Exaggerated blood pressure response during the exercise treadmill test as a risk factor for hypertension

Exaggerated blood pressure response (EBPR) during the exercise treadmill test (ETT) has been considered to be a risk factor for hypertension. The relationship of polymorphisms of the renin-angiotensin system gene with hypertension has not been established. Our objective was to evaluate whether EBPR during exercise is a clinical marker for hypertension. The study concerned a historical cohort of normotensive individuals. The exposed individuals were those who presented EBPR. At the end of the observation period (41.7 months = 3.5 years), the development of hypertension was analyzed within the two groups. Genetic polymorphisms and blood pressure behavior were assessed as independent variables, together with the classical risk factors for hypertension. The I/D gene polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme and M235T of angiotensinogen were ruled out as risk factors for hypertension. EBPR during ETT is not an independent influence on the chances of developing hypertension. No differences were observed between the hypertensive and normotensive individuals regarding gender (P = 0.655), skin color (P = 0.636), family history of hypertension (P = 0.225), diabetes mellitus (P = 0.285), or hypertriglyceridemia (P = 0.734). The risk of developing hypertension increased with increasing body mass index (BMI) and advancing age. The risk factors, which independently influenced the development of hypertension, were age and BMI. EBPR did not constitute an independent risk factor for hypertension and is probably a preclinical phase in the spectrum of normotension and hypertension

Factors influencing co-design adoption: drivers and internal consistency

As customers ask for increasing levels of performance, functionality and customisation, firms rely on suppliers not only as a source of components, but also as a source of innovation. Several researchers have investigated the adoption of co-design, its potential benefits and its costs. Recently, scholars have increasingly underlined the need for bringing this rich stream of studies within a contingency framework, taking into account context variables and internal characteristics of the firm. This paper contributes to this contingency theory of co-design adoption. We investigate the role of three factors that might influence the intensity of supplier involvement in product development: structural characteristics (industry, size and degree of vertical integration), strategic priorities (strategic rio and internal consistency with purchasing and new product development practices. An empirical analysis of 67 Italian manufacturers demonstrates that co-design adoption is actually related to most of these factors