Study of effects of nifedipine on hypertensive patients with and without COPD

Nifedipine effects on hypertensive patients with and without COPD were studied in 50 patients [25 with COD and 25 without]. All patients were males with mild to moderate essential hypertension [D.B.P.90 -115]. Their age ranged from 30 to 74 years. Oral nifedipine 10 mg TID was given for one month. The following parameters were assessed before and after treatment in both groups with and without COPD: systolic blood pressure [S.B.P], diastolic blood pressure [D.B.P], mean arterial pressure [M.A.P], ventilatory function [F.E.V[1], F.E.F.[25-75%], PEFR], arterial blood gases, blood urea, serum creatinine, plasma Na and K and fasting blood glucose. The results showed that nifedipine significantly reduces the systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure in patients with and without COPD. While ventilatory function parameters and arterial blood gases were not significantly affected in patients without COPD it showed significant increase in FEV[1] and peak expiratory flow rate [PEFR] and decrease PO[2] in patients with COPD. Plasma Na, K, blood urea, serum creatinine were not significantly affected while fasting blood glucose was significantly elevated [but still within normal limits] in both groups of patients with and without COPD

Radiological cardio-pulmonary changes in patients with chronic renal failure

Renal failure is a relatively common phenomenon in hospital practice, much of its aspects are known as regards to both fields of diagnosis and treatment, but, still there are some points in the topic which still not completely covered as cardio-pulmonary changes in renal failure. This work included 50 patients proved to have uremia [clinical and laboratory investigations], 35 of them undergone dialysis either peritoneal or haemodialysis. Chest x-ray were made to all subjects and their findings were arranged under the following scheme; [a] Looking at the thoracic cage; [b] Evaluation of pulmonary vasculature; [c] Assessment of the radiologic state of lung fields; [d] Checking of the clearity of the costophrenic sinus; [e] Assessment of cardiac size and configuration; [f] Looking at the hila. From this work it was found that the following changes were obtained; increase bone density, exaggerated or oligaemic pulmonary vasculature, fibrotic strands, calcification, pneumonic shadow, obliteration of costophrenic sinus, increase cardiac size, and hiler shadowing. From these radiological changes it can be concluded that plain radiography of chest and heart has an efficient role in diagnosing the cardiopulmonary complications which may occur secondary to uremia