Left ventricular mass and functions in normotensive offspring of hypertensive parents: an echocardiographic study.

OBJECTIVE: Published observations about cardiovascular alterations in normotensive individuals genetically predisposed to develop essential hypertension are conflicting. We tested the hypothesis that abnormalities in left ventricular mass and/or functions may be present in normotensive children of hypertensive parents. METHODS: One hundred normotensive offsprings (6 to 18 year age) of hypertensive parents (OHP) and an equal number of age- and sex-matched normotensive offsprings of normotensive parents (ONP) were studied with 2-dimensionally guided M-mode and Doppler echocardiography for left ventricular (LV) dimensions, mass, and systolic and diastolic functions. RESULTS: Both the groups had similar body mass index and blood pressure levels. LV dimensions and LV mass in OHP were higher than the corresponding values in ONP but the differences were not statistically significant. LV mass in male OHP was higher than in female OHP; LV mass was also higher when the mother rather than father was hypertensive. None of these differences were statistically significant, however. LV systolic functions were normal and identical in the two subject groups. Indices of LV diastolic function (peak early filling velocity and its deceleration time and late filling velocity) were also normal and similar in the two groups. CONCLUSION: We conclude that children with a family history of essential hypertension have modest alterations in LV mass and these alterations might have a genetic basis separate from but possibly co-inherited with the trait of essential hypertension.

Etiological factors and clinical profile of adhesive capsulitis in patients seen at the rheumatology clinic of a tertiary care hospital in India.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to examine the clinical profile of patients with adhesive capsulitis (AC) and evaluate various possible etiological factors. METHODS: The study was conducted in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Kashmir, India. One hundred patients fulfilling the criteria for the diagnosis of AC were studied for the severity of shoulder pain and the range of shoulder movements. The patients were also examined for the presence of various etiological factors for AC. RESULTS: Age of the subjects ranged from 25-70 years and duration of symptoms averaged 3.66 +/- 2.36 months; left shoulder was more commonly involved (54%), 2% had bilateral involvement and 63% of the subjects were sedentary workers. Disease was seen most commonly in patients with diabetes mellitus (27%). Other identifiable risk factors included previous myocardial infarction (5%), immobilization (5%), stroke and chronic bronchitis (4% each). Fifty-six percent of patients with AC had radiological evidence of cervical spondylosis. CONCLUSION: We conclude that AC mostly affects people in the fifth to seventh decade. The majority of the affected individuals are sedentary at the time of the sickness and subjects with diabetes mellitus are at particular risk.