Forearm Blood Flow (forearm + blood_flow)

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Distribution within Medical Sciences


Selected Abstracts


Assessment of endothelial function and blood metabolite status following acute ingestion of a fructose-containing beverage

ACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, Issue 1 2010
A. J. Bidwell
Abstract Aim:, Fructose intake has increased concurrent with sugar intake and this increase has been implicated in contributing to the development of metabolic syndrome risk factors. Recent evidence suggests a role for uric acid (UA) as a potential mediator via suppression of nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. The aim of this study was to explore this hypothesis by measuring changes in UA concentration and systemic NO bioavailability as well as endothelial function in response to acute ingestion of a glucose-fructose beverage. Methods:, Ten young (26.80 ± 4.80 years), non-obese (body mass index: 25.1 ± 2.55 kg m,2; percent body fat: 13.5 ± 6.9%) male subjects ingested either a glucose (100 g dextrose in 300 mL) or isocaloric glucose-fructose (glucose : fructose; 45 : 55 g in 300 mL) beverage. Blood was sampled pre- and every 15-min post-ingestion per 90 min and assayed for glucose, lactate, fructose, total nitrate/nitrate, UA and blood lipids. Forearm blood flow and pulse-wave velocity were recorded prior to and at 30 and 45 min time intervals post-ingestion, respectively, while heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were recorded every 15 min. Results:, The glucose-fructose ingestion was associated with a significant (P < 0.05) increase in plasma lactate concentration and altered free fatty acid levels when compared with glucose-only ingestion. However, UA was not significantly different (P = 0.08) between conditions (AUC: ,1018 ± 1675 vs. 2171 ± 1270 ,mol L,1 per 90 min for glucose and glucose-fructose conditions respectively). Consequently, no significant (P < 0.05) difference in endothelial function or systemic NO bioavailability was observed. Conclusion:, Acute consumption of a fructose-containing beverage was not associated with significantly altered UA concentration, endothelial function or systemic NO bioavailability. [source]


Comparison of vasodilator effects of substance P in human forearm vessels of normoalbuminuric Type 1 diabetic and non-diabetic subjects

DIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 3 2000
D. R. Meeking
Summary Aims To compare the vasodilatory responses to substance P in human forearm vessels in Type 1 normoalbuminuric diabetic and non-diabetic subjects. Methods Forearm blood flow (FBF) was measured using a plethysmography technique in 12 normoalbuminuric Type 1 diabetic subjects (six males, six females) (HbA1C 8.2 ± 0.3% (mean ±,sem)) and 12 non-diabetic healthy control subjects in response to the infusion of the vasodilators substance P (SP), acetylcholine (ACh) and nitroprusside. Results There was no significant difference in baseline FBF between the two groups (2.80 ± 0.29 ml/min per 100 ml forearm tissue (diabetic group) vs. 2.85 ± 0.37 ml/min per 100 ml (non-diabetic group), P = 0.45). Infusion of SP was associated with an incremental increase in FBF in the diabetic (0.6, 2 and 6 ng/min , 6.08 ± 1.07, 7.82 ± 1.08 and 9.48 ± 1.14 ml/min per 100 ml, respectively) and the non-diabetic group (0.6, 2 and 6 ng/min , 5.41 ± 0.80, 6.93 ± 0.96 and 9.25 ± 1.11 ml/min per 100 ml, respectively). Similarly, an incremental rise in FBF was observed during infusion of ACh (diabetic group: 7.5, 15 and 30 ,g/min , 7.14 ± 1.22, 8.91 ± 1.40 and 11.67 ± 1.93 ml/min per 100 ml, respectively; non-diabetic group: 7.5, 15 and 30 ,g/min , 5.87 ± 0.81, 7.49 ± 0.96 and 10.74 ± 1.29 ml/min per 100 ml, respectively). When FBF was expressed as percentage change from baseline, there was no significant difference in vasodilatory responses between the two groups for SP (0.6 ng/min, P = 0.21; 2 ng/min, P = 0.19; 6 ng/min, P = 0.19) or ACh (7.5 ,g/min, P = 0.20; 15 ,g/min, P = 0.20; 30 ,g/min, P = 0.35). Conclusions This study suggests that endothelium-dependent vasodilatory responses to SP (and ACh) are not impaired in Type 1 diabetic subjects with normal urinary albumin excretion. [source]


Forearm vasoconstrictor response in uncomplicated type 1 diabetes mellitus

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION, Issue 10 2006
P. J. Van Gurp
Abstract Background, According to the ,haemodynamic hypothesis', increased tissue perfusion predisposes to microangiopathy in diabetic patients. We hypothesized that the typical haemodynamic changes underlying the increased tissue perfusion can be explained by a decreased sympathetic nerve activity caused by chronic hyperglycaemia. In this study we investigated sympathetic activity in patients with uncomplicated type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM). Materials and methods, In 15 DM patients (DM duration 6·3 ± 3·8 year; HbA1c 7·9 ± 1·3%) and 16 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers (Control), sympathetic nervous system activity was measured at rest (baseline) and during sympathoneural stimulation (lower body negative pressure (LBNP)) by means of interstitial and plasma noradrenaline (NA) sampling and power spectral analysis. Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) was measured before (baseline) and during a cold pressure test. Forearm blood flow was measured during forearm vascular ,- and ,-adrenergic receptor blockade. Results, At baseline, forearm vascular resistance (FVR), plasma NA concentrations, MSNA and heart rate variability were similar in both groups. LBNP-induced vasoconstriction was significantly attenuated in the DM group compared with the Control group (,FVR: 12 ± 4 vs. 19 ± 3 arbitrary units, P < 0·05). The responses of plasma NA and heart rate variability did not differ. Conclusions,, Baseline FVR and sympathetic nerve activity are normal in patients with uncomplicated type 1 diabetes. However, the forearm vasoconstrictor response to sympathetic stimulation is attenuated, which cannot be attributed to an impaired sympathetic responsiveness. [source]


Forearm vascular responses to combined muscle metaboreceptor activation in the upper and lower limbs in humans

EXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 4 2006
Ken Tokizawa
Our previous studies showed that venous occlusion or passive stretch of the lower limb, assuming a mechanical stimulus, attenuates the vasoconstriction in the non-exercised forearm during postexercise muscle ischaemia (PEMI) of the upper limb. In this study, we investigated whether a metabolic stimulus to the lower limb induces a similar response. Eight subjects performed a 2 min static handgrip exercise at 30% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) followed by 3 min PEMI of the upper limb, concomitant with or without 2 min static ankle dorsiflexion at 30% MVC followed by 2 min PEMI of the lower limb. During PEMI of the upper limb alone, forearm blood flow (FBF) and forearm vascular conductance (FVC) in the non-exercised arm decreased significantly, whereas during combined PEMI of the upper and lower limbs, the decreases in FBF and FVC produced by PEMI of the upper limb was attenuated. Forearm blood flow and FVC were significantly greater during combined PEMI of the upper and lower limbs than during PEMI of the upper limb alone. When PEMI of the lower limb was released after combined PEMI of the upper and lower limbs (only PEMI of the upper limb was maintained continuously), the attenuated decreases in FBF and FVC observed during combined PEMI of the upper and lower limbs was not observed. Thus, forearm vascular responses differ when muscle metaboreceptors are activated in the upper limb and when there is combined activation of muscle metaboreceptors in both the upper and lower limbs. [source]


Forearm blood flow in pre-eclampsia

BJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 4 2003
Lucy Bowyer
Objective 1. To characterise the forearm vascular reactivity of women with pre-eclampsia in the third trimester of pregnancy and compare it with that in normal or gestational hypertensive pregnancies. 2. To document female sex steroid (oestradiol, progesterone, oestriol and ,hCG) levels in the three groups of women. Design Forearm blood flow was measured by venous occlusion plethysmography during intra-arterial infusion of saline and vasoactive substances: angiotensin II, sodium nitroprusside, acetylcholine and NG -monomethyl- l -arginine (l -NMMA). Setting Research laboratory at St George Hospital, Kogarah, Sydney, Australia. Sample Fifteen non-pregnant women in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, 15 third trimester normal pregnant women, 13 women in the third trimester with gestational hypertension and 15 women with pre-eclampsia. Main outcome measures Changes in forearm blood flow in response to vasoactive substances. Results Normal pregnant women had higher baseline forearm blood flow than non-pregnant women, decreased vasodilator responses to sodium nitroprusside and reduced vasoconstrictor responses to angiotensin II. No difference in response to angiotensin II, sodium nitroprusside or l -NMMA was found among normal pregnant, pre-eclampsia or gestational hypertension women, but vasodilatory responses of pre-eclamptic women to acetylcholine were reduced compared with normal pregnant women. Higher serum progesterone levels were found in women with pre-eclampsia and gestational hypertension than in normal pregnancy. Conclusion The hyperdynamic circulation of normal pregnancy is characterised by refractoriness to angiotensin II but this is not altered in pre-eclampsia. Pre-eclamptic women demonstrate a reduced vasodilator response to acetylcholine which, in the absence of any alteration in response to l -NMMA, implies that factors other than nitric oxide deficiency mediate the vasoconstriction of pre-eclampsia. [source]


Reciprocal regulation of human soluble and particulate guanylate cyclases in vivo

BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 6 2006
M Madhani
Background & purpose: We demonstrated previously that reciprocal regulation of soluble (sGC) and particulate (pGC) guanylate cyclases by NO and natriuretic peptides coordinates cyclic cGMP-mediated vasodilatation in vitro. Herein, we investigated whether such an interaction contributes to vascular homeostasis in mice and humans in vivo. Experimental approach: Mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) changes in anaesthetized mice were monitored in response to i.v. administration of cGMP- and cAMP-dependent vasodilators in wild-type (WT), endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) and natriuretic peptide receptor (NPR)-A knockout mice. Forearm blood flow (FBF) in response to intra-brachial infusion of ANP (25, 50, 100, 200 pmol min -1) in the absence and presence of the NOS inhibitor NG -methyl-L-arginine (L-NMA; 4 ,mol min -1) and the control constrictor noradrenaline (240 pmol min -1) was assessed in healthy volunteers. Key results: Sodium nitroprusside (SNP; NO-donor) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) produced dose-dependent reductions in MABP in WT animals that were significantly enhanced in eNOS KO mice. In NPR-A K mice, SNP produced a dose-dependent reduction in MABP that was significantly greater than that in WT mice. Responsiveness to the cAMP-dependent vasodilator epoprostenol was similar in WT, eNOS KO and NPR-A KO animals. ANP caused vasodilatation of the forearm resistance vasculature that was significantly greater in individuals lacking endothelium-derived NO (i.e. L-NMA treated). Conclusions & implications: These data demonstrate that crosstalk occurs between the NO-sGC and ANP-pGC pathways to regulate cGMP-dependent vasodilatation in vivo in both mice and humans. These findings have implications for understanding the link between natriuretic peptide activity and cardiovascular risk. British Journal of Pharmacology (2006) 149, 797,801. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706920 [source]


Effect Of Anti-Oxidant Treatment And Cholesterol Lowering On Resting Arterial Tone, Metabolic Vasodilation And Endothelial Function In The Human Forearm: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study

CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PHARMACOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 5-6 2001
Stephen J Duffy
SUMMARY 1. The aim of the present study was to determine whether anti-oxidant therapy with vitamin E and/or cholesterol-lowering therapy with simvastatin would augment resting forearm blood flow (FBF) and metabolic vasodilation in response to exercise and improve endothelial function in young patients with hypercholesterolaemia. 2. Endothelium-dependent and -independent, nitric oxide (NO)-mediated vasodilation have been shown to be impaired in young, otherwise healthy subjects with hypercholesterolaemia. Recent experimental and clinical studies suggest that vascular function may be improved with anti-oxidant or cholesterol- lowering therapy, although these treatments may be synergistic. 3. We compared FBF at rest, in response to isotonic exercise, the endothelium-dependent vasodilator acetylcholine (ACh), the endothelium-independent vasodilator sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and the NO synthase inhibitor NG -monomethyl- L -arginine (L -NMMA) in 26 young, otherwise healthy volunteers (mean (±SD) age 29±7 years; 14 female, 12 male) with hypercholesterolaemia, before and after 6 months treatment with vitamin E, simvastatin and/or placebo. Treatment was randomized, double-blinded in a 2 × 2 factorial design. Forearm blood flow was measured using venous occlusion plethysmography. 4. Vitamin E therapy increased plasma ,-tocopherol from 39.5±9.6 to 75.7±33.8 ,mol/L (P < 0.001). Simvastatin reduced total cholesterol from 6.9±1.7 to 4.9±0.8 mmol/L and low- density lipoprotein (LDL) from 4.8±1.7 to 3.0±0.7 mmol/L (both P < 0.001), although total and LDL,cholesterol also decreased slightly in the placebo group. Vitamin E increased resting FBF from 2.1±0.3 to 2.4±0.3 mL/100 mL per min (P = 0.04) and decreased resting forearm vascular resistance from 42.1±4.2 to 36.1±3.4 units (P = 0.01), but the reduction in resting FBF with L -NMMA was not affected. Vasodilation in response to isotonic exercise, ACh and SNP was similar before and after treatment in the placebo, vitamin E, simvastatin and in the combined vitamin E,simvastatin groups. NG -Monomethyl- L -arginine infusion reduced resting FBF and functional hyperaemia in response to exercise and these responses were not altered by treatment. 5. These data suggest that while vitamin E therapy augments resting FBF and reduces forearm vascular resistance in young hypercholesterolaemic subjects, these effects may not be via NO-dependent pathways. Metabolic vasodilation and responses to the NO-mediated vasodilators ACh and SNP were not favourably affected by anti-oxidant or cholesterol-lowering therapy, either alone or in combination. [source]


Effects of resistance training on cardiovascular responses to lower body negative pressure in the elderly

CLINICAL PHYSIOLOGY AND FUNCTIONAL IMAGING, Issue 5 2001
Lynn B. Panton
The purpose of the present study was to determine whether resistance training alters the cardiovascular responses to submaximal lower body negative pressure (LBNP) in the elderly. Twenty-one subjects were randomized into a control (C: n=10; 70 ± 3 years, mean ± SD) or a resistance training (TR: n=11; 67 ± 7 years) group. Subjects in the TR underwent 12 weeks of training consisting of three sets of 8,12 contractions at ,60,80% of their initial maximal one repetition, three times per week, on 10 different machines. Before (Pre) and after (Post) training, all subjects underwent exposures of LBNP of ,10, ,20 and ,40 Torr and muscle biopsy sampling at the vastus lateralis. TR increased (P,0·05) knee extension (Pre=379 ± 140 N, Post=534 ± 182 N) and chest press (Pre=349 ± 137 N, Post=480 ± 192 N) strength. Neither body weight nor percentage body fat were altered (P,>0·05) by training. Resistance training increased (P,0·05) cross-sectional area in both Type I (4203 ± 1196 to 5248 ± 1728 ,m2) and Type II (3375 ± 1027 to 4286 ± 1892 ,m2) muscle fibres. Forearm blood flow, forearm vascular conductance, mean arterial pressure, and heart-rate responses to LBNP were not altered by the training. These data suggest that the cardiovascular responses of elderly to LBNP are unaffected by 12 weeks of whole-body resistance training despite increases in muscle strength and size. [source]


Endothelin attenuates endothelium-dependent platelet inhibition in man

ACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, Issue 4 2010
R. E. Malmström
Abstract Aim:, The vascular endothelium produces several substances, including nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin-1 (ET-1), which participate in the regulation of vascular tone in humans. Both these substances may exert other actions of importance for cardiovascular disease, e.g. effects on vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and inflammation, and NO inhibits platelet function. Experiments were designed to investigate the effect of ET-1 on endothelium-dependent vasodilatation and attenuation of platelet activation. Methods:, In 25 healthy male subjects (25 ± 1 years), forearm blood flow was measured by venous occlusion plethysmography, and platelet activity was assessed by whole blood flow cytometry (platelet fibrinogen binding and P-selectin expression) in unstimulated and adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-stimulated samples during administration of ET-1, the endothelium-dependent vasodilator acetylcholine and the NO synthase inhibitor l -NMMA. Results:, Acetylcholine increased forearm blood flow and significantly inhibited platelet activation in both unstimulated and ADP-stimulated samples. In samples stimulated with 0.3 ,m ADP, fibrinogen binding decreased from 41 ± 4% to 31 ± 3% (P < 0.01, n = 11) after acetylcholine administration. The vasodilator response to acetylcholine was significantly impaired during infusions of ET-1 and l -NMMA. ET-1 did not affect platelet activity per se, whereas l -NMMA increased platelet P-selectin expression. Both ET-1 and l -NMMA attenuated the acetylcholine-induced inhibition of platelet activity. Conclusions:, Our study indicates that, further to inhibiting endothelium-dependent vasodilatation, ET-1 may also attenuate endothelium-dependent inhibition of platelet activation induced by acetylcholine. An enhanced ET-1 activity, as suggested in endothelial dysfunction, may affect endothelium-dependent platelet modulation and thereby have pathophysiological implications. [source]


Effects of C-peptide on forearm blood flow and brachial artery dilatation in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus

ACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, Issue 3 2001
E. Fernqvist-Forbes
Recent studies suggest that C-peptide increases blood flow in both exercising and resting forearm in patients with type 1 diabetes. Now we have studied the effect of C-peptide administration on endothelial-mediated and non-endothelial-mediated arterial responses as well as central haemodynamics in 10 patients with type 1 diabetes in a placebo-controlled double-blind study. Euglycaemia was maintained with an i.v. insulin infusion before and during the study. A high-resolution ultrasound technique and Doppler echocardiography were used to assess haemodynamic functions. Brachial artery blood flow and brachial artery diameter were measured in the basal state, 1 and 10 min after reactive hyperaemia and 4 min after sublingual glyceryl trinitrate administration (GTN; endothelial-independent vasodilatation), both before and after the end of 60-min C-peptide (6 pmol kg,1 min,1) or saline infusion periods. Echocardiographic measurements were also performed before and at the end of the infusion periods. Seven healthy age-matched males served as controls for vascular studies. The patients showed a blunted brachial dilatation after reactive hyperaemia in comparison with the healthy controls (2.1 ± 0.5% vs. 9.3 ± 0.3%, P < 0.001), indicating a disturbed endothelial function. C-peptide infusion compared with saline resulted in increased basal blood flow (33 ± 6%, P < 0.001) and brachial arterial dilatation (4 ± 1%, P < 0.05). Left ventricular ejection fraction seemed to be improved (5 ± 2%, P < 0.05) at the end of C-peptide infusion compared with placebo. The vascular response to reactive hyperaemia and GTN was not affected by C-peptide infusion. Our results demonstrate that physiological concentrations of C-peptide increase resting forearm blood flow, brachial artery diameter and left ventricular systolic function in patients with type 1 diabetes. [source]


Pregnancy-induced sympathetic overactivity: a precursor of preeclampsia,

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION, Issue 6 2004
T. Fischer
Abstract Background, Preeclampsia has been shown to constitute a state of sympathetic overactivity. However, it remains unclear if the sympathetic activity precedes preeclampsia or represents only a secondary phenomenon. To further investigate this issue, we performed a prospective study in pregnant women considered to be at increased risk for preeclampsia owing to preeclampsia during a preceding pregnancy. Materials and methods, Twenty-two women with a history of preeclampsia were longitudinally studied on three occasions: twice during pregnancy (M1: 22 ± 4, M2: 33 ± 5 weeks) and once postpartum (M3: 26 ± 6 weeks postpartum). We measured muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), forearm blood flow, and blood pressure at rest and during reactive hyperaemia after forearm occlusion. Results, At M1 and M2, none of the subjects was hypertensive, however, muscle sympathetic nerve activity levels were significantly augmented, compared with their postpartum values (M1: 21 ± 9, M2: 29 ± 14, M3: 9 ± 5 bursts min,1; P < 0·05). Forearm vascular resistance did not significantly change from M1 through M3 (M1: 16 ± 9, M2: 15 ± 7, M3: 16 ± 7 U; P = NS). Gestational muscle sympathetic nerve activity values did not differ significantly among the subjects with subsequent preeclampsia compared with those who remained normotensive [with preeclampsia (n = 6): M1: 21 ± 5, M2: 27 ± 6, M3: 7 ± 4 bursts min,1; without preeclampsia (n = 16): M1: 21 ± 11, M2: 30 ± 16, M3: 9 ± 6 bursts min,1; P = NS]. Conclusion, Invariably, all women at risk for preeclampisa showed a pregnancy-induced increase in MSNA (pregnancy-induced sympathetic overactivity, PISO), which normalized after delivery. Most importantly, PISO is not necessarily associated with peripheral vasoconstriction and hypertension. Furthermore, only a subset of patients developed preeclampsia later on. Therefore, we hypothesize that PISO constitutes a precursor of preeclampsia which is physiologically compensated for by vasodilating mechanisms, leading to preeclampsia only when they fail. [source]


Forearm vascular responses to combined muscle metaboreceptor activation in the upper and lower limbs in humans

EXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 4 2006
Ken Tokizawa
Our previous studies showed that venous occlusion or passive stretch of the lower limb, assuming a mechanical stimulus, attenuates the vasoconstriction in the non-exercised forearm during postexercise muscle ischaemia (PEMI) of the upper limb. In this study, we investigated whether a metabolic stimulus to the lower limb induces a similar response. Eight subjects performed a 2 min static handgrip exercise at 30% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) followed by 3 min PEMI of the upper limb, concomitant with or without 2 min static ankle dorsiflexion at 30% MVC followed by 2 min PEMI of the lower limb. During PEMI of the upper limb alone, forearm blood flow (FBF) and forearm vascular conductance (FVC) in the non-exercised arm decreased significantly, whereas during combined PEMI of the upper and lower limbs, the decreases in FBF and FVC produced by PEMI of the upper limb was attenuated. Forearm blood flow and FVC were significantly greater during combined PEMI of the upper and lower limbs than during PEMI of the upper limb alone. When PEMI of the lower limb was released after combined PEMI of the upper and lower limbs (only PEMI of the upper limb was maintained continuously), the attenuated decreases in FBF and FVC observed during combined PEMI of the upper and lower limbs was not observed. Thus, forearm vascular responses differ when muscle metaboreceptors are activated in the upper limb and when there is combined activation of muscle metaboreceptors in both the upper and lower limbs. [source]


The effect of oral folic acid upon plasma homocysteine, endothelial function and oxidative stress in patients with type 1 diabetes and microalbuminuria

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 4 2008
F. Wotherspoon
Summary Aims:, The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of oral folic acid supplementation upon plasma homocysteine (HCY), endothelial function and oxidative stress on patients with type 1 diabetes and microalbuminuria to test the hypothesis that oral folic acid would lower plasma HCY and thereby improve endothelial function and reduce oxidant stress in this high-risk group of patients. Methods:, We measured plasma HCY, forearm blood flow, total antioxidant status and whole blood glutathione at baseline and after 2 months treatment with oral folic acid or placebo in 16 patients with type 1 diabetes and microalbuminuria. Results:, Plasma HCY fell by 25% in the folic acid group but there was no difference in endothelial function or markers of oxidant stress in the treatment group. Conclusions:, Oral folic acid supplementation successfully lowered plasma HCY levels in patients with type 1 diabetes and microalbuminuria, however this was not associated with improvements in endothelial function or markers of oxidant stress. [source]


Ineffective Peripheral Tissue Perfusion: Clinical Validation in Patients With Hypertensive Cardiomiopathy

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING TERMINOLOGIES AND CLASSIFICATION, Issue 2 2006
Rita de Cassia Gengo de Silva MS
PURPOSE.,To validate defining characteristics of ineffective peripheral tissue perfusion using vasomotor function assessment. METHODS.,Twenty-four patients with hypertensive cardiomiopathy were evaluated for 18 defining characteristics of ineffective peripheral tissue perfusion and underwent vasomotor function assessment with induction of reactive hyperemia, intra-arterial infusion of acetylcholine, and pulse wave velocity measurement. The Student's t test and Kruskall,Wallis test were used to assess the significance of relationships between defining characteristics and vasomotor function data. FINDINGS.,Diminished lower extremity pulses were associated with diminished forearm blood flow during acetylcholine infusion; left ventricular overload, intermittent claudication, and diminished skin moisture were associated with elevated pulse wave velocity values. CONCLUSION.,The defining characteristics of ineffective peripheral tissue perfusion were highly associated with vasomotor function data as "gold standards" for that diagnosis. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS.,Nurses should be able to accurately assess diminished lower extremity pulses, intermittent claudication, and diminished skin moisture as relevant characteristics of ineffective peripheral tissue perfusion in patients with hypertensive cardiomiopathy. Irrigation Tissulaire Périphérique Inefficace: Validation Clinique Chez les Patients Atteints de Cardiomyopathie Hypertensive BUT.,Valider les caractéristiques de Irrigation tissulaire périphérique inefficace en utilisant l'évaluation de la fonction vasomotrice. MÉTHODES.,Vingt-quatre patients souffrant de cardiomyopathie hypertensive furent évalués au regard des 18 caractéristiques du diagnostic Irrigation vasculaire périphérique inefficace et de la fonction vasomotrice par induction d'une hyperémie réactionnelle, la perfusion intra-artérielle d'acétylcholine, et la mesure de la vélocité de l'onde du pouls. Les tests "Student t et Kruskall,Wallis" furent utilisés pour déterminer l'importance des liens entre les caractéristiques et les valeurs de la fonction vasomotrice. RÉSULTATS.,La diminution des pulsations périphériques des membres inférieurs fut associée à une diminution du flot sanguin pendant la perfusion d'acétylcholine; une surcharge ventriculaire gauche, de la claudication intermittente et une diminution de l'hydratation de la peau furent associées à des valeurs élevées de la vélocité de l'onde du pouls. CONCLUSION.,,Les caractéristiques de Irrigation tissulaire périphérique inefficace qui furent associées de manière significative à la fonction vasomotrice peuvent être considérées comme les "étalons or" de ce diagnostic. IMPLICATIONS POUR LA PRATIQUE.,Les infirmières devraient être capables d'évaluer correctement la diminution des pouls périphériques, la claudication intermittente, et la diminution de l'hydratation de la peau, car ce sont des caractéristiques pertinentes de l'irrigation tissulaire périphérique inefficace chez les patients atteints de cardiomyopathie hypertensive. Translation by Cécile Boisvert, MSN, RN Perfusão Tissular Periférica Ineficaz: Validação Clínica em Pacientes com Miocardiopatia Hipertensiva PROPÓSITO.,Validar as caraterísticas definidoras do diagnóstico de perfusão tissular periférica ineficaz usando a avaliação da função vasomotora. MÉTODO.,Vinte e quatro pacientes com miocardiopatia hipertensiva foram avaliados segundo 18 características definidoras de perfusão tissular periférica ineficaz e submetidos a avaliação da função vasomotora por indução de hiperemia reativa, infusão intra-arterial de acetilcolina e por mensuração da velocidade da onda de pulso. Testes T de Student e de Kruskall,Wallis foram aplicados para avaliar a significância das relações entre as características definidoras e os dados da função vasomotora. RESULTADOS.,Diminuição de pulso nas extremidades inferiores foi associada com o menor fluxo de sangue no antebraço durante a infusão de acetilcolina; sobrecarga ventricular esquerda, claudicação intermitente e diminuição da hidratação da pele foram associados com valores elevados de velocidade de onda de pulso. CONCLUSÃO.,Quatro características definidoras de perfusão tissular periférica ineficaz foram altamente associadas com função vasomotora alterada como "padrão ouro" para este diagnóstico. IMPLICAÇÕES PARA A PRÁTICA.,As enfermeiras devem ser capazes de avaliar com precisão a diminuição dos pulsos das extremidades inferiores, claudicação intermitente e diminuição na hidratação da pele como características definidoras relevantes da perfusão tissular periférica ineficaz em pacientes com miocardiopatia hipertensiva. Translation by Alba Leite de Barros, PhD, RN Perfusión Tisular Periférica Inefectiva: Validación Clínica en Pacientes que Presentan Miocardiopatía Hipertensiva PROPÓSITO.,Validar las características definitorias del diagnóstico Perfusión tisular periférica inefectiva utilizando una valoración de la función vasomotora. METODOLOGÍA.,Veinticuatro pacientes diagnosticados de Miocardiopatía Hipertensiva fueron evaluados con respecto a las 18 características definitorias del diagnóstico Perfusión tisular periférica inefectiva y sometidos a una valoración de la función vasomotora con inducción de Hiperemia reactiva, infusión intra-arterial de acetilcolina, y medida de la velocidad de la onda del pulso. Se utilizaron los análisis estadísticos de t-Student y Kruskall,Wallis para valorar el significado de las relaciones entre las características definitorias y los datos obtenidos de la valoración de la función vasomotora. HALLAZGOS.,Durante la infusión de acetilcolina se detectó disminución de los pulsos en la extremidad inferior relacionado con la disminución del volumen de sangre en el antebrazo; la sobrecarga ventricular izquierda, claudicación intermitente y disminución de la hidratación de la piel fueron asociadas con la elevación de los valores de la velocidad de la onda del pulso. CONCLUSIÓN.,Las características definitorias del diagnóstico Perfusión tisular periférica inefectiva estaban fuertemente asociadas a los datos procedentes de la valoración de la función vasomotora identificándose como "estándares fundamentales" para este diagnóstico. IMPLICACIONES PARA LA PRÁCTICA.,Las enfermeras deberían ser capaces de valorar cuidadosamente la presencia de pulsos disminuidos en las extremidades inferiores, y la disminución de la hidratación de la piel ya que son características relevantes del diagnóstico Perfusión tisular periférica inefectiva en pacientes que presentan Miocardiopatía Hipertensiva. Translation by Adolf Guirao, RN [source]


Endothelial dysfunction in aged humans is related with oxidative stress and vascular inflammation

AGING CELL, Issue 3 2009
Leocadio Rodríguez-Mañas
Summary Vascular endothelial dysfunction occurs during the human aging process, and it is considered as a crucial event in the development of many vasculopathies. We investigated the underlying mechanisms of this process, particularly those related with oxidative stress and inflammation, in the vasculature of subjects aged 18,91 years without cardiovascular disease or risk factors. In isolated mesenteric microvessels from these subjects, an age-dependent impairment of the endothelium-dependent relaxations to bradykinin was observed. Similar results were observed by plethysmography in the forearm blood flow in response to acetylcholine. In microvessels from subjects aged less than 60 years, most of the bradykinin-induced relaxation was due to nitric oxide release while the rest was sensitive to cyclooxygenase (COX) blockade. In microvessels from subjects older than 60 years, this COX-derived vasodilatation was lost but a COX-derived vasoconstriction occurred. Evidence for age-related vascular oxidant and inflammatory environment was observed, which could be related to the development of endothelial dysfunction. Indeed, aged microvessels showed superoxide anions (O2,) and peroxynitrite (ONOO,) formation, enhancement of NADPH oxidase and inducible NO synthase expression. Pharmacological interference of COX, thromboxane A2/prostaglandin H2 receptor, O2,, ONOO,, inducible NO synthase, and NADPH oxidase improved the age-related endothelial dysfunction. In situ vascular nuclear factor-,B activation was enhanced with age, which correlated with endothelial dysfunction. We conclude that the age-dependent endothelial dysfunction in human vessels is due to the combined effect of oxidative stress and vascular wall inflammation. [source]


ENDOTHELIAL FUNCTION OF CONDUIT AND RESISTANCE ARTERIES IN NEPHROTIC RANGE PROTEINURIA

NEPHROLOGY, Issue 3 2000
G. Dogra
OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that endothelial dysfunction occurs in nephrotic range proteinuria primarily as a consequence of dyslipidaemia. METHODS: Brachial artery and forearm microcirculatory endothelial function was compared among patients with nephrotic range proteinuria (NRP, n = 14 ), primary hyperlipidaemia (HL, n = 15) and normal controls (NC, n = 16). Endothelial function was studied by measuring post-ischaemic flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery using high resolution ultrasonography. Endothelium-independent, glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) mediated brachial artery vasodilatation was also measured. Basal and post-ischaemic blood flow of the forearm microcirculation was measured using venous-occlusion strain gauge plethysmography. RESULTS: Serum creatinine was similar among groups. The proteinuric group had a mean albumin of 27.6g/L(1.8) and 24-hour urinary protein excretion of 6.3g(1.3). Plasma lipids and lipoproteins were not statistically different between the NRP and HL groups. Brachial artery FMD was significantly lower in the NRP and HL groups compared with the controls (NRP 4.7%(1.3)*, HL 4.9%(0.7)* and NC 8.3%(0.6), *p = 0.012 vs. NC); GTN mediated dilatation and basal and post-ischaemic forearm blood flow were not statistically different among the three groups. CONCLUSION: Patients with nephrotic range proteinuria have endothelial dysfunction of conduit arteries in the peripheral circulation, similar to that observed in patients with primary hyperlipidaemia. This suggests dyslipoproteinaemia is the principal cause of endothelial dysfunction of conduit arteries in nephrotic range proteinuria. Confirmation of this should be sought with an intervention trial of lipid-regulating therapy. [source]


Forearm blood flow in pre-eclampsia

BJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 4 2003
Lucy Bowyer
Objective 1. To characterise the forearm vascular reactivity of women with pre-eclampsia in the third trimester of pregnancy and compare it with that in normal or gestational hypertensive pregnancies. 2. To document female sex steroid (oestradiol, progesterone, oestriol and ,hCG) levels in the three groups of women. Design Forearm blood flow was measured by venous occlusion plethysmography during intra-arterial infusion of saline and vasoactive substances: angiotensin II, sodium nitroprusside, acetylcholine and NG -monomethyl- l -arginine (l -NMMA). Setting Research laboratory at St George Hospital, Kogarah, Sydney, Australia. Sample Fifteen non-pregnant women in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, 15 third trimester normal pregnant women, 13 women in the third trimester with gestational hypertension and 15 women with pre-eclampsia. Main outcome measures Changes in forearm blood flow in response to vasoactive substances. Results Normal pregnant women had higher baseline forearm blood flow than non-pregnant women, decreased vasodilator responses to sodium nitroprusside and reduced vasoconstrictor responses to angiotensin II. No difference in response to angiotensin II, sodium nitroprusside or l -NMMA was found among normal pregnant, pre-eclampsia or gestational hypertension women, but vasodilatory responses of pre-eclamptic women to acetylcholine were reduced compared with normal pregnant women. Higher serum progesterone levels were found in women with pre-eclampsia and gestational hypertension than in normal pregnancy. Conclusion The hyperdynamic circulation of normal pregnancy is characterised by refractoriness to angiotensin II but this is not altered in pre-eclampsia. Pre-eclamptic women demonstrate a reduced vasodilator response to acetylcholine which, in the absence of any alteration in response to l -NMMA, implies that factors other than nitric oxide deficiency mediate the vasoconstriction of pre-eclampsia. [source]


Repeatability of local forearm vasoconstriction to endothelin-1 measured by venous occlusion plethysmography

BRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 4 2002
Fiona E. Strachan
Aims ,We ,investigated ,the ,repeatability ,of ,the ,forearm ,blood ,flow ,response ,to intra-arterial infusion of endothelin-1 (ET-1), assessed by venous occlusion ­plethysmography. Methods In eight healthy men (aged 18,50 years), on four separate occasions, ET-1 (2.5 or 10 pmol min,1) was infused for 120 min via a 27 SWG cannula sited in the brachial artery of the nondominant arm. Each dose level was administered twice on consecutive visits. The dose order was randomized. Results are expressed as percentage change from baseline at 120 min (mean ± s.e. mean). Results ET-1 caused significant vasoconstriction (P < 0.0001 anova) at both doses (38 ± 3%, 2.5 pmol min,1 and 62 ± 3%, 10 pmol min,1; mean visit 1 and 2). There was no difference in the response to either dose on repeated challenge. Responses appeared to be less variable when expressed as percentage change in the ratio of blood flow (infused:noninfused) in both arms than as percentage change in blood flow in the infused arm alone, as indicated by repeatability coefficients (15% vs 21%, 2.5 pmol min,1 and 11% vs 13%, 10 pmol min,1; ratio vs infused arm alone). Conclusions We have shown dose-dependent vasoconstriction in the forearm vascular bed to intra-arterial infusion of ET-1 and that this response is less variable when expressed as percentage change in the ratio of forearm blood flow than percentage change in the infused arm. These data should also provide useful information to determine the power of early clinical pharmacology studies investigating the activity of endothelin receptor antagonists. [source]


Randomized trial of effect of transdermal continuous combined hormone replacement therapy on cardiovascular risk markers

BRITISH JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2004
John C. Stevenson
Summary Whether hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is beneficial for coronary heart disease (CHD) is controversial. We hypothesized that continuous combined transdermal HRT may have benefits on CHD risk markers without the potential adverse effects seen with certain other HRT regimens. Sixty apparently healthy postmenopausal women, aged 40,65 years, entered a prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial; 55 women completed the 6-month study. Women received either transdermal oestradiol 17, 0·05 mg and norethisterone acetate 0·125 mg daily, or identical placebo. Circulating markers of vascular function and remodelling, forearm blood flow, lipids and lipoproteins, glucose and insulin, and haemostatic safety parameters were measured at baseline and after treatment. Compared with placebo after 6 months, HRT administration resulted in decreased E-selectin (P < 0·01), and angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE; P = 0·05). Cholesterol (P < 0·05), low-density lipoproteins (LDL; P < 0·05), high-density lipoprotein3 (HDL3; P < 0·05) and apolipoproteins AII (P < 0·05) and B (P < 0·05), and fasting insulin (P < 0·05) also decreased in the HRT group. Factor VII coagulation activity decreased (P < 0·01) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and fibrin D-dimer increased (P < 0·05) in the HRT group, whilst prothrombin fragment 1 + 2 (P < 0·05) decreased, more so in the placebo group. There were no changes in matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, or in LDL particle size. This transdermal HRT had beneficial effects on vascular function and CHD risk markers. [source]


Effect Of Anti-Oxidant Treatment And Cholesterol Lowering On Resting Arterial Tone, Metabolic Vasodilation And Endothelial Function In The Human Forearm: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study

CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PHARMACOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 5-6 2001
Stephen J Duffy
SUMMARY 1. The aim of the present study was to determine whether anti-oxidant therapy with vitamin E and/or cholesterol-lowering therapy with simvastatin would augment resting forearm blood flow (FBF) and metabolic vasodilation in response to exercise and improve endothelial function in young patients with hypercholesterolaemia. 2. Endothelium-dependent and -independent, nitric oxide (NO)-mediated vasodilation have been shown to be impaired in young, otherwise healthy subjects with hypercholesterolaemia. Recent experimental and clinical studies suggest that vascular function may be improved with anti-oxidant or cholesterol- lowering therapy, although these treatments may be synergistic. 3. We compared FBF at rest, in response to isotonic exercise, the endothelium-dependent vasodilator acetylcholine (ACh), the endothelium-independent vasodilator sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and the NO synthase inhibitor NG -monomethyl- L -arginine (L -NMMA) in 26 young, otherwise healthy volunteers (mean (±SD) age 29±7 years; 14 female, 12 male) with hypercholesterolaemia, before and after 6 months treatment with vitamin E, simvastatin and/or placebo. Treatment was randomized, double-blinded in a 2 × 2 factorial design. Forearm blood flow was measured using venous occlusion plethysmography. 4. Vitamin E therapy increased plasma ,-tocopherol from 39.5±9.6 to 75.7±33.8 ,mol/L (P < 0.001). Simvastatin reduced total cholesterol from 6.9±1.7 to 4.9±0.8 mmol/L and low- density lipoprotein (LDL) from 4.8±1.7 to 3.0±0.7 mmol/L (both P < 0.001), although total and LDL,cholesterol also decreased slightly in the placebo group. Vitamin E increased resting FBF from 2.1±0.3 to 2.4±0.3 mL/100 mL per min (P = 0.04) and decreased resting forearm vascular resistance from 42.1±4.2 to 36.1±3.4 units (P = 0.01), but the reduction in resting FBF with L -NMMA was not affected. Vasodilation in response to isotonic exercise, ACh and SNP was similar before and after treatment in the placebo, vitamin E, simvastatin and in the combined vitamin E,simvastatin groups. NG -Monomethyl- L -arginine infusion reduced resting FBF and functional hyperaemia in response to exercise and these responses were not altered by treatment. 5. These data suggest that while vitamin E therapy augments resting FBF and reduces forearm vascular resistance in young hypercholesterolaemic subjects, these effects may not be via NO-dependent pathways. Metabolic vasodilation and responses to the NO-mediated vasodilators ACh and SNP were not favourably affected by anti-oxidant or cholesterol-lowering therapy, either alone or in combination. [source]


Effect of graded leg cycling on postischaemic forearm blood flow in healthy subjects

CLINICAL PHYSIOLOGY AND FUNCTIONAL IMAGING, Issue 1 2008
Marc Charles
Summary This study assessed in healthy subjects, the effect of leg cycling on the forearm vascular responses to ischaemia to confirm previous results showing that exercise-induced sympathetic activation during leg cycling reduced postischaemic forearm hyperaemia. Seven young healthy subjects performed two bouts of cycling exercises at 50% and 80% of their maximal aerobic capacity (Ex50, Ex80 respectively) during which forearm arterial blood flow was successively occluded for 40, 90 and 180 s. Control forearm blood flow (FBF) and postischaemic forearm blood flow (pi-FBF) measured at the release of arterial occlusions were assessed using plethysmography. Digital arterial pressure was continuously monitored allowing calculation of control and postischaemic forearm conductance (FC and pi-FC respectively). At rest, pi-FBF increased with the duration of ischaemia (5 ± 1, 19 ± 3, 29 ± 3, 31 ± 4 ml min,1 100 ml,1 after 0, 40, 90 and 180 s of ischaemia respectively). During Ex50, FBF and pi-FBF did not change significantly although pi-FC was significantly reduced (,pi-FC = ,39%, ,33%, ,27% for 40, 90, 180 s of ischaemia respectively). During Ex80, there was a further dramatic decrease in pi-FC (,53%, ,66%, ,62% from rest) and pi-FBF were largely blunted (13 ± 4 versus 19 ± 3, 14 ± 4 versus 29 ± 3, 17 ± 5 versus 31 ± 4 ml min,1 100 ml,1). These results demonstrated that forearm responses to ischaemia depended on leg activities. It was suggested that exercise-induced sympathetic activation may have interfered on local vasodilatation because of ischaemia. [source]


Forearm blood flow measurements using computerized R-wave triggered strain-gauge venous occlusion plethysmography: unilateral vs. bilateral measurements

CLINICAL PHYSIOLOGY AND FUNCTIONAL IMAGING, Issue 5 2001
Adriaan M. Kamper
The human forearm is a well established model to study local vascular reactivity in humans in vivo, using strain-gauge venous occlusion plethysmography to measure blood flow and changes in blood flow in the forearm. To reduce the intra-individual variability of the forearm blood flow (FBF), it has been advocated that simultaneous measurements of contralateral forearm blood flow is obligatory. Therefore, the use of the calculated forearm ratio (FR) is recommended instead of using the actual FBF. In the present study we compared the intra-individual variability of forearm blood flow measurements and the forearm ratio, by using computerized R-wave triggered strain-gauge venous occlusion plethysmography, to test if bilateral expression of measurements is better than unilateral. Results were obtained in eight volunteers. Intra-arterial infused sodium nitroprusside induced a dose dependent increase in forearm blood flow and a dose dependent increase in the calculated forearm ratio. Intra-arterial infused norepinephrine induced a dose dependent decrease in forearm blood flow and a dose dependent decrease in the calculated forearm ratio. The differences between the variation coefficients of the forearm blood flow measurements and the calculated forearm ratio were different. These results support our hypothesis that by using a computerized, R-wave triggered system for unilateral forearm blood flow measurement is a more reliable outcome than the calculated forearm ratio derived from bilateral measurements. [source]