IOTA simple rules for discriminating between benign and malignant adnexal masses: prospective external validation.

Objective: To determine the diagnostic performance of International Ovarian Tumor Analysis (IOTA) 'simple' rules for discriminating between benign and malignant adnexal masses.

Methods: A prospective study was performed between January 2011 and June 2012. Eligible patients were women diagnosed with a persistent adnexal mass who presented to the participating centers.

[Factors related with the presence of erectile dysfunction in patients with obstructive sleep apnea].

Background And Objective: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome can contribute to the development of erectile dysfunction (ED) through multiple mechanisms. The aim was to identify factors influencing the presence of ED in these patients.

Patients And Methods: Cross sectional study in men diagnosed with OSA by polysomnography.

beta-Adrenoceptor and GRK3 expression in human lymphocytes is related to blood pressure and urinary albumin excretion.

Objective: The objective of our work was to analyze if changes in the expression of beta-adrenoceptors (beta-ARs) and G-protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) in human lymphocytes - a practical surrogate for myocardial or vascular cells - are related to the hypertensive state and its clinical consequences.

Methods: Real-time quantitative RT-PCR was employed to evaluate the expression of the three beta-ARs (beta1, beta2, beta3) and three GRKs (GRK2, GRK3, GRK5) in human lymphocytes obtained from both normotensive and hypertensive patients, some of whom had been treated with blockers of the renin-angiotensin system. Office blood pressure, 24-h ambulatory blood pressure, urinary albumin excretion and serum biochemical profile were also recorded.

Polymorphisms of the angiotensinogen gene and the outcome of microalbuminuria in essential hypertension: a 3-year follow-up study.

Background: The objective of this study was to analyse the relationship of polymorphisms of the angiotensinogen (AGT) gene with the changes in microalbuminuria during 3 years of antihypertensive treatment in a group of young adults with essential hypertension.

Methods: Essential hypertensives, less than 50 years old, never previously treated with antihypertensive drugs and in the absence of diabetes mellitus were included. After the initial evaluation, patients were treated using only nonpharmacological measures (n=23), only beta-blockers (n=26), only angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) (n=57) or a combination of treatments (n=25).

Factors related to the occurrence of microalbuminuria during antihypertensive treatment in essential hypertension.

The objective of the study was to assess the factors related to the occurrence of microalbuminuria during the follow-up of a young adult group with essential hypertension that had not been previously treated. Normo-albuminuric essential hypertensives, <50 years old, who had not been previously treated with antihypertensive drugs and who did not have diabetes mellitus were included. After the initial evaluation, patients were treated using only nonpharmacological measures (n=62), beta-blockers (n=38), ACE inhibitors (n=64), calcium channel blockers (n=8), and several classes (n=15).