Relationship between fitness and arterial stiffness according to hypertensive state.

There is a well-established relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and arterial stiffness. However, it is unclear whether this relationship differs significantly between hypertensive and non-hypertensive patients. Adults without a history of ischemic heart disease or stroke and normal exercise test results who underwent health screening were included.

Effects of balloon-based distal protection during primary percutaneous coronary intervention on early and late infarct size and left ventricular remodeling: a pilot study using serial contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: Distal protection devices are effective in preventing distal embolization during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We investigated whether balloon-based distal protection could reduce early and late infarct size and left ventricular (LV) remodeling using serial analysis of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI).

Methods: Patients undergoing primary PCI for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction within 12 hours after symptom onset were randomized to a distal protection group (n = 19) or to a control group (n = 20).