The Depiction of Hypertension in Heart Imaging Examinations: An Up-to-Date Review of the Evidence.

Hypertension is one of the main preventable cardiovascular (CV) risk factors all over the years, closely related to CV morbidity and mortality. One of the most common hypertensive target organ damages is hypertensive heart disease (HHD), including left ventricular hypertrophy, which progresses gradually and leads to systolic or diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricular, and finally to end-stage heart failure. Regarding its prevalence and the need for early diagnosis, assessment of heart imaging examination is of major importance.

Case report: Pathological differences in pulmonary arterial hypertension in long-term responders to calcium channel blockers.

Background: This study investigates the pulmonary arterial histopathology in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) and acute vasoreactive phenotype, who demonstrated long-term survival (>30 years) and incidental death from causes other than PAH progression. The pathological changes observed in these patients were compared with those in patients with bone morphogenetic protein receptor type 2 (BMPR2) mutation.

Case Presentation: We present two cases of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) who died incidentally from causes unrelated to PAH progression.

Comparative Treatment Persistence and Adherence to Endothelin Receptor Antagonists Among Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Japan: A Real-World Administrative Claims Database Study.

Introduction: Real-world data on the comparative effectiveness of endothelin receptor antagonists (ERAs; macitentan, bosentan, ambrisentan) for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), particularly in Asian countries, are scarce. We evaluated the persistence of these ERAs before and after macitentan approval in Japan (2015).

Methods: We used real-world data from the Japanese Medical Data Vision administrative claims database between April 2008 and November 2020.

The association between blood pressure control and long-term cardiovascular outcomes in Hypertension coexistent with obstructive sleep apnea.

Purpose: The goal of blood pressure (BP) control will be lower when hypertensive patients have comorbidities that can affect the risk of cardiovascular diseases. But, the goal of BP control for hypertensive patients coexistent with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is not discussed, which is a special population at high risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Patients And Methods: Using data from a retrospective study(Urumqi Research on Sleep Apnea and Hypertension (UROSAH) study, we enrolled 3267 participants who were diagnosed with hypertension and performed polysomnography during 2011-2013 to explore the association between BP control and long-term major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular event (MACCE).

Development and Validation of a Novel Model for Predicting Coronary Heart Disease in Snoring Hypertensive Patients with Hyperhomocysteinemia.

Hypertensive patients with snoring and elevated plasma homocysteine levels are common. When these factors are combined, the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) is high. Herein, we developed and validated an easy-to-use nomogram to predict high-risk CHD in snoring hypertensive patients with elevated plasma homocysteine.

A paradigm shift from office to home-based blood pressure measurement approaches in kidney transplant recipients.

Purpose Of Review: The unattended blood pressure (BP) readings from home blood pressure (HBP) monitoring should provide more accurate BP readings than attended BP obtained from office blood pressure (OBP). Here, we review evidence supporting the clinical utility of HBP and automatic remote monitoring of blood pressure (ARM-BP) in kidney transplant recipients (KTR).

Recent Findings: BP from 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (24-h ABPM) is higher than but better associated with kidney and cardiovascular outcomes compared to OBP and HBP.

Dietary protein intake and plant-dominant diets to mitigate risk of allograft dysfunction progression in kidney transplant recipients.

Purpose Of Review: There are limited studies on the benefits of low dietary protein intake (DPI) and plant-dominant diets to delay kidney allograft dysfunction. We evaluate evidence regarding the association or effects of the amount and type of DPI on allograft function.

Recent Findings: There is conflicting evidence regarding the benefits of low DPI and plant-dominant diet including PLADO and PLAFOND on kidney allograft function.

Systemic Inflammation Response Index as a Predictor of Stroke Risk in Elderly Patients with Hypertension: A Cohort Study.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the systemic inflammation response index (SIRI) and the risk of stroke and its subtypes in elderly patients with hypertension and to explore its predictive accuracy and any potential effect modifiers.

Methods: The study included 4749 participants with no history of stroke at baseline. Cox regression was used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

A Case of Ischemic Monomelic Neuropathy After Arteriovenous Fistula Placement.

Ischemic monomelic neuropathy (IMN) is a relatively uncommon and under-recognized complication of vascular access creation for arteriovenous (AV) fistula in hemodialysis patients. They usually develop distal muscle weakness, sensation loss, and severe acute pain without muscle necrosis soon after AV fistula creation. Physicians should be aware of this condition as prompt diagnosis and timely vascular interventions are necessary to save the limbs and prevent permanent functional disability.

Fluoroquinolone Use Preceding Visceral Artery Dissection: A Case Series.

Fluoroquinolones (FQ), commonly prescribed antibiotics, may trigger aortic and carotid dissections. We report three successive cases of visceral artery dissection: one patient with celiac trunk dissection and two with dissection of the superior mesenteric artery. These events occurred up to 4 months after 7 to 14 days of FQ treatment (2 cases of ofloxacin, 1 of norfloxacin).

Effects of intensive blood-pressure treatment on myocardial work in elderly hypertensive patients: A subcenter study of the STEP randomized controlled trial.

Background: The benefits and safety of intensive blood pressure treatment in elderly hypertensive patients have been proved in the STEP trial. However, relevant mechanisms for intensive treatment are lacking.

Hypothesis: We aimed to explore whether intensive blood pressure treatment is associated with left ventricular systolic function changes as evaluated by myocardial work (MW) parameters in elderly hypertensive patients compared to the standard.

Influence of Baseline Diastolic Blood Pressure on the Effects of Intensive Blood Pressure Lowering: Results From the STEP Randomized Trial.

Background: The STEP (Strategy of Blood Pressure Intervention in the Elderly Hypertensive Patients) trial demonstrated that intensive systolic blood pressure (SBP) lowering has cardiovascular benefits. However, the influence of baseline diastolic blood pressure (DBP) on the effects of intensive blood pressure lowering on cardiovascular outcomes has not been fully elucidated.

Methods: We performed a post hoc analysis of the STEP trial.

Long-Term Prognosis of Different Reperfusion Strategies for ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction in Chinese County-Level Hospitals: Insight from China Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term prognosis of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with different reperfusion strategies in Chinese county-level hospitals.

Methods: A total of 2,514 patients with STEMI from 32 hospitals participated in the China Acute Myocardial Infarction registry between January 2013 and September 2014. The success of fibrinolysis was assessed according to indirect measures of vascular recanalization.

Clinical significance of lung cross-sectional area measured by computed tomography in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: The correlation with pulmonary hemodynamics and the limitations.

The percentage cross-sectional area of the lung under five (%CSA) is the percentage of pulmonary vessels with <5 mm area relative to the total lung area on computed tomography (CT). The extent that %CSA is related to pulmonary hemodynamics in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is unclear, as is the effect of pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) on %CSA. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of %CSA in patients with CTEPH.

Global, regional, and national burden of hypertensive heart disease among older adults in 204 countries and territories between 1990 and 2019: a trend analysis.

Background: Hypertensive heart disease (HHD) poses a public health challenge, but data on its burden and trends among older adults are scarce. This study aimed to identify trends in the burden of HHD among older adults between 1990 and 2019 at the global, regional, and national levels.

Methods: Using the Global Burden of Diseases study 2019 data, we assessed HHD prevalence, death, and disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) rates for individuals aged 60-89 years at the global, regional, and national levels and estimated their average annual percentage changes (AAPCs) between 1990 and 2019 using joinpoint regression analysis.

The association between atherogenic index of plasma and all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease-specific mortality in hypertension patients: a retrospective cohort study of NHANES.

Background: Atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), a marker of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD), was related to the all-cause mortality and CVD-specific mortality in a U-shape in general population respectively. However, no studies have investigated these associations in hypertensive populations. Herein, this study aims to explore the relationship of AIP and all-cause mortality and CVD-specific mortality in patients with hypertension in order to provide some reference for the risk hierarchical management of hypertension.