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Although dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) has been used to determine total body volume, using DXA to determine regional (i.e., arm and leg) volumes needs further assessment. Thus, the aim of the present study is to evaluate the validity of total and regional DXA-derived body volume compared to a traditional method for measuring body volume.A total of 30 males and females (Age: 25.9 ± 4.0 yrs; Height: 1.75 ± 0.10 m; Weight: 70.98 ± 14.02 kg) underwent one whole body DXA scan, underwater weighing, and regional measures of volume via water displacement. Manually created DXA region of interest boxes were used to determine regional DXA body composition. Total body volume was calculated by taking the participant's dry weight and dividing it by the average density from underwater weighing. Linear regression models with body volume from underwater weighing for total body volume and water displacement for regional volume as the dependent variable and DXA lean mass, fat mass, and bone mass as independent variables created total and regional DXA-derived body volume. T-tests assessed DXA-derived body volume to the traditional method of body volume assessment. Regression models were cross-validated using the Repeated k-fold Cross Validation method.DXA-derived total body volume was not significantly (p = 0.999) different from total body volume measured via total body water displacement. In addition, both arm and leg regional DXA-derived volume was not significantly different (p = 0.999) compared to regional volume measured by regional water displacement. Cross-validation of each model produced RThe DXA may be used as valid method for estimating total and regional body volume. Thus, these results expand the DXA's capabilities and potentially allow for a convenient regional four-compartment model with DXA-derived regional volume.

Background: Recently, a lateral-view dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanning method for measuring leg total, lean, and fat masses demonstrated accuracy vs the standard whole-body frontal DXA scanning view on the GE Lunar iDXA. The current study examined the lateral scanning method's agreement using a Hologic Horizon A DXA scanner. Methodology: Thirty healthy college-age participants (16 female; Xage = 21.5 ± 1.7 yr) received 3 DXA scans (1 whole-body, 2 lateral leg scans) to quantify leg composition in the frontal and lateral plane. To mark regions of interest for postscan analysis, metallic markers were placed at 60% of the length above and below each leg's lateral epicondyle. Using lateral subject positioning, leg composition was measured with participants lying on their right and left sides. Paired t tests examined the lateral DXA scanning method's agreement when quantifying total, fat, and lean masses, bone mineral content, and bone mineral density compared to measurements of equal area in the whole-body frontal scanning view. Results: Comparisons of frontal and lateral view DXA scan measurements for right leg total mass (7.12 ± 0.91kg vs 6.39 ± 0.85kg), fat mass (1.70 ± 0.44kg vs 1.36 ± 0.33kg), lean mass (5.14 ± 1.05kg vs 4.77 ± 0.92kg), bone mineral content (0.28 ± 0.06kg vs 0.23 ± 0.05kg), and bone mineral density (1.39 ± 0.14g/cm2vs 1.36 ± 0.15g/cm2), respectively, were significantly different (p

The purpose of the present study was to generate normative values for total and regional body composition in male and female Division 1 collegiate track and field athletes using dual X-ray absorptiometry. We also sought to examine body composition by event and sex. Data were used from the Consortium of College Athlete Research group. A total of 590 (male [M]/female [F] = 274/316) athletes had their height, weight, total and regional fat mass (FM), lean mass, and bone mineral density (BMD) measured. Athletes were classified into 1 of 7 categories: Jumps (M/F = 28/30); Long Distance (M/F = 104/110), Middle Distance (M/F = 27/24), Multievent (M/F = 11/9), Pole Vault (M/F = 21/27), Sprints (M/F = 54/96), and Throws (M/F = 29/20). Total and regional differences between events and sex were assessed by analysis of variance. Except for male and female throwers, all other track and field athletes' mean percent body fat (M: 10.3%-12.6%, F: 17.5%-21.6%) and visceral FM (500 g) was low, but in a healthy range. As expected, throwers had significantly (p0.05) higher total and regional FM and lean mass than other events. In addition, male (1.55 ± 0.11 g/cm

Obesity is a well-established risk factor for insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus, and body fat distribution has important implications for this metabolic risk. In this cross-sectional study, we used dual X-ray absorptiometry body composition data from 123 young adult participants with overweight or obesity, and correlated with 2 indices of insulin resistance calculated from oral glucose tolerance tests. Participants were 70% women, with mean (standard error) age 30.1 (0.6) yr, body mass index (BMI) 34.0 (0.6) kg/m(2), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) of 2.1 (0.2), and Matsuda insulin sensitivity index (Matsuda ISI) of 5.8 (0.4). In women, the strongest correlations were observed with the android-to-gynoid ratio (r = 0.52, p < 0.001 for HOMA-IR; r = 0.46, p < 0.001 for Matsuda ISI), and these correlations remained significant after adjustment for BMI. For men, the strongest correlations were with android fat mass (r = 0.40, p = 0.01 for HOMA-IR; r = 0.37, p = 0.02 for Matsuda ISI). Visceral adipose tissue was correlated with HOMA-IR and Matsuda ISI in women, and only with Matsuda ISI in men. BMI correlated with HOMA- IR and with Matsuda ISI in both women and men. Regional adiposity determined by dual X-ray absorptiometry correlates with indices of insulin resistance in sedentary young adults with overweight and obesity.

This study examined the effects of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and associated preparative regimens on vascular structure and function. Measures of carotid artery stiffness and brachial artery endothelial-dependent dilation were obtained in patients who had survived ≥ 2 years after HCT for hematologic malignancy and were diagnosed at ≤21 years. HCT survivors (n = 108) were examined: 66 received total body irradiation (TBI) alone or with a low-dose cranial radiation boost (TBI±LD-CRT), 19 received TBI plus high-dose cranial radiation (TBI+HD-CRT), and 23 received a chemotherapy-only preparative regimen (CHEMO). Siblings (n = 83) were invited to participate as control subjects. Although endothelial-dependent dilation did not differ between siblings and HCT survivors, carotid cross-sectional compliance, cross-sectional distensibility, diameter compliance, and diameter distensibility were greater in siblings than HCT survivors. Comparing the HCT preparative regimens, carotid cross-sectional compliance, cross-sectional distensibility, diameter compliance, diameter distensibility, and incremental elastic modulus were significantly lower in the TBI+HD-CRT group compared with siblings or with TBI±LD-CRT and CHEMO treatment groups. Cross-sectional distensibility and diameter compliance were significantly lower in the TBI±LD-CRT group compared with siblings. TBI±LD-CRT and CHEMO groups did not differ from each other in these vascular measures. HCT preparative regimens containing TBI+HD-CRT resulted in greater arterial decrements, indicating increased risk for cardiovascular disease.

Ventilation/carbon dioxide production (VE/VCO2slope) is used clinically to determine cardiorespiratory fitness and morbidity in heart failure (HF). Previously, we demonstrated that lower lean leg mass is associated with high VE/VCO2slope during exercise in HF. In healthy individuals, we evaluated 1) whether VE/VCO2slope differed between lean and overweight women and 2) the relationship between lean leg mass and VE/VCO2slope in overweight sedentary (OWS), overweight trained (OWTR) and lean, trained (LTR) women. Methods: Gas exchange and ventilation were collected during a treadmill peak oxygen uptake test (VO2peak) in 40 women [26 OWS (29 ± 7 yrs., mean ± SD), 7 OWTR (33 ± 5 yrs) and 7 LTR (26 ± 6 yrs)]. Body composition was measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry. Results: VO2peak was highest in LTR (46.6 ± 8 ml/kg/min) compared with OWTR (38.1 ± 4.9 ml/kg/min) and OWS women (25.3 ± 4.8 ml/kg/min, p 0.05). Higher lean leg mass was associated with lower VE/VCO2slope in overweight women (OWS + OWTR: r = −0.55, p

Objective: Skipping breakfast and consuming fast food are related to the risk of obesity and are common adolescent behaviors. The relationship between these behaviors and biomarkers related to diabetes and CVD is understudied in this population. Methods: Data are from a study of the etiologic factors related to obesity risk in adolescents. Breakfast and fast food consumption were assessed using a self-report survey. Anthropometrics, fasting lipids, glucose, insulin, and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were assessed. Multivariate analyses were used to examine the relationship between dietary behaviors and selected biomarkers, controlling for calories consumed, body mass index (BMI), and demographic covariates. Results: 367 adolescents (11 to 18-years; mean 14.7 ± 1.8 years) were assessed at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities from 2006–2008. Breakfast consumption was significantly associated with lower BMI, body fat, insulin, HOMA-IR, and metabolic syndrome (MetS) cluster score, while fast food consumption was associated with higher BMI, body fat, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, and MetS cluster score. Some gender differences were observed. Conclusion: Breakfast and fast food consumption appear to be related to important metabolic syndrome biomarkers for chronic disease in a sample of healthy adolescents. The importance of this finding needs to be validated by examining the stability of this pattern over time and to assess the pattern in other populations., Highlights • Risk factor clustering may create metabolic dysfunction. • Eating breakfast is related to decrease metabolic risk in adolescents. • Eating fast food is related to increased metabolic risk in adolescents.

To determine the associations of adiposity and insulin resistance with measures of vascular structure and function in children.A cross-sectional study included 252 children (age 15.1 ± 2.4 years; body mass index percentile 68.2 ± 26.5%; Tanner 2-5). Measurements of body fat percentage were obtained with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) with computed tomography. Insulin resistance was measured with hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp. Vascular measurements for endothelial function (brachial artery flow-mediated dilation [FMD]), vascular structure (carotid intima-media thickness [cIMT]), vascular stiffness (carotid incremental elastic modulus), and pulse wave velocity were analyzed by tertiles of adiposity and insulin resistance. Additional analyses with ANCOVA and linear regression were adjusted for Tanner, sex, race, and family relationship; FMD was also adjusted for baseline artery diameter.FMD was positively associated with high adiposity (body mass index, body fat percentage, and VAT) (P.01 all). Insulin resistance was not associated with FMD. cIMT was significantly, positively related to obesity, VAT, and insulin resistance (P.05 all). No differences in carotid incremental elastic modulus and pulse wave velocity were observed in relation to adiposity or insulin resistance.The findings suggest that adiposity is associated with higher FMD, and insulin resistance and VAT are associated with higher cIMT in children. Further research is needed to clarify the progression of these relations.

To compare markers of cardiovascular health in youth diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) by the use of stimulant medication with healthy controls.Children and adolescents (n = 85; mean age 11.2 ± 2.8 years; 66 boys) diagnosed with ADHD using a stimulant and 53 siblings without ADHD (mean age 11.1 ± 3.8 years; 28 boys) were included in this cross-sectional study. Measured variables included blood pressure, heart rate (HR), HR variability: SD of the RR interval and low frequency to high frequency ratio, carotid-radial pulse wave velocity, carotid artery augmentation index (AIx), radial artery AIx, brachial artery flow-mediated dilation, and digital reactive hyperemic index.Compared with control patients, participants with ADHD had greater resting systolic blood pressure (3.9 mm Hg, 95% CI [1.2-6.7], P = .005), diastolic blood pressure (5.5 mm Hg, 95% CI [3.2-7.8], P .001), HR (9.2 beats/min, 95% CI [6.0-12.3], P .001), low frequency to high frequency ratio (0.55, 95% CI [0.22-0.89], P = .001), carotid AIx (7.2%, 95% CI [1.9-12.5], P = .008), and pulse wave velocity (0.36 m/s, 95% CI [-0.05, 0.78], P = .089), and lower SD of the RR interval (-33.7 milliseconds, 95% CI [-46.1, -21.3], P .001). Neither flow-mediated dilation nor reactive hyperemic index was significantly different.Children and adolescents being treated with a stimulant medication for ADHD exhibited signs of altered cardiac autonomic function, characterized by increased sympathetic tone, and showed evidence of arterial stiffening.

The use of digital reactive hyperemia as a measure of endothelial function among children and adolescents is becoming increasingly common. However, unexpected observations of low reactive hyperemic index values in younger children in our laboratory led us to conduct a study evaluating the influence of age, sex, height, weight, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), and finger volume on RHI values.Endothelial function, measured by digital reactive hyperemia (reactive hyperemic index: RHI) was assessed in 113 children and adolescents (mean age 12.4 ± 3.8 years; 64 males), with 102 also assessed for brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) using ultrasound imaging. Associations with age, sex, height, weight, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP), BMI, and finger volume were evaluated.Using GLM regression, age (β = 0.03, P = 0.014) and SBP (β = 0.015, P = 0.004) were significantly associated with RHI. No measures were associated with FMD. In the subset of individuals with measured finger volume, age (β = 0.025, P = 0.037) was the only measure significantly associated with log RHI. Similarly, no measures were associated with FMD.Younger age is associated with lower RHI but not lower FMD among children and adolescents. These findings call into question the validity and usefulness of digital reactive hyperemia as a method to quantify endothelial function among younger children.

Treatments for mucopolysaccharidoses (MPSs) have increased longevity, but coronary artery disease (CAD) and cardiovascular complications cause mortality in a high percentage of patients. Non-invasive measures of sub-clinical atherosclerosis, such as carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and arterial stiffness, may be useful for prediction of CAD outcomes in MPS patients.The aim of the study was to determine if cIMT and arterial stiffness are abnormal in MPS I and II patients compared to healthy controls.MPS patients underwent carotid artery ultrasonography, and electronic wall-tracking software was used to measure cIMT, carotid artery cross-sectional compliance (cCSC), cross-sectional distensibility (cCSD), and incremental elastic modulus (cIEM). Control data from healthy subjects were obtained from a different study that utilized identical testing within the same laboratory.A total of 406 healthy controls and 25 MPS patients (16 MPS I, 9 MPS II) were studied. All MPS patients had or were receiving treatment: 15 patients (6 MPS I, 9 MPS II) were receiving enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), 9 patients (all MPS I) had received hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT), and 1 patient with MPS I had received HSCT and was receiving enzyme replacement therapy (ERT). MPS patients had significantly higher mean (± SD) cIMT (0.56 ± 0.05 mm) compared to controls (0.44 ± 0.04 mm; adjusted p0.001). MPS patients also had increased stiffness compared to controls, showing significantly lower cCSC (0.14 ± 0.09 mm(2)/mmHg versus 0.16 ± 0.05 mm(2)/mmHg; adjusted p=0.019), and higher cIEM (1362 ± 877 mmHg versus 942 ± 396 mmHg; adjusted p0.001). cCSD in MPS patients was lower than that of controls (29.7 ± 16.4% versus 32.0 ± 8.2%) but was not statistically significant; p=0.12. Among MPS patients, cCSD showed a significant association with cIMT (p=0.047), while the association between cIEM and cIMT approached significance (p=0.077). No significant differences were observed in cIMT, cCSD, cCSC, and cIEM between MPS I and MPS II patients.Despite treatment, MPS patients had higher cIMT compared to healthy controls, indicating this marker of sub-clinical atherosclerosis may be a useful predictor of CAD outcomes. The association of arterial stiffness measures with cIMT suggests that mechanical and structural changes may occur in concert among MPS patients. Although yet to be confirmed, increased cIMT and arterial stiffness in MPS I and II patients may be a consequence of inflammatory signaling pathways triggered by heparan or dermatan sulfate-derived oligosaccharides. Prospective, longitudinal studies will need to be performed in order to evaluate the usefulness of these carotid measurements as predictors of adverse CAD outcomes in MPS patients.

We sought to determine whether childhood wrist circumference predicts insulin resistance in adulthood. Measures were taken in prepubertal children and then approximately 30 years later in the same subjects as adults. Our findings suggest that wrist circumference in childhood is not a predictor of insulin resistance in adulthood.

Background: Chronic right ventricular pacing may lead to left ventricular dyssynchrony, systolic dysfunction, remodeling, and heart failure. Cardiac mechanics may differ between paced and nonpaced heart failure patients, and their optimal treatment may also differ. Methods and Results: Echocardiograms were analyzed using tissue Doppler imaging and speckle tracking echocardiography in 20 patients with chronic right ventricular pacing for complete heart block (RVP group), 29 nonpaced patients with different heart failure etiologies but ejection fractions similar to the RVP group (HF group), and 25 control subjects without pacemakers or heart failure (control group). Left ventricle volumes were smaller in RVP than HF (end-diastolic volume 5 93.6 6 25.1 mL vs. 112.1 6 22.8 mL), but intraventricular longitudinal and radial dyssynchrony were similar. Dyssynchrony within the septum was greater (number of segments lengthening during systole 5 1.9 6 1.7 vs. 0.9 6 1.8), systolic torsion was lower (6.2 6 7.3 � vs. 10.6 6 4.2 � ), untwisting was delayed (time from peak torsion to peak untwist rate 5 188 6 141 ms vs. 102 6 73 ms), and apical rotation was reversed in more subjects (35% vs 0%) in RVP than HF groups (P ! .05 for all). Conclusions: Intraventricular dyssynchrony was similar between RVP and HF groups with similar ejection fraction. However, RVP subjects had smaller ventricles, greater dyssynchrony within the septum, lower torsion, altered apical rotation, and delayed untwisting. (J Cardiac Fail 2011;17:495e502)

Introduction: Mechanical stresses on the bone are an important aspect of physical activity that promotes bone preservation and increases in bone mass. Exercise intensities leading to bone preservation and accrual have not been adequately defined for humans in general, and postmenopausal women in particular. Materials and methods: To quantify parameters of effective walking intensity for preservation and accrual of bone mineral, healthy postmenopausal women engaged in 30 weeks of supervised walking, 4.8 km per day, 4 days a week at intensities of 102% or 123% of the ventilatory threshold (VT) equivalent to 67% and 86% of maximal effort (VO2 max). Subjects were matched by age, body mass, hormone replacement status (HRT) and VT. Areal bone mineral density (aBMD) determined by DXA (n=25) and bone formation markers osteocalcin (OC), and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (bALP) (n=43), were measured at the outset and at 15-week intervals. Peak vertical forces at corresponding intensities were measured (n=9) on a force plate. Results: aBMD of legs and whole body, but not of other sites, and lean mass of legs, but not of arms, increased after 15 weeks of high intensity, compared to moderate losses for low intensity training. Leg and total body aBMD was preserved and slightly increased with loads greater than 872.3 newtons (N) with a walking intensity above 115% of VTor 74% of VO2 max, speeds above 6.14 km/h, and heart rates above 82.3% of agespecific maximum. OC and bALP did not correlate with training-induced changes in aBMD. Conclusions: At exercise intensities above 115% of VTor 74% of VO2 max, and walking speeds above 6.14 km/h, mechanical loading of 872.3 N or 1.22 times body weight is sufficient for increases in leg muscle mass and preservation of BMD in postmenopausal women.

Obesity is characterized by metabolic and vascular abnormalities. We examined the effects of weight loss on insulin sensitivity and arterial stiffness in overweight adults. Twelve (9 females; 3 males) overweight (body mass index, 30.3 +/- 3.7) adults (54.9 +/- 3.9 years) without diabetes or vascular disease were counseled by a registered dietician to lose weight over 6 months. Vascular structure, function, and wall mechanical properties were measured via ultrasound. Intravenous glucose tolerance test, 24-hour blood pressure, body composition (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry), and lipids were also assessed. There were significant reductions in body mass (86.3 +/- 14.2 vs 79.5 +/- 13.8 kg, P.0001) and percentage of fat (44.3% +/- 7.0% vs 41.0% +/- 8.5%, P.01) after weight loss. There were significant improvements in total cholesterol (6.0 +/- 0.9 vs 5.0 +/- 0.8 mmol/L, P.0001), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (3.9 +/- 0.7 vs 3.2 +/- 0.6 mmol/L, P.0001), triglycerides (3.4 +/- 2.3 vs 2.4 +/- 0.9 mmol/L, P.05), and insulin sensitivity (3.3 +/- 1.7 vs 5.4 +/- 1.6 microU x 10(-4) min(-1) mL(-1), P.0001) after weight loss. Brachial artery compliance (P.05) and distensibility (P.05) curves over the physiologic pressure range improved, whereas endothelial function and intima-media thickness remained unchanged. In overweight adults, 6 months of weight loss resulted in improvements in body composition, insulin sensitivity, lipid profile, and brachial artery compliance and distensibility.

Background The purpose of the present study was to compare endothelial function in lean (body mass index [BMI] = 18.0–24.9 kg/m2); overweight (BMI = 25–29.9 kg/m2); and obese (BMI > 30 kg/m2), healthy, eumenorrheic women. Methods Eighteen lean, 22 overweight, and 19 obese eumenorrheic middle-aged women were studied. Vascular structure and function were assessed via non-invasive ultrasound imaging of the carotid and brachial arteries. Body composition, blood pressure, fasting blood lipids, glucose, and insulin also were measured. Results The groups demonstrated significantly (p Conclusions The results of this study support the hypothesis that carotid artery wall cross-sectional area is elevated and flow-mediated dilation reduced in overweight and obese eumennorheic women as compared to lean counterparts in relation to BMI classification.

To assess subclinical inflammation, fasting insulin, and endothelial function before and after exercise in overweight children and adolescents.Twenty-five children (body mass index [BMI]85th percentile) were assessed for brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD), nitroglycerin-induced dilation, C-reactive protein (CRP), lipids, glucose, insulin, oral glucose tolerance, body composition, aerobic fitness (peak oxygen uptake [VO 2 peak]), and blood pressure. Twenty of these persons were equally and randomly assigned to either 8 weeks of stationary cycling or to a non-exercising control group.A baseline correlation was found between CRP and fasting insulin (r = 0.62; P.001), which remained significant after adjusting for baseline variables (r = 0.53; P.05). After 8 weeks, significant improvements were observed in the exercise group compared with the control group for VO 2 peak (exercise group = 21.8 +/- 2.1 to 23.2 +/- 1.5 mL/kg/minute vs control group = 23.4 +/- 1.6 to 20.9 +/- 2.2 mL/kg/minute; P.05), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (exercise group = 1.02 +/- 0.03 to 1.10 +/- 0.04 mmol/L vs control group = 1.08 +/- 0.07 to 0.99 +/- 0.09 mmol/L; P.05), and FMD area under the curve (AUC) (exercise group = 746 +/- 66 to 919 +/- 94 %*sec vs control group = 731 +/- 102 to 515 +/- 73 %*sec; P.05).In overweight children and adolescents, CRP is independently associated with fasting insulin. Eight weeks of aerobic exercise improves fitness, HDL cholesterol, and endothelial function in this group.

The protein kinase B (PKB)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway is thought to play a critical role in the regulation of protein synthesis and skeletal muscle mass. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of voluntary wheel running on the PKB/mTOR signaling pathway in muscles from aged mice (20–22 months). The total levels of mTOR were 65% higher in gastrocnemius muscles from aged mice subjected to wheel running compared to aged sedentary mice (p = 0.02). PKB phosphorlation on Ser473 was 45% higher in gastrocnemius muscles from aged mice subjected to wheel running compared to aged sedentary mice (p = 0.01). The total abundance of PKB was 50% higher in gastrocnemius muscles from wheel running mice compared to aged controls (p = 0.05). Three months of wheel running did not alter the total amount of p70 S6K in gastrocnemius muscle. Protein synthesis, as assessed by [14C]phenylalanine incorporation into protein was significantly higher in soleus muscles from aged mice subjected to wheel running compared to aged sedentary mice (p = 0.01). These findings indicate the aerobic exercise training may attenuate the age-related decline in protein synthesis, a process that appears to be due, in part, to increases in mTOR and PKB.

The aim of this study was to compare B-mode and echo tracking methods to assess endothelium-dependent flow-mediated dilation (FMD). Baseline brachial artery diameter, 60-s post cuff release diameter and FMD percent were assessed in 17 normal, healthy individuals using both techniques. Mean values for baseline diameter, 60-s diameter and FMD for M-mode were 3.83 +/- 0.69 mm, 4.06 +/- 0.66 mm and 6.35 +/- 3.98%, respectively. Mean values for baseline diameter, 60-s diameter and FMD for B-mode were 3.75 +/- 0.65 mm, 4.00 +/- 0.63 mm and 6.91 +/- 2.85%, respectively. Results, as displayed by Bland-Altman graphs, indicate a strong agreement between B-mode and echo tracking methods of assessing brachial artery diameter changes via FMD.

The effects of weight loss induced by hypocaloric diet (HD) alone or combined with aerobic exercise (AEX+HD) on body composition were compared in 61 sedentary obese men aged 60.6 +/- 1.0 years (mean +/- SEM). Twenty-three subjects in the AEX+HD intervention and 28 subjects in the HD intervention lost a similar amount of body weight (range, 3 to 22 kg). Fifteen men underwent no intervention and served as controls (CON). All groups were of similar body composition at baseline. The HD group decreased caloric intake for 10 months, whereas the AEX+HD group combined HD with AEX (3 times per week) for 10 months. The HD and AEX+HD groups had significant and comparable reductions in body weight (9.3 +/- 0.8 v 8.1 +/- 0.6 kg), fat mass (6.8 +/- 0.5 v 6.7 +/- 0.5 kg), and fat-free mass (2.1 +/- 0.3 v 1.3 +/- 0.3 kg; all P < .05). None of the variables changed significantly in the CON group. Regression lines depicting the relationship between the loss in fat-free mass and the decrease in body weight did not differ significantly in either slope or intercept between the treatment groups. These results suggest that in older obese men, hypocaloric dieting combined with AEX training does not attenuate the loss in fat-free mass that occurs during weight loss by hypocaloric dieting alone.

We determined if the apolipoprotein E (APO E) genotype affects the exercise training-induced increase in plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and HDL2-C. Sedentary overweight men on an American Heart Association (AHA) step I diet had plasma lipoprotein-lipids measured before and after 9 months of endurance exercise training. APO E2 (n = 6), E3 (n = 33), and E4 (n = 12) groups were similar at baseline in terms of age, body weight and composition, and plasma lipoprotein-lipid profiles. APO E2 men had a larger increase in plasma HDL-C and HDL2-C with exercise training than APO E3 and E4 men (HDL-C, 8 +/- 4 v 3 +/- 1 v 2 +/- 1 mg/dL; HDL2-C, 5 +/- 3 v 1 +/- 1 v -1 +/- 1 mg/dL; mean +/- SE, all P < .01). After adjusting for body weight changes, the increases in plasma HDL-C and HDL2-C remained greater in APO E2 versus E3 and E4 men (all P < .03). These results indicate that APO E2 men may have greater plasma HDL-C and HDL2-C increases with endurance exercise training.

Purpose: Left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) have become an established therapy for heart failure. However, bleeding, thrombus formation and infection are still the most severe adverse events. Driven by advances in regenerative medicine, endothelial cell seeding is considered to be an important tool for optimizing haemocompatibility of artificial materials. Aiming towards improved haemocompatibility of LVAD systems, seeding properties of human cord blood derived endothelial cells (HCBEC) on sintered inflow cannula (SIC) were investigated. Methods and Materials: HCBEC were used for endothelialization of SIC and cultured for 7 days. Cell growth and seeding efficiency were quantified by fluorescence and scanning-electron-microscopy, as well as haemocompatibility of blank and endothelialized SIC after incubation with thrombocytes. Endothelial phenotype of HCBEC was analyzed by RT-PCR (e.g. CD31, vWF, VECad). Relative expression levels of endothelial specific activation (e.g. ICAM-1, VCAM-1) and thrombogenic state (e.g. thrombomodulin, tissue factor) markers were quantified using real-time RT-PCR. TNF -stimulation was used to examine their biologic reactivity. Results: HCBEC showed a stable endothelial phenotype. Relative expression levels of endothelial specific activation markers were unaffected by cell-to-SIC contact, but could be induced by TNF -stimulation. High expression levels of thrombomodulin and slight expression levels of tissue factor indicated a non-thrombogenic state. Microscopic analysis showed a nearly confluent endothelial monolayer on SIC and less adherent thrombocytes on endothelialized SIC compared to the blank ones. Conclusions: HCBEC seeded on SIC resulted in a non-activated and non-thrombogenic state while HCBEC maintained their biologic reactivity, as shown with TNF -stimulation. Endothelialization of SIC seems to improve haemocompatibility and may enhance long-term use of LVADsystems.

ative AR severity was not associated with progression of AR (Figure 1B). Conclusions: LVAD implantation is associated with increased postoperative AR in comparison to nonsurgically treated HF. However, neither the need for aortic valve procedure nor the incidence of AR progression were predicted by preoperative AR severity. Only a small proportion of patients were observed to develop clinically important AR requiring aortic valve intervention.