Effectiveness of Oral Hydration in Preventing Contrast-Induced Nephropathy in Individuals Undergoing Elective Coronary Interventions.

Background: Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is defined as worsening renal function, represented by an increase in serum creatinine of ≥ 25% or ≥ 0.5 mg/dL up to 72 h after exposure to iodinated contrast medium (ICM). The most effective preventive measure to date is intravenous hydration (IVH).

Cardiovascular Autonomic Responses to Aerobic, Resistance and Combined Exercises in Resistance Hypertensive Patients.

Here, we report the acute effects of aerobic (AER), resistance (RES), and combined (COM) exercises on blood pressure, central blood pressure and augmentation index, hemodynamic parameters, and autonomic modulation of resistant (RH) and nonresistant hypertensive (NON-RH) subjects. Twenty participants (10 RH and 10 NON-RH) performed three exercise sessions (i.e.

Antenatal corticosteroid therapy modulates hepatic AMPK phosphorylation and maternal lipid metabolism in early lactating rats.

Antenatal corticosteroid therapy is used to reduce neonatal mortality in preterm infants but it is currently unknown whether this intervention affects lipid metabolism at the peripartum. This study aimed to evaluate if antenatal corticosteroid therapy in pregnant rats and women affects lipid metabolism during early lactation. We evaluated women at risk of preterm delivery that received corticosteroid therapy (CASE) and women that were not exposed to corticosteroid and were not at risk of preterm delivery (CONTROL).

Agomelatine reduces circulating triacylglycerides and hepatic steatosis in fructose-treated rats.

Agomelatine (AGO) is an antidepressant drug with agonistic activity at melatonin receptor 1 (MT1) and MT2 and with neutral antagonistic activity at serotonin receptor 5-HT2. Although experimental studies show that melatonin reduces hypertriglyceridemia and hepatic steatosis induced by excessive fructose intake, no studies have tested if AGO exerts similar actions. To address this issue we have treated male Wistar rats with fructose (15% in the drinking water) and/or AGO (40 mg/kg/day) for two weeks.

Effects of Anti-TNF alpha Therapy on Blood Pressure in Resistant Hypertensive Subjects: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study.

Background: The cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is elevated in resistant hypertension (RH), but the effects of a TNF-α inhibitor in this population is unknown.

Objective: The aim of this trial was to evaluate whether a single dose of infliximab controlled by placebo acutely reduces blood pressure (BP) in RH subjects.

Methods: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial was conducted, and randomized RH subjects received either infliximab or placebo.

Pro-inflammatory Cytokines and Resistant Hypertension: Potential for Novel Treatments?

Purpose Of Review: To gather data from studies evaluating the pro-inflammatory profile of individuals with resistant hypertension (RH), and bring a clinical update of new and potential complementary therapies to treat inflammation in RH.

Recent Findings: Increases in pro-inflammatory cytokines are related to elevated blood pressure and target organ damage in RH patients. Clinical and experimental studies have shown that some biological therapies, especially TNF-α inhibitors, regulated pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines associated with improvements in clinical outcomes, although they are not yet reported in RH.