[Clinical and microbiological characteristics of severe infections caused by group A streptococci]. / Klinická a mikrobiologická charakteristika závazných infekcii sposobených streptokokmi skupiny A.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Analysis of data on the occurrence of severe infections caused by group A streptococci, emm typing of the isolated strains, and survey of resistance to the selected antibiotics. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 2012 and 2013, 43 S. pyogenes strains were isolated from severe infections. The isolates were most often recovered from wounds and abscesses (36 patients), followed by blood culture (5 patients), sputum (1 patient), and autopsy samples (1 patient). Antimicrobial susceptibility to selected antibiotics ( penicillin, erythromycin, clindamycin, spiramycin, and tetracycline) was tested by the disk-diffusion method and the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined. RESULTS: In 2012 and 2013, an increase in severe streptococcal infections was observed, with 27 and 16 cases reported, respectively. Resistance to macrolides was detected in 18.5% and 12.5% of isolates, respectively, and resistance to tetracycline in 25.9% and 20% of isolates, respectively. The isolated S. pyogenes strains were most often assigned to emm type 1. Risk factors for streptococcal infection were analyzed, with injury being most often identified as a risk factor- in seven and two patients, respectively. The patients were most frequently treated by beta-lactam antibiotics (penicillin and ampicillin). In 2012, two cases were fatal. CONCLUSION: This study reports cases of invasive group A streptococcal (GAS) infection as seen in clinical practice. An increased occurrence of S. pyogenes was observed in the hospital, with the isolates exhibiting elevated resistance to erythromycin and tetracycline. It is necessary to monitor the trends of antimicrobial resistance and the distribution of emm types among group A streptococcal isolates. Cooperation of the laboratory and clinical professionals in the prevention and therapy of streptococcal infections, invasive in particular, is crucial for risk reduction.

Combination therapy with amlodipine/valsartan in essential hypertension: a 52-week, randomised, open-label, extension study.

BACKGROUND: A majority of hypertensive patients require > or = 2 agents to achieve target blood pressure (BP). METHODS: This 52-week, multicentre, open-label, randomised extension trial to a previously reported double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated the safety and efficacy of amlodipine/valsartan (Aml/Val) combination. Patients who successfully completed the core study without serious drug-related adverse events (AEs) and mean sitting systolic BP (MSSBP)/mean sitting diastolic BP (MSDBP) < or = 150/95 mmHg were eligible to enter the extension and be treated with Aml/Val 2.5/80 or 5/80 mg. After 4 weeks of treatment, patients underwent force-titration to receive 5/160 mg (low dose) or 10/160 mg (high dose) for 48 weeks. Addition of hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) 12.5 mg was permitted if BP was > or = 140/90 mmHg at Week 8 or later. Patients could be down-titrated to the prior lower combination dose with or without HCTZ if an intolerable AE occurred. Safety evaluations included monitoring of AEs. Efficacy variables were change from baseline in MSDBP (primary) and MSSBP (secondary). RESULTS: Of 1246 patients randomised, 1075 (86.3%) completed the extension study. At week 52 end-point, change in MSSBP/MSDBP from core study baseline was -22.1/-17.2 mmHg for low-dose regimen and -22.8/-18.1 mmHg for high-dose regimen. For both regimens, reductions in BP were sustained over 52 weeks and mean BP maintained below approximately 135/85 mmHg at all visits. Frequent AEs in the low- and high-dose regimens were peripheral oedema (9.7% and 17.1% respectively), nasopharyngitis (8.1% and 7.2%), and dizziness (5.2% and 7.0%). Incidence of serious AEs was 3.7% with low dose and 4.1% with high dose. CONCLUSION: The combination of Aml/Val with the optional addition of HCTZ produced clinically significant and persistent reductions in BP over 52 weeks with a favourable tolerability profile.

[Gastroenteropatic neuroendocrine tumors: multidisciplinary approach in therapy]. / Multidiscipliniárny prístup k liecbe gastroenteropankreatických neuroendokrinných tumorov.

INTRODUCTION: Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NET) are classified on the basis of hormonal activity of tumor cells to functional and non-functional tumors. Therapy of well differentiated NETs includes surgical procedures, debulking of tumor mass, biotherapy and peptid receptor radionuclid therapy. AIM OF THE STUDY: Analysis of therapeutic modalities in group of patients with well differentiated GEP-NETs. RESULTS: In time period from 1. 1. 2005 to 1. 1. 2010 we followed up 50 pts (19 men/31 women) with well differentiated GEP neuroendocrine tumors. Primary localisation was: stomach--6 times, pancreas--9 times, duodenum--1 times, jejunum-- 4 times, appendix--3 times, ileum--23 times, rectum--4 times. Metastatic disease was affirmed in time of diagnosis in 36 patients. Carcinoid syndroma had 20 pts, 4 pts with pancreatic tumor had functional tumors (2 times overproduction of calcitonine, 1 times of gastrin, 1 times of insuline). Surgical treatment was performed in 40 pts--resection of primary tumor and debulking of metastases, in 5 pts with pancreatic tumor resection was not possible due to invasion to sorrounding tissue and vessels. Biological treatment with long acting somatostatin analogues was indicated in 20 pts with carcinoid syndroma and in 4 pts with functional pancreatic tumors. In 5 pts with non resectable neuroendocrine carcinoma of pancreas peptid radionuclide receptor therapy (PRRT) was indicated: in 4 of them with 90Ytrium-DOTA-octreotid and in 1 patient with MIBG. In all pts a reduction of tumor volume was noticed. Biotherapy with somatostatin analogues reduced symptoms of hormonal activities and brought on stabilisation of disease in most of patients. In period of follow up 5 patients died. CONCLUSION: Complex therapy in patients with well differentiated neuroendocrine tumors markedly contributes to prolongation of survival of patients and also to enhancement quality of their life.

Efficacy of combined local mechanical vibrations, continuous passive motion and thermotherapy in the management of osteoarthritis of the knee.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the efficacy of combined mechanical vibrations, continuous passive motion (CPM) and heat on the severity of pain in management of osteoarthritis of the knee (OA-K). METHODS: In this controlled, double crossover study, 71 OA-K patients were randomized in Phase 1 to receive 4 weeks active treatment consisting of two 20-min sessions per day (34 patients, Group AB) or treatment with a sham device (37 patients, Group BA). This was followed by a 2-week washout period (Phase 2). In Phase 3, patients crossed over so that Group AB was treated with the sham device and Group BA received active treatment for an additional 4 weeks. Patient assessments of pain (visual analog scale, VAS) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) OA index were performed at baseline and at study weeks 2, 4, 6, and 10. Net treatment effects were estimated by comparing outcomes between active and sham treatment study phases. RESULTS: Treatment benefits were noted for both of the trial's two pre-specified primary endpoints, VAS and WOMAC. VAS was reduced at all follow-up time points for patients receiving active treatment compared to sham treatment with a net treatment effect of 14.4+/-4.1 mm (P=0.001). Similarly, the WOMAC score was reduced significantly with active treatment at all measured points with a net effect of 8.8+/-1.9 points (P<0.001). The secondary endpoints, range of motion (ROM) and treatment satisfaction, also improved with active vs sham treatment. CONCLUSION: Four weeks treatment with combined CPM, vibration and local heating significantly decreases pain, improves ROM and the quality of life in patients with OA-K (ClinicalTrials.gov registration number: NCT00858416).

Hemosuccus pancreaticus.

In this study, authors describe a rare case of a 40-year old patient with a history of chronic pancreatitis due to ethanol abuse, repeatedly hospitalized for intermittent bleeding into gastrointestinal tract (GIT). The sources of bleeding were pseudoaneurysms of the peripancreatic arteries (gastroduodenal artery, right hepatic artery) bleeding into GIT via pancreatic duct. This type of bleeding is referred as hemosuccus pancreaticus and belongs to a rare form of bleeding into upper GIT. Development of each pseudoaneurysm was monitored with a 6 month time interval. The diagnosis was established using endoscope, Doppler ultrasound and CT angiography. During the therapeutic process, while stopping bleeding, two different radiological interventions were used. In pseudoaneurysm of gastroduodenal artery, hemostasis was achieved using selective transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) with steel coils. In the second intervention, a stent was inserted into vascular lesion. In the discussion, authors review the problems of hemosuccus pancreaticus, epidemiology, symptoms, diagnostic and possible therapeutic approaches (Fig. 3, Ref. 31). Full Text (Free, PDF) www.bmj.sk.

Treating patients with documented atherosclerosis to National Cholesterol Education Program-recommended low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol goals with atorvastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin and simvastatin.

OBJECTIVES: This study compared the efficacy and safety of atorvastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, and simvastatin in patients with documented atherosclerosis treated to U.S. National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) recommended low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentration (< or = 100 mg/dl [2.59 mmol/liter]). BACKGROUND: For patients with advanced atherosclerosis, NCEP recommends lipid-lowering drug therapy if LDL cholesterol remains > or = 130 mg/dl (3.36 mmol/liter). METHODS: A total of 318 men or women with documented atherosclerosis and LDL cholesterol > or = 130 mg/dl (3.36 mmol/liter) and < or = 250 mg/dl (6.5 mmol/liter), and triglycerides < or = 400 mg/dl (4.5 mmol/liter) participated in this 54-week, multicenter, open-label, randomized, parallel-group, active-controlled, treat-to-target study. Patients were titrated at 12-week intervals until the LDL cholesterol goal was reached. Number of patients reaching target LDL cholesterol levels and dose to reach target were evaluated. RESULTS: At the starting doses, atorvastatin 10 mg produced significantly greater decreases (p < 0.05) in plasma LDL cholesterol than the other treatments. Subsequently, the percentage of patients reaching goal at the starting dose was 32% for atorvastatin, 1% for fluvastatin, 10% for lovastatin and 22% for simvastatin. Atorvastatin-treated patients required a lower median dose than other treatments. Median doses at week 54 with the last available visit carried forward were atorvastatin 20 mg/day, fluvastatin 40 mg/day + colestipol 20 g/day, lovastatin 80 mg/day, simvastatin 40 mg/day. CONCLUSIONS: A significantly greater number (p < 0.05) of patients with confirmed atherosclerosis treated with atorvastatin reached the target LDL cholesterol concentration at the starting dose than patients treated with fluvastatin or lovastatin, and significantly fewer (p < 0.05) patients treated with atorvastatin required combination therapy with colestipol to achieve target LDL cholesterol concentrations than all other statins tested.

Effect of growth on variability of left ventricular mass: assessment of allometric signals in adults and children and their capacity to predict cardiovascular risk.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine whether growth influences the relation between left ventricular mass and body size and whether use of different body size indexes affects the ability of ventricular mass to predict complications of hypertension. BACKGROUND: Allometric (or growth) signals between left ventricular mass and height have recently been reported to improve previous approaches for normalization of ventricular mass for body size. METHODS: Residuals of left ventricular mass-height2.7 relations were analyzed in a learning series of 611 normotensive, normal-weight subjects 4 months to 70 years old and, separately, in 383 children (< 17 years old) and 228 adults. Ten-year cardiovascular morbidity in a test series of 253 hypertensive adults was compared with groups with normal or high baseline left ventricular mass normalized for body weight, height, body surface area and allometric powers of height. RESULTS: The dispersion of residuals of ventricular mass versus height2.7 increased with increasing height or age in children but not in adults, suggesting that the effect of other variables on ventricular growth increases during body growth and stabilizes in adulthood. Therefore, we derived separate allometric signals for adults (predicted ventricular mass = 45.4 x height2.13, r = 0.48) and children (32.3 x height2.3, r = 0.85) (both p < 0.0001). Patients with left ventricular hypertrophy had 3.3 times higher cardiac risk with elevated left ventricular mass/height2.7 (p < 0.001), 2.6 to 2.7 times higher risk with left ventricular mass indexed for height, height2.13 and body surface area (all p < 0.01) and 1.7 times the risk with ventricular mass/weight (p > 0.1). CONCLUSIONS: These results show the following: 1) Variability of left ventricular mass in relation to height increases during human growth; 2) allometric signals of left ventricular mass versus height are lower in adults and children than those obtained across the entire age spectrum; 3) height-based indexes of left ventricular mass at least maintain and may enhance prediction of cardiac risk by hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy; and 4) the allometric signal derived across the entire spectrum of age appears to be more useful for prediction of cardiovascular risk than that computed in adults.

Stroke volume/pulse pressure ratio and cardiovascular risk in arterial hypertension.

Ratio of stroke volume (SV, M-mode echocardiography) to pulse pressure (PP) has been proposed as an estimate of total arterial compliance and has been shown to be related to body size, age, and heart rate in normal adults. SV/PP was estimated in 294 hypertensive patients (98 women) as a raw value by use of SV/body surface area (SVi) and by the ratio of SV/PP to the value predicted by a previously developed equation (%SV/PP). At baseline, the 50 patients who had cardiovascular events over the following 10 years exhibited higher PP and lower SV/PP, SVi/PP, and %SV/PP (all P<0.008) than patients without events. Crude risk of follow-up total and fatal cardiovascular events increased with increasing level of PP and decreasing SV/PP, SVi/PP, and %SV/PP (all P<0.002). In multivariate logistic regression models with continuous covariates, the risk of total cardiovascular events was independently related to increasing age (P<0.0001) and left ventricular (LV) mass index (P<0.003) and decreasing values of %SV/PP (P<0.006) but not to increasing systolic, pulse, or mean blood pressure or gender. Similar although less strong results were obtained with the use of SVi/PP (P<0.02), whereas SV/PP did not enter the model as an independent predictor. Risk of cardiovascular death was only predicted by age and LV mass index. The %SV/PP was also an independent predictor of total cardiovascular events in Cox proportional hazards analysis (exp[b]: 2.49, P<0.001) independent of age (exp[b]: 1.05, P<0.003) and LV mass index (exp[b]: 1.02, P<0.0003), whereas no effect was detected for height. Thus, in patients with arterial hypertension, a reduced ratio of M-mode echocardiographic SV/PP as a percentage of the value predicted by demographic variables is a predictor of cardiovascular morbid events independent of age and LV mass index.

Efficacy and short-term safety of a new ACAT inhibitor, avasimibe, on lipids, lipoproteins, and apolipoproteins, in patients with combined hyperlipidemia.

Although acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) inhibitors have been shown to reduce lipid levels in several animal models, the safety and lipid modifying activity of any single agent in this class has not been demonstrated in humans. The safety and efficacy of avasimibe (CI-1011), a new, unique, wholly synthetic ACAT inhibitor, was evaluated in the treatment of 130 men and women with combined hyperlipidemia and hypoalphalipoproteinemia (low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C]). Following an 8-week placebo and dietary-controlled baseline period, patients were randomly assigned to double-blind treatment with placebo, 50, 125, 250, or 500 mg avasimibe administered as capsules once daily for 8 weeks. At all evaluated doses, avasimibe treatment resulted in prompt and significant reductions (P<0.05) in plasma levels of total triglycerides (TG) and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) with mean reductions of up to 23% and 30% respectively, apparently independent of dose. No statistically significant changes in total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL-C or apolipoprotein (apo) B were detected. ApoAI levels were also unchanged on all doses of avasimibe apart from the 500 mg dosage, which was associated with a significant decrease in plasma apoAI. The relevance of this latter finding in only one dosage group is not known. All doses of avasimibe were well tolerated with no resulting significant abnormalities of biochemical, hematological, or clinical parameters.

A randomized trial of the effects of atorvastatin and niacin in patients with combined hyperlipidemia or isolated hypertriglyceridemia. Collaborative Atorvastatin Study Group.

BACKGROUND: To assess the lipid-lowering effects and safety of atorvastatin and niacin in patients with combined hyperlipidemia or isolated hypertriglyceridemia. METHODS: We performed a randomized, open-label, parallel-design, active-controlled, study in eight centers in the United States. We enrolled 108 patients with total cholesterol (TC) of > or =200 mg/dL, serum triglycerides (TG) > or =200 and < or =800 mg/dL, and apolipoprotein B (apo B) > or =110 mg/dL. Patients were randomly assigned to receive atorvastatin 10 mg once daily (n=55) or immediate-release niacin 1 g three times daily for 12 weeks (n=53). Patients were stratified based on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C): Patients with LDL-C > or =135 mg/dL were considered to have combined hyperlipidemia and patients with LDL-C <135 mg/dL were considered to have isolated hypertriglyceridemia. The primary outcome measure was percent change from baseline in LDL-C. Other lipid levels were evaluated as secondary parameters. RESULTS: Atorvastatin reduced LDL-C 30% and TC 26% from baseline, and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) 4%. Total TG were reduced 17%. Niacin reduced LDL-C 2%, TC 7%, increased HDL-C 25%, and reduced total TG 29% from baseline. There was a significant difference in LDL-C reduction, the primary efficacy parameter, between the two treatment groups (P <0.05, favoring atorvastatin), as well as a significant difference in the improvement in HDL-C (P <0.05, favoring niacin). The effect of atorvastatin was relatively consistent between patients with combined hyperlipidemia and isolated hypertriglyceridemia, whereas there was more variability between these strata in the niacin treatment group. Atorvastatin was better tolerated than niacin. CONCLUSION: Atorvastatin may allow patients with combined hyperlipidemia to be treated with monotherapy and offers an efficacious and well-tolerated alternative to niacin for the treatment of patients with isolated hypertriglyceridemia.

Prognostic implications of the compensatory nature of left ventricular mass in arterial hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: To test whether inappropriate echocardiographic left ventricular (LV) mass (i.e. higher than predicted by individual body size, sex and cardiac load [delta%LVM]) is associated with an increased rate of cardiovascular events, and whether values of LV mass lower than appropriate confer protection. DESIGN: Prospective, longitudinal. SETTING: Institutional, hospital outpatient clinic. PATIENTS: A total of 294 hypertensive patients, 84 with inappropriate and 21 with low LV mass (lower than appropriate). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cardiovascular fatal and non-fatal events. RESULTS: Baseline delta%LVM was higher in patients with follow-up total (n = 50) or fatal (n = 14) events than in event-free survivors (all P < 0.0001) and predicted events independently of age and systolic pressure (all P < 0.0001). Although the performance was not better than with use of more traditional definition of LV hypertrophy, delta%LVM remained a predictor even in the subgroup of 126 patients (32 total events, 13 deaths) with clear-cut LV hypertrophy (P < 0.009). Patients with low LV mass exhibited supranormal LV chamber and midwall function, slightly higher heart rate and higher cardiac index (all P< 0.01). These patients had the same rate of events as those with appropriate LV mass. CONCLUSIONS: In hypertensive patients, increase in LV mass beyond values required to compensate cardiac workload at a given body size and sex predicts cardiovascular risk independently of age and blood pressure, in the whole population as well as in the subset of patients with LV hypertrophy. Hypertensive patients with levels of LV mass lower than needed to compensate cardiac workload exhibit hyperdynamic circulatory status and the same risk pattern as patients with higher values of LV mass, possibly due to activation of the sympathetic system.

Comparison of classification of the severity of hypertension by blood pressure level and by World Health Organization criteria in the prediction of concurrent cardiac abnormalities and subsequent complications in essential hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether classification of the severity of hypertension according to the World Health Organization (WHO) system, which utilizes additional clinical and laboratory findings, is superior to classification by blood pressure level alone in predicting prognostically important cardiac structural abnormalities and the risk of subsequent complications in asymptomatic subjects. DESIGN: Two-hundred and twenty adults with uncomplicated essential hypertension underwent baseline clinical evaluation and echocardiography; 88% were subsequently followed for a mean of 11.6 years. SETTING: University hospital. RESULTS: Left ventricular mass index and relative wall thickness were slightly greater in patients in the highest diastolic or systolic blood pressure stratum than in WHO stage II hypertensives, but these results were statistically non-significant. High peripheral resistance index was best identified by diastolic blood pressure level. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that all three methods had similar test performance in predicting abnormal left ventricular mass index, left ventricular geometry, relative wall thickness and peripheral resistance. During follow-up the proportion of patients who had a clinical event or died increased with increasing severity stratum in all three clinical classification systems, but the trends were statistically non-significant. Risk stratification by echocardiographic left ventricular mass index was most successful in identifying patients at very high and very low risk of subsequent morbid events and all-cause mortality. CONCLUSION: Classification of hypertension severity by blood pressure level has similar, although limited, effectiveness at a lower cost than the WHO criteria in identifying patients with adverse cardiac changes and an impaired long-term prognosis. Echocardiographic measurement of left ventricular mass index was more successful than other classifications in predicting subsequent morbid events.

Relation of left ventricular geometry and function to systemic hemodynamics in hypertension: the LIFE Study. Losartan Intervention For Endpoint Reduction in Hypertension Study.

OBJECTIVES: To clarify the relations of systemic hemodynamics to left ventricular (LV) geometric patterns in patients with moderate hypertension and target organ damage. BACKGROUND: LV geometry stratifies risk in hypertension, but relations of LV geometry to systemic hemodynamic patterns in moderately severe hypertension have not been fully elucidated. DESIGN: Cross-sectional case-control study. SETTING: Baseline findings in the echocardiographic substudy of the Losartan Intervention For Endpoint Reduction in Hypertension Study (LIFE) and in a normotensive reference group. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: Nine hundred and sixty-four patients with Stage I-II hypertension and LV hypertrophy by Cornell voltage duration criteria ((SV3 + RaVL [+ 6 mm in women]) x QRS > 2440 mm x ms) or modified Sokolow- Lyon voltage criteria (SV1 + RV5/RV6 > 38 mm), and 366 apparently normal adults. INTERVENTIONS: None. METHODS: Two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiograms were used to classify hypertensive patients into groups with normal geometry, concentric remodelling and concentric and eccentric hypertrophy, and to measure stroke volume (SV), cardiac output, peripheral resistance and pulse pressure/SV as a measure of arterial stiffness. Comparisons were adjusted for covariates by general linear model with the Sidak post-hoc test RESULTS: Mean SV was higher in patients with eccentric hypertrophy (83 ml/beat) and lower with concentric remodeling (68 ml/beat) than in normal adults (73 ml/ beat). Cardiac output was highest in patients with eccentric LV hypertrophy and lower with concentric remodeling than eccentric hypertrophy; mean pressure and peripheral resistance were equally high in all hypertensive subgroups, whereas pulse pressure/SV was most elevated (by a mean of 47% versus reference subjects) with concentric remodeling and least so (mean + 15%) with eccentric hypertrophy. In multivariate analysis (Multiple R + 0.68), LV mass was independently related to higher systolic pressure, older age, SV, male gender and body mass index (all P< 0.001). Relative wall thickness was independently related (Multiple R + 0.50) to older age, higher systolic pressure, lower SV (all P< 0.001) and higher body mass index (P + 0.007). SV and cardiac output were lower in patients with low stress-corrected midwall shortening. CONCLUSION: In patients with moderate hypertension and ECG LV hypertrophy, the levels of SV and pulse pressure/ SV, are associated with, and may be stimuli to different LV geometric phenotypes.

Impact of coronary artery disease on left ventricular systolic function and geometry in hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (the LIFE study).

Hypertensive patients with left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy have a higher incidence of cardiovascular events than those without it. We hypothesized that a close relation exists between clinical evidence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and alterations in LV structure and function that contribute to their higher risk. Echocardiograms were recorded in 963 hypertensive patients (mean age 66 +/- 7 years, 41% women) with electrocardiographic LV hypertrophy, and divided into 149 with and 814 without clinical (prior myocardial infarction or angina pectoris) or electrocardiographic (Minnesota codes 1.1, 1.2) evidence of CAD. Patients with CAD had larger LV internal dimensions (5.5 +/- 0.6 vs 5.2 +/- 0.5 cm), increased LV mass (136 +/- 31 vs 122 +/- 24 g/m(2), and 62.4 +/- 19.4 vs 55.5 +/- 12.1 g/m(2.7)), lower ejection fraction (58 +/- 10% vs 62 +/- 8%), higher circumferential end-systolic wall stress (cESS) (198 +/- 59 vs 181 +/- 47 kdynes/cm(2), all p <0.001), and higher total peripheral resistances (2,088 +/- 628 vs 1,963 +/- 553 dynes x s x m(2)/cm(3), p = 0.02). Although eccentric LV hypertrophy predominated, the CAD group had a greater prevalence of this geometric pattern than the non-CAD group (56% vs 47%, p <0.02). An index of myocardial oxygen demand per beat--the LV mass x cESS x ejection time--was 20% higher in patients with CAD. In conclusion, clinical evidence of CAD in hypertensive patients with electrocardiographic evidence of LV hypertrophy identifies subjects with structural and functional abnormalities at high risk for cardiovascular events. LV mass. cESS. ejection time, a noninvasive index that parallels myocardial oxygen demand per beat, is especially high in hypertensive patients with CAD.

Dementia and the nursing home: association with care needs.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether RUG reimbursement categories accurately predict requirements for care in nursing homes. DESIGN: Prospective descriptive study of residents in lower reimbursement categories according to RUG. SETTING: Three nursing homes in New York City. PARTICIPANTS: Convenience sample of 173 residents who agreed to participate, not significantly different from 201 who did not agree to participate. MAIN MEASURES: Chart review; assessment of residents' cognitive and functional abilities; nursing assistants' ratings of residents' functional abilities, behavioral problems, the amount of effort required in care; and time-motion studies of staff-resident interactions. RESULTS: Both the residents' RUG classification (P less than 0.01) and the level of ADL independence (P less than 0.001) had significant impacts on the staff effort required in their care, with more dependent residents requiring greater effort. The residents' level of cognitive impairment also had a significant impact on the staff effort, with the severely impaired requiring greater effort (P less than 0.05). The time-motion analysis indicated that residents within the same RUG category differed in the number of staff-resident interactions based on their level of cognitive impairment. CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive impairment is a significant morbidity (or co-morbidity) in determining the quantity of staff effort required by the resident, and behavioral interventions are an important care component. There is marked heterogeneity within lower (RUG) reimbursement categories which translates into strikingly different care requirements.

Left ventricular mass as a measure of preclinical hypertensive disease.

The ability to identify the hypertensive patient who is destined to suffer a morbid or fatal complication in the long presymptomatic phase of this condition, when its natural history would be most subject to amelioration, is limited by the weak relation between the level of blood pressure and the occurrence of complications. Recent research indicates that the level of left ventricular (LV) mass--most conveniently measured by echocardiography--reflects the combined effects of a variety of factors involved in the pathophysiology of hypertension, including obesity, exaggerated blood pressure responses to everyday activity, high sodium intake and blood viscosity, and genetic factors predisposing to hypertension. Prospective studies indicate that LV mass is a stronger predictor of subsequent morbid events and death than blood pressure or other conventional risk factors except age. Preliminary findings of close relations between LV mass and arterial disease and between the change in LV mass during antihypertensive treatment and subsequent events contribute to explaining the strong predictive value of LV mass. Further research is needed to clarify the biologic basis of these observations and to determine whether stratification of hypertensive patients based on their level of LV mass can improve the treatment of hypertension.

Comparison of left ventricular mass and geometry in black and white patients with essential hypertension.

To assess racial difference in cardiac responses to elevated blood pressure, we compared echocardiographic measurements of left ventricular (LV) mass and the wall thickness to chamber dimension ratio (relative wall thickness) in 380 white and 47 black patients with uncomplicated essential hypertension consecutively enrolled in echocardiographic research studies at The New York Hospital Hypertension Center. Diastolic blood pressure and weight were slightly greater in black as compared with white subjects (104 +/- 18 v 98 +/- 11 mm Hg; P = .014 and 82 +/- 17 v 77 +/- 15 kg; P = .037, respectively), however the groups were similar with respect to age, duration of hypertension, cholesterol level, cigarette smoking, past use of antihypertensive therapy, family history of heart disease, and height. On average, LV mass indexed for body surface area and relative wall thickness were significantly greater in blacks than whites (119 v 105 g/m2; P = .02 and 0.46 v 0.39; P = .003) and blacks had twice the prevalence of LV hypertrophy (41% v 19%; P < .001) or concentric remodeling (21% v 12%; P < .05). The magnitude of increased LV mass and relative wall thickness in blacks was similar in men (132 v 110 g/m2; P = .01 and 0.44 v 0.39; P = .04) and in women (107 v 94 g/m2; P = .11 and 0.48 v 0.39; P = .02). In multivariate analyses, systolic blood pressure, age, and race were consistently predictors of increased LV mass and abnormal cardiac geometry. Cholesterol level was not independently associated with increased LV mass but was weakly associated with increased relative wall thickness.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Left ventricular mass as a predictor of development of hypertension.

The mass of left ventricular (LV) muscle plays a central role in hypertension. Echocardiographic LV mass has been shown to reflect the level of blood pressure over time, obesity, diet, and other factors, and to serve as the strongest predictor yet discovered, other than advancing age, of cardiac complications of hypertension. Recent research suggests, in addition, that individuals destined to become hypertensive have increased LV mass before hypertension becomes clinically apparent. Several published studies have compared LV mass in groups of normotensive children to young adults considered to be at high or low genetic risk of hypertension based on the presence or absence of hypertension in their parents. In each instance LV mass was higher in the offspring of hypertensive parents and this difference exceeded that expected for small differences in body habitus or arterial pressure. A longitudinal study in children also showed that LV mass predicted subsequent blood pressure level. We recently performed a study of 132 initially normotensive employed adults, 15 (11%) of whom developed borderline hypertension during a 5-year follow-up. The development of hypertension was not predicted by subject age, body habitus, blood pressure, or a variety of biochemical measurements. The only baseline measurement that predicted development of hypertension was that of LV mass (92 +/- 25 v 77 +/- 19 g/m2, P less than .005), and the likelihood of developing hypertension increased progressively from 3% in the lowest quartile of LV mass of 24% in the highest quartile.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Sex-related difference in regression of left ventricular hypertrophy with antihypertensive treatment: the LIFE study.

While left ventricular (LV) structure and function differ between hypertensive women and men, it remains unclear whether sex affects regression of LV hypertrophy with antihypertensive treatment. We analysed paired echocardiograms in 500 men and 347 women enrolled in the Losartan Intervention For Endpoint reduction in hypertension (LIFE) study at baseline and after 12 months of antihypertensive treatment with either losartan or atenolol. At enrollment, 177 women and 242 men were randomized to losartan-based treatment and 161 women and 247 men were randomized to atenolol-based treatment (sex difference=NS). After 12 months of antihypertensive treatment, blood pressure was lowered similarly in women (152/83 from 174/97 mmHg) and men (149/85 from 173/99 mmHg; both P<0.001, sex difference=NS), without significant change in body weight in either sex. Cardiac output and pulse pressure/stroke volume were equivalently reduced in both sexes (-0.2 vs -0.1 l/min and both -0.20 mmHg/ml/m(2), respectively; both P=NS). Absolute LV mass change after 12 months of antihypertensive treatment was greater in men than in women (-30 vs -24 g, P=0.01). However, after adjusting for baseline LV mass and randomized study treatment, LV mass reduction was greater in women than in men (-33 vs -23 g, P=0.001). LV mass regression was greater in women, by 8.0+/-2.8 g, after adjusting for baseline LV mass and randomized study treatment. After consideration of baseline LV mass and randomized study treatment, antihypertensive treatment regressed LV hypertrophy more in women. Further studies are needed to identify the mechanisms and prognostic implications of this sex-related difference.

Cost effectiveness of treatment to National Cholesterol Education Panel (NCEP) targets with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. Trial design.

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors effectively reduce cholesterol levels, and this is associated with a lower rate of cardiovascular events. Some HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors are more effective than others in reducing low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and such drugs should help patients achieve LDL cholesterol targets prescribed by the National Cholesterol Education Panel (NCEP). This paper describes the design of a trial comparing the clinical efficacy and cost effectiveness of four HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors in reducing LDL cholesterol to specified targets. This trial is being conducted in 30 physicians' practices in the USA. Its primary aim is to assess the resource use required to achieve and maintain NCEP targets by all patients randomised and followed up for one year.