Dyslipidemias ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Endothelium, Vascular ; physiopathology ; Humans

Vascular endothelium plays an important role in regulating vascular homeostasis. Over the past years, it has become clear that endothelial dysfunction is a key event of pathophysiological changes in the initiation and progression of injuries induced by extreme environmental factors. The present review summarizes current understanding of vascular endothelial dysfunction induced by hypoxia, cold and heat, and provides the information for prevention and treatment of environmental exposure injuries.
Endothelium, Vascular ; physiopathology ; Environment ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; physiopathology ; Temperature ; Vascular System Injuries

Endothelial function plays a very important role in the process of erection. Erectile dysfunction (ED) and coronary artery disease (CAD) overlap in risk factors, aetiology and clinical outcomes. Endothelial dysfunction is considered to be their shared aetiological factor. There is growing evidence that patients presenting with ED should be investigated for CAD, even if with no symptoms of the problem. Earlier diagnosis of ED can facilitate prompt intervention, reduce long-term complications, especially the risk of CAD, and provide effective treatment for ED.
Arteriosclerosis ; physiopathology ; Coronary Artery Disease ; physiopathology ; Endothelium, Vascular ; physiology ; physiopathology ; Erectile Dysfunction ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Penis ; blood supply ; physiopathology

Endothelium, Vascular ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; physiopathology ; Lung ; blood supply ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Mesoderm ; pathology ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVESTo explore the effect of acute smoking on vascular endothelial function, arterial stiffness and the possible underlying mechanisms.

METHODSWe measured the endothelial function and arterial stiffness in 50 healthy chronic smokers before and after acute smoking with EndoPAT2000. The test was carried out on two separate finger tips. The endothelial function was evaluated by PAT ratio of the finger tip and systemic arterial stiffness was evaluated by augmentation index (AI). Plasma soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) before and 20 min after acute smoking were measured with enzyme linked immuno sorbent assay.

RESULTSThe PAT ratio was decreased (1.87 ± 0.40 vs. 1.73 ± 0.28, P = 0.004) while AI was significantly increased after acute smoking (2.94% ± 21.77% vs. 7.11% ± 20.65%, P = 0.01). There was no significant changes in sICAM [(306.5 ± 76.1) µg/L vs. (315.7 ± 90.9) µg/L, P = 0.402], but tPA [7.87 (5.41 - 10.08) µg/L vs. 5.77 (3.77 - 9.68) µg/L, P < 0.01] was significantly decreased after smoking.

CONCLUSIONSSmoking could acutely affect endothelia function, arterial stiffness and deteriorate the activity of fibrinolytic system which could lead to coronary thrombosis in smokers.

Adult ; Arteries ; physiopathology ; Elasticity ; Endothelium ; metabolism ; Endothelium, Vascular ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator ; blood ; Vascular Resistance

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the late endothelial function in children with coronary aneurysm due to Kawasaki disease (KD).

METHODSThirty-one children with coronary aneurysms due to KD who had the disease course for more than 1 year and twenty-one age-matched healthy children were enrolled. Brachial artery endothelium-dependent and -independent flow-mediated dilation (FMD), carotid arterial stiffness index (SI) and intima-media thickness (IMT) were measured by high-frequency ultrasound.

RESULTSThere were 9 cases of medium and 22 cases of giant coronary aneurysms in the KD group. Twelve KD patients had evidence of myocardial ischemia. Compared to the normal controls, the endothelium-dependent FMD decreased (P<0.05), the carotid arterial SI increased (P<0.05), and the carotid arterial intima-media thickness increased significantly (P<0.05) in children with coronary aneurysms due to KD. The endothelium-dependent FMD decreased more significantly in 12 KD patients with myocardial ischemia than in those without any evidence of myocardial ischemia (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLate endothelial dysfunction exists in children with coronary aneurysms due to KD, especially in those with myocardial ischemia.

Adolescent ; Child ; Coronary Aneurysm ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Endothelium, Vascular ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; complications ; physiopathology ; Vasodilation

OBJECTIVETo determine whether smoking affects the endothelial function of young ED patients with no cardiovascular disease.

METHODSThis study included 69 ED patients (21 smokers and 48 non-smokers) and 16 age-matched normal healthy controls. All underwent measurement of brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) and examinations of blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose.

RESULTSBrachial artery FMD was remarkably decreased in the ED patients, even more significantly in the smokers ([6.0 +/- 0.8]%) than in the non-smokers ([9.7 +/- 2.5]%) (P < 0.05), as compared with that in the normal healthy controls ([14.0 +/- 2. 5]%, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONEndothelial function is impaired in ED patients, and is further damaged by smoking.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Endothelium, Vascular ; physiopathology ; Erectile Dysfunction ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Impotence, Vasculogenic ; physiopathology ; Male ; Smoking ; Vasodilation

The incidence and mortality rates of diabetes with cardiovascular complications are continually rising, and diabetic cardiovascular disease is becoming a major public health issue that threatens human health. Acute endothelial dysfunction and chronic cellular damage caused by diabetes are important risk factors for diabetic cardiovascular disease and related mortality. Adiponectin is an adipocyte-derived molecule with significant cytoprotective effects, including the protection against diabetes-induced vascular endothelial injury. Here we review the mechanisms of adiponectin protective effects on acute vascular endothelial dysfunction and chronic structural damage induced by diabetes.
Adiponectin ; physiology ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; complications ; Diabetes Mellitus ; pathology ; Endothelium, Vascular ; physiopathology ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impacts of metabolic syndrome (MS) on endothelial function and target organ damage in hypertensive patients.

METHODSPatients with essential hypertension (EH) were divided into two groups: hypertension and metabolic syndrome (EH + MS, n = 61), hypertension without metabolic syndrome (EH + nonMS, n = 95) and 31 healthy subjects served as normal control (NC). The change of brachial artery vascular diameter, blood flow volume and vascular resistance after reactive hyperemia were measured by color Doppler ultrasonography.

RESULTS(1) Triglyceride (TG), fasting blood glucose (FBG), body mass index (BMI) were higher in EH + MS group than that in EH + nonMS group (P < 0.05). (2) Endothelium-dependent Dilatation (FMD%) and rate of flow volume of reactive hyperemia were significantly lower in EH + MS group than that in EH + nonMS and NC group [(7.08 +/- 3.21)% vs. (8.18 +/- 1.74)% and (10.41 +/- 4.52)%, P < 0.05 and 0.01 respectively; (154.19 +/- 78.94)% vs. (196.44 +/- 64.22)% and (221.81 +/- 89.64)%, P < 0.05 and 0.01 respectively], while these parameters were similar between EH + nonMS and NC groups (P > 0.05). (3) The high sequence of forearm dilatation capability was also significantly reduced in EH + MS group compared to other groups. (4) The incidences of carotid atherosclerotic plaque and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) were significantly increased in EH + MS group compared to EH + nonMS group and NC group. (5) FMD was correlated with age, gender, smoking, SBP, DBP, TG, Fib respectively (P < 0.05). Intima-media thickness (IMT) of carotid artery was positively related with age, smoking, SBP, DBP, BMI, TG, Fib respectively. The left ventricular mass index (LVMI) was positively related with age, smoking, SBP, DBP, BMI, TG respectively. FMD was negatively related with IMT and LVMI respectively (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONMetabolic syndrome further aggravated endothelial dysfunction and target organ damage in patients with essential hypertension.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Endothelium, Vascular ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; physiopathology ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; etiology ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; complications ; physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Vascular Resistance

The diagnostic and prognostic implication of exaggerated blood pressure response to exercise have been controversial, with opinions ranging from a benign process to a harbinger of potential cardiovascular morbidity. Endothelial dysfunction has been demonstrated in patients with atherosclerosis and as a risk factor for coronary artery disease. However, whether the cause of exercise-induced hypertension might be related to endothelial dysfunction has not been well elucidated. We evaluated endothelial function in patients who showed a systolic blood pressure > or =210 mmHg in males and > or = 190 mmHg in females during treadmill exercise test. We measured the endothelial function of the brachial artery in 35 patients with exercise-induced hypertension, and in 35 age- and gender-matched normal control subjects, by a high resolution ultrasound technique, and the concentration of NO2-/NO3- and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (GMP). Endothelial-dependent vasodilation was impaired in patients with hypertension compared to normal controls (3.14+/-0.61 vs. 6.5+/-0.76%, p < 0.05). The extent of vasodilation was significantly correlated with age (r=-0.28, p < 0.05) and systolic blood pressure difference (r=-0.36, p < 0.05). The levels of NO2-/NO3- and cyclic GMP at maximal exercise were significantly higher than those at rest and recovery in both controls and the hypertensive group (p < 0.05). Although there was no significant difference in the increment of NO2-/NO3- during maximal exercise between the controls and hypertensive group (55+/-17 vs. 56+/-12micromol/L, p=NS), cyclic GMP level during maximal exercise was significantly higher in the control group than the hypertensive group (10+/-1.8 vs. 8.3+/-2.5 pmol/ml, p 0.05). Patients with exercise-induced hypertension have poor endothelium-dependent vasodilation due to an impaired nitric oxide/cyclic GMP pathway, which may play a significant role in increasing blood pressure during exercise with inadequate peripheral adjustment to changing cardiac output.
Adult ; Cyclic GMP/*metabolism ; Endothelium, Vascular/*physiopathology ; *Exercise ; Female ; Human ; Hypertension/*etiology/*physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism