Vibroarthrography--a possible functional non-invasive method for early detection damaged cartilage joint.

The vibroacoustic signals emitted by the diarthrodial articulation during a normal movement differentiates a healthy case from a pathologic one, due to alteration in forms and contact surfaces. The differences are shown by a various dynamics of the vibroacoustic spectra. Parametric representation of the acquired signals, filtering and clinical interpretation of those allow classification and fast recognition of a normal/pathologic status of the investigated articulation by the physician. Our method of acquiring the sound and vibration signals is effectuated completely non-invasive, with a set of translators using Pulse - sounds and vibrations analyzers (a matrix of prepolarised microphones with measurement domain in infrasound scale and piezoelectric acceleration transducers). A comparative study of vibroacoustic and thermal spectra, with early alterations revealed by knee nuclear magnetic resonance, correlates vibroacoustic and thermic spectra alterations with morphological ones, by determining certain limits between normal and pathological morphofunctional patterns. This prospective comparative study will help us evaluate the method in terms of sensibility, specificity, negative and positive predictive value, indices that assure the diagnostic power to the method.

Relationship between serum gamma-glutamyl transferase and pulse pressure in apparently healthy middle-aged subjects.

UNLABELLED: Higher values of pulse pressure (PP)--the difference between systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP)--are associated with an increased cardiovascular risk; SBP and DBP values are correlated with serum levels of gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), both in drinkers and non-drinkers subjects. Moreover, some studies showed that high levels of serum GGT might be related with an increased cardiovascular risk. However, few studies analyzed the relationship between GGT and PP. In 72 subjects (18 male; 54 women), middle-aged (mean age: 36.63 yrs; limits: 24-54 yrs), apparently healthy, we performed the measurements of: weight, height (from which we calculated the body mass index [BMI]), SBP, DBP, PP, standard biochemical workup, including GGT (UI/l). RESULTS: PP values are correlated with SBP (r=0.74, p<0.001), but not with DBP (r=0.15, p=NS) values. GGT is significantly correlated with SBP (r=0.28, p=0.01), DBP (r=0.29, p=0.01), and BMI (r=0.41, p<0.001). Mean values of PP are significantly higher in those with a GGT>20 than those with GGT<20 (48.69 vs. 43.85 mmHg, p<0.05); similarly, mean values of SBP (131.66 vs. 116.81 mmHg, p=0.0004) and DBP (82.59 vs. 73.52 mmHg, p=0.0008) are higher in the group with GGT>20. We observed an ascending trend of the mean value of GGT in the different groups of PP; therefore, mean value of GGT was 19.21, 22.65, 23.18 in the PP<40, PP=40-60, respectively PP>60 groups. However, the correlation between PP and GGT was not significant, both in univariate analysis (r=0.14, p=NS) and after adjusting for SBP, DBP, BMI (r=0.12, p=NS). When we analyzed subgroups, the relationship between GGT and PP was more evident in women and in subjects with increased values of BMI. CONCLUSIONS: GGT values are significantly correlated with SBP and DBP, but not with PP, in middle-aged, apparently healthy subjects; even though the highest values of GGT are associated with an increased PP value, further studies would be necessary in order to explain this link.

Hypertension in obese patients: a dysmetabolic hypertension with a possible adipocyte dysfunction mechanism.

Large longitudinal studies showed the epidemiological link between obesity and hypertension. During last years, multiple possible mechanisms involved in this association were identified. Adipose tissue has an important role in the genesis of hypertension in obese patients through several pathways: insulin resistance, leptin, renin-angiotensin-aldosteron system and mediators of inflammation (TNF-alpha, IL-6). Adipocyte may be the major player in the development of insulin resistance and hypertension, elements of the metabolic syndrome, responsible for the cardiovascular complications.

Pulse pressure and inflammatory markers in apparently healthy premenopausal women.

Several epidemiological studies showed that pulse pressure (PP), as a marker of large arterial stiffness, is an independent predictor of cardiovascular risk. A high pulse pressure may induce lesions of the vessel walls and of the endothelium of the large arteries. Now, inflammation represents one of the most extensively studied pathways involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. The aim of the present study was to evaluate if usual markers of systemic inflammation were correlated with pulse pressure. In fifty-four apparently healthy premenopausal women, without any known disease, we performed anthropometrical and blood chemistry measurements, together with the standard measurements of blood pressure. Mean values of fibrinogen are significantly more elevated in PP > 50 mmHg group than in PP < 50 mmHg group (364.79 +/- 71.07 vs. 329.31 +/- 57.81, P < 0.05). Fibrinogen was also significantly correlated with PP (r = 0.27, P < 0.05). However, after controlling for age the correlation between PP and fibrinogen was not significant (r = 0.18, P = NS). ESR was significantly correlated with PP (r = 0.31, P < 0.05) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) (r = 0.32, P < 0.05) but not with diastolic blood pressure (DBP). After controlling for age the correlation between PP and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was not significant (r = 0.20, P = NS), but after controlling for body mass index (BMI) this correlation became significant (r = 0.28, P < 0.05). White blood cell (WBC) was not correlated with age, SBP, DBP, PP, age and BMI and the mean values of WBC were increased in the PP > 50 mmHg group, but not significantly (6637.93 +/- 1615.19 vs. 6416.67 +/- 1427.57, P = NS). In our study we found that ERS and fibrinogen values are related to pulse pressure values. Otherwise, blood pressure values, including pulse pressure, were correlated with the age of the subjects and the correlation between pulse pressure and inflammatory markers (ESR and fibrinogen) was not significant after controlling for age. After controlling for BMI, the correlation between ESR and PP remains significant.