No abstract

Overlapping of family history of obesity and exercise risk factors synergistically increase the BMI and risk of obesity in both boys and girls. Intervention to promote exercise in adolescents who have obese family member(s) should be encouraged.

Both intensity and amount of exercise are associated with the prevalence of obesity and hemodynamic abnormalities in adolescents.

Thirty-four patients with essential hypertension at WHO stage I or II were divided into three groups. Group I consisted of 22 cases who displayed normal renin activity (NR) or low renin activity (LR) and who received a single administration of captopril. Group II consisted of 6 cases given beta-blockers after administration of captopril. Group III consisted of 6 cases in whom beta-blocker was replaced with thiazide diuretics after administration of captopril alone. Blood pressure decreased significantly by captopril treatment alone in group I of the NR and LR subgroups (except for the diastolic blood pressure [DBP] of the NR subgroup) and fell below the target blood pressure (SBP of 165 mmHg and DBP of 95 mmHg) in 86% of the NR subgroup and 73% of the LR subgroup. Combined treatment with captopril and beta-blocker in Group II did not decrease blood pressure any lower than with captopril alone treatment and achieved the target blood pressure in only 50% of the patients. In group III, combined treatment with captopril and thiazide achieved the target blood pressure in 100% of the patients. Plasma renin activity (PRA) was increased by captopril but reduced by captopril in combination with beta-blocker. However, when beta-blocker was replaced with thiazide, PRA increased. The serum sodium concentration was significantly reduced in the LR subgroup after a single administration of captopril, but there was no other variation.

The effect of nifedipine on blood viscosity and hematocrit was investigated. Blood was sampled from eight patients with angina pectoris (mean age: 59 +/- 8 yr) treated with nifedipine (20-30 mg/day) for 5 months. Using a cone-plate type viscometer, blood viscosity was determined at the shear rates of 37.5 and 375 sec-1 at 37 degrees C. Hematocrit was also measured at the same time. Since the ratio of hematocrit to blood viscosity at a shear rate of 375 sec-1 can be considered to reflect oxygen delivery, this ratio (oxygen delivery index) was also calculated. Blood viscosity at a shear rate of 37.5 sec-1 was significantly (P less than .05) decreased by nifedipine treatment, but hematocrit and the blood viscosity at a shear rate of 375 sec-1 were not changed. The oxygen delivery index, however, was significantly (P less than .01) increased after the administration of nifedipine. These results suggest that oxygen delivery increased by the treatment with nifedipine and inhibited erythrocyte aggregation by decreasing blood viscosity at low shear rate.