Central systolic blood pressure relates inversely to nitric oxide synthesis in young black adults: the African-PREDICT study.

Lower nitric oxide (NO) bioavailabilty associates with hypertension in patients and elderly populations. With hypertension known to develop earlier in black populations, we compared both plasma and urinary NO-related markers and their associations with central systolic blood pressure (cSBP) and arterial stiffness in healthy young black and white adults. We included healthy black and white men and women (n = 1110; 20-30 years) and measured cSBP and pulse wave velocity (PWV), along with both plasma and urinary arginine, homoarginine, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), as well as urinary ornithine/citrulline, nitrite and nitrate.

Effects of acute and chronic stress on the L-arginine nitric oxide pathway in black and white South Africans: the sympathetic activity and ambulatory blood pressure in Africans study.

Objective: This study investigated the impact of stress on effectors of the L-arginine/nitric oxide (NO) system including the endogenous inhibitor asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA).

Methods: Black (n = 168) and white (n = 206) South African teachers were exposed to a mental and a physical stressor for 1 minute, respectively. Serum samples for determination of l-arginine, NO metabolites, ADMA, and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) were obtained at rest and during stress exposure.

Myeloperoxidase deficiency preserves vasomotor function in humans.

Aims: Observational studies have suggested a mechanistic link between the leucocyte-derived enzyme myeloperoxidase (MPO) and vasomotor function. Here, we tested whether MPO is systemically affecting vascular tone in humans.

Methods And Results: A total of 12 135 patients were screened for leucocyte peroxidase activity.

Methylarginines and mortality in patients with end stage renal disease: a prospective cohort study.

Objectives And Methods: Methylarginines like asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) are formed by post-translation methylation of arginine residues in proteins. ADMA inhibits nitric-oxide synthase and predicts clinical outcomes in various diseases including end stage renal disease (ESRD). SDMA competes with L-arginine for cell entry and is associated with organ failure in patients with severe illness.

Introducing the first polymer-free leflunomide eluting stent.

Background: We here describe the pharmacological characteristic, in vivo efficacy, and in vitro mechanisms of a polymer-free leflunomide eluting stent in comparison to its rapamycin-coated equivalent.

Methods: Stents were coated with 40 mM solutions of leflunomide (L) or rapamycin (R) or were left uncoated (BM). Neointima formation was assessed 6 weeks after implantation into Sprague Dawley rats by optical coherence tomographies (OCT) and histopathology.