The impact of nocturnal hypertension and nondipping status on left ventricular mass: a cohort study.

Objective: Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring provides a unique tool in the evaluation of night-time blood pressure (BP), having a critical role in the detection of a blunted nocturnal fall and of elevated night-time BP. Both nondipping status and nocturnal hypertension are associated with increased cardiovascular risk and target organ damage. The aim of our study was to investigate the impact of both nondipping status and nocturnal hypertension on left ventricular mass (LVM), assessed by means of echocardiography in a consecutive cohort of untreated participants.

Impact of masking effect on subclinical carotid atherosclerosis in normotensives and untreated masked hypertensive and hypertensive patients.

Objectives: The masking effect (ME) is present in masked hypertensive patients; however, both normotensive and hypertensive individuals may show a similar phenomenon. Previous studies have shown that ME has been associated with left ventricular hypertrophy and microalbuminuria in treated hypertensive patients. The aim of our study was to evaluate the association between the magnitude of systolic ME and the extent of common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT) development in normotensive individuals and untreated masked hypertensive and hypertensive patients.

Association of isolated systolic, isolated diastolic, and systolic-diastolic masked hypertension with carotid artery intima-media thickness.

Masked hypertension (MH) is associated with advanced target organ damage. However, patients with MH constitute a group of individuals with heterogeneous characteristics concerning their ambulatory blood pressure (BP) status. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of isolated systolic MH, isolated diastolic MH, and systolic/diastolic MH with carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT).

Leptin levels in women with polycystic ovaries undergoing ovarian stimulation: relation to lipoprotein profiles.

Aim: To investigate serum and follicular fluid (FF) leptin levels in normally-ovulating women and subjects with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation and correlate them with their lipid lipoprotein profile.

Materials And Methods: We included 70 PCOS women (35 lean and 35 overweight or obese) and 76 age- and weight-matched non-PCOS controls (39 lean and 37 overweight or obese).

Results: Serum levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein B, lipoprotein(a) and homocysteine in women with PCOS were significantly higher compared to control groups while levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and apolipoprotein A1 were significantly lower.

Lipid lipoprotein profile alterations in Greek infertile women with polycystic ovaries: influence of adipocytokines levels.

Aim: To correlate serum and follicular fluid (FF) leptin and visfatin levels with lipid lipoprotein levels in women with and without polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) undergoing ovarian stimulation.

Materials And Methods: We studied 90 PCOS women and 94 age- and weight-matched controls, enrolled in the In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) program.

Results: Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein B and lipoprotein(a) levels were significantly elevated, while high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol and apolipoprotein A1, lower in PCOS subjects.

Correlation of visfatin levels and lipoprotein lipid profiles in women with polycystic ovary syndrome undergoing ovarian stimulation.

The aim of this study was to determine serum and follicular fluid (FF) visfatin levels in age and weight-matched women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and normally ovulating subjects undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation and correlate them with their lipid and lipoprotein levels. We included 80 PCOS women (40 lean and 40 overweight) and 80 age- and weight-matched controls, enrolled in the IVF program. In PCOS women, we determined significantly increased serum and FF visfatin as well as serum levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein B, lipoprotein(a) and homocysteine, while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein A1 were significantly lower compared to controls.

Fatal lower limb infection by Trichosporon asahii in an immunocompetent patient.

Trichosporon (T.) asahii can cause superficial skin infections and can be an opportunistic pathogen that produces potentially fatal systemic infections in immunocompromised hosts. We report a case of lower limb infection due to T.

Inflammation on the cervical papanicolaou smear: evidence for infection in asymptomatic women?

Background: The significance of the possible presence of infection on the Pap smear of asymptomatic women based on cytological criteria is practically unknown.

Materials And Methods: A total of 1117 asymptomatic nonpregnant women had Pap smear tests and vaginal as well as cervical cultures completed (622 with and 495 without inflammation on the Pap smear).

Results: Out of the 622 women with inflammation on Pap test, 251 (40.