Detection of wall motion abnormalities during ambulatory echocardiography using a novel ultrasound transducer.

Background: This investigation was designed to determine whether transient wall motion abnormalities due to myocardial ischemia induced by walking could be detected by ambulatory echocardiography.

Methods: Two groups were studied. Group 1 consisted of 10 males (mean age 34 years) who had no symptoms of angina.

Changes in abdominal aortic diameter in response to the cold pressor test and nitroglycerin: a new noninvasive model for the assessment of endothelial-dependent and endothelial-independent vascular relaxation.

Coronary vascular responses to the cold pressor test (CPT) have been shown to parallel changes caused by infusion of acetylcholine. Whereas the CPT is a method of assessing endothelial-dependent vasodilation, nitroglycerin produces endothelial-independent vasodilation. We performed histological studies on autopsy specimens of abdominal aorta and demonstrated that it is predominantly muscular artery.