Inconsistent Control Status of Office, Home, and Ambulatory Blood Pressure All Taken Using the Same Device: The HI-JAMP Study Baseline Data.

BACKGROUND: Inconsistencies between the office and out-of-office blood pressure (BP) values (described as white-coat hypertension or masked hypertension) may be attributable in part to differences in the BP monitoring devices used. METHODS: We studied consistency in the classification of BP control (well-controlled BP vs. uncontrolled BP) among office, home, and ambulatory BPs by using a validated "all-in-one" BP monitoring device. In the nationwide, general practitioner-based multicenter HI-JAMP study, 2,322 hypertensive patients treated with antihypertensive drugs underwent office BP measurements and 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM), consecutively followed by 5-day home BP monitoring (HBPM), for a total of seven BP measurement days. RESULTS: Using the thresholds of the JSH2019 and ESC2018 guidelines, the patients with consistent classification of well-controlled status in the office (<140 mmHg) and home systolic BP (SBP) (<135 mmHg) (n = 970) also tended to have well-controlled 24-hour SBP (<130 mmHg) (n = 808, 83.3%). The patients with the consistent classification of uncontrolled status in office and home SBP (n = 579) also tended to have uncontrolled 24-hour SBP (n = 444, 80.9%). Among the patients with inconsistent classifications of office and home BP control (n = 803), 46.1% had inconsistent ABPM-vs.-HBPM out-of-office BP control status. When the 2017 ACC/AHA thresholds were applied as an alternative, the results were essentially the same. CONCLUSIONS: The combined assessment of the office and home BP is useful in clinical practice. Especially for patients whose office BP classification and home BP classification conflict, the complementary clinical use of both HBPM and ABPM might be recommended.

Effects of Shiitake Intake on Serum Lipids in Rats Fed Different High-Oil or High-Fat Diets.

Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) extract, eritadenine, has been shown to reduce cholesterol levels, and its hypocholesterolemic actions are involved in the metabolism of methionine. However, the mechanisms by which eritadenine affects cholesterol metabolism in animals fed a high-fat diet containing different sources of lipids have not yet been elucidated in detail. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of shiitake supplementation on serum lipid concentrations in rats fed a diet including a high amount of a plant oil (HO [high oil] and HOS [high oil with shiitake] groups), animal fat (HF [high fat] and HFS [high fat with shiitake] groups), or MCT- (medium-chain triglyceride-) rich plant oil (HM [high MCT] and HMS [high MCT with shiitake] groups). Rats in the HOS, HFS, and HMS groups were fed shiitake. When rats were fed a diet containing shiitake, serum triglyceride, cholesterol levels, and LCAT (lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase) activities were lower in rats given MCT-rich plant oil than in those that consumed lard. The lipid type in the diet with shiitake also affected serum cholesterol levels and LCAT activities. The diet containing MCT-rich plant oil showed the greatest rates of decrease in all serum lipid profiles and LCAT activities. These results suggest that shiitake and MCT-rich plant oil work together to reduce lipid profiles and LCAT activity in serum.

Effects of vitamin C and E on toxic action of alcohol on partial hepatectomy-induced liver regeneration in rats.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of vitamins C and E on the toxic action of alcohol in rat liver regeneration. Male Sprague-Dawley rats subjected to 70% partial hepatectomy were divided into five groups (Groups 1 to 5). Rats in Groups 2 to 5 were only provided alcohol for drinking. Additionally, vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin C in combination with vitamin E were administered to Groups 3, 4, and 5, respectively. Alcohol inhibits liver regeneration, resulting in an increase in free radicals produced by alcohol metabolism and thus causing cellular damage and altering liver function. During liver regeneration, vitamins C and E significantly ameliorated liver injury from alcohol administration by reducing hepatic lipid peroxidation. Vitamins C and E protect against liver injury and dysfunction, attenuate lipid peroxidation, and thus may be more effective in combination than either vitamin alone against alcohol-mediated toxic effects during liver regeneration.