High blood pressure (HBP) has been associated with elevated C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of chronic mild inflammation. However, the association between HBP and other inflammatory markers, particularly interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis alpha (TNF-a), has not been evaluated in well-controlled studies. We examined the cross-sectional relationship between IL-6, TNF-a, and CRP and HBP in a random sample of 196 healthy subjects. All markers were measured in duplicate with high-sensitivity ELISA tests. Three blood pressure (BP) measurments were averaged for the analysis, and subjects with systolic BP X140 and/or diastolic BP X90 mmHg were considered hypertensive. Log binomial regression was used to estimate multivariate-adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) of HBP. Of the subjects, 40% (79) were hypertensive (mean age: 44 years; range 30-64). After adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, family history of HBP, and the level of the other inflammatory markers, subjects in the second (PR: 3.10, P ¼ 0.003), third (PR: 2.32; P ¼ 0.031), and fourth quartiles (PR: 2.30; P ¼ 0.036) of IL-6 were more than twice as likely to be hypertensive than those in the first quartile. Corresponding PR estimates for TNF-a levels were 1.41 (P ¼ 0.014) for the second; 1.59 (P ¼ 0.001) for the third; and 1.61 (P ¼ 0.025) for the fourth quartile. The CRP-HBP association was not statistically significant. Our results suggest that TNF-a and IL-6 could be independent risk factors for HBP in apparently healthy subjects. Nevertheless, the temporal relationship between elevated inflammation markers and HBP should be ascertained in prospective cohort studies.

Our results suggest, for the first time, that CRP level may be an independent risk factor for the development of hypertension. However, because of the cross-sectional nature of our study, this finding should be confirmed in prospective cohort studies, aimed at elucidating the role of CRP in the prediction, diagnosis and management of hypertension.

Women had higher prevalence of all risk factors with the exception of smoking and low-HDL. Reduction in cholesterol levels, blood pressure and obesity is a priority to control the ongoing epidemic of cardiovascular diseases in this population.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are known to increase blood pressure and blunt the effect of antihypertensive drugs. Surprisingly, it has been suggested recently that aspirin lowers blood pressure and could be used for preventing hypertension. This review summarizes published data on the effects of aspirin on blood pressure. Trials suggesting that aspirin administered at bedtime lowers blood pressure are uncontrolled, unmasked, and potentially biased. They also conflict with cohort studies showing an 18% increase in the risk of hypertension among aspirin users. Fortunately, short-term use of aspirin does not seem to interfere with antihypertensive drugs. Regardless of its effect on blood pressure, low-dose aspirin effectively prevents cardiovascular events in patients with and without hypertension, but its benefits should be carefully weighed against a potential increase in the risk of adverse effects such as gastric bleeding and hemorrhagic stroke, as well as a small increase in the risk of hypertension.

Introducción. Actualmente se sabe que el incremento de los niveles de contaminación atmosférica externa e interna se asocia con efectos nocivos para la salud, especialmente asma y otras alergias. Objetivos. Determinar la prevalencia de síntomas respiratorios indicativos de asma en la población preescolar y compararla entre zonas con diferentes niveles de contaminación atmosférica en Bucaramanga, Colombia. Materiales y métodos. Estudio observacional analítico de corte transversal que compara los síntomas respiratorios en menores de siete años de dos zonas de la ciudad con niveles diferentes de contaminación por material sólido en partículas y ozono. La morbilidad fue medida con un cuestionario sobre síntomas respiratorios indicativos de asma, validado al español.Resultados. Se estudiaron 768 niños distribuidos de las zonas de alta y baja contaminación. El uso de cigarrillos (27,5%) y aerosoles (22,7%) se encontraron como las fuentes de contaminación más frecuentes dentro de las viviendas. La prevalencia de ruidos respiratorios a lo largo de la vida fue de 25,6% (IC95% 23,2-29,8) y la de diagnóstico médico de asma fue de 8,4% (IC95% 6,2-11,5), sin diferencias significativas entre las zonas. El modelo final no mostró asociación entre la contaminación atmosférica y la presencia de síntomas respiratorios indicativos de asma. Por el contrario, la presencia de pisos de cemento y moho mostró una asociación significativa con estos síntomas. Conclusiones. Es posible que en Bucaramanga los factores de contaminación domiciliaria puedan tener un mayor efecto sobre la presencia de síntomas respiratorios indicativos de asma en menores de siete años que los contaminantes externos.Palabras clave: signos y síntomas respiratorios, asma/epidemiología, contaminación del aire, preescolar. Respiratory symptoms associated with asthma prevalence and air pollution in preschool childrenIntroduction. Increases in the air pollution levels has well-documented harmful effects on human health, especially exacerbating problems of asthma and other allergies. Objective. The prevalence of symptoms associated with asthma was determined in preschool populations in zones with differing levels of air pollution. Materials and methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Bucaramanga, Colombia, comparing respiratory symptoms in 768 children under seven years in two urban zones with different pollution levels of particulate matter and ozone. Morbidity was evaluated for respiratory indicators of asthma by means of a questionnaire version previously validated in Spanish. Results. The use of cigarettes (27.5%) and aerosols (22.7%) were the most frequent source of indoor air pollution. Wheezing prevalence was 25.6% (95% CI 23.2-29.8%) and diagnosis of asthma was 8.4% (95% CI 6.2-11.5%), with no differences between zones. The final multivariate model did not show an association between outdoor pollution and symptoms related with asthma. However, concrete flooring and presence of mold did show an association with these symptoms. Conclusions. Indoor air qua...