Differential effects of nebivolol and metoprolol on central aortic pressure and left ventricular wall thickness.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the vasodilating β-blocker nebivolol and the cardioselective β-blocker metoprolol succinate on aortic blood pressure and left ventricular wall thickness. We conducted a randomized, double-blind study on 80 hypertensive patients. The patients received either 5 mg of nebivolol or 50 to 100 mg of metoprolol succinate daily for 1 year.

Association between asymmetric dimethylarginine and indices of vascular function in patients with essential hypertension.

Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase and is associated with endothelial dysfunction. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between ADMA, indices of arterial stiffness, endothelial function and carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) in hypertension patients. Eighty middle-aged (47 ± 10 years) untreated patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension underwent routine physical examination, pulse wave analysis (PWA), measurement of aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) and IMT.

Effects of amlodipine and candesartan on oxidized LDL level in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension.

Objective: To compare the effects of amlodipine and candesartan on oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL), conjugated dienes (CD) and baseline diene conjugation in circulating low-density lipoproteins (LDL-BDC) level during antihypertensive treatment.

Methods: Forty-nine patients with untreated mild to moderate essential hypertension were recruited in a randomized double-blind study to receive a daily dose either of 8 mg candesartan or 5 mg amlodipine for 16 weeks. Blood pressure, OxLDL, CD, LDL-BDC, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol and lipoprotein cholesterol were measured at baseline, at week 2 and at week 16.

Acute phase proteins and oxidised low-density lipoprotein in association with ischemic stroke subtype, severity and outcome.

Objectives: The goal of our study was to investigate the associations of oxidized LDL (apoB100 aldehyde-modified form) and acute phase proteins (fibrinogen, CRP) with acute ischemic stroke severity and outcome.

Materials And Methods: The study included 61 ischemic stroke patients and 64 controls. Strokes were subtyped according to TOAST criteria, the severity and outcome of stroke (at 1 year) were measured.

Augmentation index and carotid intima-media thickness are differently related to age, C-reactive protein and oxidized low-density lipoprotein.

Objective: Ageing, plasma circulating C-reactive protein (CRP), oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL) and homocysteine (Hcy) are associated with atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between age, inflammatory and oxidative stress-related markers with functional and structural changes of the arteries in asymptomatic persons.

Methods: CRP, OxLDL and Hcy were measured in 175 clinically healthy subjects, aged 40-70 years.

The relationship between inflammation and arterial stiffness in patients with essential hypertension.

Background: Data about the correlation between augmentation index (AIx), timing of the reflected waveform (T(r)) and inflammatory markers in patients with essential hypertension are not yet well established. The aim of this study was to compare plasma high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), white blood cell count and fibrinogen in hypertensive patients and in normotensive controls and to assess the relationship between inflammatory markers and arterial stiffness.

Methods: Forty-two healthy middle-aged patients with untreated stage I-II essential hypertension and 42 sex- and age-matched controls were recruited in the study.

Effect of antihypertensive treatment with candesartan or amlodipine on glutathione and its redox status, homocysteine and vitamin concentrations in patients with essential hypertension.

Objective: To compare the effect of candesartan or amlodipine on concentrations of cellular markers of oxidative stress, plasma homocysteine and vitamins in hypertensive patients.

Methods: Forty-nine middle-aged patients with untreated stage I-II essential hypertension were recruited in a randomized double-blind double-dummy study to receive a daily dose either of 8 mg candesartan (n = 25) or 5 mg amlodipine (n = 24) for 16 weeks. Blood pressure, reduced glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG), glutathione redox ratio (GSSG : GSH) in red blood cells, plasma homocysteine, vitamin B12 and folic acid status were measured at baseline, at week 2 and at week 16.

Homocysteine and red blood cell glutathione as indices for middle-aged untreated essential hypertension patients.

Objective: Intracellular glutathione in its reduced state is a principal cellular biomolecule with antioxidant activity. Glutathione and homocysteine metabolism are closely associated. As both oxidative stress and hyperhomocystinemia are associated with hypertension, we assessed the relationships between these variables.