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Background: Gut microbiota and its by‐products are increasingly recognized as having a decisive role in cardiovascular diseases. The aim is to study the relationship between gut microbiota and early vascular ageing (EVA). Methods: A cross‐sectional study was developed in Salamanca (Spain) in which 180 subjects aged 45–74 years were recruited. EVA was defined by the presence of at least one of the following: carotid‐femoral pulse wave velocity (cf‐PWV), cardio‐ankle vascular index (CAVI) or brachial‐ankle pulse wave velocity (ba‐PWV) above the 90th percentile of the reference population. All other cases were considered normal vascular ageing (NVA). Measurements: cf‐PWV was measured by SphygmoCor® System; CAVI and ba‐PWV were determined by Vasera 2000® device. Gut microbiome composition in faecal samples was determined by 16S rRNA Illumina sequencing. Results: Mean age was 64.4 ± 6.9 in EVA group and 60.4 ± 7.6 years in NVA (p <.01). Women in EVA group were 41% and 53% in NVA. There were no differences in the overall composition of gut microbiota between the two groups when evaluating Firmicutes/Bacteriodetes ratio, alfa diversity (Shannon Index) and beta diversity (Bray‐Curtis). Bilophila, Faecalibacterium sp.UBA1819 and Phocea, are increased in EVA group. While Cedecea, Lactococcus, Pseudomonas, Succiniclasticum and Dielma exist in lower abundance. In logistic regression analysis, Bilophila (OR: 1.71, 95% CI: 1.12–2.6, p =.013) remained significant. Conclusions: In the studied Spanish population, early vascular ageing is positively associated with gut microbiota abundance of the genus Bilophila. No relationship was found between phyla abundance and measures of diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) is the gold standard for noninvasive arterial stiffness assessment, an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease, and a potential parameter to guide therapy. However, cfPWV is not routinely measured in clinical practice due to the unavailability of a low-cost, operator-friendly, and independent device. The current study validated a novel laser Doppler vibrometry (LDV)-based measurement of cfPWV against the reference technique. METHODS: In 100 (50 men) hypertensive patients, cfPWV was measured using applanation tonometry (Sphygmocor) and the novel LDV device. This device has 2 handpieces with 6 laser beams each that simultaneously measure vibrations from the skin surface at carotid and femoral sites. Pulse wave velocity is calculated using ECG for the identification of cardiac cycles. An ECG-independent method was also devised. Cardiovascular risk score was calculated for patients between 40 and 75 years old using the WHO risk scoring chart. RESULTS: LDV-based cfPWV correlated significantly with tonometry (r=0.86, P<0.0001 ECG-dependent [cfPWVLDV_ECG] and r=0.80, P<0.001 ECG-independent [cfPWVLDV_w/oECG] methods). Bland-Altman analysis showed nonsignificant bias (0.65 m/s) and acceptable SD (1.27 m/s) between methods. Intraobserver coefficient of variance for LDV was 4.7% (95% CI, 3.0%-5.5%), and interobserver coefficient of variance was 5.87%. CfPWV correlated significantly with CVD risk (r=0.64, P<0.001; r=0.41, P=0.003; and r=0.37, P=0.006 for tonometry, LDV-with, and LDV-without ECG, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates clinical validity of the LDV device. The LDV provides a simple, noninvasive, operatorindependent method to measure cfPWV for assessing arterial stiffness, comparable to the standard existing techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 has been shown to have negative effects on the cardiovascular system, but it is unclear how long these effects last in college students. This study aimed to assess the long-term impact of COVID-19 on arterial stiffness, endothelial function, and blood pressure in college students. Methods: We enrolled 37 college students who had been infected with COVID-19 for more than 2 months. Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was used to assess endothelial function, while arterial stiffness was evaluated using the ABI Systems 100, including variables such as ankle-brachial index (ABI), brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), heart rate (HR), and blood pressure (BP). Results: Our results showed that FMD was significantly impaired after COVID-19 infection (p < 0.001), while cfPWV and systolic blood pressure (SBP) were significantly increased (p < 0.05). Simple linear regression models revealed a significant negative correlation between post-COVID-19 measurement time and baPWV change (p < 0.01), indicating an improvement in arterial stiffness over time. However, there was a significant positive correlation between post-COVID-19 measurement time and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) change (p < 0.05), suggesting an increase in BP over time. There were no significant differences in ABI and HR between pre- and post-COVID-19 measurements, and no significant correlations were observed with other variables (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that COVID-19 has long-term detrimental effects on vascular function in college students. However, arterial stiffness tends to improve over time, while BP may exhibit the opposite trend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Increased arterial stiffness and pulse wave velocity (PWV) of the aorta and large arteries impose adverse hemodynamic effects on the heart and other organs. Antihypertensive treatment reduces PWV, but it is unknown whether this results from an unloading of stiffer elements in the arterial wall or is due to an alternate functional or structural change that might differ according to class of antihypertensive drug. METHODS: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of different antihypertensive drug classes and duration of treatment on PWV with and without adjustment for change in mean arterial blood pressure (BP; study 1) and compared this to the change in PWV after an acute change in transmural pressure, simulating an acute change in BP (study 2). RESULTS: A total of 83 studies involving 6200 subjects were identified. For all drug classes combined, the reduction of PWV was 0.65 (95% CI, 0.46–0.83) m/s per 10 mm Hg reduction in mean arterial BP, a change similar to that induced by an acute change in transmural pressure in a group of hypertensive subjects. When adjusted for change in mean arterial BP, the reduction in PWV after treatment with beta-blockers or diuretics was less than that after treatment with angiotensinconverting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor antagonists or calcium channel antagonists. CONCLUSIONS: Reduction in PWV after antihypertensive treatment is largely explained by the reduction in BP, but there are some BP-independent effects. These might increase over time and contribute to better outcomes over the long term, but this remains to be demonstrated in long-term clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The COVID-19 has been shown to have negative effects on the cardiovascular system, but it is unclear how long these effects last in college students. This study aimed to assess the long-term impact of COVID-19 on arterial stiffness, endothelial function, and blood pressure in college students. Methods We enrolled 37 college students who had been infected with COVID-19 for more than 2 months. Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was used to assess endothelial function, while arterial stiffness was evaluated using the ABI Systems 100, including variables such as ankle-brachial index (ABI), brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), heart rate (HR), and blood pressure (BP). Results Our results showed that FMD was significantly impaired after COVID-19 infection (p 0.05). Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that COVID-19 has long-term detrimental effects on vascular function in college students. However, arterial stiffness tends to improve over time, while BP may exhibit the opposite trend.

Abstract Cardiovascular diseases can be an emerging complication in cystic fibrosis (CF), as the median life expectancy has improved considerably. The objective of this study was to compare vascular, hemodynamic parameters and arterial stiffness in adult CF patients with healthy participants pared by sex and age, and to assess the factors associated with arterial stiffness in the CF group. This is a cross-sectional observational study. The evaluation of cardiovascular parameters was performed non-invasively using Mobil-O-Graph. 36 individuals with CF and 35 controls were evaluated. The mean arterial pressure (96.71 ± 10.98 versus 88.61 ± 7.40 mmHg, p = 0.0005), cardiac output (4.86 ± 0.57 versus 4.48 ± 0.44 L/min, p = 0.002) and systolic volume (64.30 ± 11.91 versus 49.02 ± 9.31 ml, p

Abstract We compared cardiovascular parameters obtained with the Mobil-O-Graph and functional capacity assessed by the Duke Activity Status Index (DASI) before and after Heart Transplantation (HT) and also compared the cardiovascular parameters and the functional capacity of candidates for HT with a control group. Peripheral and central vascular pressures increased after surgery. Similar results were observed in cardiac output and pulse wave velocity. The significant increase in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) postoperatively was not followed by an increase in the functional capacity. 24 candidates for HT and 24 controls were also compared. Functional capacity was significantly lower in the HT candidates compared to controls. Stroke volume, systolic, diastolic, and pulse pressure measured peripherally and centrally were lower in the HT candidates when compared to controls. Despite the significant increase in peripheral and central blood pressures after surgery, the patients were normotensive. The 143.85% increase in LVEF in the postoperative period was not able to positively affect functional capacity. Furthermore, the lower values of LVEF, systolic volume, central and peripheral arterial pressures in the candidates for HT are consistent with the characteristics signs of advanced heart failure, negatively impacting functional capacity, as observed by the lower DASI score.

Aim. To compare the results of 12-week treatment of patients with stage II hypertension (HTN) with accompanying diabetes mellitus (DM) type 2 between the combination of metformin + dapagliflozin and metformin monotherapy by studying changes in the elastic properties of the common carotid arteries (CCA), echocardiographic indicators, 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and laboratory parameters of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. Materials and methods. 24 patients with stage II HTN with type 2 DM were involved in the study, the average age was 60.4 years, 50 % – men. Patients in the first group were randomized to receive metformin, and the second group – to receive a combination of metformin and dapagliflozin. At inclusion and after 3 months of treatment, basic anthropometric data, laboratory indicators of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, ABPM, echocardiography, and indicators of CCA local stiffness were studied. Statistical analysis was performed, the probability of differences is at the level of p < 0.05. Results. In both observation groups, there was a comparable decrease in SCORE 2-Diabetes range, glucose and glycated hemoglobin, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, average daily systolic blood pressure (SBP), daily SBP load, day and night pulse BP, as well as an increase in speed systolic movement of the lateral fibrous ring of the mitral valve (S lat). Only in the metformin + dapagliflozin group a decrease in the adipose tissue level, the average daily diastolic blood pressure (DBP), the burden of DBP, the size of the left atrium and right ventricle, an increase in the movement speeds of the medial (e’med), lateral (e’lat) ring of the mitral and of the tricuspid (e’tk) valve in the period of early diastolic filling of the ventricles, velocities of systolic movement of the medial fibrous ring of the mitral (S med) and tricuspid (S tk) valves, a decrease in the ratio E/e’, and an improvement in the elastic properties of general carotid arteries were observed. Conclusions. In persons with HTN stage II with DM type 2 the addition of dapagliflozin to the treatment regimen was associated with better control of blood pressure, improvement of diastolic function and longitudinal contractility of the left ventricle, elastic properties of CCA.

Cardiovascular diseases can be an emerging complication in cystic fibrosis (CF), as the median life expectancy has improved considerably. The objective of this study was to compare vascular, hemodynamic parameters and arterial stiffness in adult CF patients with healthy participants pared by sex and age, and to assess the factors associated with arterial stiffness in the CF group. This is a cross-sectional observational study. The evaluation of cardiovascular parameters was performed non-invasively using Mobil-O-Graph. 36 individuals with CF and 35 controls were evaluated. The mean arterial pressure (96.71 ± 10.98 versus 88.61 ± 7.40 mmHg, p = 0.0005), cardiac output (4.86 ± 0.57 versus 4.48 ± 0.44 L/min, p = 0.002) and systolic volume (64.30 ± 11.91 versus 49.02 ± 9.31 ml, p < 0.0001) were significantly lower in the CF group. The heart rate was higher in the CF when compared to the control (77.18 ± 10.47 versus 93.56 ± 14.57 bpm, p < 0.0001). The augmentation index (AIx@75) was higher in the CF than control (29.94 ± 9.37 versus 16.52 ± 7.179%, p < 0.0001). In the multivariate model controlled by body mass index and Forced Expiratory Volume in the first second, central systolic blood pressure and reflection coefficient directly related to AIx@75. Negatively related to AIx@75 were age and systolic volume. The adjusted determination coefficient was 87.40%. Individuals with CF presented lower arterial blood pressures and changes in cardiac function with lower stroke volume and cardiac output. The AIx@75, an indirect index of arterial stiffness and direct index of left ventricular overload, is increased in this population. The subclinical findings suggest the need for earlier cardiovascular assessment in this population due to increased risks of cardiovascular disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Abnormalities of resistance arteries may play essential roles in the pathophysiology of aging and hypertension. Deficiency of the vascular extracellular matrix protein MFAP4 (microfibrillar-associated protein 4) has previously been observed as protective against aberrant arterial remodeling. We hypothesized that MFAP4-deficiency would reduce age- and hypertension-dependent arterial changes in extracellular matrix composition and stiffening. METHODS: Mesenteric arteries were isolated from old (20–23 months) littermate Mfap4 +/+ and Mfap4 −/− mice, and 2-photon excitation microscopy imaging was used to quantify elastin and collagen volumes and dimensions in the vascular wall. Ten-week-old littermate Mfap4 +/+ and Mfap4 −/− mice were subjected to 20 days of continuous Ang II (angiotensin II) infusion and hypertension was monitored using invasive blood pressure measurements. Arterial stiffness, responses to vascular constrictors, and myogenic tone were monitored using wire- or pressure-myography. Collagen contents were assessed by Western blotting. RESULTS: MFAP4-deficiency significantly increased collagen volume and elastin fragmentation in aged mesenteric arteries without affecting arterial stiffness. MFAP4-deficient mice exhibited reduced diastolic pressure in Ang II-induced hypertension. There was no significant effect of MFAP4-deficiency on mesenteric artery structural remodeling or myogenic tone, although collagen content in mesenteric arteries was tendentially increased in hypertensive Mfap4 +/+ mice relative to Mfap4 −/− mice. Increased efficacy of vasoconstrictors (phenylephrine, thromboxane) and reduced stiffness were observed in Ang II-treated Mfap4 −/− mouse mesenteric arteries in ex vivo myography recordings. CONCLUSIONS: MFAP4-deficiency reduces the elastin/collagen ratio in the aging resistance artery without affecting arterial stiffness. In contrast, MFAP4-deficiency reduces the stiffness of resistance arteries and ameliorates Ang II-induced hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background and Objectives Aerobic exercise is a cost-effective intervention to improve arterial stiffness, but its effects on older people are unclear; this review aims to determine those effects. Research Design and Methods Five databases were searched for randomized controlled trials of aerobic exercises. Backward and forward citations and clinical trial registries were also reviewed. Data were extracted and synthesized. A random-effects model was used in a meta-analysis. The risk of bias and the certainty of the evidence were also assessed. The protocol of this review was registered (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42022349494). Results Eighteen studies (n  = 775) were identified. Aerobic exercises included cycling, walking, swimming, standing core exercise, bench step exercise, aquarobic exercise, jogging, running, upper-limb cycling, and aquatic walking. Postintervention, improvements were seen in the pulse wave velocity (SMD9 = −0.89, 95% confidence interval (CI)–1.57 to –0.22), arterial velocity–pulse index (MD2 = –6.84, 95% CI –9.05 to –4.63), and arterial pressure–volume index (MD2 = –4.97, 95% CI –6.9 to –3.04), but not in the augmentation index, arterial compliance, or beta stiffness index. Exercise lasting >8 weeks but not 4–8 weeks significantly improved pulse wave velocity. Aerobic exercise had a beneficial effect on healthy older people but not on older people with disease. The overall risk of bias was high in 9 of the included studies, with some concerns in the remaining studies. The certainty of the evidence was very low. Discussion and Implications Aerobic exercises, particularly those lasting >8 weeks, appear to be effective at improving pulse wave velocity in older people postintervention. Future trials with robust designs are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Arterial stiffness is a cardiovascular risk factor and dramatically increases as women transition through menopause. The current study assessed whether a mouse model of menopause increases arterial stiffness in a similar manner to aging and whether activation of the G-protein–coupled estrogen receptor could reverse stiffness. METHODS: Female C57Bl/6J mice were ovariectomized at 10 weeks of age or aged to 52 weeks, and some mice were treated with G-protein–coupled estrogen receptor agonists. RESULTS: Ovariectomy and aging increased pulse wave velocity to a similar extent independent of changes in blood pressure. Aging increased carotid wall thickness, while ovariectomy increased material stiffness without altering vascular geometry. RNA-sequencing analysis revealed that ovariectomy downregulated smooth muscle contractile genes. The enantiomerically pure G-protein–coupled estrogen receptor agonist, LNS8801, reversed stiffness in ovariectomy mice to a greater degree than the racemic agonist G-1. In summary, ovariectomy and aging induced arterial stiffening via potentially different mechanisms. Aging was associated with inward remodeling, while ovariectomy-induced material stiffness independent of geometry and a loss of the contractile phenotype. CONCLUSIONS: This study enhances our understanding of the impact of estrogen loss on vascular health in a murine model and warrants further studies to examine the ability of LNS8801 to improve vascular health in menopausal women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by sympathetic nervous system (SNS) overactivity that contributes to increased vascular stiffness and cardiovascular risk. Although it is well established that SNS activity and vascular stiffness are substantially elevated in CKD, whether sex differences in autonomic and vascular function exist in CKD remains unknown. We tested the hypothesis that compared with females, males with CKD have higher baseline sympathetic activity that is related to increased arterial stiffness. One hundred twenty-nine participants (96 males and 33 females) with CKD stages III and IV were recruited and enrolled. During two separate study visits, vascular stiffness was assessed by measuring carotid-to-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), and resting muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) was measured by microneurography. Males with CKD had higher resting MSNA compared with females with CKD (68 ± 16 vs. 55 ± 14 bursts/100 heart beats, P = 0.005), whereas there was no difference in cfPWV between the groups (P = 0.248). Resting MSNA was not associated with cfPWV in both males and females. In conclusion, males with CKD have higher resting sympathetic activity compared with females with CKD. However, there was no difference in vascular stiffness between the sexes. There was no correlation between resting MSNA and cfPWV, suggesting that non-neural mechanisms may play a greater role in the progression of vascular stiffness in CKD, particularly in females. NEW & NOTEWORTHY: Males with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have higher resting muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) compared with females. There was no correlation between MSNA and carotid-to-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), suggesting that non-neural mechanisms may play a greater role in the progression of vascular stiffness in CKD. Sex differences in SNS activity may play a mechanistic role in observations from epidemiological studies suggesting greater cardiovascular risk in males compared with females with CKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cardiomyopathy, characterized by heart stiffness, can lead to heart failure. This study aimed to investigate aortic stiffness in children with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) to better understand its contribution to disease severity. Methods: This case-control study compared 48 children with DCM with 96 healthy children over a 10-year period starting in 2011. Aortic strain, aortic stiffness index, aortic distensibility, and pressure strain elastic modulus were measured. These parameters, along with several echocardiographic measures, were compared between the DCM and control groups. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 18, with a significance threshold set at a P value below 0.05. Results: The participants included 57.6% boys, with 58.3% in the DCM group and 57.35% in the control group (χ² =0.014, P=0.905). The age range was 2 to 18 years, with mean ages of 11.08±4.63 years for the DCM group and 10.77±2.82 years for the control group (P=0.691). Significant differences between groups were observed in aortic distensibility (P=0.004), aortic stiffness β index (P=0.001), and pressure strain elastic modulus (P=0.004). Post-treatment analyses based on ejection fraction and fractional shortening cutoffs indicated no changes in elasticity parameters except for the aortic stiffness β index, which varied according to the Ross classification. Conclusion: Children with DCM exhibited reduced aortic strain and aortic distensibility, as well as elevated aortic stiffness β index and pressure strain elastic modulus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate and compare the Salt perception threshold and vascular stiffness in pre-hypertensive women with that of normotensive and hypertensive women. Materials and Methods: Study design -- This was a cross-sectional study. A total of 440 adult females in the age group of 25-60 years from urban and rural areas were included in the study. After initial screening, the subjects were divided into three groups. Group I: Prehypertensive females; Group II: Hypertensive females; and Group III: Normotensive females. Salt perception threshold was determined by salt impregnated taste strips with sodium chloride at different concentrations. Vascular stiffness of the subjects was measured and compared using an oscillometric non-invasive arteriography. Results: The salt intake was higher by 2.1 g/day in Group I females and 5.6 g/day in Group II females when compared to Group III females. The salt detection threshold and SPT were higher significantly in pre-hypertensive females and much higher in hypertensive females compared to normotensive females. The mean values of brachial ankle pulse wave velocity (BaPWV) and carotid femoral pulse wave velocity (CFPWV) were found to be significantly higher in Group I females compared to normotensives. Conclusion: High SPT in prehypertensive females will lead to high consumption of salt to achieve taste satisfaction. A progressive reduction of salt in food is recommended in these females would significantly decrease the percent progression of pre-HTN to HTN decreasing the risk for cardiovascular morbidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionHIV is associated with accelerated cardiovascular disease, due to HIV-associated metabolic abnormalities, antiretroviral therapy (ART), and HIV itself. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) is the noninvasive gold standard measurement of arterial stiffness, and associated with incident vascular events in adults. It is unclear if arterial stiffness is accelerated in children living with perinatal HIV (CHIV) who initiate ART early in life. We compared the longitudinal trajectory of PWV in CHIV to children unexposed to HIV. A secondary comparison compared HIV exposed uninfected children (CHEU) to unexposed children.MethodsFour hundred and sixty-five children (141 CHIV, 160 CHEU, 164 unexposed) previously in the children with HIV early antiretroviral therapy (ART) (CHER) and P1060 trials were followed annually at Tygerberg Children's Hospital, South Africa between 2014 and 2020. CHIV initiated ART in infancy or early childhood, with excellent ART adherence and largely sustained viral suppression. The primary outcome was PWV, measured using the Vicorder system, and evaluated using linear mixed effects models.ResultsMedian (interquartile range) age at first PWV measurement was 8.64 (7.7-9.1) years, and median follow-up time 2.9 (1.6-4.0) years. Adjusted analyses showed no significant mean difference in PWV in CHIV and CHEU compared to unexposed [CHIV: 0.101 m/s, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.012 to 0.214; CHEU: 0.068 m/s, 95% CI -0.047 to 0.183], after adjusting for gender, age, ethnicity, mean arterial pressure, resting average heart rate and family history of cardiovascular disease.ConclusionsEarly-treated CHIV with sustained viral suppression have similar PWV to unexposed children. Excellent adherence and early ART initiation may protect against cardiovascular disease.

BackgroundType 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune disease associated with insulin-producing beta cell destruction, declining insulin secretion, and elevated blood glucose. Physical activity improves glycaemic control and cardiovascular health. This study explores acute effects of maximal exhaustion induced by a cardiopulmonary exercise on macro- and microvascular parameters in type 1 diabetes.MethodologyTwenty-five participants with type 1 diabetes (14 males, 11 females), aged 41.4 ± 11.87 years, BMI 23.7 ± 3.08, completed a repeated-measure study. Measurements pre-, post-, 30- and 60-minutes post-exhaustion involved a maximal incremental cardio-pulmonary exercise test. Macro- and microvascular parameters were assessed using VICORDER® and retinal blood vessel image analysis. Repeated measures ANOVA in SPSS (Version 27.0) analysed data.ResultsPost-exercise, heart rate increased (p

BACKGROUND: Exercise-induced changes in arterial function could contribute to a hypertensive response to exercise (HRE) in older individuals. We performed the present analysis to define the acute arterial stiffness response to exercise in ambulatory older adults. METHODS: Thirty-nine Veterans (>60 years old), without known cardiovascular disease, participated in this study, including 19 Veterans who were hypertensive (70.8 ± 6.8 years, 53% women) and 20 Veterans who were normotensive (72.0 ± 9.3 years, 40% women). Arterial stiffness parameters were measured locally with carotid artery ultrasound and regionally with carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) before and during the 10 min after participants performed a Balke maximal exercise treadmill stress test. RESULTS: The arterial stiffness response to exercise was similar for control and hypertensive participants. At 6 min postexercise, cfPWV was significantly increased (Δ1.5 ± 1.9 m/s, P  = 0.004) despite mean blood pressure (BP) having returned to its baseline value (Δ1 ± 8 mmHg, P  = 0.79). Arterial mechanics modeling also showed BP-independent increases in arterial stiffness with exercise ( P

Background Daily step count is a simple parameter for assessing physical activity. However, the potential advantages of setting daily step goals below the traditional 10,000-step threshold remain unclear. The cross-sectional study aimed to determine the relationship between daily step counts and arterial stiffness outcomes in older individuals. Methods Forty-eight older adults recorded their daily step counts over a 7-day period using a pedometer. The participants were classified into two groups based on their daily step count: Group 1 (n = 28) consisted of individuals taking fewer than 5000 steps per day, while Group 2 (n = 20) included those who recorded 5,000 to 9,999 steps per day. To evaluate arterial stiffness parameters, we measured pulse wave velocity (PWV), cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), and ankle-brachial index (ABI). Hemodynamic and biochemical parameters were also determined. Results Participants who accumulated fewer daily steps exhibited higher PWV compared to each group. An inverse association was observed between average steps per day and PWV. However, no significant differences were found between daily step counts and CAVI or ABI. Conclusions As individuals increase their daily step count, they may experience a reduction in arterial stiffness. Consequently, the assessment of daily steps has benefits for enhancing vascular health and overall well-being among older individuals.

Background. Visceral obesity is a risk factor in the development of metabolic and endocrine disorders leading to arterial hypertension and cardiovascular complications. Their early predictors include increased vascular stiffness and early vascular aging. The current literature lacks studies into the effects of changes in testosterone, cortisol, and aldosterone levels in serum on vascular stiffness and the development of early vascular aging in patients with visceral obesity. Objective. To determine the relationship between hypercortisolemia, hyperaldosteronemia, and hypotestosteronemia and vascular stiffness and the presence of early vascular aging in male patients with visceral obesity. Methods. An observational cohort study of 78 males aged 35–45 years (mean age 38.1 ± 6.5 years) diagnosed with abdominal obesity and grade 1 arterial hypertension was conducted. The mean waist circumference ranged 105.5 ± 6.9 cm; systolic and diastolic blood pressure ranged 152.5 ± 5.0 and 92.5 ± 5.0 mm Hg, respectively. The vascular age of the studied patients (n = 78) comprised 44.1 ± 6.2 years, which was statistically higher than their passport age (р < 0.001). The studied patients were divided into subgroups according to both total testosterone (< 12.1 nmol/l in subgroup 1A (n = 49) and ≥ 12.1 nmol/L in subgroup 1B (n = 29)) and cortisol in the evening saliva portion (> 4.5 nmol/L in subgroup 2A (n = 24) and ≤ 4.5 nmol/L in subgroup 2B (n = 24)). All the patients completed the study. To assess the hormonal status, the total testosterone sex steroid-binding globulin (SSBP) and insulin in morning serum samples were investigated. Insulin resistance was assessed based on the NOMA-IR index. The concentration of total testosterone was determined by enhanced chemiluminescence (Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, J&J); the SSBP and insulin levels were determined by delayed fluorescence. Aldosterone content was determined by radioimmunoassay; free cortisol and testosterone were measured by luminescent LIA. Free and bioavailable testosterone concentrations in serum were calculated using an online calculator (issam.ch/freetesto.htm). The cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) was determined using a VaSera VS-15000N device, which automatically calculated the vascular age. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistica 10.0 Windows package (StatSoft, Inc., USA). Results. The vascular age of patients with hypogonadism was statistically significantly ( р < 0.001) higher than their passport age and the vascular age in males without hypogonadism. The CAVI and vascular age were also statistically significantly higher in males with functional hypercorticism (р < 0.001) compared with a subgroup of patients without hypercorticism. The vascular age and CAVI increased with an increase in the salivary cortisol concentration 2200 (r = 0.5; р < 0.05) and decreased with an increase in the salivary cortisol level 900 (r = –0.5; р < 0.05). These parameters decreased with an increase in serum aldosterone obtained in the morning (r = –0.4; p < 0.05) and increased with an increase in serum aldosterone in the evening (r = 0.4; p < 0.05). In 23% (n = 18), an inversion of the daily rhythm of cortisol production was observed; in these patients, salivary cortisol levels of 2200 exceeded salivary cortisol levels of 900. The vascular age of patients with the inversion of cortisol production (49.4 ± 4.4 years) was statistically significantly ( р < 0.001) different from that of patients with normal changes in salivary cortisol concentrations (41.9 ± 4.9 years). CAVI was also higher (р < 0.001) in males with inverted fluctuations in salivary cortisol levels (7.51 ± 0.62) compared to those with normal diurnal rhythm (6.45 ± 0.69). The results of aldosterone evaluation revealed that 17% of the patients (n = 13) had higher aldosterone levels in the evening serum portion compared to the morning serum portion. In these patients, the vascular age (45.8 ± 5.1 years) was higher ( р < 0.001) than that in males with normal physiologic changes in aldosterone levels (41.6 ± 5.7 years). A similar pattern was observed when comparing vascular stiffness indices. Thus, the CAVI in men with inverted changes in aldosterone concentration (6.9 ± 0.8) was significantly higher ( р < 0.001), compared to that in men with physiological changes in blood aldosterone levels (6.4 ± 0.8). Conclusion. Endocrinologic disorders in male patients with visceral obesity and concomitant arterial hypertension (functional hypogonadism, functional hypercorticism, inverted daily rhythms of cortisol and aldosterone production) contribute to the development of early vascular aging by increasing vascular stiffness.

Abstract Background Fat distribution is closely related to vascular stiffness. This study aimed to investigate age and sex differences in fat distribution and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), and the association between fat parameters and baPWV. Methods A total of 10,811 participants aged 20–59 years were recruited. Measures included waist and hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), body mass index (BMI), percentage body fat (PBF), subcutaneous fat area (SFA), visceral fat area (VFA), and baPWV. Results The results confirm that fat accumulates with age and that men tend to carry more abdominal fat than women in the same age group. The findings also indicate that baPWV increases with age and is significantly higher in men than in women in the same age group. In addition, WHR, VFA, and baPWV were more strongly correlated than baPWV and BMI, SFA, and PBF. Finally, the effects of age, PBF, WHR, and VFA on baPWV were greater for the higher quantiles. Conclusions There are age and sex differences in fat distribution and baPWV. Abdominal obesity is more closely linked to arterial stiffness than overall obesity, and people with higher baPWV are more affected by obesity parameters.

Previous evidence associates insulin resistance with arterial stiffness in various pathologies, yet limited reports exist in healthy adults. Therefore, this study aims to estimate the association between insulin resistance and arterial stiffness in healthy adults. The cross-sectional EVasCu study enrolled 390 participants (42.05 ± 13.15 years). ANCOVAs, unadjusted (model 1) and adjusted (model 2), explored the association between arterial stiffness markers (aortic Pulse Wave Velocity [aPWV], Augmentation Index [AIx@75] and Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index [CAVI]), and insulin resistance markers (Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance [HOMA-IR], Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index [QUICKI] and Triglycerides-Glucose [TyG]). In model 1, all insulin resistance markers were associated with aPWV, HOMA-IR and QUICKI were associated with AIx@75, and the TyG index was associated with CAVI. In model 2, HOMA-IR and QUICKI increased aPWV by 0.179 and 0.156 m/s (p = 0.001 and p = 0.011), and AIx@75 by 4.17 and 5.39% (p = 0.009 and p = 0.003). The EVasCu study offers valuable insights into the relationship between insulin resistance and arterial stiffness in healthy adults, providing a deeper understanding of metabolic and cardiovascular health. By examining this influence, we embark on an intriguing exploration of how these factors interplay in the human body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Differential exosomal circRNAs and mRNAs expression profiles after PM 2.5 treatment. • ExoPM2.5 caused endothelial dysfunction by permeability and decreased relaxation. • hsa_circ_0012627, hsa_circ_0053261 and hsa_circ_0052810 may predict vascular injury. • Vascular stiffness caused by PM 2.5 may be partly due to exosomal circRNAs from lung. As an environmental pollutant, ambient fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) was linked to cardiovascular diseases. The molecular mechanisms underlying PM 2.5 -induced extrapulmonary disease has not been elucidated clearly. In this study the ambient PM 2.5 exposure mice model we established was to explore adverse effects of vessel and potential mechanisms. Long-term PM 2.5 exposure caused reduced lung function and vascular stiffness in mice. And chronic PM 2.5 induced migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype in BEAS-2B cells. After PM 2.5 treatment, the circRNAs and mRNAs levels of exosomes released by BEAS-2B cells were detected by competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) array, which contained 1664 differentially expressed circRNAs (DE-circRNAs) and 308 differentially expressed mRNAs (DE-mRNAs). By bioinformatics analysis on host genes of DE-circRNAs, vascular diseases and some pathways related to vascular diseases including focal adhesion, tight junction and adherens junction were enriched. Then, ceRNA network was constructed, and DE-mRNAs in ceRNA network were conducted functional enrichment analysis by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, which indicated that hsa_circ_0012627, hsa_circ_0053261 and hsa_circ_0052810 were related to vascular endothelial dysfunction. Furthermore, it was verified experimentally that ExoPM2.5 could induce endothelial dysfunction by increased endothelial permeability and decreased relaxation in vitro. In present study, we investigated in-depth knowledge into the molecule events related to PM 2.5 toxicity and pathogenesis of vascular diseases. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Primary aldosteronism, characterized by overt renin-independent aldosterone production, is a common but underrecognized form of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Growing evidence suggests that milder and subclinical forms of primary aldosteronism are highly prevalent, yet their contribution to cardiovascular disease is not well characterized. METHODS: This prospective study included 1284 participants between the ages of 40 and 69 years from the randomly sampled population-based CARTaGENE cohort (Québec, Canada). Regression models were used to analyze associations of aldosterone, renin, and the aldosterone-to-renin ratio with the following measures of cardiovascular health: arterial stiffness, assessed by central blood pressure (BP) and pulse wave velocity; adverse cardiac remodeling, captured by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, including indexed maximum left atrial volume, left ventricular mass index, left ventricular remodeling index, and left ventricular hypertrophy; and incident hypertension. RESULTS: The mean (SD) age of participants was 54 (8) years and 51% were men. The mean (SD) systolic and diastolic BP were 123 (15) and 72 (10) mm Hg, respectively. At baseline, 736 participants (57%) had normal BP and 548 (43%) had hypertension. Higher aldosterone-to-renin ratio, indicative of renin-independent aldosteronism (ie, subclinical primary aldosteronism), was associated with increased arterial stiffness, including increased central BP and pulse wave velocity, along with adverse cardiac remodeling, including increased indexed maximum left atrial volume, left ventricular mass index, and left ventricular remodeling index (all P<0.05). Higher aldosterone-to-renin ratio was also associated with higher odds of left ventricular hypertrophy (odds ratio, 1.32 [95% CI, 1.002–1.73]) and higher odds of developing incident hypertension (odds ratio, 1.29 [95% CI, 1.03–1.62]). All the associations were consistent when assessing participants with normal BP in isolation and were independent of brachial BP. CONCLUSIONS: Independent of brachial BP, a biochemical phenotype of subclinical primary aldosteronism is negatively associated with cardiovascular health, including greater arterial stiffness, adverse cardiac remodeling, and incident hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arterial stiffness has received increasing interest as a cardiovascular marker in patients with aortic valve stenosis (AS). So far, studies on the impact of aortic valve replacement (AVR) on arterial stiffness have been equivocal. Two-dimensional speckle tracking (2DST) is a novel, non-invasive method to measure the motion of the vessel wall. In this prospective observational study, we aimed to assess the change in arterial stiffness of the common carotid artery (CCA) measured by 2DST in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). A total of 47 patients were included in the study (age 80.04 ± 6.065 years). Peak circumferential strain (CS) was significantly improved after TAVI (4.50 ± 2.292 vs. 5.12 ± 2.958, p = 0.012), as was the peak strain rate (CSR) (0.85 ± 0.567 vs. 1.35 ± 0.710, p = 0.002). Body mass index (BMI), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and hemodynamic parameters were associated with this change. 2DST results did not correlate with aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV) or augmentation index normalized to heart rate (AIx@75), suggesting a distinct difference between arterial stiffness of the CCA and other stiffness parameters. 2DST seems to be a promising new tool to assess arterial stiffness in TAVI patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wire myography to test vasomotor functions of blood vessels ex‐vivo are well‐established for the systemic circulation, however, there is no consensus on protocols for pulmonary arteries. We created a standardized wire myography protocol for healthy rat PAs and validated this in a pulmonary hypertension (PH) model. Vessels stretched to higher initial tensions (5.0, 7.5 and 10.0 mN) exhibited a uniform response to phenylephrine, a larger dynamic range, and lower EC50 values. The endothelium‐mediated relaxation showed that moderate tensions (7.5 and 10.0 mN) produced robust responses with higher maximum relaxation and lower EC50 values. For endothelium independent responses, the higher initial tension groups had lower and more consistent EC50 values than the lower initial tension groups. Pulmonary arteries from rats with PH were more responsive to vasoactive drugs when subjected to a higher initial tension. Notably, vessels in the PH group subjected to 15.0 mN exhibited high dynamic ranges in contractile and relaxation responses without tearing. Lastly, we observed attenuated cholinergic responses in these vessels—consistent with endothelial dysfunction in PH. Therefore, a moderate initial tension of 7.5–10.0 mN is optimal for healthy rat pulmonary arteries and a higher initial tension of 15.0 mN is optimal for pulmonary arteries from animals with PH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. To compare the results of 12-week treatment of patients with stage II hypertension (HTN) with accompanying diabetes mellitus (DM) type 2 between the combination of metformin + dapagliflozin and metformin monotherapy by studying changes in the elastic properties of the common carotid arteries (CCA), echocardiographic indicators, 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and laboratory parameters of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. Materials and methods. 24 patients with stage II HTN with type 2 DM were involved in the study, the average age was 60.4 years, 50 % – men. Patients in the first group were randomized to receive metformin, and the second group – to receive a combination of metformin and dapagliflozin. At inclusion and after 3 months of treatment, basic anthropometric data, laboratory indicators of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, ABPM, echocardiography, and indicators of CCA local stiffness were studied. Statistical analysis was performed, the probability of differences is at the level of p < 0.05. Results. In both observation groups, there was a comparable decrease in SCORE 2-Diabetes range, glucose and glycated hemoglobin, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, average daily systolic blood pressure (SBP), daily SBP load, day and night pulse BP, as well as an increase in speed systolic movement of the lateral fibrous ring of the mitral valve (S lat). Only in the metformin + dapagliflozin group a decrease in the adipose tissue level, the average daily diastolic blood pressure (DBP), the burden of DBP, the size of the left atrium and right ventricle, an increase in the movement speeds of the medial (e’med), lateral (e’lat) ring of the mitral and of the tricuspid (e’tk) valve in the period of early diastolic filling of the ventricles, velocities of systolic movement of the medial fibrous ring of the mitral (S med) and tricuspid (S tk) valves, a decrease in the ratio E/e’, and an improvement in the elastic properties of general carotid arteries were observed. Conclusions. In persons with HTN stage II with DM type 2 the addition of dapagliflozin to the treatment regimen was associated with better control of blood pressure, improvement of diastolic function and longitudinal contractility of the left ventricle, elastic properties of CCA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular risk factors are widespread among children and adolescents and may lead to accelerated vascular aging in middle adulthood. However, data are scarce on shorter-term consequences, for example, on associated distinctive vascular properties before age 30 years. This study analyzes the association of childhood exposure to cardiovascular risk factors with carotid properties in adolescents and young adults. Four thousand thirty one participants from the population-based German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents cohort (aged 3–17 years) had carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and distensibility coefficient (DC) measurements at the second follow-up (aged 14–28 years). The assessment of cardiovascular risk factors at baseline included information about arterial hypertension, obesity, dyslipidemia, and passive smoking. Single risk factors and the exposure to multiple cardiovascular risk factors were associated with elevated CIMT and decreased DC. Relative risks for CIMT ≥ 90th centile and/or DC ≤ 10th centile were increased in participants exposed to two (RR CIMT = 1.45 [95% confidence interval 1.11–1.91], p <.05; RR DC = 1.37 [1.02–1.84], p <.05) and ≥ three risk factors (RR CIMT = 1.66 [1.05–2.62], p <.05; RR DC = 1.25 [0.71–2.21], p >.05). Exposure to multiple cardiovascular risk factors starting in childhood is associated with measurably increased CIMT and carotid stiffness in late adolescence and early adulthood. These findings underline the importance of population-wide preventive measures to promote optimal cardiovascular health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Aortic stiffness, assessed as carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, provides a measure of vascular age and risk for adverse cardiovascular disease outcomes, but it is difficult to measure. The shape of arterial pressure waveforms conveys information regarding aortic stiffness; however, the best methods to extract and interpret waveform features remain controversial. METHODS: We trained a convolutional neural network with fixed-scale (time and amplitude) brachial, radial, and carotid tonometry waveforms as input and negative inverse carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity as label. Models were trained with data from 2 community-based Icelandic samples (N=10 452 participants with 31 126 waveforms) and validated in the community-based Framingham Heart Study (N=7208 participants, 21 624 waveforms). Linear regression rescaled predicted negative inverse carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity to equivalent artificial intelligence vascular age (AI-VA). RESULTS: The AI-VascularAge model predicted negative inverse carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity with R2=0.64 in a randomly reserved Icelandic test group (n=5061, 16%) and R2=0.60 in the Framingham Heart Study. In the Framingham Heart Study (up to 18 years of follow-up; 479 cardiovascular disease, 200 coronary heart disease, and 213 heart failure events), brachial AI-VA was associated with incident cardiovascular disease adjusted for age and sex (model 1; hazard ratio, 1.79 [95% CI, 1.50-2.40] per SD; P<0.0001) or adjusted for age, sex, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, prevalent diabetes, hypertension treatment, and current smoking (model 2; hazard ratio, 1.50 [95% CI, 1.24-1.82] per SD; P<0.0001). Similar hazard ratios were demonstrated for incident coronary heart disease and heart failure events and for AI-VA values estimated from carotid or radial waveforms. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that convolutional neural network--derived AI-VA is a powerful indicator of vascular health and cardiovascular disease risk in a broad community-based sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]