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Biomedical subjects

L Corea

Publications and source records attributed to L Corea.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Leucocytes and free radicals in stable angina pectoris.

Bicycle ergometer exercise was used to induce ischemia in 20 patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) blood concentrations, free radical generation (by the SOD-inhibitable reaction of ferricytochrome C), malondialdehyde (MDA) plasma concentrations, the unfractionated leucocyte filterability rate and the filterability rates of the granulocyte and mononuclear sub-fractions (using a positive pressure filtration system and 5 mu diameter Nuclepore filters), were monitored before and after exercise in the patients and in 18 matched controls. At the onset of ischemia a significant increase in the level of MDA plasma concentrations and significant decreases in both SOD blood concentrations and the SOD-inhibitable reduction of ferricytochrome C indicated oxygen free radicals had been released in the SAP patients. These changes were associated with significant impairments of granulocyte and unfractionated leucocyte filterabilities and with morphological evidence of granulocyte activation.

Aged

[The Study Group of Quinapril in Arterial Hypertension. The Steering Committee].

The efficacy and safety of the treatment of arterial hypertension with the ACE-inhibitor quinapril, were evaluated in a multicentre study conducted in Italy. The study, lasting 14 weeks, after a preliminary wash-out period, allowed response-based titration of quinapril dose from 10 mg to 40 mg once a day, with provision to combine additional hydrochlorothiazide (12.5 to 25 mg), in case of persistently high diastolic pressure levels. The efficacy sample included 1267 patients: at therapy week 14, 78.6% of patients were treated with quinapril alone. Global response rate (intent-to-treat) was 83.3%, with a mean reduction of diastolic pressure of 15.8 mmHg (95% confidence interval from 15.5 to 16.2 mmHg). 91 patients reported 126 associated adverse events (7.0%); the most frequently reported event was cough (2.7%). First-dose hypotension was rarely reported (1.3%), even in elderly and diabetic patients.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors

[Recent findings on the physiopathology of hypertension].

The numerous pathophysiological theories in the field of essential hypertension are often conflicting, and till now a comprehensive model is not available. The aetiology of human hypertension is probably multifactorial, the control mechanisms of hypertension are strictly interdependent, and the alteration of one induces readjustment of the others, so that it is very difficult to discriminate the "primum movens" from its consequences. In this review the recent acquisitions in the aetiology and the pathophysiology of arterial hypertension are analysed, with particular regard to the role of inheritance, of renal mechanisms of sodium retention, ions transport, humoral factors, central nervous system and of enhanced vascular reactivity. The activation of some of these pathophysiological factors induces the rise in peripheral vascular resistance, which is the final common pathway in the development of essential hypertension.

Biological Transport

Verapamil 240 SR versus verapamil 120 SR in arterial hypertension. A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study with 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.

Fifteen patients (6 males, 9 females), age range 36-70 years, were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study according to a Latin-square design, with the aim of comparing 24-hour blood pressure profiles after three 15-day treatment periods with placebo, verapamil SR 120 mg (V120 SR) given twice daily (bid), and verapamil SR 240 mg (V240 SR) given once daily (od). All of the patients were diagnosed as mild or moderate essential hypertensives on the basis of standard casual recordings. Noninvasive 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring was performed with an ICR Spacelab 5200 automatic device. In comparison with placebo, a clinically and statistically significant reduction in both systolic and diastolic BP over 24 hours was obtained with both active treatments. Comparison of the two active treatments shows that V240 SR led to a greater reduction in systolic and diastolic BP than V120 SR. No changes in heart rate were observed. Both treatments were well tolerated. In conclusion, both verapamil regimens proved to be effective and safe in treating essential hypertensives, with V240 SR giving better 24-hour BP control.

Adult

Stable angina pectoris and controlled ischemia: what causes the abnormalities in whole blood filterability?

The determinants of the altered whole blood filterability observed during coronary ischemia are still under discussion. Since no studies have been carried out to date on what exactly causes these alterations during the early stages of controlled ischemia in coronary heart disease, a model was set up using a bicycle ergometer test (with a 25 W increase every 2 minutes). Blood samples were taken from 48 stable angina pectoris patients and from a group of 28 matched controls before and immediately after exercise and 8 minutes later. Plasma viscosity, the filterability (through 5 microns diameter pore filters) of whole blood, erythrocytes, and polymorphonuclear and mononuclear leukocytes (separated by density gradient) were monitored. Alterations in whole blood filterability could be linked only to an impairment in polymorphonuclear cell filterability in those stable angina pectoris patients who reported chest pain and/or whose ST segment depression was greater than or equal to 2 mm.

Angina Pectoris

[Simvastatin versus gemfibrozil in the treatment of primary hypercholesterolemia in hypertensive patients treated with hydrochlorothiazide].

Recent pharmacological studies confirmed the role of hypercholesterolemia in the pathogenesis of coronary atherosclerosis. A 10% reduction in cholesterol levels can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by 15%. However many hypercholesterolemic patients often suffer from arterial hypertension and drugs such as thiazide diuretics cause an imbalance in lipid metabolism. The efficacy and the tolerability of simvastatin (a inhibitor of HGM-CoA reductase) with that of gemfibrozil (a fibric acid derivative, which can reduce the VLDL level) were compared in a placebo-controlled study in 2 groups of patients with primary hypercholesterolemia and mild-to-moderate essential hypertension treated with hydrochlorothiazide. After 10 weeks standard hypolipidemic diet and hydrochlorothiazide (25 mg od) therapy, 30 patients whose cholesterol levels were still greater than or equal to 250 mg/100 ml and whose diastolic blood pressure was less than 95 mmHg were randomized to one of the following treatments: simvastatin, 20 mg od, gemfibrozil, 600 mg bid or placebo, while continuing dietetic and diuretic treatment. After 24 weeks treatment, simvastatin induced a 37% reduction in cholesterol plasma levels, a 9% increase of HDL and a 16% reduction of LDL. APO-A1 showed a 4% increase, while APO-B showed a 3% reduction. Gemfibrozil induced a 20% reduction in plasma triglycerides and a 13% decrease in plasma cholesterol, with a significant 19% increase in HDL and a 11% reduction in LDL. No significant variations in any of the lipid parameters monitored were observed in the placebo group. Treatment with simvastatin or gemfibrozil in hypertensive patients in hydrochlorothiazide monotherapy can reduce total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol plasma levels, while significantly increasing HDL plasma levels compared to placebo. Simvastatin, however, resulted more efficient than gemfibrozil on total cholesterol or cholesterol fractions.

Adult

Leucocyte rheology in controlled coronary ischaemia.

Since no studies have been carried out on the exact origin of the alterations in white blood cell rheology during the early stages of controlled ischaemia in coronary arterial disease, a model was set up using a cycle ergometer test (with a 25 watts increase every 2 minutes). Blood samples were taken (before and after exercise and again 8 minutes later at recovery) from 18 patients with stable angina pectoris and a group of 22 matched controls. The filterability (through 5 micrometer diameter pore filters) of the polymorphonuclear leucocyte sub-population (separated by density gradient), the monocyte and lymphocyte sub-fractions (separated by adhesion to Petri dishes) as well as leucocyte activation (observed under a light microscope) were monitored. Our results showed that the total leucocyte count in patients and controls rose after exercise and was accompanied by a differential shift from the polymorphonuclear to the lymphocyte cells. The polymorphonuclear filterability rate increased significantly in patients when compared to their basal values at rest, and to the controls after exercise (+ 19.58%; P less than 0.002 vs basal values at rest; + 18.72%; P less than 0.002 vs controls). This increase persisted throughout the recovery period (+ 19.86%; P less than 0.002 vs basal values; and + 23.52% P less than 0.001 vs controls), indicating that a reduced polymorphonuclear leucocyte filterability can be associated with the first signs of ischaemia.

Aged

[Multicenter clinical study of the antihypertensive activity of lisinopril].

One-hundred patients suffering from slight-moderate hypertension (53 m, 47 f, aged between 18 and 78, average 49.08) have been studied in order to assess the effectiveness and tolerance of lisinopril ("Zestril", ICI-Pharma), a new ACE inhibitor in a single daily administration at doses of between 10 and 80 mg in relation to pressure values. Monotherapy with Lisinopril proved effective in 84 patients (88.4%), in 74 of whom (7.9%) pressure values were returned to normal. 11 patients (11.6%) did not respond to treatment. In most cases, the result was obtained with a dose of 20 mg in a single administration (32.6%). The incidence of side-effects was limited and in no case required the withdrawal of the drug.

Adolescent

[Doppler echocardiography in atrial myxoma].

Two-dimensional echocardiography is the technique of choice for the diagnosis of atrial myxoma. In fact the Echo study allows the recognition of the presence of the tumor, and can show its dimensions, shape, implantation site and motility. However, it is not clear the role of Doppler echocardiography in the evaluation of atrial myxoma. This technique could be useful to recognize patients with more severe obstruction to atrioventricular flow due to large tumors. In 4 patients with large atrial myxomas (3 left and 1 right atrial myxoma) Doppler analysis of atrioventricular flow showed an apparent correlation between variation of trans-mitral or trans-tricuspid diastolic flow and symptoms (syncopal attacks). Only patients with an obstruction to atrioventricular flow and severely restricted calculated mitral or tricuspid orifice had syncopal attacks, at variance with patients without flow obstruction. Further studies on larger population will verify this apparent relation between atrioventricular flow obstruction and clinical symptoms in patients with large atrial myxoma.

Adult

A multicenter trial of low dose captopril administered twice daily in patients with essential hypertension unresponsive to beta blocker-diuretic treatment.

Two hundred and one patients with essential hypertension, whose supine diastolic blood pressure (SDBP) was greater than or equal to 95 mmHg following 2 weeks of treatment with the optimal dose of a beta blocker-diuretic combination (Phase 1), were randomly assigned to the addition of either 25 or 50 mg captopril BID for 6 weeks (Phase 2). At the end of Phase 2, the dose of captopril was doubled in the patients not normalized (SDBP greater than or equal to 95 mmHg) and maintained in the others (SDBP less than 95) for an additional 4 weeks (Phase 3). At the end of Phase 3, the beta blocker was withdrawn in the normalized (SDBP less than 95 mmHg) patients, and captopril plus diuretic was given for 4 weeks (Phase 4). The addition of captopril at either dose level led to a significant fall (p less than 0.01) in standing and supine diastolic and systolic blood pressure after the first 2 weeks of treatment. There was no significant difference in response between the two dose levels of captopril. At the end of Phase 2, 59.4% and 55.8% of patients, respectively, assigned to 25 and 50 mg captopril BID, were normalized. Doubling the dose of captopril (Phase 3) led to approximately an additional 30% of patients being normalized. At the end of Phase 4 (captopril plus diuretic) the SDBP was still less than 95 mmHg in 63% of patients, whereas it was increased in the others. Side effects were noted in 10 patients (5%). The incidence was similar in each treatment group, and a total of four patients (2%) were withdrawn due to side effects.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists

High prevalence of septal thickness overestimation in hypertensive subjects and controls.

The aim of our study was to assess the frequency of important problems in the ultrasonic estimate of septal thickness as a consequence of multiple endocardial lines inside the septum in echocardiographic tracings of otherwise good technical quality. We performed an echocardiographic study in a population composed of 311 subjects (131 essential hypertensive subjects and 180 normotensive healthy controls) by using M-mode echocardiography under two-dimensional control, according to the recommendations of the American Society of Echocardiography. We observed the presence of one or more continuous lines inside the septum, each of them simulating an endocardial border and thus producing the appearance of two or more superimposed septal thicknesses differing by 2 mm or more in greater than 50% of the subjects (54% normotensive and 56% hypertensive). Furthermore, within the group of subjects with multiple septal lines, we found the disappearance of at least one of the farthest linear echoes, with resulting septal thinning of almost 2 mm in 58% of the normotensive and 61% of the hypertensive subjects. These findings suggest the need for caution when interpreting echocardiographic measurements of left ventricular septal thickness. We suggest that in the presence of multiple lines inside the septum, the echocardiographic examination should be continued up to the appearance of the thinnest septal image, possibly devoid of multiple lines inside the septum.

Adult

Antihypertensive efficacy and tolerability of captopril in the elderly: comparison with hydrochlorothiazide and placebo in a multicentre, double-blind study.

In this study we compared the antihypertensive efficacy and tolerability of captopril at 25 mg twice daily, hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), 12.5 mg twice daily and placebo in a multicentre, double-blind, randomized study that included 152 essential hypertensive patients (77 males, 75 females, 87 WHO stage I, 65 WHO stage II, aged 69 +/- 4 years, mean +/- s.d.). Supine and standing blood pressure were similarly reduced by captopril and HCTZ (P less than 0.01 for both compared with placebo). The heart rate did not change. Captopril (25-30 mg twice daily) and HCTZ (12.5 mg twice daily), alone or in combination, maintained their antihypertensive effect during a 24-week single-blind follow-up study. During the follow-up, diastolic blood pressure remained less than 100 mmHg in seven essential hypertensives on placebo, in 45 on captopril and in 25 on HCTZ. Side effects were observed in seven essential hypertensives during placebo (treatment withdrawn in two), in eight during HCTZ and in three during captopril. Serum potassium was reduced (P less than 0.05) and uric acid was increased (P less than 0.01) only during HCTZ. We conclude that captopril and HCTZ have similar antihypertensive efficacy in the elderly; however, captopril appears to be better tolerated.

Aged