[Role of inflammation in hypertension].

Even though the mechanisms that mediate essential hypertension (HT) are not fully understood, an immunological-inflammatory mechanism could be the common pathway for diverse pathophysiological mechanisms. We analyze in a simplified way the participation of the immune system in HT. T lymphocytes (TL) and antigen presenting cells (APCs) are components of the immune system capable of generating proinflammatory cytokines.

[Predictive value of dipyridamole myocardial perfusion tomography on survival].

Background: Dipyridamole (DIP) is the most commonly employed pharmacological stressor for myocardial perfusion tomography (SPECT) in patients unable to reach an adequate work load.

Aim: To assess the predictive capacity of DIP SPECT on survival.

Material And Methods: We included 985 adults aged 66 ±11 years (45% women) with rest and DIP-SPECT.

[Follow-up of patients with good exercise capacity in stress test with myocardial single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)].

Background: The evaluation of coronary artery disease (CAD) can be performed with stress test and myocardial SPECT tomography.

Aim: To assess the predictive value of myocardial SPECT using stress test for cardiovascular events in patients with good exercise capacity.

Material And Methods: We included 102 males aged 56 ± 10 years and 19 females aged 52 ± 10 years, all able to achieve 10 METs and ≥ 85% of the theoretical maximum heart rate and at least 8 min in their stress test with gated 99mTc-sestamibi SPECT.

[Cocaine-induced vascular damage. Report of one case].

Cocaine abuse is associated with an increased risk of cardiac and cerebrovascular events, such as myocardial infarction, sudden cardiac death, and ischemic stroke. The underlying mechanisms leading to these complications are not fully understood although intravascular thrombus formation and accelerated atherosclerosis are prominent findings. We report a 39-year-old male addicted to cocaine, who presented with three consecutive ischemic events characterized by an acute myocardial infarction and two ischemic strokes complicated by cardiac failure and severe neurological sequelae.

Relationship between oxidative stress and essential hypertension.

This study investigated the association of blood pressure with blood oxidative stress-related parameters in normotensive and hypertensive subjects. A cross-sectional design was applied to 31 hypertensive patients and 35 healthy normotensive subjects. All subjects were men between the ages of 35 and 60 years.

Decrease in oxidative stress through supplementation of vitamins C and E is associated with a reduction in blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension.

Oxidative stress has been associated with mechanisms of EH (essential hypertension). The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that the antioxidant properties of vitamins C and E are associated with a decrease in BP (blood pressure) in patients with EH. A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted in 110 men with grade 1 EH (35-60 years of age without obesity, dyslipidaemia and diabetes mellitus, non-smokers, not undergoing vigorous physical exercise, without the use of any medication and/or high consumption of fruit and vegetables).

Relationship between (Na + K)-ATPase activity, lipid peroxidation and fatty acid profile in erythrocytes of hypertensive and normotensive subjects.

Oxidative stress may play a role in the pathogenic mechanism of essential hypertension. Lipid peroxidation can alter the cellular structure of membrane-bound enzymes by changing the membrane phospholipids fatty acids composition. We investigated the relationship between (Na + K)-ATPase activity, lipid peroxidation, and erythrocyte fatty acid composition in essential hypertension.