Effects of Oral Butyrate on Blood Pressure in Patients With Hypertension: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Background: The microbiota-derived short chain fatty acid butyrate has been shown to lower blood pressure (BP) in rodent studies. Nonetheless, the net effect of butyrate on hypertension in humans remains uncovered. In this study, for the first time, we aimed to determine the effect of oral butyrate on BP in patients with hypertension.

Prevalence and reproducibility of differences between home and ambulatory blood pressure and their relation with hypertensive organ damage.

Home and ambulatory blood pressure (BP) better predict cardiovascular disease than office BP, but are not interchangeable. We hypothesised that home BP may be higher than office BP because of anticipatory reactions to self-measurement and studied prevalence and reproducibility of incremental differences between home and daytime ambulatory BP and their relation with hypertensive organ damage. A total of 176 participants (mean age 57.

Lack of difference between nebivolol/hydrochlorothiazide and metoprolol/hydrochlorothiazide on aortic wave augmentation and central blood pressure.

Background: The vasodilating beta-blocker nebivolol is thought to be superior in lowering wave reflection and central blood pressure (BP) compared to nonvasodilating beta-blockers. The results from studies comparing nebivolol with either metoprolol or atenolol, with or without hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), are not unequivocal.

Methods: We examined the effects of nebivolol 5 mg and metoprolol 100 mg with HCTZ 12.

'Diagnostic mode' improves adherence to the home blood pressure measurement schedule.

Background: The accuracy of home blood pressure measurement (HBPM) depends on adherence to the measurement schedule. We investigated the number of deviations from the requested schedule using an HBPM device equipped with a diagnostic mode that only allows patients to take a fixed number of BP readings at preset times.

Methods: We randomized patients to measure their BP as recommended by the European Society of Hypertension guideline in either the usual mode or the diagnostic mode.

Poor adherence to home blood pressure measurement schedule.

Background: Consensus dictates that devices used for home blood pressure (BP) measurement should be equipped with a memory to store readings, rather than trusting patients' logbooks. However, data entered in the memory rely on patients' adherence to measurement schedules. We investigated the number and relevance of deviations from the requested measurement schedule.

A premature stopcodon in thyroglobulin messenger RNA results in familial goiter and moderate hypothyroidism.

Impaired thyroglobulin (Tg) synthesis is one of the putative causes for dyshormonogenesis of the thyroid gland. This type of hypothyroidism is characterized by intact iodide trapping, normal organification of iodide, and usually low serum Tg levels in relation to high TSH, and when untreated the patients develop goiter. In thyroid tissue from a 13-yr-old patient suspected of a thyroglobulin synthesis defect, the Tg mRNA was studied.

The screening for mutations in the thyroglobulin cDNA from six patients with congenital hypothyroidism.

The six patients described in this study were clinically diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism. Based on clinical and pathophysiological parameters, the cause of the thyroid dyshormonogenesis was suspected to be a defect in the synthesis of thyroglobulin, the matrix protein for thyroid hormone synthesis in the thyroid gland. After RNA isolation from six goitrous tissues and control thyroid tissues, RT-PCR was used to amplify 20 overlapping thyroglobulin (TG) cDNA fragments.

Methimazole and propylthiouracil increase thyroglobulin gene expression in FRTL-5 cells.

In FRTL-5 cells, methimazole (MMI) and propylthiouracil (PTU), both thyroid peroxidase (TPO) inhibitors, increase thyroglobulin (Tg) mRNA levels and Tg accumulation in the medium. An increase in Tg mRNA levels and in Tg accumulation was observed after 2-4 h and 8 h incubation with 10,000 microM MMI or PTU, respectively. Glutamate dehydrogenase mRNA levels, which corresponded with total RNA levels, were not affected.

Methimazole increases thyroid-specific mRNA concentration in human thyroid cells and FRTL-5 cells.

Methimazole (1-methyl-2-mercaptoimidazole; MMI) increases thyroglobulin mRNA and thyroid peroxidase mRNA concentration in human thyroid cells and in FRTL-5 cells. MMI (1-10,000 microM) gives a dose-dependent increase of thyroglobulin concentration in the medium of human thyroid cells and FRTL-5 cells. The stimulation by MMI has no effect on the TSH-induced cAMP production and occurs in the presence or absence of thyrotropin (TSH).

Activation of human endothelial cell-type plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) by negatively charged phospholipids.

The endothelial cell-type plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) may exist in an inactive, latent form that can be converted into an active form upon treatment of the protein with denaturants, such as sodium dodecyl sulfate, guanidine HCl, or urea. The present paper demonstrates that latent PAI-1 can be activated by lipid vesicles containing the negatively charged phospholipids phosphatidylserine (PS) or phosphatidylinositol. The presence of a net negative charge on the phospholipid headgroup is essential for activation, since lipid vesicles consisting exclusively of zwitterionic phospholipids, such as phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine, do not activate PAI-1.