BACKGROUND & AIMS: Studies of the pressure response of the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) to simulated or spontaneous gastroesophageal reflux have shown conflicting results. These discrepancies could result from uncontrolled influence of variables such as posture, volume, and velocity of distension. We characterized in humans the effects of these variables ...

Regulation of protein function is often linked to a conformational switch triggered by chemical or physical signals. To evaluate such conformational changes and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms of subsequent protein function, experimental identification of conformational substates and characterization of conformational equilibria are mandatory. We apply pressure modulation in ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Particulate Matter (PM) exposure is critical in Beijing due to high population density and rapid increase in vehicular traffic. PM effects on blood pressure (BP) have been investigated as a mechanism mediating cardiovascular risks, but results are still inconsistent. The purpose of our study is to determine the ...

We asked whether abdominal binding improves cardiorespiratory function in individuals with cervical spinal cord injury (SCI). 13 participants with chronic SCI (C(5)-C(7)) and 8 able-bodied controls were exposed to varying degrees of elastic abdominal compression (unbound [UB], loose-bound [LB], and tight-bound [TB]) whilst seated. In SCI, TB increased vital capacity ...

PURPOSE: To assess the effect of 18 hour (h) 50% xenon (Xe) inhalation at normothermia (NT, 38.5°C) or hypothermia (HT, 33.5°C) on mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), inotropic support and heart rate (HR) following an induced perinatal global hypoxic-ischaemic insult (HI) in newborn pigs. METHODS: Newborn pigs ventilated under inhalational anaesthesia, ...

Hostility may be related to risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), such as blood pressure. However, the process by which hostility affects blood pressure is not fully understood. The current study sought to evaluate abdominal obesity (waist-to-hip ratio [WHR]) as a potential mediator and modifier of the relationship between cynical ...

Red blood cells (RBCs) have an important function in regulation of the circulation by producing and releasing epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) in response to a low O(2) environment such as encountered in the cardiac microcirculation during exercise. RBCs, in their role as sensors of low pO(2), release ATP and critical lipid ...

Rationale:Soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) generates cyclic guanosine monophophate (cGMP) on activation by nitric oxide (NO). Cardiac NO-sGC-cGMP signaling blunts cardiac stress responses, including pressure-overload-induced hypertrophy. The latter itself depresses signaling through this pathway by reducing NO generation and enhancing cGMP hydrolysis.Objective:We tested the hypothesis that the sGC response to NO ...

Increased levels of albuminuria and proteinuria, both linked to augmented renin angiotensin system (RAS) activity, are associated with adverse cardiovascular and kidney events. However, the relationship between variations in urinary albumin excretion (UAE) and total protein excretion (UTPE) in the normal range and RAS activity is unclear. We examined the ...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) plays a critical role in modulating deleterious actions of angiotensin II (Ang II) where there is an inappropriate activation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). This review discusses the recent developments regarding the complex interactions by which COX-2 modulates the impact of an activated RAS on ...

BackgroundThe question of whether reduced sodium intake is effective as a health prophylaxis initiative is unsolved. The purpose was to estimate the effects of low-sodium vs. high-sodium intake on blood pressure (BP), renin, aldosterone, catecholamines, and lipids.MethodsStudies randomizing persons to low-sodium and high-sodium diets evaluating at least one of the ...

We recently encountered a 15-year-old female with bilateral tympanostomy tubes who manifested persistent severe vertigo, at ground level, secondary to a unilateral middle-ear pressure of +200 mm H(2) O elicited by an obstructed tympanostomy tube in the presence of chronic nasal obstruction. We believe this is a previously unreported scenario ...

Hypertension is the most common cardiovascular disease. No data exists on the health status of the largest ethnic groups in Jordan. Seven hundred ninety two Chechens and Circassians participated in this study. Two readings of systolic and diastolic blood pressure were taken from the left arm with the subject seated ...

It has been suggested that an approach to hypertension based on the constitutional make-up of an individual may be effective. We conducted a retrospective chart review to explore the association of Sasang constitution with hypertension. The results show that the prevalence of hypertension was highest in the Taeeum (TE) constitutional ...

Short-term randomised, controlled trials have found that dietary protein relative to carbohydrate can reduce blood pressure. Our objective was to investigate the effects on blood pressure of an increase in protein intake from whey over 2 years in women aged over 70 years. From the general population, 219 women aged ...

Although atmospheric weather changes are often listed among the common migraine triggers, studies to determine the specific weather component(s) responsible have yielded inconsistent results. Atmospheric pressure change produces air movement, and low pressure in particular is associated with warm weather, winds, clouds, dust, and precipitation, but how this effect might ...

BACKGROUND: Intratumoral pressure may stimulate cancer proliferation whereas intravascular pressure promotes metastatic adhesion. α-Actinin proteins facilitate focal adhesion formation and link focal adhesion complexes to the cytoskeleton. We hypothesized that α-actinin is the mechanotransducer that mediates the effects of pressure on cancer cell proliferation and adhesion. METHODS: We treated SW620 ...

The kidney plays an essential role in blood pressure regulation by controlling short-term and long-term NaCl and water balance. The thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle (THAL) reabsorbs 25-30% of the NaCl filtered by the glomeruli in a process mediated by the apical Na(+)/K(+)/2Cl- cotransporter NKCC2, which allows ...

The current U.S. extravehicular activity (EVA) suit is pressurized at 0.29 atm, which is much lower than the pressures of sea level and inside a space station. Higher pressure can reduce the risk of decompression sickness (DCS), but mobility would be sacrificed. We have demonstrated that a glove and sleeve ...

The effect of mild lower body negative pressure (LBNP) on baroreflex control of arterial blood pressure (ABP) has long been thought to affect cardiopulmonary baroreflex only, although recent studies have pointed out that arterial baroreceptors may be transiently unloaded too after the rapid onset of mild LBNP. This paper presents ...

Background Analyses of medication databases indicate marked increases in prescribing of antihypertensive drugs in Canada over the past decade. This study was done to examine the trends in the prevalence of hypertension and in control rates in Canada between 1992 and 2009. Methods Three population-based surveys, the 1986-1992 Canadian Heart ...

This was an analytical comparative study. Aim of this study was to observe the effect of oral clonidine on intra operative haemodynamic stability in intracranial space occupying lesion (ICSOL) patients who underwent craniotomy. Total 60 patients were distributed into case and control group. Number of cases was 30 in each ...

BACKGROUND: Chronic ulnar nerve compression is believed to be the primary cause of sensory and motor impairments of the hand in cyclists, a condition termed Cyclist's Palsy. The purpose of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the effects that hand position and glove type can have on pressure over the ...

Fermented products with lactic acid bacteria may show antihypertensive effects via substances such as angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). We previously found that milk fermented with Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei NTU 101 (101FM) or L. plantarum NTU 102 (102FM) has ACEI and GABA activity. Here, we ...

Belting has been described as speechlike, yell-like, or shouting voice production commonly used in contemporary commercial music genres and substantially differing from the esthetic of the Western classical voice tradition. This investigation attempts to describe phonation and resonance characteristics of different substyles of belting (heavy, brassy, ringy, nasal, and speechlike) ...

Abstract Objectives. Oral levosimendan improves ventricular function in short-term clinical trials. The effects of long-term treatment with oral levosimendan were investigated on echocardiographic parameters of left ventricular function in patients with chronic heart failure. Design. Twenty-nine patients with NYHA III-IV congestive chronic HF were prospectively enrolled in a randomised, double-blind, ...

Summary  Tongue pressure measured with a disposable hand-held balloon probe has been used for assessing tongue function; however, no diagnostic standard for assessing other oral functions exists currently. In this study, to develop a method for multifactorial manometric evaluation of oral functions, 20 men and 20 women (21-32 years of age) ...

To assess pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of a 10 mg intravenous sildenafil bolus in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients stabilized on 20 mg sildenafil orally three times daily. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using noncompartmental analysis. After an acute increase, plasma concentrations stabilized within the range reported previously for a 20 mg ...

PURPOSE:: This study investigated the effects of head-neck extension on abnormalities of laryngeal mask airway (LMA) function resulting from opening the mouth. PATIENTS AND METHODS:: A single, experienced LMA user inserted the LMA in 15 patients scheduled for elective oral surgery. Oropharyngeal leak pressure and intracuff pressure were sequentially documented ...

Abstract Semi-occlusion of the vocal tract may provide a new method for assessing ranges of F(0) and a physiological correlate of vocal intensity. Signals can be obtained without concern about room noise, steadiness in mouth-to-microphone distance, and possibly without vocal injury caused by excessive loudness produced. Nine volunteers participated. Steady ...

In spite of more than 100 years of investigations the question of reduced sodium intake as a health prophylaxis initiative is still unsolved. To estimate the effects of low sodium versus high sodium intake on systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), plasma or serum levels of renin, aldosterone, ...

Background:  Closure of access site is one of the key issues that will determine the development of natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery. Our study was designed to compare the effectiveness of gastrotomy closure using endoloop and endoclip with hand-sewn closure as a control. Methods:  Gastrotomy was carried out on 24 ...

Suckermouth armored catfishes (Loricariidae) use their suckermouth for inspiration, feeding, and attachment to substrates. The sucker consists of a pre-valvular cavity, formed by a modified lip disc, and is separated from the larger post-valvular buccal cavity by a muscular oral valve. The combination of respiration and suction attachment seems paradoxal, ...

Suckermouth armored catfishes (Loricariidae) use their suckermouth for inspiration, feeding, and attachment to substrates. The sucker consists of a pre-valvular cavity, formed by a modified lip disc, and is separated from the larger post-valvular buccal cavity by a muscular oral valve. The combination of respiration and suction attachment seems paradoxal, ...

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of pre-anesthetic orally administration of clonidine on pulse rate and blood stress response to laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation. In a double-blinded, randomized study, 274 ASA I and II subjects with age of 18 to 45 years scheduled for elective surgery ...

Significant advances have been made in understanding the pathogenesis and clinical physiology of primary hypertension. This article presents an overview of the physiology of normal blood pressure control and the pathophysiologic mechanisms that predispose individuals and populations to primary hypertension. The role of genetics, environment, and the gene-environment interaction is ...

Hypothyroidism has been recognized as a cause of secondary hypertension. Previous studies on the prevalence of hypertension in subjects with hypothyroidism have demonstrated elevated blood pressure values. Increased peripheral vascular resistance and low cardiac output has been suggested to be the possible link between hypothyroidism and diastolic hypertension. The hypothyroid ...

To assess the influence of hypertension on urinary metabolites as well as recurrent stone formation. Recent studies have suggested that urolithiasis and hypertension are positively associated. However, the relationship between hypertension and lithogenic metabolites is inconsistent and requires further elucidation. Based on the presence of hypertension, stone formers (SF) were ...

The diagnosis of masked hypertension has been made easier with the widespread availability of home blood pressure monitoring devices with levels of accuracy comparable to ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. The negative impact of masked hypertension on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality is evidenced by numerous well-designed clinic-based and population-based studies. The ...

Many patients with hypertension require more than one drug to control their blood pressure.1 Tribenzor (Daiichi Sankyo), recently approved by the FDA for treatment of hypertension, combines the calcium channel blocker amlodipine (Norvasc, and others), the angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) olmesartan (Benicar) and the most commonly prescribed diuretic, hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ). ...

We report a case of Rumpel-Leede (RL) phenomenon, - acute dermis capillary rupture, secondary to noninvasive blood pressure (NIBP) monitoring in a patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension. The first most likely cause is vascular fragility in microangiopathy as a result of DM and chronic steroid use. ...

Hypertension is a major contributor to vascular morbidity and mortality. Endocrine hypertension (EH) refers to secondary hypertension caused by specific endocrine abnormalities. The significance of EH is that the identification of the underlying disorder and its management may lead to partial or complete normalization of blood pressure. When EH is ...

Arterial hypertension is a common health problem that affects 25% of the adult population in industrialized societies, and is a major risk factor for myocardial infarction and stroke. However, the pathogenesis of hypertension, as well as the basic mechanisms of blood-pressure control, are insufficiently understood. Although the development of hypertension ...

To evaluate the clinical presentation and comorbidities of hypertensive crisis in our own population. In this cohort based study, we investigate the clinical presentation and comorbidities of hypertensive crisis by evaluating the data collected between January and April 2009. We included 154 patients admitted with systolic and diastolic blood pressure ...

The prevalence of hypertension in children is increasing but its neurological effects are under-recognised. Here, we describe acute and chronic effects of childhood hypertension on the nervous system. Acute neurological involvement ranges from posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome to, possibly, infarction and haemorrhage. Children with chronic hypertension are likely to have ...

BACKGROUND: A number of epidemiological studies have examined the adverse effect of air pollution on mortality and morbidity. Also, several studies have investigated the associations between air pollution and specific-cause diseases including arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, and heart failure. However, little is known about the relationship between air pollution and the ...

Type A behaviour pattern has been found to be associated with coronary heart diseases, but its association with hypertension is inconsistent. To investigate the association between type A behaviour pattern and hypertension, 221 known hypertensive patients and a control group of 221 non-hypertensive patients in Basra, Iraq, were interviewed for ...

BACKGROUND: Hypertension remains the commonest non-communicable disease in Nigeria and a leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Knowledge and practice among hypertensive patients were therefore assessed as a prelude towards attaining better blood pressure control. MATERIALS AND METHOD: 224 consecutive hypertensive patients were prospectively studied using a pre-tested questionnaire. ...

Hypertensive crises (76% urgencies, 24% emergencies) represented more than one fourth of all medical urgencies/emergencies. Hypertensive urgencies frequently present with headache (22%), epistaxis (17%), faintness, and psychomotor agitation (10%) and hypertensive emergencies frequently present with chest pain (27%), dyspnea (22%) and neurological deficit (21%). Types of end-organ damage associated with ...

Hypertension and smoking are major causes of disability and death, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, where there is a high prevalence of a combination of these two risk factors. We attempted to measure the medical expenditures of a Japanese male population with hypertension and/or a smoking habit over a 10-year ...