Acute vascular effects of atorvastatin in hypertensive men: a pilot study.

Objectives: Statins have multiple pleiotropic effects that are independent of their cholesterol-lowering properties including rapid improvement of endothelial function in vitro. Hypertension is characterized by endothelial dysfunction and we hypothesized that a single-dose of atorvastatin may have an acute effect on vascular function.

Design: Endothelium-dependent vasodilation (EDV) and endothelium-independent vasodilation were assessed with venous occlusion plethysmography during intra-arterial infusion of acetylcholine (ACH) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP), respectively, in 13 hypertensive men after wash-out from antihypertensive medication.

Medical Emergency Triage and Treatment System (METTS): a new protocol in primary triage and secondary priority decision in emergency medicine.

Background: In many Emergency Department (ED) triage scoring systems, vital signs are not included as an assessment parameter.

Objectives: To evaluate the validity of a new protocol for Emergency Medicine in a large cohort of patients referred to in-hospital care.

Methods: From January 1 to June 30, 2006, 22,934 patients were admitted to the ED at Sahlgrenska University Hospital.

Prediction of future hypertension by casual blood pressure or invasive hemodynamics? A 30-year follow-up study.

Blood pressure elevation in young age is associated with a risk of developing hypertension. However, not all subjects will progress to clinical hypertensives in need of pharmacological therapy. In younger subjects, there is essential to find clinical or experimental characteristics to predict the future risk of hypertension.