Auscultatory BP: still the gold standard.

1. Current research documents AusBP is more accurate and reliable than all other clinical methods. 2.

Stress reduction in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease: randomized, controlled trial of transcendental meditation and health education in Blacks.

Background: Blacks have disproportionately high rates of cardiovascular disease. Psychosocial stress may contribute to this disparity. Previous trials on stress reduction with the Transcendental Meditation (TM) program have reported improvements in cardiovascular disease risk factors, surrogate end points, and mortality in blacks and other populations.

Non-replication study of a genome-wide association study for hypertension and blood pressure in African Americans.

Background: A recent genome wide association study in 1017 African Americans identified several single nucleotide polymorphisms that reached genome-wide significance for systolic blood pressure. We attempted to replicate these findings in an independent sample of 2474 unrelated African Americans in the Milwaukee metropolitan area; 53% were women and 47% were hypertensives.

Methods: We evaluated sixteen top associated SNPs from the above genome wide association study for hypertension as a binary trait or blood pressure as a continuous trait.

Cardiovascular correlates of insulin resistance in normotensive and hypertensive African Americans.

Insulin resistance (IR) is associated with obesity and predisposes to diabetes mellitus (DM) and cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study is to determine if IR is related to cardiovascular function independent of DM or hypertension among African Americans (AA). Four hundred sixty-two nondiabetic AA (50% hypertensive and 51% women) were studied on an inpatient General Clinical Research Center.

Decreased NKCC1 activity in erythrocytes from African Americans with hypertension and dyslipidemia.

Background: Recent studies demonstrated a key role of ubiquitous isoform of Na+,K+,2Cl- co-transport (NKCC1) in regulation of myogenic tone and peripheral resistance. We examined the impact of race, gender, and plasma lipid on NKCC1 activity in French Canadians and African Americans with hypertension and dyslipidemia.

Methods: NKCC and passive erythrocyte membrane permeability to K+, measured as ouabain-resistant, bumetanide-sensitive, and (ouabain+bumetanide)-resistant 86Rb influx, respectively, were compared in 111 French-Canadian men, 107 French-Canadian women, 26 African-American men, and 45 African-American women with essential hypertension and dyslipidemia.

Aldosterone contributes to blood pressure variance and to likelihood of hypertension in normal-weight and overweight African Americans.

Background: Hypertension and obesity are highly prevalent among African Americans (AAs). We have previously reported that both plasma aldosterone (PA) and body mass index (BMI) are higher in hypertensive than in normotensive AAs. This study evaluates the relative contributions of adiposity and PA to hypertension in AAs.

Cocaine use in inner city african american research volunteers.

Objectives: : To determine the prevalence of cocaine use and associated risk factors in African Americans volunteering as research subjects for a hypertension study.

Methods: : African Americans recruited from Milwaukee's inner city received $25 for completing a blood pressure screening protocol with the potential to participate in an additional protocol for $200, contingent on a negative drug test for cocaine. This study is based on the characteristics of the participants who completed the drug screen for cocaine.

The Omron Elite 7300W home blood pressure monitor passes the European Society of Hypertension International Validation Protocol for women and men.

Objective: To test the accuracy of the Omron Elite 7300W home blood pressure monitor using the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) Protocol.

Methods: The device was tested using the European Society of Hypertension International Protocol in 33 women and then in 10 men to satisfy the ESH for both men and women.

Results: The average error in all participants was 1.

Hypertension, insulin resistance, and aldosterone: sex-specific relationships.

African Americans, particularly men, have the highest morbidity and mortality rates from hypertension in the United States. The authors studied 527 African Americans in a general clinical research center to determine whether there are sex differences in the relationships between hypertension with insulin resistance (IR) and aldosterone, which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Measurements included ambulatory blood pressure (BP), anthropometric measures, plasma renin activity, plasma aldosterone (PA) concentration, and fasting serum lipids, glucose, and insulin.

Aldosterone and alterations of hypertension-related vascular function in African Americans.

Background: African Americans have a high prevalence of hypertension and hypertension-related vascular disease. We previously reported that plasma aldosterone concentrations are relatively high in hypertensive African Americans. This study evaluates the hypothesis that hypertension and hypertension-related alterations of peripheral vascular and renal vascular function are associated with aldosterone.

Characteristics of inner-city African-Americans with uncontrolled hypertension.

Hypertension control rates are low in inner-city African-Americans. This article describes the demographic and clinical characteristics of uncontrolled hypertension in this population. During a single outpatient visit, normotensive and hypertensive African-American volunteers (age 18 to 55) completed a questionnaire, and the following measurements were obtained: blood pressure (BP), anthropometric measures, and blood chemistries.

The HoMedics BPA-200 and BPA-300 home blood pressure devices fail the European Society of Hypertension International Protocol and cannot be recommended for patient use.

We have tested two home blood pressure monitors made by the HoMedics, Inc., 300 Pontiac Trail, Commerce Township, Michigan 48390, USA, using the European Society of Hypertension International Protocol. Both failed and we believe it is important to get this into the literature quickly to protect patients and practitioners.

Omron HEM-711 DLX home Blood pressure monitor passes the European Society of Hypertension International Validation Protocol.

The Omron HEM-711 DLX home Blood pressure monitor was tested using the European Society of Hypertension International Protocol in 33 patients. The average error was 0.9+/-5.

Altered relationship of blood pressure to adiposity in hypertension.

Background: Blood pressure levels and the prevalence of hypertension are related to adiposity. We evaluated the relationship of adiposity to blood pressure in normotensive and untreated hypertensive African Americans-an ethnic group with a high prevalence of hypertension and obesity.

Methods: Outpatient measurements were obtained in 1,858 normotensive and 1,998 hypertensive subjects (44% untreated) residing in Milwaukee.

Association of adrenal steroids with hypertension and the metabolic syndrome in blacks.

Blacks have a high prevalence of hypertension and adrenal cortical adenomas/hyperplasia. We evaluated the hypothesis that adrenal steroids are associated with hypertension and the metabolic syndrome in blacks. Ambulatory blood pressures, anthropometric measurements, and measurements of plasma renin activity (PRA), aldosterone, fasting lipids, glucose, and insulin were obtained in 397 subjects (46% hypertensive and 50% female) after discontinuing antihypertensive and lipid-lowering medications.

The Republic of Georgia High Blood Pressure Control Program.

Introduction: 52% of adults have uncontrolled hypertension in the Republic of Georgia. We incorporated a blood pressure control program into an existing primary healthcare system in an attempt to improve the rate of blood pressure control.

Methods: We conducted standardized trainings of rural primary care providers--doctors and nurses--in accurate measurement of blood pressure according to the Shared Care Method of Training and Certification.

Hyperaldosteronism and hypertension: ethnic differences.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between aldosterone and blood pressure in a total of 220 normotensive and 293 essential hypertensive subjects in 2 genetically distinct populations-blacks and white French Canadians. The 24-hour blood pressure monitoring was performed under standardized conditions after discontinuing antihypertensive medications. Plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone were measured in the supine position and after standing for 10 minutes.

Evolution of diagnostic criteria for primary aldosteronism: why is it more common in "drug-resistant" hypertension today?

The recent "epidemic" of primary aldosteronism reported in the literature is most likely related to the widespread acceptance that with easy access to accurate measurements of renin and aldosterone, it is no longer necessary to wait until hypokalemia has become profound before embarking on diagnostic testing to attempt to ferret out this most common cause of "essential" hypertension. This is especially true for those who are now classified as "drug resistant" using today's popular drugs, which are particularly ineffective in lowering blood pressure in primary aldosteronism and its variants. Understanding the physiologic consequences of a slowly increasing aldosterone production by autonomous cells will help both the family practitioner and the specialist understand the role of the aldosterone renin ratio (ARR) in the care of the hypertensive patient.

Genetic influences on the increase in blood pressure with age in normotensive subjects in Barbados.

The authors tested the single and combined effects of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA genotypes on the phenotypes of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and weight, and their changes over 5 years in normotensive subjects living in Barbados. The nuclear genotypes were gender (Y chromosome), haptoglobin (HP), and group specific component (Gc). A mitochondrial genotype was chosen as a marker for maternal lineage.

Dietary calcium lowers the age-related rise in blood pressure in the United States: the NHANES III survey.

This analysis of the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) was designed to investigate the impact of dietary calcium intake on age-related changes in blood pressure and pulse pressure. Data on 17,030 participants 20 years or older (mean age, 48.8+/-0.

Identification of hypertension-related QTLs in African American sib pairs.

To link hypertension-related phenotypes with chromosomal loci, genome scans were performed in 150 African American sib pairs concordant for essential hypertension. Phenotypes included blood pressure, anthropomorphic measurements, and estimates of body fluid compartments as determined by impedance plethysmography. These phenotypes were also measured in 335 normotensive African Americans.