Kenshi Kumamoto

Glucose tolerance in middle-aged Japanese males with uncomplicated hypertension

Plasma glucose levels in 50 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) were compared between uncomplicated hypertensives (n = 507, mean age = 48 +/- 0.3 years) and normotensives (n = 378, mean age = 46 +/- 0.3 years). The subjects were selected in a systematic way from 10,120 male employees in a work-site population in Japan. None of hypertensives took any antihypertensive drugs. Plasma glucose levels at each time point of OGTT were significantly higher in the hypertensives than in the normotensives when the differences in age, obesity, and other factors that might influence glucose metabolism were adjusted, using multiple linear regression analysis. Similarly, multiple regression analysis for subjects including both normotensives and hypertensives revealed a significant relationship between plasma glucose levels and blood pressure, which was independent of age and body mass index. These findings indicate a more direct association between hypertension and hyperglycemia, which is not mediated via aging or obesity.

Brain metabolism and arterial acid-base balance following bilateral carotid occlusion in normotensive and experimental hypertensive rats.

The effects of bilateral common carotid artery occlusion on brain metabolism and arterial acid-base balance were studied in normotensive and experimental renovascular hypertensive rats. One hour after carotid occlusion in hypertensive rats, supratentorial lactate increased to 383% and lactate-pyruvate ratio to 280% of the controls, while adenosine triphosphate (ATP) decreased to 69%. These metabolic changes were thought to be due to cerebral ischemia. Arterial pCO2 was lowered and the pH was raised in the hypertensive animals due to cerebral ischemia induced hyperventilation. In the normotensive rats, carotid occlusion had minimal effects on cerebral metabolism and arterial acid-base balance. These results suggest that hypertensive rats are more susceptible to cerebral ischemia caused by carotid occlusion than normotensive rats. Increased cerebrovascular resistance in hypertension is discussed as a causal factor in cerebral ischemia.

Renal pressor activity and kidney weight responding to angiotensin in hypertensive rats

Angiotensin erniedrigte nur bei ischaemischen Nieren die Reninproduktion und erhöhte parallel dazu das Nierengewicht. Die Angiotensinwirkung ist somit abhängig von der Stoffwechsellage der Niere.

EVALUATION OF PROGRAMS FOR THE DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT AND FOLLOW-UP OF HYPERTENSION IN WORK SITE POPULATION

Hypertensives screened among a work-site male population were treated either with or without antihypertensive drugs according to WHO stage of hypertension, and followed up by medical teams at the work site. The outcome during 8 years of follow-up was compared between two hypertension cohorts; one (cohort 1) instituted in 1970 included 1,092 hypertensives from 11,860 employees, while the other (cohort 2) made in 1975 contained 1,190 from 10,789 persons. Age-adjusted mortality or morbidity rate from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) was lower in cohort 2 than in cohort 1. Multiple regression analysis was used to adjust inter-cohort differences in factors to influence the prognosis, showed that CVD occurred less frequently in cohort 2 than in cohort 1. The results suggest that this system of controlling blood pressure is useful in preventing CVD in a large population.