Effect of atenolol vs metoprolol succinate on vascular function in patients with hypertension.

Background: We evaluated the effect of atenolol vs metoprolol succinate on vascular function in patients with essential hypertension.

Hypothesis: Given intrinsic differences between these agents, we hypothesized that atenolol and metoprolol succinate would have disparate effects on vascular function.

Methods: This study included 24 patients with hypertension (age 56 ± 2 years, 8 female, body mass index 28 ± 1) and featured a randomized, double-blind, crossover design.

Relation of pulse pressure to blood pressure response to exercise in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Almost one third of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC) will have an abnormal blood pressure response (ABPR) to exercise, and this has been associated with a greater risk of sudden cardiac death. In the present study, we examined the association between the steady (mean arterial pressure) and pulsatile (pulse pressure) blood pressure components as they relate to ABPR in patients with HC (n = 70). All patients completed a standard Bruce protocol during symptom-limited stress testing with concurrent hemodynamic measurements.

Effect of increased preload on the synthesized aortic blood pressure waveform.

In the present study, we examined the influence of preload augmentation via passive leg elevation (PLE) on synthesized aortic blood pressure, aortic augmentation index (AIx), and aortic capacitance (a reflection of aortic reservoir function). Central and peripheral hemodynamics were measured via tonometry with a generalized transfer function in 14 young, healthy men (age = 24 yr). Aortic blood flow was calculated from the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) velocity-time integral (VTI) using standard two-dimensional echocardiographic-Doppler techniques.

Endothelium-dependent vasodilation is associated with exercise capacity in smokers and non-smokers.

Smoking is an established cardiovascular risk factor that impairs endothelial function and reduces exercise capacity. Peripheral vascular endothelial function correlates with exercise capacity, but whether this association prevails in smokers is unknown. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the association between endothelial function and exercise capacity in chronic smokers and non-smoking controls.

Peripheral arterial tonometry for risk stratification in men with coronary artery disease.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) risk is not fully revealed by traditional risk factors. Identification of a simple, noninvasive tool that allows for detection of high-risk CAD patients and can be applied in large populations and clinical settings would prove valuable.

Hypothesis: We sought to test the hypothesis that peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT) would be associated with residual risk in men with CAD.

L-arginine as a nutritional prophylaxis against vascular endothelial dysfunction with aging.

With advancing age, peripheral conduit and resistance arteries lose the ability to effectively dilate owing to endothelial dysfunction. This vascular senescence contributes to increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) with aging. L-arginine plays a role in numerous physiological processes including nitrogen detoxification, immunocompetence, growth hormone (GH) secretion, and insulin secretion.

Pulse wave amplitude is associated with brachial artery diameter: implications for gender differences in microvascular function.

The ratio of pulse wave amplitude (PWA) during reactive hyperemia compared to baseline as measured by peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT) is a non-invasive measure of microvascular endothelial function referred to as the pulse wave amplitude reactive hyperemia index (PWA-RHI). Whether upstream conduit vessel structure may affect downstream resistance vessel PWA has not been clearly examined. We tested the hypothesis that digital PWA is influenced by brachial artery diameter (BAD) and that this association would influence comparison of PWA-RHI between genders.