Journal of hypertension
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Journal of hypertension · Oct 2010
Randomized Controlled TrialContinuous positive airway pressure treatment in sleep apnea patients with resistant hypertension: a randomized, controlled trial.
This controlled trial assessed the effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on blood pressure (BP) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and resistant hypertension (RH). ⋯ In patients with resistant hypertension and OSA, CPAP treatment for 3 months achieves reductions in 24-h BP. This effect is seen in patients with ABPM-confirmed resistant hypertension who use CPAP more than 5.8 h.
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Journal of hypertension · Sep 2010
Reduction of endothelial tight junction proteins is related to cerebral aneurysm formation in rats.
The formation of cerebral aneurysms is associated with endothelial damage and macrophage migration. Hypothesizing that the opening of tight junctions due to the disappearance of the tight junction proteins occludin and zona occludens-1 (ZO-1) in damaged endothelia allows macrophage migration, leading to cerebral aneurysm formation, we investigated the role of tight junction proteins. ⋯ In rats, the destruction of tight junctions may facilitate macrophage migration and cerebral-aneurysm formation.
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Journal of hypertension · Sep 2010
Systemic peripheral artery relaxation by KCNQ channel openers and hydrogen sulfide.
Perivascular adipose tissue secretes an adipocyte-derived relaxing factor (ADRF) that opens voltage-dependent K (Kv) channels in peripheral arteries. We studied the role of KCNQ-type Kv channels and tested the hypothesis that hydrogen sulfide (H2S) could be an ADRF. ⋯ We suggest that KCNQ channel opening is a powerful mechanism to produce vasorelaxation of systemic arteries in rats and mice. Furthermore, KCNQ channels play a major role in the paracrine control of vascular tone by perivascular adipose tissue, which is at least in part mediated or modulated by H2S. In conditions of reduced H2S release from perivascular adipose tissue, these paracrine effects can be mimicked by synthetic KCNQ channel openers.
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Journal of hypertension · Aug 2010
Increased circulating CD31+/annexin V+ apoptotic microparticles and decreased circulating endothelial progenitor cell levels in hypertensive patients with microalbuminuria.
Microalbuminuria is associated with an increased risk for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, but the pathophysiologic mechanism underlying the association between urinary albumin excretion and cardiovascular disease remains unclear. Here, we tested the hypothesis that enhanced endothelial apoptotic microparticles and decreased endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) levels might contribute to the pathophysiology of microalbuminuria or macroalbuminuria in cardiovascular disease. ⋯ These findings suggest that hypertensive patients with microalbuminuria or macroalbuminuria have increased endothelial apoptotic microparticles and decreased circulating EPC levels, which may contribute to atherosclerotic disease progression and enhanced cardiovascular risk in hypertensive patients with nephropathy.
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Journal of hypertension · Aug 2010
Chronic kidney disease as an independent risk factor for new-onset atrial fibrillation in hypertensive patients.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has recently been recognized to be a powerful predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Atrial fibrillation (AF), which is a common arrhythmia in hypertensives, is associated with increased risks of cardiovascular events and death. However, the association between CKD and the onset of AF has not been fully elucidated. The present study assessed the hypothesis that CKD may influence the onset of AF in hypertensives. ⋯ The present study demonstrated that the complication of CKD, especially progressed renal dysfunction, was a powerful predictor of new-onset AF in hypertensive patients, independently of left ventricular hypertrophy and left atrial dilatation.