Serum apolipoprotein A-II as a marker of change in alcohol intake in male drinkers.

The relative usefulness of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and the HDL components, apolipoproteins A-I and A-II (Apo A-I and Apo A-II), as prospective markers of change in alcohol intake was compared to gamma-glutamyl transferase (gamma GT) and erythrocyte mean corpuscular volume (MCV) in a controlled crossover trial of 46 moderate male drinkers whose alcohol intake was reduced by approximately 80% for six weeks by the substitution of their normal drinking habits for a low alcohol content beer only. Only serum Apo A-II levels correlated significantly with self-reported alcohol intake at the commencement of the study (r = 0.46; P less than 0.

Sulphate conjugation limits fluctuations in free catecholamines in phaeochromocytoma.

More than 80% of total noradrenaline (NA) and adrenaline (A) and nearly 100% of dopamine (DA) circulate in blood as sulphates, and it has been proposed that sulphate conjugation contributes to the inactivation of catecholamines (CA). Sulphate conjugation rapidly responds to changes in sympathetic activity and may buffer the haemodynamic and metabolic consequences of wide fluctuations in CA release in phaeochromocytoma. This hypothesis was tested in seven patients with phaeochromocytoma by consecutive measurements of plasma-free and conjugated NA, under resting conditions, before operation and at least 4 weeks after tumour removal.

Differential effects of sulindac and indomethacin on blood pressure in treated essential hypertensive subjects.

Attenuation of the effectiveness of antihypertensive therapy by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAI) drugs has been attributed to inhibition of systemic or renal vasodilator prostaglandin synthesis, or a combination of both. Indomethacin is a NSAI drug with both renal and extrarenal cyclo-oxygenase inhibition properties. Sulindac is a relatively selective cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor said not to affect urinary prostaglandin excretion.

Evidence for a direct effect of alcohol consumption on blood pressure in normotensive men. A randomized controlled trial.

A direct pressor effect of alcohol is proposed as the basis for the association between regular alcohol consumption and an increase in blood pressure found in population studies. To examine this further, a randomized controlled crossover trial of the effects of varying alcohol intake on blood pressure in 46 healthy male drinkers was conducted. From an average of 336 ml of ethanol per week, alcohol consumption was reduced by 80% for 6 weeks by drinking a low alcohol content beer alone.

Alcohol stimulation of renin release in man: its relation to the hemodynamic, electrolyte, and sympatho-adrenal responses to drinking.

Alcohol stimulation of the renin-angiotensin axis has been proposed as an explanation for the higher blood pressure in drinkers. This study examines the acute effects of moderate alcohol intake on PRA in relation to change in fluid and electrolyte balance, sympatho-adrenal activity, blood pressure, and heart rate in 20 normal men, aged 20-24 yr. They consumed either 750 ml nonalcoholic beer as a control or the same beverage with 1 ml/kg alcohol added, which increased the plasma alcohol concentration to 16.

A randomized controlled trial of the effect of alcohol consumption on blood pressure.

Forty-six healthy normotensive male drinkers participated in a randomized, controlled, crossover trial to study the effects of varying alcohol intake on blood pressure. Alcohol consumption (calculated from weekly diaries) was reduced from 336.3 (s.

Sulphate conjugation limits fluctuations in free catecholamines in phaeochromocytoma.

Sulphate conjugation represents an efficient mechanism for inactivating catecholamines (CA) with more than 80% of total noradrenaline (NA) and adrenaline (A) and nearly 100% of dopamine (DA), circulating as conjugates. Sulphate conjugation responds rapidly to changes in sympathetic activity and may buffer the haemodynamic and metabolic consequences of wide fluctuations in CA release in phaeochromocytoma. This hypothesis was tested in seven patients with phaeochromocytoma by consecutive measurements of plasma free and conjugated NA, under resting conditions, before operation and at least 4 weeks after tumour removal.

The effect of stopping smoking on blood pressure--a controlled trial.

Epidemiological studies have found evidence of lower blood pressure in smokers and predict an increase in blood pressure after stopping smoking. We have therefore monitored blood pressure change in 33 smokers following entry into a 6-week smoking cessation programme and compared the results to 33 matched controls who continued their normal smoking habits over the same period. Fourteen subjects were successful in quitting smoking for the entire 6 weeks, 13 were unsuccessful and 6 withdrew before completion of the programme.

Smoking withdrawal programme: baseline indicators of smoking exposure and biochemical monitoring of successful outcome.

Sixty-four subjects who participated in a smoking withdrawal programme were analysed with respect to the relative usefulness of biochemical and hematological indices of smoking exposure. Plasma thiocyanate was found to be the best biochemical correlate of baseline cigarette consumption when compared to salivary thiocyanate or expired air carbon monoxide. Both plasma and salivary thiocyanate also correlated significantly with depth of inhalation per cigarette but not with any other questionnaire index of smoking exposure.

Haemodynamic and neuroendocrine consequences of stopping smoking--a controlled study.

The haemodynamic and neuroendocrine consequences of stopping smoking for a 6 week period were studied in thirty-three smokers and their matched controls. Complete smoking cessation was associated with a significant fall in adrenaline and cortisol levels, consistent with the withdrawal of a nicotine stimulus to adrenomedullary and cortical activity. Supine systolic and diastolic blood pressure did not change significantly.