AIMS:Patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus have greater carotid intima media thickness and they are at risk for generalized atherosclerosis. This study aimed to compare the thickness of carotid artery intima media in type-2 diabetes mellitus patients with and without nonblood pressure component metabolic syndrome.SETTINGS AND DESIGN:This was a comparative observational study conducted in the Departments of Pharmacology and Physiology in the College of Medicine, Al-Mustansiriyia University in cooperation with Baghdad Teaching Hospital.MATERIALS AND METHODS:Forty-six diabetic patients of both sexes with systolic blood pressure < 130 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure < 85 mm Hg were subjected to high resolution B-mode ultrasonography of the common and internal carotid arteries. Patients were grouped into those without metabolic syndrome (Group I) and with nonblood pressure component metabolic syndrome (Group II).STATISTICAL ANALYSIS:The two-tailed unpaired Student's t-test was used in this study.RESULTS:Significantly high mean thickness was observed in the common carotid intima media (0.824 ± 0.155 mm) but not in the internal carotid arteries in group II patients compared to group I patients (0.708 ± 0.113 mm). Group II also had a significant number of patients with increased lesion intima media thickness (≥ 1.1 mm).Conclusion:The greater carotid intima media thickness observed in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients is related to the metabolic syndrome even in the absence of the blood pressure component.

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Patients with hypertension have variability in ventricular repolarization (QTcB and JT) irrespective of their blood pressure control putting them at higher risk of cardiac arrhythmias.

Background: Pulse pressure index as a function of pulse pressure divided by systolic blood pressure served a useful predictor of cardiovascular events. Objectives: Our aim was to assess the pulse pressure index as a discriminating variable of predicting cardiovascular events in untreated hypertensive patients and treated with one member of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers by using the scores of Framingham study. Materials and methods: This observational cross-sectional study, including 140 patients who grouped into; Group I (n = 30): untreated hypertensive patients; Group II (n = 60): patients treated with angiotensin receptor blockers; and Group III (n = 50): patients treated with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors. Anthropometric measurements, lipid profile, and blood pressure were determined. The probability of ten-year of cardiovascular events was calculated according to the Framingham study scores using The University of Edinburgh Cardiovascular Risk Calculator (http://cvrisk.mvm.ed.ac.uk/calculator/calc.asp). Results: There is a non-significant difference between Groups and within Groups of age, smoking habit, and the values of the cardio metabolic risk factors. Pulse pressure index as an independent risk factor found to be a significant discriminator of 10-year prediction of cardiovascular events by using the receiving operating characteristic curves. Conclusion:The pulse pressure index is a useful discriminator of predicting cardiovascular events, and it will improve the Framingham prediction risk among hypertensive patients.

ABSTRACT105 hort of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). The criteria of inclusion were patients with T2D of both genders using oral glucose-lowering medication(s) alone and/or with once-or twice-daily insulin. The criteria of exclusion were patients with a history of hematological, neoplastic, renal, hepatic or thyroid diseases, or patients receiving treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs. Patients with acute or chronic infections and autoimmune disease also excluded from the study. A total number of fifty-two patients (12 male and 40 females) with a median age of 57 year admitted in this study. Anthropometric measurements that related to the cardio-metabolic risk factors were measured. They included height (m), weight (kg), waist circumference (cm) and hip circumference (cm). The body mass index (BMI) and waist/hip ratio (W/H) were calculated. According to the BMI values the patients were categorized: normal (BMI < 25 kg/m2), over weight (BMI: 25-29 kg/m2), and obese (BMI: ≥ 30 kg/m2). A value of W/H ratio > 0.9 (male) and 0.8 (female) indicated central obesity.The blood pressure was measured on sitting position and the mean of three readings recorded. Pulse and mean arterial pressures calculated using the following formula: Pulse pressure (mm Hg) = Systolic blood pressure -diastolic blood pressure Mean arterial blood pressure = Diastolic blood pressure + 1/3 (Pulse pressure)Participants enrolled in the study subjected to echocardiography (B mode) investigation. The echocardiography investigation performed from the patient left side so that the transducer (with a frequency of 2-4MHz) is at the long axis of the heart. Echocardiography data that related to systolic and diastolic left ventricular dysfunction were recorded and these included: shortening fraction (%), stroke vol-