Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in asymptomatic type 2 diabetic patients: detection and evaluation by tissue Doppler imaging.

Conflict Of Interest: NONE DECLARED The aim of the study was detection of diastolic dysfunction of myocardium with Tissue Doppler Imaging (TDI) in asymptomatic type 2 diabetic patients, in five years duration of disease, and normal cardiac function on conventional echocardiography (CE), according to the performance showed on exercise stress test.

Material And Methods: We studied 300 patients, of them 150 patients with non-obese, normotensive, uncomplicated type 2 diabetes, in five years duration of disease and 150 healthy control subjects. Of all patients, 100 with type 2 diabetes, and 100 patients from the control group underwent exercise test on a treadmill.

Aortic Compliance and Stiffness Among Severe Longstanding Hypertensive and Non-hypertensive.

Introduction: Abnormal aortic function in hypertension is generally attributed to accelerated breakdown of elastin in the aorta, leading to dilatation of the lumen and stiffening of the wall as elastin is replaced with stiffer collagen. Aortic stiffness is an independent predictor of cardiovascular risk and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Vascular stiffening can activate endothelium which in turn may promote atherogenesis.

Pleiotropic and Lipid-lowering Effects of Statins in Hypertension.

Background: Data on the lowering effects of statins in hypertensive patients have been mixed and highly controversial. Some studies shows reductions effects of statins in blood pressure, whereas others do not. The evidence in the literature on the effects of statins on blood pressure raises the possibility that statins may directly lower blood pressure in addition to reduce cholesterol levels-pleiotropic effects of statins.