Objective To provide the China Essential Drugs List with evidence-based data for selecting the antihypertensive drugs in ARBs category. Methods With following search terms such as losartan, atenolol and clinical trial, the relevant clinical trials on losartan and atenolol for treating hypertension in both Chinese and English languages were collected from the EMbase, PubMed, The Cochrane Library, website of clinicaltrials.gov, CNKI, VIP and CBM. Results A total of 52 studies were pooled in this systematic review, of which most focused on the losartan intervention for endpoint reduction in hypertension (LIFE) study. The main results were that: a) With the same effects in lowering blood pressure, losartan was superior to atenolol in toleration and reducing left ventricular hypertrophy; b) Losartan was more effective than atenolol in preventing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, especially better in preventing new-onset stroke; c) Losartan was superior to atenolol in the patients complicated with or without diabetes mellitus, with or without atrial fibrillation, and with low hemoglobin or high blood uric acid, as well as in the patients co-treated by aspirin or hydrochlorothiazide; d) No matter either losartan or atenolol used in the aggressive antihypertensive therapy, the risk of sudden cardiac death got increased in hypertensive patients with prolonged QRS duration; e) Losartan was superior to atenolol in treating patients with smoking and drinking habits; and f) There were no significant differences between losartan and atenolol in hypertensive patients of black people, different genders, as well as the patients with mutant angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene. Conclusion Losartan has the same antihypertensive effects as atenolol dose, but it is more effective in reducing left ventricular hypertrophy, and has more benefits to hypertensive patients beyond lowering blood pressure, such as, reducing urine protein and uric acid rather than high density lipoprotein.
Objective To investigate the role of angiotensin-II type 1 receptor ( AT1) antagonist in treatment of acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome ( ALI/ARDS) . Methods Animal model of ALI/ARDS was induced by cecal ligation and perforation ( CLP) . ALI/ARDS animals received a separate intraperitoneal injection of several concentrations( 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 mg/kg) of AT1 inhibitor losartan after CLP, then the changes of lung injury and 7-day survival were measured. Results Oxygenation index and lung wet to dry weight ratio ( W/D) showed an improving trend when losartan was administered at doses of 5 to 15 mg/kg in ALI/ARDS rats, but aggravated above the dose of 15 mg/kg. Losartan ( 15 mg/kg) treatment significantly alleviated pulmonary edema after CLP operation, and decreased serumlevels of TNF-α, IL-6, andIL-1β [ TNF-α: ( 554. 1 ±62. 7 ) pg/mL vs. ( 759. 2 ±21. 5 ) pg/mL, P lt; 0. 01; IL-6: ( 1227. 3 ±130. 0) pg/mL vs. ( 2670. 4 ±174. 1) pg/mL, P lt; 0. 01; IL-1β: ( 444. 0 ±38. 6) pg/mL vs. ( 486. 6 ±61. 7)pg/mL, P lt; 0. 05] . 7-day survival rate also increased in losartan treatment group at a dose of 15 mg/kg( 6. 7% vs. 0 ) . Conclusions The AT1 inhibitor, losartan, can significantly prevent lung injury in ALI/ARDS after CLP, and improve the 7-day survival rate.
Abstract： Marfan syndrome （MFS） is a congenital and heritable autosomal dominant disorder of the connective tissue which is often passed down through families. Its clinical presentation typically involves the skeletal， cardiovascular and ocular systems with a high natural mortality. Aortic root aneurysm and consecutive acute aortic dissection represent the main cardiovascular manifestations and main causes of morbidity and mortality in MFS. At present， the predominant therapeutic method is surgery， but surgical outcomes are quite unsatisfactory. Recent studies demonstrate that losartan， a common antihypertensive agent， is useful to treat MFS， the mechanism of which may results from inhibiting overactivation of transforming growth factor β （TGF-β） signaling. This discovery will definitely promote the transition of traditional surgical treatment of MFS into pharmacotherapy. In this review， we focus on the molecular biological pathogenesis， traditional and new therapeutic strategies for MFS patients.
To explore the role of cell apoptosis in denervated skeletal muscle atrophy in rats and the effect of losartan on it. Methods Forty-two Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: group I (n =14, normal control group), group II (n =14, denervated group) and group III (n =14, losartan group). The rats were not treated in group I, and were made denervated gastrocnemius models in groups II and III. In group III, the rats were treated with losartan 10 mg /kg• d by gavage and with normal sal ine in groups I and II. After 4 weeks, gastrocnemius mass to body mass ratio (GAS/BM) served as the degree of muscle atrophy. Apoptotic cells in gastrocnemius were stained in situ by using TUNEL. Gastrocnemius Bcl-2 and Bax protein were quantified by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. Bax /Bcl-2 served as the degree of apoptosis. Results The ratio of apoptosis was higher in group II than that in group I (11.32% ± 4.51% vs 0.56% ± 0.21%, P lt; 0.05). The ratio of apoptosis was lower in group III than that in group II (7.21% ± 2.05% vs 11.32% ± 4.51%, P lt; 0.05). The atrophy of skeletal muscle（GAS/BM） in group II was more serious than that in group I (11.68 ± 1.98 vs 12.86 ±0.74, P lt; 0.05), there was no significant difference between group III and group II (12.11 ± 0.65 vs 11.68 ± 1.98, P gt; 0.05). The expression of Bcl-2 in group II (18.3% ± 4.9%) was significantly lower than that in group I (27.5% ± 2.8%) and group III (25.5% ± 3.5%); there was no significant difference between group III and group I (P gt; 0.05). The expression of Bax in group II (24.1% ± 3.1%) was significantly higher than that in group I (22.1% ± 3.6%) and group III (21.7% ± 2.3%); there was no significant difference between group III and group I (P gt; 0.05). Western blot results showed that: the expressions of Bcl-2 were 122.5 ± 14.6 in group II, 135.3 ± 6.2 in group I and 139.2 ± 16.2 in group III; showing significant diffeerences between group II and group I, between group III and group II (P lt;0.05). The expressions of Bax were 107.1 ± 15.8 in group II, 89.3 ± 8.4 in group I, and 94.2 ± 9.5 in group III; showing significant diffeerences between group II and group I, between group III and group II (P lt; 0.05). There was no significant difference in the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax between group Ⅲ and group I (P gt; 0.05). Conclusion Cell apoptosis plays an important role in denervated skeletal muscle atrophy in rats and may be one of the factors causing skeletal muscle atrophy. Losarton can decrease skeletal muscle cell apoptosis through regulating the ratio of Bax / Bcl-2.
Objective To assess the efficacy and safety Losartan for essential hypertension associated withhyperuricemia. Methods Included randomized controlled trials of Losartan versus Valsartan. Electronic searchconducted in CENTRAL, the Cochrane Library (until 2008, Issue 4), PubMed, EMBASE, Chinese Biomedicine database,Chinese Scientific Journals Full-text Database, and China Journal Full-text Database (until 2008, Issue 10). Two reviewers extracted data independently. RevMan 5.0 software developed by the Cochrane Collaboration was used for Metaanalysis.Results Only 7 trials with 1 136 eligible patients were included in the systematic review. Meta-analysis showedno significant difference in reductions of systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and adverse events betweenLosartan and Valsartan groups. However, a significant difference of serum uric acid reduction was observed betweenLosartan and Valsartan group. Losartan play a significant role of decreased serum uric acid levels. Conclusions Based on this systematic review, Losartan is effective and well tolerated in reducing BP and serum uric acid levels. Further large randomized, double blind, placebo controlled trials are needed in long-term safety and efficacy and different subgroups of Losartan.
ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of renal tubular epithelial cell apoptosis induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress in rats with intermittent hypoxia (IH) and the intervention effect of losartan.MethodsSixty SPF grade healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups (15 rats in each group), namely as group A (control group), group B (IH group), group C (IH+losartan group), and group D (IH+saline group). The group C and D were intraperitoneally injected with losartan 30 mg/kg and the same dose of saline 30 minutes daily before the experiment, and then the group B, C and D were placed in the intermittent hypoxia chamber. After 6 weeks of modeling, serum of the rats was sampled to detect the renal function. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe histomorphological changes of the kidney; transmission electron microscopy was used to observe ultrastructural changes of the kidney; TUNEL was used to detect apoptotic index of the renal tubular epithelial cells; and RT-PCR method was used to detect expressions of caspase-12, JNK and CHOP mRNA in the kidney.ResultsThe differences of renal function among these four groups were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Hematoxylin-eosin staining and transmission electron microscopy showed the histomorphological and ultrastructural changes of the kidneys in group B, C and D compared with group A, and the damages in group B and D were more significant. TUNEL results showed that the apoptotic index of renal tubular epithelial cells in group B and D was significantly higher than that in group A (P<0.01), while that in group C was significantly lower than that in group B and D (all P<0.01). RT-PCR results showed that caspase-12, JNK and CHOP mRNA expressions were significantly higher in group B and D than those in group A (all P<0.01); caspase-12 mRNA expression was significantly lower in group C than that in group B and D (P<0.01; P<0.05); and CHOP mRNA expression was significantly lower in group C than that in group B and D (all P<0.01).ConclusionsIH may induce apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells by activating endoplasmic reticulum stress through caspase-12, JNK and CHOP. Losartan has protective effects on the kidney of rats with intermittent hypoxia. Its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of apoptotic pathways mediated by endoplasmic reticulum stress.