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Objective: To examine, in a non-diabetic population, whether the association between arterial stiffness and glycaemic levels depends on the test used as a glycaemic indicator, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) or glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)., Patient Population and Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of a 220 non-diabetic subsample from the EVIDENT II study in which FPG, HbA1c and arterial stiffness-related parameters (pulse wave velocity, radial and central augmentation index, and central pulse pressure) were determined. Mean differences in arterial stiffness-related parameters by HbA1c and FPG tertiles were tested using analysis of covariance., Results: All means of arterial stiffness-related parameters increased by HbA1c tertiles, although mean differences were only statistically significant in pulse wave velocity (p ≤.001), even after controlling for potential confounders (HbA1c <5.30% = 6.88 m/s; HbA1c 5.30%-5.59% = 7.06 m/s; and HbA1c ≥5.60% = 8.16 m/s, p =.004). Conversely, mean differences in pulse wave velocity by FPG tertiles did not reach statistically significant differences after controlling for potential confounders (FPG 4.44 mmol/l = 7.18 m/s; FPG 4.44 mmol/l-4.87 mmol/l = 7.26 m/s; and FPG ≥4.88 mmol/l = 7.93 m/s, p =.066)., Conclusions: Glucose levels in a non-diabetic population were associated with arterial stiffness but better when levels were determined using HbA1c., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Background and Objective: To estimate renal disease in recently diagnosed hypertensive patients, and to identify factors related to renal disease., Patients and Methods: Cross-sectional study, with 425 hypertensive patients recently diagnosed in primary health care; renal disease was estimated with serum creatinine, albumin/creatinine index and glomerular filtration rate (GFR). We analyzed cardiovascular risk factors (CRF), subclinical organ injury and cardiovascular disease following the criteria of the 2007 European Guide of Hypertension., Results: Average age: 58,96 +/- 12,73 years old, 63,3% male. We found dyslipemia in 80%, abdominal obesity in 49% and metabolic syndrome in 36% patients. These patients showed increased serum creatinine 3,3%, a reduction in GFR 9,6%, hidden renal disease 6,4%, microalbuminuria 7,5% and nephropathy 2,4%. Hypertensive patients with renal disease (17,88%) were older, with higher systolic pressure, higher incidence of metabolic syndrome, abnormal carotid intima-media thickness and ankle-arm index, and presence of cardiovascular disease. Variables associated with renal disease were metabolic syndrome (odds ratio = 11,12) and ankle-arm index (odds ratio = 17,55). Variables related to creatinina were sex, ankle-arm index and metabolic syndrome; variables related to GFR were sex, age, ankle-arm index, metabolic syndrome and body mass index (BMI); variables related with albumin/creatinine index included diabetes mellitus., Conclusions: Renal disease is detected in about 2 out of 10 hypertensive patients, when, besides serum creatinina, we analyze albumin/creatinine index and GFR. Metabolic syndrome and ankle-arm index are the main variables associated with renal disease., (Copyright 2009 Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved.)

Background and Objective: The treatment of biliary tract infections requires antibiotics and an appropriate surgical procedure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of piperacillin/tazobactam versus ceftriaxone plus ornidazole in the treatment of biliary tract infections., Patients and Method: This was a randomized, prospective and comparative clinical trial of two antibiotic regimens in the treatment of biliary tract infection. One hundred and fifty three patients were randomly allocated into two groups; three patients were excluded after randomization. One group (n = 75) received piperacillin/tazobactam (4 g/8 h iv) and the other group (n = 75) was administered a combination of ceftriaxone (2 g/24 h iv) plus ornidazole (1 g/24 h iv). In both groups, protocolized surgical or endoscopic procedures were carried out. Clinical efficacy and safety were assessed at the end of treatment., Results: Demographic data and severity of disease were similar in both groups. Three patients were excluded of the study by deviations from the protocol. Sixty-seven patients (89.3%) out of the piperacillin/tazobactam group and sixty-six patients (88%) out of the ceftriaxone plus ornidazole group were clinically cured (OR = 0.87 [95% CI, 0.31-2.4]). Twelve patients died, seven in the piperacillin/tazobactam group and five in the ceftriaxone plus ornidazole group. Adverse events were similar in both groups (OR = 1.18 [95% CI, 0.37-3.7])., Conclusions: This study suggests that piperacillin/tazobactam is as efficacious and safe as ceftriaxone plus ornidazole in the treatment of biliary tract infections.