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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune inflammatory disorder which further doubles the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Some studies suggest that in RA patients, the prevalence of hypertension increases due to prednisolone use, clinical status, genetic factors, and physical inactivity. On the other hand, dipper and non-dipper status in RA patients compared to non-RA subjects has not been investigated to our knowledge. Purpose of the study is to investigate whether non-dipper status is more deteriorated in RA patients. Sixty-five RA patients and 61 age-sex-matched control patients were evaluated in this cross-sectional study. Patients were classified according to 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring results. Patients with previous hypertension diagnosis, coronary artery disease, and abnormal kidney function were excluded. Mean age of the study sample was 53.7 ± 12.3 years and 40.5% were male. There was no significant difference between groups in terms of basic demographic characteristics. Leukocyte counts (p= 0.001), neutrophil counts (p= 0.001), and red cell distribution width (p= 0.000) were significantly higher in the RA group. ABPM results indicate no significant difference between RA patients and the control group in terms of daytime systolic and diastolic blood pressure, nighttime systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and average systolic and diastolic blood pressure results (p> 0.05). There was no statistical difference regarding the non-dipper status of patient groups (p= 0.412). Nocturnal blood pressure dipping was significantly similar between groups (p= 0.980). In conclusion, RA patients have similar values in terms of nocturnal blood pressure dipping and hypertension diagnosis as compared to normal population. Die rheumatoide Arthritis (RA) ist eine systemische entzündliche Autoimmunerkrankung, durch welche sich überdies das Risiko einer Herz-Kreislauf-Krankheit verdoppelt. In einigen Studien finden sich Hinweise, dass bei RA-Patienten die Prävalenz der Hypertonie aufgrund von Prednisolontherapie, klinischem Zustand, genetischen Faktoren und körperlicher Inaktivität zunimmt. Andererseits ist der Blutdruckabfall bei RA-Patienten im Vergleich zu Probanden ohne RA nach Wissen der Autoren bisher nicht untersucht worden. Ziel der Studie war es zu untersuchen, ob bei RA-Patienten der Zustand ohne Blutdruckabfall schlechter ist. In der vorliegenden Querschnittstudie wurden 65 RA-Patienten und 61 in Alter und Geschlecht entsprechend ausgewählte Kontrollen untersucht. Die Patienten wurden nach den Ergebnissen ihrer ambulanten 24-h-Blutdruckmessung eingeteilt. Dabei wurden Patienten mit vorangehender Diagnose einer Hypertonie, koronaren Herzkrankheit oder mit auffälliger Nierenfunktion aus der Studie ausgeschlossen. Das Durchschnittsalter der Stichprobe betrug 53,7 ± 12,3 Jahre, 40,5% der Teilnehmer waren männlich. Es bestand kein signifikanter Unterschied zwischen den Gruppen in Bezug auf grundlegende demographische Merkmale; Leukozytenzahl (p= 0,001), Neutrophilenzahl (p= 0,001) und Erythrozytenverteilungsbreite (p= 0,000) waren jedoch in der RA-Gruppe signifikant höher. Die Ergebnisse der ambulanten Blutdruckmessung zeigten keinen signifikanten Unterschied zwischen RA-Patienten und der Kontrollgruppe hinsichtlich des systolischen und diastolischen Blutdrucks am Tag und in der Nacht sowie den durchschnittlichen Ergebnissen für den systolischen und diastolischen Blutdruck (p> 0,05). Es gab keinen statistischen Unterschied beim Zustand ohne Blutdruckabfall zwischen den Patientengruppen (p= 0,412). Der nächtliche Blutdruckabfall war bei den Gruppen in signifikanter Weise ähnlich (p= 0,980). RA-Patienten weisen ähnliche Werte wie die Normalbevölkerung auf in Bezug auf nächtlichen Blutdruckabfall und die Diagnose einer Hypertonie.

A study of the stability of an electrically heated single channel, forced convection horizontal system was conducted by using Freon-11 as the test fluid. Two major modes of oscillations, namely, density-wave type (high frequency) and pressure-drop type (low frequency) oscillations have been observed. The steady-state operating characteristics and stable and unstable regions are determined as a function of heat flux, exit orifice diameter and mass flow rate. Different modes of oscillations and their characteristics have been investigated. The effect of the exit restriction on the system stability has also been studied.

Abstract: The effect of different heater surface configurations on two-phase flow instabilities has been investigated in a single channel, forced convection, open loop, up-flow system. Freon-11 is used as the test fluid, and six different heater tubes with various inside surface configurations have been tested at five different heat inputs. In addition to temperature and pressure recordings, high speed motion pictures of the two-phase flow were taken for some of the experiments to study the two-phase flow behavior at different operating points. Experimental results are shown on system pressure drop versus mass flow rate curves, and stability boundaries are also indicated on these curves. Comparison of different heater tubes is made by the use of the stability boundary maps and the plots of inlet throttling necessary to stabilize the system versus mass flow rate. Tubes with internal springs were found to be more stable than the other tubes.

Purpose To report a case of uveitis associated with granuloma annulare (GA). GA is a benign, usually self-limited dermatosis of unknown origin, causing necrobiotic dermal and subcutaneous papules. So far, ocular involvement has not been reported in GA.Methods We describe a case of uveitis with GA. Ocular examination findings were consistent with uveitis. Histopathologic studies on lower extremity lesions revealed features consistent with GA.Results The patient was successfully treated with systemic and topical corticosteroids. After two months, however, the skin and eye lesions relapsed. When the same treatment was restarted, her lesions regressed within four weeks.Conclusions This case provides an example of concomitant uveitis and GA. To our knowledge, this is the first report of this combination.

Montrer que les nombreuses interactions pharmacodynamiques induites entre la buprénorphine (BPN) et les benzodiazépines (BZD) entraînent des modifications durables de la radio-liaison (« binding ») des récepteurs opioïdes μ et des BZD et parallèlement des modifications comportementales associées, ce qui explique la poursuite d’une demande de ces médicaments.