Clinical correlates of renal dysfunction in hypertensive patients without cardiovascular complications: the REDHY study

Our study was aimed to assess the clinical correlates of different degrees of renal dysfunction in a wide group of non-diabetic hypertensive patients, free from cardiovascular (CV) complications and known renal diseases, participating to the REDHY (REnal Dysfunction in HYpertension) study. A total of 1856 hypertensive subjects (mean age: 47±14 years), attending our hypertension centre, were evaluated. The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was estimated by the simplified Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study prediction equation. A 24-h urine sample was collected to determine albumin excretion rate (AER). Albuminuria was defined as an AER greater than 20 μg min−1. We used the classification proposed by the US National Kidney Foundation's guidelines for chronic kidney disease (CKD) to define the stages of renal function impairment. In multiple logistic regression analysis, the probability of having stage 1 and stage 2 CKD was significantly higher in subjects with greater values of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and with larger waist circumference. SBP was also positively related to stage 3 CKD. Stage 3 and stages 4–5 CKD were inversely associated with waist circumference and directly associated with serum uric acid. Age was inversely related to stage 1 CKD and directly related to stage 3 CKD. The factors associated with milder forms of kidney dysfunction are, in part, different from those associated with more advanced stages of renal function impairment

Using imagine instructions to induce consumers to generate ad-supporting content

Some recent advertisements attempt to increase persuasiveness by directly asking consumers to imagine arguments supporting the ad\u27s message. This research provides a critical test of the effectiveness of this imagine strategy, while also identifying specific situations in which this technique can be most effective in increasing persuasion. Three studies reveal that imagine instructions are most effective when there is a lack of fit between consumers\u27 regulatory orientation and the ad content, when consumers are dispositionally oriented toward a high need for cognitive closure, and when consumers are at a high construal level. These results are consistent with the possibility that the imagine strategy is most effective when used to enhance the motivation level of otherwise unmotivated consumers

Imagine Instructions: When Do They Help or Hurt Persuasion?

Three studies examined conditions under which imagine instructions influence degree of persuasion. Study 1 showed that imagine instructions cause individuals high in need for cognitive closure to form stronger negative attitudes after viewing a negative advertisement. Study 2 showed higher level construals facilitated ability to imagine by increasing adherence to an advertisement message. Study 3 showed an interaction between imagine instructions and promotion focus such that either high promotion focus or imagine instructions resulted in stronger positive attitudes in relation to a positive advertisement message