[Nifedipine in the treatment of moderate and severe arterial hypertension. Long-term effect on arterial pressure and on the left ventricle]. / Tratamiento de la hipertensión arterial moderada y severa con nifedipino de liberación osmótica. Efectos a largo plazo sobre la presión arterial y la masa ventricular izquierda.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Moderate-to-severe hypertension is less prevalent than mild hypertension, but it is responsible for more incidences of complications. Its complex treatment requires several drugs, and is often inadequate. This study assessed the efficacy and safety of nifedipine GITS (oral release osmotic system) as monotherapy, in addition to the effects on left ventricular hypertrophy, after a long term follow-up (one year). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty patients with diastolic blood pressure above 105 mmHg were studied after a short placebo phase. They received nifedipine GITS as monotherapy in a single daily dose of 30 mg; dose titration was made the first three months according to response and until they reached figures equal to or below 95 mmHg. By M-Mode echocardiogram, left ventricular mass index and systolic function were calculated at the end of the placebo phase and at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Hematological parameters, lipid profile, electrolytes and liver enzymes were assessed at the same periods. RESULTS: In 70% of the patients the blood pressure reached values of 140-90 mmHg. In 16 patients with adequate M-mode recordings, a 12% reduction in left ventricular mass was observed without modification in systolic function. Five patients were retired: two due to adverse events and three due to different reasons (drop out, evidence for secondary hypertension). There were no changes of clinical significance in the hematological or biochemical parameters and no hypertensive crisis occurred. CONCLUSION: The monotherapy with nifedipine GITS was effective in reducing high blood pressure, induced regression in ventricular hypertrophy and showed good tolerance in one year follow-up.

Efecto de dos niveles de grasa sobre la vida útil sensorial del queso campesino / Effect of two levels of fat on the sensory life of campesino cheese

En este trabajo se determina y compara la vida útil sensorial del denominado queso campesino colombiano. Los resultados muestran que el nivel de grasa influye en la aceptabilidad y aumenta la vida útil sensorial debido, posiblemente, a que durante el almacenamiento la grasa láctea desarrolla un flavor (sabor y aroma) y una textura agradables hasta los 40 a 45 días de almacenamiento en el queso rico en grasa y entre 25 y 30 días de almacenamiento en el queso semigraso. Los descriptores de textura: arenoso, chicloso, áspero, granuloso y duro, fueron frecuentes en las sensaciones que contribuyeron a la disminución de la aceptabilidad del queso semigraso. Se estableció que la textura, medida sensorialmente, puede ser el descriptor crítico para estimar la vida útil sensorial y para diferenciar la calidad sensorial del queso campesino, lo mismo que el recuento de hongos y levaduras.Se encontró que los parámetros fisicoquímicos como pH y humedad no son adecuados para establecer la fecha de vencimiento del queso campesino. Se obtuvo también una diferencia del 47% más de rendimiento del queso campesino rico en grasa comparado con el semigraso. Estos resultados llevan a plantear la importancia de la grasa láctea como factor determinante en la aceptabilidad, la vida útil sensorial y el rendimiento quesero, en el desarrollo de productos lácteos. Teniendo en cuenta que actualmente la demanda de los consumidores es hacia los alimentos bajos en grasa, se sugiere el desarrollo de quesos magros con sustitutos de grasa como una alternativa para la industria láctea.

This paper identifies and compares the life of the so-called sensory Colombian campesino cheese. The results show that the level of fat influences the acceptability increasing the sensory shelf-life from 25 to 30 days of storage in low fat cheese to 40 to 45 days in cheese high in fat, due possibly that in the time of storage, fat develops a pleasant flavor and texture. The texture descriptors: gritty, chewing gum like, rough, granular and hard were common contributing to the fall down of the acceptability of low fat cheese. It was established that the sensorial texture could be the critical descriptor for estimating the sensory shelf-life and to differentiate the sensory quality of campesino fresh cheese, as well as the counting of fungi and yeast. We found that physicochemical parameters as pH and humidity are not adequate to establish shelf-life of campesino fresh cheese. There was also a difference of 47% of over yield of cheese high in fat compared to low fat cheese. These results lead to raise the importance of milk fat as a factor in determining the acceptability, the sensory shelf life and cheese yield, in the development of dairy products. Taking into account that now consumer demand is toward low-fat foods, suggests the development of low fat cheeses with fat substitutes, which could be an alternative to the dairy industry.

Doxazosin in the treatment of mild or moderate essential hypertension: an echocardiographic study.

Sixteen patients with mild or moderate essential hypertension received 1 to 8 mg/day of doxazosin (mean daily dose, 2.7 mg). Blood pressure reduction (supine and standing) was highly significant (p less than 0.001), and no significant changes in heart rate were observed. A significant reduction (p less than 0.01) in left ventricular mass was seen without a change in left ventricular systolic function. All side effects were mild, and only one patient withdrew from the study.

Nitrendipine and atenolol in essential hypertension in young and middle-aged patients: effect on serum lipids and left ventricular mass.

This study was designed to compare the antihypertensive efficacy of nitrendipine and atenolol in young and middle-aged patients with mild or moderate essential hypertension and to assess treatment effects on plasma lipids and potential changes in left ventricular mass (LVM). After 2 weeks off medication and a 4-week placebo phase, patients who met the inclusion criteria [sitting diastolic blood pressure (DBP) 95 to 114 mm Hg, age below 50 years] entered a 12-week dose-adjustment and maintenance period with nitrendipine or atenolol. Serum lipids were determined before and after therapy. At the same time, LVM was evaluated echocardiographically (M mode). Twenty-two patients completed the double-blind, randomized study. After 12 weeks on nitrendipine, the systolic blood pressure (SBP) and DBP were reduced (p less than 0.005 and p less than 0.001, respectively). No significant changes in heart rate were observed. There were no changes in the lipid profile, and LVM was reduced from 93.7 to 23.4 to 82.4 +/- 22.6 g/m2 of body surface (p less than 0.05). On atenolol the SBP and DBP were reduced (p less than 0.001 and p less than 0.001, respectively). The expected reduction in heart rate was significant (p less than 0.05). Total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol increased by 11% (p less than 0.05) and 12.3% (p less than 0.01), respectively. HDL cholesterol showed a small reduction. Tryglycerides increased by 22% (n.s.). LVM did not change. In conclusion, nitrendipine and atenolol showed comparable antihypertensive efficacy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Estudio cruzado y evaluación ecocardiográfica de prazosin, propranolol e hidroclorotiazida en hipertensión arterial leve y moderada / Cross study and ecocardiographia evaluation of prazosin, propranolol and hydroclorothiazide in mild and moderate arterial hypertension

Veinte pacientes con hipertensión arterial esencial leve a moderada concluyeron un estudio cruzado distribuidos al azar en dos grupos: Grupo A: 10 pacientes que recibieron primero propranolol y posteriormente prazosin. Grupo B: 10 pacientes que recibieron inicialmente hidroclorotiazida y después prazosin. La reducción de la presión arterial en posición supina y de pie fue estadísticamente significativa y comparable con las tres drogas. Los efectos colaterales fueron menores con el prazosin. El análisis ecocardiográfico modo "M" en los pacientes con hipertrofia ventricular izquierda mostró reducción de la masa ventricular en 5 que recibieron propranolol y en 4 tratados con hidroclorotiazida. No encontramos reducción ulterior con el prazosin. La fracción de eyección y el acortamiento circunferencial de la fibra mejoraron en forma significativa con el prazosin (16 pacientes), no así con el propranolol ni con la hidroclorotiazida. Se concluye que el prazosin es una droga que puede ser utilizada como terapia inicial con pocos efectos secundarios a dosis bajas. Se propone el tratamiento secuencial de la hipertensión arterial leve a moderada en vez del esquema tradicional