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W S Peart

Publications and source records attributed to W S Peart.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The cardiovascular, endocrine and renal response of tetraplegic and paraplegic subjects to dietary sodium restriction.

1. The effects of change from a high to low sodium diet upon renal sodium and water excretion and hormone responses were studied in patients with dissociated sympathetic control (DS, tetraplegic) and controls with sympathetic control largely intact (IS, paraplegic). 2. Total and fractional urinary sodium excretion fell in response to sodium restriction in both groups, but the fall in fractional sodium excretion was greater in the DS group compared with the IS group (DS, 1.34 +/- 0.12 to 0.42 +/- 0.05%; IS, 0.96 +/- 0.08 to 0.52 +/- 0.06%). 3. Supine mean arterial pressure fell during the low salt period in the DS group (80.2 +/- 2.7 to 74.4 +/- 2.3 mmHg) but was unaffected by salt restriction in the IS group (101 +/- 2.3 to 98.8 +/- 2.7 mmHg). In the DS group, creatinine clearance remained constant throughout the low salt period (103.7 +/- 7.9 to 98.3 +/- 9.7 ml min-1), but fell during salt restriction in the IS group (101.4 +/- 8.5 to 83.2 +/- 5 ml min-1). 4. Plasma renin activity was lower during salt loading in DS subjects but increased more rapidly and to higher levels in response to salt restriction (DS, 1021 +/- 142 to 4439 +/- 355; IS, 1765 +/- 269 to 3683 +/- 465 pg angiotensin I ml-1 h-1). Plasma atrial natriuretic peptide concentration was higher in the DS group during salt loading and salt restriction (DS, 37.6 +/- 5.6 to 22 +/- 3.8; IS, 20.2 +/- 2.3 to 11 +/- 1.6 pg ml-1).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent

The sympathetic nervous system in hypertension due to unilateral renal artery stenosis in man.

The contribution of neurogenic mechanisms in maintaining hypertension was investigated in 13 patients with unilateral renal artery stenosis (twelve with normal, one with grossly elevated plasma renin levels) by determining the haemodynamic and hormonal responses to the centrally acting sympatholytic agent, clonidine. The same patients were studied after captopril to determine the dependency of their blood pressure on the direct peripheral effects of angiotensin-II. Sixteen patients with essential hypertension (normal plasma renin) were additionally studied after clonidine. After clonidine, blood pressure fell markedly in patients with renal artery stenosis (17 +/- 3%) and essential hypertension (18 +/- 2%). In both groups, clonidine lowered cardiac output by a reduction in stroke volume and heart rate; forearm vascular resistance was unchanged but digital skin vascular resistance fell. Plasma noradrenaline levels were normal in both groups and fell after clonidine; plasma renin activity and aldosterone levels were unchanged. After captopril, blood pressure fell minimally (5 +/- 3%) in renal artery stenosis patients; cardiac output fell and forearm and digital skin vascular resistance were unchanged. Plasma renin activity rose, plasma aldosterone fell and plasma noradrenaline was unchanged after captopril. In the patient with grossly elevated renin levels, blood pressure fell minimally (6%) after clonidine, but unlike others fell profoundly (37%) after captopril. We conclude that, in the majority of our renal artery stenosis patients, despite the elevated blood pressure, sympathetic nervous activity was not reduced. Central neurogenic mechanisms appear to play an important role in maintaining raised blood pressure. In the same patients the peripheral effects of angiotensin-II did not maintain vascular tone or hypertension.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult

'Low sodium' diuresis and ileal loss in patients with ileostomies: effect of desmopressin.

Patients with ileostomies show an early diuresis when sodium restricted; this, together with an obligatory ileal sodium loss, predisposes them to severe salt and water depletion. The role of arginine vasopressin in this circumstance and whether it is natriuretic, or antinatriuretic, is unclear. There is also controversy over its likely effect on small bowel fluid reabsorption. We have examined the effect of the non-pressor (V2) synthetic vasopressin analogue 1-deamino-8-D-arginine (desmopressin) on renal and ileal sodium and water excretion in ileostomy patients during acute adaptation to a low sodium diet. Patients were studied on two separate occasions (nonrandomised) with and without the administration of desmopressin (0.75 micrograms intramuscular, three times a day). In eight subjects without desmopressin there was pronounced diuresis on the first low sodium day, associated with a fall in renal sodium excretion and no change in ileal output or composition. In five (of the original) subjects with desmopressin there was pronounced antidiuresis, no change in renal sodium excretion, and no change in ileal output or composition. In both studies rises in plasma renin activity and salivary aldosterone concentration lagged behind the early decline in renal sodium excretion. We have confirmed the phenomenon of 'low sodium' diuresis after sodium restriction in ileostomy patients and shown that it can be prevented by desmopressin. Desmopressin has no direct or indirect effect on renal sodium excretion or ileal fluid and electrolyte loss in humans.

Aged

Hemodynamic and neurohormonal effects of clonidine in patients with preganglionic and postganglionic sympathetic lesions. Evidence for a central sympatholytic action.

BACKGROUND: Clonidine, a partial presynaptic and postsynaptic alpha-adrenoceptor agonist, has been shown to lower blood pressure in normal subjects but not in tetraplegics; however, the mechanisms of this action have not been elucidated. METHODS AND RESULTS: The hemodynamic and hormonal basis of the hypotensive action of clonidine was investigated in tetraplegics with complete cervical spinal cord transection and preganglionic sympathetic denervation, in patients with unilateral brachial plexus injury and postganglionic sympathetic denervation, and in normal subjects. In normal subjects, the fall in blood pressure after clonidine infusion was accompanied by a reduction in cardiac output that was predominantly due to a fall in stroke volume and in heart rate. The lack of fall in blood pressure, cardiac output, and stroke volume in tetraplegics indicates that these effects are exerted at a supraspinal level and require intact descending sympathetic pathways. After clonidine infusion, digital skin vasodilatation occurred in normal subjects, in the innervated but not the denervated limb of patients with unilateral brachial plexus injury, and in tetraplegics, indicating that this response is due to the central sympatholytic effect of clonidine. Plasma norepinephrine was much lower in tetraplegics compared with normal subjects, and after clonidine infusion, it fell substantially in normal subjects alone. Plasma renin activity did not change. Bladder stimulation in tetraplegics resulted in a rise in blood pressure and vasoconstriction in digital skin vessels. The inability of clonidine to significantly reduce or abolish the pressor and digital vasoconstrictor responses after bladder stimulation in tetraplegics indicates that clonidine does not exert a major effect on spinal preganglionic neurons or peripheral presynaptic alpha 2-adrenoceptors. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, clonidine is a suitable drug for use in analyzing the central supraspinal levels of control in varying circulatory disorders, such as hypertension and postural hypotension.

Adolescent

Evolution of renin.

After the development of blood pressure measurements in humans, the association of high blood pressure with renal disease was established. Injection of extracts of various organs in an attempt to replace their secretions was common in the 19th century, and it was therefore natural for Tigerstedt and Bergman to investigate the effects of renal extracts. In this way, they discovered renin. This paper covers the methods by which its mode of action was uncovered, as well as its relation to renal ischemia and hypertension.

History, 18th Century

Studies on the isolation and properties of renin granules from the rat kidney cortex.

The present study was undertaken to isolate and investigate some physicochemical properties of renin granules from the rat kidney cortex. Two preparations of subcellular organelles were used: a primary-granule fraction, which allowed the properties of lysosomes to be compared simultaneously with those of renin granules, and a semi-purified preparation of the latter. The specific activity of renin in the primary-granule preparations was about 4-fold higher than in the original homogenate; that of the semi-purified renin-granule preparation was about 18-fold higher than in the homogenate, and consisted mainly of electron-dense granules but some mitochondria were also observed. Renin and acid phosphatase release from the primary-granule preparation was increased by lowering osmolality, by a low-molecular-weight solute (glucose) and by Triton X-100 or digitonin. Enzyme release was decreased by lowering the incubation temperature (4 degrees C) or the presence of CaCl2. Renin release from the partially purified granule preparation was not affected by cyclic AMP, cyclic GMP and ATP.

Acid Phosphatase

Sodium excretion in man, and adaptation to a low-sodium diet: effect of intravenous sodium chloride.

1. The aim of this study was to test whether a postulated gastrointestinal or portal monitor of sodium intake plays any part in adjusting renal sodium excretion when dietary sodium is reduced. 2. Normal male subjects were given 50 mmol of sodium chloride intravenously three times daily for 3 days to replace or to supplement a constant oral intake of sodium chloride. 3. When oral sodium chloride was replaced with intravenous sodium chloride, renal sodium excretion remained constant. 4. When oral sodium chloride was kept constant, sodium administered as intravenous sodium chloride was promptly excreted in three out of four subjects. There was a delay in the increase in sodium excretion in the fourth subject. 5. Infusions containing 50 mmol of sodium chloride in 50 ml given intravenously over 22 min produced a rise in plasma sodium concentration and a fall in concentration of total plasma solids. 6. These results provide no evidence for a gastrointestinal or portal monitor of sodium intake, but do not disprove the existence of such a monitor.

Adult

Retinal vein obstruction and intraocular pressure: abnormal postural response independent of facility of outflow.

Eleven patients with a central retinal vein obstruction and 18 with tributary vein obstruction were examined. The intraocular pressure of both eyes of each subject was measured while he was in the sitting position and again after he had been lying down for 15 minutes. Tonography was then carried out on both eyes. No correlation was found between the value of the coefficient of outflow and the magnitude of the rise in intraocular pressure occurring in any eye on the adoption of the supine position, and no correlation between the relative values of the coefficients of outflow in any pair of eyes and the occurrence of the obstruction in one eye rather than the other.

Adult

Ethnic differences in blood pressure with observations on noradrenaline and renin. 1. A working population.

115 factory workers (62 white, 53 black) were studied with measurements of blood pressure, plasma noradrenaline concentration, and plasma renin activity. Blood pressure was higher in blacks than in whites. There were no ethnic differences in plasma noradrenaline, which increased with age, but was not related to blood pressure. Mean plasma renin activity was 55% lower in blacks than whites and this difference was not related to differences in sodium intake. There were no associations between renin and noradrenaline, or between renin and blood pressure.

Adult

Ethnic differences in blood pressure with observations on noradrenaline and renin. A hospital hypertensive population.

100 patients with essential hypertension (77 whites, 23 black) were studied with measurements of plasma noradrenaline concentration and plasma renin activity. Black patients had higher blood pressure than whites. There were no ethnic differences in mean plasma noradrenaline, but plasma renin activity was lower in blacks than whites, and this difference was not related to differences in sodium intake. Plasma noradrenaline increased with age in blacks, and in a white control group. Young white hypertensive patients (< 45 years) had higher plasma noradrenaline than controls, and in white hypertensives plasma noradrenaline was positively correlated with plasma renin.

Adolescent

Renin release.

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Animals

Are racial differences in essential hypertension due to different pathogenetic mechanisms?

1. Plasma noradrenaline concentration and plasma renin activity were measured in a control, British, urban population (n = 115) in which blacks were matched for age and sex with whites. 2. Similar measurements were made in subjects with essential hypertension (77 white and 23 black), and 48 healthy normotensive white civil servants. 3. In controls blood pressure was significantly higher in blacks; it correlated with age in both races and with pulse rate in blacks. There were no significant racial differences in plasma noradrenaline which was positively correlated with age in both blacks and whites. Mean plasma renin activity was 55% lower in blacks, and this difference was not related to urinary sodium excretion. 4. In hypertensive subjects plasma noradrenaline positively correlated with age in blacks. This relationship was not found in whites in whom 20% of young hypertensive subjects (less than 45 years) had significantly raised plasma noradrenaline. Plasma renin activity was again significantly lower in blacks. In white hypertensives plasma noradrenaline and renin activity were significantly correlated. 5. There may be racial differences in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension.

Black People