European Society of Hypertension

About: European Society of Hypertension is a other organization based out in Milan, Italy. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Blood pressure & Ambulatory blood pressure. The organization has 146 authors who have published 167 publications receiving 20150 citations.

Average real variability of 24-h systolic blood pressure is associated with microalbuminuria in patients with primary hypertension.

Abstract: Limited and conflicting data are available about the association between short-term blood pressure (BP) variability and urinary albumin excretion rate (uAER). The objective of our study was to analyze the relationships between microalbuminuria (MAU), defined as an uAER between 20 and 200 μg min(-1), and short-term BP variability (BPV), assessed as average real variability (ARV), weighted s.d. of 24-h BP and as s.d. of daytime and night-time BP. The study population consisted of 315 untreated essential hypertensives with normal estimated glomerular filtration rate (>60 ml min(-1) per 1.73 m(2)), who underwent 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring and 24-h uAER determination. MAU was detected in 82 (26%) patients. ARV of 24-h systolic BP (SBP) was significantly higher in patients with MAU (9.8 (8.5-11.1) mm Hg) when compared with those without it (9.1 (8-10.2) mm Hg; P=0.007). This difference held (P=0.026) after adjustment for age, mean levels of BP and other potential confounders by analysis of covariance. A statistically significant correlation was also found between ARV of 24-h SBP and uAER (r=0.17; P=0.003). This association remained significant (β=0.15; P=0.01), also taking into account the effect of 24-h average systolic and diastolic BP, age, gender, diabetes, serum uric acid, triglycerides, estimated glomerular filtration rate in multiple regression analyses. All the other indices of short-term BPV tested were not independently associated with MAU. Our results seem to suggest that in essential hypertension, short-term BPV, only when estimated by ARV of 24-h SBP, is independently associated with MAU.

PCSK9 is Expressed in Human Visceral Adipose Tissue and Regulated by Insulin and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptides

Abstract: Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) binds to and degrades the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), contributing to hypercholesterolemia. Adipose tissue plays a role in lipoprotein metabolism, but there are almost no data about PCSK9 and LDLR regulation in human adipocytes. We studied PCSK9 and LDLR regulation by insulin, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP, a potent lipolytic agonist that antagonizes insulin), and LDL in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and in human cultured adipocytes. PCSK9 was expressed in VAT and its expression was positively correlated with body mass index (BMI). Both intracellular mature and secreted PCSK9 were abundant in cultured human adipocytes. Insulin induced PCSK9, LDLR, and sterol-regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) and -2 expression (SREBP-2). ANP reduced insulin-induced PCSK9, especially in the context of a medium simulating hyperglycemia. Human LDL induced both mature and secreted PCSK9 and reduced LDLR. ANP indirectly blocked the LDLR degradation, reducing the positive effect of LDL on PCSK9. In conclusion, PCSK9 is expressed in human adipocytes. When the expression of PCSK9 is induced, LDLR is reduced through the PCSK9-mediated degradation. On the contrary, when the induction of PCSK9 by insulin and LDL is partially blocked by ANP, the LDLR degradation is reduced. This suggests that NPs could be able to control LDLR levels, preventing PCSK9 overexpression.

2016 European Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice.

Abstract: ABI : ankle–brachial (blood pressure) index ABPM : ambulatory blood pressure monitoring ACCORD : Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes ACE-I : angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor ACS : acute coronary syndromes ADVANCE : Action in Diabetes and Vascular disease: PreterAx

Nocturnal blood pressure in primary open-angle glaucoma

Abstract: Purpose: To evaluate the nocturnal blood pressure (BP) dipping-pattern in patients with manifest primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and to find possible associations with the severity of visual field damage. Methods: A number of 314 patients suffering from POAG were consecutively enrolled in this cross-sectional hospital-based study. Each patient had diurnal intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements, 24-hr BP monitoring and computerized perimetry with the Humphrey 30-2 SITA Standard program. Inclusion criteria were a mean IOP of less than 15 mmHg with fluctuations of less than 5 mmHg and a visual acuity of at least 20/40. One eye was randomly selected. Based on the night–day BP ratio, a mean arterial nocturnal BP drop of less than 10% was considered as non-dipping, between 10% and 20% as physiological dipping and of more than 20% as over-dipping. Results: Glaucoma patients with daytime systemic normotension on the average had more visual field loss in the over-dipper group (MD = 16.6 dB, IQR = 18.9 to 2.7 dB) than glaucoma patients with daytime systemic hypertension, who had less visual field defects in the over-dipper group (MD = 3.9 dB, IQR = 6.2 to 1.9 dB) (p = 0.004). This result was also found taking age, glaucoma duration, visual acuity, gender, systemic and topical medication as covariates into account. Conclusions: To judge the nocturnal BP situation of an individual patient, it is important to do this in relation to the daytime BP level. Twenty-four-hour BP evaluation might be important for all patients with POAG, as nocturnal BP could be a modifiable risk factor for glaucoma severity and progression.