SLE and RA are associated with severe autonomic dysfunction and the presence of significant risk predictors related to the onset of sudden cardiac death.

Clinical implications of blood pressure variability (BPV) on subclinical organ damage in children are unknown. The authors sought to explore the potential utility of two newly derived BPV indices: weighted standard deviation (wBPSD) and real average variability (ARV), as well as two standard ambulatory blood pressure indices: average 24-hour systolic blood pressure (SBP) and 24-hour SBP load, to identify children at high risk for left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy (LVH). The study group consisted of 67 consecutive children who were referred to our institution for evaluation of suspected hypertension. LV mass was estimated by M-mode echocardiography using Devereux's formula according to the Penn convention and indexed for height 2.7 . We found a statistically significant, positive correlation between 24-hour wBPSD and LV mass index (LVMI) (q=0.389; P=.002) and no correlation between 24-hour ARV and LVMI (P>.05). However, partial correlation analysis of 24-hour wBPSD adjusted for body mass index (BMI) and LVMI showed only a weak correlation (q=0.3; P=.022). By using multiple linear regression analysis in a model with LVMI as a dependent variable and 24-hour wBPSD, 24-hour ARV, and BMI as independent variables, only BMI showed statistically significant independent positive associations with LVMI (P=.028). Results of our study showed that currently used BPV indices (24-hour wBPSD and 24-hour ARV) are not clinically reliable parameters to identify children at risk for LVH. Apparent contribution of the 24-hour wBPSD parameter to LVMI is negligible and is secondary to its close correlation with BMI (q=0.335 P=.009). J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2013;15:905-909. ª2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.During the past decade, clinical and animal studies have examined an association between high blood pressure (BP) variability (BPV) and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Trisomy 9 is a rare chromosome abnormality which can occur in a mosaic or nonmosaic state with similar clinical features. The authors present a male with mosaic trisomy 9 from birth to 6 months of life. Clinical manifestations included growth retardation, facial dysmorphism with marked hemi facial hypoplasia and facial asymmetry, single palmar flexion crease, retro calcaneovalgus feet, atrial septal defect, undescended testes and hypospadia. He had several episodes of seizures and ultrasound examination described severe ventriculomegaly, with poorly differentiated parenchyme. These findings are compared to the other previously described cases of trisomy 9 mosaicism through a review of literature.

Background: Recent studies revealed a strong association between vitamin D (VD) status and chronic heart failure (CHF). It is now commonly considered that proinflammatory immune response underlies CHF development.

The results of the study showed that amlodipine affected autonomic modulation as a shift to sympathetic hyperactivity, but without statistical significance. In the selected group of patients with vagal predominance in sympathovagal balance, amlodipine increased sympathetic and decreases vagal activity. Therefore we conclude that amlodipine mostly exerts impact on autonomic function modulation in patients with vagal predominance in resting state.