Association between community noise and adiposity in patients with cardiovascular disease

INTRODUCTION

This study aimed to explore the effect of community noise on body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A representative sample of 132 patients from three tertiary hospitals in the city of Plovdiv, Bulgaria was collected. Anthropometric measurements were linked to global noise annoyance (GNA) based on different residential noise annoyances, day-evening-night (Lden), and nighttime (Lnight) road traffic noise exposure. Noise map Lden and Lnight were determined at the living room and bedroom façades, respectively, and further corrected to indoor exposure based on the window-opening frequency and soundproofing insulation.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Results showed that BMI and WC increased (non-significantly) per 5 dB. The effect of indoor noise was stronger in comparison with that of outdoor noise. For indoor Lden, the effect was more pronounced in men, those with diabetes, family history of diabetes, high noise sensitivity, using solid fuel/gas for domestic heating/cooking, and living on the first floor. As regards indoor Lnight, its effect was more pronounced in those with low socioeconomic status, hearing loss, and using solid fuel/gas for domestic heating/cooking. GNA was associated with lower BMI and WC.

CONCLUSION

Road traffic noise was associated with an increase in adiposity in some potentially vulnerable patients with CVD.

Community Noise Exposure and its Effect on Blood Pressure and Renal Function in Patients with Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease

BACKGROUND

Road traffic noise (RTN) is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and hypertension; however, few studies have looked into its association with blood pressure (BP) and renal function in patients with prior CVD.

AIM

This study aimed to explore the effect of residential RTN exposure on BP and renal function in patients with CVD from Plovdiv Province.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We included 217 patients with ischemic heart disease and/or hypertension from three tertiary hospitals in the city of Plovdiv (March - May 2016). Patients' medical history, medical documentation, and medication regimen were reviewed, and blood pressure and anthropometric measurements were taken. Blood samples were analyzed for creatinine, total cholesterol, and blood glucose. Participants also filled a questionnaire. Glomerular filtration rate was estimated using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation. All participants were asked about their annoyance by different noise sources at home, and those living in the city of Plovdiv (n = 132) were assigned noise map Lden and Lnight exposure. The effects of noise exposure on systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were explored using mixed linear models.

RESULTS

Traffic noise annoyance was associated with higher SBP in the total sample. The other noise indicators were associated with non-significant elevation in SBP and reduction in eGFR. The effect of Lden was more pronounced in patients with prior ischemic heart disease/stroke, diabetes, obesity, not taking Ca-channel blockers, and using solid fuel/gas at home. Lnight had stronger effect among those not taking statins, sleeping in a bedroom with noisy façade, having a living room with quiet façade, and spending more time at home. The increase in Lden was associated with a significant decrease in eGFR among men, patients with ischemic heart disease/stroke, and those exposed to lower air pollution. Regarding Lnight, there was significant effect modification by gender, diabetes, obesity, and time spent at home. In some subgroups, the effect of RTN was statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Given that generic risk factors for poor progression of cardiovascular diseases cannot be controlled sufficiently at individual level, environmental interventions to reduce residential noise exposure might result in some improvement in the management of blood pressure and kidney function in patients with CVD.

[Inhibitors of proton pump in the treatment of non-ulcer functional dyspepsia of the reflux-like type]

The results of two treatment types of the patients with chronic gastritis and with non-ulcerative functional dyspepsia (NFD) at reflux-similar variant are represented. The patients received Omeprasol (Losec) or Rabeprasol (Pariet) accordingly 20 mg once per day in the morning, 30-60 minutes before the breakfast. The treatment course was 7 days. The investigations have shown the following: the level of acidity has decreased in all the patients treated by Rabeprasol, normal acidity is detected in the all 15 patients, the level of gastric acidity has decreased in the patients, treated by Omeprasol. However the hyperacidity was preserved in 10 from 12 patients.

[Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in Rostov Province: the epidemiological characteristics of an outbreak]

The results of the epidemiological analysis of the outbreak of hemorrhagic fever which was caused by Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus and occurred during the period of July 3-19, 1999, in the Oblivskaya district of Rostov Province are presented. The specific epidemiological features of the outbreak have been determined. The possible versions of the appearance of the focus of infection and the role of Ixodes ticks in the circulation of the infective agent are discussed.

[The characteristics of the antibacterial therapy for cholera in Dagestan]

Wide circulation of antibiotic-resistant Vibrio cholerae strains again gives prominence to the problem of etiotropic therapy. The results of the treatment of 428 persons infected with V.cholerae (237 cholera patients and 191 Vibrio carriers) in different regions of Daghestan during the outbreak of epidemic in 1994 are presented. The main criterion of the effectiveness of antibacterial therapy was the determination of the percentage of bacterial relapses. The sensitivity of 118 V.cholerae strains to different antibacterial preparations was studied by the method of serial dilutions. After the clinical use of chloramphenicol 29.7% of bacterial relapses were registered, the in vitro resistance of V. cholerae being 32-64 mkg/ml. After the use of tetracycline 16.5% bacterial relapses were registered with in vitro resistance being the same. The use of the combination of these preparations gave 15% of bacterial relapses. Furazolidone gave 4.3% of bacteria relapses, while after the use of ciprofloxacin 2.8% of bacterial relapses were registered with in vitro sensitivity equal to 0.25-0.5 mkg/ml. Ciprofloxacin was recommended for the treatment of cholera patients and furazolidone, for the treatment of Vibrio carriers.

[The characteristics of cholera prevalence and of the performance of epidemic-control measures in small settlements of Dagestan]

The present work deals with summarizing the experience obtained by the specialized antiepidemic brigade of the Rostov-on-Don Research Institute for Plague Control in the work on the liquidation of cholera in some regions of Daghestan with a view to discussing the problems of improvement of anticholera measures. The characteristic features of the epidemic process were its explosive character, sparseness of the foci of infection, the prevalence of its transmission through everyday contacts (family contacts and intensive tribal contacts) and essential delays in taking anticholera measures due to sudden appearance of outbreaks, remoteness of small settlements and the lack of manpower and means for carrying out anticholera measures at a given place and time, as well as delays in epidemiological analysis carried out by local health service bodies. Delays in carrying out such measures led to the spread of infection both within settlements and in the whole region and further in the republic. The epidemic process was complicated by the antibiotic resistance of V.cholerae strains circulating on this territory. All these factors formed specific epidemic situation which introduced amendments into the organization of anticholera measures.

[Interaction of lipoproteins in blood serum with steroid hormones]

Interaction of human and serum lipoproteins with steroid hormones (corticosterone and cortisol) was studied. Methods of fluorescence quenching titration and equilibrium dialysis were used for quantitative evaluation of VLDL, LDL and HDL glucocorticoid-binding ability. Association constants were found to be 0.6-2.0 x 10(6) M-1 for corticosterone and 4.0-8.0 x 10(6) M-1 for cortisol. The number of binding sites varied from 3 to 300 for different classes of lipoproteins.

[Role of the motor area of the cortex in the performance of the postural escape reaction]

It has been shown on three dogs that unilateral ablation of the cortical motor area temporally disturbs previously acquired and opposite to the innate postural escape reaction to electric stimulation of the contralateral forepaw by increasing its pressure on the support. After 3-4 months of repeated training, compensation is possible. Bilateral ablation of the motor cortex elicits stable and unreversible disturbance of the acquired reaction. In reorganization of postural coordinations, motor cortex functions are connected with the inhibition of innate coordinations preventing performance of the reaction.

[Conditioned reflex transformation of unconditioned flexion of the limbs of the dog into extension]

In response to electro-skin stimulation of the left forelimb eliciting its flexion,--an escape instrumental reflex was elaborated in five dogs in the form of extension of the stimulated limb (pressure on the support), i.e. a reaction antagonistic to the inborn one. The reaction was elaborated due to conditioned transformation of the unconditioned flexion: the flexion became gradually inhibited and the new form of reaction, previously not inherent in the animal increased and became stable. Such transformation of one reaction into another is connected with the reorganization of inborn coordinations.