Blood pressure control in chronic kidney disease: A cross-sectional analysis from the German Chronic Kidney Disease (GCKD) study

We assessed the prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in patients with moderate chronic kidney disease (CKD) under nephrological care in Germany. In the German Chronic Kidney Disease (GCKD) study, 5217 patients under nephrology specialist care were enrolled from 2010 to 2012 in a prospective observational cohort study. Inclusion criteria were an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 30 +/- 60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 or overt proteinuria in the presence of an eGFR> 60 mL/min/1.73 m 2. Office blood pressure was measured by trained study personnel in a standardized way and hypertension awareness and medication were assessed during standardized interviews. Blood pressure was considered as controlled if systolic 90%. However, only 2456 (49.3%) of the hypertensive patients had controlled blood pressure. About half (51.0%) of the patients with uncontrolled blood pressure met criteria for resistant hypertension. Factors associated with better odds for controlled blood pressure in multivariate analyses included younger age, female sex, higher income, low or absent proteinuria, and use of certain classes of antihypertensive medication. We conclude that blood pressure control of CKD patients remains challenging even in the setting of nephrology specialist care, despite high rates of awareness and medication use

Applying Analysis of Heart Rate Variability in a Pilot Study of Health Effects of Exposure to Chronic Aircraft Noise.

Abstract not availableJRC.H-Institute for environment and sustainability (Ispra

Biologische Aerosole in der Aussenluft - Darstellung umweltmedizinischer Bewertungskriterien anhand einer epidemiologischen Querschnittsstudie.

Abstract not availableJRC.H-Institute for environment and sustainability (Ispra

Pseudomonas aeruginosa Pyocyanin Induces Neutrophil Death via Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species and Mitochondrial Acid Sphingomyelinase

Aims: Pulmonary infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa are a serious clinical problem and are often lethal. Because many strains of P. aeruginosa are resistant to antibiotics, therapeutic options are limited. Neutrophils play an important role in the host's early acute defense against pulmonary P. aeruginosa. Therefore, it is important to define the mechanisms by which P. aeruginosa interacts with host cells, particularly neutrophils. Results: Here, we report that pyocyanin, a membrane-permeable pigment and toxin released by P. aeruginosa, induces the death of wild-type neutrophils; its interaction with the mitochondrial respiratory chain results in the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the activation of mitochondrial acid sphingomyelinase, the formation of mitochondrial ceramide, and the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria. A genetic deficiency in acid sphingomyelinase prevents both the activation of this pathway and pyocyanin-induced neutrophil death. This reduced death, on the other hand, is associated with an increase in the release of interleukin-8 from pyocyanin-activated acid sphingomyelinase-deficient neutrophils but not from wild-type cells. Innovation: These studies identified the mechanisms by which pyocyanin induces the release of mitochondrial ROS and by which ROS induce neutrophil death via mitochondrial acid sphingomyelinase. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate a novel mechanism of pyocyanin-induced death of neutrophils and show how this apoptosis balances innate immune reactions. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 22, 1097–1110