bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Young healthy men and women are protected from prolonged sitting and postprandial hyperglycemia‐induced brachial artery endothelial dysfunction
Authors: Walsh Lauren K , Restaino Robert M , Jones Chelsea A , Winn Nathan C , Padilla Jaume 
Published: November 2023

Previous studies have shown that postprandial hyperglycemia and prolonged sitting are predictors of cardiovascular disease (CVD), potentially due to the detrimental effects of glycemic excursions on the artery wall and reductions in shear stress, respectively. It is possible that prolonged sitting, when combined with consumption of high sugar drinks, may lead to severe endothelial dysfunction. Herein, we hypothesized that sitting exacerbates postprandial hyperglycemia‐induced endothelial dysfunction. In twelve young healthy subjects (six men, six women), brachial artery flow‐mediated dilation (FMD) was assessed at baseline, 1 hour, and 2 hours post oral administration of a 75g glucose load (oral glucose tolerance test, OGTT). Subjects were tested on two separate visits in a randomized, crossover design: after either accumulating 15,000 steps or remaining seated, each throughout an eight‐hour period. The average number of steps during the walking and sitting conditions were 15,972 ± 189 and 315 ± 37 (p<0.0001), respectively. FMD was not reduced during hyperglycemia in either the walking (baseline: 5.98± 0.8%, 1hr: 4.99± 1.01%, 2hr: 6.40 ± 1.12%) or sitting (baseline: 5.24 ± 0.8%, 1hr: 4.84± 0.65%, 2hr: 5.97± 0.94%) condition. However, plasma glucose levels were elevated in the final hour of the OGTT in the walking, but not sitting, condition (p<0.01). Additionally, non‐esterified fatty acid (NEFA) levels were also elevated in response to hyperglycemia in the walking condition, supporting the tenet that prior walking promotes a substrate shift towards increased lipid utilization. These preliminary results suggest that young, healthy subjects may be protected against acute hyperglycemia–induced endothelial dysfunction. This effect is associated with increased plasma glucose and NEFAs following the glucose drink, potentially suggesting a difference in substrate utilization between conditions.Support or Funding InformationNIH R21DK105368 (JP)
Protective Respiratory Effect of Beta‐Blockade Therapy in Heart Failure Patients
Authors: Uithoven Katelyn E , Snyder Eric M , Olson Thomas P 
Published: November 2023

INTRODUCTIONTreatment with β‐antagonists in heart failure (HF) elicits known cardioprotective benefits. Recent work has suggested that administration of a β‐agonist can induce lung fluid clearance in healthy subjects and HF patients. However, the impact of β‐antagonists on the diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO, to assess lung fluid changes) remains unclear.PURPOSETo examine the relationship between β‐antagonist use and lung diffusion in HF patients.METHODSA retrospective analysis was performed on 102 HF patients seen at Mayo Clinic between 1995–2010. Patients were divided into two groups: BB=patients prescribed β‐antagonists (n=70) and NB=patients not prescribed β‐antagonists (n=32). Medical records were examined ±1 year from the time of the most recent exercise stress test for age (yrs), sex, height (cm), weight (kg), body mass index (BMI) and β‐antagonist status. Outcome variables included DLCO, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), cardiac output (Q), and cardiac output corrected for body surface area (CI). Independent‐samples t‐test compared age, height, weight, and BMI between BB and NB. A Chi‐Squared test compared New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification and sex between NB and BB. Comparison of DLCO, LVEF, Q, CI, DLCO corrected for CI (DLCO/CI), and DLCO corrected for Q (DLCO/Q) between NB and BB was performed with an independent‐samples t‐test. Data are reported as mean ± standard deviation (SD) or frequency (percentage) where applicable.RESULTSThere were no differences in age (75±12 vs. 76±13yrs), height (172±10 vs. 173±9cm), weight (84±20 vs. 86±18kg), or BMI (28±6 vs. 29±5kg/m2) between NB vs. BB, respectively. Neither NYHA classification (χ2=0.159; p=0.98) or sex (χ2=0.066; p=0.80) were different between NB and BB groups. No differences were found for LVEF (36.8±17.3 vs. 31.6±15.6%) or DLCO (20.32±7.6 vs. 19.35±5.7ml/min/mmHg) for NB vs. BB, respectively. Compared to NB, the BB group demonstrated lower CI (0.72±0.3 vs. 0.56±0.3, p=0.006) and Q (1.47±0.6 vs. 1.15±0.6, p=0.01), while both DLCO/CI and DLCO/Q were higher in BB (31.32±14.1 vs. 43.84±29.5, p=0.005 and 15.84±7.5 vs. 21.93±16.2, p=0.01, respectively).CONCLUSIONSThese data suggest that HF patients prescribed β‐antagonist therapy demonstrate better lung diffusion for a given cardiac output compared to HF patients not prescribed β‐antagonist therapy.
High Salt Diet Plus Fructose Water Intake Induces Hypertension
Authors: Hahka Taija M. , Fan Yuanyuan , Jiang Enshe Marie , Chen Qinghui , Shan Zhiying 
Published: November 2023

Evidence in prior studies have indicated that a high salt (HS) diet in combination with high fructose intake results in hypertension. Detailed metabolic parameters have not measured. This study aims to test the metabolism of rats with either a HS diet or a normal salt (NS) diet with and without fructose drinking water. Seven‐week‐old, Sprague‐Dawley (SD), male rats were divided into four groups (n=6 per group). The SD rats were then fed the following diets: NS diet as the control, HS (4% NaCl) diet, NS diet with 20% fructose in drinking water (F), and HS (4% NaCl) diet with 20% fructose in drinking water (HS+F), respectively. Blood pressures of all the rats were then measured twice a week via non‐invasive tail cuff method. Two weeks after the blood pressure measurements, all the rats were then transferred into metabolic cages and housed individually. In the metabolic cages, the rats received the same diet and drinking water as they have had throughout the entire blood pressure study. SD rats were given twenty‐four hours to acclimate to their environment in the metabolic cages and then their water intake, food intake, feces and urine output was measured for three consecutive days. At the beginning of the experiment, results have indicated that there is no significant difference in baseline blood pressure among the four groups. However, A three‐week diet of a HS+F treatment has demonstrated an increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP) by 37 mmHg (p < 0.05) compared to the NS control group. No significant increases were observed in the other two groups (C: 89 ± 5; HS: 97 ± 4; F: 97± 7; HS+F: 126 ± 9 mmHg). Metabolic measurements have shown that there was a significant increase in water intake (C: 27.9 ± 2.0; HS: 59.2 ± 6.4; F: 35.1 ± 5.2; HS+F: 54.8 ± 6.0, mL/24 hours) and urine output (C: 13.5 ± 1.7; HS: 39.7 ± 2.2; F: 13.3± 1.6; HS+F: 28.1 ± 1.4, mL/24 hours) for HS alone and HS+F groups in comparison to the control group. Food intake had substantially decreased in the HS+F group compared to the other three groups (P<0.05) (C: 36.1 ± 3.6, HS: 25.1± 0.9, F: 21.7 ± 0.7, HS+F: 14.5 ± 1.0, mL/24 hours); the feces output data was diverse and does not show significant differences among groups (data not shown). Our results suggest that high salt plus high fructose diet dramatically changes metabolism which alters cardiovascular function.Support or Funding InformationGrant Support: NIH R15HL129213, Shan
Time‐dependent effects of training on cardiac renin angiotensin system (RAS): Protection against oxidative stress, inflammation and pathological cardiac remodeling.
Authors: Silva Sebastiao Donato , Jara Zaira , Moreira Roseli , Casarini Dulce , Michelini Lisete 
Published: November 2023

GoalsTo investigate the time course effects of aerobic training on the cardiac injurious axis of the renin angiotensin system (RAS) (Ang II) and its counter regulatory and protective axis (Ang‐(1–7)), as well their relationship with oxidative stress, inflammation and cardiac remodeling in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).MethodsAdult male SHR and age‐matched WKY controls were trained on treadmill (T) or kept sedentary (S) for 2 months. Resting arterial blood pressure (AP) and heart rate (HR) were measured at weeks 0 (S0), 1 (T1), 2 (T2), 4 (T4) e 8 (S8 and T8) followed by euthanasia and heart harvesting. Ang II and Ang (1–7) (HPLC), oxidative stress (DHE staining), NF‐kB (Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay) and expression of pro‐inflammatory genes were measured in the left ventricle (LV).ResultsSHR‐S0 vs. WKY‐S0 had higher AP and HR (169±1 vs 115±1 mmHg; 358±7 vs 330±8 b/mim), LV hypertrophy (+27% in LV/BW ratio), increased ROS levels (+19%), elevated TNF‐α expression (2.8‐fold) and higher collagen volume (+20%) in LV, which were all kept in higher levels up to the end of protocols. At the beginning of protocols NF‐kB activity, IL‐1β expression, and Ang II and Ang‐(1–7) content (~87±3 and 54±3 pmol/g tissue, respectively) were similar in both strains, butt Nfkb activity, IL‐1β expression (~1,2 fold), and Ang II (+27%) were increased in SHR kept sedentary for 8 weeks. In SHR, T reduced LV Ang II content (−71%, T1), increased Ang‐(1–7) content (+30%, T2) and reduced and normalized DHE fluorescence (T2), which were maintained in lower levels until the end of protocols (T8). A transitory increase (T1–T2) in Nfkb, IL‐1β and TNF‐α (~5, 1.5, 1.8, fold) were observed in SHR. However, from T4 up to T8, NF‐kB activity was reduced and TNF‐α and IL‐1β expression were back to control levels. At the end of protocols LV/BW still higher in SHR vs WKY without differences between T and S groups, but collagen volume was normalized in SHR T8 to similar levels presented by WKY. Training was accompanied by reductions in HR (−15%, T4–T8) and AP (−10%, T8).ConclusionTraining in SHR reduced cardiac Ang II and increased Ang‐(1–7) content, indicating a shift from the injurious axis of the RAS to the protective axis. This was associated with reduced oxidative stress and decreased inflammation. Although no changes were observed in LV hypertrophy, collagen volume was reduced in SHR T. Our findings suggest that training has a cardioprotective effect in hypertension and prevents the deleterious cardiac remodeling.Support or Funding InformationFAPESP: 2011/15681‐8; CAPES
Sevoflurane Increases Mobilization of Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Rats and Coronary Artery Disease Patients
Authors: Vlad Adelina , Popescu Mihaela , Stanca Ionut , Corneci Dan , Stancu Camelia , Niculescu Loredan , Isvoranu Gheorghita , Ceafalan Laura , Popescu Andreea Catarina , Dimulescu Doina 
Published: November 2023

Plasma levels of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) correlate to the cardiovascular outcomes, while basic science suggest that preconditioning with volatile anesthetics (APC) may improve stem cells biology. Thus, we tested in rodents and on patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) the effects of sevoflurane on the mobilization of these angiogenic cells. EPCs plasma levels were evaluated by flow‐cytometry before exposure to sevoflurane (baseline) and 24 hrs afterwards, in blood samples collected from Wistar rats or CAD patients scheduled for elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Sevoflurane (1 MAC in air for the animal model, and in 50% O2 in the clinical study) was administered prior a myocardial ischemia/reperfusion procedure (I/R) in rats (3 cycles of 5 min) or before PCI in CAD patients (2 cycles of 15 min); control subjects received only air, or oxygen (50% in air) respectively. Values are means ± SEM, compared by ANOVA. In the animal study quantification was performed by flow cytometry at baseline, 12h, 24h, 48h and 72 h after sevoflurane administration, and an important increase of CD34+ (n=3, 7‐fold increase versus control, p = 0.031) and CD34+/Flk1+ cells (n = 3, 2.3‐fold increase versus control values, p < 0.001) was observed only at 24 hrs after treatment. In CAD patients, plasma CD45dim/CD34+/KDR+, CD45dim/CD34+/KDR+/CD133+ and CD45dim/CD34+/CD309+/CXCR4+ mononuclear cell populations were increased 1.45‐fold (p = 0,006), 1,67‐fold (p < 0,001) and 1.36‐fold (p = 0.005) respectively in sevoflurane treated patients (n = 16) at 24 h postexposure versus baseline, whereas in the control group (n = 10) the values where relatively the same at 24 hrs and at baseline. In conclusion, sevoflurane administered in a discontinuous manner increases the levels of plasma EPCs in the late window of APC in Wistar rats and CAD patients, indicating EPCs mobilization as a potential mechanism for the regenerative and anti‐ischemic processes of APC. Although preliminary, our results sustain the initiative of using preconditioning protocols with volatile anesthetics in cardiovascular and non‐cardiovascular surgery, or for reducing the in‐stent restenosis following angioplasty.Support or Funding InformationResearch grant PN‐II‐RU‐TE‐2012‐3‐0463, UEFISCDI Romania
Effects of Swimming Training and Estrogen Terapy on C‐Type Natriuretic Peptide‐induced Relaxation in aorta of ovariectomized Hypertensive Rats
Authors: Abreu Glaucia Rodrigues , Claudio Erick R , Almeida Simone A , Silva Fabricio B , Menezes Lais A 
Published: November 2023

Estrogen deficiency is detrimental to vascular function. On the other hand, the practice of exercise training and estrogen therapy improve vascular function. However, the effects of swimming training (SW) and estrogen therapy (ET) on the relaxation induced by C‐type natriuretic peptide (CNP) is unclear. Our aim was to investigate the effects of chronic SW and ET on CNP‐induced vascular relaxation in the aorta of ovariectomized hypertensive rats. The groups were randomly divided into sham (S), sham+SW (SSW), ovariectomized (OVX), ovariectomized+ET (OET), ovariectomized+SW (OSW) and ovariectomized+ET+SW (OET+SW). ET (5 mg of 17β‐Estradiol, s.c.) and SW (60 min – 5x/wk) were performed during eight weeks. Systolic blood pressure was measured before and after the training and treatment period. Aorta reactivity was performed in response to increased concentration of CNP. Ovariectomy significantly impairs the systolic blood pressure, while ET, SW and the association of both prevents this impairment. OVX reduces significantly the CNP‐induced vasorelaxation in the aorta of hypertensive animals. However, ET and SW were able to prevent the reduction caused by OVX, being able to maintain the relaxation at the same level as observed in sham animals. The association of ET and SW can also prevent the decrease in relaxation induced by CNP, but it did not show any additive effects. SW and ET prevent the ovariectomy‐induced worsening in vascular relaxation to CNP in hypertensive animals. Therefore, the practice of chronic exercise training can play a major role in the cardioprotection in hypertensive postmenopausal women.Support or Funding InformationUFES‐CApes‐CNPq‐Fapes
Gender Differences of Heart Rate Variability in College Age Students
Authors: Toth Abigail , Melton Sheri 
Published: November 2023

Heart Rate variability (HRV) is the beat‐to‐beat time interval of a heart rate, also known as a R‐R interval. HRV can be used to suggest health related problems. Too high of a HRV could suggest an arrhythmia or another sort of neurological issue, while too low of a HRV could suggest chronic stress, pathology, or regression due to age to name a few. Prior research has suggested healthy males have a higher HRV when compared to healthy females. However, no study to date has investigated the day‐to‐day gender differences of heart rate variability in college age students.The purpose of this study is to examine the day‐to‐day differences in HRV for both male and female college age students. College age males and females (n=30) were recruited to participate in this study. Students who were not currently under doctor's care were included. Each subject underwent two electrocardiograms (ECG) administered on two different days within 48 hours. Subjects were positioned in a supine position for both resting single lead ECG's. Two minutes of cardiac cycles were used to evaluate cardiac rhythms. HRV was measured utilizing Power Lab/ECG Analysis Add‐On for LabChart 8 (ADInstruments). Statistical analysis included an ANOVA to compare subgroups for day one and day two, and a Wilcoxon matched pairs test to compare day one to day two as a whole. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Based on the current results, we conclude there is no difference for day‐to‐day HRV in college‐aged students as a whole. Additionally, there is also no significant difference in HRV between gender subgroups.Support or Funding InformationNo grants were obtained
Low Flow‐mediated constriction in Peri‐menopausal Women
Authors: Kuczmarski Andrew , Sebzda Kelly N , Wenner Megan M 
Published: November 2023

Impairments in vascular function are evident early in the menopausal transition, as previously demonstrated by a reduced brachial artery flow‐mediated dilation (FMD) in peri‐menopausal women compared to premenopausal women. Recently, low flow mediated constriction (L‐FMC) has been used as a complementary measure of vascular health, and has been shown to be reduced with aging and in diseased populations. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that peri‐menopausal women have decreased L‐FMC compared to young women. We measured changes in brachial artery diameter via ultrasound in seven young (24±1 years, 23±1 kg/m2) and five peri‐menopausal women (50±1 years, 24±1 kg/m2). A blood pressure cuff was placed just distal to the olecranon process and inflated to suprasystolic pressure for five minutes. Images were recorded continuously at baseline (1‐minute), during a five minute occlusion, and for a remaining 2‐minutes after cuff deflation. FMD was calculated as a percent change from baseline to peak diameter after cuff deflation. L‐FMC was calculated from the last 30 seconds of cuff inflation using the lowest average value and was reported as percent change from baseline. Total vessel reactivity was calculated by adding the absolute value of FMD and L‐FMC. FMD values were comparable between peri‐menopausal (6.75±0.36%) and young women (7.88±0.33%). L‐FMC was similar between peri‐menopausal (−2.32±0.47%) and young women (−2.95±0.36%). Total vessel reactivity was also similar between young (10.82±0.56) and peri‐menopausal women (9.46±0.49). In conclusion, these preliminary data suggest that L‐FMC is preserved in peri‐menopausal women. Additional data are needed to further examine whether L‐FMC is altered across the menopausal transition or in postmenopausal women.Support or Funding InformationSupported by NIH Grant P20 GM 103446, U54 GM 104941, and University of Delaware Research Foundation.
Endurance Exercise Training Improves Functional Sympatholysis in Postmenopausal Women
Authors: Kruse Nicholas , Hughes William , Hochstedler Reginald , Bock Joshua , Iwamoto Erika , Ueda Kenichi , Casey Darren 
Published: November 2023

The ability to reduce sympathetic vasoconstriction during exercise and thus, optimize blood flow proportional to the metabolic demand of the working muscle is termed functional sympatholysis. While regular exercise has been shown to offset the age‐related decline in functional sympatholysis in older males, the effect of exercise training on functional sympatholysis in older postmenopausal women (PMW) remains unknown. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether aerobic exercise training can offset the impaired functional sympatholysis in contracting skeletal muscle in PMW (>12 months since last menstrual cycle). Nineteen PMW (untrained, n=9 vs. trained, n=10) performed 5‐minutes of steady state (SS) forearm exercise at 10 and 20% of maximal voluntary contraction and an absolute contraction intensity of 5kg. Trained status consisted of those PMW who completed aerobic or high intensity interval training >2 years prior to the study and involved >30‐minutes/day and >4 days/week. Global increases in SNS activity were performed via application of lower body negative pressure (i.e. LBNP, −30 mmHg) during SS‐exercise. Non‐invasive measures of forearm blood flow (FBF), mean arterial pressure (MAP), cardiac output (CO) and heart rate (HR) were continuously recorded before and during exercise. Muscle oxygen consumption (VO2m) across the forearm was estimated (via venous blood sampling) during SS‐exercise and SS‐exercise with LBNP. Forearm vascular conductance (FVC; ml·min−1·100 mmHg−1) was calculated from blood flow (ml·min−1) and blood pressure (mmHg). Vasoconstrictor responsiveness was then determined as the % change in FVC (between SS‐exercise and SS‐exercise with LBNP). The reduction in FVC (% change FVC) during LBNP was attenuated in trained vs. untrained PMW at 10% MVC (−7.3±1.2% vs. −13.0±1.1%; P<0.05), 20% MVC (−4.5±0.8% vs. −8.6±1.4%; P<0.05) and 5kg (−5.3±0.8% vs. −8.9±1.4%; P<0.05) conditions, whereas there was no difference at rest (−32.7±4.4% vs. 33.7±4.0%). Forearm VO2m and the magnitude of change in systemic hemodynamics (HR, CO and MAP) did not differ between groups during exercise. Lastly, age and years PM did not differ between trained PMW vs. untrained PMW, suggesting that training factors were influential in the training‐induced blunting of vasoconstrictor restraint during acute exercise. Collectively, these findings suggest that long‐term endurance exercise training in PMW blunts sympathetically induced vasoconstriction (i.e. improved functional sympatholysis) during relative and absolute mild‐to‐moderate intensity forearm exercise.Support or Funding InformationFunded by NIH HL‐105467 (DPC) and NIH Abboud Cardiovascular Center Interdisciplinary Fellowship (NTK)
TRPV4 deletion improves cardiac function, structure and remodeling following myocardial infarction
Authors: Adapala Ravi Kumar , Minasyan Ashot , Kanugula Anantha K , Cappelli Holly C , Paruchuri Sailaja , Meszaros Gary J , Thodeti Charles K 
Published: November 2023

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is the major underlying cause of myocardial infarction (MI), scarring, and hypertrophy leading to heart failure. The prevention of ischemic damage due to MI involves scar formation by synthesis and reorganization of ECM. Cardiac fibroblasts are the primary mediators of cardiac repair as they secrete and remodel extracellular matrix in the heart. We have recently demonstrated that mechanosensitive ion channel, TRPV4 (Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 4) mediates cardiac fibroblast differentiation into myofibroblasts in vitro. However, the physiological significance of TRPV4 in cardiac remodeling in vivo is not known. In the present study, we explored the role of TRPV4 in cardiac remodeling following MI. We subjected WT and TRPV4KO mice to MI (permanent occlusion of LAD) and measured cardiac function for 8 weeks by serial echocardiographic assessment. We found significant time‐dependent preservation of cardiac function (ejection fraction and fractional shortening) post‐MI in TRPV4KO mice compared to WT counterparts. Further, picro‐sirius red and Masson's trichrome staining revealed reduced collagen deposition in infarcted and remote zones of TRPV4KO hearts, 8 weeks post‐MI. Mechanistically, we found decreased cardiomyocyte apoptosis (TUNEL assay) and increased capillary density (CD31 staining) in TRPV4KO hearts compared to WT hearts, 1 week post‐MI. Taken together, these results suggest that absence of TRPV4 preserves cardiac function and structure post‐MI by reducing myocyte apoptosis and cardiac fibrosis probably by increasing revascularization.Support or Funding InformationNIH(1RO1HL119705)NIH(1R15CA202847‐01), AHA Grant in Aid(14GRNT20380935)