Music attenuates a widened central pulse pressure caused by resistance exercise: A randomized, single-blinded, sham-controlled, crossover study

Correlation analysis of central arterial pressure parameters and the severity of atherosclerotic lesions in coronary arteries: A retrospective study

To investigate the correlation between central arterial pressure (CAP) parameters and the severity of atherosclerotic lesions in the coronary arteries, understand the value of CAP in assessing the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), and provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of CHD. Between January 2021 and January 2022, 224 patients admitted to our hospital for complete coronary angiography (CAG) were included in this retrospective study. CAP parameters, including central systolic pressure (CSP), diastolic pressure (CDP), and pulse pressure (CPP), and Gensini scores were collected; the association between CAP parameters and the severity of coronary lesions was analyzed using the Pearson correlation coefficient (r) and multivariate regression analysis. CPP was significantly higher in the coronary multi-branch lesion group than in the single-branch lesion group in patients with CHD (P < .05). CSP, CDP, and CPP were significantly higher in the high Gensini score group than in the low Gensini score group for coronary vascular lesions; furthermore, CSP and CPP were significantly higher in the high Gensini score group than in the medium Gensini score group (P < .05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that CSP and CPP were positively and CDP was negatively correlated with the severity of coronary artery lesions in patients with CHD (P < .05). Logistic regression analysis showed that a history of diabetes, CSP, CDP, and CPP were independent risk factors for severe atherosclerotic lesions in the coronary arteries (P < .05). noninvasive CAP-related indices, such as CSP, CDP, and CPP, are independently correlated with and can be used to predict the severity of coronary lesions in patients with CHD, which may be beneficial for guiding clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Eccentric exercise improves myocardial oxygen supply/demand balance with decelerating aortic diastolic pressure decay: The acute and chronic studies

Both eccentric (ECC) and concentric (CON) exercises improve energy expenditure and blood lipid profile. Although ECC exercise has a more beneficial effect on these factors than CON exercise, its benefits on vital organs are still unclear. This study investigated the mode-of-action-dependent effects on myocardial perfusion index. Seventeen healthy men (age: 26 ± 5 years) were randomly enrolled in CON (n = 9) and ECC (n = 8) groups. Transient exercise and regular training (three-day a week for 4-week) included bicep curl comprising 5-set of 10-repetition, each using 75% one-repetition maximum concentric loading. The ECC group performed one-repetition of ECC for 3-s and CON for 1-s, while the CON group performed one-repetition of CON for 3-s and ECC for 1-s. All participants were assessed for subendocardial viability ratio (SEVR, myocardial perfusion index) and aortic diastolic pressure decay. Before study, these were found to be same for both groups. Transient (ΔSEVR: 20.3 ± 13.3%, p = 0.01; Δdecay: -0.07 ± 0.02 s^-1, p < .001) and regular (ΔSEVR: 18.5 ± 12.8%, p = .001; Δdecay: -0.06 ± 0.05 s^-1, p = .004) ECC (but not CON) exercises significantly increased SEVR and decelerated decay. Increased SEVR with ECC exercise was associated with decelerated decay (transient ECC: r² = 0.56, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.95 to -0.10, p = .03; regular ECC: r² = 0.53, 95% CI = -0.95 to -0.05, p = .04). These findings suggest that ECC exercise improves myocardial perfusion and diastolic pressure contour is involved in physiological mechanisms.

Body height determines carotid stiffness following resistance exercise in young Japanese men

Height is inversely associated with an increase in arterial stiffness after habitual resistance exercise (RE). Considering that RE is performed during exercise prescriptions, the association between height and the acute effects of RE on arterial stiffness should be clarified. We investigated the effects of height on arterial stiffness following transient RE. Thirty-nine young Japanese men were studied under parallel experimental conditions (sham control [seated rest] and RE [5 sets of 10 repetitions at 75% of one-repetition maximum]), which were randomly ordered on two separate days. The subjects were divided into tertiles of height (each group, n = 13). The β-stiffness index (index of arterial stiffness), assessed by carotid pulse pressure and distension, was measured in all subjects. A significant interaction between time, height, and RE was found for the β-stiffness index (P = 0.01). RE significantly increased the β-stiffness index in the lower height group (P < 0.001), but not in the middle and higher height groups. Height was negatively associated with an increase in β-stiffness index following RE, even after controlling the confounders, including exercise volume and changes in heart rate and carotid pulse pressure (P = 0.003). The mediation analysis demonstrated a mediating effect of carotid distension on the relationship between height and changes in the β-stiffness index. These results suggest that short height individuals have increased arterial stiffness following RE due to decreased mechanical distension, rather than through the widening of pulsatile pressure.

Stature is negatively associated with increased arterial stiffness after high-intensity bicep curls training in young Japanese men

Reports have indicated that high-intensity resistance training (RT) increases or does not change arterial stiffness. Meanwhile, higher stature has been suggested to have a protective effect on cardiovascular disease and arterial stiffness. Stature could explain the disagreement in the reported effects of RT on arterial stiffness. This study was aimed at investigating whether stature is related to RT-induced change in arterial stiffness. Thirty-six young Japanese men were assigned to the control (n = 15) and training groups (n = 21). RT programme consisted of supervised bicep curls 3 days per week for 4 weeks (5 sets of 10 repetitions at 75% of 1-repetition maximum). Arterial compliance (AC) and β-stiffness index (via combination of ultrasound and carotid pressure waveforms) were measured in all participants. To verify the effect of stature on RT-induced change in arterial stiffness, the training group was divided into tertiles of stature: lower, middle, and higher stature groups (each group, n = 7). RT significantly decreased AC and increased β-stiffness index in only the lower stature group (both, P < 0.05). Moreover, stature was positively associated with decreased AC and negatively associated with increased β-stiffness index, even after adjusting for confounders including changes in relative strength, pulse pressure, and arterial distension (P < 0.05). The present results suggest that short stature contributes to the increase in arterial stiffness induced by RT in young Japanese men. The present findings suggest that stature should be taken into consideration when designing/engaging in RT programme, due to potential implications for cardiovascular health.Highlights Participants were divided into 3 groups according to tertiles of statures, and arterial stiffness of lower stature group (range of stature: 161.0-169.8 cm) increased after resistance training in young Japanese men, but not middle and higher stature group.Stature was negatively associated with the changed arterial stiffness by resistance training.This study suggests that short stature contributes to the elevation in arterial stiffness elicited by resistance training.