Optimal blood pressure target and measurement in patients with chronic kidney disease

Assessing Chronic Heavy Metal Exposure by Analysis of Human Cataract Specimens and the Relationship to Metabolic Profiles

PURPOSE

With age, the mammalian lens forms successive layers of crystallin protein fibers which infoliate with lens growth and development. As heavy metals generally bind to tissue protein, heavy metals are posited to sequester within the lens with age. Therefore, this study aims to compare heavy metals in human crystalline lens of older adults to known physiologic blood and urine levels and assess the association between concentrations in the lens and metabolic biomarkers.

METHODS

Consecutive lens specimens obtained during cataract surgery by phacoemulsification were subjected to atomic spectrometry for heavy metal content. A one-sample t-test compared heavy metals in lens to known physiologic blood and urine concentrations. Linear regression models assessed the association between heavy metals and biomarkers of metabolic function. Linear discriminant analysis assessed the classification of gender and smoking status based on multiple and individual heavy metals.

RESULTS

All heavy metal levels were elevated in lens specimens compared to blood and urine with the exception of iron (p < 0.0001). Lens titanium and copper were positively associated with blood-urea nitrogen (Titanium: β ̂ = 1.14, p = 0.04, Copper: β ̂ = 1.12, p = 0.03. Lens copper was positively associated with creatinine (β ̂ = 1.10; p = 0.02), but negatively associated with glomerular filtration rate (β ̂ = 0.89; p = 0.02). Lens chromium and lead were positively associated with albumin (Chromium: β ̂ = 1.03, p = 0.03; Lead: β ̂ = 1.02, p = 0.04). Lens nickel was positively associated with bilirubin (β ̂ = 1.14; p = 0.03). Classification based on multiple or individual heavy metals for gender and smoking status was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest the human crystalline lens accumulates heavy metals with age and demonstrate the correlation between abnormality of metabolic function and heavy metal deposition in older adult lens.

Outpatient management of essential hypertension: a review based on the latest clinical guidelines

Background: Essential hypertension, a prevalent cardiovascular condition, poses a significant health burden worldwide. Based on the latest American clinical guidelines, half of adults in the United States have hypertension. Of these, only about a half are treated and about a quarter are adequately controlled for hypertension. Given its impact on morbidity and mortality, ensuring effective management of high blood pressure is crucial to reduce associated risks and improve patient outcomes.Objective: This review aims to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date summary of the latest cardiology guidelines and evidence-based research on essential hypertension, with a focus on guiding outpatient clinical practice.Methods: The review evaluates both non-pharmacological approaches and pharmacological interventions to offer clinicians practical insights. Notably, it emphasizes the importance of individualized treatment plans tailored to patients' specific risk profiles and comorbidities.Results: By consolidating the latest advancements in hypertension management, this review provides clinicians with an up-to-date reference, offering a nuanced understanding of treatment goals and strategies.Conclusion: Through the incorporation of evidence-based recommendations, healthcare practitioners can optimize patient care, mitigate potential complications, and improve overall outcomes in essential hypertension.

Association of low diastolic blood pressure with all-cause death among US adults with normal systolic blood pressure

Although the effect of intensive systolic blood pressure lowering is widely recognized, treatment-related low diastolic blood pressure still worrisome. This was a prospective cohort study based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Adults (≥20 years old) with guideline-recommended blood pressure were included and pregnant women were excluded. Survey-weighted logistic regression and cox models were used for analysis. A total of 25 858 participants were included in this study. After weighted, the overall mean age of the participants was 43.17 (16.03) years, including 53.7% women and 68.1% non-Hispanic white. Numerous factors were associated with low DBP (<60 mmHg), including advanced age, heart failure, myocardial infarction, and diabetes. The use of antihypertensive drugs was also associated with lower DBP (OR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.26-1.83). DBP of less than 60 mmHg were associated with a higher risk of all-cause death (HR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.12-1.51) and cardiovascular death (HR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.00-1.79) compared to those with DBP between 70 and 80 mmHg. After regrouping, DBP <60 mmHg (no antihypertensive drugs) was associated with a higher risk of all-cause death (HR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.21-1.75). DBP <60 mmHg after taking antihypertensive drugs was not associated with a higher risk of all-cause death (HR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.73-1.36). Antihypertensive drug is an important factor contributing to DBP below 60 mmHg. But the pre-existing risk does not increase further with an additional reduction of DBP after antihypertensive drugs treatment.

The low glutamate diet reduces blood pressure in veterans with Gulf War Illness: A CONSORT randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Gulf War Illness is a multi-symptom condition affecting veterans of the 1990 to 1991 Gulf War, which often presents with comorbid hypertension. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of the low glutamate diet, as well as an acute challenge of monosodium glutamate (MSG)/placebo, on resting heart rate, blood oxygenation level, and blood pressure (BP) in this population.

METHODS

These data were measured at 4 time points: baseline, after 1 month on the low glutamate diet, and during each challenge week, where subjects were randomized into a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover challenge with MSG/placebo over 3 days each week. Pre-post diet changes were analyzed using paired t tests, change in the percentage of veterans meeting the criteria for hypertension was compared using chi-square or Fisher exact tests, and crossover challenge results were analyzed using general linear modeling in SAS® 9.4.

RESULTS

There was a significant reduction in systolic BP (sitting and recumbent; both P < .001) and diastolic BP (sitting; P = .02) after 1 month on the diet. The percentage meeting the criteria for hypertension was also significantly reduced (P < .05). Challenge with MSG/placebo did not demonstrate an acute effect of glutamate on blood pressure.

CONCLUSION

Overall, these findings suggest that the low glutamate diet may be an effective treatment for lowering blood pressure in veterans with Gulf War Illness. This dietary effect does not appear to be driven by reduced consumption of free glutamate, but rather, by an increase in consumption of non-processed foods.

Direct Determination rather than Oscillometric Estimation of Systolic Blood Pressure in Patients with Severe Chronic Kidney Disease

INTRODUCTION

Although arterial hypertension is a major concern in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), obtaining accurate systolic blood pressure (SBP) measurement is challenging in this population for whom automatic oscillometric devices may yield erroneous results.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted in 89 patients with stages 4, 5, and 5D CKD, for whom we compared SBP values obtained by the recently described systolic foot-to-apex time interval (SFATI) technique which provides direct SBP determination, the standard technique (Korotkoff sounds), and oscillometry. We investigated the effects of age, sex, diabetes, CKD stage, and pulse pressure to explain measurement errors defined as biases or misclassification relative to the SBP thresholds of 110-130-mm Hg.

RESULTS

All 3 techniques showed satisfactory reproducibility for SBP measurement (CCC > 0.84 and >0.91, respectively, in dialyzed and nondialyzed patients). The mean ± SD from SBP as determined via Korotkoff sounds was 1.7 ± 4.6 mm Hg for SFATI (CCC = 0.98) and 5.9 ± 9.3 mm Hg for oscillometry (CCC = 0.88). Referring to the 110-130-mm Hg SBP range outside which treatment prescription or adaptation is recommended for CKD patients, SFATI underestimated SBP in 3 patients and overestimated it in 1, whereas oscillometry underestimated SBP in 12 patients and overestimated it in 3. Higher pulse pressure was the main explanatory factor for measurement and classification errors.

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION

SFATI provides accurate SBP measurements in patients with severe CKD and paves the way for the standardization of automated noninvasive blood pressure measurement devices. Before prescribing or adjusting antihypertensive therapy, physicians should be aware of the risk of misclassification when using oscillometry.

Association between Blood Pressure and Renal Progression in Korean Adults with Normal Renal Function

BACKGROUND

Although hypertension (HTN) is a well-established major risk factor for renal progression in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), few studies investigating its role in renal deterioration in the general population with normal renal function (NRF) have been published. Here, we analyzed the correlation between blood pressure (BP) and impaired renal function (IRF) in Korean adults with NRF.

METHODS

Data for the study were collected from the national health screening database of the Korean National Health Insurance Service. Patients whose baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m² or whose baseline urinalysis showed evidence of proteinuria were excluded. IRF was defined as an eGFR below 60 mL/min/1.73 m². We performed follow up for eGFR for 6 years from 2009 to 2015 and investigated IRF incidence according to baseline BP status. We categorized our study population into two groups of IRF and NRF according to eGFR level in 2015.

RESULTS

During 6 years of follow-up examinations, IRF developed in 161,044 (2.86%) of 5,638,320 subjects. The IRF group was largely older, and the incidence was higher in females and patients with low income, HTN, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and obesity compared with the NRF group. Subjects whose systolic BP was more than 120 mmHg or whose diastolic BP was more than 70 mmHg had an increased risk of developing IRF compared with subjects with lower BP (odds ratio [OR], 1.037; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.014-1.061 vs. OR, 1.021; 95% CI, 1.004-1.038).

CONCLUSION

BP played a major role in renal progression in the general population with NRF. Strict BP control may help prevent CKD in the general population.