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 Background & Objective: Carotid baroreflex is the most important system of moment-by-moment control of blood pressure. In the past, in order to test carotid baroreflex, invasive methods were incorporated. In 1975 Eckberg introduced a non-invasive apparatus for testing carotid baroreflex sensitivity . The main objective of the present research was to design and construct a more progressive version of the Eckberg's model apparatus. This apparatus would be able to stimulate cervical baroreceptors through sucking the neck. This device will enable physiologists and pharmacologists to perform many researches about carotid baroreceptors.�

 Methods: In this apparatus advanced electronic and mechanical ciruits apply negative controlled pressure on the carotid sinus and increase the blood pressure. By application of negative pressure in front of neck, it stretches the soft cervical tissues including carotid sinus. One of the major modifications included was using resistant rubber instead of lead sheets for making the neck chamber. The whole system was controlled by a computer, which made our system more advanced as compared to the original model suggested by Eckberg. In order to test the apparatus, 12 young male volunteers received a -30mmHg to -90mmHg neck chamber pressure for 10 seconds. Any changes in cardiac cycles during the suction were being recorded using cardiopen II. So the charges could be evaluated.

 Results: The findings showed that stimulation of carotid baroreceptors increased the length of cardiac cycles abruptly. This increase is significantly different from the baseline( p<0.003) and shows the correct functioning of the equipment.

 Conclusion: The final tests confirmed the capability of the apparatus in stimulating carotid baroreceptors. This device can be used in other universities and research centers.

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  Background & Objectives: Controlling diet to regulate blood pressure in hypertensive patients has always been a challenging issue. On the other hand, insufficient supporting systems, non efficient follow-up programs, patients inability to do treatment measures in relapsing period, insufficient following of diet and drug taking, unplanned discharge and poor knowledge of risk factors are among controllable factor that lead to the readmission of the patients. The aim of this study is determining the effect of follow up on blood pressure control in hypertentive patients.

  Methods: In this interventional study, hypertensive patients referring to emergency ward were randomly divided into two case groups (100 patients) and two control groups (100 patients). After collecting data, case group patients were trained in their homes about the role of nutrition, mobility and regular drug use in blood pressure control for 3 months. Then, blood pressure in case and control groups was controlled and mean blood pressure in two groups was compared. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS software using descriptive and analytical statistics.

  Result: 55.4 % of the case and 54.3% controls had family history of blood pressure. Before intervention mean BMI in case and control group was 26.8±5.56 and 28.04±14.66 and after intervention it was 25.96±5.38 and 27.61±14.29 respectively. Before follow up program was implemented, 39.13% of the cases and 35.87% of the controls had regular drug use history. After follow-up this rose to 44.6% and 42.4% respectively. After follow-up program 22.83% of the cases and 17.39% of the controls had referred to emergency ward or a physician once in 3 months. After intervention program, mean systolic blood pressure in cases and controls were 133 and 153 mmHg respectively and this difference was statistically meaningful (P<0.001). After follow-up, systolic blood pressure control in case and control groups was 59.8% and 35.9% respectively and this difference was meaningful (P<0.001).

  Conclusion: Results showed that after training program and home follow-up, blood pressure and weight control were more in case group, than control group, Therefore, we suggest that patient training programs and follow up and home follow-up be used as an effective way in hypertensive patients' health care and their treatment.

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Background & Objectives:�Stroke is the third most common cause of death after heart disease &cancer and the most common disabling neurological disorder. The incidence increases with age, and is somewhat higher in male than in female. The main risk factor of stroke is hypertension. In last years incidence of stroke has decreased due to improvement of hypertension treatment but due to occurrence of cerebrovascular accident with normal blood pressure, in many patients with stroke. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of mortality and morbidity in stroke patients with hypertension & normal blood pressure.

Methods:�This descriptive retrospective study, evaluated 8121 patients with stroke who were admitted at hospital (1997-2006). The inclusion and exclusion criteria were defined. Data was gathered through check list and analyzed by SPSS soft ware 10 edition and the results were compared with each other.

Results: The total mortality and morbidity rate of stroke was 13.59% who 19.3% of patients with high mean blood pressure and 10.2% of patients with normal mean blood pressure were expired due to stroke. The mortality based on age in two groups was similar and more frequent in 65 to 74 year olds. The rate of mortality and morbidity in patients with high mean blood pressure in male and female were similar but in normal mean blood pressure cases were more frequent in male than in female. Hemorrhagic stroke was the most common type of stroke in hypertensive patients (59.55%) and in normotensive patients, ischemic stroke was more frequent (37.7%). The duration from admission to death was similar in two groups and the death was highest within 72 hrs after admission.

Conclusion:�Since mortality and morbidity according to age had no significant difference in both groups. It seems other risk factors are effective in evaluating cerebrovascular accidents (prognosis).

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  Background & Objectives: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia together with biochemical alterations of lipid profile, insulin resistance and inflammation . Considering the high prevalence of hypertension, dyslipidemia and inflammation in type 2 diabetic patients, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of inulin on lipid profile, inflammation and blood pressure in women with type 2 diabetes.

  Methods: In this controlled, randomized clinical trial, 49 women with type 2 diabetes (fiber intake<30 g/d, BMI=25-35 kg/m²) were assigned to one of two groups. Experimental group (n=24) received 10 g/d inulin and control group (n=25) received 10 g/d maltodextrin for 8 weeks. Dietary intakes, anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, serum lipids and hs-CRP concentrations were measured at the baseline and at the end of the study. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (verision11.5). Paired, independent t-tests and ANCOVA were used to compare quantitative variables.

  Results: At the end of study, there was a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure (from 135.7 ± 16.2 to 125.9 ± 7.9 mmHg), total cholesterol ( from 192.5 ± 42.8 to 171.0 ± 39.7 mg/dl), triglyceride ( from 223.3 ± 84.2 to 169.9 ± 65.6 mg/dl) and hs-CRP ( from 7.9 ± 3.0 to 5.3 ± 3.0 mg/l) in inulin group compared with the maltodextrin group (p > 0.04 ). Changes in diastolic blood pressures, LDL-c and HDL-c were not significant in inulin group compared with the maltodextrin group. A significant decrease in systolic, diastolic blood pressures, total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-c, hs-CRP and significant increase in HDL-c were observed in inulin group compared to baseline.

  Conclusions: Inulin supplementation may improve lipid profile, hs-CRP and blood pressure in women with type 2 diabetes.

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  Background and Objectives : The risk of coronary artery disease increases with increasing of blood pressureboth in hypertensive and normotensive persons on the other hand nutritional factors have asignificant effect on blood pressure. The purpose of this study was to assess theeffect of caffeine on blood pressure in sedentary healthy male during resistance exercise.

  Methods: In single-blind crossover study , twenty healthy and non-athlete male in the University of Mohaghegh Ardabili randomly selected and stratified according to age and BMI into twogroups: caffeine and placebo. The subjects performed repetitions to exhaustion at 60% of 1RM for any motion of chest press, leg press, squat and lat pulldown, 1 hour after taking caffeine (6 mg/kg body weight) or Placebo (similar dosage of starch). Blood pressure (BP) was measured before and 1 hour after taking caffeine and also immediately after any exercise. Data analysis was conducted using independent and paired t-test.

  Results : Results indicated that systolic and diastolic BP and mean arterial pressure significantly elevated following caffeine intake at rest, but no significant differences were observed after exercise.

  Conclusion: These findings indicate that caffeine at this dosage level alters cardiovascular dynamics by augmenting arterial blood pressure in moderately non-athletes male at rest. However, it seems that taking caffeine before resistance exercise does not cause abnormal elevations in blood pressure in sedentary healthy male.

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Background & objectives: The use of controlled hypotension is important to reduce bleeding in some surgeries. This study aimed to determine the effects of dexmedetomidine (DEX) and labetalol for induced hypotension in maxillofacial fractures surgery.
Methods: In this triple-blind randomized controlled clinical trial study, the patients with maxillofacial fractures were randomly divided into two groups: group 1. Dexmedetomidine (DEX) (bolus dose: 1μg/kg and maintenance dose: 0.3-0.5 μg/kg/h) and group 2. Labetalol (bolus dose: 0.3mg/kg and maintenance dose: 0.2-0.5 mg/kg/h). The patient's hemodynamic indices (including heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were recorded at various surgical intervals. Finally, the surgeon's satisfaction (from 1-6 points) was evaluated. Data were analyzed using SPSS 19 software.
Results: The MAP, SBP, and DBP were significantly higher in the DEX group than the Labetalol group especially at 30 and 90 minutes after the bolus. The mean HR was significantly lower in the DEX group than Labetalol during the recovery period. The surgeon's satisfaction in the Labetalol group was significantly higher than the DEX group.
Conclusion: Based on the results, labetalol offers a better hemodynamics conditions than DEX during surgery and also lead to greater overall surgeon satisfaction.

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Background & objectives: Caffeine can affect many physiological functions of the body. The aim of this study was to investigate the response of aerobic function, blood pressure and some immune system factors of trained men to acute caffeine consumption in dehydrated condition and warm and humid environment.
Methods: Thirty male athletes with a mean age of 26.6±3.9 years in dehydrated conditions voluntarily participated in this study, which was performed in a double-blind manner. Subjects were divided into three groups: caffeine consumption group (n=10), placebo group (n=10) and control group (n=10). The Caffeine group consumed 6 mg/kg body weight of caffeine. Sixty minutes later, the subjects performed an increasingly exhausting exercise. Blood samples collecting and blood pressure measuring took place before, immediately after and 24 hours after exercise. Analysis of variance with repeated measures (group * time) and one-way analysis of variance were used for statistical calculations.
Results: The duration of the exhaustion test in the caffeine consumption group was significantly longer than the control (p≤0.01) and placebo (p≤0.05) groups. In the blood sampling immediately after exercise, the level of leukocytes, neutrophils and lymphocytes in the exercise groups were significantly higher than the control group (p≤0.001). Also, the caffeine group experienced a lower increase in leukocytes and neutrophils compared to the placebo group (p≤0.001). Blood pressure values ​​in the exercise groups were significantly higher than the control group (p≤0.001). Also, the caffeine group experienced a greater increase in systolic blood pressure at baseline and immediately after exercise compared to the placebo group (p≤0.001).
Conclusion: In general, exhausting exercise in a warm environment and dehydrated condition increases the number of immune system cells and blood pressure. In addition to improving aerobic function, caffeine seems to prevent further increases in the number of immune system cells, while increasing blood pressure in the normal range in warm and humid environment.