Does information on systolic and diastolic function improve prediction of a cardiovascular event by left ventricular hypertrophy in arterial hypertension?

Left ventricular (LV) mass (LVM) is the most important information requested in hypertensive patients referred for echocardiography. However, LV function also predicts cardiovascular (CV) risk independent of LVM. There is no evidence that addition of LV function significantly improves model prediction of CV risk compared with LVM alone.

[Usefulness of a telematic system and image analysis in the follow-up of high-risk patients: a new health service model].

Background: Inadequate blood pressure control in hypertensive patients is in contrast with the evidence from clinical studies of effectiveness of the same antihypertensive compounds used in clinical practice. These results may be due to follow-up management of hypertensive patients and in particular to the interaction between general practitioners (GPs) and hypertension specialists. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of an internet-based digital network, connecting specialists and GPs in the Campania Region, on blood pressure control and major cardiovascular events.

Beta2-adrenergic receptor polymorphisms and treatment-induced regression of left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertension.

Objectives: Although blood pressure is considered the major determinant of left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertension, genetic variability is increasingly being considered among the factors influencing this complication. beta(2)-Adrenergic receptors (beta(2)ARs) are up-regulated in hypertension and largely polymorphic within the human population. Recently, we have shown that the Glu27 beta(2)AR variant is strongly associated with cardiac hypertrophy in hypertension.

The use of a telematic connection for the follow-up of hypertensive patients improves the cardiovascular prognosis.

Background: Inadequate blood pressure (BP) control could be due to incorrect management of hypertensives caused by the lack of interaction between general practitioners (GP) and hypertension specialists.

Objectives: To test the effectiveness on BP and total cardiovascular risk (TCVR) control of an internet-based digital network connecting specialists and GPs.

Methods: We created a network among the Hypertension Clinic, Federico II University (Naples, Italy), 23 hospital-based hypertension clinics and 60 GPs from the area (CampaniaSalute Network, CS).

The Glu27 allele of the beta2 adrenergic receptor increases the risk of cardiac hypertrophy in hypertension.

Objective: Cardiac and vascular remodeling occur in response to hypertension. Genetic background appears to modify the development of target organ damage (TOD). We evaluated the impact on hypertension-associated TOD of a highly polymorphic gene with elevated significance for the regulation of the cardiovascular system, the beta2AR gene.

AKT participates in endothelial dysfunction in hypertension.

Background: In hypertension, reduced nitric oxide production and blunted endothelial vasorelaxation are observed. It was recently reported that AKT phosphorylates and activates endothelial nitric oxide synthase and that impaired kinase activity may be involved in endothelial dysfunction.

Methods And Results: To identify the physiological role of the kinase in normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), we used adenoviral vectors to transfer the human AKT1 gene selectively to the common carotid endothelium.