Hypertension-Mediated Organ Damage in Relation to Severity of Chronic Low Back Pain in Hypertensive Patients.

Introduction: Chronic pain triggers a stress response, which results in increased blood pressure (BP). We investigated whether chronic low back pain (cLBP) in hypertensive patients is associated with an increased risk of hypertension-related organ damage.

Methods: We studied 85 consecutive hypertensive patients with a median age of 62 years (55-67), who suffered from cLBP, the severity of which was evaluated according to the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI).

Prothrombotic plasma fibrin clot phenotype is associated with spontaneous echo contrast in atrial fibrillation: The role of protein carbonylation.

Introduction: Spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) and left atrial appendage thrombus (LAAT) increase the risk of stroke and its severity in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Formation of denser fibrin networks and impaired fibrinolysis are associated with stroke risk in AF. This study investigated whether the prothrombotic fibrin clot phenotype characterizes patients with SEC/LAAT.