Xanthines drinking during pregnancy as a risk factor for iddm

This study was done to evaluate the relation between amount of xanthines intake by pregnant mothers and incidence of IDDM in their children. The study was performed on 201 mothers. They were divided into 2 groups. Group I included 99 mothers in whom one or more of their children are Insulin dependent diabetics. Group II included 102 mothers with normal children. Xanthines intake of mothers of diabetic children was significantly higher than that of mothers of normal children [1334.2 +/- 1119.77 mg/wk vs 875.4 +/- 805.7 mg/wk]. Tea was the highest source of xanthines in both groups [70% vs 64% respectively]. Xanthines derived from coffee was 4.5% in g p I vs 1% in g p II, while that derived from cola was 26%, in gp I and 35% in g p II. We noticed that, high consumption of xanthines and to some extent the way it is served to mothers is associated with increased incidence of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus in their children

Autonomic function, anxiety and mitral valve prolapse

This study included 20 patients with mitral valve prolapse [10 symptomatic and 10 asymptomatic]. They were compared with 10 patients with anxiety and 10 normal subjects. AH individuals were subjected to autonomic function tests, anxiety score and two dimensional echocardiogram. There were significant difference in heart rate response to deep breathing between normal subjects and other groups. While no significant difference in Valsalva was noted between the different groups. There were significant changes in diastolic blood pressure response to sustained hand grip between normal subjects and other groups. While there was no significant change in systolic or diastolic pressure on standing between different groups Patients with mitral valve prolapse [symptomatic and asymptomatic] had significant higher anxiety score than that ot normal subjects and significant lower score than those with anxiety. Symptomatic patients with MVP has no significant difference as compared to patients with anxiety, while asymptomaic patients had lower score. We noticed that autonomic dysfunction are present in patients with MVP regardless of the presence or absence of symptoms, as well as in patients with anxiety

Effect of hospital meal on blood pressure in young, adult, and elderly normotensive and controlled hypertensive individuals

This study was done to evaluate the effect of hospital meal on blood pressure. It included 30 individuals subdivided into three gorups. The three groups included [1] 10 normotensive elderly subjects with mean age 61.2 +/- 5.2 years. [2] 10 controlled hypertensive elderly individuals with mean age 60.9 +/- 5.2 years. [3] 10 normotensive adults with mean age 27.8 - 1.23 years. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured just before meal and after meal every 30 minutes for 2 hours. Post prandial decline, in both systolic and diastolic pressure, was detected one hour after meal in elderly whether normotensive or with controlled hypertension. This change was absent among young adults. The differece was statistically significant. There was no significant increase in heart rate coinciding with the drop in blood pressure. This observation might point to autonomic neuropathy in elderly individuals which could explain their post prandial hypotension

Study of the plasma renin activity in Egyptian geriatric population

The activity of renin angiotensin system in elderly individuals is a matter of controversy. Some investigators reported increase in plasma renin activity, others reported age related decline while some reported no change. The aim of this work was to study plasma renin activity in aged Egyptian individuals. The work was done on 17 elderly Egyptian males [>53 years]. Another 12 Egyptian males [<50 years] were included as control group. All individuals were subjected to thorough clinical examination and laboratory investigations including serum sodium, potassium and calcium [using flame photometer] as well as plasma renin activity [using radioimnunoassay]. Comparative statistical analysis showed a statistically significant difference in age between the two groups [P < 0.001]. The difference in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure between the two groups was statistically non significant. The plasma renin activity was found to be statistically lower in elderly Egyptians [P < 0.001]. The difference in serum sodium and potassium between the two studied groups was non significant, while serum calcium was found to be significantly lower in young Egyptians in comparison to elderly Egyptians [P<0.02] .We concluded that the lower plasma renin activity in elderly may facilitate the development of hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism in elderly. It should also be put in mind when low renin level is interpreted in elderly patients with essential hypertension or in other clinical conditions