The American journal of medicine
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Comparative Study
Coronary vasomotor reactivity among normotensive African and white American subjects with chest pain.
Excess cardiovascular morbidity and mortality among African (black) Americans is the subject of intensive investigation but the etiology remains speculative. One hypothesis proposes that inherent, or intrinsic, differences in coronary vascular reactivity and endothelial function predispose African Americans to enhanced vasoconstriction and/or depressed vasodilation, resulting in excess ischemia. The objective of this study was to establish whether coronary vasoreactivity differs among normotensive, nondiabetic African and white Americans with normal arteries referred for coronary arteriography because of chest pain. ⋯ In the absence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and angiographic evidence of coronary artery disease, African American women demonstrate no evidence of intrinsic predisposition to enhanced coronary conduit vasoconstriction or depressed microcirculatory dilation in response to the endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilator agonists-acetylcholine and adenosine-when compared with responses of similar white men and women. Because of low enrollment of black males, definitive conclusions cannot be drawn regarding this group.
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Multicenter Study
Natural history of blood pressure in sickle cell disease: risks for stroke and death associated with relative hypertension in sickle cell anemia.
Blood pressure in individuals who have sickle cell disease has been reported to be lower than published normal values. We determine whether and to what degree this is true, using data obtained as part of a large natural history study. ⋯ Blood pressure is generally lower than normal in individuals with sickle cell anemia. Those with high values relative to this population had an increased risk of stroke and death. Blood pressure should be monitored but values obtained must be assessed relative to the lower values expected for patients with this disease. Those with blood pressure values above 140/90 mm Hg should be evaluated and considered for treatment.
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Poor adherence to antituberculosis treatment is the most important obstacle to tuberculosis control. ⋯ In the absence of public health intervention, half the patients defaulted treatment for 2 months or longer. Although common among the homeless and injection drug users, the problem occurred frequently and unpredictably in other patients. Nonadherence may contribute to the spread of tuberculosis and the emergence of drug resistance, and may increase the cost of treatment. These data lend support to directly observed therapy in tuberculosis.