Influence of Artificial Sweetener on Human Blood Glucose Concentration

Artificial sweeteners, such as saccharin or cyclamic acid are synthetically manufactured sweetenings. Known for their low energetic value they serve especially diabetic and adipose patients as sugar substitutes. It has been hypothesized that the substitution of sugar with artificial sweeteners may induce a decrease of the blood glucose. The aim of this study was to determine the reliability of this hypothesis by comparing the influence of regular table sugar and artificial sweeteners on the blood glucose concentration. In this pilot-study 16 patients were included suffering from adiposity, pre-diabetes and hypertension. In the sense of a cross-over design, three test trials were performed at intervals of several weeks. Each trial was followed by a test free interval. Within one test trial each patient consumed 150 ml test solution (water) that contained either 6 g of table sugar (“Kandisin”) with sweetener free serving as control group. Tests were performed within 1 hr after lunch to ensure conditions comparable to patients having a desert. Every participant had to determine their blood glucose concentration immediately before and 5, 15, 30 and 60 minutes after the intake of the test solution. For statistics an analysis of variance was performed. The data showed no significant changes in the blood glucose concentration. Neither the application of sugar (F4;60 = 1.645; p = .175) nor the consumption of an artificial sweetener (F2.068;31.023 = 1.551; p > .05) caused significant fluctuations in the blood sugar levels. Over a time frame of 60 minutes in the control group a significant decrease of the blood sugar concentration was found (F2.457;36.849 = 4.005; p = .020) as a physiological reaction during lunch digestion

Felodipine-metoprolol combination tablet: A valuable option to initiate antihypertensive therapy?

The aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy and tolerability of a calcium antagonist/β-blocker fixed combination tablet used as first-line antihypertesnive therapy in comparison with an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor and placebo. Patients with uncomplicated essential hypertension (diastolic blood pressure between 95 and 110 mm Hg at the end of a 4-week run-in period) were randomly allocated to a double-blind, 12-week treatment with either a combination tablet of felodipine and metoprolol (Logimax), 5/50 mg daily (n = 321), enalapril, 10 mg daily (n = 321), or placebo (n = 304), with the possibility of doubling the dose after 4 or 8 weeks of treatment if needed (diastolic blood pressure remaining >90 mm Hg). The combined felodipine-metoprolol treatment controlled blood pressure (diastolic ≤90 mm Hg 24 h after dose) in 72% of patients after 12 weeks, as compared with 49% for enalapril and 30% for placebo. A dose adjustment was required in 38% of patients receiving the combination, in 63% of patients allocated to placebo, and 61% of enalapril-treated patients. The overall incidence of adverse events was 54.5% during felodipine-metoprolol treatment; the corresponding values for enalapril and placebo were 51.7% and 47.4%, respectively. Withdrawal of treatment due to adverse events occurred in 18 patients treated with the combination, in 10 patients on enalapril, and 12 patients on placebo. No significant change in patients' well-being was observed in either of the three study groups. These results show that a fixed combination tablet of felodipine and metoprolol allows to normalize blood pressure in a substantially larger fraction of patients than enalapril given alone. This improved efficacy is obtained without impairing the tolerability. The fixed-dose combination of felodipine and metoprolol, therefore, may become a valuable option to initiate antihypertensive treatment. Am J Hypertens 1999;12:915-920 © 1999 American Journal of Hypertension, Lt

Felodipine-Metoprolol Combination Tablet: Maintained Health-Related Quality of Life in the Presence of Substantial Blood Pressure Reduction

Background: Most treated hypertensive patients do not achieve adequate blood pressure (BP) control. Initiating therapy with two drugs has been suggested when BP is >20/10 mm Hg above goal. To ensure patients' compliance, such treatment needs to be well tolerated and must not compromise health-related quality of life (HRQL). The primary objective of this study was to compare the effects on HRQL of initiating treatment with felodipine + metoprolol (F+M) fixed combination tablets, or enalapril (E), or placebo (P). Methods: A total of 947 patients of both sexes with primary hypertension (diastolic BP 95 to 110 mm Hg), aged 20 to 70 years, participated in this randomized, double-blind, parallel group, 12-week, multicenter trial. Treatment was initiated with F+M 5 + 50 mg, or E 10 mg, or P. Doses were doubled after 4 or 8 weeks if diastolic BP was >90 mm Hg. The HRQL was measured at baseline and at the last visit using two validated questionnaires: the Psychological General Well-being Index (PGWB) and the Subjective Symptom Assessment Profile (SSA-P). Office BP was measured at trough, that is, 24 h after the previous dose. Results: The HRQL was high at baseline and generally well maintained during the study. For example, the mean (SD) PGWB total score was 104 (16) at baseline and 105 (16) at 12 weeks in all three treatment groups. The BP reductions after F+M (18/14 mm Hg) and E (12/9 mm Hg) were significantly greater than after P (7/7 mm Hg), and the reduction after F+M was significantly greater than after E. Conclusions: The HRQL is maintained in the presence of substantial BP reduction during antihypertensive treatment with F+M fixed combination tablets. Am J Hypertens 2005;18:1313-1319 © 2005 American Journal of Hypertension, Lt

Felodipine-metoprolol combination tablet: maintained health-related quality of life in the presence of substantial blood pressure reduction.

BACKGROUND: Most treated hypertensive patients do not achieve adequate blood pressure (BP) control. Initiating therapy with two drugs has been suggested when BP is >20/10 mm Hg above goal. To ensure patients' compliance, such treatment needs to be well tolerated and must not compromise health-related quality of life (HRQL). The primary objective of this study was to compare the effects on HRQL of initiating treatment with felodipine + metoprolol (F+M) fixed combination tablets, or enalapril (E), or placebo (P). METHODS: A total of 947 patients of both sexes with primary hypertension (diastolic BP 95 to 110 mm Hg), aged 20 to 70 years, participated in this randomized, double-blind, parallel group, 12-week, multicenter trial. Treatment was initiated with F+M 5 + 50 mg, or E 10 mg, or P. Doses were doubled after 4 or 8 weeks if diastolic BP was >90 mm Hg. The HRQL was measured at baseline and at the last visit using two validated questionnaires: the Psychological General Well-being Index (PGWB) and the Subjective Symptom Assessment Profile (SSA-P). Office BP was measured at trough, that is, 24 h after the previous dose. RESULTS: The HRQL was high at baseline and generally well maintained during the study. For example, the mean (SD) PGWB total score was 104 (16) at baseline and 105 (16) at 12 weeks in all three treatment groups. The BP reductions after F+M (18/14 mm Hg) and E (12/9 mm Hg) were significantly greater than after P (7/7 mm Hg), and the reduction after F+M was significantly greater than after E. CONCLUSIONS: The HRQL is maintained in the presence of substantial BP reduction during antihypertensive treatment with F+M fixed combination tablets

A new oscillometric method for pulse wave analysis: comparison with a common tonometric method

In the European Society of Cardiology–European Society of Hypertension guidelines of the year 2007, the consequences of arterial stiffness and wave reflection on cardiovascular mortality have a major role. But the investigators claimed the poor availability of devices/methods providing easy and widely suitable measuring of arterial wall stiffness or their surrogates like augmentation index (AIx) or aortic systolic blood pressure (aSBP). The aim of this study was the validation of a novel method determining AIx and aSBP based on an oscillometric method using a common cuff (ARCSolver) against a validated tonometric system (SphygmoCor). aSBP and AIx measured with the SphygmoCor and ARCSolver method were compared for 302 subjects. The mean age was 56 years with an s.d. of 20 years. At least two iterations were performed in each session. This resulted in 749 measurements. For aSBP the mean difference was −0.1 mm Hg with an s.d. of 3.1 mm Hg. The mean difference for AIx was 1.2% with an s.d. of 7.9%. There was no significant difference in reproducibility of AIx for both methods. The variation estimate of inter- and intraobserver measurements was 6.3% for ARCSolver and 7.5% for SphygmoCor. The ARCSolver method is a novel method determining AIx and aSBP based on an oscillometric system with a cuff. The results agree with common accepted tonometric measurements. Its application is easy and for widespread use

Fashionschool in the subsistence depot: For the re-use of a factory fallow

Zusammenfassung in englischer SpracheAbweichender Titel nach Übersetzung der Verfasserin/des VerfassersKlagenfurt 1728: Unter Karl VI., der vor allem den Ausbau des Verkehrswegs über den Loibl forcierte, begann die Industrialisierung der Stadt. Montan- sowie Industrieadel übernahmen die Funktion und Stellung des Grundbesitzadels, wodurch im umliegenden Stadtgebiet verschiedene Fertigungshäuser entstanden, die eine Vorreiterrolle in der Monarchie innehatten. 1759 gründete Michael Ritter von Herbert die erste Bleiweißfabrik von Österreich, die 1965 abgetragen wurde. 1762 entsandte Kaiserin Maria Theresia den Niederländer Jan Thys nach Klagenfurt, um hier die erste Feintuchfabrik in Österreich zu errichten, nach Verkauf durch das österreichische Militär wurden Teile der Fabrik im Jahr 2010 destruiert. 1788 erwarb die Familie Moro das von Joseph II. aufgelassene Zisterzienserkloster und baute dieses zur Feintuchfabrik um, Umnutzung zum Schulgebäude erfolgte 1976. 1865 wurde die Spirituosenfabrik von Sigmund Fischl und Co. gegründet, später auch bekannt als Mautner Markhof Spirituosenfabrik. Nach dem Leerstand erfolgte 2013 die Demontage der gesamten Anlage. Dies sind nur einige Bauwerke der industriellen Kultur Klagenfurts, die in den letzten Jahren sowie Jahrzehnten der Zerstörung zum Opfer gefallen sind. Eine Veränderung der gesamten industriellen Ausstattung Klagenfurts ist zunehmend erkennbar. Ein Ende dieser Zerstörung und somit Vernichtung der industriellen Kultur Klagenfurts ist nicht in Aussicht und aus heutiger Sicht muss man von weiteren Demontagen ausgehen. Diese Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit einer nachhaltigen Umnutzung des industriellen Bestands in Klagenfurt. Ziel ist die Vorteile des Erhalts der Bauten sowie mögliche Synergien aufzuzählen und darzustellen. Mithilfe der vorangegangenen Analyse sollte somit ein real umsetzungsfähiges Projekt entstehen, welches den historischen Bestand schonen und den zukünftigen Nutzern dennoch eine qualitativ hochwertige Architektur bieten soll.Klagenfurt 1728: Under the power of Karl VI, who pushed the development of the road across the Loibl, the city industrialization began. The money nobility and the industrial nobility took over the position of the land nobility. Across the city their newly formed production facilities which were pioneers in the industrial ranges of the monarchy. In 1759, Michael Ritter of Herbert founded the first basic lead carbonate fabric of Austria, demolition 1965. 1762 Empress Maria Theresia sent the Dutchman Jan Thys to Klagenfurt to found the first K u. K. fine-cloth factory, demolition 2010. 1788 the Moro family acquired the cistercian monastery and converted it to a fine-cloth factory, conversion to a school in 1976. The Sigmund Fischl and Co. Spirits factory was founded in 1865, later also known as the Mautner Markhof spirits factory, demolition 2013. As it can be seen in the data, many preserved buildings fell victim to the demolition An End of destruction of the industrial heritage is not in sight. For this reason, this work deals with the sustainable conversion of the industrial culture of Klagenfurt. With the help of the previous analysis, a real project which is to be implemented to the old building, should preserve the historical structure and should nevertheless provide a high quality of architecture to their inhabitants.14