Effect of a serotonin blocking agent on renal hemodynamics in the normal rat

Effect of a serotonin blocking agent on renal hemodynamics in the normal rat. These studies were designed to explore the effects of ketanserin (K), a serotonergic S2-receptor blocker on glomerular filtration rate (GFR), renal plasma flow (RPF) and autoregulation of renal blood flow (RBF) in the normal, anesthetized rat. Two doses of ketanserin were used: a high dose that, in addition to its serotonin blocking effect, possessed alpha 1-adrenergic blocking capacities; and a low dose that acted only as a serotonin S2 blocking agent. The effects of the high dose were compared to the effects of phenotolamine. Both the high dose of K and phentolamine resulted in a similar fall of systemic blood pressure from 117 ± 4 to 78 ± 3 and from 121 ± 4.5 to 76 ± 5mm Hg, respectively (P < 0.01). Despite this fall, GFR and RPF remained unchanged from 2.36 ± 0.16 ± to 2.26 ± 0.12 ml/min, and from 5.33 ± 0.41 to 5.76 ± 0.5ml/min with K, while both parameters significantly decreased with phentolamine. A remarkable preservation of the autoregulation of RBF until a renal perfusion pressure (RPP) of 70 to 75mm Hg was noted with K, but not with phentolamine or Ringer infusion. With the low dose of K, a significant rise in GFR and PAH clearance was noted, from 2.12 ± 0.17 to 2.59 ± 0.18 and from 4.81 ± 0.35 to 5.66 ± 0.48 ml/min, respectively (P < 0.05). A similar preservation of autoregulation of RBF was observed. Our studies suggest that in the pressure ranges below normal autoregulation of RBF in the rat, serotonin blockade is associated with maintenance of both GFR and RBF

Effect of a serotonin blocking agent on renal hemodynamics in the normal rat

Effect of a serotonin blocking agent on renal hemodynamics in the normal rat. These studies were designed to explore the effects of ketanserin (K), a serotonergic S2-receptor blocker on glomerular filtration rate (GFR), renal plasma flow (RPF) and autoregulation of renal blood flow (RBF) in the normal, anesthetized rat. Two doses of ketanserin were used: a high dose that, in addition to its serotonin blocking effect, possessed alpha 1-adrenergic blocking capacities; and a low dose that acted only as a serotonin S2 blocking agent. The effects of the high dose were compared to the effects of phenotolamine. Both the high dose of K and phentolamine resulted in a similar fall of systemic blood pressure from 117 ± 4 to 78 ± 3 and from 121 ± 4.5 to 76 ± 5mm Hg, respectively (P < 0.01). Despite this fall, GFR and RPF remained unchanged from 2.36 ± 0.16 ± to 2.26 ± 0.12 ml/min, and from 5.33 ± 0.41 to 5.76 ± 0.5ml/min with K, while both parameters significantly decreased with phentolamine. A remarkable preservation of the autoregulation of RBF until a renal perfusion pressure (RPP) of 70 to 75mm Hg was noted with K, but not with phentolamine or Ringer infusion. With the low dose of K, a significant rise in GFR and PAH clearance was noted, from 2.12 ± 0.17 to 2.59 ± 0.18 and from 4.81 ± 0.35 to 5.66 ± 0.48 ml/min, respectively (P < 0.05). A similar preservation of autoregulation of RBF was observed. Our studies suggest that in the pressure ranges below normal autoregulation of RBF in the rat, serotonin blockade is associated with maintenance of both GFR and RBF

Antihypertensive drug class and dyslipidemia: risk association among Chinese patients with uncomplicated hypertension

Factors associated with dyslipidemia in Chinese patients with uncomplicated hypertension were investigated in 1,139 patients newly prescribed a single antihypertensive drug in the public primary healthcare setting in Hong Kong, where their fasting lipid profiles were measured 4 to 16 weeks after the first prescription. Multivariate logistic regression showed that thiazide users were more likely (OR 3.67, 95% C.I. 1.13, 11.88, p=0.030) to have adverse (&gt; 6.2mmol/l) total cholesterol (TC) compared with drugs acting on the renin angiotensin system (RAS), but the absolute difference in mean TC between thiazide users and all patients was small ( 0.14 mmol/l), while advanced age and male gender were also associated with some aspects of dyslipidemia. Clinicians should be aware of the increased risk of dyslipidemia in these groups, but the mild dyslipidemic profile associated with thiazides should not in itself deter its use as a possible first-line antihypertensive agent among Chinese patients

In-gas-cell laser ionization spectroscopy in the vicinity of 100Sn: Magnetic moments and mean-square charge radii of N=50-54 Ag

In-gas-cell laser ionization spectroscopy studies on the neutron deficient 97-101Ag isotopes have been performed with the LISOL setup. Magnetic dipole moments and mean-square charge radii have been determined for the first time with the exception of 101Ag, which was found in good agreement with previous experimental values. The reported results allow tentatively assigning the spin of 97,99Ag to 9/2 and confirming the presence of an isomeric state in these two isotopes, whose collapsed hyperfine structure suggests a spin of 1/2 . The effect of the N=50 shell closure is not only manifested in the magnetic moments but also in the evolution of the mean-square charge radii of the isotopes investigated, in accordance with the spherical droplet model predictions

The influence of calcium and magnesium in drinking water and diet on cardiovascular risk factors in individuals living in hard and soft water areas with differences in cardiovascular mortality

BACKGROUND: The role of water hardness as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease has been widely investigated and evaluated as regards regional differences in cardiovascular disease. This study was performed to evaluate the relation between calcium and magnesium in drinking water and diet and risk factors for cardiovascular disease in individuals living in hard and soft water areas with considerable differences in cardiovascular mortality. METHODS: A random sample of 207 individuals living in two municipalities characterised by differences in cardiovascular mortality and water hardness was invited for an examination including a questionnaire about health, social and living conditions and diet. Intake of magnesium and calcium was calculated from the diet questionnaire with special consideration to the use of local water. Household water samples were delivered by each individual and were analysed for magnesium and calcium. RESULTS: In the total sample, there were positive correlations between the calcium content in household water and systolic blood pressure (SBP) and negative correlations with s-cholesterol and s-LDL-cholesterol. No correlation was seen with magnesium content in household water to any of the risk factors. Calcium content in diet showed no correlation to cardiovascular risk factors. Magnesium in diet was positively correlated to diastolic blood pressure (DBP). In regression analyses controlled for age and sex 18.5% of the variation in SBP was explained by the variation in BMI, HbA1c and calcium content in water. Some 27.9% of the variation in s-cholesterol could be explained by the variation in s-triglycerides (TG), and calcium content in water. CONCLUSIONS: This study of individuals living in soft and hard water areas showed significant correlations between the content of calcium in water and major cardiovascular risk factors. This was not found for magnesium in water or calcium or magnesium in diet. Regression analyses indicated that calcium content in water could be a factor in the complexity of relationships and importance of cardiovascular risk factors. From these results it is not possible to conclude any definite causal relation and further research is needed

Low-energy Coulomb excitation of 62^{62}Fe and 62^{62}Mn following in-beam decay of 62^{62}Mn

Sub-barrier Coulomb-excitation was performed on a mixed beam of $^{62}$Mn and $^{62}$Fe, following in-trap $\beta^{-}$ decay of $^{62}$Mn at REX-ISOLDE, CERN. The trapping and charge breeding times were varied in order to alter the composition of the beam, which was measured by means of an ionisation chamber at the zero-angle position of the Miniball array. A new transition was observed at 418~keV, which has been tentatively associated to a $(2^{+},3^{+})\rightarrow1^{+}_{g.s.}$ transition. This fixes the relative positions of the $\beta$-decaying $4^{+}$ and $1^{+}$ states in $^{62}$Mn for the first time. Population of the $2^{+}_{1}$ state was observed in $^{62}$Fe and the cross-section determined by normalisation to the $^{109}$Ag target excitation, confirming the $B(E2)$ value measured in recoil-distance lifetime experiments.Comment: 9 pages, 10 figure

High (but Not Low) Urinary Iodine Excretion Is Predicted by Iodine Excretion Levels from Five Years Ago

Background: It has not been investigated whether there are associations between urinary iodine (UI) excretion measurements some years apart, nor whether such an association remains after adjustment for nutritional habits. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relation between iodine-creatinine ratio (ICR) at two measuring points 5 years apart. Methods: Data from 2,659 individuals from the Study of Health in Pomerania were analyzed. Analysis of covariance and Poisson regressions were used to associate baseline with follow-up ICR. Results: Baseline ICR was associated with follow-up ICR. Particularly, baseline ICR >300 mu g/g was related to an ICR >300 mu g/g at follow-up (relative risk, RR: 2.20; p < 0.001). The association was stronger in males (RR: 2.64; p < 0.001) than in females (RR: 1.64; p = 0.007). In contrast, baseline ICR <100 mu g/g was only associated with an ICR <100 mu g/g at follow-up in males when considering unadjusted ICR. Conclusions: We detected only a weak correlation with respect to low ICR. Studies assessing iodine status in a population should take into account that an individual with a low UI excretion in one measurement is not necessarily permanently iodine deficient. On the other hand, current high ICR could have been predicted by high ICR 5 years ago. Copyright (C) 2011 S. Karger AG, Base

Italian network for obesity and cardiovascular disease surveillance: A pilot project

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Also in Mediterranean countries, which are considered a low risk population for cardiovascular disease (CVD), the increase in body mass index (BMI) has become a public health priority. To evaluate the feasibility of a CVD and obesity surveillance network, forty General Practitioners (GPs) were engaged to perform a screening to assess obesity, cardiovascular risk, lifestyle habits and medication use.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 1,046 women and 1,044 men aged 35–74 years were randomly selected from GPs' lists stratifying by age decade and gender. Anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were performed by GPs using standardized methodologies. BMI was computed and categorized in normal weight (BMI 18.5–24.9 kg/m²), overweight (BMI 25.0–29.9 kg/m²) and obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²). Food frequency (per day: fruits and vegetables; per week: meat, cheese, fish, pulses, chocolate, fried food, sweet, wholemeal food, rotisserie food and sugar drink) and physical activity (at work and during leisure time) were investigated through a questionnaire. CVD risk was assessed using the Italian CUORE Project risk function.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The percentage of missing values was very low. Prevalence of overweight was 34% in women and 50% in men; prevalence of obesity was 23% in both men and women. Level of physical activity was mostly low or very low. BMI was inversely associated with consumption of pulses, rotisserie food, chocolate, sweets and physical activity during leisure time and directly associated with consumption of meat. Mean value of total cardiovascular risk was 4% in women and 11% in men. One percent of women and 16% of men were at high cardiovascular risk (≥ 20% in 10 years). Normal weight persons were four times more likely to be at low risk than obese persons.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study demonstrated the feasibility of a surveillance network of GPs in Italy focusing on obesity and other CVD risk factors. It also provided information on lifestyle habits, such as diet and physical activity.</p