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Vascular structure in the forearm and calf after 6 months of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition in elderly hypertensive subjects with left ventricular hypertrophy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition on the structure of resistive arteries assessed from minimal vascular resistance in the forearm and the calf and on left ventricular mass index of elderly hypertensive subjects with left ventricular hypertrophy. DESIGN AND METHODS: We evaluated 23 elderly patients [12 women and 11 men, aged 70 +/- 1 years (mean +/- SEM)] with essential hypertension assessed with ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and left ventricular hypertrophy before and at the end of 6 months' treatment with quinapril. Minimal vascular resistance was calculated as the ratio of mean arterial pressure to regional blood flow measured upon restoration of circulation after 13 min of ischaemia combined with exercise and taken as an index of resistive vessel structure (i.e. media:lumen ratio). RESULTS: Daytime ambulatory blood pressure had decreased from 164 +/- 2/95 +/- 1 to 147 +/- 3/86 +/- 2 mmHg (P < 0.001) and left ventricular mass index decreased from 138 +/- 4 to 120 +/- 5 g/m2 (P < 0.001) at the end of treatment. Minimal vascular resistance in the forearm had decreased from 3.1 +/- 0.3 to 2.4 +/- 0.2 mmHg/ml per 100 ml per min (P < 0.01) whereas we observed no change in minimal vascular resistance in the calf after treatment (4.6 +/- 0.7 versus 4.2 +/- 0.4 mmHg/ml per 100 ml per min, NS). The decrease in minimal vascular resistance in the forearm was correlated significantly to the fall in 24 h ambulatory mean arterial pressure (r = 0.58, P < 0.01). Changes in left ventricular mass index were not correlated to those in ambulatory blood pressure or to those in minimal vascular resistance in the forearm. CONCLUSIONS: A 6-month reduction in blood pressure under quinapril treatment was associated with decreases in left ventricular hypertrophy and in minimal vascular resistance in the forearm of elderly hypertensive patients. Absence of structural changes in leg vasculature could be related to the greater arterial pressure prevalent in the lower limbs while patients stood upright and, consequently, a proportionately smaller decrease in blood pressure, as well as greater structural changes and fibrous damage than those of the upper limbs.

Aged↗

Effects of angiotensin II and losartan in the forearm of patients with essential hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: Angiotensin II type 1 receptor-mediated constrictor effects may be modulated by hypertension-related vascular changes, changes in receptor function and in neurohumoral activity. DESIGN: The forearm blood flow (FBF) effects of angiotensin II, methoxamine, and losartan were investigated in essential hypertensive patients. Minimal forearm vascular resistance was measured to determine structural vascular changes. METHODS: Seven hypertensive patients were selected, and seven matched normotensives. Angiotensin II (0.01-10 ng/kg per min) was infused during predilatation by sodium nitroprusside (6.1 +/- 0.6 ng/kg per min) before and during losartan infusion (0.3-3 microg/kg per min). Methoxamine (0.2-2 microg/kg per min) was co-infused with the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor NG-monomethyl-L-arginine. FBF, measured by venous occlusion plethysmography, was expressed as the change in FBF ratio (FBFinfused arm/FBFnon-infused arm). RESULTS: Baseline FBF (infused arm) was increased by sodium nitroprusside from 2.56 +/- 0.80 to 5.46 +/- 0.92 (P<0.05) and from 2.66 +/- 0.25 to 5.42 +/- 0.40 ml/100 ml per min (P<0.05) in the hypertensive and normotensive group, respectively. Baseline forearm vascular resistance (FVR) was higher in the hypertensive than in the normotensive group [51 +/- 8 versus 33 +/- 3 mmHg/ (ml/100 ml per min); P<0.05]. Angiotensin II caused a maximal change in FBF ratio (Emax) by -70 +/- 3 and -72 +/- 6% in the hypertensive and normotensive group, respectively (NS). Tachyphylaxis did not occur. Infusions of losartan at 0.3, 1 and 3 microg/kg per min reduced the Emax values from -70 +/- 3 to -50 +/- 5, -45 +/- 5 and -15 +/- 2%, respectively, in the hypertensive group, and from -72 +/- 6 to -62 +/- 4, -45 +/- 2 and -32 +/- 2%, respectively, in the normotensive group (NS). Infusion of methoxamine significantly reduced the FBF ratio by -58 +/- 6 and -69 +/- 5% in the hypertensive and normotensive groups, respectively (NS). Minimal FVR, after forearm ischemia, was the same in hypertensives and normotensives, namely 3.2 +/- 0.7 and 3.2 +/- 0.4 mmHg/(ml per 100 ml per min), respectively (NS). CONCLUSIONS: Angiotensin II type 1- and alpha1-mediated vascular effects were unchanged by essential hypertension. Baseline FVR was greater in the hypertensives than in the normotensives, while minimal FVR was the same. These results indicate that the forearm vascular bed of the patient group studied does not show important structural and renin-angiotensin system-related functional changes as a result of hypertension.

Adult↗

Cyclosporine A and control of vascular tone in the human forearm: influence of post-transplant hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: The use of cyclosporine A after organ transplantation is associated with a high incidence of hypertension, but the underlying mechanisms for this process are not clear. We investigated the effects of blockade of basal release of endothelial nitric oxide and the effects of endothelium-independent and -dependent vasodilators and vasoconstrictors in patients treated with cyclosporine A after heart transplantation. DESIGN: We measured blood pressure and forearm blood flow responses to brachial artery infusions of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), sodium nitroprusside, acetylcholine, norepinephrine and vasodilating and vasoconstricting doses of endothelin-1 in eight patients early (< 3 months) and in 11 patients late (> 18 months) after transplantation. RESULTS: Diastolic blood pressure was higher late after transplantation, but calculated forearm vascular resistance was lower (P < 0.01). Thus, increased forearm vascular resistance does not contribute to the increase in blood pressure. The vasoconstrictor response to L-NMMA was similar in both groups but a reduced endothelium-dependent vasodilator response to acetylcholine was seen late after transplantation. However, impaired smooth muscle responsiveness to nitric oxide may have contributed to this finding, since the response to sodium nitroprusside tended to be reduced. Vasoconstrictor responses to norepinephrine and endothelin-1 were comparable but no vasodilation was seen with low doses of endothelin-1 late compared with early after transplantation (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The findings in the forearm circulation question the concept of generalized increases in vasoconstrictor responses or a disturbance of tonic, basal release nitric oxide in the pathogenesis of cyclosporine-A-induced hypertension. Although the forearm vasodilator responses to the stimulation of endothelial nitric oxide production and release by acetylcholine, and to low doses of endothelin-1, were impaired, these findings could be explained by the increase in blood pressure rather than cyclosporine A itself.

Blood Pressure↗

Postischemic forearm skin reactive hyperemia is related to cardovascular risk factors in a healthy female population.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether forearm postischemic skin reactive hyperemia (SRH) measured by laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) can be used to explore microvascular function and whether LDF response is related to cardiovascular (CV) risk in a population study. METHODS: SRH of the forearm defined as the percentage increase in cutaneous blood flow from resting conditions to peak dilation following a 2 min upper arm occlusion and CV risk factors were measured prospectively in 862 healthy females screened for cardiovascular risk factors in the context of a campaign designed to promote the 'control' of CV risk factors in women. RESULTS: The Framingham risk score was constructed from age, sex, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, diabetes, total and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and left ventricular hypertrophy (Cornell product. The Cornell product for women was calculated as the QRS duration (ms) (R aVL + S V3 + 6 mV)). Although the score was low in this female population (CV event risk at 10 years 7.89) (95% confidence interval, 7.49-8.30) aged 40 to 75 years, we observed an inverse correlation between SRH of the forearm and the CV risk score ( P<0.001). Hormonal replacement therapy (39.4% of the study population was on hormone replacement therapy) had no significant influence on forearm postischemic SRH in this particular population. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that in a very low CV risk female population, a significant correlation can be observed between the weight of CV risks and the impairment of postischemic forearm SRH. Thus, skin laser Doppler flowmetry may represent a valuable, simple and non-invasive tool to assess and monitor microvascular function in future prospective observational and interventional studies.

Adult↗

Venoconstriction by angiotensin II in the human forearm is inhibited by losartan but not by nicardipine.

Arterial constriction by angiotensin II (Ang II) in the human forearm is inhibited by the infusion of the AT1-receptor antagonist losartan. We investigated venous constriction by Ang II in the forearm of 19 healthy subjects (23 +/- 1 years) and the inhibitory effects of losartan. Furthermore, we investigated, in both the arterial and venous systems, whether the constrictor effects of Ang II are calcium influx dependent by determining the influence of nicardipine. Arterial forearm blood flow (FBF) and maximal venous outflow (MVO) were measured by venous-occlusion plethysmography. Sodium nitroprusside (5-12.5 ng/kg/min) was infused to predilate the forearm vasculature. Ang II (0.1, 1, and 10 ng/kg/min) was infused before and during losartan (0.3 and 3 microg/kg/min) or nicardipine (0.05 and 0.15 microg/kg/min), respectively. Ang II decreased FBF (Emax-FBF) by 79 +/- 4% and MVO (Emax-MVO) by 28 +/- 3% (p < 0.05). Nicardipine at 0.05 and 0.15 microg/kg/min reduced Emax-FBF from -79 +/- 4% to -48 +/- 4% and -6 +/- 2%, respectively (p < 0.05). Losartan in both doses completely inhibited Emax-MVO (p < 0.05), whereas nicardipine did not influence the venoconstriction by Ang II (p > 0.05). In conclusion, Ang II causes a constriction of both arteries and veins in the human forearm, which may be inhibited by losartan. The arterial constriction appears to be caused by an AT1-receptor-mediated calcium influx via L-type calcium channels. In contrast, the venoconstrictor effect of Ang II proved insensitive to the calcium antagonist nicardipine.

Adult↗

The radial forearm skin graft-fascial flap.

The radial forearm flap has become a versatile flap for upper extremity reconstruction. The use of the forearm flap for hand reconstruction in the patient with previously burned forearms has not been widely appreciated. In those patients whose forearms have been previously split-thickness skin-grafted on fascia, we have employed the reverse radial forearm flap as a skin graft-fascial flap for hand reconstruction and have obtained excellent functional results. Three patients at various intervals postburn are presented to demonstrate use of this flap for wrist contracture release, coverage of arthroplasties, first web space contracture release, and acute salvage of phalanges and tendons. Assessment of the hand's vascular anatomy and careful treatment of the donor area have contributed to no added morbidity and an excellent aesthetic result at the donor site.

Adolescent↗

The angiosomes of the forearm: anatomic study and clinical implications.

The angiosome concept was introduced in 1987 by Taylor and Palmer. Their anatomic study correlated the blood supply to the skin from the named segmental or distributing "source" arteries with their supply to the underlying muscles, tendons, nerves, and bones. Although this investigation encompassed the body, there were areas where the supply to individual tissues was not examined in detail. The present study, therefore, examines one of these regions where certain voids in our knowledge still exist--the forearm. Ten upper limbs from fresh cadavers were studied over an 18-month period after perfusing each with a radiopaque lead oxide mixture. The arterial supply to the skin and the bones of the forearm, together with that of a total of 200 muscles, was examined. The contribution to each was defined by dissection, by metal clip tagging of vessels, by radiography, and by mapping the branches with colored pins coded to match the respective source arteries. In the case of the muscles, a subtraction technique was used whereby the bones of the extremity were replaced with radiolucent balloons to obtain an unobscured picture of the forearm vasculature. Then the muscles were removed one by one from the muscle mass and x-rayed again. In this way, the angiosomes in the forearm, provided by the brachial, radial, ulnar, and interosseous arteries, were defined. Similarly, the contribution from each angiosome to the skin, to each muscle, and to the radius and the ulna was identified and the territories were color-coded to match these source arteries. Results showed that in most cases the connections between adjacent angiosomes occurred within tissues, not between them. The skin, the bones, and most muscles received branches from the source arteries of at least two angiosomes, thus revealing one of the important anastomotic pathways by which the circulation is reconstituted in those cases where a source artery is interrupted by disease or trauma. Several muscles, however, were supplied within one angiosome. This helps explain the variable clinical pictures seen in cases where the circulation is interrupted, such as that which occurs in a Volkmann's ischemic contracture. Finally, this anatomic study provides further information to help design various flaps from the forearm for local or free transfer. In the case of muscles, the supply to most from multiple angiosomes allows for refinements whereby a portion only of a muscle can be used. Similarly, this anatomic information reveals the pathway by which the supply to remaining muscle groups is reconstituted when one of the source arteries is harvested with a skin flap, a muscle, or part thereof.

Brachial Artery↗

Tissue expansion using osmotically active hydrogel systems for direct closure of the donor defect of the radial forearm flap.

Although widely used, the radial forearm flap has been criticized for the poor quality of its donor site. Attempts to avoid donor-site problems have concentrated on the elaboration of the split-thickness and full-thickness skin graft methods of reconstruction. Skin grafts frequently fail over the flexor carpi radialis tendon, leading to chronic skin breakdown or, at best, tendon adhesion. Tissue expansion appears to be a good alternative that allows the use of local tissues to ultimately improve the forearm donor-site appearance. To avoid the disadvantages of traditional silicone balloon expanders (such as pressure peaks, infection, the valve at a distance from the expander, postoperative fillings), an osmotically active system was used. In an 18-month prospective study, 10 osmotically active hydrogel tissue expanders were placed on the forearms of 10 patients. The radial forearm flap was performed for intraoral reconstruction after surgical resection of oral cavity malignancies. The study showed that, in nine out of 10 patients, the expanded skin achieved was sufficient to cover the donor site after raising the forearm flap. Additionally, the expansion-related swelling pressure was well tolerated by the patients, the cosmetic results were very satisfactory, and the incidence of complications was very low. By using osmotically active hydrogel tissue expanders, there is no postoperative filling and no risk of complications arising from defective balloon expanders, filling valves, or missing ports.

Adult↗

Recovery of mivacurium and doxacurium versus vecuronium in the isolated forearm.

To assess rate of biophase recovery, the recovery from neuromuscular block with mivacurium in the isolated forearm was compared with that from vecuronium simultaneously administered into the other isolated forearm of six volunteers. In a second series of similar experiments, recovery from doxacurium was compared with that from vecuronium. Neuromuscular block was monitored using the adductor pollicis mechanomyographic response to ulnar nerve stimulation at 0.2 Hz. Comparable degrees of maximum twitch tension depression were obtained in each series. In the first series, mean (SD) 25-75% recovery index for mivacurium was 8.4 (1.5) min and 10.5 (1.9) min for vecuronium. In the second series, mean (SD) recovery index for doxacurium was 18.3 (4.2) min and 12.2 (5.0) min for vecuronium. The recovery index of doxacurium in the isolated forearm was significantly greater, and the recovery index of mivacurium significantly less, than the recovery index of simultaneously administered vecuronium. Mivacurium block in the isolated forearm recovers rapidly, although not faster than after systemic injection; this is consistent with a drug that is retained in the biophase despite rapid plasma metabolism. Doxacurium block in the isolated forearm is slow to recover, compared with vecuronium; this suggests that high affinity for the biophase may contribute to its long duration of action.

Forearm↗

Effect of treatment with chlorthalidone and atenolol on response to dilator agents in the forearm resistance vessels of men with primary hypertension.

The forearm resistance vessels of men with primary hypertension respond to verapamil with a greater than normal dilatation relative to that induced by sodium nitroprusside. We have examined the effect on this functional abnormality of treatment with chlorthalidone (50 mg daily in 16 patients) and atenolol (100 mg daily in eight patients and 200 mg daily in two). The responsiveness of the forearm resistance vessels to local intra-arterial infusion of verapamil and sodium nitroprusside was assessed before treatment and again after a minimum of 1 month of drug therapy. Forearm blood flow was measured by venous occlusion plethysmography. Chlorthalidone induced significant reductions in calculated mean arterial pressure, which fell from 135 +/- 4 to 117 +/- 4 mm Hg, and the dilator response to verapamil at 5 micrograms/min, which was reduced from 2.4 +/- 0.2 to 1.5 +/- 0.2 ml min-1 100 ml-1 forearm; the response to sodium nitroprusside at 3.2 micrograms/min was not significantly changed. Atenolol induced significant reductions in mean arterial pressure, which fell from 134 +/- 6 to 123 +/- 6 mm Hg, heart rate which fell from 72 +/- 3 to 55 +/- 2 beats/min, and response to verapamil at 5 micrograms/min which fell from 2.7 +/- 0.2 to 2.1 +/- 0.2 ml min-1 100 ml-1 forearm; the response to sodium nitroprusside was not significantly changed. Both drugs caused reversion towards normal of the relative enhancement of responsiveness to verapamil that was present before treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

The effect of intra-arterial endothelin on resting blood flow and sympathetically mediated vasoconstriction in the forearm of man.

1. The hypothesis that endothelin (ET) influences sympathetically mediated vasoconstriction was investigated in 13 healthy, male subjects. 2. ET (1 pmol min-1) was infused for 60 min into the left brachial arteries of seven healthy male subjects. Resting forearm blood flow, and sympathetic vasoconstriction produced by lower body negative pressure (LBNP; 15 mm Hg), was measured in both arms by strain gauge plethysmography. In a further six subjects, noradrenaline (NA) was infused intra-arterially at doses of 150-600 pmol min-1, with and without co-infusion of ET (1 pmol min-1), with blood flow measured in both forearms. 3. ET produced a small but significant reduction of blood flow in the infused forearm from 3.9 +/- 0.6 ml 100 ml-1 min-1 during infusion of saline, to 3.3 +/- 0.7 ml 100 ml-1 min-1 during infusion of ET at 60 min (P less than 0.05). Blood flow in the non-infused forearm was not altered by ET infusion. 4. NA produced a significant and dose-dependent reduction of blood flow in the infused forearm from 3.13 +/- 0.5 ml 100 ml-1 min-1 during saline infusion, to 1.49 +/- 0.2 ml 100 ml-1 min-1 with NA at 600 pmol min-1 (P less than 0.001). During co-infusion of ET, blood flow was reduced similarly in the infused arm from 3.15 +/- 0.7 ml 100 ml-1 min-1 during saline infusion to 1.55 +/- 0.2 ml 100 ml-1 min-1 with NA at 600 pmol min-1. Blood flow in the non-infused arm was not altered by ET and NA infusion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

A comparison of the effects of captopril and enalapril on skin responses to intradermal bradykinin and skin blood flow in the human forearm.

1. The effects of captopril and enalapril on skin responses to intradermal injections of bradykinin and skin blood flow in the forearm were investigated in this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study. 2. Intradermal injections of 0, 1, 2.5 and 5 micrograms of bradykinin in 0.9% sodium chloride were made into the forearm of twelve healthy volunteers before and at 2, 6 and 24 h after single oral doses of 25 mg captopril, 10 mg enalapril or placebo. Forearm skin blood flow was measured by the technique of laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) before the injections were made and the skin responses evaluated at 15 min after injections of bradykinin by measurement of cutaneous blood flow outside the induced weal, erythema area and weal volume. 3. The bradykinin-induced cutaneous responses measured by LDF, erythema area and weal volume increased with incremental bradykinin dose. Compared with placebo, captopril significantly augmented the cutaneous vasodilator effects of bradykinin, measured by LDF and erythema area, at 2 h and the weal responses at 2 and 6 h. Enalapril enhanced the vasodilator responses to bradykinin at 2 and 6 h and the weal responses at 2, 6 and 24 h. Neither captopril nor enalapril significantly affected forearm skin blood flow. 4. This study showed that captopril and enalapril potentiated the effects of intradermal bradykinin both with respect to blood flow changes and weal formation in keeping with effective kininase II inhibition and the time course of these changes are consistent with enalapril being a longer acting drug than captopril. Captopril and enalapril exerted no influence on forearm skin blood flow measured by LDF.

Adult↗

Lack of tolerance in forearm blood vessels in man to glyceryl trinitrate.

1. Nitrate tolerance is a clinical problem. The cause is not known but it has been suggested that tolerance to organic nitrates occurs within the blood vessels to reduce sensitivity to the drug. We have determined the sensitivity of human forearm resistance vessels and veins to glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) at the beginning and end of a 7 day period of GTN administration in healthy volunteers using a clinically relevant dose of transdermal drug. 2. Eight healthy volunteers completed the study which entailed measurement of change in forearm venous compliance and change in forearm blood flow following intraarterial infusions of two doses of glyceryl trinitrate (0.5 and 2.0 micrograms min-1) before, after 2 h and after 7 days of transdermal GTN administration using one 10 mg patch each 24 h. 3. Changes in venous compliance and blood flow were measured by venous occlusion plethysmography using a basal infusion of noradrenaline (1 microgram min-1) to increase venous tone. 4. Noradrenaline produced the expected decrease in forearm blood flow and venous compliance. The effect of locally infused GTN on venous compliance and forearm blood flow was similar on the three study days. In particular there was no significant difference in the response to GTN following 7 days transdermal administration compared with that after 2 h. 5. We conclude from this study that local vascular tolerance to GTN is unlikely to explain the clinical problem of nitrate tolerance, and that other mechanisms such as neurohumoral activation may be important.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

Spatial variability of vasodilatation in human forearm skin.

Vasodilatation elicited by topical application of methyl nicotinate was measured by photoplethysmography at various positions on human ventral forearm skin. The time-to-peak response, the magnitude of the peak response, the area under the response-time curve and the time for the response to decay to 75% of the maximum value, were recorded at six positions on the left and right forearms of eight subjects. There was no significant difference between response on the right and left forearm sites and no difference in response between the lateral and medial sites on the forearms. In a second experiment, the vasodilatation was measured at proximal and distal positions on the forearm. The magnitude of the peak response at the proximal position was significantly higher than that found distally (P less than 0.01) as was the area under the response-time curve (P less than 0.05). These results suggest a possible cause for the variation observed in vasoconstrictor assays of corticosteroids.

Adult↗

Hydration, transepidermal water loss, pH and skin surface parameters: correlations and variations between dominant and non-dominant forearms.

The aim of this study was to examine differences between the skin of both forearms with regard to several parameters: hydration (skin capacitance), transepidermal water loss (TEWL), pH and skin surface parameters. Possible correlations between measurements were investigated. Thirty-three healthy women (32.6 +/- 8.4 years) participated in the study. The different parameters were measured on each volar forearm (dominant and non-dominant) at precisely delineated sites. TEWL and developed length (DL) were significantly increased on the dominant forearm (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively). In addition, a correlation matrix was calculated with the differences between dominant and non-dominant forearms for all the parameters measured. Only the skin surface parameters were found to be interrelated with this statistical approach. These data confirm that randomization between forearms is essential in the design of a reliable experimental plan, and indicate the lack of relationship between these measurements as assessed in a group of healthy young women.

Adult↗

Apolipoprotein E phenotype affects the malondialdehyde-modified LDL concentration and forearm endothelial function in postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether the apolipoprotein E (apo E) phenotype affects the serum concentration of malondialdehyde-modified low-density lipoprotein (MDA-LDL) or forearm endothelial function in postmenopausal women. PATIENTS AND MEASUREMENTS: Individuals were divided into three groups according to their apo E phenotype: E2 (E2/2 and E2/3, n = 12); E3 (E3/3, n = 71); and E4 (E3/4 and E4/4, n = 27). The serum concentrations of lipids and MDA-LDL were measured. Forearm blood flow during reactive hyperaemia and after sublingual nitroglycerin administration was measured by strain-gauge plethysmography. RESULTS: The serum concentrations of total and LDL cholesterol were significantly higher in the E4 group than in the E2 group (P < 0.05) or in the E3 group (P < 0.05). The serum apo B concentration was significantly higher in the E4 group than in the E2 group (P < 0.05). The serum concentrations of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and nitrite/nitrate were significantly lower in the E4 group than in the E2 group (P < 0.05). Other lipid concentrations did not differ in the three groups. The serum MDA-LDL concentration was highest in the E4 group, and was lowest in the E2 group (E2: 91.1 +/- 6.9 IU/l, E3: 112.3 +/- 5.9 IU/l, E4: 128.8 +/- 9.9 IU/l; P < 0.05). The forearm blood flow response to reactive hyperaemia was lowest in the E4 group, and highest in the E2 group (E2: 52.2 +/- 5.8 ml/min per 100 ml tissue, E3: 40.7 +/- 1.7 ml/min per 100 ml tissue, E4: 33.4 +/- 2.4 ml/min per 100 ml tissue; P < 0.05). The forearm blood flow changes in response to nitroglycerine were similar between all three groups. CONCLUSIONS: The apo E phenotype affects the serum MDA-LDL concentration and forearm endothelial function in postmenopausal women.

Aged↗

Haemodynamic and metabolic effects of combined adrenergic alpha- and beta-receptor blockade with labetalol in the exercising human forearm.

At rest supine acute intravenous administration of the combined adrenergic alpha- and beta-receptor blocking compound labetalol (1 mg/kg body weight) to young, healthy, male subjects, produced a clear-cut fall in arterial blood pressure. During dynamic forearm exercise, forearm blood flow decreased by 17.2%, and calculated vascular resistance increased by 11.3% after labetalol. Forearm oxygen uptake decreased (14.6%), suggesting an increased mechanical efficiency. Lactate release from the exercising forearm decreased (17.6%), probably because of the beta-receptor blockade. Forearm uptake of glucose and free fatty acids remained unchanged. Arterial blood glucose concentration attained a higher level after labetalol. Arterial plasma concentration of FFA was reduced during exercise and post-exercise probably because beta-receptor mediated lipolysis was antagonized.

Adult↗

Reduced forearm reactive hyperaemia in normoalbuminuric subjects with Type 1 diabetes and retinopathy.

AIM: To determine whether the forearm vasodilatory response to reactive hyperaemia (RH) is reduced in normoalbuminuric subjects with Type 1 diabetes mellitus and retinopathy compared with subjects with no retinopathy. METHODS: Forearm RH, an indicator of endothelial function, was measured, using strain-gauge plethysmography, in 39 normoalbuminuric subjects (22 with retinopathy) with long-standing Type 1 diabetes mellitus. RESULTS: were evaluated in relation to conventional risk factors for atherosclerosis, and C-reactive protein (CRP), which we have recently determined to be an independent correlate of forearm RH. RESULTS: Forearm RH was decreased in subjects with retinopathy compared with those with no retinopathy (219 +/- 182 vs. 473 +/- 355, P < 0.01). Both retinopathy and CRP proved to be independent and negative predictors, and explain 27% of the variance, in forearm RH. CONCLUSION: Retinopathy in subjects with Type 1 diabetes mellitus may reflect a generalized process of endothelial dysfunction, even in the absence of microalbuminuria.

Age Factors↗