Pressure In Humans Research Articles

Assessing Variability in Vascular Response to Cocoa With Personal Devices: A Series of Double-Blind Randomized Crossover n-of-1 Trials.

Controlled clinical intervention studies have demonstrated that cocoa flavanols (CF) can decrease blood pressure and arterial stiffness in healthy humans, although a large variability in the effect size across trials has been reported. In this study, we evaluated the intra- and inter-individual variability of responses to CF in everyday life using a series of n-of-1 trials in healthy free-living individuals with normal blood pressure carrying personal devices. In total, eleven healthy young humans participated in a repeated crossover randomized controlled double-blind n-of-1 trial. On 8 consecutive days, each volunteer consumed on alternating days 6 CF capsules (862 mg CF) on 4 days and 6 matched placebo capsules (P, 0 mg CF/day) on another 4 days in one of the two randomized sequences (CF-P-CF-P-CF-P-CF-P or P-CF-P-CF-P-CF-P-CF). On each day, the capsules were taken at the same time in the morning with breakfast after baseline measurements. Each subject was provided with an upper arm blood pressure monitor and a finger clip that measures pulse wave velocity (PWV). Measurements of blood pressure, heart rate, and PWV were taken at least hourly over 12 h during the day by the participants. On the first 2 days, measurements were performed under supervision to provide training. The overall mixed model analysis showed that CF significantly decreased 12-h systolic blood pressure and PWV by −1.4 ± 0.3 mmHg and −0.11 ± 0.03 m/s, respectively. Peak effects were observed within the first 3 h (1.5 h SBP: −4.9 ± 2.2 mmHg, PWV: −0.32 ± 0.17 m/s) and again after 8 h post-ingestion. Large inter-individual variation in responses was found [intra-cluster correlation coefficients (ICC): 0.41, 0.41]. When analyzing single individuals’ datasets, there was also considerable between-day variation in individual responses that varied greatly between subjects (ICC: 0–0.30, 0–0.22, 0–0.45). Effect sizes inversely correlated with baseline blood pressure values both between- and within-subjects. The data confirm that cocoa can decrease blood pressure and arterial stiffness in everyday life when elevated within the normal range. The large inter- and intra-individual variation in responses calls for more personalized nutritional intervention strategies.

ASSESSMENT OF RENAL SYMPATHETIC CONTROL USING INVASIVE PRESSURE AND FLOW VELOCITY MEASUREMENTS IN HUMANS

Objective: Renal sympathetic innervation is important in the control of renal and systemic hemodynamics and a target for pharmacological and catheter-based therapies. The effect of a physiological sympathetic stimulus using static handgrip exercise on renal hemodynamics and intraglomerular pressure in humans is unknown. Design and method: We recorded renal arterial pressure and flow velocity in patients with a clinical indication for coronary or peripheral angiography using a sensor-equipped guidewire during baseline, handgrip, resting, and hyperemia following intrarenal dopamine (30 ug/kg). Changes in perfusion pressure were expressed as delta mean arterial pressure, changes in flow velocity as percentage with respect to baseline. Intraglomerular pressure was estimated using a Windkessel model. Results: We included 18 patients with median age 57 years (range 27–85), 61% male in the final analysis. An overview of the hemodynamic responses is given in Figure 1. During static handgrip mean renal arterial pressure increased by 15.2 mmHg (range 4.2–53.0), while flow decreased by 11.2%, but with large variation between individuals (range -13.4–49.8%). Intraglomerular pressure increased with 4.2 mmHg (range -3.9–22.1). Flow velocity under resting conditions remained stable with median 100.6% (range 82.3–114.6) compared to baseline. During hyperemia, maximal flow was 180% (range 111–281), while intraglomerular pressure decreased to 33.0 mmHg [IQR 26.7–39.8]. Changes in renal pressure and flow during handgrip exercise were correlated (rho = -0.68; p = 0.002). Conclusions: We show that there are significant variations in the response to sympathetic stimulation following static handgrip exercise using invasive renal arterial measurements. These results demonstrate that intra-arterial renal hemodynamic measurements can be used to determine the renal effect of systemic sympathetic stimulus and allows identification of patients with higher and lower sympathetic control of renal perfusion. This may be useful in determining the response to therapeutic interventions aimed at altering renal sympathetic control.

The Effects of Berry Polyphenols on the Gut Microbiota and Blood Pressure: A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials in Humans.

Berry consumption has beneficial effects on blood pressure. Intestinal microbiota transform berry phytochemicals into more bioactive forms. Thus, we performed a systematic review of randomized clinical trials to determine whether berry polyphenols in foods, extracts or supplements have effects on both the profile of gut microbiota and systolic and diastolic blood pressure in humans. PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and CAB s (EBSCOhost) were searched for randomized clinical trials in humans published from 1 January 2011 to 29 October 2021. Search results were imported into Covidence for screening and data extraction by two blinded reviewers, who also performed bias assessment independently. The literature search identified 216 publications; after duplicates were removed, 168 publications were screened with 12 full-text publications assessed for eligibility. Ultimately three randomized clinical trials in humans met the eligibility criteria. One randomized clinical trial showed a low risk of bias while the other two randomized clinical trials included low, high or unclear risk of bias. Together the randomized clinical trials showed that berry consumption (Aronia berry, strawberries, raspberries, cloudberries and bilberries) for 8–12 weeks had no significant effect on both blood pressure and the gut microbiota. More randomized clinical trials are needed to determine the effects of berry consumption on the profile of gut microbiota and blood pressure in humans.

Abstract 399: JAK2 Clonal Hematopoiesis Associates With Pulmonary Hypertension Severity

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a heterogenous condition characterized by high pulmonary vascular resistance and elevated arterial pressures. Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) occurs when a hematopoietic stem cell acquires a somatic mutation that confers a proliferative advantage. CHIP is associated with a range of cardiovascular diseases. Recent work in a murine model of PH demonstrated that JAK2 CHIP causes PH via neutrophil mediated vascular remodeling. Little is known about the association between CHIP and pulmonary pressures in humans. We hypothesized that CHIP would be associated with higher pulmonary pressure and a higher prevalence of clinical PH in patients referred for echocardiography. We evaluated patients in the Vanderbilt BioVU biobank for the presence or absence of several CHIP mutations (DNMT3A, TET2, ASXL1, PPM1D, and JAK2) and correlated this finding with standard echocardiography parameters extracted from the electronic health record. PH was defined as an estimated pulmonary artery systolic pressure (ePASP) >=40mmHg. We analyzed 12,007 patients who had a reported ePASP after the date of sequencing. Of those, 49% (5,883 of 12,007) were male, with a mean age of 55+/-19.2 years. CHIP mutations were present in 477 (3.9%). The mean ePASP was 34.5+/-13.9mmHg and 32% (3,842 of 12,007) had an ePASP >= 40mmHg. The ePASP was higher among JAK2 positive patients (42.3[39.4-36.5]mmHg vs. 34.6[34.4-34.2]mmHg; p = 0.0002). This association persisted after adjusting for age, race, and sex, (Beta coefficient 4.1[1.8-6.5]mmHg, p = 0.0005). We found no association between ePASP and other CHIP mutations. The presence of a JAK2 mutation was associated with a higher overall prevalence of PH (1.5% [180 of 12,007] vs. 0.9% [108 of 12,007]; p = 0.007). In a large echocardiographic referral population, JAK2 CHIP mutations are associated with higher ePASP and a higher prevalence of PH. Treatment implications and the association between CHIP mutations and clinical outcomes in patients with PH warrants further study.

Indole‐3‐propionic Acid, Bacterial Metabolite of Tryptophan, Increases Blood Pressure in Normotensive and Hypertensive Rats

Tryptophan is an exogenous amino acid, undergoing complex metabolism in mammals, including formation of gut microbiota‐derived metabolites. Tryptophan was proven to increase blood pressure in rats and humans, however; it has not been profoundly investigated, whether its impact on cardiovascular system might be due to the action of microbiota derived indoles, especially indole‐3‐propionic acid (IPA).Acute hemodynamic experiments were performed on 12‐week‐old Wistar‐Kyoto (WKY) and 16‐week‐old Spontaneously‐Hypertensive (SHR) male anesthetized rats. Mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) and heart rate (HR) were evaluated for 120 minutes after intravenous infusion of 10% DMSO (Vehicle) and IPA in increasing doses (1.6‐53 µM/kg body wt). In separate series of experiments impact of IPA on vascular contractility was evaluated in ex vivo experiments performed on mesenteric resistance arteries (MRAs).IPA increased significantly blood pressure in normotensive and hypertensive rats. In normotensive rats at highest dose IPA revealed less pronounced hypertensive effect, accompanied by decrease in HR. This effect was not observed in hypertensive rats, where IPA increased MABP in dose dependent matter, with concomitant tachycardic response. In ex vivo experiments IPA increased contractility of endothelium‐denuded MRAs and reduced acetylcholine‐dependent dilatation of MRAs.Our study suggest, that IPA takes part in regulation of blood pressure, by revealing hypertensive and vasoconstrictive activity. These effects are in line with actions of its precursor tryptophan, suggesting important role of bacterial metabolism of tryptophan in its cardiovascular effects.

The beneficial effect of SCFAs on the cardiovascular system during hypertension

Hypertension, which is associated with gut dysbiosis, is an independent and preventable risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases. The gut microbiota and its metabolites such as short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs) play an important role in host physiology. SCFAs can regulate blood pressure in both rodent models and humans. However, the exact mechanism by which SCFA regulates hypertension is unknown. Our data showed that SCFAs can regulate miR‐204, a non‐coding RNA that is expressed in vessels. We recently showed that miR‐204, is reduced in vessels during hypertension. Additionally, miR‐204 targets inositol 1, 4, 5‐triphosphate receptor type1 (IP3R1) and therefore disrupt the calcium release into the cytosol leading to exacerbated vascular constriction. Thus, we hypothesize that SCFAs can regulate blood pressure and vascular constriction through miRNA‐204/IP3R1/Ca2+ axis. To test our hypothesis, we treated hypertensive mice with SCFAs cocktail (67.5 mM acetate, 40 mM butyrate, 25.9 mM propionate) in drinking water for 21 days. Increased blood pressure from hypertensive mice was reduced after SCFAs intake. Aortas and mesenteric arteries from hypertensive mice display increased vasoconstriction in response to phenylephrine, U46619, and angiotensin II. Treatment with SCFAs reduced vasoconstriction in response to all agonists. During hypertension, aortas display low levels of miR‐204 expression which was recovered after SCFAs intake. Additionally, IP3R1 was significantly up‐regulated in hypertensive mice and decreased after SCFAs supplementation. Furthermore, our in vitro data showed that SCFAs can directly affect the vascular miRNA‐204/IP3R1/Ca2+ axis. Our results suggest that SCFAs can regulate Ca2+ homeostasis and vascular contraction through the miR‐204/IP3R1 axis. The outcome of this study will establish novel treatment strategies conferring the benefits of SCFA control while circumventing the potential risks of delivering live biologics.

P86. The Structure of Brain Stem Subregions and Blood Pressure in 32,731 Individuals

Hypertension is a leading contributor to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality worldwide and is commonly found in psychiatric disorders. The brain stem is a key regulator of blood pressure, yet there is no study of whether and how the structure of brain stem subregions influences blood pressure in humans.

Stimulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex modulates muscle sympathetic nerve activity and blood pressure in humans.

IntroductionMuscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) controls the diameter of arterioles in skeletalmuscle, contributing importantly to the beat-to-beat regulation of blood pressure (BP). Although brain imaging studies have shown that bursts of MSNA originate in the rostral ventrolateral medulla, other subcortical and cortical structures—including the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC)—contribute.HypothesisWe tested the hypothesis that MSNA and BP could be modulated by stimulating the dlPFC.MethoddlPFC. In 22 individuals MSNA was recorded via microelectrodes inserted into the common peroneal nerve, together with continuous BP, electrocardiographic, and respiration.Stimulation of the right (n=22) or left dlPFC (n=10) was achieved using transcranial alternating current (tcACS; +2 to −2mA, 0.08 Hz,100 cycles), applied between the nasion and electrodes over the F3 or F4 EEG sites on the scalp.ResultsSinusoidal stimulation of either dlPFC caused cyclicmodulation of MSNA, BP and heart rate, and a significant increase in BP.ConclusionWe have shown, for the first time, that tcACS of the dlPFC in awake humans causes partial entrainment of MSNA, heart rate and BP, arguing for an important role of this higher-level cortical area in the control of cardiovascular function.

Quinine Effects on Gut and Pancreatic Hormones and Antropyloroduodenal Pressures in Humans-Role of Delivery Site and Sex.

ContextThe bitter substance quinine modulates the release of a number of gut and gluco-regulatory hormones and upper gut motility. As the density of bitter receptors may be higher in the duodenum than the stomach, direct delivery to the duodenum may be more potent in stimulating these functions. The gastrointestinal responses to bitter compounds may also be modified by sex.BackgroundWe have characterized the effects of intragastric (IG) versus intraduodenal (ID) administration of quinine hydrochloride (QHCl) on gut and pancreatic hormones and antropyloroduodenal pressures in healthy men and women.Methods14 men (26 ± 2 years, BMI: 22.2 ± 0.5 kg/m2) and 14 women (28 ± 2 years, BMI: 22.5 ± 0.5 kg/m2) received 600 mg QHCl on 2 separate occasions, IG or ID as a 10-mL bolus, in randomized, double-blind fashion. Plasma ghrelin, cholecystokinin, peptide YY, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), insulin, glucagon, and glucose concentrations and antropyloroduodenal pressures were measured at baseline and for 120 minutes following QHCl.ResultsSuppression of ghrelin (P = 0.006), stimulation of cholecystokinin (P = 0.030), peptide YY (P = 0.017), GLP-1 (P = 0.034), insulin (P = 0.024), glucagon (P = 0.030), and pyloric pressures (P = 0.050), and lowering of glucose (P = 0.001) were greater after ID-QHCl than IG-QHCl. Insulin stimulation (P = 0.021) and glucose reduction (P = 0.001) were greater in females than males, while no sex-associated effects were found for cholecystokinin, peptide YY, GLP-1, glucagon, or pyloric pressures.ConclusionID quinine has greater effects on plasma gut and pancreatic hormones and pyloric pressures than IG quinine in healthy subjects, consistent with the concept that stimulation of small intestinal bitter receptors is critical to these responses. Both insulin stimulation and glucose lowering were sex-dependent.

Acute Effects of Electronic and Tobacco Cigarette Smoking on Sympathetic Nerve Activity and Blood Pressure in Humans.

: IntroductionAcute tobacco cigarette (TC) smoking increases blood pressure and sympathetic nerve activity, whereas there are scarce data on the impact of electronic cigarette (EC) smoking. We assessed the acute effects of TC, EC and sham smoking on blood pressure, heart rate and sympathetic nervous system. Methods: We studied 12 normotensive male habitual smokers (mean age 33 years) free of cardiovascular disease. The study design was randomized and sham controlled with three experimental sessions (sham smoking, TC smoking and EC smoking). After baseline measurements at rest, the subjects were then asked to smoke (puffing habits left uncontrolled) two TC cigarettes containing 1.1 mg nicotine, EC smoking or simulated smoking with a drinking straw with a filter (sham smoking), in line with previous methodology. Results: EC smoking at 5 and 30 min compared to baseline was accompanied by the augmentation of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (p < 0.001 for all). The muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) decrease was significant during both TC and EC sessions (p < 0.001 for both comparisons) and was similar between them (−25.1% ± 9.8% vs. −34.4% ± 8.3%, respectively, p = 0.018). Both MSNA decreases were significantly higher (p < 0.001 for both comparisons) than that elicited by sham smoking (−4.4% ± 4.8%). Skin sympathetic nerve activity increase was significant in both TC and EC groups (p < 0.001 for both comparisons) and similar between them (73.4% ± 17.9% and 71.9% ± 7%, respectively, p = 0.829). Conclusions: The unfavorable responses of sympathetic and arterial pressure to EC smoking are similar to those elicited by TC in healthy habitual smokers.

The Effects of Sesamin Supplementation on Obesity, Blood Pressure, and Lipid Profile: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

AimsSesamin, the main lignin constituent of sesame, plays a pivotal role in regulating physical state. Some studies have evidenced that the supplementation of sesamin may decrease cardiovascular disease risk. The goal of this systematic review was to summarize evidence of the effects of sesamin supplementation on obesity, blood pressure, and lipid profile in humans by performing a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Data SynthesisFive databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus) were searched electronically from inception to July 2021 to identify randomized controlled trials that assessed the impact of sesamin on obesity, blood pressure, and lipid profile. Weighted mean difference (WMD) and standard deviation (SD) were used to present the major outcomes.ConclusionsSeven trials (n = 212 participants) were included in the overall analysis. Results showed that sesamin supplementation caused a great reduction in TC (WMD: -10.893 mg/dl, 95% CI: −19.745 to −2.041, p = 0.016), LDL-c (WMD: -8.429 mg/dl, 95% CI: −16.086 to −0.771, p = 0.031), and SBP (WMD: −3.662 mmHg, 95% CI: −6.220 to −1.105, p = 0.005), whereas it had no effect on HDL-c, TG, DBP, or weight. Subgroup analysis showed that duration, parallel design, and unhealthy status can affect TC, LDL-c, and SBP evidently. We did not discover a strong link between indicators’ changes and duration of supplementation. Sesamin can be used as an obtainable dietary supplement to improve blood pressure and blood lipids, and further as a health product to prevent cardiovascular diseases.

Preclinical evidence of the effect of quercetin on diabetic nephropathy: A meta-analysis of animal studies

Quercetin, which is present in numerous fruits and vegetables, has shown promise in improving inflammation, lipid profiles, and blood pressure in humans. However, the efficacy of quercetin in diabetic nephropathy (DN) remains preclinical and unclear. Therefore, a meta-analysis based on preclinical animal data is needed to assess the efficacy, optimal dosage, and underlying mechanism of DN treatment to accelerate new drug research and clinical translation. We conducted a literature search in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library to retrieve randomized controlled trials evaluating the effects of quercetin in rat or mouse diabetic models. We assessed the quality of the studies individually according to SYRCLE's risk of bias tool for animal studies. Twenty animal studies, including 378 animals, were included in the meta-analysis. Meta-analysis data showed that renal function indices, such as renal index, urine protein, uric acid, urine albumin, and serum creatinine levels, significantly improved with quercetin administration. However, no significant association was observed between quercetin and creatinine clearance. Quercetin remarkably alleviated oxidative stress by reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) and increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities. In addition, quercetin exhibits anti-inflammatory activity by reducing tumor necrosis factor-α（TNF-α）and interleukin-1β（IL-1β）levels. Subgroup analysis performed using quercetin doses and animal species indicated that animal species were a source of heterogeneity. This meta-analysis suggests that quercetin is a promising drug for DN treatment, facilitating clinical prediction and therapy.

UJI AKTIVITAS ANTIBAKTERI EKSTRAK ETANOL DAUN TAPAK DARA (Catharantus roseus) DI DESA LISABATA TERHADAP PERTUMBUHAN BAKTERI S t ap h yl o c oc c u s a u r eu s DENGAN MENGGUNAKAN METODE DIFUSI AGAR

The tapak dara plant is known as an ornamental plant that is efficacious for relieving muscle pain , antidepressant , medicine for various diseases ( ie relieving swelling caused by wasp stings , nosebleeds and sore throats ), antidote , antibacterial , and lowering blood pressure in humans . Purpose of Research of this is to identify the content of the chemical from the leaves of tread virgin ( Catharantus roseus ), which serves as an antibacterial and to test the activity of antibacterial extract ethanol leaves tread virgin ( Catharantus roseus ) against the growth of bacteria Staphylococcus aureus by using the method of diffusion in order. Method which are used in research this is experimental by using the method of diffusion in order. This study used concentrations of 5%, 20%, 60%, and 80%. Positive control (+) chloramphenicol antibiotic , negative control (-) aquadest . Results of the study is the extract of leaves of Tread Dara ( Catharantus roseus ) can inhibit the growth of bacteria in a concentration of 80% by having an average zone of inhibition of which is 21 mm including the category is very strong and the concentration of 60% at 20 mm.

Experimental study to assess the impact of vasopressors administered during maintenance of the brain-dead donation in the quality of the intestinal graft.

The hemodynamic maintenance of brain-dead donors will influence the quality of the organs procured for transplantation, including the intestine. Although norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) are commonly used to sustain mean arterial pressure in humans, there are no standardized protocols for their use during maintenance of brain-dead donors. Our aim was to compare the effects of each drug, in the intestinal graft quality using a rat brain-dead donation model. Wistar rats (N = 17) underwent brain death (BD) for 2 hours with NE (NE group) or with DA (DA group) administration; the control group was mechanically ventilated for 2 hours without BD. Jejunum biopsies were obtained at the end of the maintenance period. Histological damage was evaluated using Park-Chiu scale. Villi/crypt ratio, mucosal thickness, Goblet cell count, and villi density were evaluated using ImageJ software (US National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD). Barrier damage was assessed by bacterial translocation culture counting on liver samples. The inflammatory status of the intestine was evaluated by CD3+ counting by immunohistochemistry and gene expression analysis of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-22, and CXCL10. Norepinephrine-treated donors had higher focal ischemic injury in the intestinal mucosa without a substantial modification of morphometrical parameters compared with DA-treated donors. CD3+ mucosal infiltration was greater in intestines procured from brain-dead donors, being highest in NE (p ˂ 0.001). Local inflammatory mediators were affected in BD: DA and NE groups showed a trend to lower expression of IL-22, whereas CXCL10 expression was higher in NE versus control group. Brain death promoted intestinal bacterial translocation, but the use of NE resulted in the highest bacterial counting in the liver (p ˂ 0.01). Our results favor the use of DA instead of NE as main vasoactive drug to manage BD-associated hemodynamic instability. Dopamine may contribute to improve the quality of the intestinal graft, by better preserving barrier function and lowering immune cell infiltration.

A case of carotid sinus syndrome

The role of carotid sinus receptors as the most important mechanism for regulating blood pressure in humans has been established for a long time. Over the past 20-25 years, more and more attention has been attracted to the so-called "carotid sinus syndrome", which is expressed by a number of clinical manifestations associated with its increased excitability.

Growth Arrest Specific-6 and Axl Coordinate Inflammation and Hypertension.

[Figure: see text].

The Emergence of the Spike Furin Cleavage Site in SARS-CoV-2.

Compared with other SARS-related coronaviruses (SARSr-CoVs), SARS-CoV-2 possesses a unique furin cleavage site (FCS) in its spike. This has stimulated discussion pertaining to the origin of SARS-CoV-2 because the FCS has been observed to be under strong selective pressure in humans and confers the enhanced ability to infect some cell types and induce cell–cell fusion. Furthermore, scientists have demonstrated interest in studying novel cleavage sites by introducing them into SARSr-CoVs. We review what is known about the SARS-CoV-2 FCS in the context of its pathogenesis, origin, and how future wildlife coronavirus sampling may alter the interpretation of existing data.

Capnometric feedback training decreases 24-h blood pressure in hypertensive postmenopausal women

BackgroundHigh normal resting pCO2 is a risk factor for salt sensitivity of blood pressure (BP) in normotensive humans and has been associated with higher resting systolic BP in postmenopausal women. To date, however, no known studies have investigated the effects of regular practice of voluntary mild hypocapnic breathing on BP in hypertensive patients. The objective of the present research was to test the hypothesis that capnometric feedback training can decrease both resting pCO2 and 24-h BP in a series of mildly hypertensive postmenopausal women.MethodsA small portable end tidal CO2 (etCO2) monitor was constructed and equipped with software that determined the difference between the momentary etCO2 and a pre-programmed criterion range. The monitor enabled auditory feedback for variations in CO2 outside the criterion range. 16 mildly hypertensive postmenopausal women were individually trained to sustain small decreases in etCO2 during six weekly sessions in the clinic and daily sessions at home. 24-h BP monitoring was conducted before and after the intervention, and in 16 prehypertensive postmenopausal women in a control group who did not engage in the capnometric training.ResultsFollowing the intervention, all 16 capnometric training participants showed decreases in resting etCO2 (− 4.3 ± 0.4 mmHg; p < .01) while 15 showed decreases in 24-h systolic BP (− 7.6 ± 2.0 mmHg; p < .01). No significant changes in either measure was observed in the control group. In addition, nighttime (− 9.5 ± 2.6; p < .01) and daytime (− 6.7 ± 0.2 mmHg) systolic BP were both decreased following capnometric training, while no significant changes in nighttime (− 2.8 ± 2.2 mmHg; p = .11) or daytime (− 0.7 ± 1.0 mmHg; p ≤ .247) systolic BP were observed in the control group.ConclusionsThese findings support the hypothesis that regular practice of mild hypocapnic breathing that decreases resting etCO2 reliably decreases 24-h blood pressure in hypertensive postmenopausal women. The extent to which these effects persist beyond the training period or can be observed in other hypertensive subgroups remains to be investigated.

Engineering elastic sealants based on gelatin and elastin-like polypeptides for endovascular anastomosis.

Cerebrovascular ischemia from intracranial atherosclerosis remains difficult to treat. Although current revascularization procedures, including intraluminal stents and extracranial to intracranial bypass, have shown some benefit, they suffer from perioperative and postoperative morbidity. To address these limitations, here we developed a novel approach that involves gluing of arteries and subsequent transmural anastomosis from the healthy donor into the ischemic recipient. This approach required an elastic vascular sealant with distinct mechanical properties and adhesion to facilitate anastomosis. We engineered two hydrogel‐based glues: an elastic composite hydrogel based on methacryloyl elastin‐like polypeptide (mELP) combined with gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) and a stiff glue based on pure GelMA. Two formulations with distinct mechanical characteristics were necessary to achieve stable anastomosis. The elastic GelMA/mELP composite glue attained desirable mechanical properties (elastic modulus: 288 ± 19 kPa, extensibility: 34.5 ± 13.4%) and adhesion (shear strength: 26.7 ± 5.4 kPa) to the blood vessel, while the pure GelMA glue exhibited superior adhesion (shear strength: 49.4 ± 7.0 kPa) at the cost of increased stiffness (elastic modulus: 581 ± 51 kPa) and reduced extensibility (13.6 ± 2.5%). The in vitro biocompatibility tests confirmed that the glues were not cytotoxic and were biodegradable. In addition, an ex vivo porcine anastomosis model showed high arterial burst pressure resistance of 34.0 ± 7.5 kPa, which is well over normal (16 kPa), elevated (17.3 kPa), and hypertensive crisis (24 kPa) systolic blood pressures in humans. Finally, an in vivo swine model was used to assess the feasibility of using the newly developed two‐glue system for an endovascular anastomosis. X‐ray imaging confirmed that the anastomosis was made successfully without postoperative bleeding complications and the procedure was well tolerated. In the future, more studies are required to evaluate the performance of the developed sealants under various temperature and humidity ranges.

Plasma Imidazole Propionate Is Positively Correlated with Blood Pressure in Overweight and Obese Humans.

Background: The gut microbiota and its metabolites are essential for host health and dysbiosis has been involved in several pathologic conditions such as type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Recent studies have identified that plasma imidazole propionate (ImP), a microbial-produced metabolite, is increased in patients with prediabetes and T2D. More recently, ImP was found to be significantly increased in patients with overt CVD. Here, we aimed to investigate the association between ImP and CVD risk factors: blood pressure, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and insulin-resistance in overweight and obese subjects without T2D or use of any metabolic diseases-related medication. Methods: Plasma metabolites, including ImP, were determined in 107 male or post-menopausal women with overweight/obesity, but without T2D. Insulin-sensitivity was assessed with the gold standard method: the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp using the isotope [6,6-2H2] glucose and expressed as glucose rate of disposal (Rd) for peripheral insulin sensitivity and suppression of endogenous glucose production (EGP) for hepatic insulin sensitivity. Results: Partial correlation analysis controlled for BMI and age showed a significant correlation between ImP and diastolic blood pressure (rs = 0.285, p = 0.004) and a borderline significance with systolic blood pressure (rs = 0.187, p = 0.060); however, systolic and diastolic blood pressure did not correlate with ImP precursor histidine (rs = 0.063, p = 0.526 and r = −0.038, p = 0.712, respectively). We did not find a correlation between ImP with LDL-cholesterol or HDL-cholesterol (rs = −0.181, p = 0.064 and rs = 0.060, p = 0.546, respectively). Furthermore, there was no association between plasma ImP concentrations and Rd and EGP suppression. Conclusion: In this cohort with overweight/obese subjects without T2D, plasma ImP concentrations were positively correlated with diastolic blood pressure but not with insulin-sensitivity.