Impact of Mood on Endothelial Function and Arterial Stiffness in Bipolar Disorder.

Background: Previous research in bipolar disorder demonstrates greater than expected vascular dysfunction later in the course of illness, proportionate to the cumulative burden of mood symptoms. However, little is known about the effect of acute mood states on vascular function. Here we examine the relation between vascular function and mood state in individuals with bipolar disorder.

Sildenafil increases sympathetically mediated vascular tone in humans.

Background: Sildenafil, a selective phosphodiesterase-type-5 (PDE-5) inhibitor, produces vasodilation that improves erectile dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension. Sildenafil could also cause baroreflex sympathetic activation that would enhance vascular tone and oppose direct vasodilation. We tested the hypothesis that sildenafil administration increases sympathetically mediated vascular tone in healthy middle-aged men.

A CTSA-sponsored program for clinical research coordination: networking, education, and mentoring.

Upon receipt of the National Institutes of Health Clinical and Translational Science Award, the University of Iowa's Institute for Clinical and Translational Science committed to develop an infrastructure for research professionals. Three goals were established: (1) identification of research professionals within the University of Iowa, (2) development of an educational series, including orientation and continuing education, and (3) development of a mentoring system. The purpose of this paper is to describe the process of development, initiation, and outcomes of a successful networking, educational, and mentoring system crafted for research professionals at the University of Iowa.

Dissociation between sympathetic nerve traffic and sympathetically mediated vascular tone in normotensive human obesity.

Obesity increases the risk of hypertension and its cardiovascular complications. This has been partly attributed to increased sympathetic nerve activity, as assessed by microneurography and catecholamine assays. However, increased vasoconstriction in response to obesity-induced sympathoactivation has not been unequivocally demonstrated in obese subjects without hypertension.

Obesity impairs vascular relaxation in human subjects: hyperglycemia exaggerates adrenergic vasoconstriction arterial dysfunction in obesity and diabetes.

Objectives: Arterial dysfunction occurs in obesity and diabetes. However, there is uncertainty about the relative contribution of endothelial dysfunction, smooth muscle dysfunction, or adrenergic hyperresponsiveness.

Methods And Results: We examined forearm resistance vessel responses to intra-arterial vasoactive agents in matched subjects on no antihyperglycemic medications classified as (1) Type 2 diabetes, (2) impaired fasting glucose (IFG), (3) obese, and (4) nonobese.

What is the most appropriate methodology for detection of conduit artery endothelial dysfunction?

Background: Use of upper-arm arterial occlusion to induce reactive hyperemia, and endothelium-dependent flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery, induces greater conduit vessel dilatation than lower-arm occlusion. However, brachial artery ischemia after upper arm arterial occlusion may make this approach unreliable. We studied whether upper or lower arm occlusions differ in their ability to detect endothelial dysfunction in cigarette smokers, and its improvement with an antioxidant strategy.

Obesity and insulin resistance but not hyperandrogenism mediates vascular dysfunction in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Objective: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with biochemical evidence of early atherosclerosis; however, data regarding vascular function are controversial. We hypothesized that resistance vessel function (mediated by the endothelium or smooth muscle) would be impaired in women with PCOS and aimed to determine the contribution of hyperandrogenism, obesity, or insulin resistance to vascular dysfunction.

Design: Prospective study.

Effects of aging and atherosclerosis on endothelial and vascular smooth muscle function in humans.

Background: Nitric oxide is an endothelium dependent dilator, which may protect against atherosclerosis. Several studies have shown a decrease in nitric oxide activity with aging, however none have assessed aging and atherosclerosis separately. We tested the hypothesis that aging blunts both basal and receptor-mediated endothelial nitric oxide release in humans.

Effect of hyperhomocysteinemia induced by methionine administration on flow-mediated dilatation of the brachial artery in healthy subjects.

Homocysteine may contribute to systolic hypertension and cardiac events by decreasing conduit artery compliance and inducing endothelial dysfunction. The effects of the experimental induction of hyperhomocysteinemia on systemic arterial compliance and pulsewave velocity are unclear, with contradictory results from previous studies. The investigators tested whether oral methionine impairs brachial artery compliance in addition to endothelial function.

Blood vessel function and cognition in elderly patients with atherosclerosis.

Background And Purpose: Although a strong relationship has been established between vascular disease and cognitive decline, the current challenge is to identify vascular risk factors and mechanisms that are associated with cognitive function before the development of severe dysfunction (eg, vascular dementia). This study was conducted to determine the relationship between blood vessel function and cognition in elderly patients with atherosclerosis.

Methods: Participants were 14 elderly individuals with atherosclerotic vascular disease, who had no history of stroke, cardiac surgery, or dementia diagnosis.

Role of xanthine oxidase in conduit artery endothelial dysfunction in cigarette smokers.

Xanthine oxidase contributes to oxidant stress and has been proposed as a risk factor for endothelial dysfunction. We studied the role of xanthine oxidase in conduit artery endothelial dysfunction in 12 smokers and 12 controls. Conduit artery vasodilation was impaired in smokers (4.

Impaired skeletal muscle and skin microcirculatory function in human obesity.

Background: Obesity is associated with exaggerated blood pressure and systemic vascular resistance responses to mental stress.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that skin and muscle microvascular dilatation in response to mental stress is blunted in obesity.

Design And Methods: Blood pressure, heart rate and forearm and skin blood flow responses to mental stress were compared in 23 obese and 23 age- and sex-matched lean normotensive individuals.

Systemic and local adrenergic regulation of muscle glucose utilization during hypoglycemia in healthy subjects.

Adrenergic responses are crucial for hypoglycemic recovery. Epinephrine increases glucose production, lipolysis, and peripheral insulin resistance as well as blood flow and glucose delivery. Sympathetic activation causes vasoconstriction and reduces glucose delivery.