Artery Research

Arterial pressure and flow waves travel and are reflected. Waveform analysis and wave separation gave insight into these phenomena and parameters thus obtained are indicators of cardiovascular events. However, the interpretation of forward and reflected waves is still not generally agreed upon. We used...

Background: It is widely believed that changes in the magnitude and timing of reflected waves reaching the heart result in deleterious cardiovascular effects. Inherent in this is the assumption that waves propagate well in the backward direction. There is limited information regarding retrograde travel...

Objectives: Examine the effect of erroneous estimation of wave speed (C) on the magnitude and time of the separated pressure (P) and velocity (U) in arteries. Methods: Pressure and flow were measured in the aorta of 11 dogs and C has been determined using the PU-loop technique. The waves were separated...

Background: We hypothesized that the discrepancy between local and global stiffness is explained by 1) differences in systolic and diastolic stiffness and 2) the co-existence of elastic and muscular arteries in the carotid-femoral trajectory. Methods: For 1515 subjects (age 35–55, Asklepios cohort)...

The method used for pulse transit time (PTT) estimation, affects critically the accuracy of pulse wave velocity (PWV) measurements. The existing methods for PTT estimation yield often substantially different PWV values. Since there is no analytical way to determine PTT in vivo, these methods cannot be...

Purpose: To investigate, longitudinally, whether increases in markers of inflammation (CRP, sICAM-1) and endothelial dysfunction (sICAM-1, sVCAM-1) are associated with and precede the increase in pulse pressure (PP) in individuals with type-1 diabetes (DM1). Methods: Inception cohort of 277 DM1 patients...

Background: Wave intensity analysis (WIA) is a mathematical tool used to study wave reflections in the arteries. Reflections are believed to contribute to BP augmentation and are also independent predictors of cardiovascular risk. Until now, the use of this technique has been largely confined to the...

Purpose: to investigate 1) the extent to which young adults who started smoking during adolescence and persisted doing so during young adulthood (‘persistent smokers’–PS), and those who started smoking in young adulthood only (‘starters’–SS) had greater aorto-iliac PWV than never smokers (NS); and 2)...

Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a sensitive marker of arterial stiffness in children. In our previous study we have presented reference tables for PWV normal values in children. A recent consensus document provides arguments for the use of 80% of the direct carotid femoral distance as the most accurate...

Objectives: Increased cardiovascular risk in adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis, not explained by exposure to traditional factors alone, have prompted investigation into the role of chronic inflammation. This study aimed to determine early cardiovascular risk profiles...

Objectives: PWV can be measured by velocity-encoded phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (PC-MR) in a single location. One method utilises the change in flow (ΔQ) divided by the change in area (ΔA) at the beginning of systole, when it is assumed that only forward running waves are present. However,...

Background: Between the ages of 45 and 65 years, the prevalence of cardiovascular disease is significantly lower in women compared with men. Circulating bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play an important role in vascular repair. Reduced EPC number is predictive of more cardiovascular...

Background: Although blood pressure (BP) ‘tracks’ from early life in humans, little is known of how arterial stiffness develops over time in early childhood. Methods: UK born European (n=208) and South Asian (SA, n=99) origin infants had standardised measures of anthropometry, BP (Dynamap Critikon)...

Background: Type-B aortic dissections (TBADs) show a high morbidity and mortality in the long-term follow up. The role of and interaction between haemodynamics (pressure and flows), mechanics (wall compliance) and morphology (communication between false lumen (FL) and true lumen (TL)) is poorly understood,...

Background: Antenatal and postnatal growth are associated with increased arterial stiffness and cardiovascular risk (e.g. myocardial infarction and stroke) in adults born at term. Aim: We investigated cuff blood pressure (BP) and arterial waveforms in 70 extremely preterm (EP) children and in 91 age...

Objective and methods: We have recently shown that the longitudinal displacements of the arterial wall, i.e. the displacements along the artery during the cardiac cycle, undergo profound changes in response to catecholamines. The relations between longitudinal displacements of the arterial wall and wall...

Objective: Waist circumference is clinical marker of obesity and a well-established risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Adiponectin, an adipocyte-derived hormone and new biomarker of obesity, has recently been proposed to be the missing link between obesity and increased cardiovascular risk. We evaluated...

Background: We recently found in patients that the pressure dependency of arterial stiffness is age-dependent, explaining clinically observed changes in stiffness with blood pressure (BP) lowering. Pulse wave velocity, BP and age found in the Reference Values for Arterial Stiffness Collaboration show...

Numerous natural compounds including Nigella sativa (N. sativa) demonstrate anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic antiangiogenic properties. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) mediated inflammation is regarded as an important contributor to the inflammation that is associated with the development of arteriosclerosis....

Rationale: Bronchiectasis is characterised by inflammation and airways injury, which lead to loss of airways function, factors which are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in various populations. Central arterial stiffness (AS) a predictor of CVD risk has not been studied...

To date, regional aortic stiffness can be evaluated by the reference tonometric technique via the pulse wave velocity (PWV) measured in two points: the carotid and the femoral arteries. Based on a similar intersecting tangent algorithm, we have developed a new method for the determination of carotid-femoral...

Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a measure of the stiffness of the large arteries, and is often used as indicator of clinical cardiovascular risk. Yet, methodological issues still exist on how PWV should best be measured. We have used a 1D arterial network computer model of the systemic circulation...

Background: Central (aortic) blood pressure (BP) indices independently predict cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality, but the physiological mechanisms underlying aortic BP waveform morphology are subject to debate. The ‘aortic reservoir’ and ‘excess pressure’ are proposed as determinants of aortic...

Introduction: There is currently no clinical imaging techniques available to assess the degree of inflammation associated with atherosclerotic plaques. This study aims at visualising and characterising atherosclerosis using targeted USPIO as an MRI probe for detecting inflamed endothelial cells. Method:...

In recent years, great attention has been placed on local carotid elasticity. Carotid pulse wave velocity (cPWV) can be considered a surrogate marker for carotid stiffness evaluation. Aim of this study was to compare four different techniques for carotid stiffness assessment. Ten young healthy subjects...

Aortic pulse pressure and other pulsatile components of the aortic pressure pulse are important predictors of cardiovascular outcomes, however the properties of the arterial tree that determine the aortic pulse are still poorly understood. We used numerical modelling to predict aortic pulse morphology...

Background: Hereditary amyloidosis are late-onset autosomal dominant disorders characterized by amyloid deposition in various tissues. Among them, Apolipoprotein A-I amyloidosis (Leu75Pro) is a rare autosomal dominant condition in which renal, hepatic, and testicular involvement has been demonstrated.No...

Background: Finger-toe pathway could represent a good alternative to assess the arterial stiffness conveniently. The aim of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of the pOpmètre which measures finger-toe pulse wave velocity (ft-PWV). Methods: The pOpmètre® has 2 photodiodes sensors, positioned on the...

Rationale: Alpha 1 Antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency is a familial cause of emphysema, due to reduced antiproteolytic activity within lungs. Systemic manifestations however, remain little explored. We have previously demonstrated increased arterial stiffness (AS) in patients with COPD and hypothesised that...

Introduction: Obesity is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Arterial stiffness (AS) is an independent cardiovascular risk factor. The objective of this study was to evaluate the SA in obese patients. Patients and methods: AS was measured in 212 participants divided into...

Background: The exact mechanism by which electrical carotid baroreceptor activation (CBA) lowers blood pressure in patients with hypertension has yet to be fully elucidated. Given the central role of the kidneys in blood pressure regulation, the aim of this study was to assess the impact of CBA on renal...