Uric Acid and Potassium Serum Levels Are Independent Predictors of Blood Pressure Non-Dipping in Overweight or Obese Subjects.

Background: Obesity and sleeping blood pressure (BP) abnormalities are well recognized as some of the main risk factors for hypertension and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of hypertension and non-dipping profile in overweight/obese subjects.

Methods: A sample of 100 consecutive healthy overweight/obese subjects, aged 20-69 years and never treated with antihypertensive drugs was examined.

Surgical and pharmacological reassignment: influence on transsexual cardiovascular risk profile.

Background/aim: To evaluate and stratify early cardiovascular risk of transsexuals who underwent pharmacological and/or surgical gender reassignment.

Methods: Fifty-six transsexuals were divided into two groups: group 1 - underwent gonadectomy (orchiectomy for transwomen and hystero-annessiectomy for transmen); group 2 - hormone replacement therapy alone. All participants underwent carotid artery intima-media thickness (C-IMT) and flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) of brachial artery evaluations.

Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss and ménière syndrome: The role of cerebral venous drainage.

Objectives: To evaluate the influence of cerebral venous drainage on the pathogenesis of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSHL) and Ménière syndrome (MD).

Design: Observational, prospective, cohort study.

Setting: ENT and Cardiology Departments (University of Bari, Policlinico Hospital, Bari, Italy).

Higher Waist Circumference, Fasting Hyperinsulinemia And Insulin Resistance Characterize Hypertensive Patients With Impaired Glucose Metabolism.

Unlabelled: Hypertensive patients are at higher risk of pre-diabetes (impaired fasting glucose IFG and impaired glucose tolerance IGT) and type 2 DM. This study was done to examine whether some general, anthropometric, hormone, and metabolic parameters are different between subjects with normal and impaired glucose metabolism (IGM) in hypertensive subjects, thus possibly identifying some variable characterizing glucose metabolism derangement in these patients. A cohort of 134 hypertensive patients, 55 women and 79 men, aged 37-70 years, were examined.

Correlation between inflammatory markers of atherosclerosis and carotid intima-media thickness in Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a sleep-related breathing disorder associated with the development of cardiovascular diseases and atherosclerosis. Systemic inflammation plays an important role in the development of cardiovascular complications in OSA patients. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and inflammatory markers plasma levels in OSA patients.