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Normotensive Women (normotensive + woman)
Selected AbstractsImpact of body fat mass extent on cardiac autonomic alterations in womenEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION, Issue 8 2009J. Sztajzel Abstract Background, Obesity has been associated with significant abnormalities of the cardiac autonomic regulation. However, the precise impact of increasing body weight on cardiac autonomic function and the metabolic and hormonal contributors to these changes are presently unclear. The aim of our study was to explore in subjects with increasing values of body mass index (BMI) the alterations of cardiac autonomic function and to establish the potential role of various metabolic and hormonal contributors to these alterations. Materials and methods, We investigated time and frequency domain heart rate variability (HRV) parameters taken from 24-h Holter recordings, and several anthropometric, metabolic and hormonal parameters (plasma glucose, insulin, triglycerides, free fatty acids, leptin and adiponectin) in 68 normoglycaemic and normotensive women (mean age of 40 ± 3 years), subdivided according to their BMI into 15 normal body weight (controls), 15 overweight, 18 obese and 20 morbidly obese. Results, Heart rate was increased and HRV was decreased in the morbidly obese group as compared with controls. In overall population, a negative association linked body fat mass (FM) to HRV indices. None of the metabolic and hormonal parameters were significantly related to the HRV indices, after they were adjusted for the body FM. Conclusions, Morbidly obese, normoglycaemic and normotensive young women have increased HR and low HRV, indicating an abnormal cardiac autonomic function and representing a risk factor for adverse cardiovascular events. A decrease of HRV parameters is associated with a progressive increase of body FM. Other metabolic and hormonal factors, characterising obesity, do not show an independent influence on these HRV alterations. [source] Effects of raloxifene on the renin,angiotensin,aldosterone system and blood pressure in hypertensive and normotensive osteoporotic postmenopausal womenGERIATRICS & GERONTOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2010Hiroyuki Sumino Aim: An increase in blood pressure after menopause has been documented. The renin,angiotensin,aldosterone system (RAAS) plays a central role in the regulation of blood pressure and in the pathophysiology of hypertension. This study investigated the effects of raloxifene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator, on components of the RAAS and blood pressure in hypertensive and normotensive osteoporotic postmenopausal women. Methods: A total of 41 hypertensive or normotensive postmenopausal women with osteoporosis or osteopenia were divided into four groups. Eleven hypertensive and eight normotensive women received raloxifene hydrochloride (60 mg/day) p.o. for 6 months, and 12 hypertensive and 10 normotensive women did not receive raloxifene hydrochloride for 6 months. In all of the hypertensive women, blood pressure had been controlled prior to the start of the study using a variety of antihypertensive drugs other than angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin (Ang)II type 1 receptor antagonists or diuretics. Plasma renin activity (PRA), serum ACE activity, plasma AngI, AngII and aldosterone concentrations, and blood pressure were measured before and 6 months after the start of the study. Results: No significant changes in PRA, ACE activity, or the AngI, AngII or aldosterone levels were observed in any of the groups. In all the groups, blood pressure remained unchanged. Conclusion: Raloxifene may have no significant effect on the RAAS or blood pressure in hypertensive and normotensive osteoporotic postmenopausal women. [source] Evaluation of metalloproteinases 2 and 9 and their inhibitors in physiologic and pre-eclamptic pregnancyJOURNAL OF CLINICAL LABORATORY ANALYSIS, Issue 2 2009Martina Montagnana Abstract Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc and calcium-dependent endopeptidases involved in remodeling and physiological homeostasis of extracellular matrix (ECM). The metalloproteinases activity is predominantly modulated by specific tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs). The balance between MMPs and TIMPs is likely to play an important role in remodeling uterine arteries in pregnancy, and it may represent means by which vasodilatation is maintained in later pregnancy. Moreover, increased levels of MMPs and in particular MMP-2 play a role in the vascular alterations induced by hypertension. The aim of this study was the evaluation of MMP-2 and -9, along with their inhibitors TIMP-1 and -2, in pre-eclamptic women compared with normotensive pregnancy and non-pregnant women. Fourteen pre-eclamptic women were compared with 37 normotensive women in different gestational age and 21 non-pregnant women. Multiplexed sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure MMPs and TIMPs simultaneously. MMP-2 levels were significantly higher in pre-eclamptic women vs. both non-pregnant and physiologic pregnant women. MMP-9 concentrations were significantly higher in physiologic pregnant vs. non-pregnant women. The serum levels of TIMP-1 were significantly higher in pre-eclamptic vs. both non-pregnant and physiologic pregnant women. TIMP-2 values were higher in physiologic pregnant women and pre-eclamptic women vs. non-pregnant women. A positive correlation between MMP-9 values and gestational age was observed in normal pregnant women. Results of the present investigation confirm that MMP-2 and TIMP-1 values are significantly higher in preeclampsia. We confirm that the modification of the fine balance between MMPs and their inhibitors plays a greater role in the structural and functional vascular changes of women with complicated pregnancies. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 23:88,92, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] The reproducibility of ethnic differences in the proportional awake,sleep blood pressure decline among womenAMERICAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2010Helene M. Van Berge-Landry A growing body of evidence indicates that African Americans (AA), on average, have a smaller proportional decline in blood pressure (BP) from waking to sleep than European Americans (EA), but this difference is largely based on correlational data from a single assessment day. The persistence of this difference over repeated sampling is not well established. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether ethnic differences in the awake,sleep BP decline between AA and EA persisted over three monthly assessments. The subjects were 47 AA (age = 39.7 ± 8.7) and 92 EA (age = 37.4 ± 9.2) normotensive women. Subjects had 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring done on midweek workdays at 1-month intervals for three consecutive months. The proportional decline in BP was calculated as follows: (average awake , average sleep)/average sleep. The persistence of ethnic differences was evaluated using repeated-measures ANCOVA and by examining Bland,Altman plots. The ANCOVA results revealed that overall, the proportional decline of AA women was less than that of EA women for both SBP (P < 0.038) and DBP (P < 0.083), consistent with previous research, and that there were also no significant ethnic differences by monthly assessment. Bland,Altman plots revealed that overall and by ethnicity, the proportional decline in BP among individual subjects over the 3 months was also reproducible. These results suggest that the ethnic difference in awake,sleep BP between AA and EA women persists over time and that the awake,sleep decline in BP among individuals, whether AA or EA, is also reproducible. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Hypertension during pregnancy in South Australia, Part 2: Risk factors for adverse maternal and/or perinatal outcome , results of multivariable analysisAUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 5 2004Sophie A. VREEBURG Abstract Objective:, To identify factors associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes among women with hypertension during pregnancy Design:, A population-based retrospective multivariable analysis using the South Australian perinatal data collection. Methods:, Perinatal data on 70 386 singleton births in 1998,2001 were used in multivariable analyses on three groups: all women combined, all hypertensive women and women with pregnancy hypertension only, in order to identify independent risk factors for requirement for level II/III care, preterm birth, small for gestational age (SGA) birth and maternal length of stay greater than 7 days. Results:, The risks for the four morbidities were all increased among women with hypertension compared with normotensive women. Those with pre-existing hypertension had the lowest risk (with odds ratios (OR) 1.26,2.90). Pregnancy hypertension held the intermediate position (OR 1.52,5.70), while superimposed pre-eclampsia was associated with the highest risk (OR 2.00,8.75). Among women with hypertension, Aboriginality, older maternal age, nulliparity and pre-existing or gestational diabetes increased the risk for level II/III nursery care, preterm birth and prolonged hospital stay. Smokers had shorter stays, which may be related to their decreased risk of having a Caesarean section or operative vaginal delivery. Asian women, Aboriginal women, smokers and unemployed women had an increased risk for having an SGA baby, while women with pre-existing or gestational diabetes had a reduced risk. Conclusions:, Among hypertensive pregnant women, nulliparity, older maternal age, Aboriginality, unemployment and diabetes are independent risk factors for one or more major adverse pregnancy outcomes. Smoking does not always worsen the outcome for hypertensive women except for SGA births. [source] Low plasma volume following pregnancy complicated by pre-eclampsia predisposes for hypertensive disease in a next pregnancyBJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 11 2003Robert Aardenburg Objective A large number of women with a history of pre-eclampsia/HELLP have a low plasma volume at least six months postpartum. The objective of this study was to determine whether a low plasma volume in formerly pre-eclamptic women and HELLP patients is associated with an increased risk for recurrent hypertensive complications in a next pregnancy. Design Prospective observational study. Setting Tertiary obstetric centre. Sample Formerly pre-eclamptic women and controls. Methods In 316 women with a history of pre-eclampsia and/or HELLP, we measured, plasma volume along with haemodynamic, metabolic and haemostatic variables at least six months postpartum. A group of 22 healthy parous controls was used as a reference. After standardising plasma volume for body mass index, women were subdivided into normotensive and normal plasma volume (n = 199), normotensive and low plasma volume (n = 76) and hypertensive (n = 41) subgroups, which were compared for demography, clinical parameters and course of a next pregnancy. Main outcome measures Recurrent hypertensive disease of pregnancy. Results Relative to the normal plasma volume subgroup, normotensive women in the low plasma volume subgroup have a higher body mass index, a lower total vascular compliance and a shorter estimated systemic circulation time. They have a higher HOMA index and higher fasting triglyceride levels. In normotensive and hypertensive former patients alike, low plasma volume is associated with a higher recurrence of hypertensive complications in a next pregnancy compared with normotensive women with normal plasma volume. Conclusion Low plasma volume in normotensive women with a history of pre-eclampsia and/or HELLP is associated with overweight, reduced vascular compliance and insulin resistance and a predisposition for recurrent pre-eclampsia and HELLP syndrome in a next pregnancy. [source] Plasma P-selectin is elevated in the first trimester in women who subsequently develop pre-eclampsiaBJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 7 2001P.M. Bosio Objective To report plasma concentrations of the adhesion cell molecule P-selectin during pregnancy to determine the effect of subsequent development of hypertension and pre-eclampsia. Design A longitudinal study. Methods A longitudinal study involving 70 women followed up from early pregnancy; 20 who subsequently developed pre-eclampsia were compared with 24 who developed gestational hypertension and 26 normotensive women with normal obstetric outcome. The determination of citrate plasma soluble P-selectin levels throughout pregnancy was performed using a commercial quantitative sandwich immunoassay kit. The temporal course of plasma P-selectin in the three groups of subjects was analysed. Results There was no significant difference in mean plasma P-selectin concentration between normotensive and gestational hypertensive subjects at any stage of pregnancy. Using a cutoff level of 60 ng/mL, P-selectin concentration at 10,14 weeks had a negative predictive value for pre-eclampsia of almost 99%. Mean plasma P-selectin concentrations were significantly elevated by 10,14 weeks in women who later developed pre-eclampsia (P<0.001). Conclusions Our data support an inflammatory model for pre-eclampsia whereby endothelial cell activation may be secondary to a primary inflammatory response. Plasma P-selectin has significant potential as a first trimester clinical marker of pre-eclampsia. [source] | ||||||||||