The C242T polymorphism of the p22-phox gene (CYBA) is associated with higher left ventricular mass in Brazilian hypertensive patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Reactive oxygen species have been implicated in the physiopathogenesis of hypertensive end-organ damage. This study investigated the impact of the C242T polymorphism of the p22-phox gene (CYBA) on left ventricular structure in Brazilian hypertensive subjects.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We cross-sectionally evaluated 561 patients from 2 independent centers [Campinas (n = 441) and Vitória (n = 120)] by clinical history, physical examination, anthropometry, analysis of metabolic and echocardiography parameters as well as p22-phox C242T polymorphism genotyping. In addition, NADPH-oxidase activity was quantified in peripheral mononuclear cells from a subgroup of Campinas sample.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Genotype frequencies in both samples were consistent with the Hardy- Weinberg equilibrium. Subjects with the T allele presented higher left ventricular mass/height^2.7than those carrying the CC genotype in Campinas (76.8 ± 1.6 vs 70.9 ± 1.4 g/m^2.7; p = 0.009), and in Vitória (45.6 ± 1.9 vs 39.9 ± 1.4 g/m^2.7; p = 0.023) samples. These results were confirmed by stepwise regression analyses adjusted for age, gender, blood pressure, metabolic variables and use of anti-hypertensive medications. In addition, increased NADPH-oxidase activity was detected in peripheral mononuclear cells from T allele carriers compared with CC genotype carriers (p = 0.03).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The T allele of the p22-phox C242T polymorphism is associated with higher left ventricular mass/height^2.7and increased NADPH-oxidase activity in Brazilian hypertensive patients. These data suggest that genetic variation within NADPH-oxidase components may modulate left ventricular remodeling in subjects with systemic hypertension.</p

Sex-specific hemodynamic and non-hemodynamic determinants of aortic root size in hypertensive subjects with left ventricular hypertrophy

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Aortic root (AoR) dilatation is more frequently observed in hypertensive individuals and is independently associated with left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy. Although the LV structure has sex-specific predictors, it remains unknown whether there are gender-related differences in the determinants of AoR size. We carried out a cross-sectional analysis of clinical, laboratory, anthropometric, funduscopic and echocardiographic features of 438 hypertensive patients with LV hypertrophy (266 women and 172 men). Women with enlarged AoR had higher cardiac output (P=0.0004), decreased peripheral vascular resistance (P=0.009), higher prevalence of mild aortic regurgitation (P=0.02) and increased waist circumference (P=0.04), whereas AoR-dilated men presented with a higher prevalence of concentric LV hypertrophy (P=0.0008) and mild aortic regurgitation (P=0.005) and increased log C-reactive protein levels (P=0.02), compared with sex-matched normal AoR subjects. In women, AoR dilatation associated with cardiac output, mild aortic regurgitation and waist circumference in a multivariate model including age, body surface area, height, homeostasis model assessment index, LV mass index, diastolic blood pressure, menopause status and use of antihypertensive medications as independent variables. Conversely, AoR dilatation associated with LV relative wall thickness, log C-reactive protein and mild aortic regurgitation without contributions from diastolic blood pressure, height, body surface area, LV mass index, peripheral vascular resistance and antihypertensive medications in men. Taken together, these results suggest that both volume overload and abdominal obesity are related to AoR dilatation in hypertensive women, whereas AoR enlargement is associated more with inflammatory and myocardial growth-related parameters in hypertensive men with LV hypertrophy. Hypertension Research (2009) 32, 956-961; doi: 10.1038/hr.2009.134; published online 28 August 20093211956961Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)FAPESP [05/56986-5]CNPq [304329/06-1, 474206/07-6

Mannose-binding lectin (MBL2) polymorphisms and inflammation in hypertensive patients

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)We investigated the possible role of Mannose binding lectin 2 (MBL2) functional polymorphisms in the prevalence of hypertension and hypertensive end-organ damage in 300 hypertensive patients and 313 normotensive individuals from Southern Brazil. Hypertensive subjects with MBL2 AO/OO genotypes presented lower C-reactive protein levels than AA individuals and consequently lower inflammatory status.386525527Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)FAPESP [05/56986-5]CNPq [304329/06-1, 474206/07-6

Parasomnias

The term parasomnias was coined by the French neurologist Henry Roger during the lessons he gave in Marseille (France) between the years 1900 and 1931 and published in his monograph in 1932. With this term he referred to unusual, not rare behaviors appearing during sleep due to negligible dysfunctions of the "hypnic function"..

The substrate that dreams are made on: An evaluation of current neurobiological theories of dreaming

Theories regarding ambiguous consciousness states, such as dreaming, often attract questions regarding the scientific status of the experiments on which they are based. Rarely, however is the scientific status of the theory itself scrutinized. There are basic principles of theory construction that can provide a framework for evaluating current neurobiological theories of dreaming. This chapter places particular emphasis on the activation-synthesis (AS) and activation, input and modulation (AIM) models, developed by Hobson and colleagues over the past three decades (Hobson and McCarley, Am J Pschiatry 134:1335-1348, 1977; Hobson et al., Behav Brain Sci 23:793-842, 2000). This theory set was chosen as it can be considered one of the most widely cited and publicized neurobiological theories of dreaming today. Our aim in this chapter is not to criticize this work specifically, but to draw attention to the problems of theory development presently inherent in all dream research. The nature of the assumptions which underlie dream theories, the logic of argument, and the validity of methodologies used in collecting the empirical evidence, are scrutinized according to principles of theory construction and validity. We argue that modern theories of dreaming, whilst evolving ad hoc modifications in the face of new and sometimes anomalous evidence, are essentially unfalsifiable, and by definition do not qualify as scientific theories. However, as methodologies and technologies improve, particularly in the areas of sleep stage recording and neuroimaging, a new paradigm for the neurobiology of dreaming may emerge