1,484 research outputs found
Effects of telmisartan and ramipril on adiponectin and blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes
<b>Background:</b>
Adiponectin is secreted by adipose tissue and may play a role in cardiovascular disease. We examined adiponectin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes who participated in the Telmisartan vs. Ramipril in Renal Endothelial Dysfunction (TRENDY) study.
<b>Methods</b>
A total of 87 patients were assessed at baseline and following 9 weeks treatment with the angiotensin-receptor blocker telmisartan (final dose, 80 mg; n = 45) or the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor ramipril (final dose, 10 mg; n = 42). Adiponectin levels were measured in plasma by radioimmunoassay.
<b>Results:</b>
Adiponectin levels were inversely correlated with systolic (SBP; r = -0.240, P < 0.05) and diastolic (DBP; r = -0.227, P < 0.05) blood pressure at baseline and following treatment with telmisartan or ramipril (SBP: r = -0.228, P < 0.05; DBP: r = -0.286, P < 0.05). Changes in adiponectin levels were related to changes in SBP (r = -0.357, P < 0.01) and DBP (r = -0.286, P < 0.01). There was a significant increase in adiponectin levels in the telmisartan (0.68 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.27 to 1.10) <sup>µ</sup>g/ml, P < 0.01) but not in the ramipril group (0.17 (95% CI, -0.56 to 0.90) <sup>µ</sup>g/ml, P = 0.67). Blood pressure reduction in the telmisartan group (DeltaSBP: -13.5 (95% CI, -17.0 to -10.0) mm Hg; ΔDBP: -7.6 (95% CI, -9.8 to -5.3) mm Hg, each P < 0.001) was significantly (P less than or equal to 0.01 for SBP and P < 0.01 for DBP) greater than in the ramipril group (ΔSBP: -6.1 (95% CI, -6.2 to -2.0) mm Hg; ΔDBP: -2.7 (95% CI, -5.0 to -0.5) mm Hg; P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively).
<b>Conclusion:</b>
Adiponectin is correlated with blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes. Whether increased adiponectin contributes to the blood pressure–lowering effect of telmisartan needs further study
Vertical Distribution, Parallel Trade, and Price Divergence in Integrated Markets
We develop a model of vertical pricing in which an original manufacturer sets wholesale prices in two markets that are integrated at the distributor level by parallel imports (PI). The manufacturing firm needs to set these two prices to balance three competing interests: restricting competition in the PI-recipient market, avoiding resource wastes due to actual trade, and reducing the double-markup problem in the PI-source nation. These trade-offs imply the counterintuitive result that both wholesale and retail prices could diverge as a result of declining trading costs, even as the volume of PI increases. Thus, in some circumstances it may be misleading to think of PI as an unambiguous force for price integration
A quasi classical approach to electron impact ionization
A quasi classical approximation to quantum mechanical scattering in the
Moeller formalism is developed. While keeping the numerical advantage of a
standard Classical--Trajectory--Monte--Carlo calculation, our approach is no
longer restricted to use stationary initial distributions. This allows one to
improve the results by using better suited initial phase space distributions
than the microcanonical one and to gain insight into the collision mechanism by
studying the influence of different initial distributions on the cross section.
A comprehensive account of results for single, double and triple differential
cross sections for atomic hydrogen will be given, in comparison with experiment
and other theories.Comment: 21 pages, 10 figures, submitted to J Phys
On the reliability of the theoretical internal conversion coefficients
Possible sources of uncertainties in the calculations of the internal
conversion coefficients are studied. The uncertainties induced by them are
estimated.Comment: 16 pages (including 3 figures inserted by 'epsfig' macro
Echinoderms have bilateral tendencies
Echinoderms take many forms of symmetry. Pentameral symmetry is the major
form and the other forms are derived from it. However, the ancestors of
echinoderms, which originated from Cambrian period, were believed to be
bilaterians. Echinoderm larvae are bilateral during their early development.
During embryonic development of starfish and sea urchins, the position and the
developmental sequence of each arm are fixed, implying an auxological
anterior/posterior axis. Starfish also possess the Hox gene cluster, which
controls symmetrical development. Overall, echinoderms are thought to have a
bilateral developmental mechanism and process. In this article, we focused on
adult starfish behaviors to corroborate its bilateral tendency. We weighed
their central disk and each arm to measure the position of the center of
gravity. We then studied their turning-over behavior, crawling behavior and
fleeing behavior statistically to obtain the center of frequency of each
behavior. By joining the center of gravity and each center of frequency, we
obtained three behavioral symmetric planes. These behavioral bilateral
tendencies might be related to the A/P axis during the embryonic development of
the starfish. It is very likely that the adult starfish is, to some extent,
bilaterian because it displays some bilateral propensity and has a definite
behavioral symmetric plane. The remainder of bilateral symmetry may have
benefited echinoderms during their evolution from the Cambrian period to the
present
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