Impaired fibrinolysis: another risk for hypertensives

The study comprised 30 hypertensive normoglycemic female patients subdivided into 2 groups according to body mass index [BMI]. Group 1, 15 hypertensive obese females with a BMI above 30 kg/m2. Group 2, 15 non obese hypertensive females with a BMI below 30 kg/m2. The groups were compared to 10 normotensive control subjects. They were subjected to detailed history taking and full clinical examination. Some anthropometric measures including weights and BMI were taken. Finally, they were subjected to laboratory investigations including determination of serum cholesterol, triglycerides and plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor-1. The results concluded a statistically significant elevation of serum cholesterol, triglycerides and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, in both the obese and non obese hypertensive female patients in comparison with the normal control subjects. Also, there was positive correlation coefficient between PAI-1, cholesterol and TG in both obese and non obese patients. It is suggested that, control of elevated cholesterol, triglycerides, PAI through a diet regimen or otherwise is as important as the control of elevated blood pressure itself

auditory evoked potentials in hepatic encephalopathy

The present study included 68 subjects [28 females and 40 males] with an age from 39 to 60 years [mean 48.4 +/- 13.19]. They were divided into three groups. Group I is the healthy controls [16 subjects]. Group II was further subdivided into group IIa and group IIb. The former consisted of 9 patients with liver cirrhosis with no clinical data of hepatic encephalopathy and normal psychometric tests, and the latter consisted of 30 patients with subclinical hepatic encephalopathy [SHE] as they showed abnormal results on psychometric testing. Group III consisted of 13 cirrhotic patients with overt hepatic encephalopathy HE. All cases were subjected to proper history taking, full clinical examination, routine liver function tests as well as brain stem auditory evoked potential BAEPs and event related potentials p 300 wave latency. The results suggested that the event related potential p 300 wave latency can play a role in the detection and follow up of SHE as a simple and objective index of central nervous dysfunction in HE

Plasminogen activator inhibtior-1 and fibrinogen in ischemic heart disease

Three groups were included in the study. Group I of 40 males with stable angina with mean age of 52.1 +/- 5.43 years. Group II of 40 male patients with acute myocardial infarction [MI] with a mean age of 51.2 +/- 5.7 years. Control group of 10 normal males with mean age of 50.8 +/- 8.04 years. The results showed significant elevation of serum cholesterol in groups I and II over control group [P <0.0001 - <0.05], respectively. Triglyceride levels were elevated nonsignificantly in group I [P >0.05] but showed highly significant elevation in group II over controls [P <0.0001]. Plasma fibrogen levels were significantly elevated in both groups over controls [P <0.0001]. Plasma PAI-1 showed a nonsignificant difference in group I [P >0.05] and a highly significant elevation in group II over control group [P <0.0001]. Patients with acute MI [group II] showed a significant rise of triglycerides and PAI-1 over those with stable angina [group I] [P <0.0001]. The results of this study showed that plasma fibrinogen is a significant risk factor in both stable angina and acute MI. They also support the hypothesis that there is a significant correlation between triglycerides and PAI-1 as important risk factors only in acute MI, while serum cholesterol is rather more important as atherogenic factor

Thromboxane in complicated and uncomplicated hypertension

This work comprised 77 hypertensive patients as well as 14 healthy normotensive age matched subjects as a control group. They were categorized into uncomplicated hypertension [group I], hypertension complicated by coronary artery disease [group II], and hypertension complicated by acute cerebral infarction [group III]. They were submitted to full clinical assessment, ECG, abdominal sonography, routine laboratory investigations, plasma renin activity, plasma thromboxane B2 and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha. Echocardiography and CT brain scan were done whenever indicated. 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha level was significantly reduced in group I, while thromboxane B2 level showed no difference, however, the ratio TXB2/6.K.PGF1 alpha was significantly higher when compared with controls. In hypertensive patients complicated by coronary artery disease [group II] while both thromboxane B2 and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha levels showed no significant difference compared with either controls or group I, the ratio TXB2/6.K.PGF1 was significantly higher. In hypertensive patients complicated by cerebral infarction [group III] both thromboxane B2 level and the ratio TXB2/6.K.PGF1 alpha level were significantly higher when compared with either controls, group I or group II patients. However, 6.K.PGF1 alpha showed no significant difference when compared with these groups. In the three studied groups both TXB2 and 6.K.PGF1 alpha were positively correlated with either systolic, diastolic or mean blood pressure. Also, TXB2 and 6.K.PGF1 alpha levels were positively correlated to each other. In this study, the plasma renin activity showed no significant difference between the controls and any of the three studied groups

Endothelin in complicated and uncomplicated hypertension

This work comprised 77 patients with essential hypertension classified into three groups: Group I [38 patients] noncomplicated hypertensives, group II [13 patients] hypertensives complicated by ischemic heart disease, and group III [26 patients] hypertensives complicated by recent cerebral infarction. Fourteen healthy age matched subjects were taken as a control. They were subjected to full clinical assessment, ECG, abdominal sonar, routine laboratory investigations. Echocardiography and CT were done when indicated. Plasma renin activity as well as plasma endothelin-1 level were measured. A significant elevation of plasma endothelin-1 level in patients with uncomplicated hypertension is concluded as well as in those complicated by ischemic heart disease or recent cerebral infarction [P <0.001]. The elevation in hypertensives with recent cerebral infarction [group III] was significantly higher than that of uncomplicated hypertensives [group I] [P <0.001]. Hypertensives with chronic ischemic heart disease [group II] showed insignificant elevation of plasma endothelin-1 level when compared with uncomplicated hypertensives or those with recent cerebral infarction. The elevation of plasma endothelin level in group III showed significant positive correlation with systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure, yet, no such correlation was detected in the other two groups. In addition, plasma renin activity showed no significant variation in the studied groups. Also, no significant correlation was found between plasma renin activity and plasma endothelin-1 level

Cigarette smoking and central adiposity

The present study was carried out on 200 male obese subjects. They were nondiabetic nonhypertensive. Their ages ranged between 30 and 60 years. They were divided into two groups, one group included 100 smokers and the other included 100 nonsmokers. Subjects were clinically evaluated with special emphasis on the duration of smoking and the number of cigarettes smoked per day. Some anthropometric measurements were done including estimation of body weight and height, body mass index, waist girth, hip girth and waist/hip ratio. Results showed that there was a statistically significant increase in the waist/hip ratio in the smoker group compared to the nonsmoker group [P= 0.001]. Also, there was a statistically significant correlation between the duration of smoking and both body mass index [BMI] [P= 0.53] and waist/hip ratio [P= 0.026]. So, there was increased central obesity in the smokers than nonsmokers. Thus, smoking may cause redistribution of body fat in the form of more fat in the waist region

Cigarette smoking and central adiposity

The present study was carried out on 200 male obese subjects. They were nondiabetic nonhypertensive. Their ages ranged between 30 and 60 years. They were divided into two groups, one group included 100 smokers and the other included 100 nonsmokers. Subjects were clinically evaluated with special emphasis on the duration of smoking and the number of cigarettes smoked per day. Some anthropometric measurements were done including estimation of body weight and height, body mass index, waist girth, hip girth and waist/hip ratio. Results showed that there was a statistically significant increase in the waist/hip ratio in the smoker group compared to the nonsmoker group [P= 0.001]. Also, there was a statistically significant correlation between the duration of smoking and both body mass index [BMI] [P= 0.53] and waist/hip ratio [P= 0.026]. So, there was increased central obesity in the smokers than nonsmokers. Thus, smoking may cause redistribution of body fat in the form of more fat in the waist region

role of C3 level in cirrhotic ascites and its relation to spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

The risk of developing spontaneous bacterial peritonitis [SBP] in relation to the concentration of the third component of the complement system [C3] in ascitic fluid has been studied prospectively in 30 patients with liver cirrhosis and ascites, nineteen of them had evidence of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis as proved by culture and eleven patients had no such evidence. Serum C[3] in the pathological group was lower than in the control and this was attributed mainly to decreased synthesis. Serum and ascitic fluid C[3] concentration of patients who developed infection [0.294+0.117 g/l] was significantly lower than those who did not [0. 534 + 0. 095 g/l and 9. 682 + 1. 327 mg/l], suggesting increased consumption in addition to decreased synthesis as the possible mechanisms. We conclude that a low C[3] concentration in ascitic fluid may predispose to spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and may identify those of high risk for developing this serious complication