Chemoreceptor Responsiveness at Sea Level Does Not Predict the Pulmonary Pressure Response to High Altitude.

BACKGROUND: The hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR) at sea level (SL) is moderately predictive of the change in pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) to acute normobaric hypoxia. However, because of progressive changes in the chemoreflex control of breathing and acid-base balance at high altitude (HA), HVR at SL may not predict PASP at HA. We hypothesized that resting oxygen saturation as measured by pulse oximetry (Spo2) at HA would correlate better than HVR at SL with PASP at HA. METHODS: In 20 participants at SL, we measured normobaric, isocapnic HVR (L/min · -%Spo2⁻¹) and resting PASP using echocardiography. Both resting Spo2 and PASP measures were repeated on day 2 (n = 10), days 4 to 8 (n = 12), and 2 to 3 weeks (n = 8) after arrival at 5,050 m. These data were also collected at 5,050 m in life-long HA residents (ie, Sherpa [n = 21]). RESULTS: Compared with SL, Spo2 decreased from 98.6% to 80.5% (P < .001), whereas PASP increased from 21.7 to 34.0 mm Hg (P < .001) after 2 to 3 weeks at 5,050 m. Isocapnic HVR at SL was not related to Spo2 or PASP at any time point at 5,050 m (all P > .05). Sherpa had lower PASP (P < .01) than lowlanders on days 4 to 8 despite similar Spo2. Upon correction for hematocrit, Sherpa PASP was not different from lowlanders at SL but was lower than lowlanders at all HA time points. At 5,050 m, although Spo2 was not related to PASP in lowlanders at any point (all R² ≤ 0.05, P > .50), there was a weak relationship in the Sherpa (R² = 0.16, P = .07). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that neither HVR at SL nor resting Spo2 at HA correlates with elevations in PASP at HA.

Aged garlic extract improves endothelial function in men with coronary artery disease.

Endothelium-dependent vasodilation is impaired and predicts the risk of a coronary event in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Oxidant stress and increased systemic inflammation may contribute to this endothelial dysfunction. Aged garlic extract (AGE) contains antioxidant compounds and increases nitric oxide production and decreases the output of inflammatory cytokines from cultured cells. The aim of this study was to test the effect of treatment with AGE on brachial artery flow mediated endothelium-dependent dilation (FMD) and circulating markers of oxidative stress and systemic inflammation. The trial included 15 men with angiographically proven CAD in a randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over design with 2-week treatment and washout periods. During AGE supplementation, FMD increased (44%) significantly (p = 0.04) from the baseline and mainly in men with lower baseline FMD. Levels of FMD at the end of AGE treatment were significantly (p = 0.03) higher compared with the corresponding levels at the end of placebo treatment when the variation in baseline body weight was taken into account. Markers of oxidant stress (plasma oxidized low density lipoprotein and peroxides), systemic inflammation (plasma C-reactive protein ad interleukin-6) and endothelial activation (VCAM-1) did not change significantly during the study. These data suggest that short-term treatment with AGE may improve impaired endothelial function in men with CAD treated with aspirin and a statin. Whether improvement in endothelial function decreases the risk of future cardiovascular events remains to be determined.