analysis of network pharmacology revealed several potential targets related to apoptosis,inflammation,oxidative stress,and vascular remodeling.Molecular docking showed that the key components were well docked with the core targets.Further experimental validation results that MFJT treatment induced apoptosis(downregulated Bcl-2 levels and upregulated Bax levels in lung tissue),inhibited inflammatory response and oxdative stress(decreased the levels of IL-1β,TNF-α,inducible NOS,and malondialdehyde,and increased the levels of endothelial nitric oxide synthase,nitric oxide,glutathione and superoxide dismutase),reduced the proliferation of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells(downregulated ET-1 andβ-catenin levels and ERK1/2 phosphorylation,increased GSK3βlevels).Conclusion:Our study revealed MFJT treatment could alleviate PAH in rats via induction of apoptosis,inhibition of inflammation and oxidative stress,and the prevention of vascular remodeling.

Intracranial hypertension as the primary symptom of malignant melanoma:A case report

BACKGROUND The etiological diagnosis of intracranial hypertension is quite complicated but important in clinical practice.Some common causes are craniocerebral injury,intracranial space-occupying lesion,subarachnoid hemorrhage,and hydrocephalus.When a patient presents with intracranial hypertension,the common causes are to be considered first so that other causes would be dismissed.With the morbidity lower than 9%,neuromelanin is very rare.Common symp-toms include nerve damage symptoms,epilepsy,psychiatric symptoms,and cognitive disorders.CASE SUMMARY We present a patient with melanoma which manifested with isolated intracranial hypertension without any other neurological signs.A 22-year-old male had repeated nausea and vomiting for 2 mo with Babinski sign(+)on both sides,nuchal rigidity,and subarachnoid hemorrhage.He had been diagnosed with melanoma and was given surgery and whole-brain radiation.Ultimately,the patient died 2 mo later.CONCLUSION Malignant melanoma should be taken into consideration in the differential diagnosis of intracranial hypertension.

Effect of a comprehensive geriatric assessment nursing intervention model on older patients with diabetes and hypertension

BACKGROUND The Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment(CGA)was introduced late in China and is primarily used for investigating and evaluating health problems in older adults in outpatient and community settings.However,there are few reports on its application in hospitalized patients,especially older patients with diabetes and hypertension.AIM To explore the nursing effect of CGA in hospitalized older patients with diabetes and hypertension.METHODS We performed a retrospective single-center analysis of patients with comorbid diabetes mellitus and hypertension who were hospitalized and treated in the Jiangyin Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine between September 2020 and June 2022.Among the 80 patients included,40 received CGA nursing interventions(study group),while the remaining 40 received routine nursing care(control group).The study group's comprehensive approach included creating personalized CGA profiles,multidisciplinary assessments,and targeted inter-ventions in areas,such as nutrition,medication adherence,exercise,and mental health.However,the control group received standard nursing care,including general and medical history collection,fall prevention measures,and regular patient monitoring.After 6 months of nursing care implementation,we evaluated the effectiveness of the interventions,including assessments of blood glucose levels fasting blood glucose,2-h postprandial blood glucose,and glycated hemoglobin,type A1c(HbA1c);blood pressure indicators such as diastolic blood pressure(DBP)and systolic blood pressure(SBP);quality of life as measured by the 36-item Short Form Survey(SF-36)questionnaire;and treatment adherence.RESULTS After 6 months,the nursing outcomes indicated that patients who underwent CGA nursing interventions experienced a significant decrease in blood glucose indicators,such as fasting blood glucose,2-h postprandial blood glucose,and HbA1c,as well as blood pressure indicators,including DBP and SBP,compared with the control group(P<0.05).Quality of life assessments,including physical health,emotion,physical function,overall health,and mental health,showed marked improvements compared to the control group(P<0.05).In the study group,38 patients adhered to the clinical treatment requirements,whereas only 32 in the control group adhered to the clinical treatment requirements.The probability of treatment adherence among patients receiving CGA nursing interventions was higher than that among patients receiving standard care(95%vs 80%,P<0.05).CONCLUSION The CGA nursing intervention significantly improved glycemic control,blood pressure management,and quality of life in hospitalized older patients with diabetes and hypertension,compared to routine care.

Development of pulmonary hypertension remains a major hurdle to corrective surgery in Down syndrome

Down syndrome is the most common chromosomal abnormality encountered in clinical practice with 50%of them having associated congenital heart disease(CHD).Shunt lesions account for around 75%of all CHDs in Down syndrome.Down syndrome patients,especially with large shunts are particularly predisposed to early development of severe pulmonary hypertension(PH)compared with shunt lesions in general population.This necessitates timely surgical correction which remains the only viable option to prevent long term morbidity and mortality.However,despite clear recommendations,there is wide gap between actual practice and fear of underlying PH which often leads to surgical refusals in Down syndrome even when the shunt is reversible.Another peculiarity is that Down syndrome patients can develop PH even after successful correction of shunt.It is not uncommon to come across Down syndrome patients with uncorrected shunts in adulthood with irreversible PH at which stage intracardiac repair is contraindicated and the only option available is a combined heartlung transplant.However,despite the guidelines laid by authorities,the rates of cardiac transplant in adult Down syndrome remain dismal largely attributable to the high prevalence of intellectual disability in them.The index case presents a real-world scenario highlighting the impact of severe PH on treatment strategies and discrimination driven by the fear of worse outcomes in these patients.

Glucocorticoid therapy in pancreatic portal hypertension associated with autoimmune pancreatitis:A case report

BACKGROUND Autoimmune pancreatitis(AIP)is a chronic form of pancreatitis characterized by diffused enlargement of the pancreas and irregular stenosis of the main pancreatic duct.Some studies have reported that AIP can cause hemorrhage of gastric varices(GV)related to portal hypertension(PH).However,such cases are rare.In addition,the association of PH with AIP is unclear.At the same time,the efficacy and duration of glucocorticoid therapy is also controversial.CASE SUMMARY In this case,we reported a case of GV in pancreatic PH associated with AIP.Enhanced abdominal computed tomography(CT)suggested splenic vein(SV)and superior mesenteric vein(SMV)thromboses.The patient received a long-term glucocorticoid therapy,that the initial dose of 40 mg is reduced weekly by 5 mg,and then reduced to 5 mg for long-term maintenance.CT and gastroscopic examination after 8 mo of treatment indicated that SV and SMV were recanalized,pancreatic stiffness and swelling were ameliorated,and the GV almost completely disappeared.CONCLUSION Long-term glucocorticoid therapy can alleviate the development of GV in patients with AIP and has potential reversibility.

Investigating causal links between gastroesophageal reflux disease and essential hypertension

Gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD)is a prevalent global health concern with a rising incidence.Various risk factors,including obesity,hiatal hernia,and smo-king,contribute to its development.Recent research suggests associations bet-ween GERD and metabolic syndrome,cardiac diseases,and hypertension(HTN).Mechanisms linking GERD to HTN involve autonomic dysfunction,inflammatory states,and endothelial dysfunction.Furthermore,GERD medications such as pro-ton-pump inhibitors may impact blood pressure regulation.Conversely,antihy-pertensive medications like beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers can exacerbate GERD symptoms.While bidirectional causality exists between GERD and HTN,longitudinal studies are warranted to elucidate the precise relationship.Treatment of GERD,including anti-reflux surgery,may positively influence HTN control.However,the interplay of lifestyle factors,comorbidities,and medications necessitates further investigation to comprehensively understand this relation-ship.In this editorial,we comment on the article published by Wei et al in the recent issue of the World Journal of Clinical Cases.We evaluate their claims on the causal association between GERD and HTN.

Intervention control of aerobic exercise in maintaining quality of life and pulmonary hypertension in hemodialysis patients

BACKGROUND Pulmonary hypertension is a serious complication in the treatment of maintenance hemodialysis patients,which seriously affects the quality of life of patients and threatens their life safety.Prevention,treatment and improvement of pulmonary hypertension are of great significance to improve the quality of life of patients.AIM To investigate the intervention and control of pedal-powered bicycle in maintaining quality of life and pulmonary hypertension in hemodialysis patients.METHODS 73 patients with maintenance hemadialysis combined with pulmonary arterial hypertension at a hemodialysis center in a certain hospital from May 2021 to May 2022 are selected.Patients are divided into two groups,37 cases in the control group(group C)and 36 cases in the intervention group(group I).Patients are divided into two groups,group C is treated with oral administration of betaglandin sodium combined with routine nursing care.Based on group C,group I conducts power cycling exercises.RESULTS After treatment,group I patients had higher muscle strength,36-Item Short Form Health Survey scores,and Kidney Disease Targets Areas scores;The 6-minute walk distance test index level was higher and the Borg score was lower;The group I had lower systolic blood pressure,greater vital capacity,higher positive emotion,lower systolic pulmonary artery pressure index level,higher arterial partial oxygen pressure level,lower pulmonary vascular resistance index level,and higher blood oxygen saturation level[158.91±11.89 vs 152.56±12.81,1795.01±603.18 vs 1907.20±574.15,24.00(22.00,29.00)vs 24.00(22.00,28.00),P<0.001].CONCLUSION Aerobic exercise combined with Western medicine treatment can effectively improve patients'pulmonary hypertension,alleviate their negative emotions,and enable them to achieve a higher level of quality of life.

Treatment and Clinical Management of Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension:An Update of Literature Review

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension(CTEPH)is a chronic,progressive,debilitating,and life-threa-tening complication of pulmonary embolism(PE).Recent technological advances have permitted various treat-ment options for the treatment of CTEPH,including surgery,angioplasty,and medical treatment,depending on the location and characteristics of lesions.Pulmonary endarterectomy(PEA)is the treatment of choice for CTEPH,as it offers excellent long-term outcomes and a high probability of recovery.Moreover,various medical and interventional therapies are currently being developed for patients with inoperable CTEPH.This review mainly summarizes the current treatment approaches of CTEPH,offering more options for specialist physicians to,thus,better manage chronic thromboembolic syndromes.

Analyzing the potential mechanism of Buyang Huanwu decoction for the treatment of salt-sensitive hypertension based on network pharmacology and in vivo experiments

Background:Buyang Huanwu decoction(BHD)is a traditional Chinese medicine herbal formula used for treating hypertension,particularly in the later stages of hypertension when it is associated with intracerebral hemorrhage.This study aims to investigate the treatment mechanism of BHD to provide a basis for its clinical application in hypertension treatment.Methods:Network pharmacology analysis and cell culture experiments were performed to explore the potential proteins and mechanisms of action of BHD against hypertension.Bioactive compounds related to BHD were screened,and relevant targets associated with hypertension and BHD were retrieved.Molecular docking technology was used to identify the effective signaling pathway based on the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and protein-protein interaction network cores.Lastly,the effects and mechanisms of BHD on salt-sensitive hypertensive endothelial cells were investigated.Results:Ninety-three potential therapeutic targets for BHD and salt-sensitive hypertension were found to be closely associated with the PI3K/Akt/eNOS signaling pathway and oxidative stress.Cell experiments further indicated the pivotal role of endothelial cells in hypertension,and validation analysis showed that BHD significantly preserved cell morphology,suppressed oxidative stress reactions,activated the PI3K/Akt/eNOS signaling pathways,preserved normal endothelial cell function,and reduced cell apoptosis.Conclusion:BHD effectively activates the PI3K/Akt/VEGF signaling pathway,attenuates oxidative stress-induced injury in endothelial cells exposed to high salt levels,and mitigates apoptosis,supporting the use of traditional Chinese medicine BHD in the treatment of salt-sensitive hypertension.

Subclinical impairment of left ventricular myocardium function in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with or without hypertension

BACKGROUND Cardiovascular disease has been the leading cause of morbidity and mortality for type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)patients over the last decade.AIM To determine whether layer-specific global longitudinal strain(GLS)combined with peak strain dispersion(PSD)can be used to assess left ventricle(LV)myocardium systolic dysfunction in T2DM patients or without hypertension(HP).METHODS We enrolled 97 T2DM patients,70 T2DM+HP patients and 101 healthy subjects.Layer-specific GLS and PSD were calculated by EchoPAC software in apical three-,four-and two-chamber views.GLS of the epimyocardial,middle-layer and endomyocardial(GLSepi,GLSmid,and GLSendo)were measured and recorded.Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to detect LV myocardium systolic dysfunction in T2DM patients.RESULTS There were significant differences in GLSepi,GLSmid,GLSendo,and PSD between healthy subjects,T2DM patients and T2DM patients with HP(P<0.001).Trend tests yielded the ranking of healthy subjects>T2DM patients>T2DM with HP patients in the absolute values of GLSepi,GLSmid and GLSendo(P<0.001),while PSD was ranked healthy subjects<T2DM<T2DM with HP(P<0.001).Layer-specific GLS and PSD had high diagnostic efficiency for detecting LV myocardium systolic dysfunction in T2DM patients,however,the area under the curve(AUC)for layer-specific GLS and PSD combined was significantly higher than the AUCs for the individual indices(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Layer-specific GLS and PSD were associated with LV myocardium systolic dysfunction in T2DM patients,T2DM patients with HP.T2DM patients with HP have more severe LV myocardium systolic dysfunction than T2DM patients without HP and normal control patients.The combination of layer-specific GLS and PSD may provide additional prognostic information for T2DM patients with or without HP.

Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to portal hypertension in a patient with primary myelofibrosis:A case report

BACKGROUND Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding is a common medical emergency that has a 10%hospital mortality rate.According to the etiology,this disease can be divided into acute varicose veins and nonvaricose veins.Bleeding from esophageal varices is a life-threatening complication of portal hypertension.Portal hypertension is a clinical syndrome defined as a portal venous pressure that exceeds 10 mmHg.Cirrhosis is the most common cause of portal hypertension,and thrombosis of the portal system not associated with liver cirrhosis is the second most common cause of portal hypertension in the Western world.Primary myeloproliferative disorders are the main cause of portal venous thrombosis,and somatic mutations in the Janus kinase 2 gene(JAK2 V617F)can be found in approximately 90% of polycythemia vera,50% of essential thrombocyrosis and 50% of primary myelofibrosis.CASE SUMMARY We present a rare case of primary myelofibrosis with gastrointestinal bleeding as the primary manifestation that presented as portal-superior-splenic mesenteric vein thrombosis.Peripheral blood tests revealed the presence of the JAK2 V617F mutation.Bone marrow biopsy ultimately confirmed the diagnosis of myelofibrosis(MF-2 grade).CONCLUSION In patients with acute esophageal variceal bleeding due to portal hypertension and vein thrombosis without cirrhosis,the possibility of myeloproliferative neoplasms should be considered,and the JAK2 mutation test should be performed.