Arterial wave reflection is associated with severity of extracoronary atherosclerosis in patients with coronary artery disease.

Background: Arterial wave reflection is a major determinant of left ventricular function, coronary perfusion and cardiovascular risk. We investigated whether arterial wave reflection may detect atherosclerosis of peripheral arteries in patients with documented coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: Radial artery applanation tonometry and pulse wave analysis was performed in 184 patients with documented CAD at coronary angiography; central blood pressures and augmentation index (AI) were measured.

Divergent effects of rofecoxib on endothelial function and inflammation in acute coronary syndromes.

Background: The safe use of selective inhibitors of cyclooxygenase-2 in patients with cardiovascular disease has been questioned because of studies showing an increased risk of cardiac events. We examined the short-term effect of rofecoxib, a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, on endothelial function, oxidative damage and inflammation in patients with acute coronary syndromes without ST-segment elevation.

Methods: Forty-three patients with acute coronary syndromes without ST-segment elevation participated in the study.

Red wine acutely induces favorable effects on wave reflections and central pressures in coronary artery disease patients.

Background: To investigate red wine's acute effects on aortic pressures and arterial stiffness in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: Fifteen patients with CAD were recruited in a double-blind, cross-over study, which was comprised of 2 study days. Each volunteer consumed either 250 mL of regular or 250 mL of dealcoholized red wine.

Arterial stiffness assessed by pulse wave analysis in essential hypertension: relation to 24-h blood pressure profile.

Background: Arterial stiffness is a risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and appears to be increased in arterial hypertension. The purpose of the present study was to relate systemic arterial stiffness assessed by pulse wave analysis to variables of 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in patients with essential hypertension.

Methods: Seventy-two subjects with untreated mild to moderate arterial hypertension underwent evaluation with 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.

Effect of coffee on endothelial function in healthy subjects: the role of caffeine.

Coffee is one of the most widely used pharmacologically active beverages. The present study was designed to evaluate the acute effect of coffee ingestion on endothelial function in healthy individuals, and the potential role of caffeine. We studied 17 healthy young adults (28.

Endothelial dysfunction and type of cigarette smoked: the impact of 'light' versus regular cigarette smoking.

Acute cigarette smoking leads to temporary endothelial dysfunction, which is an early event in atherogenesis. Sufficient data concerning the effect of cigarettes with low tar and nicotine yield are lacking. Seventeen healthy individuals (nine women, eight men, aged 27.

Cardiac hypertrophy in hypertension: relation to 24-h blood pressure profile and arterial stiffness.

Background: In subjects with essential hypertension peripheral blood pressure profile contributes to the pathogenesis of left ventricular hypertrophy. It is not known if central arterial pressure is superior to peripheral blood pressure profile for predicting left ventricular hypertrophy. In the present study 24-h blood pressure profile and central hemodynamics were examined to evaluate mechanical loading factors as determinants of cardiac hypertrophy in mild to moderate untreated essential hypertension.

Ascorbic acid does not improve endothelium-dependent flow-mediated dilatation of the brachial artery in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon secondary to systemic sclerosis.

Previous studies have shown that patients with Raynaud's phenomenon secondary to systemic sclerosis present abnormal endothelial function; the mechanisms responsible for the endothelial dysfunction are unknown but increased vascular oxidative stress could be a possible cause. The hypothesis that a potent water-soluble antioxidant can reverse endothelial dysfunction in these patients was tested in the present study. We examined 11 female patients with Raynaud's phenomenon secondary to systemic sclerosis and ten healthy control women by ultrasound imaging of the brachial artery to assess flow-mediated (endothelium-dependent) and nitrate-induced (endothelium-independent) vasodilatation.