Variables In Men Research Articles

Endothelium-dependent vasodilation is independent of the plasma L-arginine/ADMA ratio in men with stable angina: Lack of effect of oral l-arginine on endothelial function, oxidative stress and exercise performance

OBJECTIVES This study was designed to determine the effect of two weeks’ treatment with L-arginine on the ratio of plasma L-arginine to asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), oxidative stress, endothelium-dependent vasodilatation to acetylcholine, exercise performance and heart rate variability in men with stable angina. BACKGROUND The ratio of plasma L-arginine:ADMA has been proposed as a determinant of endothelium-dependent dilation; dietary supplementation with L-arginine has been shown to improve endothelium-dependent vasodilation and symptoms in some conditions. METHODS Men (n = 40) with stable angina, at least one epicardial coronary artery with a stenosis >50% and a positive exercise test were randomized to receive L-arginine (15 g daily) or placebo for two weeks according to a double-blind parallel-group design. Plasma L-arginine, ADMA, 8-epi-prostaglandin F 2α (a marker of oxidative stress) and forearm vasodilator responses to brachial artery infusion of nitroprusside and acetylcholine (±L-arginine) were measured. A standard Bruce protocol exercise test was performed before and at the end of the treatment period. RESULTS Plasma L-arginine increased after oral L-arginine, whereas ADMA remained unchanged, leading to an increase in the L-arginine/ADMA ratio of 62 ± 11% (mean ± SE, p < 0.01). Despite a significant enhancement in acetylcholine response by intra-arterial L-arginine at baseline, this response remained unchanged after oral L-arginine. Measures of oxidative stress and exercise performance after L-arginine/placebo were similar in placebo and active groups. CONCLUSIONS In men with stable angina, an increase in plasma L-arginine/ADMA ratio after two weeks’ oral supplementation with L-arginine is not associated with an improvement in endothelium-dependent vasodilatation, oxidative stress or exercise performance.

Plasma Levels of Free and Total TFPI, Relationship with Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Endothelial Cell Markers

Free-TFPI (f-TFPI) presents high anticoagulant activity and its plasma level correlates with unfavorable outcomes in unstable angina. Total TFPI (t-TFPI) represents mainly the lipid-bound form which seems to have a poor anticoagulant activity. Until now, it is not known whether the variations of f-TFPI plasma levels are determined by environmental factors. The aim of our study was to evaluate the influence of cardiovascular risk factors on plasma levels of f-TFPI and relations with other endothelial derived molecules in a population of 626 patients (277 men and 349 women) attending a metabolic ward for primary prevention of coronary disease. Free and total TFPI plasma levels were poorly correlated. f-TFPI levels increased with age in both sexes, t-TFPI in women only. Age-adjusted correlations of TFPI levels with conventional cardiovascular risk factors and endothelial cell markers showed different patterns for f-TFPI and t-TFPI. f-TFPI correlated with parameters associated with insulin resistance, particularly in females. f-TFPI was also positively associated in both genders with fibrinogen and endothelial cell markers: t-PA, thrombomodulin (TM) and von Willebrand factor (vWF). t-TFPI correlated strongly with LDL-C in both sexes. It also correlated negatively with parameters of the insulin resistance syndrome. t-TFPI also correlated with TM but not with other endothelial cell markers. The results of the multivariate step by step analysis showed that cardiovascular risk factors poorly explained the f-TFPI variability (7% and 4% in men and women, respectively), whereas they explained 16 and 20% of t-TFPI variability in men and women respectively (mostly related to LDL-C). In conclusion, this study showed that free- and total-TFPI are regulated differently. f-TFPI strongly correlates with endothelial cell markers and t-TFPI is more related to conventional cardiovascular risk factors. The strong gender effect on f-TFPI levels remains to be explained.

Resting heart rate variability in men varying in habitual physical activity.

The aims of this study were 1) to assess day-to-day stability of resting heart rate variability (HRV) in healthy adults; 2) to determine whether the reliability of these measures is influenced by self-reported habitual physical activity level; and 3) determine whether the magnitude of HRV is related to self-reported habitual physical activity level. A resting electrocardiogram was obtained on five consecutive mornings in 37 men (age = 33+/-6 yr) grouped according to their self-reported level of weekly physical activity (LOW, N = 15; MOD, N = 10; HIGH, N = 12). All measurements were obtained while subjects breathed at 10 breaths x min(-1) (0.167 Hz). HRV was assessed using time and frequency domain measures. Most measures were highly reproducible (R > 0.90) regardless of activity level. After adjusting for differences in age and body mass index, weekly physical activity level was not a significant predictor of any measure of HRV. However, all time and frequency domain measures of HRV tended to be higher in active (MOD and HIGH) compared with inactive (LOW) subjects. No measure of HRV differed between the two most active groups. Heart rate and HRV are highly reproducible, regardless of physical activity level. Additionally, although time and frequency domain measures of HRV may be greater in active than sedentary individuals, HRV does not appear to be increased in a dose-dependent manner with increasing levels of physical activity.

High sensitivity C-reactive protein: biological variations and reference limits.

Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration was determined for 3605 subjects using an immunonephelometric assay improved to provide greater sensitivity. Subjects were from 5 to 75 years old and belonging to 1003 nuclear families recruited from the Stanislas Cohort Study between January 1994 and August 1995. Sample values for CRP ranged from 0.17 mg/l to 100 mg/l. Geometric means (mean - SD; mean +/- SD) were in the 5-14 years old group 0.37 (0.17-1.07) mg/l, in the 15-28 years old group 0.47 (0.17-1.38) mg/l and in the 29-75 years old group 0.98 (0.34-2.85) mg/l. For women, the geometric means were 0.38 (0.17-1.10) mg/l, 0.62 (0.20-1.90) mg/l and 0.98 mg/l (0.31-3.13) mg/l respectively. The interindividual variability ranged from 138% to 759% among different age classes. Biological factors associated with CRP concentration variations were examined and accounted for 25% of the CRP variability in men and 40% in women. The main biological factors statistically associated with CRP concentration variations in men were: drugs, leukocyte count, body mass index, tobacco consumption, age, and in women: drugs, leukocyte count, age, body mass index and hemoglobin concentration. These factors were used to define the exclusion and partition criteria when obtaining the reference samples. Medians for reference values ranged from 0.20 to 0.68 mg/l in males and from 0.20 to 0.78 mg/l in women.

Erfahrungen mit dem Aufbau der morphologischen Typologie des Gesichtes

On base of the component analysis of facial dimensions the original diagnostic model of definition of a morphological facial type in Russian males and females is developed. The first typological characteristic feature describes the variability of general face size, allocating extreme micro- and macrotypes. The second one describes the face shape as a ratio of frontal and mandibular parts. On poles of variability it demonstrates a type with massive frontal face part and rather reduced mandibular one, and a contrast type with a massive mandibular part at relative gracile frontal face part. Central position in this model is occupied by variants with equally proportional development of the top and bottom face parts. On the basis of seven traditional anthropometric facial dimensions the place of any individual in terms of face size and form can be easily found in the suggested model. The chosen contrast variants of the face form are comparable to the appropriate characteristics of cerebral and digestive Sigaud types. The offered morphotypology allows to estimate accurately individual and group features in the face form. The methods of multivariate analysis reveal steady connection between somatotypes and features of a facial structure. Though the level of correlation does not exceed 0.3-0.4 of correlation coefficients, it is statistically significant at the highest degree of probability. The basic direction of habitus variability in men is observed at general face size, in women at face shape.

Association of ACE I/D polymorphism with cardiovascular risk factors.

Since the identification of an insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene, the D allele has been recognized to be associated with cardiovascular disease. Moreover, significant associations of this polymorphism with multiple cardiovascular risk factors have been reported, although some studies failed to detect such associations. In the present study, we investigated the association of the ACE gene polymorphism with the parameters of multiple risk factors in 300 Japanese men who participated in a medical check-up. This investigation detected a significant association of the polymorphism with systolic blood pressure (P=0.007) and diastolic blood pressure (P=0.026), with their highest values in DD subjects and lowest values in II subjects. This significant association is consistent with the proposition that the polymorphism influences blood-pressure variability in men. Furthermore, we investigated the association of the polymorphism with four major disorders (obesity, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus) correlated with the risk for cardiovascular disease in the same 300 subjects. This investigation failed to detect any significant association of the polymorphism with each disorder. However, there was a trend that all four disorders were more frequent in ID and DD subjects than in II subjects. We therefore analyzed the association between the ACE gene polymorphism and having at least one of the four disorders in the same population. This analysis detected a significant difference: that ID and DD subjects had at least one of the four disorders more frequently than II subjects (P=0.008; odds ratio=1.89, 95% confidence interval= 1.19-2.99). Taken together, the results of this study are compatible with the proposition that the ACE polymorphism is associated with cardiovascular disease partially mediated through the four disorders in our population.

Familial studies on the genetics of cardiovascular diseases: the Stanislas cohort.

In a given individual, the level of cardiovascular risk results from the combination of and interactions between genetic and environmental components. We choose to investigate segregation analysis of intermediate phenotypes in healthy nuclear families, belonging to the Stanislas cohort, a large familial cohort composed of 1006 families, which will be followed for 10 years. We developed a panel of 35 genetic markers including genes involved in lipid metabolism, regulation of blood pressure, thrombosis, platelet function, and endothelial cell adhesion. The allele frequencies of the studied polymorphisms were in agreement with those reported in other Caucasian populations. As an example of segregation analysis, we investigated carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) variability in a subset sample of the Stanislas cohort. We found that about 30% of CIMT variability was attributable to genetic factors. Associations between CIMT and polymorphisms in apo CIII, cholesteryl ester transfer protein, methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase, and fibrinogen genes were observed and explained about 20% of CIMT variability in men. Furthermore, as another example of association studies, we investigated the relations between E-selectin polymorphisms and blood pressure interindividual variability and longitudinal changes in unrelated adults of this familial population. The E-selectin Phe554 allele was found associated with lower systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure.

Food-induced cortisol secretion in relation to anthropometric, metabolic and haemodynamic variables in men.

To assess the relationships between the regulation of diurnal and food-induced cortisol secretion and anthropometric, metabolic and haemodynamic variables in middle-aged men. Salivary cortisols were collected repeatedly (n = 7) over an ordinary working day (8a.m. to 11 p.m.) in a randomly selected population of 284 men, aged 51 y. A standardized lunch was provided, and an overnight low-dose dexamethasone suppression test was performed. These measurements were correlate with the anthropometric factors-body mass index, BMI, (kg/m2), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and abdominal sagittal diameter; the metabolic factors-fasting insulin and glucose as well as their ratio, and triglycerides; and the haemodynamic factors-systolic and diastolic blood pressures and heart rate. As reported previously two principal types of salivary cortisol secretory patterns can be singled out, one characterized by high morning cortisol levels, a normal circadian rhythm and feedback regulation (dexamethasone) along with a brisk cortisol response to lunch, and another, found in a limited number of men, characterized by low morning cortisols, the absence of a circadian rhythm, a relative resistance to dexamethasone inhibition and a poor lunch-induced cortisol response. The normal cortisol secretory pattern showed negative associations with BMI (P< 0.05), WHR (P< 0.01), and blood pressures (P< 0.001). After stimulation by food intake, negative relationships were found with all obesity measurements, insulin, insulin/glucose ratio, triglycerides, blood pressures and heart rate (all P < 0.001). These results suggest that normally regulated cortisol is associated with a favourable somatic health. In contrast, after food intake cortisol secretion, based on an abnormal cortisol secretory pattern, showed consistent positive associations with obesity measurements, insulin, glucose and insulin/glucose ratio, triglycerides, blood pressures and heart rate (all P < 0.001). A normal HPA axis regulation is associated with excellent health anthropometric, metabolic and haemodynamic variables, particularly visible after the physiological stimulus of food intake. This is, however, not the case in men with perturbed HPA axis function where associations in these somatic variables become exaggerated by food intake. We have previously reported that perceived stress-related cortisol is associated with abnormalities in the variables mentioned above, both with a normal and, particularly, with an abnormal function of the HPA axis. It is thus apparent that perceived stress and food intake show separate associations to somatic variables with a normally functioning HPA axis, while with an abnormal regulation of this axis both perceived stress and food intake exaggerate associations to abnormal somatic variables.

Insulin resistance alone does not explain the clustering of cardiovascular risk factors in southern India.

To determine whether insulin resistance (IR calculated using the HOMA model) has a dominant role in the clustering of cardiovascular risk factors in the Asian Indian population. A total of 654 non-diabetic subjects aged > or =40 years (male 396: female 258) were selected from a population survey. They had estimates of fasting and 2 h plasma glucose, insulin levels, body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and blood pressure. Factor analysis was carried out using the principle components analysis (PCA) with varimax orthogonal rotation of continuously distributed variables, considered to represent the components of insulin resistance syndrome including the calculated IR. There were three major clusters of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk variables in men and four clusters in women. Insulin resistance, 2 h plasma glucose, insulin and obesity aggregated as the major domain. Insulin resistance was not linked with hypertension. BMI was a common link for all the three factors in men, and for three of the four in women. Insulin resistance is not the only underlying factor for the clustering of CVD risk factors in south Indians. These findings are consistent with the presence of several distinct physiological domains, as shown in other ethnic groups.

Relation between circadian patterns in levels of circulating lipoprotein(a), fibrinogen, platelets, and related lipid variables in men

Background A correlation has been reported between lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] concentration and risk for coronary artery disease. High concentrations of Lp(a) might be markers for vascular or tissue injury or might be associated with other genetic or environmental factors that can cause acute myocardial infarction. Methods We measured the circadian characteristics of circulating Lp(a), fibrinogen, platelets, cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol for a group of adult male volunteers who had no clinical symptoms. We obtained samples every 3 hours around the clock to assess the normal degree of variation within a 24-hour period and to test for similarities in circadian patterns and correlations with level of Lp(a). Results Each variable displayed a highly significant circadian rhythm. Lp(a), fibrinogen, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol peaked in the morning. Cholesterol and platelets peaked in the late afternoon, and triglycerides peaked in the evening. Conclusions Although peak levels of Lp(a) and fibrinogen coincide with reported morning peak frequencies of myocardial infarction and stroke, the platelet peak appears to coincide with late afternoon peak frequencies of sudden cardiac death and fatal stroke. The data suggest that proper timing of single samples may improve the usefulness and accuracy of diagnosis, risk assessment, and therapy. (Am Heart J 2000;139:164-73.)

Relation between circadian patterns in levels of circulating lipoprotein(a), fibrinogen, platelets, and related lipid variables in men

Relation between circadian patterns in levels of circulating lipoprotein(a), fibrinogen, platelets, and related lipid variables in men

Relationship of visceral adipose tissue to metabolic risk factors for coronary heart disease: Is there a contribution of subcutaneous fat cell hypertrophy?

Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) accumulation is an important correlate of the metabolic complications found in obese patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the respective contribution of VAT deposition versus subcutaneous abdominal or femoral fat cell hypertrophy as correlates of the metabolic risk profile in 69 men and 65 premenopausal women (aged 35 ± 5 years) with a wide range of fatness (body mass index, 18 to 57 kg/m 2). In both genders, VAT accumulation was positively correlated with fasting plasma insulin, triglyceride (TG), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-apolipoprotein B (apo B) levels and the cholesterol (CHOL)/high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-CHOL ratio (.24 ≤ r ≤ .71, P < .05). A similar pattern of positive relationships was found between subcutaneous abdominal fat cell weight and metabolic risk variables in men and women (.33 ≤ r ≤ .60, P < .01). Positive associations were also observed in women between femoral fat cell weight and fasting plasma insulin, TG, and CHOL levels and the CHOL HDL-CHOL ratio (.29 ≤ r ≤ .42, P < .05). However, only plasma TG concentrations and the CHOL HDL-CHOL ratio were positively correlated with femoral fat cell weight in men ( r = .30, P < .05). To better investigate the relationships between the metabolic risk profile and hypertrophic subcutaneous obesity, individuals with small versus large subcutaneous abdominal adipocytes were matched according to VAT accumulation. Men with large abdominal fat cells displayed higher plasma TG and LDL-apo B levels compared with men characterized by small abdominal adipocytes ( P < .05). Stepwise multiple regression analyses showed that subcutaneous abdominal fat cell weight was the best independent variable predicting plasma TG and LDL-apo B levels in men. No significant difference was found in the metabolic profile of subjects displaying small versus large femoral adipocytes. Taken together, these results suggest that for a given VAT deposition, the presence of hypertrophied subcutaneous abdominal adipocytes in men appears to be associated with further deterioration in the metabolic risk profile. On the other hand, the hypertrophy of femoral adipocytes does not further alter the metabolic complications generally related to obesity in both men and women.

Dimensions of Self-Concept as Predictors of Men Who Assault Their Female Partners

While professionals working in the field of domestic violence have gleaned much information about the prevalence and scope of spouse abuse, there is still a need for information on contributing variables in men who assault their female partners. Constructs emerging from the self-concept literature provide some promise for understanding personality attributes that can help explain why some men assault their partners and others do not. There are two constructs in particular that seem to help explain volatile reactions in relationships. The first construct is negative self-concept associated with rela-tionship role performance. The second construct is the unstable self-concep-tion. This study examines the role of self-concept in discriminating men who assault their female partners from their nonbattering peers. Using a sample of 272 men matched on educational achievement, this study uses negative self concept and unstable self concept to predict known wife assaulters from their non-assaultive peers. Findings of a logistic regression analysis indicate that each construct is able to accurately predict violent and nonviolent groups with about 77% accuracy.

Trait hostility and ambulatory cardiovascular activity: responses to social interaction.

This study examined trait hostility and social interaction in relation to ambulatory cardiovascular activity in 40 male and 39 female undergraduates. Participants wore an ambulatory blood pressure monitor and completed diary entries while engaged in everyday activities. Diary reports indicating that participants had been talking were used to identify cardiovascular readings taken during social interaction. Interaction effects for overall diastolic blood pressure and heart rate levels indicated that hostility was positively associated with these variables in men only. In addition, hostility was associated with higher systolic blood pressure during social interaction, an effect primarily due to data for men. Because physical activity was controlled statistically, it is likely that these effects were mediated by psychological processes. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that cardiovascular reactivity to social interaction mediates the relationship between hostility and coronary disease, and they may have implications for understanding sex differences in coronary risk.

Differing Effects of Age on Heart Rate Variability in Men and Women

Gender and age are both known to affect heart rate variability (HRV). Their interaction is not known. HRV, determined from 24-hour Holter recordings, was compared between gender-matched older (15 men and 15 women, aged 67 ± 3 years, range 64 to 76) and younger (15 men and 15 women, aged 33 ± 4 years, range 26 to 42) subjects selected for an age difference of approximately 35 years. HRV for older and younger subjects was compared separately by gender. HRV was also compared by gender within groups. Heart rates were significantly higher, and all time and frequency domain indexes of HRV were significantly lower among the older than among the younger men. Among the women only the shorter term indexes of HRV were significantly lower in the older group. When HRV was compared by gender within age groups, there were no significant differences between men and women in the older group. In the younger group, men had lower heart rates, and all 24-hour time domain indexes of HRV, except those that reflect vagal modulation of heart rate, were significantly higher than those in women. We conclude that HRV is comparable in older men and women. However, HRV is differently affected by age. In men, for whom initial levels of HRV are significantly higher, older age is associated with a global reduction in HRV, reflecting reductions in both sympathetic and parasympathetic modulation and a loss of circadian variability. In women, older age is associated mainly with a decline in shorter term indexes of HRV without significant changes in circadian variability.

Family History of Coronary Heart Disease and Hemostatic Variables in Middle-Aged Adults

Individuals with a family history of coronary heart disease (CHD) may be predisposed to atherothrombosis. To investigate this hypothesis, a family CHD risk score was computed for approximately 13,000 men and women aged 45 to 64; hemostatic variables (fibrinogen, factor VIIc, factor VIIIc, von Willebrand factor, antithrombin III. protein C) were also measured in plasma. After adjustment for age and ethnicity, there was a statistically significant, positive association between the family risk score and four of the six hemostatic variables (fibrinogen, factor VIIc, factor VIIIc, von Willebrand factor) in women and all six hemostatic variables in men. In general, these associations were weak and substantially attenuated after adjustment for constitutional, lifestyle, and biochemical covariates. These results indicate that mean levels of selected hemostatic variables, like traditional CHD risk factors, are higher in individuals with a family history of heart disease.

Physical development and sexual orientation in men: Height, weight and age of puberty differences

This study examined the relations between sexual orientation and certain physical development variables in men. The participants were 318 homosexual and 318 heterosexual men closely matched on age. The participants completed an anonymous, 10-minute, self-report questionnaire that included items on their sexual orientation, height, weight and age of puberty. The results extended previous findings that, compared with heterosexual men, homosexual men are shorter, lighter and younger at the onset of puberty. These results add to an existing body of literature indicating that homosexual men often score in the female-typical direction on sex-dimorphic somatic characteristics.

Incomplete dominance of type III hyperlipoproteinemia is associated with the rare apolipoprotein E2 (Arg136 → Ser) variant in multigenerational pedigree studies

In the process of screening apolipoprotein (apo) E genotypes in a population of subjects with lipid abnormalities, we have identified five subjects (one homozygote and four heterozygotes) with an abnormal 109 base pairs band following apo E restriction isotyping of amplified DNA with the restriction endonuclease CfoI. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products were cloned and their sequencing revealed a C → A substitution at the first nucleotide of codon 136. This mutation resulted in an amino acid substitution Arg to Ser, previously described as apo E2 Christchurch. Family studies were carried out for four of the probands. In these kindreds, stepwise multiple regression analyses indicated that 78% of the cholesterol variability in men was predicted by body mass index, age and the rare apo E2 (Arg136 → Ser) variant. In women, age and the apo E2 (Arg136 → Ser) variant predicted 54.9% of the variability in cholesterol levels. Linkage analysis suggested that the presence of the apo E2 (Arg136 → Ser) variant was linked with the occurrence of cholesterol enriched triglyceride rich lipoproteins and with an incomplete dominance of type III hyperlipoproteinemia. Our data indicates that this mutation may be a relatively common cause of dyslipidemia in the Spanish population.

Prognosis for fertility analyzing different variables in men and women.

A cohort of 123 infertile couples was studied by life tables over a 30-month follow-up period to determine the influence on reproductive prognosis of clinical features, namely the women's age, previous gestational events, evolution time, and a number of conditioning infertility factors. The cumulative pregnancy rate (CPR) was 60% at 30 months. Women aged 32 years or less had a CPR of 65% and those over 32 years had a CPR of 31%. Couples with previous pregnancy had a CPR of 88%, while those with primary infertility had a CPR of 45% (marginal statistical difference). The group with infertility evolution of 36 months or less had a CPR of 75% and those with greater than 36 months infertility evolution had a CPR of 43% (p < .05). With one conditioning infertility factor a CPR of 75% was found, and with multiple factors a CPR of 47% (p < .05) was found. With these results a grading chart was created using all the analyzed criteria, determining the proportion of pregnancies per number of negative points obtained; at greater grades the proportion of pregnancy was reduced (p < .01). This report establishes the prognostic value of different variables observed in the evaluation of infertile men and women, and a simple procedure to calculate the probability to achieve pregnancy is proposed.

Effects of mental state on heart rate and blood pressure variability in men and women

The effect of different mental states on autonomic modulation of the cardiovascular system was assessed in healthy, normotensive men (n = 18) and women (n = 12). Heart rate variability (HRV), systolic blood pressure variability (BPV) and arterial baroreflex function were assessed during 4 tests at rest ((10 min + 5 min recovery) x 4): (1) Control (spontaneous breathing, (SB) (2) Mental distraction (SB + word puzzle) (3) Conscious control of breathing (paced at SB rate) and (4) Mental stress (SB + computer quiz). There were no significant gender differences in the responses to the interventions in terms of arterial (spontaneous) baroreflex (SPBX) control of HR, and indices of time and frequency domains of HRV and BPV, with the exception of the sympathetic indicator of HRV (low frequency power/total power; P < 0.01) which was lower in women during control and mental stress tests. Conscious control of breathing at SB did not alter HRV, BPV or SPBX in either men or women. Mental distraction and mental stress led to decreases in indices of time and frequency domains of HRV and BPV in all subjects, as well as increases in HR during distraction and in systolic BP during stress. These findings suggest that in studies of cardiovascular control: (1) Paced breathing at SB can be used for individuals with irregular breathing patterns (2) The extent of mental stress achieved is intervention-specific and for the most part, independent of gender and (3) Resting assessment of HRV, BPV and SPBX can be made by having subjects sit quietly without interventions in a controlled laboratory setting.