Short term e-bicycle riding results in favorable cardiometabolic shifts in moderately active adults.

Purpose: Electric bikes (EB) are a form of active transportation with demonstrated health benefits. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of riding an EB for one week on indices of cardiometabolic health in middle-aged adults.

Methods: Adults (n = 22; age = 57.

Influence of time of day and intermittent aerobic exercise on vascular endothelial function and plasma endothelin-1 in healthy adults.

Reduced flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and elevated plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels may contribute to the higher incidence of adverse cardiovascular events observed in the morning hours. A single bout of intermittent exercise abolishes the diurnal variation in FMD. Studies examining the effects of exercise on vascular and plasma ET-1 responses at different times of day are lacking.

Associations Among Physical Activity Level and Skeletal Muscle Antioxidants in Older Adults.

Background: Endogenous antioxidants are critical to limiting cellular oxidative damage.

Methods: The authors determined if habitual physical activity (PA) and cardiorespiratory fitness were associated with skeletal muscle expression of endogenous antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase) and circulating oxidative stress markers (serum 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine [8-OHdG]; oxidized low-density lipoprotein [LDL]) in older adults. Moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) was estimated using a validated PA questionnaire in 26 older adults (mean [SD]; M/F = 9/17, age = 68 [4] y, body mass index = 26 [3] kg·m-2).

Aerobic or resistance exercise performed the previous day does not attenuate postprandial hyperglycemia-induced endothelial dysfunction in overweight/obese adults.

Introduction: Postprandial hyperglycemia (PPH) impairs vascular endothelial function (VEF). A single bout of aerobic exercise (AE) attenuates PPH-induced decreases in brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD), a non-invasive measure of VEF, in healthy adults for up to 17 h post-exercise. Studies examining the effects of resistance exercise (RE) on postprandial FMD responses are lacking.

Altering Physical Activity Influences Insulin Responses to Glucose Ingestion in Healthy Adults.

This study determined if varying physical activity (PA) the day prior to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) differentially influenced postprandial glucose and insulin kinetics. Fifteen healthy, young adults participated in three OGTT trials the morning after performing 50% (LOW), 100% (HABITUAL), or 150% (HIGH) of their habitual PA (determined by 7-day pedometry). Trials were randomized and separated by at least 1-wk.

The Influence of Compression Socks During a Marathon on Exercise-Associated Muscle Damage.

Context: Compression socks have become increasingly popular with athletes due to perceived enhancement of exercise performance and recovery. However, research examining the efficacy of compression socks to reduce exercise-associated muscle damage has been equivocal, with few direct measurements of markers of muscle damage.

Objective: To examine the influence of compression socks worn during a marathon on creatine kinase (CK) levels.

Age-related macular degeneration and progression of coronary artery calcium: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) shares many similarities with cardiovascular disease (CVD) pathophysiology. We sought to determine the relationship of AMD to the progression of coronary artery calcium (CAC) using data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

Methods: Our cohort consisted of 5803 adults aged 45 to 84 years free of known cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Comparative Metabolomics Elucidates Postprandial Metabolic Modifications in Plasma of Obese Individuals with Metabolic Syndrome.

Although higher intakes of dairy milk are associated with a lower risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS), the underlying protective mechanism remains unclear. This study investigated the dynamic metabolic profile shift following the ingestion of low-fat milk or an isocaloric volume of rice milk in obese individuals with metabolic syndrome (MetS). In a randomized, double-blind, crossover study, postprandial plasma samples ( n = 266) were collected from 19 MetS participants.

Creatine supplementation does not alter the creatine kinase response to eccentric exercise in healthy adults on atorvastatin.

Background: Serum creatine kinase (CK) levels are higher after eccentric, muscle-damaging exercise in statin-treated patients. This could contribute to the increased statin-associated muscle symptoms reported in physically active individuals.

Objective: We tested the hypothesis in this pilot study that creatine (Cr) monohydrate supplementation would reduce the CK response to eccentric exercise in patients using statins to determine if Cr supplementation could be a strategy to mitigate statin-associated muscle symptoms in physically active individuals.

Cardiovascular disease risk factor responses to a type 2 diabetes care model including nutritional ketosis induced by sustained carbohydrate restriction at 1 year: an open label, non-randomized, controlled study.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). We recently reported that glycemic control in patients with T2D can be significantly improved through a continuous care intervention (CCI) including nutritional ketosis. The purpose of this study was to examine CVD risk factors in this cohort.

Replacing carbohydrate during a glucose challenge with the egg white portion or whole eggs protects against postprandial impairments in vascular endothelial function in prediabetic men by limiting increases in glycaemia and lipid peroxidation.

Eggs attenuate postprandial hyperglycaemia (PPH), which transiently impairs vascular endothelial function (VEF). We hypothesised that co-ingestion of a glucose challenge with egg-based meals would protect against glucose-induced impairments in VEF by attenuating PPH and oxidative stress. A randomised, cross-over study was conducted in prediabetic men (n 20) who ingested isoenegertic meals (1674 kJ (400 kcal)) containing 100 g glucose (GLU), or 75 g glucose with 1·5 whole eggs (EGG), seven egg whites (WHITE) or two egg yolks (YOLK).

Effects of prior aerobic exercise on sitting-induced vascular dysfunction in healthy men.

Introduction: Acute aerobic exercise prevents sitting-induced impairment of flow-mediated dilation (FMD). Further, evidence suggests that sitting-induced impairment of FMD occurs via an oxidative stress-dependent mechanism that disrupts endothelial function.

Purpose: We hypothesized that acute aerobic exercise would prevent impairment of femoral artery FMD by limiting oxidative stress responses that increase endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels and disrupt nitric oxide (NO) status.

Compression Socks Worn During Flight and Hemostatic Balance in Boston Marathon Runners on Oral Contraceptives.

Objective: To investigate the effect of oral contraceptive (OC) use and compression socks on hemostatic activation in women flying cross-country to and from a marathon.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: 2015 Boston Marathon.

Targeted High Performance Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry-based Metabolomics differentiates metabolic syndrome from obesity.

Both obesity and the metabolic syndrome are risk factors for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Identification of novel biomarkers are needed to distinguish metabolic syndrome from equally obese individuals in order to direct them to early interventions that reduce their risk of developing further health problems. We utilized mass spectrometry-based targeted metabolic profiling of 221 metabolites to evaluate the associations between metabolite profiles and established metabolic syndrome criteria (i.

The antihypertensive effects of aerobic versus isometric handgrip resistance exercise.

Background: Aerobic exercise reduces blood pressure (BP) on average 5-7 mmHg among those with hypertension; limited evidence suggests similar or even greater BP benefits may result from isometric handgrip (IHG) resistance exercise.

Method: We conducted a randomized controlled trial investigating the antihypertensive effects of an acute bout of aerobic compared with IHG exercise in the same individuals. Middle-aged adults (n = 27) with prehypertension and obesity randomly completed three experiments: aerobic (60% peak oxygen uptake, 30 min); IHG (30% maximum voluntary contraction, 4 × 2 min bilateral); and nonexercise control.

Single Low-Density Lipoprotein Apheresis Does Not Improve Vascular Endothelial Function in Chronically Treated Hypercholesterolemic Patients.

Objective. To investigate vascular endothelial function (VEF) responses to a single low-density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis session in hypercholesterolemic patients undergoing chronic treatment. Methods.

Short-term cessation of statin therapy does not alter aerobic exercise performance in physically active middle-aged adults.

Objectives: Physically active adults may be especially vulnerable to the adverse muscular side effects of statins. We determined if short-term cessation of statin therapy would improve aerobic exercise performance in middle-aged adults engaged in regular aerobic exercise training.

Methods: Physically active middle-aged adults on statin therapy ≥6 mo (n = 16; 58 ± 10 y) or not taking lipid-lowering medications (controls) (n = 19; 51 ± 9 y) completed a peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) and time to exhaustion test on a cycle ergometer 2-7 d apart.

Effect of Simvastatin on Arterial Stiffness in Patients with Statin Myalgia.

Statins reduce arterial stiffness but are also associated with mild muscle complaints. It is unclear whether individuals with muscle symptoms experience the same vascular benefit or whether statins affect striated and smooth muscle cells differently. We examined the effect of simvastatin treatment on arterial stiffness in patients who did versus those who did not exhibit muscle symptoms.

The effect of compression socks worn during a marathon on hemostatic balance.

Introduction: Marathon running evokes parallel increases in markers of coagulation and fibrinolysis (i.e. hemostatic activation) immediately following strenuous, endurance exercise such that hemostatic balance is maintained.

Protective role of dairy and its constituents on vascular function independent of blood pressure-lowering activities.

Greater intakes of dairy are frequently associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. These observational studies have served as the basis for controlled interventions aimed at defining the cardioprotective mechanisms of dairy. Understanding these relationships is of public health importance because most of the US population fails to meet dietary recommendations for dairy, suggesting that many individuals could lower their cardiovascular disease risk by relatively simple dietary modification.

Effect of cycling in the heat for 164 km on procoagulant and fibrinolytic parameters.

Purpose: We assessed the impact of completing the Hotter'n Hell Hundred (HHH), an annual 164 km road cycling event performed in a hot environment, on hemostatic balance in men.

Methods: Sixteen men who completed the ride in <6 h were included in this study. Plasma samples were collected on that morning of the ride (PRE) and immediately on the completion of the ride (IP).

Greater γ-tocopherol status during acute smoking abstinence with nicotine replacement therapy improved vascular endothelial function by decreasing 8-iso-15(S)-prostaglandin F2α.

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) improves the long-term success rate of smoking cessation, but induces oxidative stress and inflammatory responses that may delay the restoration of vascular endothelial function (VEF). No studies have examined co-therapy of NRT-assisted smoking abstinence with γ-tocopherol (γ-T), a vitamin E form with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, on improvements in VEF. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, healthy smokers (25 ± 1 y old; mean ± SEM) received NRT and abstained from smoking for 24 h with placebo (n = 12) or oral administration of γ-T-rich mixture of tocopherols (γ-TmT; n = 11) that provided 500 mg γ-T.

Redundant vasodilator pathways underlying radial artery flow-mediated dilation are preserved in healthy aging.

Background. Blocking nitric oxide (NO) and vasodilator prostanoids (PN) does not consistently reduce flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in young adults. The impact of aging on the contribution of NO and PG to FMD is unknown.

Influence of chronic exercise on carotid atherosclerosis in marathon runners.

Objectives: The effect of habitual, high-intensity exercise training on the progression of atherosclerosis is unclear. We assessed indices of vascular health (central systolic blood pressure (SBP) and arterial stiffness as well as carotid intima-medial thickness (cIMT)) in addition to cardiovascular risk factors of trained runners versus their untrained spouses or partners to evaluate the impact of exercise on the development of carotid atherosclerosis.

Setting: field study at Boston Marathon.