Evidence of the role of the vagal nerves as a monitor in the gastrointestinal-renal axis of natriuresis in human: Effects of vagotomy.

This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of gastrointestinal regulation of natriuresis. Sixteen subjects without (group I) and sixteen subjects with a truncal vagotomy (group II), were given a daily diet of 18mmol of sodium for 5days (D1-D5). The sodium deficit for this period was calculated for each subject and on the morning of day-6 (D6), their cumulative deficit (E) was given as 3% NaCl.

Prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in Hellas, Greece: the Hypertension Study in General Practice in Hellas (HYPERTENSHELL) national study.

Background: The Hypertension Study in General Practice in Hellas (Hypertenshell) is a cross-sectional study (much like the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study) for assessing the prevalence, level of awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in Greece.

Methods: The study was conducted with the collaboration of physicians in 98 Health Centers across Greece. Participants were interviewed about lifestyle, and blood pressure (BP) measurements were taken on two clinical visits for verification of diagnosis and control of hypertension.

Coinfection of Schistosoma mansoni and Strongyloides stercoralis in a patient with variceal bleeding.

We report a case of hepatosplenic schistosomiasis with portal hypertension and variceal bleeding in an immigrant patient from Egypt, coinfected with Strongyloides stercoralis. The diagnosis was based on the following: (a) identification of Schistosoma mansoni ova in the stools and colonic biopsy specimens, (b) portal hypertension and esophageal varices with normal liver function and the absence of hepatic cirrhosis stigmata, (c) history of migration from an endemic area and (d) ultrasonographic findings of spleen and liver enlargement, fibrosed portal tracts, and normal lobular architecture of liver parenchyma. Hepatosplenic schistosomiasis should be suspected in any patient from an endemic area who has splenomegaly, portal hypertension, and esophageal varices bleeding in the absence of stigmata of liver cirrhosis and hepatic insufficiency.

Prognostic significance of renal function in elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension: results from the Syst-Eur trial.

Several reports suggest that markers of renal function such as serum creatinine, serum uric acid, and urinary excretion of protein may be related to cardiovascular complications and mortality. This study analyzed the data from the Syst-Eur trial, which was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind intervention trial in elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension. The purpose was to evaluate whether serum levels of creatinine and uric acid and urinary protein excretion at entry are related to subsequent morbidity and mortality.

Follow-up of renal function in treated and untreated older patients with isolated systolic hypertension. Systolic Hypertension in Europe (Syst-Eur) Trial Investigators.

Background: In the outcome trials that provided information on renal function in older hypertensive patients, diuretics and beta-blockers were mostly used as first-line drugs. The long-term renal effects of calcium-channel blockers remain unclear.

Objective: To compare the changes in renal function in 2,258 treated and 2,148 untreated patients with isolated systolic hypertension, of whom 455 had diabetes mellitus and 390 had proteinuria.