Chronotherapy for Hypertension

Clinical studies on pharmacological treatment of hypertension in Japan

Differences in the epidemiology and phenotypes of hypertension in Japan compared with Western countries mean that optimal approaches to the pharmacological management of hypertension should be based on local data. Fortunately, there is a large body of evidence from studies conducted in Japanese populations to inform guidelines and treatment decisions. This article highlights treatment recommendations and BP targets for Japanese patients with hypertension, and summarizes key literature supporting these recommendations. The latest version of the Japanese Society of Hypertension (JSH) guidelines is consistent with US and European guidelines in recommending that the general BP target should be <130/80 mmHg for office blood pressure (BP) and <125/75 mmHg for home BP. There is good local evidence to support these targets. The JSH guidelines also strongly recommend that antihypertensive therapy is managed and monitored based on home BP, due to the closer association of this parameter with cardiovascular risk compared with office BP. Japan is a leader in out-of-office BP research, meaning that there is good evidence for the Japanese recommendations. Key features of antihypertensive agents for use in Japanese patients with hypertension include the ability to reduce stroke risk provide antihypertensive efficacy throughout the 24-h dosing period. Calcium channel blockers appear to be particularly effective in Asian populations, and are the most commonly prescribed agents in Japan. Again consistent with international recommendations, antihypertensive therapy should be started with a combination of agents to maximize the chances of achieving target BP.

Abnormal blood pressure dipping pattern: frequency, determinants, and correlates in Diabetes Mellitus patients in the Cardiovascular Health Risk Assessment in Diabetes Mellitus (CHiD) study

Purpose

Non-dipping status is associated with increased total and cardiovascular mortality in many disease conditions including diabetes mellitus. The pattern and its implications are not well described among Africans. This study was done to describe the frequency of abnormal blood pressure (BP) dipping among T2DM subjects, its determinants and correlates in Ogbomoso, Nigeria.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study done at the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso. One hundred individuals diagnosed with T2DM were recruited and they had 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring, echocardiography, ECG, and carotid Doppler among other evaluations. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 27.0 (Chicago Ill, USA).

Results

The mean age of the participants was 59.3 ± 10.8 years, mean body mass index 27.7 ± 5.9 kg/m2 with a mean duration of diabetes of 7.52 ± 5.54 years. Abnormal BP dipping was present in 89% (consisting of 41% or reverse dippers and 48% non-dippers). T2DM subjects with abnormal dipping pattern were more likely to be females, had higher glycated haemoglobin, lower fractional shortening, higher left atrial volume and left ventricular mass index, and a higher DM duration than those with normal BP dipping status. The major determinants of abnormal dipping pattern were the duration of diabetes and low HDL-C concentration.

Conclusion

Abnormal BP dipping pattern is highly prevalent in T2DM subjects, especially among females. Abnormal BP dipping was also associated with markers of increased cardiovascular risk such as impaired kidney function, left ventricular hypertrophy, postural hypotension, history of intermittent claudication, and presence of plaques on carotid Doppler studies.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40200-023-01337-8.

The Option of Chronotherapy of Hypertension

The aim of the present paper is to explore the option of chronotherapy of hypertension and its effectiveness in blood pressure (BP) lowering compared with its standard daily treatment. The treatment of BP has gone through many different schemes over the years. From no treatment in the early 1930s, to step care, to multiple drug combinations, or to single daily drug combinations with 2-3 drugs, still BP is not well controlled in a significant number of patients. Recently, the role of the circadian rhythm in the treatment of hypertension has been tested by several studies comparing the evening versus the morning drug administration with no clear evidence of superiority of either mode of drug administration. However, in cases of morning surge of BP, nocturnal hypertension, and renal disease, the evening drug administration has been more effective than the morning drug administration, and thus, more preferable. In order to get a better perspective on this approach of hypertension treatment, a Medline search of the English literature was contacted between 2010 and 2023 using the terms BP control, circadian rhythm, morning drug administration, evening drug administration, and 38 pertinent papers were selected for analysis. Careful review of the selected papers showed that chronotherapy of hypertension is effective. However, the overall effectiveness of evening drug administration compared with the morning administration is not significantly more effective compared to the morning administration and more work is needed in this field.

Demonstrating the Benefits of Antihypertensive Nighttime Dosing and Indapamide Usage in Hypertension Management

Background: Uncontrolled hypertension, specifically nocturnal hypertension, increases the risk for significant clinical outcomes. Evidence on the use of nighttime antihypertensives is scant and conflicting. In addition, hydrochlorothiazide continues to be the primary thiazide used despite being the least potent. Objective: The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate instituting nighttime dosing to control hypertension and compare the short-term effectiveness of blood pressure control with indapamide versus hydrochlorothiazide. Methods: This was a retrospective, observational study. Participant inclusion criteria consisted of patients 18 years of age or older, a current diagnosis of hypertension, and hypertension that required medical therapy. The investigator documented whether a patient was taking at least one antihypertensive at night versus all morning medications, as well as the use of indapamide versus hydrochlorothiazide. The patient's baseline and first follow-up blood pressure readings were documented. The primary outcome was to determine whether including nighttime dosing in antihypertensive regimens is more effective than all morning antihypertensive regimens. The secondary outcome was to determine whether indapamide was more effective than hydrochlorothiazide. Results: A total of 64 patients were included in the study. Twenty-eight patients were taking >1 nighttime antihypertensives versus 32 patients on all morning medications. Patients on at least one nighttime medication demonstrated greater systolic blood pressure reduction. There was no difference in blood pressure reduction between indapamide and hydrochlorothiazide. Conclusion: The study findings support the use of nighttime dosing to improve blood pressure management. The results on the effectiveness of indapamide versus hydrochlorothiazide conflict with previous research.

Towards improving the prognosis of stroke through targeting the circadian clock system

Rhythmicity of the circadian system is a 24-hour period, driven by transcription-translation feedback loops of circadian clock genes. The central circadian pacemaker in mammals is located in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which controls peripheral circadian clocks. In general, most physiological processes are regulated by the circadian system, which is modulated by environmental cues such as exposure to light and/or dark, temperature, and the timing of sleep/wake and food intake. The chronic circadian disruption caused by shift work, jetlag, and/or irregular sleep-wake cycles has long-term health consequences. Its dysregulation contributes to the risk of psychiatric disorders, sleep abnormalities, hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, cancer, and obesity. A number of neurological conditions may be worsened by changes in the circadian clock via the SCN pacemaker. For stroke, different physiological activities such as sleep/wake cycles are disrupted due to alterations in circadian rhythms. Moreover, the immunological processes that affect the evolution and recovery processes of stroke are regulated by the circadian clock or core-clock genes. Thus, disrupted circadian rhythms may increase the severity and consequences of stroke, while readjustment of circadian clock machinery may accelerate recovery from stroke. In this manuscript, we discuss the relationship between stroke and circadian rhythms, particularly on stroke development and its recovery process. We focus on immunological and/or molecular processes linking stroke and the circadian system and suggest the circadian rhythm as a target for designing effective therapeutic strategies in stroke.

Circadian regulated control of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury

Circadian mechanisms have been associated with the pathogenesis of a variety of cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (I-R). Myocardial ischemia resulting from impaired oxygen delivery to cardiac muscle sets into motion a cascade of cellular events that paradoxically triggers greater cardiac dysfunction upon reinstitution of coronary blood supply, a phenomenon known as I-R. I-R injury has been attributed to a number of cellular defects including increased reactive oxygen species (ROS), increased intracellular calcium and impaired mitochondrial bioenergetics that ultimately lead to cardiac cell death, ventricular remodeling and heart failure. Emerging evidence has identified a strong correlation between cellular defects that underlie I-R and the disrupted circadian. In fact, recent studies have shown that circadian dysfunction exacerbates cardiac injury following MI from impaired cellular quality control mechanisms such as autophagy, which are vital in the clearance of damaged cellular proteins and organelles such as mitochondria from the cell. The accumulation of cellular debris is posited as the central underlying cause of excessive cardiac cell death and ventricular dysfunction following MI. The complexities that govern the interplay between circadian biology and I-R injury following MI is at its infancy and understanding how circadian misalignment, such as in shift workers impacts I-R injury is of great scientific and clinical importance toward development of new therapeutic strategies using chronotherapy and circadian regulation to mitigate cardiac injury and improve cardiac outcomes after injury. In this review, we highlight recent advances in circadian biology and adaptive cellular quality control mechanisms that influence cardiac injury in response to MI injury with a specific focus on how circadian biology can be utilized to further cardiovascular medicine and patient care.

Pressure Building Against the Clock: The Impact of Circadian Misalignment on Blood Pressure

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Misalignment between the endogenous biological timing system and behavioral activities (i.e., sleep/wake, eating, activity) contributes to adverse cardiovascular health. In this review, we discuss the effects of recurring circadian misalignment on blood pressure regulation and the implications for hypertension development. Additionally, we highlight emerging therapeutic approaches designed to mitigate the negative cardiovascular consequences elicited by circadian disruption.

RECENT FINDINGS

Circadian misalignment elicited by work schedules that require individuals to be awake during the biological night (i.e., shift work) alters 24-h blood pressure rhythms. Mechanistically, circadian misalignment appears to alter blood pressure via changes in autonomic nervous system balance, variations to sodium retention, dysregulation of endothelial vasodilatory responsiveness, and activation of proinflammatory mechanisms. Recurring circadian misalignment produced by a mismatch in sleep timing on free days vs. work days (i.e., social jetlag) appears to have no direct effects on prevailing blood pressure levels in healthy adults; though, circadian disruptions resulting from social jetlag may increase the risk of hypertension through enhanced sympathetic activation and/or obesity. Furthermore, social jetlag assessment may be a useful metric in shift work populations where the magnitude of circadian misalignment may be greater than in the general population. Circadian misalignment promotes unfavorable changes to 24-h blood pressure rhythms, most notably in shift working populations. While light therapy, melatonin supplementation, and the timing of drug administration may improve cardiovascular outcomes, interventions designed to target the effects of circadian misalignment on blood pressure regulation are warranted.

Taking biological rhythms into account: From study design to results reporting

Numerous physiological and behavioral processes in living organisms exhibit strong rhythmicity and are regulated within a 24-hour cycle. These include locomotor activity and sleep patterns, feeding-fasting cycles, hormone synthesis, body temperature, and even mood and cognitive abilities, all of which are segregated into different phases throughout the day. These processes are governed by the internal timing system, a hierarchical multi-oscillator structure conserved across all organisms, from bacteria to humans. Circadian rhythms have been seen across multiple taxonomic kingdoms. In mammals, a hierarchical internal timing system is comprised of so-called central and periphereal clocks. Although these rhythms are intrinsic, they are under environmental influences, such as seasonal temperature changes, photoperiod variations, and day-night cycles. Recognizing the existence of biological rhythms and their primary external influences is crucial when designing and reporting experiments. Neglecting these physiological variations may result in inconsistent findings and misinterpretations. Thus, here we propose to incorporate biological rhythms into all stages of human and animal research, including experiment design, analysis, and reporting of findings. We also provide a flowchart to support decision-making during the design process, considering biological rhythmicity, along with a checklist outlining key factors that should be considered and documented throughout the study. This comprehensive approach not only benefits the field of chronobiology but also holds value for various other research disciplines. The insights gained from this study have the potential to enhance the validity, reproducibility, and overall quality of scientific investigations, providing valuable guidance for planning, developing, and communicating scientific studies.

Effect of Liuzijue exercise in different periods on circadian rhythm of blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension: A randomized trial

BACKGROUND

Exercising at different times of the day is a widely employed strategy for treating essential hypertension, aimed at enhancing the circadian rhythm of blood pressure. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Liuzijue exercise in the morning and afternoon on the circadian rhythm of blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension.

METHODS

This clinical randomized trial recruited 36 patients. They were randomly divided into 3 groups: morning exercise, afternoon exercise, and waiting treatment group. Randomization was performed at a ratio of 1:1:1, ensuring an equal distribution of participants among the 3 groups. Based on maintaining routine work and rest and continuing the original drug treatment, the exercise performed Liuzijue exercise for 12 weeks. The exercise time was 9:00 to 10:00 in the morning exercise group and 14:00 to 15:00 in the afternoon exercise group. The waiting treatment group did not perform any form of fitness exercise. The subjects in the 3 groups were monitored by 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure on the day before and after the first day.

RESULTS

After the 12-week Liuzijue exercise intervention, mean systolic blood pressure during the night significantly decreased in the morning exercise group (P < .01). In contrast, the waiting group experienced substantial increases in 24-hour mean systolic blood pressure (24hSBP), 24-hour mean diastolic blood pressure (24hDBP), mean systolic blood pressure during the daytime (dSBP), and mean diastolic blood pressure during the daytime (dDBP) (P < .01). Further analysis showed that the morning exercise group had significantly lower 24hSBP, 24hDBP, dSBP, dDBP, and mean systolic blood pressure during the night than the waiting group (P < .05). Additionally, the morning exercise group had lower 24hSBP and dSBP levels than the afternoon exercise group (P < .05). In contrast, the afternoon exercise group had lower 24hDBP and dDBP than the waiting treatment group (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

The 12-week Liuzijue exercise in the morning regimen demonstrated superior efficacy in reducing 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure levels among patients with essential hypertension. Moreover, it facilitates the transition of non-dipper blood pressure patterns to dippers, thereby rectifying aberrant circadian rhythms.

Effect of time-dependent ibuprofen administration on the post operatory after impacted third molar extraction: a cross-over randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE

To evaluate time-dependent administration of ibuprofen in a lower third molar extraction model.

METHODS

Eleven patients requiring bilateral surgical removal of lower third molars were recruited and randomized into a blinded crossover randomized controlled trial. For 3 days after surgery, the control group was prescribed ibuprofen 400 mg every 8 h. On the other hand, the experimental group received also ibuprofen 400 mg at breakfast and lunch, replacing the dinner intake with a placebo. Pain measurements (Visual Analog Scale from 0 to 10) were recorded at baseline, 24, 48, and 72 h postoperatively. Facial swelling and trismus were also measured at baseline, 24, and 72 h postoperatively.

RESULTS

Postoperative swelling and pain perception did not show significative difference between the control and experimental groups at 24, 48, and 72 h. Trismus was significantly lower in the control group than in the experimental group at 72 h postoperatively (p = 0.008). Rescue medication consumption seemed to be comparable between groups.

CONCLUSION

Eliminating night time ibuprofen might be insignificant for pain control after third molar extraction.

The effect of bedtime versus morning dosing of antihypertensive drugs on the cardiovascular outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Antihypertensive drugs are one of the most effective strategies to prevent disability and mortality; however, there have been contradictory findings about the best dosing time for antihypertensive drugs. Therefore, we aim to evaluate the effect of bedtime versus morning dosing of antihypertensive drugs on cardiovascular outcomes.

METHODS

We synthesized randomized controlled studies (RCTs) from the Web of Science, SCOPUS, EMBASE, PubMed, and CENTRAL until 13 October 2022. The risk ratio (RR) for dichotomous outcomes with the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) was used. The study protocol was registered in PROSPERO with ID: CRD42022368612.

RESULTS

Five RCTs with 59 200 participants were included. Bedtime dosing was significantly associated with less incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) [RR: 0.80 with 95% CI (0.70-0.91), P = 0.0007] compared with morning dosing; however, there was no statistically significant difference between bedtime and morning dosing, regarding all-cause mortality [RR: 0.77 with 95% CI (0.51-1.16), P = 0.21], cardiovascular mortality [RR: 0.65 with 95% CI (0.35-1.21), P = 0.17], major adverse cardiac events (MACE) [RR: 0.79 with 95% CI (0.56-1.10), P = 0.16], heart failure [RR: 0.68 with 95% CI (0.42-1.09), P = 0.11], cerebrovascular accidents [RR: 0.80 with 95% CI (0.53-1.22), P = 0.30], coronary revascularization [RR: 0.79 with 95% CI (0.50-1.24), P = 0.30}, and angina [RR: 0.91 with 95% CI (0.55-1.50), P = 0.70].

CONCLUSION

Evidence about the comparative efficacy of bedtime versus morning dosing of antihypertensives is still uncertain. However, bedtime dosing significantly reduced MI, which warrants more robust RCTs to validate.

Efficacy of Allisartan Isoproxil in the Treatment of Mild-to-Moderate Essential Hypertension

BACKGROUND

Allisartan isoproxil is a selective nonpeptide angiotensin II (AT1) receptor blocker developed by China, this study aimed to assess its clinical efficacy for essential hypertension (EH).

METHODS

Patients with mild-to-moderate EH, selected at 44 sites in China from September 9, 2016, to December 7, 2018, were administered 240 mg allisartan isoproxil daily for 4 weeks. Patients with controlled blood pressure (BP) continued monotherapy for 8 weeks, others were randomly assigned (1:1) to A + D group (allisartan isoproxil 240 mg + indapamide 1.5 mg) or A + C group (allisartan isoproxil + amlodipine besylate 5 mg) for 8 weeks. BP were measured at week 4, 8 and 12.

RESULTS

2,126 patients were included in the analysis. After 12 weeks of treatment, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) decreased by 19.24 ± 12.02 and 10.63 ± 8.89 mm Hg, respectively, and the overall BP control rate was 78.56%. The sitting blood pressures (SBP/DBP) decreased by 19.12 ± 11.71/10.84 ± 8.73 mm Hg in patients with 12 weeks allisartan isoproxil monotherapy (both P < 0.0001). The BP reductions and control rates were comparable between A + D and A + C groups. 48 patients with monotherapy-controlled BP underwent ambulatory BP monitoring, with a mean decrease in ambulatory BP of 10.04 ± 10.87/5.50 ± 8.07 mm Hg after 12 weeks of treatment, and consistent reductions between day and night. SBP and DBP had trough-to-peak ratios of 64.64% and 62.63% and smoothness indices of 3.82 and 2.92, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

An allisartan isoproxil-based antihypertensive regimen can effectively control BP in patients with mild-to-moderate EH.

PROJECT REGISTRATION NO

CTR20160138 (Registration and Information Disclosure Platform for China Drug Clinical Studies, http://www.chinadrugtrials.org.cn/index.html).

Biological rhythms and epilepsy treatment

Approximately one-third of patients with epilepsy are drug-refractory, necessitating novel treatment approaches. Chronopharmacology, which adjusts pharmacological treatment to physiological variations in seizure susceptibility and drug responsiveness, offers a promising strategy to enhance efficacy and tolerance. This narrative review provides an overview of the biological foundations for rhythms in seizure activity, clinical implications of seizure patterns through case reports, and the potential of chronopharmacological strategies to improve treatment. Biological rhythms, including circadian and infradian rhythms, play an important role in epilepsy. Understanding seizure patterns may help individualize treatment decisions and optimize therapeutic outcomes. Altering drug concentrations based on seizure risk periods, adjusting administration times, and exploring hormone therapy are potential strategies. Large-scale randomized controlled trials are needed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of differential and intermittent treatment approaches. By tailoring treatment to individual seizure patterns and pharmacological properties, chronopharmacology offers a personalized approach to improve outcomes in patients with epilepsy.

Consensus Recommendations for Standardized Data Elements, Scales, and Time Segmentations in Studies of Human Circadian/Diurnal Biology and Stroke

Increasing evidence indicates that circadian and diurnal rhythms robustly influence stroke onset, mechanism, progression, recovery, and response to therapy in human patients. Pioneering initial investigations yielded important insights but were often single-center series, used basic imaging approaches, and used conflicting definitions of key data elements, including what constitutes daytime versus nighttime. Contemporary methodologic advances in human neurovascular investigation have the potential to substantially increase understanding, including the use of large multicenter and national data registries, detailed clinical trial data sets, analysis guided by individual patient chronotype, and multimodal computed tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging. To fully harness the power of these approaches to enhance pathophysiologic knowledge, an important foundational step is to develop standardized definitions and coding guides for data collection, permitting rapid aggregation of data acquired in different studies, and ensuring a common framework for analysis. To meet this need, the Leducq Consortium International pour la Recherche Circadienne sur l'AVC (CIRCA) convened a Consensus Statement Working Group of leading international researchers in cerebrovascular and circadian/diurnal biology. Using an iterative, mixed-methods process, the working group developed 79 data standards, including 48 common data elements (23 new and 25 modified/unmodified from existing common data elements), 14 intervals for time-anchored analyses of different granularity, and 7 formal, validated scales. This portfolio of standardized data structures is now available to assist researchers in the design, implementation, aggregation, and interpretation of clinical, imaging, and population research related to the influence of human circadian/diurnal biology upon ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke.

Assessment of Oxidative Stress Markers in Hypertensive Patients under the Use of Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone Blockers

As in other fields, chronotherapy applied to arterial hypertension (AHT) may have implications on oxidative stress. We compared the levels of some redox markers between hypertensive patients with morning and bedtime use of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) blockers. This was an observational study that included patients older than 18 years with a diagnosis of essential AHT. Blood pressure (BP) figures were measured using twenty-four-hour ambulatory BP monitoring (24-h ABPM). Lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation were assessed using the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and reduced thiols assays. We recruited 70 patients with a median age of 54 years, of whom 38 (54%) were women. In hypertensive patients with bedtime use of RAAS blockers, reduced thiol levels showed a positive correlation with nocturnal diastolic BP decrease. TBARS levels were associated with bedtime use of RAAS blockers in dipper and non-dipper hypertensive patients. In non-dipper patients, bedtime use of RAAS blockers was also associated with a decrease in nocturnal diastolic BP. Chronotherapy applied to bedtime use of some BP-lowering drugs in hypertensive patients may be linked to a better redox profile.

Chronotherapy in Glioblastoma: state of the art and future perspectives

Circadian rhythms regulate various processes in the human body, including drug metabolism. Chronotherapy optimizes treatment timing based on the circadian rhythm of the individual patient, such that the treatment efficacy is maximized, and adverse effects are minimized. It has been explored in different cancers with varying conclusions. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive type of brain tumour with a very dismal prognosis. In recent years, there has been very little success in designing successful therapies to fight this disease. Chronotherapy offers the opportunity to leverage existing treatments to extend patient survival and to increase their quality of life. Here, we discuss recent advances in using chronotherapy regimens in the treatment of GMB, such as radiotherapy, temozolomide (TMZ) and bortezomib, as well as discuss novel treatments with drugs of short half-life or circadian phase specific activity, and examine the therapeutic potential of new approaches that target elements of the core circadian clock.

Circadian rhythms in the blood-brain barrier: impact on neurological disorders and stress responses

Circadian disruption has become more prevalent in society due to the increase in shift work, sleep disruption, blue light exposure, and travel via different time zones. The circadian rhythm is a timed transcription-translation feedback loop with positive regulators, BMAL1 and CLOCK, that interact with negative regulators, CRY and PER, to regulate both the central and peripheral clocks. This review highlights the functions of the circadian rhythm, specifically in the blood-brain barrier (BBB), during both healthy and pathological states. The BBB is a highly selective dynamic interface composed of CNS endothelial cells, astrocytes, pericytes, neurons, and microglia that form the neurovascular unit (NVU). Circadian rhythms modulate BBB integrity through regulating oscillations of tight junction proteins, assisting in functions of the NVU, and modulating transporter functions. Circadian disruptions within the BBB have been observed in stress responses and several neurological disorders, including brain metastasis, epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. Further understanding of these interactions may facilitate the development of improved treatment options and preventative measures.

Understanding the dosing-time-dependent antihypertensive effect of valsartan and aspirin through mathematical modeling

Chronopharmacology of arterial hypertension impacts the long-term cardiovascular risk of hypertensive subjects. Therefore, clinical and computational studies have proposed optimizing antihypertensive medications' dosing time (Ta). However, the causes and mechanisms underlying the Ta-dependency antihypertensive effect have not been elucidated. Here we propose using a Ta- dependent effect model to understand and predict the antihypertensive effect of valsartan and aspirin throughout the day in subjects with grade I or II essential hypertension. The model based on physiological regulation mechanisms includes a periodic function for each parameter that changes significantly after treatment. Circadian variations of parameters depending on the dosing time allowed the determination of regulation mechanisms dependent on the circadian rhythm that were most relevant for the action of each drug. In the case of valsartan, it is the regulation of vasodilation and systemic vascular resistance. In the case of aspirin, the antithrombotic effect generates changes in the sensitivity of systemic vascular resistance and heart rate to changes in physical activity. Dosing time-dependent models predict a more significant effect on systemic vascular resistance and blood pressure when administering valsartan or aspirin at bedtime. However, circadian dependence on the regulation mechanisms showed different sensitivity of their circadian parameters and shapes of functions, presenting different phase shifts and amplitude. Therefore, different mechanisms of action and pharmacokinetic properties of each drug can generate different profiles of Ta-dependence of antihypertensive effect and optimal dosing times.

Dosing time optimization of antihypertensive medications by including the circadian rhythm in pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic models

Blood pressure (BP) follows a circadian variation, increasing during active hours, showing a small postprandial valley and a deeper decrease during sleep. Nighttime reduction of 10–20% relative to daytime BP is defined as a dipper pattern, and a reduction of less than 10%, as a non-dipper pattern. Despite this BP variability, hypertension’s diagnostic criteria and therapeutic objectives are usually based on BP average values. Indeed, studies have shown that chrono-pharmacological optimization significantly reduces long-term cardiovascular risk if a BP dipper pattern is maintained. Changes in the effect of antihypertensive medications can be explained by circadian variations in their pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD). Nevertheless, BP circadian variation has been scarcely included in PK-PD models of antihypertensive medications to date. In this work, we developed PK-PD models that include circadian rhythm to find the optimal dosing time (Ta) of first-line antihypertensive medications for dipper and non-dipper patterns. The parameters of the PK-PD models were estimated using global optimization, and models were selected according to the lowest corrected Akaike information criterion value. Simultaneously, sensitivity and identifiability analysis were performed to determine the relevance of the parameters and establish those that can be estimated. Subsequently, Ta parameters were optimized to maximize the effect on BP average, BP peaks, and sleep-time dip. As a result, all selected models included at least one circadian PK component, and circadian parameters had the highest sensitivity. Furthermore, Ta with which BP>130/80 mmHg and a dip of 10–20% are achieved were proposed when possible. We show that the optimal Ta depends on the therapeutic objective, the medication, and the BP profile. Therefore, our results suggest making chrono-pharmacological recommendations in a personalized way.

Nocturnal Dipping and Kidney Function Decline: Findings From the CKD in Children Study

Introduction

Normally, blood pressure (BP) declines by at least 10% from daytime to nighttime. In adults, blunted nocturnal dipping has been associated with more rapid decline in kidney function. Nondipping is prevalent in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We sought to determine whether nondipping is associated with proteinuria and progression to kidney failure in children with CKD.

Methods

In the prospective CKD in children (CKiD) cohort, Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the relationship between baseline nondipping and progression to kidney failure. Linear mixed effects models were used to evaluate the relationship between nondipping and changes in iohexol glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (log-UPCR, mg/mg) over time.

Results

Among 620 participants, mean age was 11 (± 4) years, mean iohexol GFR was 52 (± 22) ml/min per 1.73 m2, and 40% were nondippers at baseline. There were 169 kidney failure events during 2.9 years (median) of follow-up. Dipping status was not significantly associated with kidney failure overall (hazard ratio [HR] 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.77, 1.51) or in those with (HR 1.21; 95% CI 0.53, 2.77) or without (HR 1.05; 95% CI 0.71, 1.55) glomerular disease. Dipping status did not modify the relationship between time and change in iohexol GFR or log (UPCR) from baseline (interaction P values = 0.20 and 0.054, respectively).

Conclusion

Nondipping is not associated with end-stage kidney disease, GFR decline, or change in proteinuria within the CKiD cohort.

New insight into ischemic stroke: Circadian rhythm in post-stroke angiogenesis

The circadian rhythm is an endogenous clock system that coordinates and optimizes various physiological and pathophysiological processes, which accord with the master and the peripheral clock. Increasing evidence indicates that endogenous circadian rhythm disruption is involved in the lesion volume and recovery of ischemic stroke. As a critical recovery mechanism in post-stroke, angiogenesis reestablishes the regional blood supply and enhances cognitive and behavioral abilities, which is mainly composed of the following processes: endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and pericyte recruitment. The available evidence revealed that the circadian governs many aspects of angiogenesis. This study reviews the mechanism by which circadian rhythms regulate the process of angiogenesis and its contribution to functional recovery in post-stroke at the aspects of the molecular level. A comprehensive understanding of the circadian clock regulating angiogenesis in post-stroke is expected to develop new strategies for the treatment of cerebral infarction.

The circadian system, sleep, and the health/disease balance: a conceptual review

The field of "circadian medicine" is a recent addition to chronobiology and sleep research efforts. It represents a logical step arising from the increasing insights into the circadian system and its interactions with life in urbanised societies; applying these insights to the health/disease balance at home and in the medical practice (outpatient) and clinic (inpatient). Despite its fast expansion and proliferating research efforts, circadian medicine lacks a formal framework to categorise the many observations describing interactions among the circadian system, sleep, and the health/disease balance. A good framework allows us to categorise observations and then assign them to one or more components with hypothesised interactions. Such assignments can lead to experiments that document causal (rather than correlational) relationships and move from describing observations to discovering mechanisms. This review details such a proposed formal framework for circadian medicine and will hopefully trigger discussion among our colleagues, so that the framework can be improved and expanded. As the basis of the framework for circadian medicine, we define "circadian health" and how it links to general health. We then define interactions among the circadian system, sleep, and the health/disease balance and put the framework into the context of the literature with examples from six domains of health/disease balance: fertility, cancer, immune system, mental health, cardiovascular, and metabolism.

The Association of Nocturnal Blood Pressure Patterns and Other Influencing Factors With Lacunes and Enlarged Perivascular Spaces in Hypertensive Patients

Purpose

Nocturnal blood pressure dipping patterns have been associated with an increased risk of Cerebral Small Vessel Disease (CSVD), which has not been well-studied. This study is aimed to explore the association of dipping patterns and other factors with lacunes and enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVS) in patients with hypertension.

Methods

We enrolled a total of 1,322 patients with essential hypertension in this study. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring were completed. Nocturnal BP decline was calculated, and then dipping patterns were classified. Patients were classified into four groups according to the performance of lacunes and EPVS in the MRI scan for statistical analysis.

Results

(1) Nocturnal BP decline showed independent negative correlation with both lacunes and EPVS while mean systolic BP (mSBP) level showed an independent positive correlation with them (P &lt; 0.05). (2) The frequency of reverse-dippers in the control group was significantly lower than that in other groups; the frequency of non-dippers in the lacunes group and EPVS group was significantly lower than that in the control group; the frequency of extreme-dippers in the EPVS group was significantly higher than that in the mixed (lacunes with EPVS) group (P &lt; 0.05).

Conclusions

Both mSBP and dipping patterns might play an important role in developing lacunes and EPVS in patients with hypertension.

Isolated nocturnal hypertension in pediatric kidney transplant recipients

BACKGROUND

Isolated nocturnal hypertension (INH) is defined as nighttime hypertension in the setting of normal daytime blood pressure (BP), diagnosed by ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Hypertension affects 60%-80% of pediatric kidney transplant recipients, and INH is the most common type of ambulatory hypertension. INH is associated with an increased prevalence of hypertension-mediated target organ damage such as left ventricular hypertrophy in adults and in pediatric kidney transplant recipients.

CONCLUSION

Ambulatory BP monitoring should be performed annually in all pediatric kidney transplant recipients to diagnose hypertension phenotypes that are not detectable by office BP such as masked hypertension, white-coat hypertension, or INH. Isolated nocturnal hypertension in pediatric transplant patients requires study as a treatment target.

Management of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone inhibitors and other antihypertensives and their clinical effects on pre-anesthesia blood pressure

Background

Blood pressure fluctuations appear more significant in patients with poorly controlled hypertension and are known to be associated with adverse perioperative morbidity. In the present study, we aimed to determine the effects of antihypertensive drug treatment strategies on preanesthetic operating room blood pressure measurements.

Methods

A total of 717 patients participated in our study; 383 patients who were normotensive based on baseline measurements and not under antihypertensive therapy were excluded from the analysis. The remaining 334 patients were divided into six groups according to the antihypertensive drug treatment. These six groups were examined in terms of preoperative baseline and pre-anesthesia blood pressure measurements.

Results

As a result of the study, it was observed that 24% of patients had high blood pressure precluding surgery, and patients using renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASI) had higher pre-anesthesia systolic blood pressure than patients using other antihypertensive drugs. Patients who received beta-blockers were also observed to have the lowest pre-anesthesia systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and mean blood pressure, compared to others.

Conclusions

Recently, whether RAASI should be continued preoperatively remains controversial. Our study shows that RAASI cannot provide optimal pre-anesthesia blood pressure and lead to an increase in the number of postponed surgeries, probably due to withdrawal of medication before the operation. Therefore, the preoperative discontinuation of RAASI should be reevaluated in future studies.

Ingestion-time differences in the pharmacodynamics of dual-combination hypertension therapies: Systematic review and meta-analysis of published human trials

The pharmacodynamics of hypertension medications can be significantly affected by circadian rhythms in the biological mechanisms of the 24 h blood pressure (BP) pattern. Hypertension guidelines fail to recommend the time of day when patients, including those who require treatment with multiple medications, are to ingest BP-lowering therapy. We conducted a systematic review of published prospective trials that investigated hypertension medications for ingestion-time differences in BP-lowering, safety, patient adherence, and markers of target organ pathology. Among the search-retried 155 trials, 17 published between 1991 and 2020 totaling 1,508 hypertensive participants concerned the differential ingestion-time dependent effects of 14 unique dual-combination therapies. All but one (94.1%) of the trials, involving 98.5% of the total number of investigated individuals, reported clinically and statistically significant benefits - including enhanced reduction of asleep BP without induction of sleep-time hypotension, reduced prevalence of BP non-dipping, decreased adverse effects, improved kidney function, and reduced cardiac pathology - when dual-combination hypertension medications were ingested at-bedtime/evening rather than upon-waking/morning. A systematic and comprehensive review of the literature published in the past three decades reveals no single dual-combination hypertension trial reported significantly better benefit of the still conventional, yet unjustified by medical evidence, upon-waking/morning hypertension treatment scheme.

Circadian disruption and human health

Circadian disruption is pervasive and can occur at multiple organizational levels, contributing to poor health outcomes at individual and population levels. Evidence points to a bidirectional relationship, in that circadian disruption increases disease severity and many diseases can disrupt circadian rhythms. Importantly, circadian disruption can increase the risk for the expression and development of neurologic, psychiatric, cardiometabolic, and immune disorders. Thus, harnessing the rich findings from preclinical and translational research in circadian biology to enhance health via circadian-based approaches represents a unique opportunity for personalized/precision medicine and overall societal well-being. In this Review, we discuss the implications of circadian disruption for human health using a bench-to-bedside approach. Evidence from preclinical and translational science is applied to a clinical and population-based approach. Given the broad implications of circadian regulation for human health, this Review focuses its discussion on selected examples in neurologic, psychiatric, metabolic, cardiovascular, allergic, and immunologic disorders that highlight the interrelatedness between circadian disruption and human disease and the potential of circadian-based interventions, such as bright light therapy and exogenous melatonin, as well as chronotherapy to improve and/or modify disease outcomes.

Once- Versus Twice-Daily Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors for Blood Pressure Control in Adult Patients With Hypertension

This review aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of once- versus twice-daily administration of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors for the management of hypertension. A literature search on PubMed and Google Scholar was performed (January 1980 to June 2020) using the following search terms: ACE inhibitors, lisinopril, enalapril, fosinopril, trandolapril, ramipril, perindopril, captopril, benazepril, ambulatory blood pressure, hypertension, twice-daily dosing, once-daily dosing. Reference lists from retrieved articles were examined for additional reports. Relevant English-language studies or those conducted in humans were considered. Overall, six studies were included that compared the efficacy of once-daily to twice-daily dosing of ACE inhibitors. Similar blood pressure-lowering effects, and, in some studies, greater blood pressure lowering has been noted in the twice-daily administration arm than once-daily administration of ACE inhibitors. ACE inhibitors' pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties play an integral role in determining the expected blood pressure-lowering outcome. It is noteworthy that adherence issues may arise when transitioning from a once-daily regimen to a twice-daily regimen. There appear to be no added safety concerns between twice-daily and once-daily administration of ACE inhibitors regarding safety outcomes. After reviewing the available literature, twice-daily dosing of ACE inhibitors may promote added blood pressure-lowering effects, with the advantages of reducing cost, reducing the risk of drug-drug interactions, reducing polypharmacy, and reducing patient confusion about their medications. Recommendations for twice-daily administration of ACE -inhibitors should be made via shared decision-making with the patient, and clinician judgment, to drive treatment selection.

Circadian Rhythms, Disease and Chronotherapy

Circadian clocks are biological timing mechanisms that generate 24-h rhythms of physiology and behavior, exemplified by cycles of sleep/wake, hormone release, and metabolism. The adaptive value of clocks is evident when internal body clocks and daily environmental cycles are mismatched, such as in the case of shift work and jet lag or even mistimed eating, all of which are associated with physiological disruption and disease. Studies with animal and human models have also unraveled an important role of functional circadian clocks in modulating cellular and organismal responses to physiological cues (ex., food intake, exercise), pathological insults (e.g. virus and parasite infections), and medical interventions (e.g. medication). With growing knowledge of the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying circadian physiology and pathophysiology, it is becoming possible to target circadian rhythms for disease prevention and treatment. In this review, we discuss recent advances in circadian research and the potential for therapeutic applications that take patient circadian rhythms into account in treating disease.

Reversible dysregulation of renal circadian rhythm in lupus nephritis

BACKGROUND

We have found disruption of expression of major transcriptional regulators of circadian rhythm in the kidneys of several mouse models of lupus nephritis. Here we define the consequence of this disturbance with respect to circadian gene expression and renal homeostatic function in a mouse model of lupus nephritis.

METHODS

Molecular profiling of kidneys from 47 young and 41 nephritic female NZB/W F1 mice was performed at 4 hourly intervals over a 24 h period. Disruption of major circadian transcriptional regulators was confirmed by qPCR. Molecular data was normalized and analyzed for rhythmicity using RAIN analysis. Serum aldosterone and glucose and urine sodium and potassium were measured at 4 hourly intervals in pre-nephritic and nephritic mice and blood pressure was measured every 4 h. Analyses were repeated after induction of complete remission of nephritis using combination cyclophosphamide and costimulatory blockade.

RESULTS

We show a profound alteration of renal circadian rhythms in mice with lupus nephritis affecting multiple renal pathways. Using Cosinor analysis we identified consequent alterations of renal homeostasis and metabolism as well as blood pressure dipper status. This circadian dysregulation was partially reversed by remission induction therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Our studies indicate the role of inflammation in causing the circadian disruption and suggest that screening for loss of normal blood pressure dipping should be incorporated into LN management. The data also suggest a potential role for circadian agonists in the treatment of lupus nephritis.

Elevated asleep blood pressure and non-dipper 24h patterning best predict risk for heart failure that can be averted by bedtime hypertension chronotherapy: A review of the published literature

Several prospective studies consistently report elevated asleep blood pressure (BP) and blunted sleep-time relative systolic BP (SBP) decline (non-dipping) are jointly the most significant prognostic markers of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, including heart failure (HF); therefore, they, rather than office BP measurements (OBPM) and ambulatory awake and 24 h BP means, seemingly are the most worthy therapeutic targets for prevention. Published studies of the 24 h BP pattern in HF are sparse in number and of limited sample size. They report high prevalence of the abnormal non-dipper/riser 24 h SBP patterning. Despite the established clinical relevance of the asleep BP, past as do present hypertension guidelines recommend the diagnosis of hypertension rely on OBPM and, when around-the-clock ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) is conducted to confirm the elevated OBPM, either on the derived 24 h or "daytime" BP means. Additionally, hypertension guidelines do not advise the time-of-day when BP-lowering medications should be ingested, in spite of known ingestion-time differences in their pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Between 1976 and 2020, 155 unique trials of ingestion-time differences in the effects of 37 different single and 14 dual-combination hypertension medications, collectively involving 23,972 patients, were published. The vast majority (83.9%) of them found the at-bedtime/evening in comparison to upon-waking/morning treatment schedule resulted in more greatly enhanced: (i) reduction of asleep BP mean without induced sleep-time hypotension; (ii) reduction of the prevalence of the higher CVD risk non-dipper/riser 24 h BP phenotypes; (iii) improvement of kidney function, reduction of cardiac pathology, and with lower incidence of adverse effects. Most notably, no single published randomized trial found significantly better BP-lowering, particularly during sleep, or medical benefits of the most popular upon-waking/morning hypertension treatment-time scheme. Additionally, prospective outcome trials have substantiated that the bedtime relative to the upon-waking, ingestion of BP-lowering medications not only significantly reduces risk of HF but also improves overall CVD event-free survival time.

The use of single-pill combinations as first-line treatment for hypertension: translating guidelines into clinical practice

: The 2008 European Society of Cardiology/European Society of Hypertension guidelines recommend the first-line prescription of two antihypertensive drugs in single-pill combinations (SPCs), also known as fixed-dose combinations, for the treatment of most patients with hypertension. This recommendation is based on a large amount of data, which shows that first-line treatment with SPCs supports reaching blood pressure targets rapidly and reducing cardiovascular outcome risk while keeping the therapeutic strategies as simple as possible and fostering adherence and persistence. As this approach constitutes a big shift from the stepped-care approaches that have been dominant for many years, practicing physicians have expressed concerns about using SPCs as first-line agents. In this review, we will discuss the barriers to the uptake of this recommendation. We will also offer suggestions to reduce the impact of these barriers and address specific concerns that have been raised.

COVID-19: Sleep, Circadian Rhythms and Immunity - Repurposing Drugs and Chronotherapeutics for SARS-CoV-2

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has affected nearly 28 million people in the United States and has caused more than five hundred thousand deaths as of February 21, 2021. As the novel coronavirus continues to take its toll in the United States and all across the globe, particularly among the elderly (>65 years), clinicians and translational researchers are taking a closer look at the nexus of sleep, circadian rhythms and immunity that may contribute toward a more severe coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). SARS-CoV-2-induced multi-organ failure affects both central and peripheral organs, causing increased mortality in the elderly. However, whether differences in sleep, circadian rhythms, and immunity between older and younger individuals contribute to the age-related differences in systemic dysregulation of target organs observed in SARS-CoV-2 infection remain largely unknown. Current literature demonstrates the emerging role of sleep, circadian rhythms, and immunity in the development of chronic pulmonary diseases and respiratory infections in human and mouse models. The exact mechanism underlying acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and other cardiopulmonary complications in elderly patients in combination with associated comorbidities remain unclear. Nevertheless, understanding the critical role of sleep, circadian clock dysfunction in target organs, and immune status of patients with SARS-CoV-2 may provide novel insights into possible therapies. Chronotherapy is an emerging concept that is gaining attention in sleep medicine. Accumulating evidence suggests that nearly half of all physiological functions follow a strict daily rhythm. However, healthcare professionals rarely take implementing timed-administration of drugs into consideration. In this review, we summarize recent findings directly relating to the contributing roles of sleep, circadian rhythms and immune response in modulating infectious disease processes, and integrate chronotherapy in the discussion of the potential drugs that can be repurposed to improve the treatment and management of COVID-19.

Systematic review and quality evaluation of published human ingestion-time trials of blood pressure-lowering medications and their combinations

The pharmacokinetics (PK) - absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination - and pharmacodynamics (PD) of hypertension medications can be significantly affected by circadian rhythms. As a consequence, the time when blood pressure (BP) lowering medications are ingested, with reference to the staging of all involved circadian rhythms modulating PK and PD, can affect their duration of action, magnitude of effect on features of the 24 h BP profile, and safety. We conducted a systematic and comprehensive review of published prospective human trials that investigated individual hypertension medications of all classes and their combinations for ingestion-time differences in BP-lowering, safety, patient adherence, and markers of hypertension-associated target organ pathology of the kidney and heart. The systematic review yielded 155 trials published between 1976 and 2020 - totaling 23,972 hypertensive individuals - that evaluated 37 different single and 14 dual-combination therapies. The vast (83.9%) majority of them reported clinically and statistically significant benefits - including enhanced reduction of asleep BP mean without induced sleep-time hypotension, reduced prevalence of the higher cardiovascular risk non-dipper 24 h BP profile, decreased incidence of adverse effects, improved kidney function, and reduced cardiac pathology - when hypertension medications are ingested at-bedtime/evening rather than upon-waking/morning. Nonetheless, the findings and conclusions of some past conducted trials are inconsistent, often due to disparities and deficiencies of the investigative protocols. Accordingly, we developed a quality assessment method based upon the eight items identified as crucial according to the recently published guidelines of the International Society for Chronobiology and the American Association for Medical Chronobiology and Chronotherapeutics for the design and conduct of human clinical trials on ingestion-time differences of hypertension medications. Among the most frequent deficiencies are: absence or miscalculation of minimum required sample size (83.2%), incorrect choice of primary BP endpoint (53.6%), and inappropriate arbitrary and unrepresentative clock hours chosen for tested treatment times (53.6%). The inability of the very small proportion (16.1%) of trials to verify the advantages of the at-bedtime/evening treatment strategy is likely explained by deficiencies of their study design and conduct. Nonetheless, regardless of the quality score of the 155 trials retrieved by our systematic review, it is most noteworthy that no single published prospective randomized trial reported significantly enhanced BP-lowering, safety, compliance, or other benefits of the unjustified by medical evidence, yet still most recommended, upon-waking/morning hypertension treatment-time scheme.

Assessment of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker on the split renal function in the patients with primary hypertension

Bilateral kidney damage in hypertensive patients is not parallel. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker (ACEI/ARB), as a commonly used antihypertensive drug, could protect kidney function and delay its deterioration. Most studies focused on overall renal function, but the researches on split renal function (SRF) are rare. We investigated the effects of ACEI/ARB on the SRF in patients with primary hypertension.Patients with primary hypertension (n = 429; male: 213; female: 216) admitted to our department between January 2014 and December 2016 were included in this study. The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of split and total renal function were determined using diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid tagged with 99mTc renal dynamic imaging method. For the same patient, the side with high GFR was considered as higher GFR kidney, whereas that with a low GFR was considered as lower GFR kidney. The split function score (Q value) was utilized to evaluate the differences of bilateral renal function. The patients were divided into 3 groups based on the Q values (Group 1, Q value <5%; Group 2, Q value of 5%-10%; Group 3, Q value ≥10%). All the patients received antihypertensive therapy based on ACEI/ARB. The renal dynamic imaging was performed in the 1-year follow-up to investigate the changes of the SRF.Compared with the baseline level, significant decline was noticed in the serum creatinine (Scr) in Group 2 and Group 3 (P < .05). The cystatin C in Group 3 showed significant decline (P < .05). Compared with the baseline, there was significant decline in the Q value in Group 2, whereas the GFR of lower GFR kidney showed significant increase (P < .05). No statistical differences were noticed in the Q value and split GFR in Group 1 and Group 3 (P > .05).In primary hypertension patients, ACEI/ARB therapy could improve the SRF of lower GFR kidney in the presence of certain differences between the SRF. As a result, the SRF difference was reduced. In case of Q value in a range of 5% to 10%, ACEI/ARB could improve the renal function effectively. It may be significant for the design of antihypertensive drugs.

Circadian Biology and Stroke

Circadian biology modulates almost all aspects of mammalian physiology, disease, and response to therapies. Emerging data suggest that circadian biology may significantly affect the mechanisms of susceptibility, injury, recovery, and the response to therapy in stroke. In this review/perspective, we survey the accumulating literature and attempt to connect molecular, cellular, and physiological pathways in circadian biology to clinical consequences in stroke. Accounting for the complex and multifactorial effects of circadian rhythm may improve translational opportunities for stroke diagnostics and therapeutics.

Ingestion-time differences in the pharmacodynamics of hypertension medications: Systematic review of human chronopharmacology trials

Pharmacokinetics of hypertension medications is significantly affected by circadian rhythms that influence absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination. Furthermore, their pharmacodynamics is affected by ingestion-time differences in kinetics and circadian rhythms comprising the biological mechanism of the 24 h blood pressure (BP) pattern. However, hypertension guidelines do not recommend the time to treat patients with medications. We conducted a systematic review of published evidence regarding ingestion-time differences of hypertension medications and their combinations on ambulatory BP-lowering, safety, and markers of target organ pathology. Some 153 trials published between 1976 and 2020, totaling 23,869 hypertensive individuals, evaluated 37 different single and 14 dual-fixed combination therapies. The vast (83.7%) majority of the trials report clinically and statistically significant benefits - including enhanced reduction of asleep BP without inducing sleep-time hypotension, reduced prevalence of the higher cardiovascular disease risk BP non-dipping 24 h profile, decreased incidence of adverse effects, improved renal function, and reduced cardiac pathology - when hypertension medications are ingested at-bedtime/evening rather than upon-waking/morning. Non-substantiated treatment-time difference in effects by the small proportion (16.3%) of published trials is likely explained by deficiencies of study design and conduct. Systematic and comprehensive review of the literature published the past 45 years reveals no single study reported significantly better benefit of the still conventional, yet unjustified by medical evidence, upon-waking/morning hypertension treatment schedule.

Extent of asleep blood pressure reduction by hypertension medications is ingestion-time dependent: Systematic review and meta-analysis of published human trials

Combined evidence of published prospective outcome trials and meta-analyses substantiate elevated asleep blood pressure (BP) and blunted sleep-time relative BP decline (non-dipping), regardless of wake-time office BP and awake or 24 h BP means, are jointly the most highly significant independent prognostic markers of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and worthy therapeutic targets for prevention. Nonetheless, current guidelines continue to recommend the diagnosis of hypertension, when based on ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM), rely, solely, on either the 24 h or "daytime" BP means. They also fail to recommend the time to treat patients. We conducted a systematic review of published human trials regarding ingestion-time differences in the effects of hypertension medications on asleep BP and sleep-time relative BP decline. Some 62 such trials published between 1992 and 2020, totaling 6120 hypertensive persons, evaluated 21 different single and 8 dual-fixed combination therapies. The vast (82.3%) majority of the trials substantiate the bedtime/evening vs. upon-waking/morning treatment schedule produces statistically significant better clinical benefits, including enhanced reduction of asleep systolic BP by an average 5.17 mmHg (95%CI [4.04, 6.31], P < 0.001 between treatment-time groups) without inducing sleep-time hypotension, reduced prevalence of the high CVD risk non-dipper 24 h BP pattern, improved kidney function, and reduced cardiac pathology. Furthermore, systematic and comprehensive review of the ABPM-based literature published the past 29 years reveals no single study that reported significantly better benefits of the most recommended, yet unjustified by medical evidence, morning hypertension treatment-time scheme.

Circadian Rhythm Sleep-Wake Disorders: a Contemporary Review of Neurobiology, Treatment, and Dysregulation in Neurodegenerative Disease

Circadian rhythms oscillate throughout a 24-h period and impact many physiological processes and aspects of daily life, including feeding behaviors, regulation of the sleep-wake cycle, and metabolic homeostasis. Misalignment between the endogenous biological clock and exogenous light-dark cycle can cause significant distress and dysfunction, and treatment aims for resynchronization with the external clock and environment. This article begins with a brief historical context of progress in the understanding of circadian rhythms, and then provides an overview of circadian neurobiology and the endogenous molecular clock. Various tools used in the diagnosis of circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders, including sleep diaries and actigraphy monitoring, are then discussed, as are the therapeutic applications of strategically timed light therapy, melatonin, and other behavioral and pharmacological therapies including the melatonin agonist tasimelteon. Management strategies towards each major human circadian sleep-wake rhythm disorder, as outlined in the current International Classification of Sleep Disorders - Third Edition, including jet lag and shift work disorders, delayed and advanced sleep-wake phase rhythm disorders, non-24-h sleep-wake rhythm disorder, and irregular sleep-wake rhythm disorder are summarized. Last, an overview of chronotherapies and the circadian dysregulation of neurodegenerative diseases is reviewed.

Guidelines for the design and conduct of human clinical trials on ingestion-time differences - chronopharmacology and chronotherapy - of hypertension medications

Current hypertension guidelines fail to provide a recommendation on when-to-treat, thus disregarding relevant circadian rhythms that regulate blood pressure (BP) level and 24 h patterning and medication pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. The ideal purpose of ingestion-time (chronopharmacology, i.e. biological rhythm-dependent effects on the kinetics and dynamics of medications, and chronotherapy, i.e. the timing of pharmaceutical and other treatments to optimize efficacy and safety) trials should be to explore the potential impact of endogenous circadian rhythms on the effects of medications. Such investigations and outcome trials mandate adherence to the basic standards of human chronobiology research. In-depth review of the more than 150 human hypertension pharmacology and therapeutic trials published since 1974 that address the differential impact of upon-waking/morning versus at-bedtime/evening schedule of treatment reveals diverse protocols of sometimes suboptimal or defective design and conduct. Many have been "time-of-day," i.e. morning versus evening, rather than circadian-time-based, and some relied on wake-time office BP rather than around-the-clock ambulatory BP measurements (ABPM). Additionally, most past studies have been of too small sample size and thus statistically underpowered. As of yet, there has been no consensual agreement on the proper design, methods and conduct of such trials. This Position Statement recommends ingestion-time hypertension trials to follow minimum guidelines: (i) Recruitment of participants should be restricted to hypertensive individuals diagnosed according to ABPM diagnostic thresholds and of a comparable activity/sleep routine. (ii) Tested treatment-times should be selected according to internal biological time, expressed by the awakening and bed times of the sleep/wake cycle. (iii) ABPM should be the primary or sole method of BP assessment. (iv) The minimum-required features for analysis of the ABPM-determined 24 h BP pattern ought to be the asleep (not "nighttime") BP mean and sleep-time relative BP decline, calculated in reference to the activity/rest cycle per individual. (v) ABPM-obtained BP means should be derived by the so-called adjusted calculation procedure, not by inaccurate arithmetic averages. (vi) ABPM should be performed with validated and calibrated devices at least hourly throughout two or more consecutive 24 h periods (48 h in total) to achieve the highest reproducibility of mean wake-time, sleep-time and 48 h BP values plus the reliable classification of dipping status. (vii) Calculation of minimum required sample size in adherence with proper statistical methods must be provided. (viii) Hypertension chronopharmacology and chronotherapy trials should preferably be randomized double-blind, randomized open-label with blinded-endpoint, or crossover in design, the latter with sufficient washout period between tested treatment-time regimens.

Restoration of nocturnal blood pressure dip and reduction of nocturnal blood pressure with evening anti-hypertensive medication administration in pediatric kidney transplant recipients: A pilot randomized clinical trial

Non-dipping and nocturnal hypertension are commonly found during ABPM in pediatric kidney transplant recipients. These entities are independently associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk in adults. Kidney transplant recipients aged 5-21 years with eGFR > 30 mL/min/1.73 m² and ABPM demonstrating non-dipping status and normal daytime BP were randomized to intervention (short acting BP medication added in the evening) or control (no medication change) in this pilot, randomized, open-label, blinded end-point clinical trial. ABPM, echocardiography, and PWV were performed at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. The trial included 17 intervention and 16 control participants. Conversion to dipper status occurred in 53.3% vs 7.7% (P = .01) at 6 months for intervention and controls, respectively. Systolic dip was greater in the intervention group compared to controls (10.9 ± 4.5 vs 4.2 ± 4.6, P = .001), and average systolic nighttime BP was significantly lower in the intervention group (106 ± 8.3 vs 114.9 ± 9.5 mm Hg, P = .01) at 6 months. There were no significant differences in LVMI, PWV, or eGFR between groups. Within-group changes in the intervention group demonstrated improvements in non-dippers, dipping, systolic nighttime BP and nighttime BP load. Restoration of nocturnal dip and improvement in nocturnal BP were observed in the population following chronotherapy. Future studies are needed with larger sample sizes over a longer period of time to delineate the long-term effect of improved nocturnal dip on target organ damage.

Circadian Variation in Efficacy of Medications

Although much has been learned about circadian clocks and rhythms over the past few decades, translation of this foundational science underlying the temporal regulation of physiology and behavior to clinical applications has been slow. Indeed, acceptance of the modern study of circadian rhythms has been blunted because the phenomenology of cyclic changes had to counteract the 20th century dogma of homeostasis in the biological sciences and medicine. We are providing this review of clinical data to highlight the emerging awareness of circadian variation in efficacy of medications for physicians, clinicians, and pharmacists. We are suggesting that gold-standard double-blind clinical studies should be conducted to determine the best time of day for optimal effectiveness of medications; also, we suggest that time of day should be tracked and reported as an important biological variable in ongoing clinical studies hereafter. Furthermore, we emphasize that time of day is, and should be considered, a key biological variable in research design similar to sex. In common with biomedical research data that have been historically strongly skewed toward the male sex, most pharmaceutical data have been skewed toward morning dosing without strong evidence that this is the optimal time of efficacy.

Managing Nocturia in Frail Older Adults

This review discusses the available evidence in the current evaluation and treatment of nocturia in frail older adults. No evidence specifically evaluates the use of behavioral interventions in the treatment of the frail older adult with nocturia, but their use is supported in other cohorts. Behavioral modifications and optimal management of comorbidities remain the first-line treatment for all age groups and should be emphasized in the frail due to their favorable safety profile. No studies specific to the frail older adult support the use of pharmacotherapy. Some evidence exists for the efficacy of several agents in the older adult; however, this is difficult to extrapolate to the frail, and safety concerns abound. Desmopressin may be effective in the older adult, but a high risk of hyponatremia raises concerns for its safety, and therefore it is not recommended in the frail. α-Antagonists may have limited efficacy in men with known benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH); they are relatively well tolerated, although the risk of orthostatic hypotension in the frail should be considered. β3-agonist trials suggest limited clinical utility. Antimuscarinics are not found to be useful in this cohort and are contraindicated in the frail older adult given the ability of antimuscarinics to cause cognitive impairment, delirium, and falls. No data examine the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the frail older adult. Additionally, the American Geriatrics Society Beers Criteria recommends against the use of muscarinics in those over the age of 75 years and therefore their use is not supported.