Scuba diving is not associated with high prevalence of headache: a cross-sectional study in men

Objective.— To study the prevalence of cephalalgia in male divers. Background.— Scuba divers work in stressing environments and have a high cerebrovascular risk, both conditions which are supposed to contribute to the genesis of cephalalgia. However, no study assessed expressly the prevalence of cephalalgia in divers, to date. Methods.— We enrolled 201 professional male scuba divers (41.0 ± 7.2 years) and controls (41.1 ± 7.2 years), and the risk ratio and its corresponding 95% confidence of suffering from cephalalgia was calculated. Results.— We found that 16% of divers and 22% of matched controls were affected by cephalalgia (P > .05), accounting for a risk ratio of 0.71 (95% CI 0.47‐1.07). Divers reported fewer attacks per month (1.8 ± 0.7, n = 32) with regard to controls (2.5 ± 1.8, n = 45) (P = .02), but no differences concerning age at onset and severity were detected (P > .05). Divers suffered from migraine, migraine with aura and tension headache as much as controls. Conclusion.— Scuba diving, an intense physical activity characterized by cerebral micro‐vascular distress, is not associated with cephalalgia, as a whole, or migraine, tension headache or migraine with aura, more commonly than in a matched, non‐diving, population. A longitudinal study may disclose if diving may act as a protective factor in the occurrence of crises of cephalalgia. (Headache 2012;52:385‐392)     

Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy is associated with microalbuminuria in older patients with type 2 diabetes

OBJECTIVE: Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy is associated with microalbuminuria in young and middle-aged patients with type 2 diabetes. We examined this relationship and the potential mediating role of blood pressure in older patients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: At least two of three components of cardiovascular autonomic testing were completed by 132 patients (mean age 70 +/- 5.6 years). Relative rankings on each of the components were averaged to create a summary heart rate variability (HRV) measure. The urine microalbumin-to-creatinine ratio (milligrams albumin/grams creatinine) was calculated. Blood pressure was measured at rest and by 24-h ambulatory recording. RESULTS: Urine microalbumin-to-creatinine ratio was higher in those with lower HRV (mean urine microalbumin-to-creatinine ratio 28, 56, and 191 mg/g from the highest to lowest tertile of HRV; P < 0.0001). Resting and ambulatory blood pressure levels were negatively correlated with HRV and positively correlated with urine microalbumin-to-creatinine ratio. In multivariate analysis adjusting for age, duration of diabetes, HbA(1c), and HDL cholesterol, HRV and blood pressure were both independently associated with urine microalbumin-to-creatinine ratio, with no evidence that either mediates the effect of the other. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy and blood pressure are independently associated with microalbuminuria in older patients with type 2 diabetes.     

Treatment with carvedilol is associated with a significant reduction in microalbuminuria: a multicentre randomised study

Patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension (n = 1570) were enrolled in a large, multicentre, randomised, open-label study designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of different regimens of carvedilol. Reported here are the effects of carvedilol on microalbuminuria (MAU) in a subset of 876 patients who underwent MAU assessment (i.e. the Micral-Test) at baseline and at week 12. MAU was present at baseline in 245 (28%) of these patients. Despite different magnitudes of blood pressure reduction, improvements in MAU were similar in all groups (range 54-60%), with complete disappearance occurring in 48-55% of patients. The decrease in MAU did not correlate with the magnitude of blood pressure reduction, suggesting a possible renal protective effect exerted by carvedilol independent of blood pressure reduction mediated by beta-blockade and vasodilatation.     

氯沙坦对老年高血压患者微量蛋白尿的影响

目的观察氯沙坦对老年高血压患者微量蛋白尿(MCA)的改善作用。方法采用连续样本,自身前后及分组对照方法,对32例高血压伴MCA者(EH组),观察在治疗前和每天服用氯沙坦50 mg 12周后的血压、血尿素氮(BUN)、血肌酐(Cr)2、4 h内生肌酐清除率(Ccr)、尿蛋白/肌酐(Alb/Cr)的变化,同时设12例健康老人作对照(对照组)。结果用氯沙坦治疗后,除血压有明显下降外,尿Alb/Cr亦显著性降低(P<0.01),Ccr明显升高(P<0.05)。结论氯沙坦对老年高血压患者在降压治疗的同时可降低尿蛋白的排泄,改善肾功能。     

Left ventricular hypertrophy is associated with a stronger impairment of non-oxidative glucose metabolism in hypertensive patients

Abstract. Hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) have a higher degree of hyper-insulinaemia than hypertensive patients without LVH. Obese patients with LVH have also been demonstrated to have a very low glucose disappearance rate after an intravenous glucose bolus. No studies have investigated the difference in insulin action and substrate oxidation in hypertensive patients with and without LVH. For this reason 36 subjects were enrolled for our study: (1) healthy control subjects ( n =10); (2) hypertensive patients without LVH ( n = 12); and (3) hypertensive patients with LVH ( n = 14). All subjects underwent an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT, 75 g of glucose) and a euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic glucose clamp (insulin infusion rate, 71 pmol(kgmin)^-1 for 120min). In this latter test indirect calorimetry allowed substrate oxidation determination. Echocardiographic methods allowed LVH assessment. Hypertensive patients with LVH had the lowest insulin-mediated nonoxidative glucose metabolism compared to hypertensive patients without LVH ( P <0.01) and to healthy subjects ( P < 0.001). In the whole group of hypertensive patients ( n = 26), partial correlations showed left ventricular mass index (LVMI) associated with fasting plasma insulin levels ( r = 0.44 P <0.005), insulin-mediated whole body glucose disposal ( r = -0.41 P <0.01) and nonoxidative glucose metabolism ( r = -0.33 P<0.04) independently of age, body weight, systolic blood pressure and plasma catechola-mines levels. In conclusion, our data provide evidence that LVH in hypertensive patients is associated with a worsening in nonoxidative glucose metabolism.     

Smoking is associated with insulin resistance and cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in type 2 diabetic patients

BACKGROUND: Smoking and cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction are associated with high mortality in type 2 diabetic patients. This study tested the hypothesis that smoking is associated with insulin resistance/hyperinsulinaemia and cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in type 2 diabetic patients who are not treated with insulin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study patients were 22 current smokers with type 2 diabetes mellitus (age: 57 +/- 5 years, mean +/- SD) and 30 age-matched never-smoked patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (control group, 57 +/- 8 years). The quality of blood glucose was assessed by fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting immunoreactive insulin (F-IRI), homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index and haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). The severity of smoking status was expressed by the Brinkman index, which is calculated as number of cigarettes per day multiplied by years of smoking. Cardiovascular autonomic function was assessed by baroreflex sensitivity (BRS), heart-rate variability, plasma norepinephrine concentration and cardiac (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scintigraphic findings. RESULTS: Baroreflex sensitivity was lower in the current smokers group than in the never-smoked group (P < 0.05). Early and delayed (123)I-MIBG myocardial uptake values were lower (P < 0.05, and P < 0.01, respectively) and the percentage washout-rate of (123)I-MIBG was higher (P < 0.0001) in the current smokers group than in the never-smoked group. Fasting immunoreactive insulin (F-IRI) concentration (P < 0.0001) and the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index (P < 0.0001) were higher in the current smokers group than the never-smoked group. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that smoking was independently predicted by F-IRI and the percentage washout-rate of (123)I-MIBG. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study suggested that smoking was associated with cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction and hyperinsulinaemia and that F-IRI and the percentage washout-rate of (123)I-MIBG were independent predictors of smoking in these Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.     

Occult hypoperfusion is associated with increased mortality in hemodynamically stable, high-risk, surgical patients

Background

Our aim was to examine whether serial blood lactate levels could be used as predictors of outcome.

Methods

We prospectively studied 44 high-risk, hemodynamically stable, surgical patients. Blood lactate values, mean arterial pressure, heart rate and urine output were obtained at patient admission to the study, at 12, 24 and 48 hours.

Results

The nonsurvivors (n = 7) had similar blood lactate levels initially (3.1 ± 2.3 mmol/l versus 2.2 ± 1.0 mmol/l, P = not significant [NS]), but had higher levels after 12 hours (2.9 ± 1.7 mmol/l versus 1.6 ± 0.9 mmol/l, P = 0.012), after 24 hours (2.1 ± 0.6 mmol/l versus 1.5 ± 0.7 mmol/l, P = NS) and after 48 hours (2.7 ± 1.8 mmol/l versus 1.9 ± 1.4 mmol/l, P = NS) as compared with the survivors (n = 37). Arterial bicarbonate concentrations increased significantly in survivors and were higher than in nonsurvivors after 24 hours (22.9 ± 5.2 mEq/l versus 16.7 ± 3.9 mEq/l, P = 0.01) and after 48 hours (23.1 ± 4.1 mEq/l versus 17.6 ± 7.1 mEq/l, P = NS). The PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio was higher in survivors initially (334 ± 121 mmHg versus 241 ± 133 mmHg, P = 0.03) and remained elevated for 48 hours. There were no significant differences in mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and arterial blood oxygenation at any time between survivors and nonsurvivors. The intensive care unit stay (40 ± 42 hours versus 142 ± 143 hours, P < 0.001) and the hospital stay (12 ± 11 days versus 24 ± 17 days, P = 0.022) were longer for nonsurvivors than for survivors. The Simplified Acute Physiology Score II score was higher for nonsurvivors than for survivors (34 ± 9 versus 25 ± 14, P = NS). The urine output was slightly lower in the nonsurvivor group (P = NS). The areas under the receiving operating characteristic curves were larger for initial values of Simplified Acute Physiology Score II and blood lactate for predicting death.

Conclusion

Elevated blood lactate levels are associated with a higher mortality rate and postoperative complications in hemodynamically stable surgical patients.     

Occult hypoperfusion is associated with increased mortality in hemodynamically stable, high-risk, surgical patients

Background  

Our aim was to examine whether serial blood lactate levels could be used as predictors of outcome.     

Impaired coronary endothelium-dependent vasodilation is associated with microalbuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes and angiographically normal coronary arteries

OBJECTIVE: Microalbuminuria and impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation are both predictors for cardiac events in patients with type 2 diabetes. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether microalbuminuria correlated with coronary endothelium-dependent vasodilation. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We evaluated 84 patients (47 men, mean age 50.5 +/- 5.9 years) with type 2 diabetes for 9.4 +/- 3.4 years, without angiographic coronary stenosis and without major cardiovascular risk factors or other confounding factors, for endothelium investigation. Quantitative coronary angiography was used to assess coronary artery response to cold pressor testing, used to assess endothelium-dependent vasodilation, and to isosorbide dinitrate (endothelium-independent vasodilation). RESULTS: Endothelium-dependent vasodilation differed in the patients with and without microalbuminuria (changes in coronary artery diameter during cold pressor testing: -15.0 +/- 1.9% vs. -10.2 +/- 1.3%, respectively, P < 0.05) and correlated with urinary albumin excretion rate (r = -0.39, P = 0.003), diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.29, P < 0.01), and left ventricular mass index (r = -0.24, P < 0.05). Independent predictors for endothelium-dependent vasodilation were urinary albumin excretion rate (beta -0.04 [95% CI -0.07 to -0.01], P < 0.005) and left ventricular mass index (-0.26 [-0.49 to -0.05], P < 0.05). Endothelium-independent vasodilation was similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Type 2 diabetic patients with microalbuminuria have a more severely impaired coronary endothelium-dependent vasodilation than those with normoalbuminuria. These data suggest a common pathophysiological process for both coronary vasomotor abnormalities and microalbuminuria.     

High dietary caffeine consumption is associated with a modest increase in headache prevalence: results from the Head-HUNT Study

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between caffeine consumption and headache type and frequency in the general adult population. The results were based on cross-sectional data from 50,483 (55%) out of 92,566 invited inhabitants aged ≥20 years who participated in the Nord-Trøndelag Health Survey. In the multivariate analyses, adjusting for age, gender, smoking, and level of education as confounding factors, a weak but significant association (OR = 1.16, 95% CI 1.09–1.23) was found between high caffeine consumption and prevalence of infrequent headache. In contrast, headache >14 days/month was less likely among individuals with high caffeine consumption compared to those with low caffeine consumption. The results may indicate that high caffeine consumption changes chronic headache into infrequent headache due to the analgesic properties of caffeine. Alternatively, chronic headache sufferers tend to avoid intake of caffeine to not aggravate their headaches, whereas individuals with infrequent headache are less aware that high caffeine use can be a cause.     

The high prevalence of autoantibodies to tissue transglutaminase in first-degree relatives of patients with type 1 diabetes is not associated with islet autoimmunity

OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent of celiac autoimmunity in type 1 diabetic patients and the overlap between islet and celiac autoimmunity in their nondiabetic relatives. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: IgA antibodies to tissue transglutaminase were determined in serum taken from 433 type 1 diabetic patients and 1,442 nondiabetic first-degree relatives. Samples with transglutaminase antibodies above the 97.5th percentile of 347 schoolchildren were also assayed for IgA anti-endomysial antibodies (EMAs). Markers of islet autoimmunity (islet cell antibodies and autoantibodies to insulin, glutamate decarboxylase. and protein tyrosine phosphatase IA-2) had previously been measured in all relatives. RESULTS: In the absence of known celiac disease, the prevalence of transglutaminase antibody levels above the 97.5th percentile of the schoolchildren was 13.4% in diabetic patients and 7.0% in nondiabetic relatives. ENMAs were found in addition to transglutaminase antibodies in 2.6% of probands and in 1.9% of first-degree relatives, but none of the schoolchildren. Transglutaminase antibodies were found to persist in 10 of 30 patients and in 30 of 59 relatives with follow-up samples taken at least 2 years after the initial sample. Of 186 nondiabetic relatives with islet autoantibodies, only 10 also had transglutaminase antibodies. CONCLUSIONS: We found a high prevalence of celiac autoimmunity in patients and first-degree relatives of children with type 1 diabetes, but we found limited overlap between islet and celiac autoimmunity in nondiabetic relatives. The high prevalence of celiac autoimmunity may be explained by shared genetic susceptibility and identifies a population within which screening for the disease may be justified.     

Endometriosis is associated with prevalence of comorbid conditions in migraine

OBJECTIVE: To examine the headache characteristics of women with migraine and endometriosis (EM), and differences in the prevalence of comorbid conditions between female migraineurs with EM, without EM and nonheadache controls. BACKGROUND: Migraine and EM are common conditions in women of reproductive age, and both are influenced by ovarian hormones. The comorbidity of migraine and EM is newly recognized, but reasons for the association are uncertain. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of female headache outpatients and healthy controls conducted at University of Toledo and Duke University in 2005 and 2006. After a headache specialist determined headache frequency and diagnosis (based on criteria of the second International Classification of Headache Disorders), patients completed a self-administered electronic survey with information on demographics, headache-related disability, menstrual disorders, premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), vascular event risk, and comorbid conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), fibromyalgia (FM), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), interstitial cystitis (IC), depression, and anxiety. RESULTS: Study enrolled 171 women with migraine and 104 controls. EM was reported more commonly in migraineurs than in controls (22% vs 9.6%, P < .01). Frequency of chronic headache was higher in migraineurs with EM compared to without EM (P= .002) and median headache-related disability scores were also higher in the EM group (P= .025). Symptoms of PMDD were more common in migraineurs, but frequency did not differ by EM status. Migraineurs with EM reported more menorrhagia, dysmenorrhea, and infertility compared to the migraine cohort without EM and to controls. Depression, anxiety, IBS, FM, CFS, and IC were more common in migraine with EM group than in controls. Anxiety (OR = 2.2, 95% CI 1.0-4.7), IC (OR = 10.6, 95% CI 1.9-56.5), and CFS (OR = 3.6, 95% CI 1.1-11.5) were more common in migraine with EM group, than in the cohort with migraine without EM. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of EM is higher in women with migraine than in nonheadache controls. Migraineurs with EM have more frequent and disabling headaches, and are more likely to have other comorbid conditions affecting mood and pain, compared to migraineurs without EM.