LPIN1 is a new target gene for essential hypertension.

Background: We previously showed Lipin1 (LPIN1) to be a candidate gene for essential hypertension by genome-wide association studies. LPIN1 encodes the Lipin 1 protein, which contributes to the maintenance of lipid metabolism and glucose homeostasis. However, little is known about the association between LPIN1 and blood pressure (BP).

Atherosclerosis of the carotid bulb is associated with the severity of orthostatic hypotension in non-diabetic adult patients: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The carotid bulb has a high density of baroreceptors that play an important role in maintaining blood pressure. We hypothesized that atherosclerosis of the carotid bulb would reflect the severity of orthostatic hypotension more accurately than would atherosclerosis of other carotid artery segments.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 198 non-diabetic adults.

The effects of anti-hypertensive drugs and the mechanism of hypertension in vascular smooth muscle cell-specific ATP2B1 knockout mice.

ATP2B1 is a gene associated with hypertension. We reported previously that mice lacking ATP2B1 in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC ATP2B1 KO mice) exhibited high blood pressure and increased intracellular calcium concentration. The present study was designed to investigate whether lack of the ATP2B1 gene causes a higher response to calcium channel blockers (CCBs) than to other types of anti-hypertensive drugs.

Enhancement of intrarenal plasma membrane calcium pump isoform 1 expression in chronic angiotensin II-infused mice.

Plasma membrane calcium pump isoform 1 (PMCA1) is encoded by (), the most likely candidate gene responsible for hypertension. Although PMCA1 is highly expressed in the kidney, little is known about regulation of its renal expression in various pathological conditions in vivo. Our study was designed to elucidate regulation of renal PMCA1 expression in mice.

Effects of tolvaptan in patients with chronic kidney disease and chronic heart failure.

Background: Tolvaptan, a vasopressin V receptor blocker, has a diuretic effect for patients with heart failure. However, there were a few data concerning the effects of tolvaptan in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 21 patients with chronic heart failure and CKD.

Relationship between Arterial Stiffness and Blood Pressure Drop During the Sit-to-stand Test in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus.

Aim: Patients with orthostatic hypotension (OH) have high arterial stiffness. Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) often have cardiac autonomic neuropathy that leads to OH; however, whether OH is an indicator of arterial stiffness progression is unclear. We aimed to investigate whether the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) varies between DM patients with and without OH using the sit-to-stand test (STST).