Relationship between blood pressure and renal function

RENAL DAMAGE CAUSED BY HYPERTENSION: Renal vasoconstriction seems to be a key factor in the origin of arterial hypertension and accounts for the decrease in renal blood flow commonly observed in patients with hypertension. An inverse correlation has been found between renal blood flow and clinic blood pressure levels in established hypertension. Other features of renal damage attributable to high blood pressure have also been correlated with clinic blood pressure levels. Microalbuminuria is a good example of an alteration in renal function that depends in part on blood pressure levels. EFFECTS OF ANTIHYPERTENSIVE AGENTS: Antihypertensive agents can prevent or ameliorate renal vascular damage secondary to arterial hypertension, including renal failure. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring is an excellent method of studying blood pressure levels in relation to end-organ damage and the blood pressure response to antihypertensive agents. Preliminary studies using this technique indicate that changes in renal function are closely correlated with the average daily blood pressure in arterial hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: Further studies are needed on the mechanisms of renal deterioration and on how to preserve renal function in arterial hypertension.     

Relationship between blood pressure and stress-prone temperament in dogs

As part of an assessment of stress during the training of guide dogs for the blind, blood pressures have been monitored in their main breeds. For this article a population of 227 Labradors, between 9 and 24 months of age, had indirect arterial blood pressures measured and means taken of five readings. They were ranked according to their pressures. Prior to the measurements, their character was independently assessed as "stress-prone" or "non-stress-prone" by their highly experienced and trained handlers. The pressure data distribution of stress-prone animals in the ranking was analysed; they were significantly more likely to be found at the high end of the blood pressure range for that population.     

Normal values for ambulatory blood pressure and differences between casual blood pressure and ambulatory blood pressure: results from a Danish population survey

Oncogenic forms of the Abl and Src tyrosine kinases trigger the destruction of the Abi proteins, a family of Abl-interacting proteins that antagonize the oncogenic potential of Abl after overexpression in fibroblasts. The destruction of the Abi proteins requires tyrosine kinase activity and is dependent on the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. We show that degradation of the Abi proteins occurs through a Ras-independent pathway. Significantly, expression of the Abi proteins is lost in cell lines and bone marrow cells isolated from patients with aggressive Bcr-Abl-positive leukemias. These findings suggest that loss of Abi proteins may be a component in the progression of Bcr-Abl-positive leukemias and identify a novel pathway linking activated nonreceptor protein tyrosine kinases to the destruction of specific target proteins through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway.     

Relationship between activity levels and circadian blood pressure variations

In 17 healthy Japanese students (14 males and 3 females) an ambulatory activity level monitoring instrument (Actigraph) was attached to the wrist for 48-hour measurement of wrist movement (with 0.01G or higher acceleration). At the same time, an ambulatory blood pressure monitoring apparatus was attached to these subjects to monitor blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) every 30 minutes. Sleeping hours were calculated from the activity levels. The sleeping hours obtained by the Actigraph correlated with those judged from the diary. The correlation was better for the go-to-sleep time than for the awakening time. Activity level, HR and BP showed a similar circadian variation. Activity level differed significantly between the active daytime (4500 counts/hour) and during sleep at night (720 counts/hour). The acrophase of activity level, obtained by the cosinor method, was 235 degrees which did not significantly differ from that of BP and HR. Hourly activity levels correlated with HR and BP at corresponding hours. These results suggest that BP is affected by activity levels even if this rhythm continues to recur in bedrest.     

Relationship between blood pressure and subcortical lesions in healthy elderly people

The germinal center (GC) is an anatomic compartment found in peripheral lymphoid organs, wherein B cells undergo clonal expansion, somatic mutation, switch recombination, and reactivate immunoglobulin gene V(D)J recombination. As a result of somatic mutation, some GC B cells develop higher affinity antibodies, whereas others suffer mutations that decrease affinity, and still others may become self-reactive. It has been proposed that secondary V(D)J rearrangements in GCs might rescue B cells whose receptors are damaged by somatic mutations. Here we present evidence that mature human tonsil B cells coexpress conventional light chains and recombination associated genes, and that they extinguish recombination activating gene and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase expression when their receptors are cross-linked. Thus, the response of the recombinase to receptor engagement in peripheral B cells is the opposite of the response in developing B cells to the same stimulus. These observations suggest that receptor revision is a mechanism for receptor diversification that is turned off when antigen receptors are cross-linked by the cognate antigen.     

Premenstrual and menstrual mood changes in adolescent women.

Studied the presence and magnitude of menstrual-cycle-related mood changes using standardized measures of depression and anxiety. 158 females aged 15–16 yrs completed the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire and reported the actual date of onset of their next 2 menstrual periods. These Ss and their male classmates were later given the Depression Adjective Check List, Forms A and D, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory twice, 2 wks apart, in an unrelated classroom setting. This study assessed the magnitude of anxiety and depression experienced by the 29 Ss who were tested within 4 days preceding the onset of menstruation and the 23 Ss who were tested during the first 4 days of menstruation. Premenstrual and menstrual test scores were compared with those obtained during the intermenstrual phase of the cycle. No significant differences in mood attributable to cycle phase were found. A control group of males also showed no significant difference in mood. Adolescent women appear to be different from women over 30 who have been reported to show significantly increased state anxiety and depression during the premenstrual phase of the menstrual cycle. (22 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The relationship between blood pressure and biochemical risk factors in a general population

The relationship between blood pressure, ponderal index, sex, blood glucose, haemoglobin, serum uric acid, calcium cholesterol and creatinine, and albumin has been examined in 698 subjects aged between 44 and 49 years from the register of a group general practice. Sixty per cent of the variation in systolic pressure could be explained by statistically significant associations with diastolic pressure, sex, blood glucose, serum calcium, and cholesterol. The diastolic blood pressure (not corrected for systolic pressure) was significantly related only to ponderal index, haemoglobin in men, and cholesterol in women. Pulse pressure was also positively related to the risk factors blood glucose, serum cholesterol, and calcium. The possibility is discussed that one or more of these variables reduce aortic compliance and that the serum calcium contributes to this end. Diastolic, but not systolic pressure, had a prime association with relative weight, obesity being only basically associated with an increase in diastolic pressure.     

Are changes in blood pressure and total cholesterol related to changes in mood? An 18-month study of men and women.

The authors investigated the within-person association of reported mood with blood pressure and total cholesterol (TC) levels, each assessed 4 times over an 18-month period in 128 men and 154 women. Change over time in tense arousal was significantly positively associated with changes over time in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) but not TC. A change in hedonic tone was significantly associated with SBP (an increase in negative affect was associated with an increase in SBP) but not with DBP or TC. There were no sex differences in associations of mood with SBP or TC. However, increases in tense arousal and negative affect were significantly associated with an increase in DBP for women but not men. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of hostility on ambulatory blood pressure and mood during daily living in healthy adults.

This study (a) tested the effects of hostile attributes on ambulatory blood pressure (BP), heart rate, and mood monitored repeatedly over 3 days in 100 healthy men and women and (b) determined whether the cardiovascular effects of trait hostility were moderated by mood. Multilevel random-coefficients regression analyses showed that hostile individuals exhibited higher systolic and diastolic BP and rated their current moods as more negative and less positive throughout the monitoring. Individuals low in hostility exhibited high BP only during the few occasions when they experienced negative mood. However, these patterns were true only when participants were classified by Potential for Hostility ratings from the Structured Interview (R. H. Rosenman, 1978), not by the Cynical Hostile Attitudes score derived from the Cook-Medley scale. Results provide convergent and ecological validity of interview rating of hostility and illuminate one possible dynamic mechanism by which overt hostile behaviors might contribute to the rates of increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The association of blood lead and blood pressure in population surveys

The association of age, body weight, body mass index (BMI) and glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) to blood pressure in the general population of the Ho-long area in Taiwan was examined. A total of 1341 subjects, 746 men and 595 women, aged 40-90 years, were studied. Sex-specific multiple regression analyses were carried out on variables both univariately and significantly associated with blood pressure. Results show HbA1c to be significantly associated with SBP in both males and females before age, weight and/or BMI are adjusted (p < 0.05). After controlling for these confounders, the strength of SBP-HbA1c association was slightly reduced in males, but remained significant. In contrast, there was no significance in females. Moreover, no significant relationship in DBP-HbA1c was found in either sex group. These findings suggest that although a positive correlation was found between HbA1c and SBP, HbA1c or glucose status appeared to be a less important contributing factor in hypertension than age or body weight.     

Daily and momentary mood and stress are associated with binge eating and vomiting in bulimia nervosa patients in the natural environment.

The relation of mood and stress to binge eating and vomiting in the natural environments of patients with bulimia nervosa (BN) was examined using real-time data collection. Women (n = 131; mean age = 25.3 years) with BN carried a palmtop computer for 2 weeks and completed ratings of positive affect (PA), negative affect (NA), anger/hostility (AH), and stress (STRS); they also indicated binge or vomit episodes (BN-events) 6 times each day. Mixed models were used to compare mood and STRS between and within days when BN-events occurred. Between-days analyses indicated that binge and vomit days both showed less PA, higher NA, higher AH, and greater STRS than days with no BN-events. Within-day, decreasing PA, and increasing NA and AH, reliably preceded BN-events. Conversely, PA increased, and NA and AH decreased following BN-events. Demonstration of the temporal sequencing of affect, STRS, and BN-events with a large BN sample may help advance theory and clinical practice, and supports the view that binge and purge events hold negatively reinforcing properties for women with BN. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Relationship of role playing and knowledge of appropriate behavior to assertion in the natural environment.

Role-play tests have become one of the standard ways to assess interpersonal behavior, yet their validity has not been demonstrated. A study compared behavior in a series of role-play situations with behavior in identical in vivo encounters. 28 psychiatric patients (mean age 32.3 yrs) were recruited as Ss. Each was assessed in a series of in vivo situations, in a role-play test, and in a structured interview during which they were asked what someone "should" do in a variety of interpersonal interactions. Results do not support the validity of the role-play procedure. Behavior in the role-play test was not highly related to behavior in the parallel in vivo situations. There also was a greater correspondence between interview responses and in vivo behavior than between interview responses and role play. Alternative hypotheses about this pattern of results are discussed, and it is suggested that the process of role playing might be associated with unique response demands that produce an idiosyncratic response pattern. (36 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Relationship of trait anger to resting blood pressure: A meta-analysis.

A series of meta-analyses were conducted to assess whether anger is related to essential hypertension. The present review also considered the relevance of the distinction between anger experience and anger expression, the effect of participant selection bias, and the white-coat hypertension effect for the anger–blood pressure (BP) association. Anger experience was correlated with elevated BP, but the relationship was small and highly variable. When positive effects emerged, both participant selection and the reliability of BP measurement posed interpretational problems. Persons high in anger are not merely exhibiting elevated BP in response to testing, so a white-coat effect is not evident. Being labeled as hypertensive may contribute to higher anger scores, however. The review suggests lines of future research concerning associations between trait anger and blood pressure. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Relationships between home environment and scholastic behavior in a disadvantaged population.

Examined relationships between home environmental factors and measures of scholastic ability and attainment for 60 8–9 yr olds living in a disadvantaged area. Six measures of home environmental process variables were obtained for each S. Six measures of scholastic behavior were also obtained; these were derived from the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale, Culture Fair Intelligence Test (Scale 1), Marino Graded Word Reading Scale, Irish Word Recognition Test, and Schonell Mechanical Arithmetic Test (Form B). In a series of multiple regression analyses, each measure of scholastic behavior was regressed on the 6 home measures. Results indicate that home variables were most successful in predicting attainment test scores, somewhat less successful in predicting "culture-dependent" (crystallized) intelligence test scores, and least successful in predicting "culture-fair" (fluid) intelligence test scores. (42 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Genetic and environmental influences on the relationships between family connectedness, school connectedness, and adolescent depressed mood: Sex differences.

This study investigated (a) genetic and environmental contributions to the relationship between family and school environment and depressed mood and (b) potential sex differences in genetic and environmental contributions to both variation in and covariation between family connectedness, school connectedness, and adolescent depressed mood. Data are from 2,302 adolescent sibling pairs (mean age?=?16 years) who were part of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Although genetic factors appeared to be important overall, model-fitting analyses revealed that the best-fitting model was a model that allowed for different parameters for male and female adolescents. Genetic contributions to variation in all 3 variables were greater among female adolescents than male adolescents, especially for depressed mood. Genetic factors also contributed to the correlations between family and school environment and adolescent depressed mood, although, again, these factors were stronger for female than for male adolescents. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Blood pressure reactivity in the evaluation of resting blood pressure and mood responses to pindolol and propranolol in hypertensive patients

Bacterial adherence on to several materials with a potential application in reconstructive surgery was studied. Polymer (poly(L-lactide)), composite (hydroxyapatite/poly(L-lactide)) and metal (316L stainless steel) were evaluated both as smooth and sandblasted specimens. All materials were incubated in phosphate-buffered saline, challenged with Staphylococcus aureus or S. epidermidis and evaluated for up to 24 h. S. aureus showed a preference for the metal and composite tested over the polymer used. For S. epidermidis no preference was found for one of the investigated materials. The influence of surface roughness on bacterial growth was demonstrated by increased colonization on the sandblasted specimens.     

An attempt to improve blood pressure control in the French population: information and outcome awareness at the general practitioner level

To improve blood pressure (BP) control in general practice, 3122 general practitioners agreed to participate in a result awareness program. A survey carried out 6 months after participating physicians had been informed of the outcome of treatments they had given showed that blood pressure control (cut-off point: BP < 140/90 mm Hg) had not improved. However, using less stringent criteria, a slight improvement in blood pressure control could be observed. Although this improvement was marginal, results are sufficiently encouraging to warrant another study after a new awareness campaign among the medical population.     

Relationship between arterial pressure and blood flow in the generation of slow-wave flowmotion in rat skeletal muscle

The objective of this study was to determine the role of hypotension and hypoperfusion in the induction of regular slow-wave flowmotion (SWFM) in skeletal muscle in vivo. SWFM and microcirculatory muscle blood flow (MBF) were assessed by laser Doppler flowmetry in anesthetized rats exposed to: (1) graded hemorrhage (n = 15); (2) partial occlusion of the feeding artery (n = 6); (3) partial occlusion of the vein (n = 6), and (4) the vasodilator hydralazine (n = 10). Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was significantly reduced to 65 +/- 2.1% after hemorrhage and hydralazine before (64 +/- 2.4%) and after (42 +/- 1.8%) additional blood loss, but remained unchanged after venous occlusion. The pressure of the feeding artery fell to 38 +/- 1.2% after partial occlusion. MBF dropped significantly to 74 +/- 4.2% after hemorrhage, 54 +/- 5.6% after arterial and 53 +/- 3.0% after venous occlusion. Hydralazine caused MBF to rise to 192 +/- 21.8% before additional blood withdrawal and returned to normal values after it. SWFM was observed in all animals after hemorrhage and arterial occlusion, but in none after venous occlusion. In the hydralazine group, SWFM occurred only after blood loss. The hemoglobin concentration was reduced to 82 +/- 2.1% after hemorrhage. It remained normal after hydralazine administration, but decreased to 79 +/- 1.2% after the subsequent blood withdrawal. We conclude that arterial hypotension, but not hypoperfusion, induces SWFM, and hyperperfusion prevents it. Our results support the hypothesis that SWFM is generated by a reduction of vascular wall tension.     

Relationship between goal attributes and the academic achievement of Southeast Asian adolescent refugees.

Examined the relationship among goals, acculturation (ACC), and academic achievement (AAC) for a group of 39 Southeast Asian adolescent refugees enrolled in a bilingual vocational education program at a high school. Students expressed career, work, and family goals that were positive in affect and individual in nature. Low goal instability and high goal commitment were significantly related to higher GPA and goal attainment. Low goal instability was also related to better study skills. ACC was not significantly related to AAC variables. Although the relationship between goal attributes and AAC was supported for these Ss, cultural factors limited the authors' ability to interpret the results. A discussion of cross-cultural issues that are relevant for future research with Southeast Asian refugees is provided. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)