The role for ω-3 polyunsaturated and short chain fatty acids in hypertension: An updated view on the interaction with gut microbiota.

As of 2024, arterial hypertension is still considered the leading modifiable cardiovascular risk factor and, due to high rates of undertreatment and poor blood pressure control, the major contributor to human morbidity and mortality. Development of new treatment options and better interventions in lifestyle correction have become a priority of experimental and clinical research. In the last decades, dietary supplementation of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) and generation of gut microbiota-derived short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) have surged as potential and promising interventions for hypertension and cardiovascular prevention.

Daytime plasma cortisol and cortisol response to dexamethasone suppression are associated with a prothrombotic state in hypertension.

Background And Aims: A prothrombotic state was demonstrated in patients with Cushing's syndrome and is involved in the development and progression of cardiovascular and renal damage in hypertensive patients. This study was designed to examine the relationships between cortisol secretion and the hemostatic and fibrinolytic systems in hypertension.

Methods: In 149 middle-aged, nondiabetic, essential hypertensive patients free of cardiovascular and renal complications, we measured hemostatic markers that express the spontaneous activation of the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems and assessed daily cortisol levels (8 AM, 3 PM, 12 AM; area under the curve, AUC-cortisol) together with the cortisol response to dexamethasone overnight suppression (DST-cortisol).

Changes in Lipids in Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis Relates to Glucocorticoids and History of Hypertension.

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is an ANCA-associated small-vessel vasculitis. Vessel wall inflammation induces multiple vascular damages, leading to accelerated atherosclerosis. Metabolic profile and cardiovascular risk are somewhat understood in GPA patients.

Cortisol secretion and abnormalities of glucose metabolism in nondiabetic patients with hypertension.

Objective: Glycometabolic changes are associated with hypercortisolism in Cushing's syndrome. Because impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and insulin resistance are frequently detected in patients with essential hypertension, we hypothesized that in these patients, early glycometabolic abnormalities might be related to differences in regulation of cortisol secretion.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we included 155 nondiabetic, essential hypertensive patients who were free of organ complications.

Lipoprotein(a): Just an Innocent Bystander in Arterial Hypertension?

Elevated plasma lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a relatively common and highly heritable trait conferring individuals time-dependent risk of developing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD). Following its first description, Lp(a) triggered enormous scientific interest in the late 1980s, subsequently dampened in the mid-1990s by controversial findings of some prospective studies. It was only in the last decade that a large body of evidence has provided strong arguments for a causal and independent association between elevated Lp(a) levels and CVD, causing renewed interest in this lipoprotein as an emerging risk factor with a likely contribution to cardiovascular residual risk.

Immune disturbance leads to pulmonary embolism in COVID-19 more than classical risk factors: a clinical and histological study.

COVID-19 induces endotheliitis and one of the main complications is enhanced coagulation. The incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE) in COVID-19 (CPE) has increased and clinical features for a rigorous analysis still need to be determined. Thus, we evaluated the clinical characteristics in CPE and the immune infiltration that occurred.

A State-of-Art Review of the Vicious Circle of Sleep Disorders, Diabetes and Neurodegeneration Involving Metabolism and Microbiota Alterations.

In the context of neurodegenerative disorders, cognitive decline is frequently reported in older population. Recently, numerous metabolic pathways have been implicated in neurodegeneration, including signaling disruption of insulin and other glucose-regulating hormones. In fact, Alzheimer's disease has now been considered as "type-3 diabetes".

Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Arterial Hypertension: Is There Any Good News?

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs), including alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and its derivatives eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are "essential" fatty acids mainly obtained from diet sources comprising plant oils, marine blue fish, and commercially available fish oil supplements. Many epidemiological and retrospective studies suggested that ω-3 PUFA consumption decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease, but results of early intervention trials have not consistently confirmed this effect. In recent years, some large-scale randomized controlled trials have shed new light on the potential role of ω-3 PUFAs, particularly high-dose EPA-only formulations, in cardiovascular prevention, making them an attractive tool for the treatment of "residual" cardiovascular risk.

Effects of Monacolin K in Nondiabetic Patients with NAFLD: A Pilot Study.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common chronic liver condition with significant risk of progression to steatohepatitis and cirrhosis. Therapeutic strategies in NAFLD include lifestyle changes mainly related to dietary interventions and use of drugs or nutritional components that could improve plasma lipid profiles and insulin sensitivity and decrease the local inflammatory response. In this study, we tested the effects of monacolin K, an inhibitor of HMCoA reductase.

Association of arterial stiffness with a prothrombotic state in uncomplicated nondiabetic hypertensive patients.

Background And Aims: Past studies reported a significant contribution of a prothrombotic state to the development and progression of target organ damage in hypertensive patients. Stiffening of arterial vessels is associated with aging and hypertension, and additional factors could contribute to this process. This study was designed to examine the relationships between arterial stiffening and the hemostatic and fibrinolytic system.

Alcohol Intake and Arterial Hypertension: Retelling of a Multifaceted Story.

Alcoholic beverages are common components of diets worldwide and understanding their effects on humans' health is crucial. Because hypertension is the leading risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and all-cause mortality, the relationship of alcohol consumption with blood pressure (BP) has been the subject of extensive investigation. For the purpose of this review, we searched the terms "alcohol", "ethanol", and "arterial hypertension" on Pubmed MeSH and selected the most relevant studies.

Association of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease with left ventricular changes in treatment-naive patients with uncomplicated hypertension.

Background And Aims: Cardiac structural and functional changes have been demonstrated in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Because of the frequent association of NAFLD with hypertension, we aimed to examine the relationship of liver steatosis with left ventricular (LV) changes in patients with hypertension.

Materials And Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we included 360 untreated, essential hypertensive patients who were free of major cardiovascular and renal complications.

Insulin Resistance and High Blood Pressure: Mechanistic Insight on the Role of the Kidney.

The metabolic effects of insulin predominate in skeletal muscle, fat, and liver where the hormone binds to its receptor, thereby priming a series of cell-specific and biochemically diverse intracellular mechanisms. In the presence of a good secretory reserve in the pancreatic islets, a decrease in insulin sensitivity in the metabolic target tissues leads to compensatory hyperinsulinemia. A large body of evidence obtained in clinical and experimental studies indicates that insulin resistance and the related hyperinsulinemia are causally involved in some forms of arterial hypertension.

Relationship between cytokine release and stress hyperglycemia in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 infection.

Introduction: Stress hyperglycemia is a frequent finding in patients with COVID-19 infection and could affect the outcome of disease. Cytokines released in response to infection could have adverse effects on insulin sensitivity and pancreatic beta-cell function. The aim of the study was to examine the relationships of stress hyperglycemia with cytokines and clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

Emotional dysregulation and linguistic patterns as a defining feature of patients in the acute phase of anorexia nervosa.

Purpose: This research aims to analyze the relationship between emotional regulation and the symbolic process in autobiographical narratives of a group of individuals diagnosed with restrictive anorexia nervosa (AN), compared to a non-clinical group. The study is framed within multiple code theory (MCT) (Bucci, 1997; 2021), which considers mind-body integration. The purposes of this study are to investigate whether participants of the AN group will show greater alexithymia and emotional dysregulation than the non-clinical group; and whether the specific linguistic and symbolic features, such as somato-sensory words, affect words, and difficulty in the symbolizing process will predict the AN group.

Elevated Intrarenal Resistive Index Predicted Faster Renal Function Decline and Long-Term Mortality in Non-Proteinuric Chronic Kidney Disease.

Background. Intrarenal resistive index (RI) ≥ 0.80 predicts renal outcomes in proteinuric chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Cardiovascular Risk in Patients With Takayasu Arteritis Directly Correlates With Diastolic Dysfunction and Inflammatory Cell Infiltration in the Vessel Wall: A Clinical, and Analysis.

Background: Takayasu Arteritis (TAK) increases vascular stiffness and arterial resistance. Atherosclerosis leads to similar changes. We investigated possible differences in cardiovascular remodeling between these diseases and whether the differences are correlated with immune cell expression.

Vitamin D Deficiency Is Associated with Glycometabolic Changes in Nondiabetic Patients with Arterial Hypertension.

Recent evidence indicates that mildly increased fasting and post-oral load blood glucose concentrations contribute to development of organ damage in nondiabetic patients with hypertension. In previous studies, vitamin D deficiency was associated with decreased glucose tolerance. The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between serum 25(OH)D levels and glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in hypertension.

The Pivotal Role of Oleuropein in the Anti-Diabetic Action of the Mediterranean Diet: A Concise Review.

Type 2 diabetes currently accounts for more than 90% of all diabetic patients. Lifestyle interventions and notably dietary modifications are one of the mainstays for the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes. In this context, the Mediterranean diet with its elevated content of phytonutrients has been demonstrated to effectively improve glucose homeostasis.

Arterial stiffening in hypertension: is it just high blood pressure?

No abstract present.

Prognostic scores and early management of septic patients in the emergency department of a secondary hospital: results of a retrospective study.

Background: Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) and other illness prognostic scores predict adverse outcomes in critical patients. Their validation as a decision-making tool in the emergency department (ED) of secondary hospitals is not well established. The aim of this study was to compare SOFA, NEWS2, APACHE II, and SAPS II scores as predictors of adverse outcomes and decision-making tool in ED.

Prognostic Role of Malnutrition Diagnosed by Bioelectrical Impedance Vector Analysis in Older Adults Hospitalized with COVID-19 Pneumonia: A Prospective Study.

Background: Little is known on the clinical relevance of the nutritional status and body composition of patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence of malnutrition in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia using bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA), and to evaluate the relationship of their nutritional status with the severity and outcome of disease.

Methods: Among 150 consecutive patients who were hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia, 37 (24.

Plasma Lipoprotein(a) Levels as Determinants of Arterial Stiffening in Hypertension.

Previous studies have shown that plasma lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) plays an important role in the development of hypertensive organ damage. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship of Lp(a) with markers of arterial stiffening in hypertension. In 138 essential hypertensive patients free of diabetes, renal failure and cardiovascular complications, we measured plasma lipids and assessed vascular stiffness through the use of pulse wave analysis and calculation of the brachial augmentation index (AIx), and measured the pulse wave velocity (PWV).

Effects of Antithrombotic Agents on Ophthalmological Outcomes, Cardiovascular Risk, and Mortality in Hypertensive Patients with Retinal Vein Occlusion: An Exploratory Retrospective Study.

: Because few data are available, the aim of this study is to analyze the effects of antithrombotic agents (ATAs) on visual function and long-term risk of cardiovascular events and mortality in hypertensive patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO). : Hypertensive patients with RVO were consecutively selected from 2008 to 2012 and followed for a median of 8.7 years.