
Baduanjin Lower Elevated Blood PreSsure Study
Elevated Blood PressureThe aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of Baduanjin on blood pressure in individuals with high normal blood pressure (SBP 130-139 mmHg, and/or DBP 85-89 mmHg), as well as on glucose and lipid metabolism, quality of life, psychology, exercise, immune inflammation, endothelial function, and arterial stiffness.

PET Image in PAH Patients
Pulmonary Arterial HypertensionPulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is mortal disease affecting the blood vessels of the lung. Despite its morbid prognosis, PAH is often misdiagnosed or ignored, with an average time of 44 months between onset of symptoms to diagnosis and substantial progression of disease severity. Therefore, a pressing need exists to develop non-invasive diagnostic imaging tools, particularly that can detect early disease stages. Efforts have been made to develop such imaging capabilities through platform development of echocardiography, cardiac MRI, chest computed tomography (CT), and positron emission tomography (PET), among others. While some have demonstrated promise, few have shown a precise ability to offer disease quantifications of the diseased lung and vasculature itself, to detect early stages of disease, and to reflect alterations of the lung, vasculature, and right ventricle that reflect the molecular origins of this disease. [F-18]FGln has been previously utilized in oncology studies as a non-invasive in vivo imaging biomarker of tumor glutamine flux and metabolism. Our preliminary in vivo pre-clinical rodent studies demonstrated that [F-18]FGln demonstrated increased uptake in diseased pulmonary vessels and the right ventricle in a rodent model of PAH. The proposed research study will provide preliminary evidence of the potential to utilize [F-18]FGln as a non-invasive imaging biomarker of glutamine flux and metabolism across a range of PAH subjects.

Vascular Biomarkers Predictive of the Progression From Gestational Hypertension to Preeclampsia...
Gestational HypertensionPre-eclampsiaHypertension during pregnancy remains a leading cause of maternal and foetal morbidity and mortality. The frequency (5 to 10% of pregnancies) and potential severity of these diseases, both for the mother and the child, are reasons for standardizing and optimizing medical practices. The cause of hypertension during pregnancy and in particular the pathophysiology of preeclampsia remains poorly understood. Guidelines distinguish these two entities by the existence of proteinuria from and after the 20th week of amenorrhea and by maternal-foetal complications, more serious in pre-eclampsia than in gestational hypertension. During gestational hypertension and preeclampsia acute placental vasculature and blood flow abnormalities were observed, maybe due to generalized vascular endothelial activation and vasospasm resulting in systemic hypertension and organ hypoperfusion. Endothelial dysfunction and abnormal expression of several specific blood biomarkers are now well accepted as characteristics of preeclampsia. However, the progression of gestational hypertension to preeclampsia is difficult to predict; between 15 and 40 % of gestational hypertension cases progress to preeclampsia, suggesting that it is the same worsening disease. Endothelial dysfunction could be at the origin of gestational hypertension, and subsequent development of preeclampsia through an imbalance between pro- and anti-angiogenic factors. The main objective of this research is to assess whether the alteration of endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in pregnant women with stable hypertension is correlated with the occurrence of preeclampsia later during pregnancy.

Xenon MRI Pulm Hypertension
Pulmonary HypertensionPulmonary Arterial HypertensionThe overall objective outlined in this study is to determine how pulmonary vascular remodeling in PAH at a cellular and pathological level is associated with changes in gas exchange physiology and hemodynamics (monitored with 129Xe MRI/MRS) and how these signals change with disease progression or treatment.

Olive Leaf Extracts in the Control of Cardiovascular Risk
Diabetes MellitusType 21 moreThis study will be carried out in 2 emergency departments (at the exit of the emergency room) and 2 external consultations (endocrinology of the CHU FB Monastir and diabetology consultation, Jemmal hospital). Patients over 18 years of age with: Arterial hypertension (hypertension). Or diabetes. Or one or more other cardiovascular risk factors (AHA, ESC) or risk of cardiovascular disease> 20% according to the Framingham scale (apart from hypertension and diabetes were included.

ACES - ACE Inhibitors Combined With Exercise for Seniors With Hypertension
HypertensionAging1 moreThe purpose of this project is to conduct a randomized, controlled trial (RCT) to determine if choice of antihypertensive medication influences changes in functional status and other cardiovascular risk factors among older persons with hypertension when combined with physical exercise.

Inhaled Nitric Oxide for Pulmonary Hypertension and Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
Pulmonary HypertensionBronchopulmonary DysplasiaInhaled nitric oxide (iNO) is an effective treatment for pulmonary hypertension (PH) in term and near-term infants. Preterm infants are at risk for early PH that is associated with high risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia or death. In multiple clinical trials, iNO treatment was not effective for BPD prevention. However, infants were not screened for PH and iNO treatment was not targeted for PH. iNO treatment for PH in preterm infants is controversial due to lack of evidence. The study team hypothesizes that early diagnosis of PH (72-96 hours of life) and iNO treatment will decrease the incidence of death and bronchopulmonary dysplasia and improve oxygenation in extremely preterm infants. To determine if iNO treatment of extremely preterm infants with early pulmonary hypertension as established with echocardiographic evidence at 72-96 hours of age will decrease incidence of death or BPD. To determine if iNO treatment of extremely preterm infants with early PH will decrease the pulmonary artery pressure and improve oxygenation within 72 hours of intervention.

Computerized Decision Support to Increase Detection of Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension...
Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary HypertensionTo address the knowledge gap that exists among providers resulting in underdiagnosis of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), the investigators have devised this 400-patient single-center Quality Improvement Initiative in the form of a randomized controlled trial of an EPIC Best Practice Advisory (BPA) on-screen alert versus no notification to increase echocardiographic screening for CTEPH and the diagnosis of CTEPH in patients with prior pulmonary embolism (PE) and symptoms/signs suggestive of pulmonary hypertension or recent pulmonary testing suggesting unexplained respiratory symptoms at 3 months. Aim #1: To determine the impact of a Best Practice Advisory (BPA), using the EPIC Electronic Health Record computerized decision support (CDS) software, on echocardiographic screening for CTEPH in patient with prior PE and symptoms/signs suggestive of pulmonary hypertension or recent pulmonary testing suggesting unexplained respiratory symptoms. Aim #2: To determine the impact of an EPIC BPA on the diagnosis of CTEPH in patient with prior PE and symptoms/signs suggestive of pulmonary hypertension or recent pulmonary testing suggesting unexplained respiratory symptoms.

Hypocaloric Mediterranean Diet or Physical Activity to Lower Cardiometabolic Risk
Overweight or ObesityObesity2 moreThe purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to test the effects of a hypocaloric Mediterranean diet or of physical activity in participants who take at least 2 antihypertensive drugs but do not reach blood pressure treatment goal. This study is a randomized, controlled, single-center, parallel group trial with three arms: hypocaloric Mediterranean diet (MeDi), physical activity (PA), or control. The control group will receive usual care (no intervention). This study will not be blinded. The interventions will last 6 months, while the study follow-up will last 12 months. Four study visits will take place: baseline, at 3 months, at 6 months, at 12 months. The primary outcome is change in mean 24-hour ambulatory systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure among groups after 6 months of intervention. Secondary and exploratory outcomes include change in other measures of blood pressure, body composition, other markers of cardiometabolic disease, inflammation markers, safety outcomes, and quality of life, among others.

Effects of Life Style Intervention Manual in Pre Hypertensive Sedentary Population
Pre HypertensionHypertension is an increasingly important medical and public health issue. The prevalence of hypertension increases with advancing age to the point where more than half of people 60-69 years of age and approximately three-fourths of those 70 years of age and older are affected. The age related rise in SBP is primarily responsible for an increase in both incidence and prevalence of hypertension with increasing age. At present, it is estimated that about 1 billion people worldwide have hypertension (>140/90 mmHg), and this number is expected to increase to 1.56 billion by 2025. Because of the new data on lifetime risk of hypertension and the impressive increase in the risk of cardiovascular complications associated with levels of BP previously considered to be normal, the JNC 7 report has introduced a new classification that includes the term "prehypertension" for those with BPs ranging from 120-139 mmHg systolic and/or 80-89 mmHg diastolic. This new designation is intended to identify those individuals in whom early intervention by adoption of healthy lifestyles could reduce BP, decrease the rate of progression of BP to hypertensive levels with age, or prevent hypertension entirely. Prehypertension is not a disease category. Rather, it is a designation chosen to identify individuals at high risk of developing hypertension, so that both patients and clinicians are alerted to this risk and encouraged to intervene and prevent or delay the disease from developing. Individuals who are pre hypertensive are not candidates for drug therapy based on their level of BP and should be firmly and unambiguously advised to practice lifestyle modification in order to reduce their risk of developing hypertension in the future. The goal for individuals with prehypertension and no compelling indications is to lower BP to normal levels with lifestyle changes, and prevent the progressive rise in BP using the recommended lifestyle modifications.