Nighttime administration of high-dose,sustained-release melatonin does not decrease nocturnal blood pressure in African-American patients: Results from a preliminary randomized,crossover trial

ObjectivesThis preliminary study tested whether a high-dose, sustained-release form of melatonin reduced 24-hour blood pressure in African-Americans.DesignRandomized, placebo-controlled, crossover pilot study of 40 self-defined African-American patients with essential hypertension.Settings/locationUrban, academic medical center and associated outpatient clinics.InterventionsPatients ingested either melatonin (high dose [24 mg], sustained-release formulation] or placebo in randomized order over a 4-week period.Outcome measuresMean nighttime and daytime systolic and diastolic blood pressures, as measured with 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitors. The primary outcome was mean nighttime systolic blood pressure.ResultsThere were no statistically differences between melatonin and placebo conditions in mean nighttime or daytime systolic or diastolic blood pressures.ConclusionsIn contrast with studies in other populations, this preliminary study showed that nighttime dosing of continuous-release melatonin had no significant effect on nocturnal blood pressure in African Americans with essential hypertension when compared to placebo.     

Restorative effects of urban green environments and the role of urban-nature orientedness and noise sensitivity: A field experiment

In this experiment we investigated how individual differences in orientation towards built vs. nature environment as well as noise sensitivity affect psychological and physiological restoration in a constructed urban park, urban woodland and city centre of Helsinki, Finland. The participants, 30–61-year-old healthy women (N = 83), visited each study site once. The experiment consisted of a 15-min viewing session, followed by a 30-min walking session in each environment. We measured restorative effects: perceived restorative outcomes, vitality, and blood pressure in these three environments. The data were analysed in SAS with a linear mixed model. We found significant differences between environments in psychological restorative effects, but not in blood pressure. The urban-nature orientedness, and to a lesser extent noise sensitivity, modified the effect of environment on restoration. In conclusion, individual characteristics affect psychological restoration provided by various urban environments. Varying needs of individuals should be taken into account in city planning.     

注射用磷酸肌酸钠对非体外循环下冠状动脉旁路移植术患者动脉血氧分压、心肌酶及心律失常的影响

目的：探讨注射用磷酸肌酸钠对冠状动脉旁路移植术(CABG)患者动脉血氧分压、心肌酶及心律失常的影响。方法：70例本院ASA分级Ⅱ～Ⅲ级，CABG预术患者，随机分成对照组和实验组，每组35例。麻醉完毕后，给予对照组患者常规药物及液体应用,而实验组则在对照组基础上给予磷酸肌酸钠1g静脉滴注。术毕时血气分析检测动脉血氧分压；术后24h检测心肌酶谱；术后24h记录Ⅱ导联心电图心律失常发生情况。结果: 相比对照组，实验组术毕动脉血氧分压提高显著（p<0.05）；两组心肌酶含量术后均升高，实验组上升较对照组明显减少(p<0.05)；实验组心律失常的发生率8.5%，明显低于对照组37.1%(p<0.05)。结论：磷酸肌酸钠能提高冠心病手术患者动脉血氧分压，改善心肌酶含量，降低心律失常发生率。     

Knowledge on types of treatment pressure. A cross-sectional study among mental health professionals

Treatment pressure restricts patients' voluntary and autonomous decisions. Yet interventions involving treatment pressure are widely used in mental health and psychosocial services. This cross-sectional study explored whether mental health professionals' knowledge on five types of treatment pressure (no coercion, persuasion or conviction, leverage, threat, and formal coercion) was associated with sociodemographic, professional and contextual factors. A more positive attitude towards interventions involving treatment pressure was associated with underrating the level of those interventions compared with a predefined default value. The treatment setting and professional group played a minor role in ‘leverage’ and ‘formal coercion’ types of treatment pressure, respectively.     

High Intensity Positive Pressure Ventilation and Long Term Pulmonary Function Responses in Severe Stable COPD. A Delicate and Difficult Balance

Method to improve minute ventilation (MV) during spontaneous breathing (SB) in stable severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have a great clinical relevant in long term outcome. In this scenario, recommendations of early use of high-Intensity non-invasive Positive pressure Ventilation (HI-NPPV) or intelligent Volume Assured Pressure (iVAP) Support in Hypercapnic COPD have been proposed by safe therapeutics options. We analyze in this letter, Ekkernkamp et al. study that described the effect of HI-NPPV compared with SB on MV in patients receiving long-term treatment. We consider that interpretation of relationships between ABG, functional parameters, and respiratory mechanics reported need clarifications. Further prospective large clinical trials identifying the best mode of ventilation according to the characteristics in severe stable COPD are necessary to balance an effective approach and response on clinical symptoms and long-term effects.     

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??Objective??To select the best predictor of swallowing functions by exploring the correlation between the swallowing function and tongue mobility and tongue pressure of the patients with tongue defects after oral cancer surgery or oropharyngeal cancer surgery. Methods??From July 2017 to March 2018??in Hospital of Stomatology??Sun Yat-sen University??thirty-six cases of patients with tongue defects after oral cancer surgery or oropharyngeal cancer surgery were collected during return visits in the outpatient clinics of our hospital. The swallowing functions were graded by their water swallowing test??WST??results. The tongue mobility scores were evaluated by using the lingual range of motion??LROM??method??while the tongue pressure was measured by using the Iowa oral performance instrument??IOPI??. Spearman rank correlation analysis was applied to calculate the rank correlation coefficient??rs?? between the tongue mobility scores or tongue pressure and WST results??and the corresponding P value. Results??The rs value between WST results and tongue mobility scores or tongue pressure was -0.575 and -0.613 respectively??P??0.05??. The rs value of tongue pressure was larger than that of tongue mobility scores. Conclusion??Both the tongue mobility scores and tongue pressure have a great impact on the swallowing functions of patients with tongue defects after oral cancer surgery or oropharyngeal cancer surgery??and tongue pressure is the best predictor.     

Differences in ambulatory blood pressure profiles between Japanese and Thai patients with hypertension /suspected hypertension

Ethnic differences in the profiles of hypertension and cardiovascular risk have been reported between Asians and Westerners. However, blood pressure (BP) profiles and the risk factors for cardiovascular disease might differ even among different Asian populations because of the diversity of cultures, foods, and environments. We retrospectively examined differences in 24‐h BP profiles between 1051 Japanese (mean age, 62.5 ± 12.4 years; medicated hypertension, 75.7%) and 804 Thai (mean age, 56.9 ± 18.5 years; medicated hypertension, 65.6%) by using the Japanese and Thai ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) databases, in order to check the BP control status in treated hypertensives and to inform the clinical diagnosis of hypertension. The two populations had similar office systolic BP (SBP) (142.7 ± 20.0 vs 142.3 ± 20.6 mm Hg, p = .679). However, the Japanese population had higher 24‐hr average and daytime SBP, and the Thai population had higher nighttime SBP even after adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors (all p < .05). Greater morning BP surge was observed in Japanese (31.2 vs 22.8 mm Hg, p < .001). Regarding nocturnal BP dipping status, the prevalence of riser status (higher nighttime than daytime SBP) was higher in the Thai population (30.5% vs 10.9%). These findings suggest that a substantial difference in 24‐hr BP profiles exists between even neighboring countries in Asia.