Background: Recent evidence supports that the prehypertension is associated with target organ damage, though there is lack of information regarding common carotid artery intima media thickness (CIMT) in prehypertensive individuals. We aimed to study the role of prehypertension in target organ damage in the form of CIMT. Methods: Carotid CIMT was measured by B-mode ultrasonography by an experien...

The conversion of nitric oxide (NO*) into its congeners nitrosonium (NO(+)) and nitroxyl (HNO/NO(-)) ions may have important consequences for signal transduction and physiological responses. Manganese-containing superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) may convert NO. into its redox congeners. In our current work, we have examined the mechanism of sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced relaxation of arteries, ...

In our study, the circadian blood pressure (BP) rhythm was studied in subjects with asymptomatic and normotensive pheochromocytoma. We have therefore performed 24-hour BP monitoring not only in 6 subjects with asymptomatic pheochromocytoma, but also in 33 patients with symptomatic pheochromocytoma and in 10 normotensive subjects, who served as a control group. Circadian BP rhythm was expressed ...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and their inhibitors (TIMP) in second trimester amniotic fluid of women with hypertensive disorders compared to normotensive women. STUDY DESIGN Amniotic fluid was obtained from 133 women undergoing genetic second trimester amniocentesis. Zymography was performed for MMP characterization and an MMP-2 ELISA kit was used to determi...

Background: This study aims to determine the differences of angiogenic markers sFlt-1 (soluble FMS-like tyrosine kinase-1), Placental Growth Factor (PlGF) and antioxidant (vitamin E) levels in pre-eclampsia compared with normotensive pregnancies. Methods: In a cross-sectional study performed on 40 normotensive pregnancies and 40 pre-eclampsia women, serum levels of sFlt-1, PlGF and vitamin E we...

Hemodynamic and left ventricular systolic function were studied by Doppler echocardiography in 14 young and 15 older adult hypertensive patients and in 15 young and 12 older normotensive individuals. Measures were made at rest and during upright deadlift isometric exercise, at 30% of maximum voluntary contraction for 3 min. At rest, young and older hypertensive patients demonstrated impaired le...

conclusions our study obtained some evidences on the association of micro albuminuria with diastolic dysfunction in obese normotensive no diabetic individuals. nonetheless, more assessment is necessary for obtaining a causal relationship between micro albuminuria and diastolic dysfunction. background recently, an association between impaired diastolic function and increased urinary albumin excr...

objective(s): in this study, the effects of chronic administration of crocin, an active constituent of saffron, on blood pressures of normotensive and desoxycorticosterone acetate (doca) - salt induced hypertensive rats, were investigated.   materials and methods: five week administration of three doses of crocin (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg/day) and spironolactone (50 mg/kg/day) in different groups ...