The Effect Of Intermittent Fasting On Blood Pressure Variability In Patients With Newly Diagnosed Hypertension Or Prehypertension

Intermittent fasting is a phenomenon which can be observed in most humans. The effect of intermittent fasting on blood pressure variability (BPV) has not previously been investigated. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of fasting on blood pressure (BP) (with office, home, central, and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring [ABPM]) and on BPV. Sixty individuals were included in the study. Office, home, ABPM, and central BP measurements were performed before and during intermittent fasting. Standard deviation and coefficient variation were used for office and home BPV measurement, while the smoothness index was used to calculate ABPM variability. Patients' BP and BPV values before and during intermittent fasting were then compared. Intermittent fasting resulted in a significant decrease in office BP values and ABPM measurements but caused no significant change in home and central BP measurements. Twenty-four hour urinary sodium excretion decreased. Smoothness values obtained from ABPM measurements were low; in other words, BPV was greater. BPV was higher in patients who woke up to eat before sunrise, but BPV was low in patients with high body mass index. Intermittent fasting produced a significant decrease in BP values in terms of office and ABPM measurements in this study but caused no significant change in central BP and home measurements. We also identified an increase in BPV during intermittent fasting, particularly in patients who rose before sunrise. (C) 2017 American Society of Hypertension. All rights reserved.WoSScopu

Renal cell carcinoma associated immunosuppressive therapy: a case report with Wegener's granulomatosis

Development of uroepithelial tumors after cyclophosphamide and azathioprine therapy in Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) have been reported in the literature but renal cell carcinoma (RCC), rarely. RCC associated with WG has been previously reported in a few cases. Most of them have simultaneous diseases. Here, we report a case, which developed RCC 8 years after initiation of WG. Long-term immunosuppressive treatment is a risk factor for the development of malignancies; it should be suggested that RCC in our patient might be due to immunosuppressive therapy

Uric Acid is an Important Predictor for Hypertensive Early Atherosclerosis

Introduction: The association between hyperuricemia and cardiovascular disease in hypertensive subjects is controversial. Attempts to elucidate the possible association between hyperuricemia and early atherosclerosis in hypertensive patients may provide alternative prevention or therapy targets for future cardiovascular events

Changes In Hypertension Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment, And Control Rates In Turkey From 2003 To 2012

Objectives: The study aimed to assess the current epidemiology of hypertension, including its prevalence, the awareness of the condition and its treatment and control, in Turkey to evaluate changes in these factors over the last 10 years by comparing the results with the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in Turkey (PatenT) study data (2003), as well as to assess parameters affecting awareness and the control of hypertension. Methods: The PatenT 2 study was conducted on a representative sample of the Turkish adult population (n = 5437) in 2012. Specifically trained staff performed the data collection. Hypertension was defined as mean SBP or DBP at least 140/90 mmHg, previously diagnosed disease or the use of antihypertensive medication. Awareness and treatment were assessed by self-reporting, and control was defined as SBP/DBP less than 140/90 mmHg. Results: Although the prevalence of hypertension in the PatenT and PatenT 2 surveys was stable at approximately 30%, hypertension awareness, treatment, and control rates have improved in Turkey. Overall, 54.7% of hypertensive patients were aware of their diagnosis in 2012 compared with 40.7% in 2003. The hypertension treatment rate increased from 31.1% in 2003 to 47.4% in 2012, and the control rate in hypertensives increased from 8.1% in 2003 to 28.7% in 2012. The rate of hypertension control in treated patients improved between 2003 (20.7%) and 2012 (53.9%). Awareness of hypertension was positively associated with older age, being a woman, residing in an urban area, a history of parental hypertension, being a nonsmoker, admittance by a physician, presence of diabetes mellitus, and being obese or overweight; it was inversely associated with a higher amount of daily bread consumption. Factors associated with better control of hypertension were younger age, female sex, residing in an urban area, and higher education level in Turkey. Conclusion: Although some progress has been made in recognizing hypertension from 2003 to 2012, there is still a large population of untreated or inadequately treated hypertensives in Turkey. Strengthening of population-based efforts to improve the prevention, early detection, and treatment of hypertension is needed

Serum fetuin-A is associated with the components of MIAC (malnutrition, inflammation, atherosclerosis, calcification) syndrome in different stages of chronic kidney disease

Background/aim: Fetuin-A, a circulating inhibitor of calcification, is a marker of inflammatory-nutritional state. We evaluated the association between serum fetuin-A levels and vascular calcification, intima-media thickness, and nutritional and inflammatory markers in different stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Materials and methods: CKD patients were sampled for calcium-phosphate parameters and nutritional and inflammatory markers {[}highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)], and serum fetuin-A levels. Intima-media thicknesses of the common carotid arteries (CIMT) were measured. Peripheral artery calcification scores were obtained. Results: A total of 238 patients were included in the study. Fetuin-A levels in patients with end-stage renal disease were significantly lower than those in patients with stage-3 and stage-4 CKD (stage-5 vs. stage-4, P < 0.001; stage-5 vs. stage-3, P < 0.001). Fetuin-A was negatively correlated with creatinine (P < 0.001), Ca x P product (P < 0.001), hs-CRP (P- 0.01), vascular calcification score (P < 0.001), and CIMT (P < 0.001), and positively correlated with BMI (P < 0.001, r 0.30) and serum albumin (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Lower levels of fetuin-A were associated with higher vascular calcification scores, CIMT, hs-CRP levels, and lower BMI and albumin. Fetuin-A deficiency may be a key element for MIAC syndrome

Changes in hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control rates in Turkey from 2003 to 2012

Objectives: The study aimed to assess the current epidemiology of hypertension, including its prevalence, the awareness of the condition and its treatment and control, in Turkey to evaluate changes in these factors over the last 10 years by comparing the results with the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in Turkey (PatenT) study data (2003), as well as to assess parameters affecting awareness and the control of hypertension. Methods: The PatenT 2 study was conducted on a representative sample of the Turkish adult population (n = 5437) in 2012. Specifically trained staff performed the data collection. Hypertension was defined as mean SBP or DBP at least 140/90 mmHg, previously diagnosed disease or the use of antihypertensive medication. Awareness and treatment were assessed by self-reporting, and control was defined as SBP/DBP less than 140/90 mmHg. Results: Although the prevalence of hypertension in the PatenT and PatenT 2 surveys was stable at approximately 30\%, hypertension awareness, treatment, and control rates have improved in Turkey. Overall, 54.7\% of hypertensive patients were aware of their diagnosis in 2012 compared with 40.7\% in 2003. The hypertension treatment rate increased from 31.1\% in 2003 to 47.4\% in 2012, and the control rate in hypertensives increased from 8.1\% in 2003 to 28.7\% in 2012. The rate of hypertension control in treated patients improved between 2003 (20.7\%) and 2012 (53.9\%). Awareness of hypertension was positively associated with older age, being a woman, residing in an urban area, a history of parental hypertension, being a nonsmoker, admittance by a physician, presence of diabetes mellitus, and being obese or overweight; it was inversely associated with a higher amount of daily bread consumption. Factors associated with better control of hypertension were younger age, female sex, residing in an urban area, and higher education level in Turkey. Conclusion: Although some progress has been made in recognizing hypertension from 2003 to 2012, there is still a large population of untreated or inadequately treated hypertensives in Turkey. Strengthening of population-based efforts to improve the prevention, early detection, and treatment of hypertension is needed

Once-monthly continuous erythropoietin receptor activator (CERA) for haemoglobin maintenance in haemodialysis patients with chronic renal anaemia

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of once-monthly continuous erythropoietin receptor activator (CERA) for maintenance of stable haemoglobin (Hb) levels in adult chronic renal anaemia patients on dialysis according to local clinical judgment in Turkey. METHODS: This was a prospective, open-label, single-arm, multi-centre study conducted in 20 centres in Turkey. After a 4-week screening period, eligible patients receiving conventional erythropoiesis-stimulating agents were converted to monthly intravenous CERA and entered a 16-week CERA dose-titration period (DTP) followed by an 8-week efficacy evaluation period (EEP) and a 4-week safety follow-up. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients whose Hb concentration remained stable within ±1.0 g/dL of their reference Hb and within the range of 10.0–12.0 g/dL during the EEP. RESULTS: A total of 173 patients were screened, 132 entered the DTP and 84 completed the study. Thirty-nine patients [46.4% (95% confidence interval: 35.5–57.7%)] maintained stable target Hb concentrations. The mean change in time-adjusted average Hb concentration was 0.29 ± 1.08 g/dL between baseline and the EEP. The mean CERA monthly dose was 112.4 ± 76.78 µg during the EEP, and the CERA dose was adjusted in 39 patients (36.4%). Eleven patients (8.4%) reported 13 treatment-related adverse events, the most frequent adverse events being infections and infestations, gastrointestinal and vascular disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Once-monthly CERA maintains stable Hb concentrations in chronic renal anaemia patients on dialysis in Turkey. The study results confirm the known efficacy and safety profile of CERA

Use Of Home Sphygmomanometers In Turkey: A Nation-Wide Survey

The purposes of this study were to detect the prevalence of ownership of a home sphygmomanometer among hypertensive subjects through a nation-wide survey, to investigate parameters affecting ownership of a sphygmomanometer, to compare how home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) was actually used in daily practice with some aspects of the current guidelines, and to discuss what we implemented to increase the reliability of HBPM in a developing country. A total of 2747 hypertensive patients from 34 cities, representative of the Turkish population, were enrolled in the study. A multiple-choice questionnaire was administered to each participant using the computer-assisted telephone interviewing method. Among 2747 hypertensive patients, 1281 of them (46.6%) had a home sphygmomanometer. Most of the patients were using wrist devices. The factors associated with ownership of a sphygmomanometer were female gender, older age, obesity, higher educational status, higher income level, living in urban areas, awareness of hypertension and anti-hypertensive drug usage. Only 16% of the devices were used on the advice of a physician. The patients learned usage of their device mainly from the sellers and their relatives. The ownership of a home sphygmomanometer is common among hypertensive patients in Turkey, but regular monitoring of blood pressure before physician visits is rare despite common ownership of these devices. Daily practice of HBPM in Turkey was far from the recommendations of the current guidelines. More effort is needed to improve the reliability of HBPM. Hypertension Research (2012) 35, 356-361; doi: 10.1038/hr.2011.193; published online 17 November 2011WoSScopu

A follow up study of cytomegalovirus infection in a group of Turkish renal transplant recipients using molecular assays

The clinical value of an in-house cytomegalovirus nested polymerase chain reaction (CMV-PCR) and a commercial molecular assay hybrid capture CMV DNA assay (HCA) was evaluated in monitoring a group of renal transplant patients for six months follow up. In this study, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of nested CMV DNA PCR assay and HCA at the beginning of the study were 70, 42.9, 46.7, 66.7, and 60, 78.6, 66.7, and 73.3% respectively. After six months, they were 80, 66.7, 80, 66.7 for CMV PCR and 73.3, 88.9, 91.7, 66.7% for HCA respectively. These results indicate that in monitoring and predicting CMV infections in renal transplant recipients, not only qualitative but also quantitative assays must be used together in order to decide the preemptive strategies