Primary autonomic failure: a complex case of orthostatic hypotension in a hypertensive elderly patient.

Background: Primary autonomic failure (PAF) or Bradbury Eggleston syndrome is a neurodegenerative disorder of the autonomic nervous system characterized by orthostatic hypotension.

Case Summary: We report the case of a 76-year-old patient with a history of hypertension, who presented with exercise-induced fatigue. He exhibited systolic hypertension and resting bradycardia in the supine position, with orthostatic hypotension without reactive tachycardia, suggesting dysautonomia.

Factors associated with discrepancies between poor dyspnea perception and abnormal lung function in 65 asthmatic patients.

Background: Dyspnea is a subjective symptom of asthma whose perception is characterized by an interindividual variability. Poor dyspnea perception is usually associated with increased risk of exacerbation and may lead to inappropriate asthma management and under-treatment. We sought to identify factors associated with discrepancies between poor dyspnea perception and abnormal lung function in patients with moderate persistent asthma.

Autonomic dysregulation and phenobarbital in patients with masked primary hypertension.

Introduction: Primary hypertension can be masked and be responsible of a severe impact on the target bodies. The purpose of this study was to see if Phenobarbital at low dose is able to decrease the sympathetic hyperactivity assessed by cardiovascular autonomic reflexes in patients with masked hypertension.

Materials And Methods: This prospective study was conducted on a total of 91 patients with masked hypertension (average age 52.

Perception of Sleep Disturbances due to Bedtime Use of Blue Light-Emitting Devices and Its Impact on Habits and Sleep Quality among Young Medical Students.

Introduction: The use of blue light-emitting devices (smartphones, tablets, and laptops) at bedtime has negative effects on sleep due to light stimulation and/or problematic excessive use. We aimed to evaluate, among young medical students, if the perception of sleep disturbances due to bedtime use of these devices is consistent with healthier habits and a better sleep quality.

Materials And Methods: 294 medical students in medicine and pharmacy from the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Rabat, Morocco, took part in this anonymous and voluntary cross-sectional study and answered an electronic questionnaire.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practice of organ donation in Morocco: A cross-sectional survey.

In any health system, public awareness of organ donation fundamentally affects the organ transplantation programs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge and perception of the people in Morocco toward organ donation as well as to identify the reasons and determinants for refusal of organ donation. This opinion survey included a representative sample of 2000 participants in Morocco, and data related to sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge and self-opinion about organ donation, and reasons behind refusal were collected.

Relationship between poor quality sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness and low academic performance in medical students.

Purpose: Poor quality of sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness affect cognitive ability and have a negative impact on the academic performance of medical students. This study aims to determine the prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness, sleep quality and psychological distress as well as assess their association with low academic performance in this population.

Participants And Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 457 medical students from the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Rabat, Morocco, who completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale to determine the quality of sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness, respectively.

Independent predictor factors of supine tachycardia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Introduction: Supine tachycardia, frequently encountered in diabetic patients, is usually considered as an isolated diabetic complication in cardiac autonomic neuropathy. The objective of this study was to determine independent predictor factors of supine tachycardia among the clinical characteristics of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods: This prospective study included type 2 diabetic patients.

Kinetics of orthostatic blood pressure in primary hypertension.

Background: Primary Hypertension (HT) is the most prevalent cardiovascular disorder worldwide and is accompanied by significant morbidity and mortality.

Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the kinetics of orthostatic Blood Pressure (BP) in primary hypertensive patients during the change from supine position to standing position as well as during the standing position using the Orthostatic Test (OT).

Patients And Methods: This prospective study included a group of 107 primary hypertensive patients (mean age: 55.

Cardiovascular autonomic response to amlodipine in primary hypertension.

Sympathetic hyperactivity may be involved in primary hypertension. The purpose of this study was to evaluate both sympathetic and vagal activity responses in patients receiving amlodipine as antihypertensive agent. Patients and Methods.

[Sympathetic response in primary hypertension].

Unlabelled: High blood pressure (BP) is a major cause of cardiovascular disease and primary hypertension is a frequent pathological condition. Sympathetic hyperactivity may be involved in primary hypertension. The purpose of this study was mainly to evaluate sympathetic activity when performing cardiovascular autonomic profile examination in patients with primary hypertension in comparison with normotensive subjects.

[Cardiovascular autonomic reflexes on the postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome].

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is an inadequately understood pathology because its diagnosis is not based on the conventional methods of investigation. The orthostatic test allows to make the diagnosis easily. The objective of this study is to determine cardiovascular autonomic reflexes of 70 patients having POTS.

[Evaluation of the vagal activity by the Deep-Breathing test].

Objective: The Deep-Breathing (DB) test is of major importance in the evaluation of the vagal response (VR). We applied this test to assess the VR in a group of subjects with functional (neurological, cardiovascular or digestive) symptoms unexplained by standard cardiac examination and to compare it with the VR measured in a group of healthy controls.

Patients And Methods: The following groups were considered: a C-Group of healthy controls (n=50), and three groups each consisting of 50 symptomatic patients (S1, S2, S3).

Effects of adrenalectomy or RU-486 on rat muscle fibers during hindlimb suspension.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a glucocorticoid antagonist, RU-486, and of adrenalectomy (ADX) on rat skeletal muscle structural properties after 3, 7, and 14 days of hindlimb suspension (H). After H, a significant loss in muscle weight was observed as early as 3 days in soleus (SOL; -10%) and adductor longus (AL; -14%) muscles. In SOL, after only 7 days, a reduction (-14%) in type I fiber percent distribution occurred, accompanied by an increase (+129%) in intermediate type I fibers.

Effects of torbafylline on muscle atrophy: prevention and recovery.

The effects of torbafylline on the prevention of and the recovery from 5 weeks of hindlimb suspension induced atrophy were analyzed in rat soleus and extensor digitorum longus muscles. Muscle alterations were investigated by determining a suite of electrophysiological, histochemical, and muscle ultrastructural characteristics. Administration of torbafylline during the suspension period was ineffective in preventing any of the observed muscle atrophic changes.