We hypothesise that routinely applied short sessions of slow and regular breathing can lower blood pressure (BP). Using a new technology BIM (Breathe with Interactive Music), hypertensive patients were guided towards slow and regular breathing. The present study evaluates the efficacy of the BIM in lowering BP. We studied 33 patients (23M/10F), aged 25-75 years, with uncontrolled BP. Patients were randomised into either active treatment with the BIM (n ‫؍‬ 18) or a control treatment with a Walkman (n ‫؍‬ 15). Treatment at home included either musically-guided breathing exercises with the BIM or listening to quiet music played by a Walkman for 10 min daily for 8 weeks. BP and heart rate were measured both at the clinic and at home with an Omron IC BP monitor. Clinic BP levels were measured at baseline, and after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment. Home

Objective: To examine the efficacy of a new device, which slows and regularises breathing, as a non-pharmacological treatment of hypertension and thus to evaluate the contribution of breathing modulation in the blood pressure (BP) reduction. Design and setting: Randomised, double-blind controlled study, carried out in three urban family practice clinics in Israel. Patients: Sixty-five male and female hypertensives, either receiving antihypertensive drug therapy or unmedicated. Four patients dropped out at the beginning of the study. Intervention: Self treatment at home, 10 minutes daily for 8 consecutive weeks, using either the device (n ‫؍‬ 32), which guides the user towards slow and regular breathing using musical sound patterns, or a Walkman, with which patients listened to quiet music (n ‫؍‬ 29). Medication was unchanged 2 months prior to and during the study period. Main outcome measures: Systolic BP, diastolic BP and

The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of device-guided breathing to lower blood pressure (BP) in hypertensive type II diabetic patients. A randomized controlled trial was carried out in four urban family practice clinics in Israel. Non-insulin-dependent diabetic, hypertensive patients with uncontrolled BP, receiving antihypertensive therapy or those non-medicated were enrolled. Baseline characteristics of the 66 patients who completed the study (33 intervention and 33 control) were: 62% men, age 62±8 years (mean±s.d.); body mass index 29±5 kg/m 2 ; systolic BP 148±11 mm Hg and diastolic BP 81 ± 9 mm Hg. The intervention group used a device (RESPeRATE), which interactively guides the user towards slow and regular breathing by synchronizing respiration voluntarily to musical tones for 15 min daily for an 8-week period. The control group continued with their regular treatment. BP was measured in the clinic at baseline, after 4 weeks and at 8 weeks.Medication was unchanged for 4 weeks prior to and during the study period. The main outcome measure was the office BP change from baseline to the end of the 8-week period. BP was reduced in the treatment group (mean ± s.e.) systolic À10.0 ± 1.8 mm Hg and diastolic À3.6 ± 1.3 mm Hg (Po0.0001 and Po0.01), but not in the controls þ 1.6±2.1 and À1.0±1.4 mm Hg P40.4 and P40.4, respectively. Test for between group difference Po0.0001 and P ¼ 0.08. The subjects were highly compliant with the treatment, performing 75% of the requested exercise sessions. Greater BP reduction was observed with increased compliance with device usage (P ¼ 0.01 and P ¼ 0.001). It is concluded that self-treatment with device-guided breathing at home for 8 weeks by non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients was associated with a substantial reduction in office systolic BP.

Intramuscular (IM) influenza vaccines are about 50% effective in preventing clinical illness among the elderly and their effectiveness in eliciting mucosal response may be even lower. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the immunological effect of a novel inactivated intranasal (IN) trivalent whole influenza virus vaccine among community-dwelling elderly. Sixty-one subjects were vaccinated with two doses of an IN vaccine and a control group of 31 subjects was vaccinated with a commercial IM vaccine. Viral strains in the 1997/8 vaccine used were A/Nanchang/933/95(H3N2), A/Johannesburg/82/96(H1N1) and B/Harbin/7/94. Serum IgG and nasal IgA were determined by HI and ELISA, respectively. Only a few minor local adverse events were reported after vaccination. Seroconversion for the three antigens tested was higher after IM vaccination, although not statistically significant. Local antibody response to the three antigens tested was detected in 50-53% and 19-26% of IN and IM immunized subjects, respectively. The IN vaccine tested was significantly more effective than the IM vaccine in inducing mucosal IgA response. This may prevent influenza at its early stages and thus contribute to the reduction of complications in the elderly.

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