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The aims were to identify the possible influencing factors of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and its domain-specific scores in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). A total of 1247 patients with CHD from the Henan Rural Cohort Study (n = 39,259) were included in this study. The Chinese version of the European Quality of Life Five Dimension Five level scale (EQ-5D-5L) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were used to evaluate HRQoL in patients with CHD. Tobit regression, generalized linear models and binary logistic regression were applied to determine the potential factors influencing the EQ-5D utility, as well as each domain, and the VAS. CHD patients had lower per capita monthly actual income, and higher rates of diabetes mellitus, stroke, anxiety and poor sleep quality, which significantly decreased EQ-5D index and VAS scores. In addition, sex, older age, education, not having a spouse, ever drinking alcohol, a high-fat diet, physical activity, hypertension and depression affected the various domain-specific EQ-5D scores in CHD patients. CHD patients in rural areas have a lower HRQoL. Factors associated with the EQ-5D index, including each domain, and the VAS need attention. CHD patients in rural areas need to be managed systematically.

The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of 60% normobaric oxygen (NBO) on neurological function, brain edema and the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), aquaporin 4 (AQP4) and Na+/H+ exchanger 1 (NHE1) in a rat model of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. Male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent transient focal cerebral ischemia via right middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 120 min followed by 48 h of reperfusion. The rats were exposed to NBO at 60 and 100% or no treatment during reperfusion for 48 h. Neurological impairment score (NIS) was evaluated prior to the sacrifice of all rats. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed after 48 h of reperfusion with NBO treatment. The infarct volume and brain water content (BWC) were determined to assess brain ischemic injury at 24 and 48 h. The levels of HIF-1α, AQP4 and NHE1 expression in brain tissue samples were determined by western blotting and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. During reperfusion, the protein and mRNA expression of HIF-1α, AQP4 and NHE1 increased over time (up to 48 h). Exposure to 60 and 100% NBO during reperfusion following MCAO improved NIS, and alleviated BWC and infarct volume after 24 and 48 h, with further improvements in the 100% NBO group, compared with 60%. Additionally, the molecular mechanisms involved in the effects of NBO may be associated with reduced AQP4 and NHE1 expression and increased HIF-1α expression. However, 60% NBO therapy during reperfusion following an acute ischemic stroke did not achieve the same effects as 100% NBO. Further experimental studies should be performed to elucidate the mechanism and beneficial effects of 60% NBO, as it is more cost-effective to use, compared with 100% NBO.

This study was conducted to check whether andrographolide, a bioactive molecule isolated from Andrographis paniculata, could protect against cigarette smoke (CS)-induced lung injury through activation of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Pretreatment with andrographolide (1 mg/kg body weight) markedly attenuated lung inflammation in CS-exposed mice, coupled with reduced numbers of total cells, neutrophils, and macrophages in bronchial alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and decreased production of cytokine/chemokine into BALF. Furthermore, andrographolide pretreatment increased the expression and activation of HO-1 in the lung of CS-exposed animals. Notably, these histological and biochemical changes induced by andrographolide were blocked by prior administration of zinc protoporphyrin IX (ZnPP; 20 mg/kg body weight), a potent heme oxygenase inhibitor. Moreover, andrographolide-induced phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) was attenuated by ZnPP treatment in CS-exposed animals. Our data collectively demonstrate that andrographolide confers protection against CS-induced lung inflammation, partially through activation of HO-1 and STAT3.

BackgroundStroke is a major health threat and the leading cause of mortality and disability in China. The aims of this study were to identify the possible influencing factors of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and its domain-specific contents in stroke patients in rural areas in China.MethodsA total of 1,709 stroke patients aged 36–79 years from the baseline data of Henan Rural Cohort study (n = 39,259) were included in the cross-sectional study. The Chinese version of the European Quality of Life Five Dimension (including mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression) Five Level Scale (EQ-5D-5L) and visual analog scale (VAS) were used to evaluate HRQoL in stroke patients. Tobit regression models, generalized linear models and binary logistic regression models were constructed to determine potential influencing factors of the EQ-5D utility index, as well as influencing factors of each domain and VAS score.ResultsThe mean utility index and VAS scores of stroke patients were 0.885 (SD, 0.204), and 68.39 (SD, 17.31), respectively. Pain/discomfort (PD, 35.2%) and mobility (MO, 30.4%) were the most frequently reported issues. Regression models revealed that illiterate; a low monthly income; low physical activity intensity; and diabetes, anxiety, depression, or poor sleep quality were significantly associated with lower utility index and VAS scores among stroke patients. In addition, patients with stroke who were older, female, drinking, smoking, and consuming a high-fat diet, had a higher BMI, and lived with a stroke for a longer time, were also significantly associated with different dimensions of the EQ-5D.ConclusionPatients with stroke in rural areas in China had a low HRQoL. Factors associated with the EQ-5D utility index as well as each domain and VAS score, need to be considered by health providers in rural areas. Patients with stroke in rural areas need to be included in national basic public medical services and managed systematically by medical institutions.