Impaired renal function impacts negatively on vascular stiffness in patients with coronary artery disease.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and coronary artery disease (CAD) are independently associated with increased vascular stiffness. We examined whether renal function contributes to vascular stiffness independently of CAD status.

Methods: We studied 160 patients with CAD and 169 subjects without CAD.

Association of central and peripheral pulse pressure with intermediate cardiovascular phenotypes.

Objective: We assessed the relationship between pulse pressure and intermediate cardiovascular phenotypes in a middle-aged cohort with high prevalence of hypertension.

Background: It has been suggested that central pulse pressure (cPP) is a better predictor of cardiovascular outcome than peripheral pulse pressure (pPP), particularly in the elderly. Yet, it is unclear if cPP provides additional prognostic information to pPP in younger individuals.

Gene expression profiling in whole blood of patients with coronary artery disease.

Owing to the dynamic nature of the transcriptome, gene expression profiling is a promising tool for discovery of disease-related genes and biological pathways. In the present study, we examined gene expression in whole blood of 12 patients with CAD (coronary artery disease) and 12 healthy control subjects. Furthermore, ten patients with CAD underwent whole-blood gene expression analysis before and after the completion of a cardiac rehabilitation programme following surgical coronary revascularization.

Arterial stiffness, intima-media thickness and carotid artery fibrosis in patients with primary aldosteronism.

Objectives: To evaluate vascular wall structure and conduit artery stiffness in patients with primary aldosteronism.

Methods: This observational study, conducted in a University Hypertension Center, evaluated the carotid wall by 2-D ultrasonography and ultrasonic tissue characterization, and analyzed arterial stiffness by applanation tonometer. Twenty-three consecutive patients with primary aldosteronism, 24 matched patients with essential hypertension and 15 controls were studied.

Normalization of catecholamine production following resection of phaeochromocytoma positively influences carotid vascular remodelling.

Objective: To evaluate the influence of plasma catecholamines on the vascular structure in humans, the effects of catecholamine normalization on the carotid wall of patients with phaeochromocytoma (PHEO) were investigated. A prospective study in patients with PHEO before and after (first follow-up: 20.5+/-1.

Plasma and urine aldosterone to plasma renin activity ratio in the diagnosis of primary aldosteronism.

Objective: To establish the best cut-off value of the aldosterone (ALD)/plasma renin activity (PRA) ratio when screening patients for primary aldosteronism. One hundred and six patients with primary aldosteronism and 100 essential hypertensive patients were investigated in rigorous standardized conditions.

Methods: The ALD/PRA cut-off values were calculated from both the plasma and urine ALD/PRA ratio and analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.

Preclinical cardiac involvement in phaeochromocytoma: a study with integrated backscatter.

Objective: It is well known that vascular and cardiac structure may be influenced by circulating neurohormonal factors. Our aim was to study the myocardial wall texture by integrated backscatter (IBS) analysis in patients with phaeochromocytoma (PHEO).

Design: Fourteen patients with PHEO, 15 matched high-normal blood pressure (BP) subjects, 15 mild essential hypertensives and 15 normotensive controls underwent two-dimensional conventional ultrasonography and ultrasonic IBS of the myocardial wall.

Vascular reactivity in congenital hypogonadal men before and after testosterone replacement therapy.

Context: The contribution of endogenous testosterone (TS) in the functional integrity of peripheral circulation in men was studied.

Objective: The objective of this study was to observe vascular reactivity in male congenital hypogonadal patients before and after prolonged exposure to normal TS levels.

Design: This was a longitudinal study in which, basically and after 6-month (range, 6-8 months) androgen treatment, we investigated forearm blood flow (strain-gauge plethysmography) changes induced by intraarterial acetylcholine (Ach), alone or in the presence of N(G)-monomethyl-l-arginine infusion, and by sodium nitroprusside.

Carotid vascular remodeling in patients with pheochromocytoma.

Context: The influence of catecholamines on vascular remodeling in humans was investigated.

Objective: The objective was to study the carotid vascular wall in patients with pheochromocytoma (PHEO).

Design And Setting: An observational study was conducted in a university referral center for blood pressure diseases.