Influence of Atherosclerotic Risk Factors on the Effectiveness of Therapeutic Ultrasound Cavitation for Flow Augmentation

BACKGROUND

Shear created by inertial cavitation of microbubbles by ultrasound augments limb and myocardial perfusion and can reverse tissue ischemia. Our aim was to determine whether this therapeutic bioeffect is attenuated by atherosclerotic risk factors that are known to impair shear-mediated vasodilation and adversely affect microvascular reactivity.

METHODS

In mice, lipid-stabilized decafluorobutane microbubbles (2 × 108) were administered intravenously while exposing a proximal hind limb to ultrasound (1.3 MHz, 1.3 mechanical index, pulsing interval 5 seconds) for 10 minutes. Murine strains included wild-type mice and severely hyperlipidemic mice at 15, 35, or 52 weeks of age as a model of aging and elevated cholesterol, and obese db/db mice (≈15 weeks) with severe insulin resistance. Quantitative contrast-enhanced ultrasound perfusion imaging was performed to assess microvascular perfusion in the control and ultrasound-exposed limb. An in situ electrochemical probe and in vivo biophotonic imaging were used to assess limb nitric oxide (NO) and adenosine triphosphosphate concentrations, respectively.

RESULTS

Microvascular perfusion was significantly increased by several fold in the cavitation-exposed limb versus control limb for all murine strains and ages (P < .001). In wild-type and hyperlipidemic mice, hyperemia from cavitation was attenuated in the 2 older age groups (P < .01). In young mice (15 weeks), perfusion in cavitation-exposed muscle was less in both the hyperlipidemic mice and the obese db/db mice compared with corresponding wild-type mice. Using young hyperlipidemic mice as a model for flow impairment, limb NO production after cavitation was reduced but adenosine triphosphosphate production was unaltered when compared with age-matched wild-type mice.

CONCLUSIONS

In mice, ultrasound cavitation of microbubbles increases limb perfusion by several fold even in the presence of traditional atherosclerotic risk factors. However, older age, hyperlipidemia, and insulin resistance modestly attenuate the degree of flow augmentation, which could impact the degree of flow response in current clinical trials in patients with critical limb ischemia.

Effects of Medications on Heat Loss Capacity in Chronic Disease Patients: Health Implications Amidst Global Warming

Pharmacological agents used to treat or manage diseases can modify the level of heat strain experienced by chronically ill and elderly patients via different mechanistic pathways. Human thermoregulation is a crucial homeostatic process that maintains body temperature within a narrow range during heat stress through dry (i.e., increasing skin blood flow) and evaporative (i.e., sweating) heat loss, as well as active inhibition of thermogenesis, which is crucial to avoid overheating. Medications can independently and synergistically interact with aging and chronic disease to alter homeostatic responses to rising body temperature during heat stress. This review focuses on the physiologic changes, with specific emphasis on thermolytic processes, associated with medication use during heat stress. The review begins by providing readers with a background of the global chronic disease burden. Human thermoregulation and aging effects are then summarized to give an understanding of the unique physiologic changes faced by older adults. The effects of common chronic diseases on temperature regulation are outlined in the main sections. Physiologic impacts of common medications used to treat these diseases are reviewed in detail, with emphasis on the mechanisms by which these medications alter thermolysis during heat stress. The review concludes by providing perspectives on the need to understand the effects of medication use in hot environments, as well as a summary table of all clinical considerations and research needs of the medications included in this review. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Long-term medications modulate thermoregulatory function, resulting in excess physiological strain and predisposing patients to adverse health outcomes during prolonged exposures to extreme heat during rest and physical work (e.g., exercise). Understanding the medication-specific mechanisms of altered thermoregulation has importance in both clinical and research settings, paving the way for work toward refining current medication prescription recommendations and formulating mitigation strategies for adverse drug effects in the heat in chronically ill patients.

The Hyperglycemia Stranglehold Stifles Cutaneous Epithelial‒Mesenchymal Plasticity and Functional Wound Closure

Iterative cycles of epithelial‒mesenchymal transition (EMT) and mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) are responsible for epithelial plasticity necessary to achieve functional wound closure. Restoration of the barrier function of the repaired skin is a hallmark of functional wound closure. Both EMT and MET are subject to control by glycemic status. A new article by Tan et al (2020) supports the notion that hyperglycemia blunts epithelial plasticity.

Glycemic management is inversely related to skeletal muscle microvascular endothelial function in patients with type 2 diabetes

Microvascular endothelial dysfunction precipitates cardiovascular disease mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the relationship between glycemic management and microvascular endothelial function of these patients remains ill defined. We investigated the association between skeletal muscle microvascular endothelial function with glycemic management (HbA1c) and responses to an oral glucose challenge (OGTT) in 30 patients with T2DM (59 ± 9 years, 31.2 ± 5.1 kg/m² , HbA1c = 7.3 ± 1.3%). On study day 1, microvascular endothelial function was quantified as the increase (Δ from rest) in forearm vascular conductance (FVC, ml/min/100 mmHg) during intra-arterial acetylcholine infusion at 4.0 and 8.0 μg/dl forearm volume/min (ACh4 and ACh8, respectively). [Glucose] and [insulin] were measured in a fasted state as well as following a 75 g OGTT on a second day with an additional fasting blood sample collected to measure HbA1c. FVC increased (Δ) 221 ± 118 and 251 ± 144 ml/min/100 mm Hg during ACh4 and ACh8 trials, respectively (p < 0.05 between doses). [Glucose] and [insulin] increased at the 1-h time point, relative to fasting levels, and remained elevated 2 h post-consumption (p < 0.05 for both variables and time points). [Glucose] nor [insulin], fasting or during the OGTT, were associated with ΔFVC during ACh4 or ACh8, respectively (p = 0.11-0.86), although HbA1c was inversely related (r = -0.47 and -0.46, respectively, p < 0.01 for both). Patients whose HbA1c met the ADA's therapeutic target of ≤7.0% had greater ΔFVC to ACh4 (272 ± 147 vs. 182 ± 74 ml/100 mm Hg/min) and ACh8 (324 ± 171 vs. 196 ± 90 ml/100 mm Hg/min, p < 0.05 for both trials) compared to those with >7.0%, respectively. Our data show glycemic management is related to acetylcholine-mediated vasodilation (e.g., microvascular endothelial function) in skeletal muscle of patients with T2DM.

KCa channels are major contributors to ATP-induced cutaneous vasodilation in healthy older adults

OBJECTIVE

To examine the contributions of calcium-activated K⁺ (K_Ca) channels and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) to adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-induced cutaneous vasodilation in healthy older adults.

METHODS

In eleven older adults (69 ± 2 years, 5 females), cutaneous vascular conductance, normalized to maximum vasodilation (%CVC_max) was assessed at four dorsal forearm skin sites that were continuously perfused with either 1) lactated Ringer solution (Control), 2) 50 mM tetraethylammonium (TEA, K_Ca channel blocker), 3) 10 mM N^ω-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA, NOS inhibitor), or 4) combined 50 mM TEA +10 mM L-NNA, via microdialysis. Local skin temperature was fixed at 33 °C at all sites with local heaters throughout the protocol while the cutaneous vasodilator response was assessed during coadministration of ATP (0.03, 0.3, 3, 30, 300 mM; 20 min per dose), followed by 50 mM sodium nitroprusside and local skin heating to 43 °C to achieve maximum vasodilation (20-30 min).

RESULTS

Blockade of K_Ca channels blunted %CVC_max relative to Control from 0.3 to 300 mM ATP (All P < 0.05). A similar response was observed for the combined K_Ca channel blockade and NOS inhibition site from 3 to 300 mM ATP (All P < 0.05). Conversely, NOS inhibition alone did not influence %CVC_max across all ATP doses (All P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

In healthy older adults, K_Ca channels play an important role in modulating ATP-induced cutaneous vasodilation, while the NOS contribution to this response is negligible.

P2Y Purinergic Receptors, Endothelial Dysfunction, and Cardiovascular Diseases

Purinergic G-protein-coupled receptors are ancient and the most abundant group of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). The wide distribution of purinergic receptors in the cardiovascular system, together with the expression of multiple receptor subtypes in endothelial cells (ECs) and other vascular cells demonstrates the physiological importance of the purinergic signaling system in the regulation of the cardiovascular system. This review discusses the contribution of purinergic P2Y receptors to endothelial dysfunction (ED) in numerous cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Endothelial dysfunction can be defined as a shift from a “calm” or non-activated state, characterized by low permeability, anti-thrombotic, and anti-inflammatory properties, to a “activated” state, characterized by vasoconstriction and increased permeability, pro-thrombotic, and pro-inflammatory properties. This state of ED is observed in many diseases, including atherosclerosis, diabetes, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, sepsis, and pulmonary hypertension. Herein, we review the recent advances in P2Y receptor physiology and emphasize some of their unique signaling features in pulmonary endothelial cells.

Individual Responses to Heat Stress: Implications for Hyperthermia and Physical Work Capacity

Background

Extreme heat events are increasing in frequency, severity, and duration. It is well known that heat stress can have a negative impact on occupational health and productivity, particularly during physical work. However, there are no up-to-date reviews on how vulnerability to heat changes as a function of individual characteristics in relation to the risk of hyperthermia and work capacity loss. The objective of this narrative review is to examine the role of individual characteristics on the human heat stress response, specifically in relation to hyperthermia risk and productivity loss in hot workplaces. Finally, we aim to generate practical guidance for industrial hygienists considering our findings. Factors included in the analysis were body mass, body surface area to mass ratio, body fat, aerobic fitness and training, heat adaptation, aging, sex, and chronic health conditions.

Findings

We found the relevance of any factor to be dynamic, based on the work-type (fixed pace or relative to fitness level), work intensity (low, moderate, or heavy work), climate type (humidity, clothing vapor resistance), and variable of interest (risk of hyperthermia or likelihood of productivity loss). Heat adaptation, high aerobic fitness, and having a large body mass are the most protective factors during heat exposure. Primary detrimental factors include low fitness, low body mass, and lack of heat adaptation. Aging beyond 50 years, being female, and diabetes are less impactful negative factors, since their independent effect is quite small in well matched participants. Skin surface area to mass ratio, body composition, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease are not strong independent predictors of the heat stress response.

Conclusion

Understanding how individual factors impact responses to heat stress is necessary for the prediction of heat wave impacts on occupational health and work capacity. The recommendations provided in this report could be utilized to help curtail hyperthermia risk and productivity losses induced by heat.

Alteration of purinergic signaling in diabetes: Focus on vascular function

Diabetes is an important risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease including atherosclerosis and ischemic heart disease. Vascular complications including macro- and micro-vascular dysfunction are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in diabetes. Disease mechanisms at present are unclear and no ideal therapies are available, which urgently calls for the identification of novel therapeutic targets/agents. An altered nucleotide- and nucleoside-mediated purinergic signaling has been implicated to cause diabetes-associated vascular dysfunction in major organs. Alteration of both purinergic P1 and P2 receptor sensitivity rather than the changes in receptor expression accounts for vascular dysfunction in diabetes. Activation of P2X₇ receptors plays a crucial role in diabetes-induced retinal microvascular dysfunction. Recent findings have revealed that both ecto-nucleotidase CD39, a key enzyme hydrolyzing ATP, and CD73, an enzyme regulating adenosine turnover, are involved in the renal vascular injury in diabetes. Interestingly, erythrocyte dysfunction in diabetes by decreasing ATP release in response to physiological stimuli may serve as an important trigger to induce vascular dysfunction. Nucleot(s)ide-mediated purinergic activation also exerts long-term actions including inflammatory and atherogenic effects in hyperglycemic and diabetic conditions. This review highlights the current knowledge regarding the altered nucleot(s)ide-mediated purinergic signaling as an important disease mechanism for the diabetes-associated vascular complications. Better understanding the role of key receptor-mediated signaling in diabetes will provide more insights into their potential as targets for the treatment.

Aging attenuates adenosine triphosphate-induced, but not muscarinic and nicotinic, cutaneous vasodilation in men

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated the hypothesis that aging attenuates muscarinic, nicotinic, and ATP-related cutaneous vasodilation.

METHODS

In 11 young (24 ± 4 years) and 11 older males (61 ± 8 years), CVC was assessed at 3 forearm skin sites that were infused with either: (i) methacholine (muscarinic receptor agonist, 5 doses: 0.0125, 0.25, 5, 100, 2000 mmol/L), (ii) nicotine (nicotinic receptor agonist, 5 doses: 1.2, 3.6, 11, 33, 100 mmol/L), or (iii) ATP (purinergic receptor agonist, 5 doses: 0.03, 0.3, 3, 30, 300 mmol/L). Each agonist was administered for 25 minutes per dose.

RESULTS

We showed that CVC at all doses of methacholine did not differ between groups. Similarly, no between-group differences in CVC were observed during nicotine administration at all doses administered. By contrast, while no differences in CVC were measured during the administration of ATP at low (0.03 and 0.3 mmol/L) or high (300 mmol/L) concentrations, CVC was reduced in the older relative to the young males at moderate concentrations of ATP (3 mmol/L: 23 ± 6 vs 40 ± 13%max, 30 mmol/L: 62 ± 11 vs 83 ± 8%max, both P ≤ .05).

CONCLUSIONS

We show that aging attenuates ATP-induced, but not muscarinic or nicotinic, cutaneous vasodilation in men.