RESEARCH MILESTONES

The following are some of the research products delivered by OHS and referred to in the scientific literature as significant contributions to present knowledge in the field of metabolic and cardiovascular internal medicine.

1983. High dietary salt intake is associated with high blood pressure at a population level.
(Strazzullo P et al, J. Hypertension, 24:15, 1983)

1989. Plasma levels of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) are positively related to urinary sodium intake and excretion in men.
(Cappuccio FP et al, J Hypertens 1989; 7: S228- S229 )

1990. An independent association exists between the occurrence of kidney stone disease and hypertension. Kidney stone disease is more frequent among hypertensive than among normotensive men. Increased urinary calcium excretion may be the pathogenetic link between the two conditions.
(Cappuccio et al, Br Med J 1990; 300: 1234- 1236 )

1991. Serum selenium correlates positively and significantly with serum cholesterol levels.
(Jossa F et al, Atherosclerosis 1991; 87: 129- 134)

1991. Body mass index, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, serum triglycerides, and practice of sport activities are correlated to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.
(Jossa F et al,Prev Med 1991 ; 20 :700- 712)

1993. Serum uric acid concentration is independently associated with the rate of sodium and water reabsorption in the renal proximal tubule. Hyperuricemia may be the hallmark of elevated proximal tubular sodium reabsorption and insulin resistance/hyperinsulinemia may be a factor contributing to both phenomena.
(Cappuccio et al, JAMA 1993; 270: 354- 359)

1994. Serum uric acid concentration is associated with hypertension after adjustment for age, body mass index and serum lipids.
(Jossa F et al, J Human Hypertens 1994 ; 8 : 677- 681)

1996. Salt-sensitivity of blood pressure is associated with an enhanced rate of sodium transport in the renal proximal tubule.
(Barba G et al, Hypertension 1996; 27:1160- 1164)

1997. Altered renal sodium handling and hypertension are associated with abdominal adiposity and insulin resistance.
(Cappuccio FP et al, NMCD 1997; 7:141- 145)

1998. Red blood cell Na-Li countertransport is a valuable predictor of subsequent hypertension in middle-aged men with a high-normal blood pressure level for their age.
(Strazzullo P et al, Hypertension 1998; 31:1284- 1289 )

1999. Hypertension is a significant predictor of kidney stone disease rather than a consequence of renal damage caused by kidney stones.
(Cappuccio FP et al, J Hypertension 1999; 17: 1017- 1022)

2001. The Trp64Arg variant of the beta3- adrenoreceptor gene (ARB3) predicts a greater tendency to develop abdominal adiposity and high blood pressure with advancing age.
(Strazzullo P et al, J Hypertension 2001; 19: 399- 406)

2001. The Gly40Ser polymorphism of the glucagon receptor gene is associated with higher risk of hypertension and with enhanced proximal tubular sodium reabsorption.
(Strazzullo P et al, J Mol Med 2001; 79: 574- 580)

2001. The Gly40Ser polymorphism of the glucagon receptor gene (GCG- R) gene is associated with central adiposity independently of body mass in men.
(Siani A et al, Obesity Research 2001; 9: 722- 726)

2001. In an 8-year follow-up observation, a history of nephrolithiasis results in an increased risk of developing hypertension in the future.
(Strazzullo P et al, Nephrol Dial Transplant 2001; 16:2232- 2235)

2002. Central distribution of body fat is associated with high blood pressure independently of body mass index and insulin resistance.
(Siani A et al, Am J Hypertension 2002; 15: 780- 786)

2002. Central adiposity has a key role in the full expression of "metabolic syndrome".
(Siani A et al, Am J Hypertension 2002; 15: 780- 786)

2002. The C(-344)T polymorphism of CYP11B2 interacts with age in the regulation of blood pressure and plasma aldosterone levels.
(Russo P et al, J Hypertension 2002; 20: 1786-1792)

2003. The ACE I/D polymorphism is a significant predictor of overweight and abdominal adiposity
in men.
(Strazzullo P et al, Ann Int Med 2003; 138: 17-23)

2003. Plasma leptin concentration is associated with BP independently of age and body fat distribution.
(Barba G, Obes Res 2003; 11:160-166)

2003. Genetic variation in the natriuretic peptide clearance receptor is associated with abdominal adiposity.
(Sarzani R et al, Obes Res 2004; 12:351- 356)

2004. Genetic variation in the renin-angiotensin system (RAAS) is associated with altered proximal renal tubular sodium handling and with higher risk of hypertension.
(Siani A et al, Hypertension 2004; 14: 143-149)

2004. Genetic variation in the beta2 – adrenergic receptor gene (ARB2) is not associated with blood pressure or with overweight, obesity and fat distribution.
(Galletti F et al, Am J Hypertens 2004; 17 (8): 718-20)

2006. Metabolic syndrome is associated with altered renal proximal tubular sodium reabsorption: role of abdominal adiposity and insulin resitance.
(Strazzullo P et al, J. Hypertens. 2006; 24:1633-1639)

2006. Hind III(+/-) polymorphism of the Y chromosome is not associated with BP and serum
lipids in anyone of three different white populations.
(Russo P et al, Am J Hypertens 2006; 19:331-338)