The efficacy and safety of once-daily extended-release carvedilol (carvedilol CR) combined with the ACEI lisinopril in a double-blind, randomized, factorial design study were studied. Patients (N=656) with stage 1 or 2 hypertension were randomized evenly to 1 of 15 groups for 6 weeks: carvedilol CR monotherapy 20 mg, 40 mg, or 80 mg/d; lisinopril monotherapy 10 mg, 20 mg, or 40 mg/d; or 1 of 9 combinations of carvedilol CR plus lisinopril initiated simultaneously. Primary efficacy measures (assessed by ambulatory BP AZD1390 in vivo monitoring [ABPM]) were

change from baseline in 24-hour mean diastolic BP (DBP) and in trough (20-24 hours) DBP. Continuous efficacy variables were assessed using analysis of covariance. Whether any combination dose was superior to its monotherapy components was assessed using the Hung AVE procedure. Despite the presence of additional BP lowering observed with most of the combinations compared with their monotherapy components, the Hung AVE test was not significant for either primary efficacy measures. Post Epigenetic signaling inhibitors hoc analyses of the

high-dose combination groups (carvedilol CR/lisinopril regimens of 80/10 mg, 80/20 mg, 80/40 mg, 20/40 mg, and 40/40 mg) showed a significant treatment difference compared with both carvedilol CR 80 mg and lisinopril 40 mg for 24-hour mean DBP but not for trough DBP. With the exception of dizziness, individual adverse events did not increase with ascending doses or combinations. The superiority of initiating combination treatment with carvedilol CR and lisinopril compared with the monotherapy components was JNK-IN-8 molecular weight not demonstrated with the ABPM measurements. Nonetheless, the post hoc assessment combining all high-dose groups did produce significant 24-hour mean BP reduction when compared with the high-dose monotherapy groups. The tolerability profile of initiating combination therapy was generally comparable to the initiation of treatment with monotherapy. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2010; 12: 678-686. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.”
“Objective Sulfur

dioxide was considered to be toxic and detrimental to human health. However, this review highlights recent advances that suggest sulfur dioxide might be a novel endogenous gaseous signaling molecule involved in the regulation of cardiovascular functions.\n\nData sources The data used in this review were mainly from the studies reported in Medline and PubMed published from 1986 to 2010.\n\nStudy selection Original articles and critical reviews selected were relevant to exogenous and endogenous sulfur dioxide.\n\nResults The sulfur dioxide/aspartate amino transferase pathway is endogenously generated in the cardiovascular system, and sulfur dioxide shows broad bioactive effects, such as antihypertension, vasodilation, and amelioration of vascular remodeling.