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Biomedical subjects

J Morillo

Publications and source records attributed to J Morillo.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

Comprehensive ab initio thermodynamic treatment of impurities in ordered alloys: application to boron in B2 Fe-Al.

A rigorous description of impurities in nearly stoichiometric ordered systems, relying on independent-point-defect thermodynamics and density-functional-theory ab initio calculations, is presented and applied to the study of the equilibrium point defect structure of Fe-Al-B alloys in the B2 composition domain (x(Al) approximately 50 at. %, x(B) approximately 0), including the influences of (i) magnetism and (ii) the local density approximation (LDA) or generalized gradient approximation (GGA) exchange-correlation functionals. Whatever the alloy composition, B substitutes for Al, except in the nonmagnetic GGA scheme predicting a switch towards interstitial occupancy for sufficient Al contents.

Journal Article↗

Comparative effects of dopaminergic agonists on cardiovascular, renal, and renin-angiotensin systems in hypertensive patients.

The role of dopaminergic receptors on renal function has been extensively studied. Recently dopaminergic receptor has been classified in two subtypes D1 and D2, which seem to have different modulatory function. However, the role of dopaminergic receptors on cardiovascular function and more specifically the potential role of dopaminergic agonists as antihypertensive agents has not yet been clarified. Nine outpatients with mild and moderate hypertension were studied in the Cardiology Service of Vargas Hospital with a D1 agonist, piribedil, at 50-100 mg/day, orally, for 8 weeks, and with a D2 agonist, bromocriptine, at 2.5 - 5 mg/day, orally, for an another 8 weeks by using a placebo comparative crossover design. Piribedil reduced blood pressure with a modest increase in heart rate, plasma renin activity, and of plasma aldosterone, and an important increment of renal function. Bromocriptine reduced blood pressure with a decrease in heart rate and plasma aldosterone without altering renal function. There was no orthostatic hypotension with either agent. The authors conclude that activation of dopaminergic D1 receptor induces a vasodilatory and antihypertensive effect with a reflex increase in sympathetic tone, whereas activation of dopaminergic D2 receptor induces a decrease in sympathetic tone, probably due to a decrease in norepinephrine release at adrenergic endings. The potential effect of these compounds as antihypertensive agents is of great interest because blood pressure reduction can be induced by a new mechanism, i.e. activation of dopaminergic receptors which results in a decrease of the renin angiotensin system or a vasodilatory action.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aldosterone↗

Antihypertensive properties of tiapamil (RO 11-1781)--a new calcium antagonist--in patients with mild and moderate essential hypertension.

An open, non-comparative study, with a new calcium antagonist-tiapamil, was undertaken in 22 patients with mild and moderate essential hypertension (stage I-II WHO). After a two-week placebo period, patients were treated with tiapamil, 300-600 mg twice daily during a period of six weeks (Dose-finding period). Thereafter patients were continued on tiapamil during a 54 week period (Long-term follow-up). In some patients it was necessary to add the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide to obtain adequate control of the arterial hypertension. Monotherapy with tiapamil normalized supine diastolic blood pressure after the first six weeks in 17 of the 21 evaluable patients, and reduced it by greater than or equal to 10 mmHg (1.3 kPa) from baseline without normalization in two patients. In the two remaining cases the decrease was less than 10 mmHg. The optimal dose administered at six weeks in those patients who responded to treatment (normalization or decrease by greater than or equal to 10 mmHg.) was 600 mg/day in 32% of the cases, 750-900 mg/day in 47% and more than 900 mg/day in 21%. After completion of the dose-finding part, 19 patients continued treatment for a further 54 weeks. In 16 out of 19 patients hydrochlorothiazide was added to enhance the antihypertensive effect. All three patients who received tiapamil monotherapy throughout the trial, had normalized supine diastolic blood pressure on completing the study. In the 16 patients with the combination therapy, the addition of hydrochlorothiazide led in two patients to no further decrease in supine diastolic blood pressure, to an additional decrease by less than 10 mmHg in ten patients and by greater than or equal to 10 mmHg in four in comparison with the values obtained before starting combination therapy. At the end of the study 11 of these 16 patients had normalized supine diastolic blood pressure. The mean daily dose was 900 +/- 45 mg of tiapamil and 39 +/- 4 mg of hydrochlorothiazide. Both monotherapy and the combination regimen were well tolerated, and no effects attributable to drug interactions were observed. It may be concluded that tiapamil in oral doses of 300-600 mg twice daily is an effective antihypertensive agent with an excellent tolerance when administered for a period of 54 weeks.

Adolescent↗

Effects of prazosin and alphamethyldopa on blood lipids and lipoproteins in hypertensive patients.

The effects of prazosin and alphamethyldopa on blood lipids and lipoproteins were assessed in 20 patients with mild or moderate arterial hypertension. Parameters measured included serum cholesterol (CHO), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-CHO), insulin (I), glucose (G), and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA). Prazosin -4 mg/day for 6 weeks in hydrochlorothiazide-treated patients lowered blood pressure by 18.6/17.2 (systolic/diastolic pressure) mmHg. There was a significant decrease in CHO (-5.8%), in I (-16.5%), and in NEFA (-3.0%), and a significant increase in HDL-CHO (+15.5%). Alphamethyldopa 250-750 mg/day for 6 weeks in hydrochlorothiazide-treated patients lowered blood pressure by 18.8/14.6 (systolic/diastolic pressure) mmHg, accompanied by a non-significant decrease in CHO and TG, and significant increases in HDL-CHO (+10.3%), G (+8.5%) and NEFA (+6.4%). Thus, prazosin appears to have a more beneficial effect on blood lipids and lipoproteins than alphamethyldopa.

Adult↗

Haemodynamic effects of enalapril, a new converting enzyme inhibitor, in hypertensive patients.

The haemodynamic effects of enalapril (EN), a new, long-acting, nonsulphhydryl converting enzyme inhibitor, were evaluated by non-invasive methods in 10 adult patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension (EH). Patients were randomly assigned, double blind to 2 treatment groups (EN 20 mg o.d. or 10 mg b.d.) for 4 weeks, and were crossed over to the other dosage regimen after a 2-week washout period. Measurements included mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), cardiac output (CO), limb blood flow (LBF), plasma aldosterone (ALD), plasma renin activity (PRA) and systolic time intervals (STI). Both regimens (b.d. and o.d.) significantly reduced MAP (15.3% and 16.3%, respectively), total peripheral resistance (20.3% and 21.8%, respectively), limb vascular resistance (24.1% and 24.9%) and ALD (33.5% and 36.9%) and increased CO (7.8% and 8.7%), LBF (10.9% and 11.6%) and PRA (10.4% and 9.5%). No significant change was observed in HR or STI. EN 20 mg o.d. or 10 mg b.d. reduced arterial pressure to a similar extent through a fall in total peripheral resistance. An increase in CO was also observed.

Adult↗

Systemic and cardiac haemodynamic interactions between guanfacine and hydrallazine in hypertensive patients.

The effect of guanfacine and hydrallazine on cardiovascular haemodynamics and on sympathetic nervous activity has been studied in 16 patients with essential hypertension. Two groups of patients were investigated: in Group A guanfacine brought the blood pressure back to normal (diastolic blood pressure less than or equal to 90 mmHg), and in Group B diastolic blood pressure was greater than 90 mmHg and required the addition of hydrallazine. Guanfacine significantly decreased heart rate, plasma renin activity and urinary excretion of noradrenaline, without altering cardiac contractility. In Group B, guanfacine 2 to 6 mg/day produced a significant decrease in blood pressure from 178.7/112.4 to 164.4/102.9 mmHg and in heart rate from 77.1 to 62.7 beats/min after 4 weeks of treatment. Guanfacine did not significantly alter preejection period, cardiac output or total peripheral resistance. Hydrallazine 50 to 300 mg/day caused a further reduction in blood pressure from 164.4/102.9 to 150.7/90.2 mmHg and an increase in heart rate from 62.7 to 72.1 beats/min. Limb blood flow was increased from 4.55 to 5.93 ml/100 g/min and limb vascular resistance was decreased from 39.55 to 23.6 mmHg 100 g X min/ml. Hydrallazine also caused a slight increase in plasma renin activity and urinary excretion of noradrenaline. It is concluded that guanfacine is a useful agent to block a hydrallazine-induced increase in sympathetic nervous activity.

Adult↗

Cardiovascular hemodynamic interactions between clonidine and minoxidil in hypertensive patients.

The systemic, cardiovascular hemodynamic and biochemical interactions between clonidine and minoxidil were studied in ten patients with refractory and/or accelerated hypertension. Clonidine in oral doses of 150 to 900 micrograms/day decreased mean blood pressure (MAP) 18.6 mm Hg (p less than 0.01), average heart rate (HR) 16.4 bpm (p less than 0.01), limb blood flow 1.63 ml/100 g min (p less than 0.05), plasma renin activity (PRA) 1.13 ng/ml/hr (p less than 0.025), and urinary noradrenaline excretion rate 16.45 micrograms/24hr (p less than 0.05). Clonidine increased the preejection period index (PEPI) 12.4 msec ( p less than 0.001), but did not alter cardiac index (CI), total peripheral resistance index (TPRI), limb vascular resistance nor dopamine beta-hydroxylase activity. When minoxidil in oral doses of 5 to 22.5 mg was added, a further decrease in MAP of 24.2 mm Hg (p less than 0.01) was observed; PEPI decreased 20.6 msec (p less than 0.01), limb blood flow decreased 13.2 mm Hg/min 100 g/ml (p less than 0.05), and total peripheral resistance index decreased 13.3 mm Hg/min m2/L (p less than 0.05). Minoxidil increased average heart rate 8.2 bpm (p less than 0.05), PRA 1.68 ng/ml/hr (p less than 0.05) and urinary noradrenaline excretion rate 5.0 micrograms/24 hr (p less than 0.01). Limb blood flow, cardiac index and dopamine beta hydroxylase activity were not significantly altered by minoxidil. Neither clonidine nor minoxidil affected cardiovascular responses to treadmill exercise. We concluded that clonidine is a useful alternative agent to block a minoxidil-induced increase in sympathetic nervous activity.

Adult↗

A comparative study on the effects of pindolol and propranolol on systemic and cardiac haemodynamics in hypertensive patients.

Eight out-patients with essential hypertension participated in a comparative, placebo-controlled study with a cross-over design. Pindolol and propranolol were administered orally in doses of 20.0 +/- 3.13 mg/d (mean +/- SEM) and 125.0 +/- 19.17 mg/d respectively. Pindolol reduced mean blood pressure by 11.9 mmHg; pre-ejection period index by 8.1 msec; total peripheral resistance by 3.1 mmHg min/L; and limb vascular resistance by 3.28 mmHg min 100 g/ml. Heart rate, cardiac output, plasma renin activity and urinary norepinephrine excretion rate were not altered by pindolol. Propranolol reduced mean blood pressure by 14.0 mmHg; heart rate by 9.1 beats/min; cardiac output by 0.57 L/min; limb blood flow by 1.06 ml/100 g.min; and plasma renin activity by 1.44 ng/ml/h; and increased pre-ejection period index by 8.7 msec. Total peripheral resistance, limb vascular resistance and urinary norepinephrine excretion rate were not altered by propranolol. It was concluded that: (1) the drugs, pindolol and propranolol, are equally effective as antihypertensive agents; (2) heart function and plasma renin activity are decreased by propranolol and unaltered by pindolol; (3) total peripheral resistance is decreased by pindolol and unaltered by propranolol; and (4) these findings may be explained by the intrinsic sympathomimetic activity exhibited by pindolol only.

Adult↗

Effect of prazosin on blood lipids and on thyroid function in hypertensive patients.

Nineteen patients with essential hypertension (EH) were studied as outpatients. After administration of chlorthalidone, 50 mg/day for 4 weeks, prazosin 1-4 mg/day (1.82 +/- 0.33 mg/day) was added for a period of 12 weeks. Prazosin lowered supine blood pressure from 149.7 +/- 2.85/102.0 +/- 2.75 mm Hg to 128.2 +/- 3.0/86.1 +/- 1.04 mm Hg (p less than 0.001). Prazosin did not alter heart rate significantly. Prazosin increased the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) from 3.63 +/- 0.33 microunits/ml to 4.83 +/- 0.45 microunits/ml (p less than 0.025), thyroxine (T4) from 10.03 +/- 0.29 micrograms/ml to 10.85 +/- 0.42 micrograms/ml (p less than 0.005), and decreased triiodothyronine (T3) from 36.65 +/- 0.62% to 35.42 +/- 0.56%, which was not significant. The free thyroxine index (FTI) increased slightly from 3.67 +/- 0.12 to 3.83 +/- 0.14 (p less than 0.025). However, all values remained within the normal range for the laboratory. Serum cholesterol increased insignificantly. Triglycerides decreased significantly from 223.4 +/- 50.6 mg/dl to 161.7 +/- 29.0 mg/dl (p less than 0.05). High density lipoproteins (HDL) increased significantly from 30.1 +/- 2.1% to 36.0 +/- 3.06 (p less than 0.025). Low density lipoproteins (LDL) decreased insignificantly and very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) decreased from 20.9 +/- 3.44 to 16.3 +/- 2.85 (p less than 0.005). The cholesterol ratio increased from 45.51 +/- 4.3 to 64.71 +/- 10.7 (+42.1%). These results indicate that, in patients with essential hypertension, prazosin is an effective antihypertensive agent and that it significantly increases HDL, decreases VLDL, and improves the cholesterol ratio.

Adult↗

Effect of minoxidil on sympathetic nervous activity in clonidine-treated hypertensive patients.

The effects of clonidine and minoxidil on sympathetic nervous activity has been studied in 10 patients with accelerated or resistant hypertension. Clonidine 150 to 900 micrograms/day caused a significant decrease in blood pressure of 18.6 mm Hg, of heart rate 16.4 beats/min, of plasma renin activity 1.13ng/ml h, and of urinary noradrenaline excretion 11.55 micrograms/day, and a significant lengthening of the pre-injection period of 12.4 ms. Minoxidil 5 to 22.5 micrograms/day caused a further significant decrease in blood pressure of 24.2 mm Hg, and significant increases in heart rate 8.2 beats/min, plasma renin activity 1.68 ng/ml h and of urinary noradrenaline excretion 5.0 micrograms/day, and a significant shortening of the pre-ejection period of 20.6 ms. Neither clonidine nor minoxidil altered plasma dopamine beta-hydroxylase activity or the cardiovascular responses to treadmill exercise. It is concluded that clonidine is a useful alternative agent to block a minoxidil-induced increase in sympathetic nervous activity.

Adult↗

Systemic and cardiac hemodynamic interactions between clonidine and minoxidil.

We examined the hemodynamic interaction between clonidine, a centrally acting antiadrenergic drug, and minoxidil, a potent antihypertensive vasodilator in 10 inpatients with refractory or accelerated hypertension or both. Clonidine in oral doses of 150 to 900 micrograms/day decreased average mean blood pressure 18.6 mm Hg (p less than 0.01), average heart rate 16.4 bpm (p less than 0.01), limb blood flow 1.63 ml/100 gm . min (p less than 0.05), and plasma renin activity 1.13 ng/ml . hr (p less than 0.025). It also increased the pre-ejection period index 12.4 msec (p less than 0.001), but did not alter the cardiac or total peripheral resistance indices. The addition of minoxidil in oral doses of 5 to 22.5 mg/day further decreased average mean blood pressure 24.2 mm Hg (p less than 0.01), preejection period index 20.6 msec (p less than 0.01), limb vascular resistance 13.2 mm Hg/min . 100 gm/ml (p less than 0.05), and total peripheral resistance 13.3 mm Hg/min . m2/l (p less than 0.01), pre-ejection period index 20.6 msec (p less than 0.01), limb vascular resistance 13.2 mm Hg/min . 100 gm/ml (p less than 0.05), and total peripheral resistance 13.3 mm Hg/min . m2/l concluded that clonidine can be used as an alternative to beta-adrenergic blockers to counteract the increased sympathetic nervous activity minoxidil induces.

Adult↗