Notch1 is a mechanosensitive endothelial receptor that responds to vascular wall shear stress.However,data on Notch1 activity in humans remains limited,particularly regarding its role in endothelial function.Objective...Notch1 is a mechanosensitive endothelial receptor that responds to vascular wall shear stress.However,data on Notch1 activity in humans remains limited,particularly regarding its role in endothelial function.Objectives:Accordingly,the purpose of this study was to determine whether Notch1 is associated with the flow-mediated dilatory(FMD)response and whether it is related to aerobic fitness.A secondary purpose was to determine whether Notch1 is related to concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF).Methods:Sixteen(8M/8F)young(20-30 yrs old)and healthy(BMI:25±4.2 kg/m^(2),blood pressure:117±11.63/69±11.25 mmHg)adults participated in the study.Aerobic fitness was determined by cycle VO_(2) peak.An FMDwas performed on the brachial artery,and blood samples were taken from an antecubital vein at rest(baseline)and 1min after cuff deflation(to align with peak vessel dilation).Concentrations of Notch1 extracellular domain(NECD)and VEGFwere determined from plasma using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.Results:In contrast to our hypothesis,concentrations of NECD and VEGF did not change throughout the FMDandwere unrelated to allometrically scaled FMD values(p all>0.05).Likewise,there was no relationship between changes inNECD and VEGF(p=0.331,r=0.127).However,the change in NECD across the FMD was moderately(r=0.515)and significantly(p=0.024)correlated with VO_(2) peak.Conclusions:These novel data indicate that in healthy young adults,Notch1 activity is linked to aerobic fitness but may not be acutely involved in the shear-mediated vasodilatory response.展开更多
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH/NAD+) is involved in important biochemical reactions in human metabolism, including participation in energy production by mitochondria. The changes in fluorescence intensity as ...Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH/NAD+) is involved in important biochemical reactions in human metabolism, including participation in energy production by mitochondria. The changes in fluorescence intensity as a function of time in response to blocking and releasing of blood flow in a forearm are used as a measure of oxygen transport with blood to the tissue, which directly correlates with the skin microcirculation status. In this paper, a non-invasive dynamic monitoring system based on blood flow-mediated skin fluorescence (FMSF) technology is developed to monitor the NADH fluorescence intensity of skin tissue during the process of blocking reactive hyperemia. Simultaneously, laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) and laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) were used to observe blood flow, blood oxygen saturation (SOt2) and relative amount of hemoglobin (rHb) during the measurement process, which helped to explore NADH dynamics relevant physiological changes. A variety of parameters have been derived to describe NADH fluorescence curve based on the FMSF device. The experimental results are conducive to understanding the NADH measurement and the physiological processes related to it, which help FMSF to be a great avenue for in vivo physiological, clinical and pharmacological research on mitochondrial metabolism.展开更多
Objectives: To evaluate the association of diastolic function of the left ventricle with flowme-diated dilatation (FMD) in uncomplicated Type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Methods: Eighty-two uncomplicated Type 2 diab...Objectives: To evaluate the association of diastolic function of the left ventricle with flowme-diated dilatation (FMD) in uncomplicated Type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Methods: Eighty-two uncomplicated Type 2 diabetic patients were examined by pulse and tissue Doppler echocardiography and FMD of brachial artery. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the size of the left ventricular relaxation parameter—E’. Results: The average age of the patients was 61 ± 6 years. FMD was 5.0 ± 1.8% in 41 patients with E’ from 3 to 7.4 cm/s (mean 6 cm/s) comparing to 5.1 ± 1.9% (p = 0.96) in 41 patients with E’ from 7.5 to 10.9 cm/s (mean 8.9 cm/s). E/E’ was 11.2 ± 2.3 in the group with lower E’ and 9.1 ± 1.6 in the group with higher E’ (p 0.001). Linear negative correlation was found between E/E’ and FMD for the patients with E’ from 3 to 7.4 cm/s (R2 = 0.131;p = 0.025) but not for the group of patients with the higher E’. The significant association between FMD and E/E’ was confirmed by multivariate analysis ((Rc)2 = 0.233;p 0.05). Conclusion: FMD has no impact on the left ventricular relaxation. However FMD is negatively associated with E/E’ in Type 2 diabetic patients who have low E’ as a sign of an impaired early relaxation.展开更多
Background: Many factors can contribute to atherosclerotic-type vascular changes in older individuals or men. Thus, confining the investigation to young women with no clinical evidence of the condition could enhance u...Background: Many factors can contribute to atherosclerotic-type vascular changes in older individuals or men. Thus, confining the investigation to young women with no clinical evidence of the condition could enhance understanding of the early stages of cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to determine whether carotid mean/max intima-media thickness (IMT) and brachial flow-mediated dilation (FMD) values, which are well-known event-related indices, are associated with laboratory data and the other vascular indices of atherosclerosis in healthy young women. Methods: Carotid mean/max IMT and brachial FMD were measured in young women with no clinical evidence of atherosclerosis (n = 110;mean age, 39 years) who were instructed not to eat, drink or smoke after 9 PM the evening before testing. All participants also underwent laboratory assessment, including simultaneous measurements of arterial stiffness such as augmentation index (AI), cardioankle vascular index (CAVI) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). Results: Mean IMT was signifi-cantly and positively associated with age (p = 0.002), CAVI (p = 0.044), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C, p = 0.047) and high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP, p = 0.002) values but was not related to FMD, AI, baPWV or triglycerides (TG) in the multivariate regression analysis. Similarly, max IMT was positively associated with age (p p = 0.003) and hs-CRP (p = 0.005) values but was not related to FMD, AI, CAVI, baPWV, TG or blood pressure level in the multivariate regression analysis. The association between LDL-C and max IMT was much stronger than that between LDL-C and mean IMT. Brachial FMD was positively associated only with heart rate in the multivariate regression analysis. Conclusions: These results suggest that mean IMT more closely represents the sclerotic aspect of vascular change, whereas max IMT represents the atherotic aspect in healthy young women. Although the relationship between the autonomic nervous system and heart rate is well-known, there may be a complex interaction between the autonomic nervous system and endothelial function.展开更多
Background Carotid artery intima-media thickness （CIMT） and brachial artery flow-mediated dilation percentage （FMD%） are common parameters used for detecting subclinical atherosclerosis. This study compared subcli...Background Carotid artery intima-media thickness （CIMT） and brachial artery flow-mediated dilation percentage （FMD%） are common parameters used for detecting subclinical atherosclerosis. This study compared subclinical atherosclerosis of the carotid and brachial arteries in rheumatoid arthritis （RA） patients and healthy controls using high resolution ultrasonography. We also investigated their correlation with clinical factors and the association between FMD% and CIMT.展开更多
The endothelium modulates vascular homeostasis owing to a variety of vasoconstrictors and vasodilators.Endothelial dysfunction(ED),characterized by impaired vasodilation,inflammation,and thrombosis,triggers future car...The endothelium modulates vascular homeostasis owing to a variety of vasoconstrictors and vasodilators.Endothelial dysfunction(ED),characterized by impaired vasodilation,inflammation,and thrombosis,triggers future cardiovascular(CV)diseases.Chronic kidney disease,a state of chronic inflammation caused by oxidative stress,metabolic abnormalities,infection,and uremic toxins damages the endothelium.ED is also associated with a decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate.After kidney transplantation,endothelial functions undergo immediate but partial restoration,promising graft longevity and enhanced CV health.However,the anticipated CV outcomes do not happen due to various transplant-related and unrelated risk factors for ED,culminating in poor CV health and graft survival.ED in kidney transplant recipients is an underrecognized and poorly studied entity.CV diseases are the leading cause of death among kidney transplant candidates with functioning grafts.ED contributes to the pathogenesis of many of the CV diseases.Various biomarkers and vasoreactivity tests are available to study endothelial functions.With an increasing number of transplants happening every year,and improved graft rejection rates due to the availability of effective immunosuppressants,the focus has now shifted to endothelial protection for the prevention,early recognition,and treatment of CV diseases.展开更多
OBJECTIVE:To synthesize the evidence from randomized controlled trials(RCTs)to assess the efficacy and safety of Chinese patent medicine(CPM)on atherosclerosis(AS)or with a high risk of atherosclerosis.METHODS:All RCT...OBJECTIVE:To synthesize the evidence from randomized controlled trials(RCTs)to assess the efficacy and safety of Chinese patent medicine(CPM)on atherosclerosis(AS)or with a high risk of atherosclerosis.METHODS:All RCTs in three databases(Pub Med,EMBASE,and Cochrane Library)were included from the inception of the database to September 20,2019.The methodological evaluation of the included trials was carried out using the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias Tool.Meta-analysis was conducted using Rev Man 5.3 software.The Grading of Recommendations Assessment,Development and Evaluation(GRADE)methodology was used to evaluate the quality of evidence.RESULTS:Eighteen RCTs were included,involving a total of 3885 patients with AS or with a high risk of AS.Most trials had favorable methodology.Meta-analysis suggested significant differences in clinical endpoint(n=1938,RR 0.53;95%CI 0.40 to 0.69,P<0.00001;I^(2)=0%);the change in carotid artery IMT(n=1723,MD-0.09,95%CI-0.14 to-0.04,P<0.001;I^(2)=40%);change in FMD(n=239,MD 0.87,95%CI 0.52 to 1.21,P<0.00001;I^(2)=0%);change in high sensitive C-reactive protein(hsCRP)(n=1527,MD-1.89,95%CI-3.36 to-0.42,P=0.01;I^(2)=94%)and incidence of total adverse events(RR 0.76,95%CI 0.62 to 0.93,P=0.009;I^(2)=40%)in favor of the experimental group.However,meta-analysis showed no significant differences in the change in lowdensity lipoprotein-C(LDL-C)(n=2419,MD-0.19,95%CI-0.50 to 0.12,P=0.22,I^(2)=94%)between the experimental and control groups.Conclusion:CPM could have certain clinical efficacy in the treatment of AS.However,more double-blinded placebo-controlled RCTs are required in further evaluations to provide stronger evidence.展开更多
Flapping-powered propulsion is used by many animals to locomote through air or water. Here we review recent experimental and numerical studies on self-propelled mechanical systems powered by a flapping motion. These s...Flapping-powered propulsion is used by many animals to locomote through air or water. Here we review recent experimental and numerical studies on self-propelled mechanical systems powered by a flapping motion. These studies improve our understanding of the mutual interaction between actively flapping bodies and surrounding fluids. The results obtained in these works provide not only new insights into biolocomotion but also useful information for the biomimetic design of artificial flyers and swimmers.展开更多
Although the endothelium has a number of important functions, the term endothelial dysfunction is commonly used to describe impairment in its vasodilatory capacity. There have been numerous studies evaluating the rela...Although the endothelium has a number of important functions, the term endothelial dysfunction is commonly used to describe impairment in its vasodilatory capacity. There have been numerous studies evaluating the relationship between endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular disease, however assessment of endothelial function is perhaps still primarily thought of as a research tool and has not reached widespread clinical acceptance. In this review we explore the relationship between endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular disease, its prognostic significance, methods of pharmacological reversal of endothelial dysfunction, and ask the question, is reversal of endothelial dysfunction still an attractive target in modern cardiology?展开更多
Exercise exerts direct effects on the vasculature via the impact of hemodynamic forces on the endothelium,thereby leading to functional and structural adaptations that lower cardiovascular risk.The patterns of blood f...Exercise exerts direct effects on the vasculature via the impact of hemodynamic forces on the endothelium,thereby leading to functional and structural adaptations that lower cardiovascular risk.The patterns of blood flow and endothelial shear stress during exercise lead to atheroprotective hemodynamic stimuli on the endothelium and contribute to adaptations in vascular function and structure.The structural adaptations observed in arterial lumen dimensions after prolonged exercise supplant the need for acute functional vasodilatation in case of an increase in endothelial shear stress due to repeated exercise bouts.In contrast,wall thickness is affected by rather systemic factors,such as transmural pressure modulated during exercise by generalized changes in blood pressure.Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the exercise-induced benefits in patients with coronary artery disease(CAD).They include decreased progression of coronary plaques in CAD,recruitment of collaterals,enhanced blood rheological properties,improvement of vascular smooth muscle cell and endothelial function,and coronary blood flow.This review describes how exercise via alterations in hemodynamic factors influences vascular function and structure which contributes to cardiovascular risk reduction,and highlights which mechanisms are involved in the positive effects of exercise on CAD.展开更多
Background： Statins have proven efficacy in inhibiting the onset and progress of atherosclerosis. The effectiveness of pitavastatin in reversing carotid atherosclerosis associated with hypercholesterolemia （HC） is ...Background： Statins have proven efficacy in inhibiting the onset and progress of atherosclerosis. The effectiveness of pitavastatin in reversing carotid atherosclerosis associated with hypercholesterolemia （HC） is un-known. Objectives： To explore the simultaneous effects of pitavastatin calcium on brachial arterial flow-mediated vasodilatation （FMD）, carotid intima-media thickness （IMT）, and arterial stiffness （β）, three surrogate markers of ath-erosclerosis were studied in HC patients. Methods：A randomized, double-blind trial was performed with 40 HC sub-jects who fulfil ed the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Patients were given pitavastatin calcium 1 mg/d （Group 1） or 2 mg/d （Group 2） for 8 weeks. There were 20 patients in each group, and 30 gender-and age-matched healthy subjects as controls were recruited. FMD of the brachial artery, carotid IMT, and arterial stiffness indicated byβwere measured at baseline and at 8 weeks after starting pitavastatin calcium therapy using ultrasound techniques. Biochemical tests were also made on al subjects. Results： At baseline, higher total cholesterol （TC） and low-density lipoprotein cho-lesterol （LDL-C）, reduced FMD, and increasedβand IMT were observed in HC patients （P0.05）. Significant negative interactions between TC/LDL and FMD （P〈0.05–0.001）, positive interactions between TC and IMT （P=0.003） and between TC/LDL and β （P〈0.001–0.000） were found. Conclusions： Treatment with pitavastatin calcium exerted fa-vorable effects on endothelial function and arterial stiffness. It also improved carotid atherosclerosis in patients with HC.展开更多
This study aimed to compare the efficacy of four formulations of plant-based functional foods on the protection against salt-induced endothelial dysfunction.A randomized crossover design was employed.Ten healthy subje...This study aimed to compare the efficacy of four formulations of plant-based functional foods on the protection against salt-induced endothelial dysfunction.A randomized crossover design was employed.Ten healthy subjects were recruited,and on five separate occasions they received,in random sequence one of the following 5 treatments:250 mL of plain water(control)alone,and with beetroot powder,celery powder,green tea extract or beetroot powder with green tea extract prior to consuming 150 mL of high-salt chicken broth.Flow-mediated dilation(FMD),blood pressure(BP),heart rate(HR)and pulse-wave velocity(PWV)were measured at fasting and at 30,60,90 and 120 min postprandial.Comparing with control,beetroot supplementation led to a significantly increased HR at 30,60 and 90 min postprandially(P=0.025,0.004,<0.001,respectively).No significant difference was observed for FMD,BP and PWV between control and any of the treatments.Salt reduction may still be the most effective strategy to improve vascular health.展开更多
Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of training on endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) after revascularization and healthy young men. Background: Impa...Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of training on endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) after revascularization and healthy young men. Background: Impaired endothelial function has been observed in patients with CAD and those with CAD risk factors. Studies have shown that exercise can enhance endothelial function. Methods: This experimental cross-sectional study was conducted on patients with CAD (3 months after CABG and PCI) and students of medical school in 2011. Endothelium dependent dilation of the brachial artery was determined by using high-resolution vascular ultrasonography through flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD) after induction of ischemia, and the data were analyzed using SPSS, dependent t-test and ANCOVA. Findings: The findings showed that at baseline, FMD was reduced in revascularized patients, when compared with healthy young men, after 8 weeks, and exercise training significantly improved FMD in patients underwent training group [from 4.31 ± 1.45 (SD)% to 6.15 ± 0.773 (SD)%, p p ed unchanged, and even after aerobic training, it did not significantly modify the brachial artery diameter in these groups. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that endothelial dysfunction persisting in CAD patients after revascularization and aerobic training can improve endothelial function in different vascular beds in CAD patients and healthy young men. This may contribute to the benefit of regular exercise in preventing and restricting cardiovascular disease.展开更多
We evaluated the effect of sitagliptin on vascular endothelial function in Japanese type 2 diabetes patients without cardiovascular disease. Subjects included 24 Japanese type 2 diabetes patients without cardiovascula...We evaluated the effect of sitagliptin on vascular endothelial function in Japanese type 2 diabetes patients without cardiovascular disease. Subjects included 24 Japanese type 2 diabetes patients without cardiovascular disease. This study was a prospective, open-label, randomized clinical trial. We divided the study subjects into 2 groups: subjects who received sitagliptin 50 mg daily (sitagliptin group, n = 12) and subjects who did not receive sitagliptin (control group, n = 12). Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was measured after overnight fasting. Sitagliptin administration was initiated at 1 month after enrollment in study (baseline). FMD and level of biochemical variables in the sitagliptin and control groups were measured at baseline and 3 months from baseline (3 months). We evaluated the effect of sitagliptin on vascular endothelial function by measuring FMD. FMD at 3 months was significantly higher in the sitagliptin group than in the control group (5.36% ± 2.18% vs 3.41% ± 2.29%, P = 0.040), while FMD at baseline was not significantly different between the 2 groups. In addition, FMD of the sitagliptin group at 3 months was significantly higher than that at baseline (5.36% ± 2.18% vs 3.67% ± 2.30%, P = 0.004), while no significant differences were observed in the FMD of the control group during the study period. The change in the adiponectin from baseline to 3 months was significantly higher in the sitagliptin group than that in the control group (0.82 ± 2.18 μg/mL vs 0.01 ± 0.55 μg/mL, P = 0.039). Sitagliptin improves vascular endothelial function of the brachial artery in Japanese type 2 diabetes patients without cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, elevation of adiponectin may induce reduction of endothelial dysfunction in type 2 diabetes patients treated with sitagliptin.展开更多
Context: Endothelial dysfunction is an early predictor of adverse cardiovascular events. The present study evaluated asymptomatic metabolic syndrome (MS) patients with brachial artery endothelial dysfunction to determ...Context: Endothelial dysfunction is an early predictor of adverse cardiovascular events. The present study evaluated asymptomatic metabolic syndrome (MS) patients with brachial artery endothelial dysfunction to determine whether a reversal of endothelial dysfunction occurs with statin treatment. Aim: To evaluate the short term effects of statins on endothelial function in asymptomatic metabolic syndrome patients. Methodology: This was a prospective, single centre, case-control study. We evaluated 50 recently diagnosed newly detected asymptomatic MS patients who underwent an assessment of endothelial function by brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) before and after treatment with 40 mg atorvastatin for one week. Results: A total of 50 MS patients, including 36 (62%) females and 14 (38%) males, were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 49.70 ± 8.84 y. We identified a significant difference between cases and age- and sex-matched controls regarding baseline brachial artery FMD% (6.73 ± 2.55 vs. 11.03 ± 1.85, respectively;p < 0.001). Significant negative correlations were detected between FMD% and HDL-cholesterol (r = -0.34, p = 0.01), fasting blood sugar (r = -0.40, p = 0.004), and systolic blood pressure (r = -0.34, p = 0.015). Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that HDL-cholesterol was an independently associated factor for FMD. MS patients treated with 40 mg atorvastatin for one week showed a significant improvement in brachial artery FMD% (6.73 ± 2.55 before treatment vs. 10.19 ± 3.01 after treatment, p < 0.001). Conclusions: MS is associated with endothelial dysfunction and decreased brachial artery FMD compared with controls. Statin treatment for one week significantly improved brachial artery endothelial function in MS patients.展开更多
Background Pulse wave velocity and flow-mediated vasodilation （FMD） are widely used as noninvasive modalities for evaluating atherosclerosis. However, it is not known whether pulse wave velocity is related to FMD in...Background Pulse wave velocity and flow-mediated vasodilation （FMD） are widely used as noninvasive modalities for evaluating atherosclerosis. However, it is not known whether pulse wave velocity is related to FMD in patients with coronary artery disease （CAD）. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the alteration in brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity （baPWV） and endothelial function in CAD patients. Methods Thirty-three patients with CAD and thirty control subjects were recruited for this study, baPWV was measured non-invasively using a VP 1000 automated PWV/ABI analyzer （PWV/ABI, Colin Co. Ltd., Komaki, Japan）. Endothelial function as reflected by FMD in the brachial artery was assessed with a high-resolution ultrasound device. Results baPWV was increased in CAD patients compared with control subjects [（1756.1±253.1） cm/s vs （1495.3±202.3） cm/s, P〈0.01]. FMD was significantly reduced in CAD patients compared with control subjects [（5.2±2.1） % vs （11.1±4.4） %, P〈0.01]. baPWV correlated with FMD （r =-0.68, P〈0.001）. The endothelium-independent vasodilation induced by sublingual nitroglycerin in the brachial artery was similar in the CAD group compared with the control group.Conclusions CAD is associated with increased baPWV and endothelial dysfunction. Increased baPWV parallels diminished endothelial function. Our data therefore suggest that baPWV can be used as a noninvasive surrogate index in clinical evaluation of endothelial function.展开更多
基金supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada(NSERC)Discovery Grant,held by Dr.Bain(RGPIN-2020-05760).
文摘Notch1 is a mechanosensitive endothelial receptor that responds to vascular wall shear stress.However,data on Notch1 activity in humans remains limited,particularly regarding its role in endothelial function.Objectives:Accordingly,the purpose of this study was to determine whether Notch1 is associated with the flow-mediated dilatory(FMD)response and whether it is related to aerobic fitness.A secondary purpose was to determine whether Notch1 is related to concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF).Methods:Sixteen(8M/8F)young(20-30 yrs old)and healthy(BMI:25±4.2 kg/m^(2),blood pressure:117±11.63/69±11.25 mmHg)adults participated in the study.Aerobic fitness was determined by cycle VO_(2) peak.An FMDwas performed on the brachial artery,and blood samples were taken from an antecubital vein at rest(baseline)and 1min after cuff deflation(to align with peak vessel dilation).Concentrations of Notch1 extracellular domain(NECD)and VEGFwere determined from plasma using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.Results:In contrast to our hypothesis,concentrations of NECD and VEGF did not change throughout the FMDandwere unrelated to allometrically scaled FMD values(p all>0.05).Likewise,there was no relationship between changes inNECD and VEGF(p=0.331,r=0.127).However,the change in NECD across the FMD was moderately(r=0.515)and significantly(p=0.024)correlated with VO_(2) peak.Conclusions:These novel data indicate that in healthy young adults,Notch1 activity is linked to aerobic fitness but may not be acutely involved in the shear-mediated vasodilatory response.
文摘Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH/NAD+) is involved in important biochemical reactions in human metabolism, including participation in energy production by mitochondria. The changes in fluorescence intensity as a function of time in response to blocking and releasing of blood flow in a forearm are used as a measure of oxygen transport with blood to the tissue, which directly correlates with the skin microcirculation status. In this paper, a non-invasive dynamic monitoring system based on blood flow-mediated skin fluorescence (FMSF) technology is developed to monitor the NADH fluorescence intensity of skin tissue during the process of blocking reactive hyperemia. Simultaneously, laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) and laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) were used to observe blood flow, blood oxygen saturation (SOt2) and relative amount of hemoglobin (rHb) during the measurement process, which helped to explore NADH dynamics relevant physiological changes. A variety of parameters have been derived to describe NADH fluorescence curve based on the FMSF device. The experimental results are conducive to understanding the NADH measurement and the physiological processes related to it, which help FMSF to be a great avenue for in vivo physiological, clinical and pharmacological research on mitochondrial metabolism.
文摘Objectives: To evaluate the association of diastolic function of the left ventricle with flowme-diated dilatation (FMD) in uncomplicated Type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Methods: Eighty-two uncomplicated Type 2 diabetic patients were examined by pulse and tissue Doppler echocardiography and FMD of brachial artery. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the size of the left ventricular relaxation parameter—E’. Results: The average age of the patients was 61 ± 6 years. FMD was 5.0 ± 1.8% in 41 patients with E’ from 3 to 7.4 cm/s (mean 6 cm/s) comparing to 5.1 ± 1.9% (p = 0.96) in 41 patients with E’ from 7.5 to 10.9 cm/s (mean 8.9 cm/s). E/E’ was 11.2 ± 2.3 in the group with lower E’ and 9.1 ± 1.6 in the group with higher E’ (p 0.001). Linear negative correlation was found between E/E’ and FMD for the patients with E’ from 3 to 7.4 cm/s (R2 = 0.131;p = 0.025) but not for the group of patients with the higher E’. The significant association between FMD and E/E’ was confirmed by multivariate analysis ((Rc)2 = 0.233;p 0.05). Conclusion: FMD has no impact on the left ventricular relaxation. However FMD is negatively associated with E/E’ in Type 2 diabetic patients who have low E’ as a sign of an impaired early relaxation.
文摘Background: Many factors can contribute to atherosclerotic-type vascular changes in older individuals or men. Thus, confining the investigation to young women with no clinical evidence of the condition could enhance understanding of the early stages of cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to determine whether carotid mean/max intima-media thickness (IMT) and brachial flow-mediated dilation (FMD) values, which are well-known event-related indices, are associated with laboratory data and the other vascular indices of atherosclerosis in healthy young women. Methods: Carotid mean/max IMT and brachial FMD were measured in young women with no clinical evidence of atherosclerosis (n = 110;mean age, 39 years) who were instructed not to eat, drink or smoke after 9 PM the evening before testing. All participants also underwent laboratory assessment, including simultaneous measurements of arterial stiffness such as augmentation index (AI), cardioankle vascular index (CAVI) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). Results: Mean IMT was signifi-cantly and positively associated with age (p = 0.002), CAVI (p = 0.044), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C, p = 0.047) and high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP, p = 0.002) values but was not related to FMD, AI, baPWV or triglycerides (TG) in the multivariate regression analysis. Similarly, max IMT was positively associated with age (p p = 0.003) and hs-CRP (p = 0.005) values but was not related to FMD, AI, CAVI, baPWV, TG or blood pressure level in the multivariate regression analysis. The association between LDL-C and max IMT was much stronger than that between LDL-C and mean IMT. Brachial FMD was positively associated only with heart rate in the multivariate regression analysis. Conclusions: These results suggest that mean IMT more closely represents the sclerotic aspect of vascular change, whereas max IMT represents the atherotic aspect in healthy young women. Although the relationship between the autonomic nervous system and heart rate is well-known, there may be a complex interaction between the autonomic nervous system and endothelial function.
文摘Background Carotid artery intima-media thickness （CIMT） and brachial artery flow-mediated dilation percentage （FMD%） are common parameters used for detecting subclinical atherosclerosis. This study compared subclinical atherosclerosis of the carotid and brachial arteries in rheumatoid arthritis （RA） patients and healthy controls using high resolution ultrasonography. We also investigated their correlation with clinical factors and the association between FMD% and CIMT.
文摘The endothelium modulates vascular homeostasis owing to a variety of vasoconstrictors and vasodilators.Endothelial dysfunction(ED),characterized by impaired vasodilation,inflammation,and thrombosis,triggers future cardiovascular(CV)diseases.Chronic kidney disease,a state of chronic inflammation caused by oxidative stress,metabolic abnormalities,infection,and uremic toxins damages the endothelium.ED is also associated with a decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate.After kidney transplantation,endothelial functions undergo immediate but partial restoration,promising graft longevity and enhanced CV health.However,the anticipated CV outcomes do not happen due to various transplant-related and unrelated risk factors for ED,culminating in poor CV health and graft survival.ED in kidney transplant recipients is an underrecognized and poorly studied entity.CV diseases are the leading cause of death among kidney transplant candidates with functioning grafts.ED contributes to the pathogenesis of many of the CV diseases.Various biomarkers and vasoreactivity tests are available to study endothelial functions.With an increasing number of transplants happening every year,and improved graft rejection rates due to the availability of effective immunosuppressants,the focus has now shifted to endothelial protection for the prevention,early recognition,and treatment of CV diseases.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China:Regulation of nanomedicine on the immune microenvironment in the macrophage-rich area of arterial plaques based on IL-17 immunity(No.82274279,to Q.L.)。
文摘OBJECTIVE:To synthesize the evidence from randomized controlled trials(RCTs)to assess the efficacy and safety of Chinese patent medicine(CPM)on atherosclerosis(AS)or with a high risk of atherosclerosis.METHODS:All RCTs in three databases(Pub Med,EMBASE,and Cochrane Library)were included from the inception of the database to September 20,2019.The methodological evaluation of the included trials was carried out using the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias Tool.Meta-analysis was conducted using Rev Man 5.3 software.The Grading of Recommendations Assessment,Development and Evaluation(GRADE)methodology was used to evaluate the quality of evidence.RESULTS:Eighteen RCTs were included,involving a total of 3885 patients with AS or with a high risk of AS.Most trials had favorable methodology.Meta-analysis suggested significant differences in clinical endpoint(n=1938,RR 0.53;95%CI 0.40 to 0.69,P<0.00001;I^(2)=0%);the change in carotid artery IMT(n=1723,MD-0.09,95%CI-0.14 to-0.04,P<0.001;I^(2)=40%);change in FMD(n=239,MD 0.87,95%CI 0.52 to 1.21,P<0.00001;I^(2)=0%);change in high sensitive C-reactive protein(hsCRP)(n=1527,MD-1.89,95%CI-3.36 to-0.42,P=0.01;I^(2)=94%)and incidence of total adverse events(RR 0.76,95%CI 0.62 to 0.93,P=0.009;I^(2)=40%)in favor of the experimental group.However,meta-analysis showed no significant differences in the change in lowdensity lipoprotein-C(LDL-C)(n=2419,MD-0.19,95%CI-0.50 to 0.12,P=0.22,I^(2)=94%)between the experimental and control groups.Conclusion:CPM could have certain clinical efficacy in the treatment of AS.However,more double-blinded placebo-controlled RCTs are required in further evaluations to provide stronger evidence.
基金supported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grants KJCX-SW-L08, KJCX3-SYW-S01)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants 11021262, 11023001, 11232011, 11372331)
文摘Flapping-powered propulsion is used by many animals to locomote through air or water. Here we review recent experimental and numerical studies on self-propelled mechanical systems powered by a flapping motion. These studies improve our understanding of the mutual interaction between actively flapping bodies and surrounding fluids. The results obtained in these works provide not only new insights into biolocomotion but also useful information for the biomimetic design of artificial flyers and swimmers.
文摘Although the endothelium has a number of important functions, the term endothelial dysfunction is commonly used to describe impairment in its vasodilatory capacity. There have been numerous studies evaluating the relationship between endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular disease, however assessment of endothelial function is perhaps still primarily thought of as a research tool and has not reached widespread clinical acceptance. In this review we explore the relationship between endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular disease, its prognostic significance, methods of pharmacological reversal of endothelial dysfunction, and ask the question, is reversal of endothelial dysfunction still an attractive target in modern cardiology?
文摘Exercise exerts direct effects on the vasculature via the impact of hemodynamic forces on the endothelium,thereby leading to functional and structural adaptations that lower cardiovascular risk.The patterns of blood flow and endothelial shear stress during exercise lead to atheroprotective hemodynamic stimuli on the endothelium and contribute to adaptations in vascular function and structure.The structural adaptations observed in arterial lumen dimensions after prolonged exercise supplant the need for acute functional vasodilatation in case of an increase in endothelial shear stress due to repeated exercise bouts.In contrast,wall thickness is affected by rather systemic factors,such as transmural pressure modulated during exercise by generalized changes in blood pressure.Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the exercise-induced benefits in patients with coronary artery disease(CAD).They include decreased progression of coronary plaques in CAD,recruitment of collaterals,enhanced blood rheological properties,improvement of vascular smooth muscle cell and endothelial function,and coronary blood flow.This review describes how exercise via alterations in hemodynamic factors influences vascular function and structure which contributes to cardiovascular risk reduction,and highlights which mechanisms are involved in the positive effects of exercise on CAD.
基金Project supported by the National Science and Technology Major Project(No.2012ZX09303-016-003)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.81270352,81270287,81300168,81471036,and 81470560)
文摘Background： Statins have proven efficacy in inhibiting the onset and progress of atherosclerosis. The effectiveness of pitavastatin in reversing carotid atherosclerosis associated with hypercholesterolemia （HC） is un-known. Objectives： To explore the simultaneous effects of pitavastatin calcium on brachial arterial flow-mediated vasodilatation （FMD）, carotid intima-media thickness （IMT）, and arterial stiffness （β）, three surrogate markers of ath-erosclerosis were studied in HC patients. Methods：A randomized, double-blind trial was performed with 40 HC sub-jects who fulfil ed the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Patients were given pitavastatin calcium 1 mg/d （Group 1） or 2 mg/d （Group 2） for 8 weeks. There were 20 patients in each group, and 30 gender-and age-matched healthy subjects as controls were recruited. FMD of the brachial artery, carotid IMT, and arterial stiffness indicated byβwere measured at baseline and at 8 weeks after starting pitavastatin calcium therapy using ultrasound techniques. Biochemical tests were also made on al subjects. Results： At baseline, higher total cholesterol （TC） and low-density lipoprotein cho-lesterol （LDL-C）, reduced FMD, and increasedβand IMT were observed in HC patients （P0.05）. Significant negative interactions between TC/LDL and FMD （P〈0.05–0.001）, positive interactions between TC and IMT （P=0.003） and between TC/LDL and β （P〈0.001–0.000） were found. Conclusions： Treatment with pitavastatin calcium exerted fa-vorable effects on endothelial function and arterial stiffness. It also improved carotid atherosclerosis in patients with HC.
基金funded by the Seed Funding for Translational and Applied Research,University Grants Council,The University of Hong Kong(Ref:201611160038)。
文摘This study aimed to compare the efficacy of four formulations of plant-based functional foods on the protection against salt-induced endothelial dysfunction.A randomized crossover design was employed.Ten healthy subjects were recruited,and on five separate occasions they received,in random sequence one of the following 5 treatments:250 mL of plain water(control)alone,and with beetroot powder,celery powder,green tea extract or beetroot powder with green tea extract prior to consuming 150 mL of high-salt chicken broth.Flow-mediated dilation(FMD),blood pressure(BP),heart rate(HR)and pulse-wave velocity(PWV)were measured at fasting and at 30,60,90 and 120 min postprandial.Comparing with control,beetroot supplementation led to a significantly increased HR at 30,60 and 90 min postprandially(P=0.025,0.004,<0.001,respectively).No significant difference was observed for FMD,BP and PWV between control and any of the treatments.Salt reduction may still be the most effective strategy to improve vascular health.
文摘Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of training on endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) after revascularization and healthy young men. Background: Impaired endothelial function has been observed in patients with CAD and those with CAD risk factors. Studies have shown that exercise can enhance endothelial function. Methods: This experimental cross-sectional study was conducted on patients with CAD (3 months after CABG and PCI) and students of medical school in 2011. Endothelium dependent dilation of the brachial artery was determined by using high-resolution vascular ultrasonography through flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD) after induction of ischemia, and the data were analyzed using SPSS, dependent t-test and ANCOVA. Findings: The findings showed that at baseline, FMD was reduced in revascularized patients, when compared with healthy young men, after 8 weeks, and exercise training significantly improved FMD in patients underwent training group [from 4.31 ± 1.45 (SD)% to 6.15 ± 0.773 (SD)%, p p ed unchanged, and even after aerobic training, it did not significantly modify the brachial artery diameter in these groups. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that endothelial dysfunction persisting in CAD patients after revascularization and aerobic training can improve endothelial function in different vascular beds in CAD patients and healthy young men. This may contribute to the benefit of regular exercise in preventing and restricting cardiovascular disease.
文摘We evaluated the effect of sitagliptin on vascular endothelial function in Japanese type 2 diabetes patients without cardiovascular disease. Subjects included 24 Japanese type 2 diabetes patients without cardiovascular disease. This study was a prospective, open-label, randomized clinical trial. We divided the study subjects into 2 groups: subjects who received sitagliptin 50 mg daily (sitagliptin group, n = 12) and subjects who did not receive sitagliptin (control group, n = 12). Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was measured after overnight fasting. Sitagliptin administration was initiated at 1 month after enrollment in study (baseline). FMD and level of biochemical variables in the sitagliptin and control groups were measured at baseline and 3 months from baseline (3 months). We evaluated the effect of sitagliptin on vascular endothelial function by measuring FMD. FMD at 3 months was significantly higher in the sitagliptin group than in the control group (5.36% ± 2.18% vs 3.41% ± 2.29%, P = 0.040), while FMD at baseline was not significantly different between the 2 groups. In addition, FMD of the sitagliptin group at 3 months was significantly higher than that at baseline (5.36% ± 2.18% vs 3.67% ± 2.30%, P = 0.004), while no significant differences were observed in the FMD of the control group during the study period. The change in the adiponectin from baseline to 3 months was significantly higher in the sitagliptin group than that in the control group (0.82 ± 2.18 μg/mL vs 0.01 ± 0.55 μg/mL, P = 0.039). Sitagliptin improves vascular endothelial function of the brachial artery in Japanese type 2 diabetes patients without cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, elevation of adiponectin may induce reduction of endothelial dysfunction in type 2 diabetes patients treated with sitagliptin.
文摘Context: Endothelial dysfunction is an early predictor of adverse cardiovascular events. The present study evaluated asymptomatic metabolic syndrome (MS) patients with brachial artery endothelial dysfunction to determine whether a reversal of endothelial dysfunction occurs with statin treatment. Aim: To evaluate the short term effects of statins on endothelial function in asymptomatic metabolic syndrome patients. Methodology: This was a prospective, single centre, case-control study. We evaluated 50 recently diagnosed newly detected asymptomatic MS patients who underwent an assessment of endothelial function by brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) before and after treatment with 40 mg atorvastatin for one week. Results: A total of 50 MS patients, including 36 (62%) females and 14 (38%) males, were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 49.70 ± 8.84 y. We identified a significant difference between cases and age- and sex-matched controls regarding baseline brachial artery FMD% (6.73 ± 2.55 vs. 11.03 ± 1.85, respectively;p < 0.001). Significant negative correlations were detected between FMD% and HDL-cholesterol (r = -0.34, p = 0.01), fasting blood sugar (r = -0.40, p = 0.004), and systolic blood pressure (r = -0.34, p = 0.015). Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that HDL-cholesterol was an independently associated factor for FMD. MS patients treated with 40 mg atorvastatin for one week showed a significant improvement in brachial artery FMD% (6.73 ± 2.55 before treatment vs. 10.19 ± 3.01 after treatment, p < 0.001). Conclusions: MS is associated with endothelial dysfunction and decreased brachial artery FMD compared with controls. Statin treatment for one week significantly improved brachial artery endothelial function in MS patients.
文摘Background Pulse wave velocity and flow-mediated vasodilation （FMD） are widely used as noninvasive modalities for evaluating atherosclerosis. However, it is not known whether pulse wave velocity is related to FMD in patients with coronary artery disease （CAD）. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the alteration in brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity （baPWV） and endothelial function in CAD patients. Methods Thirty-three patients with CAD and thirty control subjects were recruited for this study, baPWV was measured non-invasively using a VP 1000 automated PWV/ABI analyzer （PWV/ABI, Colin Co. Ltd., Komaki, Japan）. Endothelial function as reflected by FMD in the brachial artery was assessed with a high-resolution ultrasound device. Results baPWV was increased in CAD patients compared with control subjects [（1756.1±253.1） cm/s vs （1495.3±202.3） cm/s, P〈0.01]. FMD was significantly reduced in CAD patients compared with control subjects [（5.2±2.1） % vs （11.1±4.4） %, P〈0.01]. baPWV correlated with FMD （r =-0.68, P〈0.001）. The endothelium-independent vasodilation induced by sublingual nitroglycerin in the brachial artery was similar in the CAD group compared with the control group.Conclusions CAD is associated with increased baPWV and endothelial dysfunction. Increased baPWV parallels diminished endothelial function. Our data therefore suggest that baPWV can be used as a noninvasive surrogate index in clinical evaluation of endothelial function.
