Sex differences in essential hypertension

Abstract. A group of 41-year-old hypertensive men (n = 35, blood pressure (BP) 149.9 ± 2.1/ 98.9 ± 1.1 mmHg, mean ± SEM) who had never received treatment for their condition were compared with hypertensive women of the same age (n = 18, BP 155.9 ± 4.3/ 98.1 ± 1.6 mmHg) with comparable body mass index (BMI. 25.9 ± 0.5 vs. 24.9 ± 4.5 kg m^?2) who, also, had never received treatment. The lipid profile was more atherogenic in the men, with lower HDL cholesterol (1.21 ± 0.04 vs. 1.38 ± 0.06 mmol l^?1 P = 0.04), higher total cholesterol (6.04 ± 0.14 vs. 5.54 ± 0.18 mmol l^?1. P = 0.04) and triglycerides (1.80 ± 0.16 vs. 0.96 ± 0.10 mmol l^?1, P < 0.001). The hypertensive men had higher haemoglobin (P < 0.001) and haematocrit. Plasma catecholamines were inversely related to BMI in the women only (r = ?0.52, P < 0.05 for both noradrenaline and adrenaline). Women with BMI above 25 kg m^?2 had significantly lower arterial plasma adrenaline and noradrenaline than those with BMI below 25 kg m^?2 (28 ± 5 vs. 78 ± 16 pg ml^?1, P < 0.01 and 101 ± 17 vs. 206 ± 33 pg ml^?1, P < 0.01 respectively). A negative curvelinear relationship appeared between arterial adrenaline and insulin (r = 0.49, P= 0.05). These results suggest a male propensity for athero-thrombogenic risk factors in otherwise comparable hypertensive subjects. A close relationship between metabolic risk factors within the normal range seems to exist even in hypertensive women. The decreased sympathetic activity at rest in the obese hypertensive women indicates different pathophysiological mechanism for hypertension in lean and obese. Decreased sympathetic activity and thus reduced energy expenditure, promotes a risk for weight gain, and could explain the inverse relationship between insulin and adrenaline.     

Perinatal data reliability in a large teaching obstetric unit

Summary. In this inter-rater agreement study of antenatal and neonatal variables collected in a large teaching obstetric unit, information routinely collected by hospital staff was compared with that collected by a specially trained physician and a social worker. Agreement between the two sources of data was evaluated using kappa statistics and intraclass correlation coefficients. Excellent agreement was observed for some variables such as maternal and newborn anthropometric measures, and previous birthweight, but there was poor agreement for others such as indicators of physical activity, work during pregnancy and blood pressure measures. Some of the limitations are due to problems in phrasing questions, patients' recall, interviewer bias and abstracting data. We recommend that epidemiological studies should always include a reliability component, proper standardization of personnel and instruments and include, when published, validity data and examples of questions used.     

Antimicrobial potential of Actinomycetes species isolated from marine environment

Objective

To evaluate the antimicrobial activity of Actinomycetes species isolated from marine environment.

Methods

Twenty one strains of Actinomycetes were isolated from samples of Royapuram, Muttukadu, Mahabalipuram sea shores and Adyar estuary. Preliminary screening was done using cross-streak method against two gram-positive and eight gram-negative bacteria. The most potent strains C11 and C12 were selected from which antibacterial substances were extracted. The antibacterial activities of the extracts were performed using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Molecular identification of those isolates was done.

Results

All those twenty one isolates were active against at least one of the test organisms. Morphological characters were recorded. C11 showed activity against Staphylococcus species (13.0±0.5 mm), Vibrio harveyi (11.0±0.2 mm), Pseudomonas species (12.0±0.3 mm). C12 showed activity against Staphylococcus species (16.0±0.4 mm), Bacillus subtilis (11.0±0.2 mm), Vibrio harveyi (9.0±0.1 mm), Pseudomonas species (10.0±0.2 mm). 16S rRNA pattern strongly suggested that C11 and C12 strains were Streptomyces species.

Conclusions

The results of the present investigation reveal that the marine Actinomycetes from coastal environment are the potent source of novel antibiotics. Isolation, characterization and study of Actinomycetes can be useful in discovery of novel species of Actinomycetes.     

Acute kidney injury with renal replacement therapy in trauma patients

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) with renal replacement therapy (RRT) is rare in trauma patients. The primary aim of the study was to assess incidence, mortality and chronic RRT dependency in this patient group. Methods: Adult trauma patients with AKI receiving RRT at a regional trauma referral center over a 12‐year period were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Population‐based incidence of post‐traumatic AKI with RRT was 1.8 persons per million inhabitants per year (p.p.m./year) [95% confidence the interval (CI) 1.5–2.1 p.p.m./year]. In trauma patients admitted to hospital, incidence was 0.5‰ (95% CI 0.3–0.7‰) of those treated in intensive care unit (ICU), it was 8.3% (95% CI 5.9–10.8%). The median age was 46 years. Odds ratio (OR) for post‐traumatic AKI requiring RRT was higher in males than in females in general population (OR 5.6, 95% CI 2.2–14.0), and in trauma patients admitted to hospital (OR 4.4, 95% CI 1.9–10.3) and ICU (OR 4.5, 95% CI 1.9–10.7). The in‐hospital mortality rate was 24% (95% CI 11–37%), 3‐month mortality 36% (95% CI 21–51%) and 1‐year mortality 40% (95% CI 25–55%). Age was a risk factor for death after 1 year, with 57% (95% CI 7–109%) increased risk for each 10 years added. None of the survivors was dialysis‐dependent 3 months or 1 year after trauma. Conclusion: AKI in trauma patients requiring RRT was rare in this single‐center study. More males than females were affected. Mortality was modest, and renal recovery was excellent as none of the survivors became dependent on chronic RRT.     

Intestinal ameliorative effects of traditional Ogi-tutu,Vernonia amygdalina and Psidium guajava in mice infected with Vibrio cholera

BackgroundCholera, a severe acute watery diarrhea caused by Vibrio cholerae is endemic in Nigeria with most cases occurring in the rural areas. In South West Nigeria, some individuals resort to alternative treatments such as Ogi-tutu, Psidium guajava and Vernonia amygdalina during infections. The effectiveness of these alternatives in the prevention and treatment of V. cholerae infection requires experimental investigation.ObjectiveThis study was designed to investigate the ameliorative effects of Ogi-tutu, Vernonia amygdalina and Psidium guajava on intestinal histopathology of experimental mice infected with V. cholerae.MethodsPreliminary investigation of in vitro vibriocidal activities of these alternatives were carried out using agar cup diffusion assay. For ameliorative effects, adult mice were inoculated with 100 µl (106 cells) of Vibrio cholerae and dosed at 0 h (immediate prevention) and 4 h (treatment of infection) and their intestines were histopathologically evaluated.ResultsThe histopathological changes were the same irrespective of the treated groups, but the lesions varied in extent and severity. The ameliorative effects in decreasing order were V. amygdalina > P. guajava > Ogi-tutu.ConclusionV. amygdalina gave the best ameliorative effects in the prevention and treatment of V. cholerae infection.     

Enteroviruses as a possible cause of hypertension,dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and hypertensive heart failure (HHF) in South western Nigeria

Background

Human enteroviruses have long been associated with various diseases of man resulting into a wide range of acute symptoms involving the cardiac and skeletal muscles, central nervous system, pancreas, skin and mucous membranes.

Objective

To assess the role of enteroviruses in the etiology of hypertension, DCM and HHF.

Methods

We obtained stool specimens from 70 subjects comprising 65 patients and 5 controls and isolation was carried out on RD, L20B, HEp-2C and Vero cell lines and identified by neutralization with standard antisera (RIVM). Thirty-six enteroviruses were isolated and identified to be Coxsackieviruses-B5, A9, Echoviruses 1, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 22, 30 and Poliovirus type 1 and 3.

Results

Three most frequently occurring enterovirus serotypes which constitute 60.0% of the 30 NPEV typed and 50.0% of all the isolates were Echoviruses, Coxsackie-B5-virus and Coxsackievirus-A9. Echoviruses constituted 50.0% of all the serotypes while Coxsackieviruses-B5 and A9 accounts for the 27.8 % and 5.6% respectively. Enteroviral isolation rate was higher in age groups 51 years and above. The percentage of study subjects who had Coxsackie-B5-viruses and echoviruses was significantly (P<0.05) higher in cases of hypertension, HHF and DCM than in control subjects. Coxackie-B5-virus, Echovirus-6 and Echovirus-11 were found in both study locations.

Conclusion

The findings of this study showed that Enteroviruses may likely be involved in the etiology of hypertension, DCM and HHF. Further studies would therefore be necessary for the prevention and control of these diseases.     

Membrane protein interactions in sickle red blood cells: evidence of abnormal protein 3 function

The pattern of membrane abnormalities in sickle red blood cells suggests that sickle hemoglobin damages membrane proteins. We have previously shown a functional defect in sickle ankyrin, poor spectrin- binding ability. Here we examine the other major binding interactions of sickle membrane proteins including spectrin self-association, binding of ankyrin and protein 4.1 to protein 3, and the formation of the spectrin-actin-protein 4.1 complex. We found that sickle spectrin was normal in self-association and ability to participate in the spectrin-actin-protein 4.1 complex. Sickle protein 4.1 bound normally to protein 3 and formed normal complexes with actin and spectrin, even when sickle spectrin was used. The only major abnormality we found was a reduced ability of sickle protein 3 to bind ankyrin. This functional defect could not be explained experimentally on the basis of cysteine modification or enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation. We conclude that damage of sickle membrane proteins is not a diffuse scattershot process, but is largely confined to regions near membrane-associated hemoglobin, the spectrin-binding domain of ankyrin and the ankyrin- binding domain of protein 3. The mechanism and consequences of this damage continues to be investigated.     

Effect of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Citrullus vulgaris</Emphasis> on some functional indices of selected tissues of Wistar rats

Citrullus vulgaris (watermelon) is a fruit with prophylactic and therapeutic potentials. In an attempt to maximize these potentials, the seed and rind are now often consumed together with the pulp. This study aimed at evaluating the implications of such consumption. Study involved the use of 35 Wistar rats grouped into seven with a control group administered distilled water, and the other groups administered varying concentrations of the pulp and whole fruit for 28 days. Alanine and aspartate aminotransferase (ALT, AST) were assayed in the serum and liver. Total protein of the serum and selected tissues was determined and malondialdehyde (MDA) level measured. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of steroids, saponin, alkaloids, flavonoids, and terpenoids in both whole fruit and pulp. Significant increases (p < 0.05) were seen in the liver ALT levels while there was a decreased (p < 0.05) intestinal total protein in the treatment groups. No significant (p ? 0.05) difference was seen in the serum and pancreas MDA levels while an increased (p < 0.05) intestinal MDA level was observed. Increased liver ALT levels in all the treatment groups might be due to high glutamate levels of C. vulgaris. Decreased (p ? 0.05) intestinal total protein might be indicative of protein loss, while elevated (p < 0.05) intestinal MDA levels in the groups administered whole fruit is suggestive of a defect in absorption at the intestinal epithelium. Hence, whole fruit consumption of C. vulgaris should be done with caution as it has potential to cause intestinal oxidative stress.