Excessive fall of blood pressure during maintenance hemodialysis in patients with chronic renal failure is induced by vascular malfunction and imbalance of autonomic nervous activity.

Acute hypotension during maintenance hemodialysis (HD) is not only a critical complication, but also an independent risk factor for mortality in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF). This study was designed to clarify the mechanisms underlying excessive fall of blood pressure during HD. Fifty-six CRF patients with HD thrice a week were divided into two groups according to the intradialytic hypotension episodes after 4 weeks of the observation period; the hypotension group, showing four or more episodes of intradialytic hypotension, and the non-hypotension group, showing three episodes of intradialytic hypotension or less.

Usefulness of pet ownership as a modulator of cardiac autonomic imbalance in patients with diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and/or hyperlipidemia.

Among patients with coronary artery disease, pet owners exhibit a greater 1-year survival rate than nonowners. Lifestyle-related diseases are well-known risk factors for coronary artery disease and induce imbalances in autonomic nervous activity. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether pet ownership modulates cardiac autonomic nervous activity imbalance in patients with lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia.

Physical activity is necessary to prevent deterioration of the walking ability of patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis.

Maintenance of the walking ability is very important for smooth continuation of maintenance hemodialysis (HD). The aim of the present study was to clarify the physical activity level in daily living that HD patients should maintain to prevent deterioration of their walking ability. Outpatients undergoing maintenance HD, consisting of 65 males and 88 females with a mean age of 64 +/- 11 years, were recruited for the present study.

Beneficial effects of L- and N-type calcium channel blocker on glucose and lipid metabolism and renal function in patients with hypertension and type II diabetes mellitus.

It has been proved that cilnidipine has N-type calcium channels inhibitory activity as well as L-type calcium channels and inhibits excessive release of norepinephrine from the sympathetic nerve ending. This study was undertaken to compare the efficacy of amlodipine (an inhibitor of L-type calcium channels) and cilnidipine (an inhibitor of both L-type and N-type calcium channels) in patients with hypertension and type II diabetes mellitus. Seventy-seven hypertensive patients were divided into two groups according to presence/absence of type II diabetes mellitus.

Effects of phase II cardiac rehabilitation on job stress and health-related quality of life after return to work in middle-aged patients with acute myocardial infarction.

The aim of the present study was to clarify the effects of phase II cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on job stress and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) after return to work in middle-aged patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). A total of 109 middle-aged outpatients (57 +/- 7 years) who completed a phase I CR program after AMI were enrolled, 72 of whom participated in a phase II CR program for 5 months after hospital discharge (CR group) and 37 who discontinued the phase II CR program after the discharge (non-CR group). Job stress was assessed at 6 months after the AMI using a brief job stress questionnaire containing questions related to job stressors, worksite support, level of satisfaction with work or daily life, and psychological distress.