Panminerva medica
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The Gubbio Population Study (Gubbio Study) is a prospective epidemiological study carried out on the resident population of the city of Gubbio, Perugia, Italy. The study's objectives were both of public health nature (the control and awareness of hypertension), and experimental (the role of electrolyte handling at the cellular membrane level and its relation to hypertension). Additional objectives were addressed during the 30+ year activity of the study, in particular the role of kidney dysfunction. ⋯ The data are of relevance to Public Health and to experimental medicine alike and vouch to the importance of the control of risk factors at the community level.
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In the last few decades there has been much debate about the management of low-risk stage 1 hypertension in youth. In this article, we review the main findings of the HARVEST cohort accrued over 30 years, highlighting the contribution of this study to the existing literature. Tachycardia and sympathetic overdrive were closely intertwined in our HARVEST participants, promoting the development of sustained hypertension, metabolic abnormalities, and increased susceptibility to vascular complications. ⋯ To establish whether antihypertensive drug treatment should be started in this condition the clinician should consider the individual cardiovascular risk profile, the level of office mean BP and central BP. Despite recent progress in our knowledge, systolic hypertension still represents a challenging issue for the clinician. Hopefully, the HARVEST will continue to contribute data that help to fill the present gaps in evidence.
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Back pain (BP) is one of the most common problems seen by general practitioners. The aim of this pilot registry study was to evaluate the effects of Pycnogenol® (French Maritime Pine Bark extract) on pain, mobility and muscle spasm in patients with recurring episodes of back pain without any other clinical condition. ⋯ Pycnogenol® appears to be an effective and safe supplementary management in healthy subjects with idiopathic BP. Mobility, pain, general physical capacity and oxidative stress improved in only a week with further improvements up to 4 weeks in most patients; results appear to be better and faster with Pycnogenol® supplementation than with SM alone.
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Among the observational studies performed in the area of blood pressure measurements in the population the "Pressioni Arteriose Monitorate E Loro Associazioni" (PAMELA) investigation represents a unique research for several reasons. The PAMELA study combines clinic, home and 24-hour blood pressure measurements in all participants, which were representative of the general population. Examination included metabolic variables, allowing us to determine the interrelationships between blood pressure and metabolic profile. ⋯ Finally, PAMELA represents one of the few studies with a prolonged follow-up, the last survey being completed three years ago, and data collected are under analysis. This will allow to update the information related to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in the study cohort. The present paper provided an overview of the various scientific contributions of the PAMELA study to the epidemiology, pathophysiology and clinical aspects of hypertension and hypertension related cardiovascular risk.
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Chronic Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection encompasses a wide virologic and clinical spectrum with heterogeneous outcomes. The natural history of chronic HBV infection ranges from an inactive carrier state (hepatitis B e antigen-negative chronic infection) to progressive chronic hepatitis that may evolve in end-stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. ⋯ Remarkable results have been obtained both in the setting of overt and occult HBV infection. Here, we reviewed the meaning and the potential clinical applications of the measurement of core antigen and antibodies.