Vagal Withdrawal and Sympathetic Overactivity Contribute to the Genesis of Early-Onset Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension

Objective. In this study, we have assessed sympathovagal imbalance (SVI) by spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) that contributes to the genesis of early-onset PIH. Methods. Body mass index (BMI), basal heart rate (BHR), blood pressure (BP) and HRV indices such as LFnu, HFnu, LF-HF ratio, mean RR, SDNN and RMSSD were assessed in normal pregnant women (Control group) and pregnant women having risk factors for PIH (Study group) at all the trimesters pregnancy. Retrospectively, those who did not develop PIH (Study group I) were separated from those who developed PIH (Study group II). Study group II was subdivided into early-onset and late-onset PIH. Sympathovagal balance (LF-HF ratio) was correlated with BMI, BHR and BP. Results. LF-HF ratio was significantly high in study group II compared to study group I and control group, and in early-onset PIH group compared to the late-onset category at all the trimesters of pregnancy, which was significantly correlated with BHR and BP. Alteration in HFnu in early-onset category was more prominent than the alteration in LFnu. Conclusion. Though the SVI in PIH is contributed by both sympathetic overactivity and vagal withdrawal, especially in early-onset type, SVI is mainly due to vagal inhibition

Sympathovagal Imbalance in Prehypertensive Offspring of Two Parents versus One Parent Hypertensive

Objective. Though prehypertension has strong familial predisposition, difference in pathophysiological mechanisms in its genesis in offspring of both parents and single parent hypertensive have not been elucidated. Methods. Body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), basal heart rate (BHR), blood pressure (BP), HR and BP response to standing, deep breathing difference, BP response to handgrip and spectral indices of heart rate variability (HRV) were analyzed in normotensive offspring of two parents hypertensive (Group I), normotensive offspring of one parent hypertensive (Group II), prehypertensive offspring of two parents hypertensive (Group III) and prehypertensive offspring of one parent hypertensive (Group IV). Results. Sympathovagal imbalance (SVI) in prehypertensive offspring was observed due to increased sympathetic and decreased vagal activity. In group III, SVI was more prominent with greater contribution by vagal withdrawal. LF-HF ratio, the marker of SVI was correlated more with diastolic pressure, 30 : 15 ratio and E : I ratio in prehypertensives and the degree of correlation was more in group III prehypertensives. Conclusion. Vagal withdrawal plays a critical role in development of SVI in prehypertensive offspring of hypertensive parents. The intensity of SVI was more in offspring of two parents hypertensive compared to single parent hypertensive

Reactions of coordinated ligands. Part II<SUP>1</SUP>). Kinetics of iodination of salicylate in bis(ethylenediamine)(salicylato)cobalt(III) cation

The rates of iodination of Salicylate in the bis-(ethylenediamine)(salicylato)cobalt(lII) complex and free Salicylate have been measured in acetate buffer at 40&#176; and I = 0.1 M. The reaction is catalysed by acetate and water. The reactivity order for both acetate- and water-catalysed paths is: [HSal]<SUP>-</SUP> &lt; [(en)<SUB>2</SUB>CoSal]<SUP>+</SUP> &lt; [Sal]<SUP>2-</SUP>, where [HSaI]<SUP>-</SUP> and [Sal]<SUP>2-</SUP> stand for the phenol and phenate forms of Salicylate respectively. Chelation of [Sal]<SUP>2-</SUP> to cobalt(III) results in a rate reduction of its iodination by 10<SUP>7</SUP>

Decreased baroreflex sensitivity is associated with cardiometabolic risks and prehypertension status in early-postmenopausal women

Objective We studied the link of decreased baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) to cardiometabolic risks and prehypertension status in postmenopausal women during their early menopausal phase. Methods Premenopausal women (n = 55) and early-postmenopausal women (n = 50) of age group between 40 and 55 years were recruited for the study, and their anthropometric parameters, complete battery of autonomic function tests (AFT), BRS, hormone levels, and cardiometabolic risk parameters were measured and compared between two groups. Correlation analysis of BRS with various physiological and biochemical parameters in these two groups were performed. Multiple regression analysis of BRS with various other associated factors in postmenopausal subjects and bivariate logistic regression analysis for assessing prediction of prehypertension status by BRS in postmenopausal group were performed. Results There was a significant difference in AFT and metabolic parameters between premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Sympathovagal imbalance (increased sympathetic and decreased parasympathetic) was prominent in early-postmenopausal women. Decreased BRS, the marker of cardiovascular (CV) risk was found to be significant (P < .001) and correlated with various cardiometabolic parameters in early-postmenopausal subjects. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that decreased BRS is independently linked to parameters of decreased vagal activity, inflammation, and oxidative stress in early-postmenopausal group. Decreased BRS could predict prehypertension status in early-postmenopausal subjects as confirmed by bivariate logistic regression analysis. Conclusion Sympathovagal imbalance, decreased BRS and considerable metabolic derangements were observed in women in their early phase of menopause. Decreased BRS appears to be associated with the cardiometabolic risks in these women. Prehypertension status in early-postmenopausal subjects could be predicted by decreased BRS

Association of rs2073618 polymorphism and osteoprotegerin levels with hypertension and cardiovascular risks in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract There are reports of link of osteoprotegerin (OPG) gene polymorphism to type-2 diabetes (T2D) and hypertension (HTN). The objective of the study was to assess the allele frequency of OPG (rs2073618) gene polymorphism and its association with heart rate variability (HRV) and blood pressure variability profile as CVD risks in diabetes mellitus patients with hypertension undergoing treatment. T2D patients on treatment without hypertension (n = 172), with hypertension (n = 177) and 191 healthy volunteers were recruited for the study. Their blood pressure variability including baroreflex sensitivity (BRS), heart rate variability (HRV), OPG, insulin, lipid profile, receptor-activator for NFkB (RANK), receptor-activator for NFkB-Ligand (RANKL), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were estimated. Allele frequency of OPG (rs2073618) gene polymorphism was assessed from the DNA samples. BRS and HRV indices were decreased, and RANKL/OPG and TNF-α were increased in T2D and T2D + HTN groups, respectively compared to healthy control group. The reduction in BRS was contributed by increased inflammation and reduced SDNN of HRV in GG genotype in T2D + HTN. In GG + GC subgroup, it was additionally contributed by rise in RANKL/OPG level (β − 0.219; p 0.008). Presence of mutant GG genotype contributed to the risk of hypertension among T2D patients (OR 3.004) as well as in general population (OR 2.79). It was concluded that CV risks are more in T2D patients with HTN expressing OPG rs2073618 gene polymorphism

Factors Influencing Medical Students in Choosing Medicine as a Career

Motivation is an important factor influencing important outcomes in medical education. The choice of medicine as a higher study depends upon various factors such as interest in the medical field, good job opportunities, a desire to serve others, medical background of the parents and many more. This study is aimed at identifying those factors influencing medical students in choosing medicine as a career. As part of the first day of the foundation program for first year MBBS students of a tertiary care teaching hospital, the students were asked to introduce themselves in front of faculty, parents of the students, and fellow batch mates and also to say in their own words, “Why did they choose medicine as their career?” in a few sentences. The responses from 141 students were compiled and subjected for qualitative analysis. This study found out that there are several factors influencing the choice of career in medicine, however, highly influencing factors among this group were found to be the influence by parents and the perceived respect that they would get in the society. The responses were further grouped into different themes and discussed with reference to similar studies conducted in other parts of the world

Attenuation of baroreflex sensitivity and heart rate variability is linked to reduced levels of nitric oxide in pregnant women having risks of developing gestational hypertension

Purpose: Decreased baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) and sympathovagal imbalance (SVI) have been reported as a cardiovascular (CV) risk in gestational hypertension (GH). Nitric oxide (NO) has been implicated in pathophysiology of GH. In the present study, we assessed the link of CV risks (decreased BRS and SVI) to the plasma levels of NO in women having risk of developing GH. Materials and Methods: A total of 96 pregnant women having risk factors for GH were recruited for the study. The blood pressure variability (BPV), heart rate variability (HRV), plasma NO, marker of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), lipid risk factors, inflammatory markers (hsCRP, interleukin-6), and malondialdehyde (MDA), the marker of oxidative stress (OS) were measured at 16th and 36th week. Link of various parameters to NO was assessed by correlation and multiple regression analysis. Results: Of HRV indices, parasympathetic components were decreased and sympathetic components were increased, BRS was decreased, NO was decreased, HOMA-IR, lipid risk factors, hsCRP, interleukin-6, and MDA were increased significantly at 36th week compared to 16th week of pregnancy. Most of the markers of cardiometabolic risk were correlated with NO. However, only the markers of CV risk (SVI and reduced BRS) were independently associated with decreased level of NO, but not the metabolic markers except interleukin-6. The independent contribution of BRS (β = 0.334, P < .001) to NO was found to be most significant. Conclusion: It was concluded that decreased BRS, SVI, and increased interleukin-6 are associated with reduction in NO in GH, which may possibly be linked to the development of CV risks in GH

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Objective. In this study, we have assessed sympathovagal imbalance (SVI) by spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) that contributes to the genesis of early-onset PIH. Methods. Body mass index (BMI), basal heart rate (BHR), blood pressure (BP) and HRV indices such as LFnu, HFnu, LF-HF ratio, mean RR, SDNN and RMSSD were assessed in normal pregnant women (Control group) and pregnant women having risk factors for PIH (Study group) at all the trimesters pregnancy. Retrospectively, those who did not develop PIH (Study group I) were separated from those who developed PIH (Study group II). Study group II was subdivided into early-onset and late-onset PIH. Sympathovagal balance (LF-HF ratio) was correlated with BMI, BHR and BP. Results. LF-HF ratio was significantly high in study group II compared to study group I and control group, and in early-onset PIH group compared to the late-onset category at all the trimesters of pregnancy, which was significantly correlated with BHR and BP. Alteration in HFnu in early-onset category was more prominent than the alteration in LFnu. Conclusion. Though the SVI in PIH is contributed by both sympathetic overactivity and vagal withdrawal, especially in early-onset type, SVI is mainly due to vagal inhibition