0000000001070908
AUTHOR
L Guarino
Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms and plasma renin activity in essential hypertensive individuals.
Several studies analyzed 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) and blood pressure (BP) relationship with mixed results. Moreover, a relationship between the risk of hypertension and vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms, FokI and BsmI, was reported. This study was aimed to analyze these relationships in essential hypertensive (EH) patients. Seventy-one EH patients, 18-75 years old, were enrolled. Patients underwent clinical BP, 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring, 25[OH]D and plasma renin activity (PRA) evaluations. FokI and BsmI VDR polymorphisms were analyzed and compared with those of 72 healthy controls. In EH patients, the median 25[OH]D levels were lower than 30 ng ml(-1). We found a signific…
Productive and qualitative behaviour of fresh plants produced in Sicilian nurseries
Sicilian strawberry cultivations are increasing their interest: Fresh plants, produced in high elevation nurseries located in Spain and Poland have replaced frigo-plants. Strawberry Fresh Plants propagated in the Sicilian nurseries have been compared to those came from nursery located in Poland and set in our experimental farm. The trial has been carried out in Marsala (Tp) in the western coast of Sicily under plastic multitunnels. Four cultivars (‘Camarosa’, ‘Candonga’, ‘Tudla’, ‘Naiad’) were studied. The harvest started in January and ended in May. The Sicilian plants were the earliest. Among the cultivars ‘Camarosa’ was the earliest and ‘Candonga’ the latest. The Sicilian plants have giv…
Relationship between Plasma Aldosterone and Left Ventricular Mass in Hypertensive Subjects with Mild-to-Moderate Chronic Kidney Disease
Introduction: Plasma aldosterone (ALD) levels are generally increased in subjects with chronic kidney disease (CKD), especially in those with end-stage renal disease. Convincing clinical and experimental data indicate that aldosterone plays a fundamental role in determining functional and structural changes of the heart. On the other hand, it is known that hypertensive patients with renal dysfunction, also of mild degree, show an increased prevalence of cardiovascular organ damage. Little is known about the relationships between aldosteronaemia and left ventricular mass in subjects with mild-to-moderate CKD. Aim: To analyse the relationships between ALD and left ventricular mass (LVM), in a…