Social Support, Assimilation, and Biological Effective Blood Pressure Levels

This study explores the role of social support on blood pressure levels among a sample of immigrants. The measure of blood pressure used is biological effective blood pressure, a mathematically transformed single measure derived from systolic and diastolic readings. The twin processes of immigration and assimilation are highly stressful. Stress is a major precursor of elevated blood pressure. It is assumed here that assimilation is differentially stressful according to the amount of social support one receives. Protracted stress will be manifested in elevated blood pressure levels. We found that social support was second only to age in its ability to account independently for variance in blood pressure levels. Immigrants receiving high levels of social support had significantly lower blood pressure levels than those receiving less social support. Social support was also significantly related to assimilation.

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Nitrate-rich vegetables do not lower blood pressure in individuals with mildly elevated blood pressure: a 4-wk randomized controlled crossover trial

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition ◽

10.1093/ajcn/nqy061 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 107 (6) ◽

pp. 894-908 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Lauren C Blekkenhorst ◽

Joshua R Lewis ◽

Richard L Prince ◽

Amanda Devine ◽

Nicola P Bondonno ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Crossover Trial ◽

Elevated Blood Pressure ◽

Elevated Blood ◽

Lower Blood Pressure ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Lower Blood

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Emergency reduction of blood pressure

Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin ◽

10.1136/dtb.9.20.80 ◽

1971 ◽

Vol 9 (20) ◽

pp. 80-80

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Left Ventricular Failure ◽

Elevated Blood Pressure ◽

Elevated Blood ◽

Lower Blood Pressure ◽

Ventricular Failure ◽

Lower Blood ◽

Hypertensive Crises

In only a few clinical situations is it necessary to lower an elevated blood pressure within minutes. These include hypertensive crises such as encephalopathy, continued haemorrhage from a bleeding subarachnoid vessel, and acute hypertensive left ventricular failure which has proved refractory to therapy with oxygen, diuretics and digitalis. In most other circumstances where the blood pressure must be reduced rapidly, as for example in hypertension with papilloedema or exudative retinopathy, it is better to use a drug which will lower blood pressure gradually over a few hours rather than one which acts within minutes. Controlled comparisons of drugs in such emergencies are difficult, and the choice has to be made on experience.

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ROLE OF THE THYROID GLAND IN DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF RENAL HYPERTENSION IN RATS

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/acta.0.xxxiv0411 ◽

1960 ◽

Vol XXXIV (III) ◽

pp. 411-429 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Melvin J. Fregly ◽

Kenneth M. Cook

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Rate Increase ◽

Renal Hypertension ◽

The Other ◽

Elevated Blood Pressure ◽

Unit Weight ◽

Elevated Blood ◽

Inhibition Of Growth ◽

Testicular Size

ABSTRACT The anti-thyroid drugs, thiouracil, propylthiouracil, and methimazole, prevented both development of elevated blood pressure and cardiac hypertrophy usually accompanying kidney encapsulation with latex envelopes. These drugs also reduced elevated blood pressure of rats with hypertension of 13 to 40 weeks' duration prior to drug administration. Addition of desiccated thyroid powder to diet containing an anti-thyroid drug overcame the anti-hypertensive effect of the latter. Withdrawal of thyroid powder only was followed by return of blood pressure to previous low level within 3 weeks. The results suggest that the anti-hypertensive effect of these drugs is related directly to the hypothyroidism produced rather than to extrathyroidal effects of the drugs. Comparison of potencies of the 3 drugs in terms of anti-hypertensive effect, inhibition of growth rate, increase in testicular size, and increase in thyroid size suggests that propylthiouracil and methimazole are equally potent per unit weight of drug. Thiouracil has approximately half the potency of the other two.

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Role of community health volunteers in identifying people with elevated blood pressure for diagnosis and monitoring of hypertension in Malawi: a qualitative study

BMC Cardiovascular Disorders ◽

10.1186/s12872-021-02171-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Elvis Safary ◽

Micrina Mwandeti ◽

Beatrice Matanje ◽

Claudia Beiersmann ◽

Caroline Mtaita ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Community Health ◽

Communicable Diseases ◽

Health Facilities ◽

Elevated Blood Pressure ◽

Elevated Blood ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Community Health Volunteers ◽

Provision Of Services

Abstract Background In recent years, there has been greater recognition of the important role of community health volunteers in many countries and their important role informs many health programs. This include health education, provision of services such as screening, monitoring and referral to health facilities. Their roles are better understood in the areas of communicable diseases like HIV infection, Tuberculosis and Malaria however little is known about their role in non-communicable diseases. This study seeks to explore perception of CHVs’ functions, tasks, and their fulfilment in identifying people with elevated blood pressure for diagnosis and monitoring of hypertension in Lilongwe, Malawi. Methods This was a qualitative naturalistic research design utilizing observation and semi-structured interviews with community health volunteers working in Lilongwe, Malawi. Interviews were carried out with the researcher. Participants were recruited from the ZaMaC project. An interview guide was developed with a category-guided deductive approach. The interviews were recorded through note taking. Data analysis was performed using content analysis approach. Results Community health volunteers have multiple roles in prevention and monitoring of hypertension. They act as health educators and provide lifestyle counselling. They screened for hypertension and monitored blood pressure and assisted community members to navigate the health system such as linkage to health facilities. These roles were shaped in response to community needs. Conclusion This study indicates the complexities of the roles of community health volunteer in identifying people with elevated BP for diagnosis and monitoring of hypertension. Understanding community health volunteers’ roles provides insight into their required competencies in provision of their daily activities as well as required training to fill in their knowledge gaps.

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Nitric oxide synthase-mediated blood pressure regulation in obese melanocortin-4 receptor-deficient pregnant rats

AJP Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpregu.00285.2016 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 311 (5) ◽

pp. R851-R857 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Frank T. Spradley ◽

Jennifer M. Sasser ◽

Jacqueline B. Musall ◽

Jennifer C. Sullivan ◽

Joey P. Granger

Keyword(s):

Nitric Oxide ◽

Blood Pressure ◽

Mesenteric Arteries ◽

Elevated Blood Pressure ◽

Pressure Regulation ◽

Elevated Blood ◽

Pregnant Rats ◽

Melanocortin 4 Receptor ◽

Regulation Of Blood Pressure

Although obesity increases the risk for hypertension in pregnancy, the mechanisms responsible are unknown. Increased nitric oxide (NO) production results in vasodilation and reduced blood pressure during normal pregnancy in lean rats; however, the role of NO is less clear during obese pregnancies. We examined the impact of obesity on NO synthase (NOS)-mediated regulation of blood pressure during pregnancy by testing the hypothesis that NOS activity, expression, and regulation of vascular tone and blood pressure are reduced in obese pregnant rats. At gestational day 19, melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R)-deficient obese rats (MC4R) had greater body weight and fat mass with elevated blood pressure and circulating sFlt-1 levels compared with MC4R pregnant rats. MC4R pregnant rats also had less circulating cGMP levels and reduced total NOS enzymatic activity and expression in mesenteric arteries. Despite decreased biochemical measures of NO/NOS in MC4R rats, NOS inhibition enhanced vasoconstriction only in mesenteric arteries from MC4R rats, suggesting greater NOS-mediated tone. To examine the role of NOS on blood pressure regulation in obese pregnant rats, MC4R and MC4R pregnant rats were administered the nonselective NOS inhibitor NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME, 100 mg/l) from gestational day 14 to 19 in drinking water. The degree by which l-NAME raised blood pressure was similar between obese and lean pregnant rats. Although MC4R obese pregnant rats had elevated blood pressure associated with reduced total NOS activity and expression, they had enhanced NOS-mediated attenuation of vasoconstriction, with no evidence of alterations in NOS-mediated regulation of blood pressure.

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Abstract P040: Role of 20-HETE in Elevated Blood Pressure in Hyperandrogenemic Female Rats, a Model of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Hypertension ◽

10.1161/hyp.66.suppl_1.p040 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 66 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Chetan N Patil ◽

Carolina Dalmasso ◽

Rodrigo O Maranon ◽

Huimin Zhang ◽

Richard J Roman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Polycystic Ovary ◽

Premenopausal Women ◽

Female Rats ◽

Elevated Blood Pressure ◽

Female Rat ◽

Elevated Blood ◽

Reproductive Disorder ◽

Consomic Strain

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common reproductive disorder in premenopausal women, is characterized by hyperandrogenemia, metabolic syndrome and inflammation. They also exhibit elevated blood pressure (BP) but may not be treated since they do not meet the criteria for hypertension (BP>130/90 mm Hg). We have characterized a female rat model of hyperandrogenemia (HAF) using dihydrotestosterone (DHT) that mimics many characteristics of women with PCOS. In the present study we tested the hypothesis that androgen-induced upregulation of the cytochrome P450 4A2 isoform (CYP4A2) and the formation of 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) in renal microvasculature contributes to the elevated BP in HAF rats. Female rats of SS.5BN consomic strain (wild type) rats and CYP4A2-/- rats on this same background were implanted with DHT (7.5mg/90d) or placebo pellets (n=5-8/grp) beginning at 6 wks of age; pellets were changed every 85 d. At 14 wks of age, rats were implanted with radiotelemetry transmitters, and mean arterial pressure (MAP) was measured for 10 days. Endogenous 20-HETE levels were measured using LC-MS in renal microvessels isolated using an Evans Blue sieving technique. DHT-treated HAF-SS.5BN rats had significantly higher MAP compared to placebo-SS.5BN (128±6 vs. 104±1 mmHg, p<0.004). In contrast, HAF-CYP4A2-/- rats had no change in MAP compared to placebo-CYP4A2-/- controls (120±4 vs 118±3 mmHg, p=NS). Endogenous 20-HETE levels in renal microvessels of HAF-SS.5BN rats were significantly increased compared to Placebo-SS.5BN (2.27±0.91 vs. 0.32±0.037 pmol/mg, p<0.01). The 20-HETE levels were lower in CYP4A2-/- than SS.5BN but DHT in HAF-CYP4A2-/- had no effect on 20-HETE levels compared to Placebo- CYP4A2-/-. These results suggest that androgen-mediated upregulation of the expression of CYP4A2 and the production of 20-HETE in renal microvessels contribute to elevated BP in HAF rats. These data also suggest that methods to attenuate 20-HETE may provide a novel therapeutic to reduce BP in women with PCOS. Work supported by NIH RO1HL66072 and PO1HL51971.

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