Effect of hyperuricemia treatment on vascular endothelial function in patients with cerebral infarction / 中华急诊医学杂志

Objective:To investigate the effect of hyperuricemia treatment on vascular endothelial function and blood pressure in patients with acute cerebral infarction.Methods:A total of 138 cases from the same center were enrolled in the study. 92 cases of acute cerebral infarction patients combined with hyperuricemia were selected. They were randomly divided into the experimental group (46 cases) and control group (46 cases). 46 cases of acute cerebral infarction patients with normal uric acid were selected in the same period. Patients in the experimental group received oral allopurinol for 3 months to treat hyperuricemia. Serum uric acid, blood lipid, and hs-CRP were tested before and after treatment in these populations. Blood pressure and body mass index (BMI) were also detected, and vascular endothelial function was evaluated using ultrasound non-invasive blood flow mediated vasodilation function (FMD). Comparison and statistical analysis were carried out in groups.Results:Uric acid [(479.7±49.0) μmol/L vs. (381.2±76.7) μmol/L]、hs-CRP[(8.1±6.7) mg/L vs. (5.1±4.6) mg/L]、systolic blood pressure [(124.7±26.3) mmHg vs. (97.4±13.5) mmHg] decreased significantly in the experimental group after 3 months of treatment with allopurinol ( P<0.05), and blood flow mediated vasodilation function [(7.6±3.5) vs. (11.2±3.9)]significantly increased ( P<0.05). The decrease of serum uric acid was positively correlated with the increase of FMD in the experimental group ( r=0.463, P<0.01). Multiple Regression analysis showed that serum uric acid was an independent predictor of FMD( β=-0.229, P=0.035). Conclusions:The treatment of hyperuricemia in patients with acute cerebral infarction can significantly improve the vascular endothelial function of patients, improve inflammation state and lower blood pressure. It is further confirmed that a higher uric acid level is related to worse endothelial function which may contribute to atherosclerosis.

Effect of fasudil on the vascular endothelial function in patients with coronary slow flow / 中国综合临床

Objective To investigate the effect of fasudil on vascular endothelial function in patients with coronary slow flow( CSF) . Methods Eighty?two patients with CSF and normal coronary angiography were selected and randomly divided into conventional treatment group and fasudil group, 41 cases in each group. Patients in conventional treatment group were given conventional treatment( aspirin,nitrates and atorvasta?tin) ,while patients in the fasudil group were given fasudil on the basis of conventional treatment. The angina pectoris,TIMI,endothelial?dependent flow?mediated vasodilation( FMD) ,the levels of plasma nitric oxide( NO) , endothelin?1( ET?1) and Rho kinase( ROCKI) of the brachial artery were observed in the two groups before and after two weeks of treatment. Results The total effective rate of fasudil group was 87. 80%,higher than that of conventional treatment group of 65. 85%,the difference was significant(χ2=68. 176,P<0. 05) . TIMI,FMD im?proved in the fasudil group after treatment compared with before treatment, the difference was significant ( t =4. 37,4. 43;P<0. 05);plasma NO level increased compared with before treatment(t=5. 63,P<0. 01),while ROCKI,ET?1 level decreased(t=6. 19,5. 66;P<0. 01). Plasma NO,ET?1,ROCKI and FMD,TIMI of conven?tional treatment had no significantly changes before and after treatment(P<0. 05). The post?treatment of NO, FMD,TIMI levels in fasudil group were significantly increased compared with conventional group ( ( 36. 17 ±7. 64) μmol/L vs. (24. 99±8. 96) μmol/L,(9. 96±1. 76)% vs. (5. 86±1. 45)%,17. 53±5. 81 vs. 29. 71 ±7. 83;t=4. 06,4. 18,5. 41;P<0. 05),while ROCKI,ET?1 levels in fasudil group were significantly decreased compared with conventional group((19. 57±1. 33) μg/L vs. (34. 38±1. 51) μg/L,(14. 36±6. 05) ng/L vs. (20. 95±6. 57) ng/L;t=3. 87,4. 36,P<0. 01). Conclusion Fasudil can significantly improve the vascular en?dothelial function in patients with CSF.

Vasodilatación mediada por flujo en niños con sobrepeso / Flow mediated vasodilation in overweight children

Introducción: El conocimiento actual sugiere que la enfermedad cardiovascular se origina y progresa desde la infancia y la adolescencia. La disfunción endotelial es un evento temprano y crucial en la aterosclerosis. Pacientes y Método: Estudio prospectivo que comparó la vasodilatación mediada por flujo (VMF) en niños con sobrepeso y niños de peso normal. Para medir la VMF se utilizó transductor adecuado de ultrasonido y el método estándar. Resultados: Ochenta y dos niños fueron incluidos; 49 eran casos (sobrepeso) y 33 controles. Los valores de VMF oscilaron entre -6 y 56% (promedio 11,1%) en niños con sobrepeso y de 0 a 29,6% (promedio 16,6%) en niños control (p < 0,05). Se presentó vasoconstricción paradójica en el 34,7% de los niños con sobrepeso y en ninguno de los controles (p < 0,05). Se encontró una asociación significativa entre vasoconstricción paradójica con obesidad central e hipertensión. Conclusión: Los resultados de este estudio muestran que la VMF es menor en niños con sobrepeso en comparación con los niños eutróficos, por lo que es más probable que exista disfunción endotelial en ellos.

Introduction: Present knowledge suggests that cardiovascular disease originates and progresses from childhood and adolescence. Endothelial dysfunction is an early and crucial event in atherosclerosis. Patients and Method: Prospective study that compares Flow Mediated Vasodilation (FMV) in children with overweight (OWC) and normal weight children. An ultrasound transducer a standard method were used to measure FMD. Results: The study included 82 children, of whom 49 were cases (OWC) and 33 controls. FMV values ranged from -6 to 56% (x = 11.1%) in OW, and from 0 to 29.6% (x = 16.6%) in control children (P<.005). Paradoxical vasoconstriction was found in 34.7% in OWC as compared to nil in controls (P<.005). A significant association was found between vasoconstriction and central obesity and hypertension. Conclusion: The results of this study show that FMV is lower in obese compared to normal children; thus they are more likely to have endothelial dysfunction.

Effect of Folic Acid on the Homocysteine level and Flow-mediated Vasodilation and Cognitive Function in the Treatment of Elderly Patients with Cerebral Infarction / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To discuss the effect of folic acid on the homocysteine(Hcy)and flow-mediated vasodilation and cog-nitove function in the treatment of elderly patients with cerebral infarction. METHODS:The data of 198 elderly patients with cere-bral infarction was randomly divided into the observation group and the control group by different medication. Control group was treated with conventional treatment;based on the treatment of control group,observation group was orally treated with Folic acid tabelts 5 mg,once a day. The treatment course of 2 groups was 8 weeks. The Hcy level and flow-mediated vasodilation(FMD)be-fore and after treatment,mini-mental state examination (MMSE) score and incidence of adverse reactions in 2 groups were ob-served. RESULTS:After treatment,Hcy level in observation group was significantly lower than before and control group,FMD was significantly higher than before and control group(P<0.01). MMSE score in observation group was significantly higher than control group(P<0.01). There were no obvious adverse reactions in 2 groups during treatment. CONCLUSIONS:Based on the con-ventional treatment,folic acid can effectively reduce the Hcy level of elderly patients with cerebral infarction,improve the cogni-tive function and reduce the brain tissue damage,with good safety.

Endothelial dysfunction in patients with metabolic syndrome: a prospective study in a rural institute in India.

Background: The objective was to evaluate endothelial dysfunction in patients with metabolic syndrome. Methods: This prospective, cross-sectional, hospital based observational study included 45 patients with metabolic syndrome and 20 age and sex matched controls who attended hypertension clinic, diabetes clinic, general medicine OPD and patients admitted in wards department of medicine, UPRIMS&R, Saifai, Etawah, UP, India. All patients who fulfilled inclusion criteria were subjected to the color Doppler of the brachial artery in the department of radio-diagnosis of the same institute. Results: Of the 45 patients with metabolic syndrome included in the study, 22 patients (48.9%) were males and 23 patients (51.1%) were females. Ten males (45.5%) had a waist circumference of >90 cm whereas 20 females (87%) had waist circumference of >80 cm. 9 males (40.9%) had abnormal waist hip ratio whereas 22 females (95.7%) had abnormal waist hip ratio. 43 patients (95.6%) had a SBP >130 mm of Hg whereas 39 patients (86.7%) had a DBP >85 mm of Hg. 24 patients (53.3%) had impaired fasting blood sugar i.e. >100 mg/dl ,25 patients (55.6%) had a TGL level >150 mg/dl, and 9 males (40.0%) had HDL < 40 mg/dl whereas 18 females (78.3%) had HDL value < 50 mg/dl respectively. The mean brachial artery baseline diameter were 3.50 ± 0.39 mm in males and 3.25  0.29 mm in females respectively, FMD percentage was 14.91  3.56 in females and 14.53  4.02 in males, and GTN mediated dilatation were 27.67  9.83% in females and 27.62  6.85% in males respectively. Conclusion: Estimation of Endothelial Dysfunction in patients at risk of developing full blown Metabolic Syndrome may predict the cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in these individuals even before fulfilling the 3/5 criteria of NCEP/ATP III Guidelines for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome.

Blood-Flow-Dependent Vascular Reaction in a Chloride Hot Spring Bath / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

Introduction: Chloride hot springs have been suggested to have a high thermal retention effect, with various beneficial effects on health. However, the efficacies of such hot springs for preventing arteriosclerosis and improving blood flow have not been scientifically verified. We investigated flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) as an index of early arteriosclerosis before and after hot spring bathing to study the effects of chloride hot spring baths on the blood vessels. Subjects and methods: The subjects were 17 healthy adult men and women with an average age of 63 years. The Qua I THERME natrium <sodium> chloride hot spring in Maebashi City, Gunma prefecture, Japan, was used. Measurements were conducted before and 1 h after bathing. Results and discussion: The mean FMD values in all subjects increased significantly 1 h after in comparison to the values before bathing. The FMD values increased in women, but not in men. Body Mass Index (BMI) was 25 or higher in five cases, among which one cases showed a decrease in FMD% after bathing. Hot spring therapy was shown to increase nitric oxide (NO) levels and expand the vascular smooth muscles temporarily. The results also indicated inhibition of platelet agglutination, smooth muscle propagation, leukocyte adhesion and active oxygen production accompanying bathing, which may lead to improvement of vascular endothelial function.

Blood-Flow-Dependent Vascular Reaction in a Chloride Hot Spring Bath / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

<B>Introduction:</B> Chloride hot springs have been suggested to have a high thermal retention effect, with various beneficial effects on health. However, the efficacies of such hot springs for preventing arteriosclerosis and improving blood flow have not been scientifically verified. We investigated flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) as an index of early arteriosclerosis before and after hot spring bathing to study the effects of chloride hot spring baths on the blood vessels.<BR><B>Subjects and methods:</B> The subjects were 17 healthy adult men and women with an average age of 63 years. The Qua I THERME natrium <sodium> chloride hot spring in Maebashi City, Gunma prefecture, Japan, was used. Measurements were conducted before and 1 h after bathing.<BR><B>Results and discussion:</B> The mean FMD values in all subjects increased significantly 1 h after in comparison to the values before bathing. The FMD values increased in women, but not in men. Body Mass Index (BMI) was 25 or higher in five cases, among which one cases showed a decrease in FMD% after bathing. Hot spring therapy was shown to increase nitric oxide (NO) levels and expand the vascular smooth muscles temporarily. The results also indicated inhibition of platelet agglutination, smooth muscle propagation, leukocyte adhesion and active oxygen production accompanying bathing, which may lead to improvement of vascular endothelial function.

Diabetic Retinopathy and Endothelial Dysfunction in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

BACKGROUND: We investigated the relationship between endothelial dysfunction and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: We used a cross-sectional design to examine 167 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. All patients underwent biochemical and ophthalmological examination. We assessed endothelial dysfunction by a flow-mediated vasodilation method of the brachial artery. Changes in vasodilation (flow-mediated vasodilatation, %FMD) were expressed as percent change over baseline values. RESULTS: The mean+/-standard deviation of patient age was 54.1+/-8.6 years. The %FMD was significantly lower in patients with DR than without DR. The prevalence of retinopathy decreased across increasing tertiles of %FMD. After adjusting for patients' age, sex, diabetes duration, use of insulin, use of antihypertensive, antiplatelet, and lipid lowering medications, systolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, 2-hour plasma glucose, glycated hemoglobin, and urinary albumin excretion, participants with a reduced %FMD were more likely to have DR (odds ratio, 11.819; 95% confidence interval, 2.201 to 63.461; P=0.004, comparing the lowest and highest tertiles of %FMD). CONCLUSION: Endothelial dysfunction was associated with DR, which was most apparent when the endothelial dysfunction was severe. Our study provides insights into the possible mechanism of the influence of endothelial dysfunction on the development of DR.

Valor prognóstico da função endotelial em portadores de aterosclerose: revisão sistemática / Prognostic value of endothelial function in patients with atherosclerosis: systematic review

A Vasodilatação Mediada por Fluxo (VMF) da artéria braquial, por meio da ultrassonografia, é um método de avaliação da função endotelial que pode oferecer informações fisiopatológicas, diagnósticas e prognósticas. A realização dessa revisão sistemática objetivou avaliar o nível de evidência na literatura a respeito da capacidade preditora da função endotelial, medida pela VMF da artéria braquial, por meio da ultrassonografia, quanto a eventos cardiovasculares, em indivíduos portadores de aterosclerose. Foram realizadas buscas nas bases de dados MEDLINE, SCIELO e LILACS e selecionados estudos de coorte prospectivos, em seres humanos, que analisaram o valor prognóstico da função endotelial medida pela VMF da artéria braquial, em populações portadoras de doença aterosclerótica, periférica ou coronariana. Trabalhos com evidentes vieses metodológicos foram excluídos. A seleção final constituiu-se de 15 estudos. Dos 13 estudos que, na análise univariada, mostraram significância estatística do método da VMF na predição de eventos cardiovasculares, 12 deles demonstraram sua capacidade preditora independente, em análise multivariada. Em nenhum dos trabalhos foi descrito valor prognóstico incremental em relação a modelos preditores tradicionais, como escore de Framingham. Resultados de três trabalhos sugerem que o método agrega valor prognóstico a marcadores isolados como: Índice Tornozelo-Braquial (ITB), diabetes e Proteína C Reativa (PCR) de alta sensibilidade. Em conclusão, a VMF da artéria braquial prediz risco cardiovascular, porém não é estabelecido seu valor preditor incremental a modelos prognósticos clínicos, não havendo, até o momento, evidências sólidas que amparem seu uso na rotina clínica para predição de risco cardiovascular.

Analysis of flow-mediated vasodilation (FMV) of the brachial artery by use of ultrasound allows assessing endothelial function, and provides pathophysiological, diagnostic and prognostic information. This systematic review was aimed at assessing the literature level of evidence of the predictive capacity of endothelial function, measured through brachial artery FMV by use of ultrasound, regarding cardiovascular events in individuals with atherosclerosis. The MEDLINE, SCIELO and LILACS databases were searched, and prospective cohort studies on human beings about the prognostic value of endothelial function, measured by use of brachial artery FMV in individuals with peripheral or coronary atherosclerosis, were selected. Studies with clear methodological biases were excluded. The final selection consisted of 15 studies. Of the 13 studies that on univariate analysis showed statistical significance of the FMV method to predict cardiovascular events, 12 showed independent predictive capacity on multivariate analysis. None of the studies reviewed described the incremental predictive value of FMV to the traditional predictive models, such as the Framingham score. Results of three studies have suggested that the method adds prognostic value to isolated markers such as ankle-brachial index (ABI), diabetes, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). In conclusion, brachial artery FMV predicts cardiovascular risk, but its incremental predictive value to clinical prognostic models has not been established. In addition, solid evidence supporting its use in routine clinical practice to predict cardiovascular risk still lacks.

Intervention of arterial elasticity and endothelial function in patients with hyperlipidemia / 中国基层医药

ObjectiveTo research the endothelial dysfunction and early changes in arterial elasticity in patients with hyperlipidemia and effects of atorvastatin on these changes.Methods40 patients with hyperlipidemia but without any treatment in our hospital were selected as a study group,and 30 healthy people were selected as control group.Use the Flow mediated dilation,FMD detection which bases on the echo-trackingtechnology,eTRACYING to evaluate the right brachial atherosclerosis parameters and vascular diastolic parameters,including the pressure strain elastic modulus(Ep) ;stiffness index (β) ;compliance (AC) ;FMDs and FMDd.The study group take atorvastatin 20mg per day,then retested above parameters and TC,LDL-C after 12 weeks and analyzed all parameters.ResultsThe values of β and Ep in study group are significantly higher than the control group (all P ＜ 0.001 ),but AC;FMDs and FMDd are significantly lower than the control group( all P ＜ 0.001 ).The results of the study group after the treatment of atorvastatin are as follwing:TC,LDL-C,β and Ep are lower than before,AC,FMDs and FMDd are higher than before;and the differences are of significance in statistics ( all P ＜ 0.001 ).ConclusionHyperlipidemic patients had shown the vascular endothelial injury and vascular early hardening before the abnormal changes in intimal,but the atorvastatin intervention could reverse these changes.

The value and limitation of ultrasound test-appraised endothelial function of brachial artery in elderly diabetic patients / 中国糖尿病杂志

Objective To investigate the value and limitations of ultrasound determination-evaluated brachial artery endothelial function in elderly diabetic patients. Methods High-resolution two-dimensional ultrasound was used to determine brachial artery(BA) flow-mediated vasodilation(FMD) during reactive hyperemia. Endothelial function was evaluated by FMD in 67 elderly patients with type 2 diabetes. Results In diabetes versus normal control group,the BA diameter and flow velocity showed no significant difference (P＞0.05) at basal state,but showed significant decreases (P＜0.05) after reactive hyperemia. Single-factor correlation analysis showed that FMD was in negative correlation with disease course, TG, ISI and age (r=-0.2357,-0.2215 and -0.3256, -0.2415,(all P＜0.05～0.01),and showed no correlation of FMD with BMI, TC, FBG, HbA1c, FIns. Conclusions FMD has a value in evaluating the flow-mediated endothelial dysfunction in older T2DM patients, while our analysis of the results should consider the patient's age, gender, race, disease course, blood lipids and other factors.

Imaging Markers of Subclinical Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a generalized disorder that progresses very slowly. Early detection of atherosclerosis is very important to prevent cardiovascular disease such as myocardial infarction, stroke and sudden cardiac death. Various surrogate markers have recently been proposed for the early detection of atherosclerosis in asymptomatic patients who have one or more risk factors. Among them, biomarkers such as CRP, Interleukin, myeloperoxidase, fibrinogen, homocystein and lipoprotein (a) are established as predictors of atherothrobotic events in apparently healthy individuals. Although these novel biomarkers provide important information into the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis, no clear evidence exist that lowering the plasma level of these markers reduces the vascular risk. Imaging markers such as the carotid intima-media thickness and brachial arterial flow mediated vasodilation as assessed by ultrasound, coronary calcification as assessed by CT, and the pulse wave velocity and augmentation index as assessed by tonometry can visualize the arterial wall and directly measure the arterial function. These imaging markers are very useful clinical tools for detecting the early changes of vascular structure and also for predicting cardiovascular events, in addition to being more precise biomarkers in asymptomatic subjects.

Extra-Cardiac Imaging: How to Assess Early Atherosclerosis using High-Resolution Ultrasound

OBJECTS: Atherosclerosis is closely related with the coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral arterial disease. Recently, It was revealed that a common cause of death in Korea is cardiovascular disease, like a western country. So the early detection of atherosclerosis and prevention of atherosclerosis is very important aspect. There are several methods to evaluate the early atherosclerosis. Among them, flow mediated vasodilation of brachial artery and intima-media thickness of carotid artery are commonly used surrogate marker of early atherosclesrosis. The aim of this article is to review published papers how we can apply these methods to assess the early atherosclerosis. METHOD AND RESULT: In medline search, seventy four articles were selected to review the method and clinical application of these two methods. Most of these papers were from peer reviewed journals. CONCLUSION: Flow-mediated vasodilation and the measurement of intima-media thickness of carotid artery were very useful and important methods to detect early atherosclerosis. and also to evaluate the clinical efficacy of various kinds of intervention to assess the vascular function and structure.

Evaluation of Endothelial Function Using High-Resolution Ultrasound in Normal Subjects: Endothelial Function according to Aging

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Flow-mediated brachial artery vasoactivity has been proposed as a noninvasive means for assessing endothelial function. The present study is designed to assess the influence of aging on endothelial function and when vasoactivity developed initially, peaked. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We measured brachial artery diameter for 60 seconds continuously using 7.5 MHz ultrasound following 5 minutes of lower arm occlusion in 22 normal volun-teers (young group: 10 volunteers, 26.5+/-1.9 years; old group: 12 volunteers, 55.9+/-3.3 years). After sublingual administration of 0.6 mg nitroglycerine, 240 seconds continuously. And then we measure vasoactivity every 3 seconds. RESULTS: Flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) was started earlier in young group (24.3+/-2.8 sec; old group 28.8+/-3.6 sec, p=0.017). After release of occlusion, peak vasoacitivity time was at 35.5+/-4.7 seconds and peak vasoactivity was 8.4+/-1.7% in young group (old group 6.9+/-1.5%, p=0.099). Endothelial independent vasodilation (EID) was started at 80.7+/-13.3 seconds after sublingual nitroglycerine in young group (vs 80.0+/-19.0 sec), peaked at 177.5+/-16.9 seconds (vs 171.3+/-13.8 sec). Peak vasoactivity was higher in young group (19.1+/-3.1%; old group 15.9+/-2.5%, p=0.033). CONCLUSION: We conclude that 1) Aging has influence on endothelial function about initiating time of vasoactivity as well as peak vaso- activity. 2) FMD can be measured around 50 seconds after release of brachial artery occlusion and EID at 180 seconds after application of sublingual nitroglycerine. 3) The initiating time of vasoactivity (under 30 seconds) can be used for evaluation of endothelial function.