On the Blood Pressure in the Cardiovascular System

Background: Hemodynamics is a practical and complicated theoretical problem. The aim of this paper is to analyze the characteristics of blood pressure in the cardiovascular system changing with the mechanical parameters of blood vessels and the storage of some visceral organs. Method: The fluid network model was used for the study. The cardiovascular system was modeled as a system consisting of 20 segments of vessels. The main controlling parameters were determined first by using dimensional analysis. Then the responses of blood pressure of each segment of vessels were analyzed by changing the controlling parameters. Results: The parameters of the blood vessel of brain have the least influence on the pressures of other parts. The pressures of the system of blood vessels will decrease if some blood is stored in the liver or the abdominal vein system. Vice versa. The effects of regulation of blood on the variation of blood pressure are larger than the other controlling parameters. Conclusions: The controlling parameters of the abdominal aorta and ascending aorta affect greatly the blood pressure of each vessel.

Plants Used as Antihypertensive

Hypertension is a critical health problem and worse other cardiovascular diseases.It is mainly of two types:Primary or essential hypertension and Secondary hypertension.Hypertension is the primary possibility feature for coronary heart disease,stroke and renal vascular disease.Herbal medicines have been used for millions of years for the management and treatment of hypertension with minimum side effects.Over aim to write this review is to collect information on the anti-hypertensive effects of natural herbs in animal studies and human involvement as well as to recapitulate the underlying mechanisms,from the bottom of cell culture and ex-vivo tissue data.According to WHO,natural herbs/shrubs are widely used in increasing order to treat almost all the ailments of the human body.Plants are the regular industrial units for the invention of chemical constituents,they used as immunity booster to enhance the natural capacity of the body to fight against different health prob-lems as well as herbal medicines and food products also.Eighty percent population of the world(around 5.6 billion people)consume medicines from natural plants for major health concerns.This review provides a bird’s eye analysis primarily on the traditional utilization,phytochemical constituents and pharmacological values of medicinal herbs used to normalize hypertension i.e.Hibiscus sabdariffa,Allium sativum,Andrographis paniculata,Apium graveolens,Bidenspilosa,Camel-lia sinensis,Coptis chinensis,Coriandrum sativum,Crataegus spp.,Crocus sativus,Cymbopogon citrates,Nigella sativa,Panax ginseng,Salviaemiltiorrhizae,Zingiber officinale,Tribulus terrestris,Rauwolfiaserpentina,Terminalia arjuna etc.

Vascular endothelial growth factor B inhibits insulin secretion in MIN6 cells and reduces Ca2+ and cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels through PI3K/AKT pathway

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes(T2 D) is characterized by insufficient insulin secretion caused by defective pancreatic β-cell function or insulin resistance,resulting in an increase in blood glucose.However,the mechanism involved in this lack of insulin secretion is unclear.The level of vascular endothelial growth factor B(VEGF-B) is significantly increased in T2 D patients.The inactivation of VEGF-B could restore insulin sensitivity in db/db mice by reducing fatty acid accumulation.It is speculated that VEGF-B is related to pancreatic β-cell dysfunction and is an important factor affecting β-cell secretion of insulin.As an in vitro model of normal pancreatic β-cells,the MIN6 cell line can be used to analyze the mechanism of insulin secretion and related biological effects.AIM To study the role of VEGF-B in the insulin secretion signaling pathway in MIN6 cells and explore the effect of VEGF-B on blood glucose regulation.METHODS The MIN6 mouse pancreatic islet β-cell line was used as the model system.By administering exogenous VEGF-B protein or knocking down VEGF-B expression in MIN6 cells,we examined the effects of VEGF-B on insulin secretion,Ca2+ and cyclic adenosine monophosphate(cAMP) levels,and the insulin secretion signaling pathway.RESULTS Exogenous VEGF-B inhibited the secretion of insulin and simultaneously reduced the levels of Ca2+ and cAMP in MIN6 cells.Exogenous VEGF-B also reduced the expression of phospholipase C gamma 1(PLCγ1),phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3 K),serine/threonine kinase(AKT),and other proteins in the insulin secretion pathway.Upon knockdown of VEGF-B,MIN6 cells exhibited increased insulin secretion and Ca2+ and cAMP levels and upregulated expression of PLCγ1,PI3 K,AKT,and other proteins.CONCLUSION VEGF-B can regulate insulin secretion by modulating the levels of Ca2+ and cAMP.VEGF-B involvement in insulin secretion is related to the expression of PLCγ1,PI3 K,AKT,and other signaling proteins.These results provide theoretical support and an experimental basis for the study of VEGF-B in the pathogenesis of T2 D.

AB042.Pericytes on microvessels lead to vascular dysfunction during retinal ischemia

Background:Pericytes are contractile cells that wrap along the walls of capillaries.In the brain,pericytes play a crucial role in the regulation of capillary diameter and vascular blood flow in response to metabolic demand.During ischemia,it has been suggested that pericytes may constrict capillaries,and that pericytes remain constricted after reperfusion thus resulting in impaired blood flow.Methods:Here,we used a mouse model of retinal ischemia based on ligation of the central retinal artery to characterize the role of pericytes on capillary constriction.Ischemia was induced in transgenic mice carrying the NG2 promoter driving red fluorescent protein expression to selectively visualize pericytes(line NG2:DsRed).Changes in retinal capillary diameter at 1 hr after ischemia were measured ex vivo in whole-mounted retinas from ischemic and control eyes(n=4-6/group)using a stereological approach.Vessels and pericytes were three-dimensionally reconstructed using IMARIS(Bitplane).Furthermore,we used a novel and minimally invasive two-photon microscopy approach that allowed live imaging of microvasculature changes in the retina.Results:Our data show a generalized reduction in capillary diameter in ischemic retinas relative to sham-operated controls in all vascular plexus(ischemia:4.7±0.2μm,control:5.2±0.2µm,student’s t-test,P<0.001).Analysis of the number of capillary constrictions at pericyte locations,visualized in NG2:DsRed mice,demonstrated a substantial increase in ischemic retinas relative to the physiological capillary diameter reductions observed in controls(ischemia:1,038±277 constrictions at pericyte locations,control:60±36 constrictions at pericyte locations,student’s t-test,P<0.01).Live imaging using two-photon microscopy confirmed robust capillary constriction at the level of pericytes on retinal capillaries during ischemia(n=6-8/group).Conclusions:Collectively,our data demonstrate that ischemia promotes rapid pericyte constriction on retinal capillaries causing major microvascular dysfunction in this tissue.To identify the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathological response of pericytes during ischemia,we are currently carrying out experiments in mice and zebrafish to modulate signaling pathways involved in calcium dynamics leading to contractility in these cells.

Regulatory control of the Na-Cl co-transporter NCC and its therapeutic potential for hypertension

Hypertension is the largest risk factor for cardiovascular disease,the leading cause of mortality worldwide.As blood pressure regulation is influenced by multiple physiological systems,hypertension cannot be attributed to a single identifiable etiology.Three decades of research into Mendelian forms of hypertension implicated alterations in the renal tubular sodium handling,particularly the distal convoluted tubule(DCT)-native,thiazide-sensitive Na-Cl cotransporter(NCC).Altered functions of the NCC have shown to have profound effects on blood pressure regulation as illustrated by the over activation and inactivation of the NCC in Gordon’s and Gitelman syndromes respectively.Substantial progress has uncovered multiple factors that affect the expression and activity of the NCC.In particular,NCC activity is controlled by phosphorylation/dephosphorylation,and NCC expression is facilitated by glycosylation and negatively regulated by ubiquitination.Studies have even found parvalbumin to be an unexpected regulator of the NCC.In recent years,there have been considerable advances in our understanding of NCC control mechanisms,particularly via the pathway containing the with-no-lysine[K](WNK)and its downstream target kinases,SPS/Ste20-related proline-alanine-rich kinase(SPAK)and oxidative stress responsive 1(OSR1),which has led to the discovery of novel inhibitory molecules.This review summarizes the currently reported regulatory mechanisms of the NCC and discusses their potential as therapeutic targets for treating hypertension.

Acupuncture Principle of Tonifying Qi and Regulating Blood,Supporting the Root and Fostering the Source on Aging and Senile Diseases

Along with the increasing life span, aging and related diseases have become a serious medical and social problem that has roused global attention. In this paper, under the guidance of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）, the author raises a theory of ＂dysfunction of Sanjiao qi activity＂ based on the studies and discussions of classical literatures on Sanjiao theory by combining knowledge in modern integrative traditional Chinese and Western medicine for aging from his more than 30 years of experiences of clinical and experimental practices. The author also tries to explain the mechanisms for aging from the whole aspect of Sanjiao qi activity.

Traditional Chinese Medicines alleviated myocardial ischemia by regulating Qi and promoting blood circulation

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the efficacy of Chinese medicines on Qi stagnation and blood stasis in rats with myocardial ischemia.METHODS:Fifty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups(n=10)as follows:(a)sham operation(Sham),(b)myocardial ischemia(Model),(c)treatment that regulates Qi(Qi),(d)treatment that promotes blood circulation(Blood),(e)treatment that both regulates Qi and promotes blood circulation(QB).The rat model was established via activities restriction for 6 h followed by tail clamp stimulation for 5 mins every day for 7 d and occlusion left coronary anterior descending artery.Afterwards rats were treated with medicines that regulate Qi and/or promote blood circulation via gavage for 14 d.Behavioral parameters were evaluated using open field and elevated plus-maze tests.The tongue color and sublingual vein were visually examined.Blood flow perfusion of tongue and auricle were detected using PIMⅡ.The mesenteric microcirculation was examined via capillaroscopy,and hemodynamics was assessed using a polygraph system.Serum homocysteine(Hcy),creatine kinase isoenzyme(CKMB)levels and endothelin-1(ET-1)were measured.Hematoxylin and eosin staining and transmission electron microscopy were employed to detect the myocardial morphology and ultrastructure,respectively.RESULTS:Compared with findings in Sham group,rats in model group had coarse hair,dark mucosa of the lips and claw,low activity,and increased anxiety.Compared with findings in Model group,rats in the three treatment groups exhibited a lighter tongue color without an extended and varicose sublingual vein.There were significant increases of auricle blood flow perfusion in the Qi group and tongue bottom blood flow perfusion in the QB group.Compared with findings in Model rats,rats in Blood group exhibited improved mesenteric microcirculation associated with increased mesenteric blood flow and a larger arteriole diameter.Moreover,compared with findings in Model rats,Qi and QB rats exhibited increased left ventricular±dp/dtmax,decreased serum CKMB,Hcy,ET-1 levels,and reduced myocardial ultrastructural damage.CONCLUSION:Myocardial ischemia damage was suppressed by Traditional Chinese Medicines that regulate Qi and promote blood circulation.

Bioactive effects advances of natural polysaccharides

Taking into account the rising incidence of metabolic diseases,it is an urgent need for effective treatments to control human health problems.Natural polysaccharides have been found effective on metabolic diseases in more and more researches.In the context of serious side effects of drugs,natural polysaccharides will be verified in the prevention and treatment of metabolic diseases and show their advantages of low toxicity and high efficiency.This review mainly summarized the activity of polysaccharides from different sources in regulating metabolism,and laid a reference for metabolic diseases by natural polysaccharides.