Search

Obesity is a major public health problem and is related to increasing rates of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Over 1.9 billion adults are overweight or obese worldwide and the prevalence of obesity is increasing. Obesity influences endothelial function through obesity-related complications such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. The excess fat accumulation in obesity causes adipocyte dysfunction and induces oxidative stress, insulin resistance, and inflammation leading to endothelial dysfunction. Several anthropometric indices and imaging modalities that are used to evaluate obesity have demonstrated an association between obesity and endothelial function. In the past few decades, there has been great focus on the mechanisms underlying endothelial dysfunction caused by obesity for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular events. This review focuses on pathophysiological mechanisms of obesity-induced endothelial dysfunction and therapeutic targets of obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A body shape index (ABSI) was proposed for estimation of abdominal adiposity. ABSI has been reported to have associations with cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular events. However, there is no information on the association between ABSI and endothelial function. We examined cross-sectional associations of ABSI with endothelial function in 8823 subjects (6773 men and 2050 women). Subjects with a lower quartile of flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) were defined as subjects having endothelial dysfunction. Pearson's correlation coefficient analysis revealed that ABSI was negatively correlated with FMD (men, r = − 0.23, P = 0.003; women, r = − 0.32, P < 0.001). The areas under the curves of ABSI and body mass index to predict endothelial dysfunction were 0.64 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.62–0.65) and 0.58 (95% CI 0.57–0.60) in men, and 0.68 (95% CI 0.66–0.71) and 0.59 (95% CI 0.56–0.61) in women, respectively. The cutoff values of ABSI for predicting subjects with endothelial dysfunction were 0.0796 (sensitivity, 55.2%; specificity, 65.5%) in men and 0.0823 (sensitivity, 56.2%; specificity, 73.4%) in women. Multivariate analysis revealed that an ABSI value higher than the cutoff value remained an independent predictor of endothelial dysfunction in both sexes. The results of our study suggest that ABSI calculation should be performed for evaluation of risk of cardiovascular events in both men and women. Clinical trial registration information URL for Clinical Trial: https://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index.htm; Registration Number for Clinical Trial: UMIN000012952 (01/05/2010). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light to moderate alcohol consumption has protective effects on all-cause death and coronary artery disease in women. It is thought that light to moderate alcohol consumption has a beneficial effect on vascular function in women. We measured flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) in 702 women aged 17–86 years who provided information on alcohol consumption. We divided the subjects into four groups: non-drinkers (0 g/week), light drinkers (>0 to 140 g/week), moderate drinkers (>140 to 280 g/week) and heavy drinkers (>280 g/week). There was no significant difference in FMD among the four groups. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that alcohol consumption in non-drinkers and light drinkers was not an independent predictor of FMD (β = −0.001, P = 0.98). We compared 50 moderate drinkers and 50 non-drinkers matched for age and medical histories and 22 heavy drinkers and 22 non-drinkers in matched pair analysis. There was no significant difference in FMD between moderate drinkers and non-drinkers (8.2±4.3% vs. 8.1±3.5, P = 0.91), while FMD in heavy drinkers was significantly lower than that in non-drinkers (5.9±2.5% vs. 8.9±3.5%, P = 0.002). These findings suggest that heavy alcohol consumption is associated with endothelial dysfunction but that light to moderate alcohol consumption is not associated with endothelial dysfunction in women. Clinical trial registration information This study was approved by principal authorities and ethical issues in Japan (University Hospital Medical Information Network UMIN000012952, 01/12/2009). www.umin.ac.jp/. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Inflammation is associated with endothelial dysfunction and plays an important role in the pathogenesis and development of cardiovascular diseases. It has been shown that colchicine, an anti-inflammatory drug, improves the cardiovascular outcome in patients with cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short-term effect of low-dose colchicine on endothelial function in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods This was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover-within-subject clinical trial. A total of 28 patients with CAD received low-dose colchicine (0.5 mg/day) or a placebo for 7 days with a washout period of at least 14 days. Flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) and serum concentrations of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were measured after the 7-day treatment with colchicine or the placebo. Results The serum concentration of hs-CRP was significantly decreased after administration of colchicine compared with that after administration of the placebo [median (interquartile range): 0.04 (0.02–0.08) mg/dL vs. 0.07 (0.04–0.11) mg/dL, P = 0.003], while there was no significant difference in FMD between the treatments [median (interquartile range): 3.1% (1.5–5.3%) vs. 3.3% (1.9–5.2%), P = 0.384]. Colchicine, however, significantly improved FMD in coronary artery disease patients with white blood cell (WBC) counts of ≥7500 WBC/mm3 [median (interquartile range): 3.3% (2.1–6.6%) vs. 2.0% (1.4–3.8%), P = 0.043]. Conclusions Administration of low-dose colchicine did not improve endothelial function in patients with CAD, but exploratory analysis suggested that endothelial function is significantly improved in patients with leukocyte activation. Highlights • This work is a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. • The effect of colchicine (0.5 mg/day) on endothelial function was evaluated. • Administration of low-dose colchicine improved endothelial function. • Further studies are needed to assess effects of colchicine on vascular function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Periodontal disease is associated with endothelial dysfunction, leading to cardiovascular disease. The effect of detailed tooth brushing behavior, not only frequency but also duration of tooth brushing, on endothelial function is unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationships of detailed methods of tooth brushing with vascular function. Methods We evaluated flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD), nitroglycerine-induced vasodilation, and frequency and duration of tooth brushing in 896 subjects. We divided the subjects into three groups according to the frequency and duration of tooth brushing: low frequency and short duration group (< twice/day and < 2 min/procedure), low frequency or short duration group (< twice/day or < 2 min/procedure), non-low frequency and non-short duration group (≥ twice/day and ≥ 2 min/procedure). Results FMD in the low frequency and short duration group was significantly lower than FMD in the low frequency or short duration group and FMD in the non-low frequency and non-short duration group [3.1 (2.7)% vs. 4.2 (3.1)% and 4.7 (3.1)%, P = 0.001 and < 0.001, respectively]. Nitroglycerine-induced vasodilation was similar in the three groups. Using the non-low frequency and non-short duration group as the reference, the low frequency and short duration of tooth brushing group was significantly associated with an increased odds ratio of a low FMD tertile after adjustment for conventional risk factors (OR: 2.25, 95% CI: 1.39–3.59; P < 0.001). Conclusions These findings suggest that low frequency and short duration of tooth brushing are associated with endothelial dysfunction. Clinical trial registration information : URL for clinical trial: http://UMIN ; registration number for clinical trial: UMIN000003409. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An elevation of serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels has been associated with endothelial dysfunction in statin naïve subjects. However, there is no information on endothelial function in subjects with extremely low levels of LDL-C. The purpose of the present study was to determine the relationship of LDL-C levels, especially low levels of LDL-C, with endothelial function. Endothelial function assessed by flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) measurement and LDL-C levels were evaluated in 7120 subjects without lipid-lowering therapy. We divided the subjects into five groups by LDL-C levels: <70 mg/dL, 70–99 mg/dL, 100–119 md/dL, 120–139 mg/dL, and ≥140 mg/dL. FMD values were significantly smaller in subjects with LDL-C levels of ≥140 mg/dL than in those with LDL-C levels of 70–99 mg/dL and 100–119 mg/dL (p < 0.001 and p = 0.004, respectively). The FMD values in the LDL-C of <70 mg/dL group were not significantly different from those in the other groups. To evaluate the relationship of extremely low LDL-C levels with endothelial function, we divided the subjects with LDL-C of <70 mg/dL into those with LDL-C levels of <50 mg/dL and 50–69 mg/dL. FMD values were similar in the LDL-C <50 mg/dL group and ≥50 mg/dL group in the propensity score-matched population (p = 0.570). A significant benefit was not found in subjects with low LDL-C levels from the aspect of endothelial function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backgrounds Nitroglycerine-induced vasodilation (NID) is usually assessed as a control test for flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD). However, NID per se is impaired in patients with high cardiovascular risk. The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations of chronic kidney disease (CKD) with NID and FMD. Methods We measured NID and FMD in a total of 1567 adult subjects without end-stage renal disease (ESRD), 28% of whom had CKD as judged by measurements of estimated glomerular filtration rate (995 men and 572 women; mean age, 59.0 ± 16.9 years; age range, 18 to 92 years). Results NID was significantly smaller in patients with CKD than in those without CKD (10.8 ± 6.0% vs. 12.7 ± 5.7%, P < 0.001). The prevalence of vascular smooth muscle dysfunction, defined as NID of less than the division point for the lowest quartile, was significantly higher in patients with CKD than in those without CKD (37.5% vs. 21.5%, P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that CKD was independently associated with vascular smooth muscle dysfunction (OR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.81, P = 0.04). FMD was significantly smaller in patients with CKD than in those without CKD (3.1 ± 2.8% vs. 4.0 ± 3.0%, P < 0.001). The prevalence of endothelial dysfunction, defined as FMD of less than the division point for the lowest quartile, was significantly higher in patients with CKD than in those without CKD (31.7% vs. 23.1%, P = 0.002). However, CKD was not independently associated with endothelial dysfunction in an age- and sex-adjusted model (OR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.71 to 1.26, P = 0.72). Conclusions Non-ESRD CKD is independently associated with vascular smooth muscle dysfunction but not with endothelial dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) is common symptom and impairs quality of life in elderly men. Recently, atherosclerosis has been focused on as one of the mechanisms of LUTS. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationships of vascular function and structure with LUTS in men and women. Methods: This was a single center cross-sectional study. A total of 583 subjects (379 men and 204 women, mean age of 64 years) including 176 subjects with cardiovascular disease were assessed vascular function by flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) and nitroglycerine-induced vasodilation (NID), and vascular structure by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), and LUTS by International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). Results: IPSS was significantly correlated with conventional atherosclerotic factors, Framingham risk score, FMD, NID and baPWV. Moderate to severe LUTS was independently associated with the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (OR: 1.79, 95% CI, 1.08-2.96; P=0.02) after adjusting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors. In men, FMD and NID were lower in the moderate to severe LUTS group than in the none to mild LUTS group (2.1±2.0% vs. 4.0±3.0% and 9.3±6.1% vs. 12.8±6.6%, P<0.001, respectively). baPWV was higher in the moderate to severe LUTS group than in the none to mild LUTS group (1722±386 cm/s vs. 1509±309 cm/s, P<0.001). After adjusting for confounding factors of LUTS, FMD was independently associated with decreasing IPSS (β=-0.15, P=0.01), storage subscore (β=-0.13, P=0.03) and voiding subscore (β=-0.13, P=0.04) in men, but not in women. NID and baPWV were not independently associated with IPSS in either men or women. Conclusions: In the present study, endothelial dysfunction was associated with LUTS in men. LUTS in men should be focused on as the early phenotype of atherosclerosis. Further studies are needed to determine whether LUTS can predict future cardiovascular events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]