The relationship between forearm skin speed-resolved perfusion and oxygen saturation, and finger arterial pulsation amplitudes, as indirect measures of endothelial function

Tumor-Derived Exosomes Promote Tumor Growth Through Modulating Microvascular Hemodynamics in a Human Ovarian Cancer Xenograft Model

OBJECTIVE

Abnormal tumor vascular network contributes to aberrant blood perfusion and reduced oxygenation in tumors, which lead to poor efficacy of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. We aimed to explore the effects of the tumor-derived exosomes (TDEs) and C188-9 (a small molecule inhibitor of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, STAT3) on tumor microvascular hemodynamics and determine which blood flow oscillations for various frequency intervals are responsible for these changes.

METHODS

Microvascular hemodynamics parameters were recorded using a PeriFlux 6000 EPOS system in tumor surface in a nude mouse subcutaneous xenograft model. Oscillations of laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) signal were investigated by wavelet transform analysis.

RESULTS

TDEs facilitated tumor growth at least partially was associated with increasing blood flow in smaller vessels with lower speed and decreasing the blood flow at larger vessels with higher speed. Lower oxyhemoglobin saturation (SO2) on tumor surface was aggravated by TDEs, and C188-9 treatment significantly alleviated this decrease. Wavelet transform spectral analysis revealed that TDEs increased the amplitude of oscillations in four frequency intervals related to endothelial (NO-dependent and -independent), myogenic and neurogenic activities, and C188-9 had no effect on this increase.

CONCLUSIONS

TDEs facilitated tumor growth partially was associated with increasing blood flow in distributing vessels, reducing blood perfusion in larger vessels, and lowering SO2 on tumor surface. Enhanced vascular smooth muscle, endothelial and neurogenic activities occurred in tumor superficial zone.

Microvascular dysfunction in women with a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: A population-based retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate microvascular function in women with previous hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP).

DESIGN

Retrospective population-based cohort study.

SETTING

Linköping, Sweden.

POPULATION

Women aged 50-65 years, participating in the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study (SCAPIS) at one site (Linköping) 2016-18, who underwent microcirculatory assessment (N = 1222).

METHODS

Forearm skin comprehensive microcirculatory assessment was performed with a PeriFlux PF6000 EPOS (Enhanced Perfusion and Oxygen Saturation) system measuring oxygen saturation and total speed resolved perfusion. Obstetric records were reviewed to identify women with previous HDP. Data on cardiovascular risk factors, comorbidities, medication, lifestyle, anthropometric data, and biochemical analyses were obtained from SCAPIS. The microcirculatory data were compared between women with and without previous HDP.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Skin microcirculatory oxygen saturation and total speed resolved perfusion at baseline and post-ischaemic peak.

RESULTS

Women with previous pre-eclampsia displayed impaired post-ischaemic peak oxygen saturation compared with women with normotensive pregnancies (88%, interquartile range [IQR] 84-89% vs 91%, IQR 87-94%, p = 0.001) 6-30 years after pregnancy. The difference remained after multivariable adjustment (β -2.69, 95% CI -4.93 to -0.45).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings reveal microvascular dysfunction at long-term follow up in women with previous pre-eclampsia and strengthen the possible role of endothelial dysfunction as a link to the increased risk of cardiovascular disease in women with HDP.

Cardio-metabolic risk modeling and assessment through sensor-based measurements

OBJECTIVE

Cardio-metabolic risk assessment in the general population is of paramount importance to reduce diseases burdened by high morbility and mortality. The present paper defines a strategy for out-of-hospital cardio-metabolic risk assessment, based on data acquired from contact-less sensors.

METHODS

We employ Structural Equation Modeling to identify latent clinical variables of cardio-metabolic risk, related to anthropometric, glycolipidic and vascular function factors. Then, we define a set of sensor-based measurements that correlate with the clinical latent variables.

RESULTS

Our measurements identify subjects with one or more risk factors in a population of 68 healthy volunteers from the EU-funded SEMEOTICONS project with accuracy 82.4%, sensitivity 82.5%, and specificity 82.1%.

CONCLUSIONS

Our preliminary results strengthen the role of self-monitoring systems for cardio-metabolic risk prevention.