Relationship between 2nd-generation angiotensin receptor blockers and the risk of hypotension in COVID-19 patients admitted to hospital.

It has not yet been established whether angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB), statins, and multiple drugs affect the severity of COVID-19. Therefore, we herein performed an observational study on the effects of 1st- and 2nd-generation ARB, statins, and multiple drugs, on COVID-19 in patients admitted to 15 Japanese medical facilities. The results obtained showed that ARB, statins, and multiple drugs were not associated with the primary outcome (odds ratio: 1.

Acoustic stimulation for relieving pain during venipuncture: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Objectives: To assess whether acoustic stimulations relieve venipuncture pain and determine which stimulation is the most effective type.

Design: Systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Data Sources: PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Excerpta Medica dataBASE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, ClinicalTrials.

Effect of Music in Reducing Pain during Hemodialysis Access Cannulation: A Crossover Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background And Objectives: Pain during cannulation for vascular access is a considerable problem for patients with kidney disease who are undergoing hemodialysis. We examined whether listening to music can reduce cannulation pain in these patients.

Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: We conducted a multicenter, single-blind, crossover, randomized trial of 121 patients who reported pain during cannulation for hemodialysis.

Impact of Percutaneous Transluminal Renal Angioplasty on Autonomic Nervous System and Natriuresis in Hypertensive Patients With Renal Artery Stenosis.

Background We investigated the early postoperative effect of percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty on ambulatory blood pressure (BP) and the circadian characteristics of natriuresis and autonomic nerve activity. Methods and Results A total of 64 patients with hypertension with hemodynamically significant renal artery stenosis (mean age, 60.0±21.

Combined evaluation of plasma B-type natriuretic peptide and urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding protein/creatinine ratio is related to worsening renal function in patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: There are few reports on the significance for the combined evaluation of blood humoral factors and urinary biomarkers in terms of worsening renal function (WRF) after coronary angiography (CAG)/percutaneous coronary arterial intervention (PCI).

Method And Results: Urinary liver type-fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP), neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL), and adrenomedullin (AM) were measured less than 24 h before and 3 h, 6 h, 1 day, and 2 days after CAG/PCI. WRF was defined as a > 20% decrease in the estimated GFR.

Hypocholesterolemia is a risk factor for reduced systemic vascular resistance reactivity during hemodialysis.

Intradialytic hypotension (IDH) is associated with high mortality. Peripheral vascular resistance and circulating blood volume are important factors in IDH; however, the effects of hemodialysis (HD) on vascular resistance in IDH remain unclear. We herein performed a retrospective observational cohort study to investigate changes in and factors related to vascular resistance during HD.

Effectiveness of music therapy for alleviating pain during haemodialysis access cannulation for patients undergoing haemodialysis: a multi-facility, single-blind, randomised controlled trial.

Background: Repeated pain during haemodialysis access cannulations is a serious problem for haemodialysis patients even when prescribed oral or topical analgesics. Although some studies have observed the efficacy of music therapy for improving pain and anxiety, its effectiveness during haemodialysis access cannulations during dialysis is uncertain. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of music therapy for pain when cannulating haemodialysis access for haemodialysis patients.

Association Between Circadian Hemodynamic Characteristics and Target Organ Damage in Patients With Essential Hypertension.

Background: This study investigated the association between circadian hemodynamic characteristics and asymptomatic hypertensive organ damage.

Methods: Circadian hemodynamics, including 24-hour brachial and aortic systolic blood pressure (SBP), pulse wave velocity (PWV), augmentation index (AIx@75), cardiac index, and total vascular resistance (TVR), were evaluated using an oscillometric device, Mobil-O-Graph, in 284 essential hypertensive patients (67.8 ± 16.

Circadian hemodynamic characteristics in hypertensive patients with primary aldosteronism.

Objective: The present study aimed to compare circadian hemodynamic characteristics in hypertensive patients with and without primary aldosteronism.

Methods: Circadian hemodynamics, including 24-h brachial and central blood pressure (BP), SBP variability indices, central pulse wave velocity (PWV), augmentation index (AIx@75), cardiac index, and total vascular resistance (TVR), were evaluated using an oscillometric device, Mobil-O-Graph, in 60 patients with primary aldosteronism (63.4±13.

Association between renal function and outcomes after percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty in hypertensive patients with renal artery stenosis.

Objective: We investigated the impact of renal function on outcomes after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty.

Methods: A total of 139 hypertensive patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (mean age, 70 years, 80.6% men) who underwent renal percutaneous transluminal angioplasty were included.

High Stroke Volume Variation Is an Independent Predictor for Decreased Blood Pressure During Hemodialysis.

It currently remains unclear whether stroke volume variation (SVV) before hemodialysis (HD) is an independent predictor of decreased blood pressure (BP) during HD. Fifty-two patients were divided into two groups (Decreased BP during HD group: N = 10, Non-decreased BP group: N = 42). Fractional shortening was lower, and mean arterial pressure (MAP) and SVV were higher in the Decreased BP during HD group.

Effects of Percutaneous Transluminal Renal Angioplasty on Office and Home Blood Pressure and Home Blood Pressure Variability in Hypertensive Patients With Renal Artery Stenosis.

This study included 126 hypertensive patients with renal artery stenosis (mean age, 63 years; 22.2% fibromuscular dysplasia [FMD]) and investigated the effects of percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty on office and home blood pressure (BP), and BP variability estimates derived from home BP, both at baseline and up to 12 months after angioplasty. Home BP was measured for 7 consecutive days, and the threshold defining uncontrolled home BP was ≥135/85 mm Hg.

Effective uric acid-lowering treatment for hypertensive patients with hyperuricemia.

Uric acid (UA) has been associated with hypertension, renal disease and cardiovascular disease. The aim of the present study was to compare the UA-lowering effects of a standard dose of the UA synthesis inhibitor febuxostat to a standard dose of the uricosuric agent benzbromarone, and to investigate the effects of a low-dose combination of both agents in hypertensive patients with hyperuricemia. Twenty hypertensive patients with inadequate UA control were administered febuxostat 40 mg (Feb), benzbromarone 50 mg (Ben) and febuxostat 20 mg and benzbromarone 25 mg (feb/ben) for 3 months each in a randomized modified crossover manner.

Incidence and risk factors for restenosis, and its impact on blood pressure control after percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty in hypertensive patients with renal artery stenosis.

Objective: Percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTA) is one of the standard treatments for renal artery stenosis (RAS). We investigated the frequency and risk factors for restenosis, and its impact on blood pressure (BP) control.

Methods: A total of 175 hypertensive patients with RAS [mean age 60 years; 34% women; 30.

Trends in the awareness of salt restriction and actual salt intake in hypertensive patients at a hypertension clinic and general clinic: A one-year follow-up study.

The aim of the present study was to investigate trends in the awareness of salt restriction and actual salt intake in hypertensive patients at a hypertension clinic and general clinic following guidance regarding salt restriction. Subjects comprised 107 patients (mean age 71 ± 12 years) who were followed at a hypertension clinic and 164 patients (mean age 68 ± 11 years) who were followed at a general clinic. Estimated salt intake using spot urine samples and awareness of salt intake using a self-description questionnaire were assessed in 2013 and one year after guidance regarding salt restriction.

Effects of a selective aldosterone blocker and thiazide-type diuretic on blood pressure and organ damage in hypertensive patients.

The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of the aldosterone blocker eplerenone and thiazide-like diuretic indapamide on blood pressure (BP) and target organs with reference to salt intake in hypertensive outpatients. Twenty hypertensive patients (nine women and 11 men, mean age 71 ± 13 years) with inadequate BP control despite taking calcium channel blockers (CCBs) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) were administered eplerenone (50 mg/day) or indapamide (1 mg/day) for 3 months each in a randomized crossover manner. Salt intake, BP and indices of organ damage were assessed at baseline and at the end of each treatment period.

Related factors for worsening renal function following percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) in patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis.

Purpose: To identify candidates for PTRA in terms of the preservation of renal function, we herein evaluated factors that caused worsening renal function (WRF) after PTRA.

Methods: We evaluated 92 patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (mean age 70.7 ± 8.

Awareness of salt restriction and actual salt intake in hypertensive patients at a hypertension clinic and general clinic.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate awareness of salt restriction and actual salt intake in hypertensive patients at a hypertension clinic and general clinic. Subjects included 330 patients, with a mean age of 69±12 years, who were followed at a hypertension clinic and 200 patients, with a mean age of 67±11 years, who were followed at a general clinic. We estimated 24-h salt excretion using spot urine samples and checked the awareness of salt intake using a self-description questionnaire.

Pulmonary and gastric metastatic calcification due to milk-alkali syndrome: a case report.

The incidence of metastatic calcification is influenced by high serum calcium and phosphate concentrations and local physicochemical conditions, such as pH. A high pH accelerates tissue calcification. Patients with milk-alkali syndrome typically present with renal failure, hypercalcemia, and metabolic alkalosis, which are caused by the ingestion of calcium and absorbable alkali.

AP-VAS 2012 case report: a case of ANCA-negative pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis associated with IL-6-producing adenosquamous cell carcinoma of the lung.

A 76-year-old man with lung cancer and multiple metastases was admitted for purpura and rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. Adenosquamous cell carcinoma of the lung had been diagnosed 6 months earlier. Two anti-cancer drug regimens had no effect.

Churg-Strauss syndrome concomitant with chronic symmetrical dacryoadenitis suggesting Mikulicz's disease.

A case of Churg-Strauss syndrome complicated by chronic symmetrical dacryoadenitis suggestive of Mikulicz's disease is herein presented. A 72-year-old Japanese man, who had been previously diagnosed with asthma, presented with weakness of the left leg and purpura on the lower extremities. A neurological examination showed multiple mononeuropathies and a laboratory examination revealed elevated eosinophil counts, IgE levels and the presence of Myeloperoxidase-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCAs).

Tonsillectomy has beneficial effects on remission and progression of IgA nephropathy independent of steroid therapy.

Background: Indication of tonsillectomy in IgA nephropathy is controversial. The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of tonsillectomy on remission and progression of IgA nephropathy.

Methods: We conducted a single-center 7-year historical cohort study in 200 patients with biopsy-proven IgA nephropathy.

Relationship between urinary angiotensinogen and salt sensitivity of blood pressure in patients with IgA nephropathy.

We demonstrated previously that the blood pressure of patients with IgA nephropathy becomes salt sensitive as renal damage progresses. We also showed that increased urinary angiotensinogen levels in such patients closely correlate with augmented renal tissue angiotensinogen gene expression and angiotensin II levels. Here, we investigated the relationship between urinary angiotensinogen and salt sensitivity of blood pressure in patients with IgA nephropathy.

Urinary angiotensinogen reflects the activity of intrarenal renin-angiotensin system in patients with IgA nephropathy.

Background: A potential contribution of local activation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) to the pathogenesis of renal injury has been indicated by evidence for blood pressure-independent renoprotective effects of angiotensin II (AngII) receptor blockers (ARBs). The present study was performed to test the hypothesis that urinary angiotensinogen provides a specific index of intrarenal RAS status in patients with immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy.

Methods: This paper is a survey of urine specimens from three groups: healthy volunteers, patients with IgA nephropathy and patients with minor glomerular abnormality (MGA).

Mineralocorticoid receptor blockade enhances the antiproteinuric effect of an angiotensin II blocker through inhibiting podocyte injury in type 2 diabetic rats.

Treatment with angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers (ARBs) is the first-line therapy for hypertensive patients with diabetic nephropathy. However, emerging clinical evidence indicates that mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) blockers have blood pressure-independent antiproteinuric effects. We sought to determine whether treatment with an MR blocker, eplerenone, enhances the effects of an ARB, telmisartan, on podocyte injury and proteinuria in type 2 diabetic Otsuka-Long-Evans-Tokushima-Fatty (OLETF) rats.