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Biomedical subjects

T J Stallard

Publications and source records attributed to T J Stallard.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Effect of environment on blood pressure: home versus hospital.

The effect of environment on blood pressure was studied by recording intra-arterial pressure continuously in nine patients with essential hypertension during controlled periods of activity and rest at home and in hospital. Mean systolic pressure was higher at home (152 +/- 16 mm Hg) than in hospital (138 +/- 11 mm Hg, p less than 0.01), the difference being greatest during the period of activity (165 +/- 21 v 142 +/- 13 mm Hg, p less than 0.001); heart rates and diastolic pressures did not differ significantly at these times. Systolic pressure recorded by conventional sphygmomanometry was also higher at home (173 +/- 23 v 159 +/- 23 mm Hg, p less than 0.01), as was diastolic pressure (98 +/- 10 v 89 +/- 11 mm Hg, p less than 0.02). Systolic pressure was consistently higher at home, and this effect was independent of the pressure of an observer. This must be taken into consideration when assessing blood pressure and efficacy of treatment in hospital.

Adult↗

The effect of nifedipine on arterial pressure and reflex cardiac control.

Nine patients with untreated essential hypertension (mean casual blood pressure 173/109 +/- 14/7 mm Hg) (+/- SD) were studied in the control state and after 16 weeks of treatment with nifedipine, 10 mg orally every 8 hours. Direct arterial blood pressure monitored continuously over 24 hours showed that nifedipine significantly reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure throughout the day and the night. The variability of blood pressure was not altered by nifedipine therapy. There was no significant change in heart rate after nifedipine therapy. Chronic nifedipine therapy increased forearm blood flow and decreased forearm vascular resistance, consistent with its action as a vasodilator. The absolute blood pressure responses to tilt, handgrip and cold were reduced, but the percent increase in pressure was not altered by therapy. Plasma renin activity was not altered by chronic nifedipine therapy. At each study, the sensitivity and setting of the baroreflex response to i.v. phenylephrine was measured. After chronic nifedipine therapy there was resetting of the sinoaortic baroreflex and an increase in its sensitivity. Successful control of blood pressure with nifedipine led to a significant reduction in the left ventricular mass index.

Adult↗

Comparison of ambulatory blood pressure and cardiovascular reflexes in elderly hypertensives, elderly normotensives and young hypertensives.

Thirteen elderly hypertensives (EH) underwent ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring and measurement of cardiovascular reflexes. The results were compared with elderly normotensives (EN) and young hypertensives (YH) in studies using the same protocol. There was a greater disparity between casual systolic BP (SBP) and ambulatory awake SBP in EH than EN or YH. Variability of SBP was greater in the elderly than in the young, whilst baroreflex activity was reduced in the elderly, more markedly so in EH. Response to tilt and pressor tests were similar in EH and EN. EH showed greater changes in response to tilt and dynamic exercise than YH. The results suggest an exaggerated response to casual BP measurement in EH. The reduced baroreflex activity in EH could be associated with greater degenerative changes. The EH are exposed to greater peaks of BP than EN in response to pressor stimuli.

Adult↗

The effect of nifedipine on arterial pressure and reflex cardiac control.

Nine patients with untreated, essential hypertension (mean casual blood pressure 173/109 +/- 14/7 mmHg (+/- s.d.] were studied in the control state and then following 16 weeks treatment with nifedipine 10 mg orally 8 hourly. Direct arterial blood pressure was monitored continuously over 24 hours and demonstrated that nifedipine significantly reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure throughout the day and the night. The variability of blood pressure was not altered by nifedipine therapy. There was no significant change in heart rate after nifedipine therapy. At each study the sensitivity and setting of the baroreflex response to intravenous phenylephrine was measured. Following chronic nifedipine therapy there was re-setting of the sino-aortic baroreflex and an increase in its sensitivity.

Adult↗

Assessment of left-ventricular mass and its response to antihypertensive treatment.

50 patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension underwent M-mode echocardiography and continuous intra-arterial ambulatory monitoring of blood pressure. Indices of left-ventricular (LV) mass were derived from echocardiographic data by standard formulae. 43 of the patients were followed up for 12+/-7 months with repeat M-mode echocardiography, and casual blood-pressure measurements. 25 of these patients received antihypertensive therapy and 18 were untreated. Mean 24 h systolic blood pressure was significantly correlated with echocardiographic LV mass; mean 24 h diastolic blood pressure was also correlated, but the relation was weaker. In the treated group there was a significantly greater fall in blood pressure and LV mass index than in the untreated group, and there was a significant correlation between the fall in systolic blood pressure and the fall in LV mass index in the treated group. Systolic blood pressure appears to be an important factor in the pathogenesis of LV hypertrophy, and in hypertensive patients changes in LV mass assessed by echocardiography correlate with changes in blood pressure.

Adolescent↗

Control of blood pressure and reduction of echocardiographically assessed left ventricular mass with one-daily timolol.

1 Ten untreated hypertensive patients underwent 24 h continuous intra-arterial ambulatory monitoring of blood pressure (BP) and M-mode echocardiography. 2 They were treated with once-daily timolol and followed up at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks when dosage was titrated against BP control (indirect measurement) and degree of beta-adrenoceptor antagonism (submaximal bicycle ergometry and sub-lingual GTN). 3 Sixteen weeks after commencing therapy, nine patients underwent repeat continuous ambulatory monitoring of BP and M-mode echocardiography. 4 Casual BP was significantly reduced during the follow-up period at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks. 5 A reduction of BP was seen throughout the 24 h although this did not achieve statistical significance when sympathetic activity was low. 6 Echocardiographic measurement of left ventricular mass was significantly reduced after 16 weeks treatment.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

The relationship between ambulatory blood pressure and echocardiographically assessed left ventricular hypertrophy.

1. Continuous intra-arterial ambulatory monitoring of blood pressure was recorded in 46 patients with mild to moderate hypertension under standardized conditions. M-mode echocardiography was performed after recording and left ventricular mass index calculated by standard formulae. 2. Systolic blood pressure from continuous recording was significantly correlated with left ventricular mass index (mean 24 h: r = 0.543, n = 45, P less than 0.001). Diastolic blood pressure exhibited a weaker but still significant correlation with left ventricular mass index (mean 24 h: r = 0.318, n = 45, P less than 0.05). Casual systolic blood pressure was significantly correlated with left ventricular mass index (r = 0.476, n = 46, P less than 0.001) but casual diastolic blood pressure did not correlate with left ventricular mass index (r = 0.245, n = 46). Awake blood pressure variability, age, resting plasma renin activity and resting plasma noradrenaline levels did not have a significant correlation with left ventricular mass index. 3. Nine patients were treated for 16 weeks with once-daily timolol and repeat ambulatory monitoring and M-mode echocardiography was performed with the same protocol. 4. Once-daily timolol provided good 24 h control of blood pressure and repeat echocardiography showed a reduction in left ventricular mass index in that group of patients (t = 2.59, P less than 0.05).

Adolescent↗

Sequential changes in plasma noradrenaline during bicycle exercise.

1. Forearm venous plasma noradrenaline, heart rate and intra-arterial blood pressure were measured sequentially during and after upright bicycle exercise in five normotensive and six hypertensive patients. 2. Plasma noradrenaline increased significantly between 4 and 8 min during exercise. 3. On stopping exercise blood pressure and heart rate decreased rapidly whilst plasma noradrenaline increased in each subject to reach a maximum at a median time of 108 s after exercise. 4. Plasma noradrenaline decreased in five of six normotensive patients between the end of exercise and 2 min after exercise performed in the supine position. 5. Evidence in favour of a reflex increase in sympathetic activity after upright exercise is discussed.

Adult↗

The influence of physical activity on arterial pressure during ambulatory recordings in man.

1. Ambulatory blood pressure recordings were made over a 48 h period on six hypertensive patients. The conditions of study were standardized, particularly with regard to physical activity, and during one period of each day the patients were randomly allocated to be active or inactive. 2. Results show that blood pressure was highest during physical activity and lowest during sleep. There was no significant difference between the arterial pressures measured during the same physical activities carried out at the same time each day. However, during the same time on consecutive days when activity was randomized, there was a significant difference between the pressure recordings during physical activity compared with those during inactivity. Heart rate changes showed a similar trend during the randomized period. 3. Physical activity and sleep have a profound effect on continuous arterial blood pressure recordings and these are independent of time alone. These observations should be taken into account when using this ambulatory system to assess hypotensive therapy.

Adult↗

Comparison of once and twice daily administration of acebutolol in hypertension.

1 Thirteen hypertensive patients completed a double-blind comparison of placebo, acebutolol 200 mg twice daily and acebutolol 400 mg once daily, administered for 4 weeks in random order. 2 Blood pressure and heart rate were significantly reduced by both acebutolol treatments. The mean reduction of resting pressure 12 h after 200 mg twice daily (12/7 mmHg) was similar to that 24 hr after 400 mg once daily (13/9 mmHg). 3 Compared to placebo, reductions in exercise heart rate and systolic pressure at 12 h after 200 mg twice daily and 24 h after 400 mg once daily were significant and similar. 4 Beta-adrenoceptor antagonism was also assessed by inhibition of the heart rate response to sublingual glyceryl trinitrate taken in the standing position. Both acebutolol treatments reduced the response; the reduction after twice daily treatment (mean 25 beats/min) was significantly greater than after once daily treatment (mean 19 beats/min). 5 There was no difference in blood pressure control between acebutolol administered once and twice daily in a total daily dose of 400 mg.

Acebutolol↗

Influence of once-daily administration of beta-adrenoceptor antagonists on arterial pressure and its variability.

Intra-arterial pressure was recorded over 24 h in hypertensive patients before and during long-term treatment with beta-adrenoceptor antagonists given once daily under standardised conditions. Arterial pressure was reduced throughout the 24 h after the last dose as was variability of pressure during physical activity; variability during sleep and rest did not change significantly.

Acebutolol↗

Effects of beta-adrenoreceptor antagonists on sino-aortic baroreflex sensitivity and blood pressure in hypertensive man.

1. Sensitivity of the sino-aortic baroreflex was investigated before and after acute (23 patients) and chronic (23 patients) beta-adrenoreceptor antagonism in patients with essential hypertension. 2. Sensitivity was inversely related to age (r = -0.60) and systolic blood pressure (r = -0.46); a positive relationship was noted between sensitivity and initial pulse intervals (r = 0.40). 3. Sensitivity increased significantly in patients less than 40 years of age after chronic treatment. No change occurred after acute treatment or in older patients treated chronically. 4. The fall in ambulatory intra-arterial blood pressure after chronic treatment was unrelated to alteration of baroreflex sensitivity.

Acebutolol↗

Factors determining the variability of arterial pressure in hypertension.

1. Intra-arterial pressure was recorded continuously in 26 patients with uncomplicated essential hypertension under standardized conditions. Pressure was analysed beat by beat by computer and variability measured as the standard deviation of the normally distributed frequency histogram. 2. Variability was strongly influenced by physical activity, being least during sleep and increasing progressively with bed rest and ambulation. Variability during daytime was not related to time. 3. Systolic variability correlated directly with systolic pressure. An independent inverse relationship with baroreflex sensitivity was observed. Systolic variability tended to increase with obesity. 4. None of the following were related independently with variability: age; race; sex; plasma renin activity; plasma angiotensin II; plasma noradrenaline; plasma adrenaline.

Adolescent↗

Effects of chronic beta-adrenoceptor antagonism on plasma catecholamines and blood pressure in hypertension.

Plasma catecholamines were measured before and after treatment with beta-adrenoceptor antagonists in 17 hypertensive patients. Chronic treatment with beta-adrenoceptor antagonists caused substantial reductions in heart rate and intra-arterial blood pressure recorded continuously during ambulation. Before treatment, a quantitative relationship was observed between plasma norepinephrine and blood pressure and heart rate during a variety of activities; a similar relationship was also observed after chronic treatment five of six patients, suggesting that plasma norepinephrine remains an index of sympathetic activity despite the influence of beta-adrenoceptor antagonism. After treatment, plasma norepinephrine tended to be higher at any level of blood pressure, although not significantly so. Chronic treatment caused no significant change in mean resting plasma levels of norepinephrine and epinephrine. During exercise, plasma norepinephrine and epinephrine levels were significantly elevated above control after acute but not after chronic treatment. These observations do not support the hypothesis that beta-adrenoceptor antagonist drugs lower blood pressure in hypertensive man through a sympatholytic mechanism in he central nervous system or at peripheral presynaptic receptors.

Adolescent↗

Factors determining direct arterial pressure and its variability in hypertensive man.

Intra-arterial pressure was recorded continuously in 26 patients with uncomplicated essential hypertension under standardized conditions. Recordings were analyzed beat by beat to obtain mean pressures and variability, expressed as the standard deviation of the frequency histogram. The major factors influencing variability were the level of pressure and the intensity of physical activity; systolic variability increased with progressive impairment of sino-aortic baroreflexes. Diastolic pressure increased with the level of sympathetic activity as reflected by plasma norepinephrine levels. After allowance for the decrease of plasma renin activity (PRA) with age, direct relationships were observed between PRA (log values) and the level of pressure and systolic variability; plasma angiotensin II values did not correlate. Systolic variability increased with the systolic response to cold but was unrelated to the response to dynamic or isometric exercise. Variability also tended to increase with obesity and was unrelated to age, sex, or race.

Adult↗

Cardiovascular response in black and white hypertensives.

Sixteen untreated black patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension and no evidence of target organ damage were matched for age, sex, casual blood pressure (BP), and socioeconomic status with 16 white hypertensives. All patients were studied under standardized conditions in the hospital where they underwent continuous intraarterial ambulatory monitoring of BP and assessment of BP control mechanisms. BP characteristics over prolonged periods of recording were similar for both groups, as were sinoaortic baroreflex activity and pressor response to isometric and dynamic exercise and to cold. Fasting cholesterol and triglyceride levels in both groups were similar. Resting plasma renin activity (PRA) was significantly lower in blacks, but no difference was observed in resting plasma norepinephrine levels. Urinary excretion of NA+ and K+ was also similar in both groups. Thus, results showed that casual BPs matched for black and whites, and recorded over a prolonged period, were similar in pattern, variability, and response to pressor stimuli. It appears that, if BP contributes to the different patterns of morbidity in blacks and whites, it is more likely to be the actual level of BP rather than differences in BP characteristics.

Adult↗