Biophysical forces within the arterial wall provide functional regulation of arterial stiffness. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) and flow-mediated brachial artery dilation (FMD) can be used to evaluate vascular stiffness and endothelial function. Although both techniques have been used in several studies in hypertensive

patients, it is unknown whether endothelial dysfunction is also associated with vascular stiffness in RHTN patients. Methods. One hundred and ninety-three consecutive subjects were divided in three groups: 44 RHTN, buy PR-171 35 well-controlled hypertensive patients (HTN) and 25 normal healthy volunteers (NT). FMD was measured by high-resolution ultrasound and PWV was calculated from measurements of the pulse transit time and the distance traveled by the pulse between carotid and femoral arteries. Results. No significant differences were observed in respect to body mass index, age or other biochemical variables among the three groups. FMD (NO-dependent) values were statistically different when comparing RHTN and well controlled HTN patients (respectively, 8.3 +/- 4.7% and 10.1 +/- 5.9%) and 12.3 +/- 6.3% in normal subjects (p < 0.05). One-way analysis of variance see more (ANOVA) showed a significant difference in BP-adjusted

PWV between RHTN and HTN (13.9 +/- 1.0 and 11.5 +/- 1.1 m/s, respectively; p < 0.05).

FMD (NO-dependent) and PWV-adjusted values were strongly correlated in well-controlled HTN and NT subjects (r = -0.74 and -0.83, respectively). Although statistically significant, this correlation was lower in RHTN patients (r = -0.43). Prexasertib Conclusion. We found a close relationship among high BP levels, endothelial dysfunction and vascular rigidity in hypertensive patients, demonstrated by a significantly higher increase in carotid-femoral PWV and a decrease in brachial artery FMD in RHTN when compared with well-controlled hypertensive patients. Although this study was not designed to test the prognostic, the vascular damage differences observed between patients with controlled vs uncontrolled hypertension suggest that the latter group may have a worse cardiovascular prognosis, requiring prospective assessment tests.”
“Morbidly obese patients are at significantly elevated risk of postsurgery complications and merit closer monitoring by health care professionals after bariatric surgery. It is now recognized that genetic factors influence individual patient’s response to drug used in anesthesia and analgesia. Among the many drug administered by anesthetists, we focused in this pilot study on morphine, since morphine patient-controlled anesthesia in obese patients undergoing gastric bypass surgery is frequently prescribed.