The effect of angiotensin receptor blockers on C-reactive protein and other circulating inflammatory indices in man

Anti-inflammatory properties may contribute to the pharmacological effects of angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), a leading therapeutic class in the management of hypertension and related cardiovascular and renal diseases. That possibility, supported by consistent evidence from in-vitro and animal studies showing pro-inflammatory properties of angiotensin II, has been evaluated clinically by measuring the effect of ARBs on C-reactive protein and other circulating indices of inflammation (e-selectin, adhesion molecules, interleukin-6, tissue necrosis factor-alpha, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1) of potential clinical relevance, a body of evidence that this paper aims to review

Lack of a relationship between circulating gamma-glutamyltransferase levels and carotid intima media thickness in hypertensive and diabetic patients

Marco Nuti, Paolo Spontoni, Chrysanthos Grigoratos, Giulia Dell'Omo, Alberto Balbarini, Roberto PedrinelliDipartimento Cardio Toracico e Vascolare, Università di Pisa, Pisa, ItalyBackground: By increasing the intracellular prooxidant burden, gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) may accelerate atherosclerotic vascular disease. That noxious influence may be reflected by circulating enzyme levels, a correlate of cardiovascular risk factors, and a predictor of incident events. To evaluate this hypothesis, we tested the association between circulating GGT and common carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), a surrogate index of systemic atherosclerotic involvement, in a large and well-characterized group of patients at risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).Patients: This study analyzed 548 patients with hypertension and/or diabetes and a widely prevalent history of CVD. Subjects with known hepatic disease and abnormal GGT values were excluded.Methods: CIMT (B-mode ultrasonography) values were the mean of four far-wall measurements at both common carotids. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) was diagnosed according to National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Due to inherent sex-related differences in GGT levels, the data were analyzed separately in males and females in samples dichotomized by the median.Results: The age-adjusted CIMT values did not differ by GGT levels in males or females. In contrast, the carotid wall was consistently thicker in patients with a history of CVD and MetS independent of age and concurrent GGT values. In both sexes, GGT was associated with key components of the MetS such as triglycerides, fasting plasma glucose, and body mass index.Conclusion: The data collected in this mixed group of hypertensive and/or diabetic patients with widely prevalent history of CVD do not support the concept of a direct pathophysiological link between GGT levels within reference limits and atherosclerotic involvement.Keywords: gamma-glutamyltransferase, carotid intima-media thickness, atherosclerosis, metabolic syndrom

Inter and intra-population variability of the migratory behaviour of a short-distance partial migrant, the Eurasian Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus (Charadriiformes, Burhinidae)

Migratory behaviour in birds shows a remarkable variability at species, population and individual levels. Short-distance migrants often adopt a partial migratory strategy and tend to have a flexible migration schedule that allows a more effective response to extreme environmental variations. Weather seasonality and environmental heterogeneity have been reported as significant factors in the diversification of migratory behaviour for Mediterranean migrants, but relatively few studies investigated the migration patterns of non-passerine birds migrating within the Mediterranean basin. In this study, we investigated the migratory strategy of 40 Eurasian Stone-curlews Burhinus oedicnemus tagged with geolocators and GPS-GSM tags and belonging to continental and Mediterranean populations of the Italian peninsula. The proportion of migrants was higher in continental populations, but we observed a significant variability also within Mediterranean populations. All birds spent the winter within the Mediterranean basin. Continental Stone-curlews departed earlier in spring and later in autumn and covered longer distances than those from Mediterranean areas. The speed of migration did not change between seasons for continental birds, while Mediterranean individuals migrated faster in spring. The likelihood of departure for autumn migration of GPS-tagged birds increased when temperatures were near or below 0 °C suggesting that Stone-curlews tend to delay departure until weather conditions worsen abruptly. As a consequence of global warming in the Mediterranean, the frequency of migratory birds in the considered populations might decrease in the near future. This could affect the distribution of species throughout the year and should be taken into account when targeting conservation measures

P-60: Dihydropiridine calcium channel blockers and dependent edema: a comparison between amlodipine and lercanidipine in essential hypertensive patients

Background: Dependent leg edema complicates treatment with amlodipine (AMLO) and other dihydropiridine (DHP) calcium channel blocker (CCB)s and frequently obliges to interrupt an otherwise highly effective therapeutic regimen. Among other possible explanations, DHP CCBs may alter the balance between pre- and post-capillary pressures by dilating preferentially precapillary arterioles of the cutaneous microcirculation, thus increasing capillary pressure and promoting fluid extravasation. In contrast, DHP CCBs such as lercanidipine (LERCA), which may relax both pre- and post-capillary vessels in in-vitro studies, may induce a lesser degree of dependent edema. However, this hypothesis has never been tested in man. Methods: We compared the leg edema-forming potential of AMLO and LERCA according to a cross-over, sequence-randomized experimental design carried out in 22 never treated mild-moderate uncomplicated essential hypertensive (EH) males (age: 48±5 yrs). Drugs were administered at doses (AMLO: 10 vs LERCA: 20 mg o.d.) equipotent on the basis of published titration studies. Active treatment was given for 2 weeks preceded and followed by 2 week wash-outs to allow the recovery of study variables to baseline. Leg weight (LW) was used as a surrogate measure of dependent edema; the parameter was measured by water plethysmography (accuracy within 5 grams; variation coefficient: 0.8%) at both legs and the data were averaged. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP, the mean of at least 10 determinations) was recorded by an automated oscillometric device. Results: (means±SD): AMLO (from 147±8/94±12 to 137±14/83±9 mmHg, p<.002) and LERCA (from 145±18/92±12 to 137±9/83±8 mmHg, p<0.01) decreased BP to a similar extent. Both drugs increased LW (AMLO: from 3244±306 to 3324±293 grams, p<0.001; LERCA: from 3256±279 to 3293±258 grams, p<0.04), but the increase was greater during AMLO (80±91 vs 37±74 grams, p<0.03). Conclusions: These data, consistent with pharmacological differences previously reported at the in-vitro microvascular level, show for the first time in man that, for a similar drop in BP, the edema-forming potential of AMLO and LERCA, two CCBs belonging to the same DHP class, is not equivalent

Occupational risk factors for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in Southern Europe: a case-control study

Abstract Background Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive fibrosing interstitial pneumonia of unknown cause associated with the histopathologic and/or radiologic pattern of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP). Occupational risk factors have been proposed to be associated with UIP. The aim of this case-control study is to evaluate the relationship between UIP pattern and occupational exposure in Southern Europe. Methods Sixty nine cases with a UIP radiological pattern at CT-scan were selected from a clinical database of the University Hospital of Perugia, Umbria, between January 2010 and December 2013. Controls (n = 277) not reporting doctor diagnosed pulmonary fibrosis, were ascertained casually among general population from the same catching area of cases. Data were collected by a questionnaire used previously in a similar study. Logistic regression models, adjusted for gender, age and smoking, were performed to evaluate the association between UIP and occupational exposure. Results Farmers, veterinarians and gardeners (OR = 2.73, 95%CI = 1.47–5.10), metallurgical and steel industry workers (OR = 4.80, 95%CI = 1.50–15.33) were occupations associated with UIP. Metal dust and fumes and organic dust were risk factors for UIP. Increasing the length of occupational exposure in jobs at risk of pulmonary fibrosis, increased the risk of having UIP. Conclusions This case control study confirm partially the results from previous similar studies. Some discrepancies could be explained by the different geographical origins of the population under study, reflecting also different occupational exposures

Carry‐over effects of environmental stochasticity of the California Current on body condition and wing length of breeding Black‐vented Shearwaters (Puffinus opisthomelas)

Recent climatic variation has led to a change in size or mass in some species. The Black-vented Shearwater Puffinus opisthomelas is endemic to the California Current System, a highly variable system, giving us cues as to the effects of interannual variability on predators. Here, we report the results of a comparison of biometrics measurement in the short term, 4 years, with different environmental conditions. We found that environmental variability has a direct effect on the body condition of the species, affecting not only body mass but also wing length, with shorter wings as a carry-over effect of adverse conditions. © 2021 British Ornithologists' UnionCentro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, Baja California12 month embargo; first published online 6 January 2021This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]