Open Access DOI:10.23937/2474-3690/1510018

Mineralocorticoid Receptor Blockade Lowers Blood Pressure and Improves Endothelial Function in Obese Patients with Metabolic Syndrome

Danielle GA Ezequiel, Frida Liane Plavnik, Monica B Costa, Julio CM Lovisi, Fernando AB Colugnati, Juliana Machado Saraiva and Rogerio B de Paula

Article Type: Original Article | First Published: October 17, 2016

Introduction: Aldosterone has been implicated in the pathophysiology of both metabolic syndrome (MS) and MS-associated arterial hypertension, despite the use of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists in these scenarios has been little studied. Objectives: To assess the effects of mineralocorticoid blockade on blood pressure as well as metabolic and renal parameters in mild hypertensive subjects with MS compared with an active control group....

 Open Access DOI:10.23937/2474-3690/1510017

Advances in Low-Dimensional Mathematical Modeling of the Human Cardiovascular System

S Malatos, A Raptis and M Xenos

Article Type: Review Article | First Published: September 22, 2016

The mathematical modeling of blood flow in the cardiovascular system has long history. Zero-dimensional (0D) and one-dimensional (1D) models contribute actively to the study of the human cardiovascular system. Usually, low-dimensional models consist of a system of time dependent equations that do not involve spatial derivatives, thus reducing the computational complexity compared to multi-dimensional models. Despite that more complex 3D cardiovascular models are available, there is a tendency of...

 Open Access DOI:10.23937/2474-3690/1510016

MyHEART: A Non Randomized Feasibility Study of a Young Adult Hypertension Intervention

Heather M Johnson, Jamie N LaMantia, Ryan C Warner, Nancy Pandhi, Christie M Bartels, Maureen A Smith and Diane R Lauver

Article Type: Original Research | First Published: September 12, 2016

In the United States, young adults (18-39 year-olds) have the lowest hypertension control rates (35%) compared to middle-aged (58%) and older (54%) adults. Ambulatory care for hypertension management often focuses on medication with little time for self-management and behavioral counseling. This study was designed to evaluate the feasibility of MyHEART, a telephone-based health coach self-management intervention for young adults....

 Open Access DOI:10.23937/2474-3690/1510015

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitor-Induced Cough Prevalence in Refractory Hypertensive Patients

Andre Nascimento Publio Pereira, Roque Aras Junior, Cristiano Ricardo Bastos Macedo, Ricardo Ribeiro do Nascimento Teixeira, Iuri Reseda Magalhaes, Diego Sant'ana Sondre, Bianca de Almeida Nunes and Juliana Queiroz Vasconcelos Muniz

Article Type: Original Article | First Published: August 18, 2016

Refractory Arterial Hypertension (RAH) is characterized by persistently high blood pressure values. Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors in combination with other antihypertensive drugs are effective for RAH and have good clinical tolerance. According to the literature, the adverse effect of cough in patients using ACE inhibitors occurs in 5 to 20% of them. However, in clinical practice, the incidence appears to be higher, making it difficult the therapeutic adherence....

 Open Access DOI:10.23937/2572-3243.1510027

Necrotizing Fasciitis without Inflammatory Signs in Patients Receiving Anti-Interleukin-6 Receptor Antibody (Tocilizumab): Two Cases Report

Masaki Fujioka, Kiyoko Fukui and Satoko Ishiyama

Article Type: Case Report | First Published: November 01, 2016

Tocilizumab is a monoclonal antibody directed against the interleukin-6 receptor and used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, patients treated with tocilizumab have risk of infection, such as necrotizing fasciitis (NF). We report two cases of NF involving patients who had been treated with tocilizumab, and highlight the risk of serious soft tissue infection....

 Open Access DOI:10.23937/2572-3243.1510026

Recovery of Functional Diaphragmatic Activity following Complicated Unilateral or Bilateral Phrenic Nerve Injuries using Multi-Modality Treatment

Matthew R Kaufman, Lisa Schneider, Andrew I Elkwood, Kameron S Rezzadeh and Reza Jarrahy

Article Type: Original Article | First Published: October 24, 2016

Background: Diaphragmatic paralysis may occur as a result of dysfunction in the central nervous system or phrenic nerves leading to inspiratory muscle weakness and a restrictive ventilatory deficit. Phrenic nerve reconstruction and diaphragm pacemakers have each been studied independently as effective therapeutic modalities. Methods: We report three cases of diaphragmatic paralysis in patients with particularly complex pathological processes to investigate the use of multi-modality therapy consi...

 Open Access DOI:10.23937/2572-3243.1510025

Deep Venous Thrombosis in Behcet's Syndrome: Is Anticoagulation Necessary?

Nieves Marie Leonardo and Julian McNeil

Article Type: Case Report | First Published: October 22, 2016

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the lower extremities is a common medical presentation. Anticoagulation is the cornerstone of management. However, not all DVTs require anticoagulation. We report a case of DVT in a patient with Behcet's Syndrome where venous inflammation is the primary pathology and anti-inflammatory therapy is primary and the role of anti-coagulation is moot....

 Open Access DOI:10.23937/2572-3243.1510024

Effects of Seated Whole-Body Vibration Exposure on Cervical and Trunk Proprioception and Static and Dynamic Postural Stability

Takashi Nagai, Heather M Bansbach, Mallory S Faherty, John P Abt, Timothy C Sell and Scott M Lephart

Article Type: Research Article | First Published: October 05, 2016

Prolonged exposure to seated whole-body vibration (WBV) is considered a risk factor for neck pain (NP) and low back pain (LBP) in aircrew. Decreased trunk proprioception following WBV exposure has been previously reported. Proprioceptive feedback from the mechanoreceptors of the neck and trunk regions plays an important role in maintaining proper postural stability; therefore, it was hypothesized that WBV exposure would negatively affect both cervical/trunk proprioception and postural stability,...

 Open Access DOI:10.23937/2572-3243.1510023

Phoenix Project for Improving the Quality of Life in Rheumatic Diseases: Preliminay Results

Middei Sonia, Pasqualucci Simona and Martin-Martin Luis Severino

Article Type: Research Article | First Published: October 03, 2016

Rheumatic chronic diseases (RCD) are among the most common chronic non-communicable diseases. They are the leading cause of disability in developed countries, and consume a large amount of health and social resources. The purpose of this preliminary study (PHOENIX PROJECT) was to evaluate changes in the quality of life of patients suffering from RCD followed by talks in Group Counseling for emotional support. Group Counseling talks for emotional support is a behavioural intervention to facilitat...

 Open Access DOI:10.23937/2572-3243.1510022

Current Approaches in Myofunctional Orthodontics

Begum Gokce and Burcak Kaya

Article Type: Short Review | First Published: September 30, 2016

Functional matrix theory is the most widely accepted theory of craniofacial growth recently. Moss and Salentijn, have suggested that the craniofacial growth is the result of the changes in functional matrix. Accordingly, neither bone nor cartilage is responsible for the growth of the craniofacial skeleton. The growth of the face, is formed by the growth of the soft tissues as a result of functional requirements. The soft tissues grow; and bone and cartilage react....