Age-related differences of blood pressure profile in essential hypertension.

The purpose was to assess age-related circadian changes of blood pressure profile (BPP) employing a truncated Fourier series with four harmonics (tFs) in patients with essential hypertension. The study was performed on 32 patients with essential hypertension divided in two groups: (A) 15 patients younger than 55 years and (B) 17 patients older than 60 years. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were monitored every 20 minutes for 24 h with a noninvasive portable device (SpaceLabs 90202).

The structural arteriolar changes in diabetes mellitus and essential hypertension. The relative contribution of ageing and high blood pressure.

Aim: To evaluate the relative contribution of blood pressure, non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and ageing on arteriolar structural changes in essential hypertension and diabetes mellitus.

Population And Methods: One hundred subjects, 25 with hypertension (A), 25 with hypertension and diabetes (B), 25 with diabetes (C) and 25 healthy subjects (D). Blood pressure average values, obtained with non-invasive monitoring, and minimal vascular resistance, calculated with strain-gauge plethysmography, were statistically correlated.

The mechanism of the physiologic disappearance of the third heart sound with aging.

The third heart sound (S3) is often present in children and adolescents but is not present in most adults. Applying at the left ventricle a mathematical model, the mechanism of the disappearance of S3 was studied employing the frequency analysis of the sound and echocardiographic data. The existence of a significant correlation between the spectrum energy of S3 and the diameter and thickness of the left ventricle at the moment of S3 in 25 healthy subjects (aged 21 +/- 7 years) allowed us to interpret the origin of S3 based on a viscoelastic oscillating system.

The response of the ageing heart to regular physical exercise. An echo and Doppler study.

In upper middle age healthy subjects the functional cardiac reserve is known to be decreased (Port et al., 1980; Aubert et al., 1994).

Effect of acute and long-term administration of ramipril on circadian rhythm of blood pressure in essential hypertension.

Ambulatory monitoring was used to evaluate the antihypertensive efficacy and effect on circadian rhythms of blood pressure and heart rate of a single dose and long-term administration of ramipril in 20 patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension. Patients initially were randomized to receive either placebo or a single 5-mg dose of ramipril, followed 1 week later by 5 mg of ramipril daily for 6 months. Systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate were measured every 20 minutes for 24 hours.