Erratum to: Patients with mild hypertensive heart disease and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction: treatment with angiotensin II antagonists

Abstract

The aim of this work was to investigate the association between homocysteine levels and coffee consumption in a sample of cardiovascular disease-free men and women. From May 2001 to December 2002, we randomly enrolled 1514 men and 1528 women, stratified by age and gender, from the greater area of Athens. Blood samples were collected in the fasting state. Among other investigated factors, dietary habits (including coffee consumption in ml per day, adjusted for 28% caffeine containment) were evaluated using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Men consumed higher quantities of coffee compared with women (250 Ϯ 55 vs 150 Ϯ 60 ml/day, P ϭ 0.001), while homocysteine values were also higher in men than in women (14.5 Ϯ 6 vs 10.8 Ϯ 3.5 µmol/l, P ϭ 0.001). A doseresponse relationship of homocysteine levels with coffee consumption was observed (r ϭ 0.10, P ϭ 0.034). In particular, we found that homocysteine levels were 11.2 Ϯ 5 µmol/ l for no consumption, 11.7 Ϯ 7 µmol/l for Ͻ100 ml/day, 12.5 Ϯ 7µmol/l for 200-400 ml/day, and 12.7 Ϯ 4µmol/l for Ͼ500 ml/day consumption (P ϭ 0.018). The observed trend remained significant even after controlling for the interactions between coffee consumption with gender, smoking habits, physical activity status, and eating habits. However, the sole effect of the consumption of filtered coffee on homocysteine levels was significant only in those who consumed more than 500 ml/day (P ϭ 0.043). Although our findings cannot be evidence for causality, they can be the basis for hypotheses about the relation between homocysteine and coffee that can partially explain the mechanisms by which elevated homocysteine levels may influence coronary risk.

Variants of Cardiomyopathy and Hypertension in Neuroblastoma

“…They can decrease the severity of intraventricular obstruction and LVH. 18 Therefore, the antihypertensives regimen should be reviewed regularly based on the concurrent state of heart failure, severity of outflow obstruction, and whether the renal vessels are compressed. However, the definitive treatment would still be the ablation of the catecholamine-secreting neuroblastoma.…”

Quantitative left ventricular contractility analysis under stress: a new practical approach in follow-up of hypertensive patients

“…32 In pressure overload model, early marked increase in angiotensin 2 type 1 (AT1) receptor density in the LV myocardium increases both plasma norepinephrine concentration and LV myocardial epinephrine content. 33 Nakagawa et al 34 have observed that AT1 receptor antagonist therapy is effective in LVOT gradient reduction. This management modality has also resulted in a regression of myocardial hypertrophy in mild hypertensive patients with LVH.…”

Cytokines in Schizophrenia: Hope or Hype?

“…Exercise can impact inflammatory cytokines. [ 14 ] Diet[ 15 16 ] including caffeine intake[ 17 18 ] can affect cytokine concentrations. Insomnia, common in people with schizophrenia, is associated with abnormal cytokine concentrations.…”