Promoting Self-Management of Hypertension in the African-American Church.

Hypertension (HTN) continues to be one of the most preventable diseases that have global impact. The prevalence of HTN in African-Americans is considered to be among the highest in the world. This investigation sought to determine whether a church-based self-management program would aid African-American adults (18 years of age and above) in reducing their blood pressure (BP).

Alerts for Nurse Practitioners: Caring for Pregnant Women with Zika Virus.

There have been 3,625 cases of Zika virus in the United States and 22,069 cases in the U.S. Territories (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2016a).

Polymorphisms of adrenoceptors are not associated with an increased risk of adverse event in heart failure: a MERIT-HF substudy.

Background: Enhanced sympathetic activation has a central role in the development of heart failure (HF). We assessed whether the alpha(2C)-adrenoceptor (Del322-325) polymorphism exclusively or in combination with a beta(1)-adrenoceptor (Arg389) polymorphism, each with known independent effects on sympathetic function, were associated with an increased risk of adverse events in HF.

Methods And Results: A total of 526 patients enrolled in the Metoprolol CR/XL Randomized Intervention Trial in Congestive Heart Failure study were genotyped for both adrenoceptor polymorphisms.

The VEGF +405 CC promoter polymorphism is associated with an impaired prognosis in patients with chronic heart failure: a MERIT-HF substudy.

Background: A common polymorphism positioned at +405 of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene is known to influence VEGF protein production. In contrast, a second polymorphism, positioned at -460 polymorphism, has no reported functional effects. VEGF is linked to angiogenesis and might directly influence the clinical outcome of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).

An evaluation of the beta-1 adrenergic receptor Arg389Gly polymorphism in individuals with heart failure: a MERIT-HF sub-study.

Background: The Glycine389 variant of the beta-1 adrenergic receptor (beta1AR) generates markedly less cAMP when stimulated in vitro than the more prevalent Arginine389 variant.

Aims: The aim of this MERIT-HF sub-study was to ascertain whether this Glycine389 variant favourably influences outcome in heart failure similar to that observed with beta-blockers.

Methods: We identified the genotype at amino acid 389 of the beta1AR in 600 patients enrolled in the MERIT-HF study (UK and Dutch participants).

Chronic beta2-adrenergic receptor stimulation increases proliferation of human cardiac fibroblasts via an autocrine mechanism.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether chronic beta-adrenergic receptor (beta-AR) stimulation induces proliferation of human cardiac fibroblasts and to investigate the mechanism(s) involved.

Methods And Results: In vitro cultures of human cardiac fibroblasts were established from biopsies of right atrial appendage. RT-PCR analysis and pharmacological studies demonstrated that these cells express predominantly the beta(2)-AR subtype coupled to activation of adenylyl cyclase and p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK).