Outcome of COVID-19 infection in patients on antihypertensives:A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND Patients with coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)infection frequently have hypertension as a co-morbidity,which is linked to adverse outcomes.Antihypertensives may affect the outcome of COVID-19 infection.AIM To assess the effects of antihypertensive agents on the outcomes of COVID-19 infection.METHODS A total of 260 patients were included,and their demographic data and clinical profile were documented.The patients were categorized into nonhypertensive,angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker(ACEI/ARB),calcium channel blocker(CCB),a combination of ACEI/ARB and CCB,and beta-blocker groups.Biochemical,hematological,and inflammatory markers were measured.The severity of infection,intensive care unit(ICU)intervention,and outcome were recorded.RESULTS The mean age of patients was approximately 60-years-old in all groups,except the nonhypertensive group.Men were predominant in all groups.Fever was the most common presenting symptom.Acute respiratory distress syndrome was the most common complication,and was mostly found in the CCB group.Critical cases,ICU intervention,and mortality were also higher in the CCB group.Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that age,duration of antihypertensive therapy,erythrocyte sedimentation rate,high-sensitivity C-reactive protein,and interleukin 6 were significantly associated with mortality.The duration of antihypertensive therapy exhibited a sensitivity of 70.8%and specificity of 55.7%,with a cut-off value of 4.5 years and an area under the curve of 0.670(0.574-0.767;95%confidence interval)for COVID-19 outcome.CONCLUSION The type of antihypertensive medication has no impact on the clinical sequence or mortality of patients with COVID-19 infection.However,the duration of antihypertensive therapy is associated with poor outcomes.

Antihypertensive effects of whey protein hydrolysate involve reshaping the gut microbiome in spontaneously hypertension rats

Novel angiotensin-converting enzyme(ACE)inhibitory peptides were identified from whey protein hydrolysates(WPH)in vitro in our previous study and the antihypertensive abilities of WPH in vivo were further investigated in the current study.Results indicated that WPH significantly inhibited the development of high blood pressure and tissue injuries caused by hypertension.WPH inhibited ACE activity(20.81%,P<0.01),and reduced renin concentration(P<0.05),thereby reducing systolic blood pressure(SBP)(12.63%,P<0.05)in spontaneously hypertensive rats.The increased Akkermansia,Bacteroides,and Lactobacillus abundance promoted high short chain fatty acid content in feces after WPH intervention.These changes jointly contributed to low blood pressure.The heart weight and cardiomyocyte injuries(hypertrophy and degeneration)were alleviated by WPH.The proteomic results revealed that 19 protein expressions in the heart mainly associated with the wingless/integrated(Wnt)signaling pathway and Apelin signaling pathway were altered after WPH supplementation.Notably,WPH alleviated serum oxidative stress,indicated by the decreased malondialdehyde content(P<0.01),enhanced total antioxidant capacity(P<0.01)and superoxide dismutase activity(P<0.01).The current study suggests that WPH exhibit promising antihypertensive abilities in vivo and could be a potential alternative for antihypertensive dietary supplements.

Is medical management useful in Moyamoya disease?

Moyamoya disease(MMD),characterized by progressive internal carotid artery stenosis and collateral vessel formation,prompts cerebral perfusion complications and is stratified into idiopathic and Moyamoya syndrome subtypes.A multifa-ceted approach toward MMD management addresses cerebral infarctions through revascularization surgery and adjunctive medical therapy,while also navigating risks such as intracranial hemorrhage and cerebral infarction resulting from arte-rial stenosis and fragile collateral vessels.Addressing antithrombotic management reveals a potential role for treatments like antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants,despite the ambiguous contribution of thrombosis to MMD-related infarctions and the critical balance between preventing ischemic events and averting hemo-rrhagic complications.Transcranial doppler has proven useful in thromboembolic detection,despite persisting challenges concerning the efficacy and safety of an-tithrombotic treatments.Furthermore,antihypertensive interventions aim to ma-nage blood pressure meticulously,especially during intracerebral hemorrhage,with recommendations and protocols varying based on the patient’s hypertension status.Additionally,lipid-lowering therapeutic strategies,particularly employing statins,are appraised for their possible beneficial role in MMD management,even as comprehensive data from disease-specific clinical trials remains elusive.Com-prehensive guidelines and protocols to navigate the multifaceted therapeutic ave-nues for MMD,while maintaining a delicate balance between efficacy and safety,warrant further meticulous research and development.This protocol manuscript seeks to elucidate the various aspects and challenges imbued in managing and navigating through the complex landscape of MMD treatment.

Effects of antihypertensives on arterial responses associated with obstructive sleep apneas

Background Many patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) have complicated with hypertension and may be prescribed with antihypertension medications to control their blood pressure But whether antihypertension medications can also decrease arterial stiffness or control the blood pressure increasing following obstructive events is not well described This study aimed to investigate whether antihypertensive medications can ameliorate the changes in arterial stiffness and blood pressure associated with OSA Methods Sixtyone OSAS patients [13 women, 48 men, mean age (534±123) years], 26 normotensive patients (N), 7 hypertensive patients on no antihypertension medications (H), and 28 hypertensive patients on various combination antihypertension therapy (HM), were prospectively diagnosed with standard nocturnal polysomnography Beattobeat blood pressure was continuously recorded from the radial artery by applanation tonometry during baseline sleep As a measure of arterial stiffness, arterial augmentation index (AAI) was calculated as the ratio of augmented systolic blood pressure (SBP) to pulse pressure and expressed as a percentage for the following conditions: awakening, the first 10 ('early apnea') and last 10 ('late apnea') cardiac cycles of obstructive events (apnea or hypopnea), and the first 15 cardiac cycles following event termination ('post apnea') for all events with nadir O2 saturation ≤89% Results Systolic blood pressure (SBP) postapnea [(14274±1306) mmHg (N), (13706±2656) mmHg (H), (13694±141) mmHg (HM)] was significantly increased from awakening [(13576±1476) mmHg (N), (13558±2317) mmHg (H), (12977±1400) mmHg (HM)], early apnea [(13053±1265) mmHg (N), (12447±2497) mmHg (H), (12604±1312) mmHg (HM)], and late apnea [(1298±1268) mmHg(N), (12478±2515) mmHg (H), (12448±1382) mmHg (HM)] respectively (P<0001, repeated measures ANOVA) AAI was significantly increased for the N group (P<0001) from awakening to late apnea [(1045±262)% vs (1443±321)%] and from early apnea to late apnea [(1061±234)% vs (1443±321)%], and also for H group (P<005) from awakening to late apnea [(1123±387)% vs (1632±802)%] and from early apnea to late apnea [(1175±379)% vs (1632±802)%] Meanwhile, no significant differences in AAI among awakening, early apnea, late apnea, and postapnea conditions were found in HM group Conclusions The current data demonstrate that systemic blood pressure increases significantly during the postapneic phase of OSAS, compared with that during awakening and intraapnea phases even with the use of combined antihypertensive therapy which could normalize BP during awakening in the hypertensive patients However, increases in arterial stiffness during obstructive events could be ameliorated by combined antihypertension medications

Process optimization,texture and microstructure of novel kelp tofu

Laminaria japonica Aresch as an edible and medicine dual-purpose marine algae,has been gradually accepted by people.Tofu was Chinese traditional food,combining kelp function ingredients with tofu has practical value.The extraction-optimization methodology and the sequences of kelp antihypertensive peptide(KAP)were investigated.The sensory,whiteness,water retention ability(WRA)and microstructure of KAP tofu were evaluated.The scanning electron microscope(SEM)results showed KAP addition(20%)significantly improved the tofu texture,with a denser network composed of relatively even pores.Compared with gypsum tofu and glucose-δ-interior fat(GDL)tofu,KAP tofu had significantly higher WRA(94.49±0.49)%and sensory evaluation score value(92.54±0.52),and a significantly lower IC_(50) value at(2.06±0.04)mg/mL(P<0.05).The maximum IC_(50) value(4.14 mg/mL)of kelp enzymatic hydrolysate was observed at enzyme(at an alkaline protease:trypsin ratio of 2:1)concentration 1.5%,temperature 55℃ and time 2 h.The sequences of 8 identified peptides were Lys-Tyr,Phe-Tyr,Gly-Lys-Tyr,Ala-Lys-Tyr,Ser-Lys-Thr-Tyr,Lys-Lys-Phe-Tyr,Lys-Phe-Lys-Tyr and Ala-Lys-Tyr-Ser-Tyr with IC_(50) values of 5.24,4.83,7.94,7.52,20.63,15.33,10.73 and 2.42μmol/L,respectively.These results indicated the potential use of KAP tofu as a valuable resource for development of functional foods.

Bioactive molecules from terrestrial and seafood resources in hypertension treatment:focus on molecular mechanisms and targeted therapies

Hypertension(HTN),a complex cardiovascular disease(CVD),significantly impacts global health,prompting a growing interest in complementary and alternative therapeutic approaches.This review article seeks to provide an up-to-date and thorough summary of modern therapeutic techniques for treating HTN,with an emphasis on the molecular mechanisms of action found in substances found in plants,herbs,and seafood.Bioactive molecules have been a significant source of novel therapeutics and are crucial in developing and testing new HTN remedies.Recent advances in science have made it possible to understand the complex molecular mechanisms underlying blood pressure(BP)-regulating effects of these natural substances better.Polyphenols,flavonoids,alkaloids,and peptides are examples of bioactive compounds that have demonstrated promise in influencing several pathways involved in regulating vascular tone,reducing oxidative stress(OS),reducing inflammation,and improving endothelial function.The article explains the vasodilatory,diuretic,and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system(RAAS)modifying properties of vital plants such as garlic and olive leaf.Phytochemicals from plants are the primary in traditional drug development as models for novel antihypertensive drugs,providing diverse strategies to combat HTN due to their biological actions.The review also discusses the functions of calcium channel blockers originating from natural sources,angiotensin-converting enzyme(ACE)inhibitors,and nitric oxide(NO)donors.Including seafood components in this study demonstrates the increased interest in using bioactive chemicals originating from marine sources to treat HTN.Omega-3 fatty acids,peptides,and minerals obtained from seafood sources have anti-inflammatory,vasodilatory,and antioxidant properties that improve vascular health and control BP.Overall,we discussed the multiple functions of bioactive molecules and seafood components in the treatment of HTN.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate exerts antihypertensive effects and improves endothelial function in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Objective:To investigate the effect of epigallocatechin-3-gallate(EGCG)on endothelial dysfunction in spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHR).Methods:Wistar-Kyoto(WKY)rats and SHR were divided into four groups;WKY control,SHR control and SHR treated with EGCG(50 mg/kg/day)or losartan(10 mg/kg/day).The treatment was given daily for 4 weeks by oral gavage and the blood pressure was monitored by tail-cuff method every 3 days.Acetylcholineinduced endothelium-dependent relaxations were assessed in isolated phenylephrine-precontracted aortic rings at the end of treatment.The vascular levels of reactive oxygen species,nitric oxide,tetrahydrobiopterin,and cyclic guanosine monophosphate were also measured.Moreover,the expression of angiotensinⅡtype 1(AT_(1))receptor protein was determined.Results:The systolic blood pressure was significantly decreased in SHR treated with EGCG.The impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation was significantly improved in aortic ring isolated from the EGCG-treated SHR group.EGCG also significantly increased the levels of nitric oxide,tetrahydrobiopterin,and cyclic guanosine monophosphate,while decreasing the level of reactive oxygen species and the protein expression of AT_(1)receptor in SHR.Conclusions:EGCG attenuates endothelial dysfunction in SHR by decreasing oxidative stress and increasing vascular nitric oxide bioavailability,which may be modulated partly by inhibition of vascular AT_(1)receptors.An increase in endothelium-dependent relaxation may contribute to a decrease in blood pressure in hypertensive animals.

Antihypertensive prescribing patterns in non-dialysis dependent chronic kidney disease:Findings from the Salford Kidney Study

BACKGROUND Hypertension is commonly observed in patients living with chronic kidney disease(CKD).Finding an optimal treatment regime remains challenging due to the complex bidirectional cause-and-effect relationship between hypertension and CKD.There remains variability in antihypertensive treatment practices.AIM To analyze data from the Salford Kidney Study database in relation to antihypertensive prescribing patterns amongst CKD patients.METHODS The Salford Kidney Study is an ongoing prospective study that has been recruiting CKD patients since 2002.All patients are followed up annually,and their medical records including the list of medications are updated until they reach study endpoints[starting on renal replacement therapy or reaching estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR)expressed as mL/min/1.73 m2≤10 mL/min/1.73 m2,or the last follow-up date,or data lock on December 31,2021,or death].Data on antihypertensive prescription practices in correspondence to baseline eGFR,urine albumin-creatinine ratio,primary CKD aetiology,and cardiovascular disease were evaluated.Associations between patients who were prescribed three or more antihypertensive agents and their clinical outcomes were studied by Cox regression analysis.Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated differences in survival probabilities.RESULTS Three thousand two hundred and thirty non-dialysis-dependent CKD patients with data collected between October 2002 and December 2019 were included.The median age was 65 years.A greater proportion of patients were taking three or more antihypertensive agents with advancing CKD stages(53%of eGFR≤15 mL/min/1.73 m2 vs 26%of eGFR≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2,P<0.001).An increased number of patients receiving more classes of antihypertensive agents was observed as the urine albumin-creatinine ratio category increased(category A3:62%vs category A1:40%,P<0.001),with the upward trends particularly noticeable in the number of individuals prescribed renin angiotensin system blockers.The prescription of three or more antihypertensive agents was associated with all-cause mortality,independent of blood pressure control(hazard ratio:1.15;95%confidence interval:1.04-1.27,P=0.006).Kaplan-Meier analysis illustrated significant differences in survival outcomes between patients with three or more and those with less than three antihypertensive agents prescribed(log-rank,P<0.001).CONCLUSION Antihypertensive prescribing patterns in the Salford Kidney Study based on CKD stage were consistent with expectations from the current United Kingdom National Institute of Health and Care Excellence guideline algorithm.Outcomes were poorer in patients with poor blood pressure control despite being on multiple antihypertensive agents.Continued research is required to bridge remaining variations in hypertension treatment practices worldwide.

Assessment of the Level of Metal(loid)s Pollution and Bioactive Compounds Screening of Anthill Soil

The anthill soil is used by hypertensive elderly and teenagers from Oshikoto region (Namibia) and many of them testified stabilization of their blood pressure to normal after consuming the anthill soil-derived aqueous extracts. This study therefore investigated and/or assessed the physicochemical parameters, the contents of some metal(loid)s (and their associated potential health risks) and the qualitative composition of bioactive compounds of this anthill soil. The homogenous soil sample collected from various anthill soils in the Oshikoto region was used to obtain the measurements of physiochemical parameters. The elemental contents were determined (using an Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrophotometer) after acid digestion in accordance with the EPA method 350B and their potential health risk assessments were performed. Methanol, aqueous methanol, and aqueous-based extracts were generated via maceration extraction process prior to the screening of bioactive compounds using standard diagnostic assays. The oxidation reduction potential (164.4 ± 16.6 mV) was the only physicochemical parameter whose value was within the World Health Organization limits for drinking water whereas, total dissolved solids (23 ± 5.5 mg/L), electrical conductivity (44 ± 10.1 uS/cm) and pH (5.35 ± 0.33) were out of specifications. Phenolic compounds, flavonoids, terpenoids, and cardiac glycosides were present in anthill soil (with respect to the extractants used) to which its antihypertensive properties can be attributed in addition to some of the studied mineral components. With respect to the pH, TDS and EC, and the contents of most metal(loid)s in relation to their health risk assessment values, the results suggest that aqueous extracts derived from this anthill soil can be deemed unsuitable for human consumption.

Assessment of Arterial Stiffness Index in Hypertensive Patients in Relation to Their Treatment Status Attending a Tertiary Care Center in South India

Objectives: To assess the arterial stiffness index (ASI) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) in patients with hypertension and to compare with age matched healthy controls;to assess and compare the ASI and PWV in relation to the treatment status. Methods: The study was observational-cross sectional. Group one included chronic hypertensive patients on regular treatment for more than 2 months;group two included newly diagnosed hypertensive patients and group three had age matched healthy controls with normal blood pressure. The hypertensives subjects with other comormid conditions such as renal disease, diabetes were excluded from the study. The study was approved by the Institute Ethics Committee. The subjects were interviewed and explained the purpose of the study. All subjects gave written informed consent. The noninvasive periscope device was used to measure PWV, ASI and pulse pressure. Results: PWV, ASI and pulse pressure were statistically higher in hypertensive patients when compared to controls. Further, carotid-femoral PWV was correlated with mean arterial pressure in hypertensive subjects and was found to be statistically significant. Conclusion: PWV, ASI and pulse pressure are significantly higher in chronic and newly diagnosed non-diabetic hypertensives as compared to controls irrespective of their treatment status.

Follow Up of Hypertensive Patients at Regional Hospital of Bafoussam, West Cameroon: Biochemical Profiles in Naive and Hypotensive Drug Treated Patients

Objective: The aim of this work was to study the effects of antihypertensive therapies on certain metabolic parameters in hypertensive patients. Methods: A cross-sectional and analytical study conducted within the Bafoussam Re-gional Hospital on 343 patients including 99 normotensives and 244 hyperten-sives distributed in 71 patients naive to treatment and 173 patients under treatment (84 under monotherapy, 67 under bitherapy and 21 under trithera-py). The antihypertensive medications were recorded from the medical records. A questionnaire survey was administered to study participants and potential risk factors for hypertension sought. Blood and urine samples were collected for lipid, renal and hepatic disorder analysis. Two blood pressure measure-ments enabled us to diagnose hypertensive patients. Measurements of bio-chemical parameters such as total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine, glucose, aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), potassium, chloride and calcium were done in serum by methods resulting from commercial kits. Results: Cal-cium Channel Blockers were significantly associated with increases in blood potassium (odd-ratios (OR) = 8.63, p = 0.036) and sodium (OR = 0.20, p = 0.037). Angiotensin-converting enzyme/Angiotensin II receptor blockers were significantly associated with an increase in plasma activity of ASAT (OR = 0.12, p = 0.03) whereas Diuretics were significantly associated with an increase in ALAT plasma activity (OR = 0.003, p = 0.012). Dual therapies were associ-ated with highest frequencies of hypercreatininemia (41.8%) and hyperglyce-mia (44.8%) whereas hypocholesterolemia HDL (38.1%) was most observed in hypertensive patients on triple therapy. The different therapies resulted in very low frequencies of abnormal liver profiles (in general almost all below 10%). Tritherapy had the most beneficial effects on the different profiles, with no cases of hyperkalemia, glycosuria, hypochloremia, hematuria, hyponatremia, total hypercholesterolemia, ALAT and ASAT hyperactivity. Conclusion: Triple therapy should be recommended as it has the most beneficial effects on met-abolic parameters in the study population.

Alterations in the Results of Biochemical Laboratory Tests Due to the Administration of Antihypertensive Drugs

Objective:Perform a literary review of the interference in the results of biochemical laboratory tests caused by antihypertensive drugs.Methods:This is a review of the scientific literature with descriptive research performed according to the PRISMA model using the databases PUBMED,SCIELO,MEDLINE,LILACS,and searches of Brazilian Ministry of Health and Federal Pharmacy Council publications,reagent kits and package inserts approved by ANVISA.Literature and papers in Portuguese and English were selected,prioritizing the years 2010 to 2020.Results:The diuretic class of antihypertensive drugs causes decreases glucose tolerance,thus resulting in an increase in triglycerides.In long-term use,the drug captopril can increase serum levels of potassium,creatine kinase and decreases blood sodium.Methyldopa causes an increase in AST levels.Propranolol is associated with an increase in triglyceride levels and a decrease in HDL and glucose levels.The constant use of losartan results in an increase in HDL,a decrease in uric acid levels and a slight and transient increase in transaminases.In the Gold Analisa,Bioclin and Labtest reagent kits,most of the alterations occur due to the increase in levels of serum biomarkers according to the class of the antihypertensive drug.Conclusions:Biochemical alterations in serum can result in false-positive or false-negative reports,since it can be observed that most of the dosages caused increases due to the physiological effect of the drugs.The antihypertensive drugs that showed the highest incidence of interference were captopril,atenolol,losartan and propranolol.

Association between serum homocysteine and arterial stiffness：role of anti-hypertensive drugs

To the Editor I read the article of Zhang, et al. with great interest. They investigated the association of homocysteine with arterial stiffness in Chinese community-based elderly persons. The carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity （PWV） was significantly higher in the high homocyteine group than in the normal one, however, there was no differences in carotid-radial PWV between the high homocyteine group and the normal one. Homocysteine levels were strongly associated with the carotidfemoral PWV even after adjustment for classical risk factors of cardiovascular disease. I congratulate the authors for this important study. However, I want to make minor criticism for this study from the methodological aspect.

Antihypertensive drugs and glucose metabolism

Hypertension plays a major role in the development and progression of micro-and macrovascular disease.Moreover,increased blood pressure often coexists with additional cardiovascular risk factors such as insulin resistance.As a result the need for a comprehensive management of hypertensive patients is critical.However,the various antihypertensive drug categories have different effects on glucose metabolism.Indeed,angiotensin receptor blockers as well as angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors have been associated with beneficial effects on glucose homeostasis.Calcium channel blockers(CCBs)have an overall neutral effect on glucose metabolism.However,some members of the CCBs class such as azelnidipine and manidipine have been shown to have advantageous effects on glucose homeostasis.On the other hand,diuretics andβ-blockers have an overall disadvantageous effect on glucose metabolism.Of note,carvedilol as well as nebivolol seem to differentiate themselves from the rest of theβ-blockers class,being more attractive options regarding their effect on glucose homeostasis.The adverse effects of some blood pressure lowering drugs on glucose metabolism may,to an extent,compromise their cardiovascular protective role.As a result the effects on glucose homeostasis of the various blood pressure lowering drugs should be taken into account when selecting an antihypertensive treatment,especially in patients which are at high risk for developing diabetes.

A simple and efficient synthesis of the valsartan

Valsartan 1, one of the most important agents used in antihypertensive therapy today, was synthesized starting from L-valin methyl ester hydrochloride 2 through four steps in an overall yield of 60%. The key step involves the palladium-catalyzed Suzuki coupling. This method overcomes many of the drawbacks associated with the previously reported syntheses and is more suitable for industrial production.

Plants Used as Antihypertensive

Hypertension is a critical health problem and worse other cardiovascular diseases.It is mainly of two types:Primary or essential hypertension and Secondary hypertension.Hypertension is the primary possibility feature for coronary heart disease,stroke and renal vascular disease.Herbal medicines have been used for millions of years for the management and treatment of hypertension with minimum side effects.Over aim to write this review is to collect information on the anti-hypertensive effects of natural herbs in animal studies and human involvement as well as to recapitulate the underlying mechanisms,from the bottom of cell culture and ex-vivo tissue data.According to WHO,natural herbs/shrubs are widely used in increasing order to treat almost all the ailments of the human body.Plants are the regular industrial units for the invention of chemical constituents,they used as immunity booster to enhance the natural capacity of the body to fight against different health prob-lems as well as herbal medicines and food products also.Eighty percent population of the world(around 5.6 billion people)consume medicines from natural plants for major health concerns.This review provides a bird’s eye analysis primarily on the traditional utilization,phytochemical constituents and pharmacological values of medicinal herbs used to normalize hypertension i.e.Hibiscus sabdariffa,Allium sativum,Andrographis paniculata,Apium graveolens,Bidenspilosa,Camel-lia sinensis,Coptis chinensis,Coriandrum sativum,Crataegus spp.,Crocus sativus,Cymbopogon citrates,Nigella sativa,Panax ginseng,Salviaemiltiorrhizae,Zingiber officinale,Tribulus terrestris,Rauwolfiaserpentina,Terminalia arjuna etc.

Non-interventional management of resistant hypertension

Hypertension is one of the most popular fields of re-search in modern medicine due to its high prevalence and its major impact on cardiovascular risk and con-sequently on global health. Indeed, about one third of individuals worldwide has hypertension and is under increased long-term risk of myocardial infarction, stroke or cardiovascular death. On the other hand, resistant hypertension, the "uncontrollable" part of arterial hy-pertension despite appropriate therapy, comprises a much greater menace since long-standing, high levels of blood pressure along with concomitant debilitating entities such as chronic kidney disease and diabetes mellitus create a prominent high cardiovascular risk milieu. However, despite the alarming consequences, resistant hypertension and its effective management still have not received proper scientific attention. As-pects like the exact prevalence and prognosis are yet tobe clarified. In an effort to manage patients with resis-tant hypertension appropriately, clinical doctors are still racking their brains in order to find the best therapeutic algorithm and surmount the substantial difficulties in controlling this clinical entity. This review aims to shed light on the effective management of resistant hyper-tension and provide practical recommendations for cli-nicians dealing with such patients.

Antihypertensive Properties on Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats of Peptide Hydrolysates from Silkworm Pupae Protein

Peptide hydrolysates of silkworm pupae protein with molecular weight of less than 5000 Da were prepared by ultrafiltration. The extracted peptide hydrolysates of silkworm pupae protein had inhibitory action on angiotensin-I-converting enzyme activity in vitro. The hydrolysates were orally administered to spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) in one period and long-term (four weeks). The results showed that the systolic blood pressure (SBP) of the treatment groups decreased in a dose-related manner. After one oral administration of silkworm protein hydrolysates with doses of 60, 20 and 5 mg/kg, the SBP of SHR decreased by 21.5, 13.8, and 9.0 mmHg in 1.5 h. After four weeks of the treatment in 80 mg/kg, the SBP decreased by 25 mmHg, with the antihypertensive activity close to 4 mg/kg of captopril;the SBP of the 40 mg/kg dose group also decreased by 17.5 mmHg. The peptide hydrolysate did not affect the SBP in normal, non-hypertensive rats in one period and long-term treatments. The acute toxicity research showed that the peptide hydrolysates were safe and without side effects. This research would be helpful in exploring the silkworm protein peptides as functional components for the antihypertension treatment.

Effects of Magnetic Needle Acupuncture on Blood Pressure and Plasma ET-1 Level in the Patient of Hypertension

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is ever known as a bio-peptidewith the strongest vasoconstrictive action and withwide biological effects.

Effect of morin, a flavonoid against DOCA-salt hypertensive rats:a dose dependent study

Objective:To determine the protective effect of morin, a flavonoid against deoxycorticosterone acetate(DOCA)-salt induced hypertension in male Wistar rats.Methods:Hypertension was induced in uninephrectomized rats by weekly twice subcutaneous injection of DOCA(25 mg/kg bw) and 1% NaCl in the drinking water for six consecutive weeks. Effect of morin against DOCA-salt induced hypertension was evaluated by measuring blood pressure and performing biochemical estimations and histopathological examination of renal tissues.Results:DOCA-salt hypertensive rats showed considerably increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure,serum hepatic marker enzyme activities such as aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), alkaline phosphatase(ALP) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase(GGT)and renal function markers(urea, uric acid and creatinine) in plasma. Oral administration of morin(25, 50 and 75 mg/kg bw) brought back all the above parameters to near normal level.Histopathology of kidney also confirmed the biochemical findings of this study. The effect at a dose of 50 mg/kg bw of morin was more pronounced than that of the other two doses(25 and 75 mg/kg bw).Conclusions:These findings indicate that morin exhibits strong antihypertensive effect against DOCA-salt induced hypertension.