Low-dose atorvastatin reduces ambulatory blood pressure in patients with mild hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.

Among several beneficial cardiovascular actions of statins, experimental studies have suggested that statins may also induce a mild blood pressure (BP) reduction. However, clinical data were controversial and the potential hypotensive statin effect remains uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the effect of atorvastatin on ambulatory BP in patients with mild hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia. A total of 50 patients with mild hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia participated in this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Patients were randomized to either 10 mg atorvastatin or placebo for 26 weeks. Background antihypertensive treatment, if any, remained unchanged during follow-up. At baseline and study-end (26 weeks), ambulatory BP monitoring and blood sampling for determination of standard biochemical and safety parameters were performed in all participants. BP loads were defined as the percentage of BP measurements exceeding the hypertension threshold of 140/90 mm Hg for daytime and 125/75 mm Hg nighttime period. Atorvastatin significantly reduced 24-h systolic and diastolic BP (DBP; median (range)) as compared with placebo (-5.0 (-21.0, 4.0) vs +1.0 (-6.0, 7.0) mm Hg, P<0.001 and -3.0 (-16.0, 2.0) vs +0.1 (-7, 4) mm Hg, P<0.01, respectively). Reductions in systolic and DBP loads during follow-up were also evident in the atorvastatin, but not in the placebo group. BP-lowering effects of atorvastatin were consistent in both daytime and nighttime periods. This study shows a mild, but consistent throughout the 24-h period BP-lowering effect of atorvastatin in patients with mild hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia. This beneficial effect of atorvastatin on BP may represent another pathway through which this drug class provides cardiovascular risk reduction.

Sorption properties of low calorific value Greek lignites: removal of lead, cadmium, zinc and copper ions from aqueous solutions.

The removal of metal ions (Pb, Cd, Zn, and Cu) from spiked aqueous solutions using four lignite samples (TH2, TH7, MT2, and MT8) of different quality, from different areas in Greece, was investigated. Cation exchange capacity, humic and fulvic acid content, and the BET specific surface area of the samples were determined, proximate and ultimate analyses were conducted and the mineralogy of their low temperature ash was studied. Equilibrium and kinetic studies were performed in batch conditions. Competitive adsorption of the four elements examined was also investigated. It was observed that the four lignite samples were considerably effective in removing Pb, Cd, Zn, and Cu ions from aqueous solutions, with the sample MT2 being the most effective. Among the elements, Pb appeared to have the strongest affinity based on a mass uptake by lignite samples. The same behaviour was observed during the competitive adsorption experiments. Kinetic experiments proved that, in all cases, equilibrium was achieved within 45min. Sorption isotherm studies were conducted by varying the initial concentration of the elements. MATLAB software was used to fit experimental data to Langmuir and Freundlich equations. The data were better fitted to the Langmuir equation. Attempt was made to correlate the adsorption behaviour of the lignite samples with the mineralogy of their low temperature ashes and their content in humic and fulvic acids.

Validity and reproducibility of HOMA-IR, 1/HOMA-IR, QUICKI and McAuley's indices in patients with hypertension and type II diabetes.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index, its reciprocal (1/HOMA-IR), quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) and McAuley's index in hypertensive diabetic patients. In 78 patients with hypertension and type II diabetes glucose, insulin and triglyceride levels were determined after a 12-h fast to calculate these indices, and insulin sensitivity (IS) was measured with the hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp technique. Two weeks later, subjects had again their glucose, insulin and triglycerides measured. Simple and multiple linear regression analysis were applied to assess the validity of these indices compared to clamp IS and coefficients of variation between the two visits were estimated to assess their reproducibility. HOMA-IR index was strongly and inversely correlated with the basic IS clamp index, the M-value (r=-0.572, P<0.001), M-value normalized with subjects' body weight or fat-free mass and every other clamp-derived index. 1/HOMA-IR and QUICKI indices were positively correlated with the M-value (r=0.342, P<0.05 and r=0.456, P<0.01, respectively) and the rest clamp indices. McAuley's index generally presented less strong correlations (r=0.317, P<0.05 with M-value). In multivariate analysis, HOMA-IR was the best fit of clamp-derived IS. Coefficients of variation between the two visits were 23.5% for HOMA-IR, 19.2% for 1/HOMA-IR, 7.8% for QUICKI and 15.1% for McAuley's index. In conclusion, HOMA-IR, 1/HOMA-IR and QUICKI are valid estimates of clamp-derived IS in patients with hypertension and type II diabetes, whereas the validity of McAuley's index needs further evaluation. QUICKI displayed better reproducibility than the other indices.

A high-resolution line sensor-based photostereometric system for measuring jaw movements in 6 degrees of freedom.

Photostereometry has widely been applied to the measurement of mandibular movements in 6 degrees of freedom. In order to improve the accuracy of this measurement, we developed a system utilizing small LEDs mounted on the jaws in redundant numbers and a 5000 pixel linear charge-coupled device (CCD) as a photo-sensor. A total of eight LEDs are mounted on the jaws, in two sets of four, by means of connecting facebows, each weighing approximately 55 g. The position of the LEDs are detected in three-dimensions by two sets of three CCD cameras, located bilaterally. The position and orientation of the mandible are estimated from the positions of all LEDs measured in the sense of least-squares, thereby effectively reducing the measurement errors. The static overall accuracy at all tooth and condylar points was considered to lie within 0.19 and 0.34 mm, respectively, from various accuracy verification tests.