Device-Based Therapy for Resistant Hypertension: An Up-to-Date Review.

Hypertension is the major risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Matter of fact, untreated hypertension can worsen the overall health, whereas pharmacotherapy can play an important role in lowering the risk of high blood pressure in hypertensive patients. However, persistent uncontrolled hypertension remains an unsolved condition characterized by non-adherence to medication and increased sympathetic activity. This paper will review the non-pharmacological treatments for resistant hypertension (RH) that have emerged in recent years. In addition, the technologies developed in device-based RH therapy, as well as the clinical trials that support their use, will be discussed. Indeed, the novel device-based approaches that target RH present a promising therapy which has been supported by several studies and clinical trials, whereas drug non-adherence and high sympathetic activity are known to be the main causes of RH. Nevertheless, some additional aspects of these RH systems need to be tested in the near future, with a particular focus on the device's design and availability of randomized controlled trials.

Plant sources, techniques of production and uses of tar: A review.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Throughout history, Humans have always used tar for different purposes such as gluing materials, waterproofing, and conserving wood, but today, it is also used in medicines and cosmetics. Many countries around the world, Norway and Morocco to name a few, obtain tar from endemic trees. In a process of dry distillation, the organic material, endemic trees in this case, is exposed to a high temperature with a restricted amount of oxygen. Eventually, it cracks the large molecules in the matter and turns it into tar. AIM OF THE REVIEW: This review article sheds light on tar production and the species that have been used in the process. Equal emphasis is placed on its uses, chemical composition, and toxicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines have been used to review this article. The review is put together from various articles, theses, documents in "Science Direct", "Hal (Archive ouvert)", "Web of knowledge" without limitation date. RESULTS: It turns out that tar can be produced by 18 tree taxonomic families, notably Cupressaceae, Pinaceae, and Betulaceae. As for the production techniques, two methods are considered: Per ascensum and Per descensum, which can take different forms. The chemical composition of tar consists of acids, phenols, and aromatic hydrocarbons. The uses of tar have changed over time, while its toxicity is strongly related to its chemical composition. CONCLUSIONS: The different species used in tar production have been highlighted in this research review. Equal importance has been given to its methods of extraction, uses and its chemical components. We hope that future studies will focus more on these species used to produce tar in other biological activities.

Electrodes in external electrohysterography: a systematic literature review.

BACKGROUND: In low-income countries, pregnant women do not have easy access to health care, especially in rural and peri-urban areas. In this context, they can be surprised by the uterine contractions that precede childbirth and sometimes find themselves giving birth at home or on the way to the nearest health facility (located miles away from their home). In view of the development of an external uterine electrohysterogram acquisition system for labour prediction, a review of the literature on electrodes and their characteristics is necessary. METHODS: A comprehensive literature review was conducted to collate information on the use of electrodes in external EHG recording and their characteristics. RESULTS: Wet electrodes based on Ag/AgCl redox chemistry are the most common type of electrodes for EHG, employed in different configurations on the pregnant woman's abdomen. All positioning configurations are around the vertical median axis if they are not placed directly on it. Positioning below the navel seems to be the most efficient. The number of source, reference, and ground electrodes used varies from one author to another, as does the distance between the electrodes. CONCLUSION: Two well-positioned source electrodes on the vertical median axis, with ground electrode on the right side of the hip and reference one on the left side, are able to generate a good external EHG recording signal. The minimum allowed inter-electrode distance is approximately 17.5 to 25mm.