Transdermal β-Blocker Therapy in Essential Hypertension

Transdermal drug delivery has been applied to various agents in an effort to decrease the frequency of drug administration and increase the patients compliance. In our study, we demonstrated that transdermal application of a ß-blocker (20 mg mepindolol) in patients with essential hypertension led to effective blood pressure lowering effect within 1 week (160.1 ±6.1 mm Hg/95.8 ± 8.3 mm Hg vs 136.8 ± 7.2 mm Hg/84.3 ± 5.0 mm Hg; Ρ < 0.05). A controlled study of transdermal versus oral ß-blocker administration in hypertensives is necessary before this new therapeutic system is introduced in antihypertensive treatment. Am J Hypertens 1988; 1:199S-200

Environmental Management System (EMS) objectives and targets : annual results summary - FY2011.

Sandia National Laboratories/New Mexico's (SNL/NM) Environmental Management System is the integrated approach for members of the workforce to identify and manage environmental risks. Each Fiscal Year (FY) SNL/NM performs an analysis to identify environmental aspects, and the environmental programs associated with them are charged with the task of routinely monitoring and measuring the objectives and targets that are established to mitigate potential impacts of SNL/NM's operations on the environment. An annual summary of the results achieved towards meeting established objectives and targets provides a connection to, and rational for, annually revised environmental aspects. The purpose of this document is to summarize the results achieved and documented in FY2011

Environmental Management System (EMS) objectives&targets annual results summary : FY2012.

Sandia National Laboratories/New Mexico's (SNL/NM) Environmental Management System is the integrated approach for members of the workforce to identify and manage environmental risks. Each Fiscal Year (FY) SNL/NM performs an analysis to identify environmental aspects, and the environmental programs associated with them are charged with the task of routinely monitoring and measuring the objectives and targets that are established to mitigate potential impacts of SNL/NM's operations on the environment. An annual summary of the results achieved towards meeting established objectives and targets provides a connection to, and rational for, annually revised environmental aspects. The purpose of this document is to summarize the results achieved and documented in FY2012

Flooding forested groundwater recharge areas modifies microbial communities from top soil to groundwater table

Subsurface microorganisms are crucial for contaminant degradation and maintenance of groundwater quality. This study investigates the microbial biomass and community composition [by phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs)], as well as physical and chemical soil characteristics at woodland flooding sites of an artificial groundwater recharge system used for drinking water production. Vertical soil profiles to c. 4 m at two watered and one nonwatered site were analyzed. The microbial biomass was equal in watered and nonwatered sites, and considerable fractions (25-42%) were located in 40-340 cm depth. The microbial community structure differed significantly between watered and nonwatered sites, predominantly below 100 cm depth. Proportions of the bacterial PLFAs 16:1ω5, 16:1ω7, cy17:0 and 18:1ω9t, and the long-chained PLFAs 22:1ω9 and 24:1ω9 were more prominent at the watered sites, whereas branched, saturated PLFAs (iso/anteiso) dominated at the nonwatered site. PLFA community indices indicated stress response (trans/cis ratio), higher nutrient availability (unsaturation index) and changes in membrane fluidity (iso/anteiso ratio) due to flooding. In conclusion, water recharge processes led to nutrient input and altered environmental conditions, which resulted in a highly active and adapted microbial community residing in the vadose zone that effectively degraded organic compound

Pollution prevention opportunity assessment for Sandia National Laboratories/California recycling programs.

This Pollution Prevention Opportunity Assessment (PPOA) was conducted for the Sandia National Laboratories/California (SNL/CA) Environmental Management Department between May 2006 and March 2007, to evaluate the current site-wide recycling program for potential opportunities to improve the efficiency of the program. This report contains a summary of the information collected and analyses performed with recommended options for implementation. The SNL/NM Pollution Prevention (P2) staff worked with the SNL/CA P2 Staff to arrive at these options

High Refractive Index Materials of Iron Sulfides and Poly(ethylene oxide)

High refractive index composites of iron sulfides and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) have been prepared by co-precipitation from aqueous solution. Several reaction parameters were varied: inorganic reactants, reactant ratios, reaction temperatures, and reaction times. Selected samples were characterized with organic microelemental analysis, x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, DSC, and TEM. The nanocomposites with the highest refractive indices have been prepared using PEO, Mohr's salt, and H2S or NaHS. The analyses indicate that the iron sulfides in these materials consist of finely dispersed mackinawite and greigite ("amorphous” FeS) and, partially, also pyrite. The refractive indexes of the resulting composites are clearly above 2 at 632.8 and 1295 nm and can assume values between 2.5 and 2.

Sodium, renin, aldosterone, catecholamines, and blood pressure in diabetes mellitus

Sodium, renin, aldosterone, catecholamines, and blood pressure in diabetes mellitus. Interrelations among plasma renin activity (PRA), aldosterone and Cortisol levels, blood volume, exchangeable sodium, urinary catecholamines, and blood pressure were studied in 35 normal subjects and 60 age-matched non-azotemic patients with diabetes mellitus (60% with hypertension, 15% with orthostatic hypotension). Basal PRA, plasma aldosterone, cortisol, blood volume, plasma potassium, and urinary electrolytes were comparable in diabetic and normal subjects. Diabetic patients, however, had a 10% increase in body sodium (P < 0.01), and 8% of them showed normal postural PRA responses and subnormal aldosterone responses; 22% had subnormal PRA and normal aldosterone responses, and 17% had subnormal responses of PRA and aldosterone. Non-PRA-related aldosterone responses could not be explained by ACTH or electrolytes. Orthostatic decreases in blood pressure correlated (P < 0.01) with both catecholamine excretion and basal PRA. This suggests that in diabetes mellitus, body sodium is increased. Basal PRA and plasma aldosterone are usually normal, but their postural responses are frequently impaired. Absent aldosterone responses, despite normal PRA responsiveness, may reflect an adrenal abnormality or an ineffective form of renin. Marked postural aldosterone stimulation, unrelated to PRA, ACTH, or electrolytes, points to a potent unknown factor in aldosterone control. Low levels of free peripheral catecholamines and PRA may be complementary factors contributing to postural hypotension.Sodium, rénine, aldostérone, catécholamines et pression artérielle dans le diabèté sucré. Les inter-relations entre l'activité rénine plasmatique (PRA), les concentrations d'aldostérone et de cortisol, le volume sanguin, le sodium échangeable, les catécholamines urinaires et la pression artérielle ont été étudiées chez 35 sujets normaux et 60 malades atteints de diabété, sans insuffisance rénale et dont les âges étaient appariés (60% avaient une hypertension et 15% une hypotension orthostatique). La PRA de base, l'aldostérone et le Cortisol plasmatiques, le volume sanguin, le potassium plasmatique et les électrolytes urinaires étaient comparables chez les diabétiques et les sujets normaux. Les malades diabétiques, cependant, ont une augmentation de 10% de leur sodium corporel (P < 0,01). Huit pour cent d'entre eux ont une réponse posturale de PRA normale et une réponse de l'aldostérone inférieure à la normale, 22% ont une réponse de PRA inférieure à la normale et une reponse de l'aldosterone normale, et 17% ont des réponses de PRA et de l'aldostérone inférieures à la normale. Les réponses de l'aldostérone sans rapport avec PRA ne peuvent pas être expliquées par l'ACTH ou les électrolytes. Les diminutions de la pression artérielle liées à l'orthostatisme sont correlées (P < 0,01) à la fois avec l'excrétion de catécholamines et la PRA de base. Ceci suggére qu'au cours du diabéte le sodium corporel est augmenté. La PRA et l'aldosterone de base sont souvent normales mais leur réponse posturale est souvent modifiée. L'absence de réponse de l'aldosterone malgré une réponse normale de PRA peut traduire une anomalie surrénale ou une forme de rénine inefficace. Une stimulation posturale importante de l'aldostérone non expliquée par la PRA, l'ACTH ou les électrolytes oriente vers un facteur inconnu mais puissant du contrôle de la sécrétion d'aldostérone. Des concentrations basses de catécholamines libres et une PRA basse peuvent être des facteurs complémentaires qui participent à l'hypotension posturale

Sodium, renin, aldosterone, catecholamines, and blood pressure in diabetes mellitus

Sodium, renin, aldosterone, catecholamines, and blood pressure in diabetes mellitus. Interrelations among plasma renin activity (PRA), aldosterone and Cortisol levels, blood volume, exchangeable sodium, urinary catecholamines, and blood pressure were studied in 35 normal subjects and 60 age-matched non-azotemic patients with diabetes mellitus (60% with hypertension, 15% with orthostatic hypotension). Basal PRA, plasma aldosterone, cortisol, blood volume, plasma potassium, and urinary electrolytes were comparable in diabetic and normal subjects. Diabetic patients, however, had a 10% increase in body sodium (P < 0.01), and 8% of them showed normal postural PRA responses and subnormal aldosterone responses; 22% had subnormal PRA and normal aldosterone responses, and 17% had subnormal responses of PRA and aldosterone. Non-PRA-related aldosterone responses could not be explained by ACTH or electrolytes. Orthostatic decreases in blood pressure correlated (P < 0.01) with both catecholamine excretion and basal PRA. This suggests that in diabetes mellitus, body sodium is increased. Basal PRA and plasma aldosterone are usually normal, but their postural responses are frequently impaired. Absent aldosterone responses, despite normal PRA responsiveness, may reflect an adrenal abnormality or an ineffective form of renin. Marked postural aldosterone stimulation, unrelated to PRA, ACTH, or electrolytes, points to a potent unknown factor in aldosterone control. Low levels of free peripheral catecholamines and PRA may be complementary factors contributing to postural hypotension.Sodium, rénine, aldostérone, catécholamines et pression artérielle dans le diabèté sucré. Les inter-relations entre l'activité rénine plasmatique (PRA), les concentrations d'aldostérone et de cortisol, le volume sanguin, le sodium échangeable, les catécholamines urinaires et la pression artérielle ont été étudiées chez 35 sujets normaux et 60 malades atteints de diabété, sans insuffisance rénale et dont les âges étaient appariés (60% avaient une hypertension et 15% une hypotension orthostatique). La PRA de base, l'aldostérone et le Cortisol plasmatiques, le volume sanguin, le potassium plasmatique et les électrolytes urinaires étaient comparables chez les diabétiques et les sujets normaux. Les malades diabétiques, cependant, ont une augmentation de 10% de leur sodium corporel (P < 0,01). Huit pour cent d'entre eux ont une réponse posturale de PRA normale et une réponse de l'aldostérone inférieure à la normale, 22% ont une réponse de PRA inférieure à la normale et une reponse de l'aldosterone normale, et 17% ont des réponses de PRA et de l'aldostérone inférieures à la normale. Les réponses de l'aldostérone sans rapport avec PRA ne peuvent pas être expliquées par l'ACTH ou les électrolytes. Les diminutions de la pression artérielle liées à l'orthostatisme sont correlées (P < 0,01) à la fois avec l'excrétion de catécholamines et la PRA de base. Ceci suggére qu'au cours du diabéte le sodium corporel est augmenté. La PRA et l'aldosterone de base sont souvent normales mais leur réponse posturale est souvent modifiée. L'absence de réponse de l'aldosterone malgré une réponse normale de PRA peut traduire une anomalie surrénale ou une forme de rénine inefficace. Une stimulation posturale importante de l'aldostérone non expliquée par la PRA, l'ACTH ou les électrolytes oriente vers un facteur inconnu mais puissant du contrôle de la sécrétion d'aldostérone. Des concentrations basses de catécholamines libres et une PRA basse peuvent être des facteurs complémentaires qui participent à l'hypotension posturale

Placental transfer of parathyroid hormone

Peer Reviewe