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Barbeau-Meunier CA, Bernier M, Côté S, Gilbert G, Bocti C, Whittingstall K. Sexual dimorphism in the cerebrovascular network: Brain MRI shows lower arterial density in women. J Neuroimaging 2021; 32:337-344. [PMID: 34861082 DOI: 10.1111/jon.12951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Accumulating evidence suggests that there is a sexual dimorphism in brain health, with women exhibiting greater disability following strokes of comparable size and having a higher prevalence of cognitive impairment later in life. Despite the critical implication of the cerebrovascular architecture in brain perfusion and brain health, it remains unclear whether structural differences in vessel density exist across the sexes. METHODS In this study, we used high-density MRI imaging to characterize the intracerebral arterial and venous density of 28 (14 women) sex-matched healthy young volunteers in vivo. Using an in-house vessel segmentation algorithm, we quantified and compared these vascular features across the cortical and subcortical deep gray matter, white matter, and periventricular white matter. RESULTS We found that, on average, women have reduced intracerebral arterial density in comparison to men (F 2.34 ± 0.48%, M 2.67 ± 0.39%; p<.05). This difference was most pronounced in the subcortical deep gray matter (F 1.78 ± 0.53%, M 2.38 ± 0.82%; p<.05) and periventricular white matter (F 0.68 ± 0.15%, M 1.14 ± 0.33%; p<.0005), indicating a potential sex-specific vulnerability to hypoperfusion in areas critical to core cerebral functions. In contrast, venous density did not exhibit a significant difference between sexes. CONCLUSIONS While this research remains exploratory, it raises important pathophysiological considerations for brain health, adverse cerebrovascular events, and dementia across the sexes. Our findings also highlight the need to take into account sex differences when investigating cerebral characteristics in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michaël Bernier
- Martinos Center - MGH - Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Samantha Côté
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Radiobiology, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Guillaume Gilbert
- MR Clinical Science, Philips Healthcare Canada, Markham, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christian Bocti
- Research Center on Aging, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Kevin Whittingstall
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Radiobiology, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
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Brislane Á, Steinback CD, Davenport MH. The Nine Month Stress Test: Pregnancy and Exercise - Similarities and Interactions. Can J Cardiol 2021; 37:2014-2025. [PMID: 34534622 DOI: 10.1016/j.cjca.2021.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Of all physiological systems, the cardiovascular system takes on the most profound adaptation in pregnancy to support fetal growth and development. The adaptations that arise are systemic and involve structural and functional changes that can be observed at the cerebral, central, peripheral, and microvascular beds. This includes, although is not limited to increased heart rate, stroke volume and cardiac output with negligible change to blood pressure, reductions in vascular resistance and cerebral blood flow velocity, systemic artery enlargement, enhanced endothelial function. All of this takes place to accommodate blood volume expansion and ensure adequate fetal and maternal oxygen delivery. In some instances, the demand placed on the vasculature can manifest as cardiovascular maladaptation and thus, cardiovascular complications can arise. Exercise is recommended in pregnancy because of its powerful ability to reduce the incidence and severity of cardiovascular complications in pregnancy. However, the mechanism by which it acts is poorly understood. The first aim of this review is to describe the systemic adaptations that take place in pregnancy. Secondly, this review aims to describe the influence of exercise on these systemic adaptations. It is anticipated that this review can comprehensively capture the extent of knowledge in this area while identifying areas that warrant further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Áine Brislane
- Program for Pregnancy & Postpartum Health, Neurovascular Health Lab, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, Women and Children's Health Research Institute, Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Alberta, Canada
| | - Craig D Steinback
- Program for Pregnancy & Postpartum Health, Neurovascular Health Lab, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, Women and Children's Health Research Institute, Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Alberta, Canada
| | - Margie H Davenport
- Program for Pregnancy & Postpartum Health, Neurovascular Health Lab, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, Women and Children's Health Research Institute, Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Alberta, Canada.
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Cooking fuels use and carotid intima-media thickness during early pregnancy of women in Myanmar. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0236151. [PMID: 32726349 PMCID: PMC7390349 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0236151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fuels burned in households for cooking cause indoor air pollution, exposing those who are cooking. Despite the mounting evidence of the effects of fuels use on health, few studies focus on the effect of cooking fuels have on carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), a surrogate atherosclerosis biomarker in the early stages of pregnancy. This study aimed to examine the association between the use of cooking fuels and CIMT during early trimester of pregnancy among cooking women in Myanmar. METHODOLOGY In this cross-sectional study, a part of an ongoing birth cohort analysis, a total of 192 cooking pregnant women over 18 years with gestational weeks less than 18 were recruited from 15 rural health centers in Nay Pyi Taw from September to November 2019. Sociodemographic data, residential data, and fuels use data were collected with semi-structured questionnaires in face-to-face interviews. Anthropometric, hemodynamic, blood lipids, and ultrasound CIMT measurements were performed under standard protocols. Multiple linear regression was modeled to explore associations. RESULTS The study included 70 firewood fuel users, 26 charcoal fuel users, and 96 electricity fuel users. Following adjustments for potential confounding factors, firewood use was significantly associated with the increase of all CIMT analyzed. Importantly, a greater increase of mean CIMT of the right common carotid artery (RCCA; β = 0.033 mm; 95%CI: 0.006, 0.058; P<0.05) had significant association with charcoal use compared to firewood use (β = 0.029 mm; 95%CI: 0.010, 0.049; P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate that the indoor use of cooking fuels that cause indoor air pollution, such as firewood and charcoal, is a considerable risk factor for human health and is associated with increased CIMT, wherein charcoal use contributes to more increase of mean CIMT of the RCCA. Measures to prevent health risks related to the use of such fuels should be instituted early on during pregnancy.
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Vounzoulaki E, Dipla K, Kintiraki E, Triantafyllou A, Grigoriadou I, Koletsos N, Zafeiridis A, Goulis DG, Douma S. Pregnancy and post-partum muscle and cerebral oxygenation during intermittent exercise in gestational diabetes: A pilot study. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2018; 232:54-59. [PMID: 30468984 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2018.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/10/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This pilot, prospective, observational, cohort study aimed to examine, for the first time, the in vivo alterations in the oxygenation of the forearm skeletal muscles and the prefrontal lobes during intermittent exercise in women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), during and after pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN Nine pregnant women, diagnosed with GDM, performed a 3-min intermittent handgrip exercise protocol (at 35% of Maximal Voluntary Contraction) during pregnancy (mean 27th gestational week) and following labor (mean 71 weeks). During the protocol, muscle and cerebral oxygenation were assessed with near-infrared spectroscopy. Resting vascular parameters [carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and hemodynamic parameters (using rheocardiography)], and hematological/biochemical parameters during pregnancy and after delivery have been compared. RESULTS Although changes were observed in certain hematological parameters (p< 0.05), cIMT and hemodynamic parameters were not altered post-partum. In addition, both muscle and cerebral oxygenation parameters during handgrip were not significantly altered post-partum. CONCLUSIONS Despite significant changes in specific hematological parameters in women with GDM, impairments in muscle and cerebral oxygenation during exercise remained at one year after labor. These results indicate that alterations in vascular parameters and muscle/cerebral oxygenation associated with GDM do not entirely reverse post-partum. Future studies are needed to examine which interventions will lead to improvements in microvascular parameters and prevent type 2 diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elpida Vounzoulaki
- Unit of Reproductive Endocrinology, First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - Konstantina Dipla
- Laboratory of Exercise Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Physical Education and Sports Science at Serres, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Evangelia Kintiraki
- Unit of Reproductive Endocrinology, First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Areti Triantafyllou
- Third Department of Internal Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, "Papageorgiou" Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Iris Grigoriadou
- Laboratory of Exercise Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Physical Education and Sports Science at Serres, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Koletsos
- Third Department of Internal Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, "Papageorgiou" Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Andreas Zafeiridis
- Laboratory of Exercise Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Physical Education and Sports Science at Serres, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Dimitrios G Goulis
- Unit of Reproductive Endocrinology, First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Stella Douma
- Third Department of Internal Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, "Papageorgiou" Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
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Niemczyk NA, Catov JM, Desai MM, McClure CK, Roberts JM, Sekikawa A, Tepper PG, Barinas-Mitchell E. Brachial artery stiffening in healthy primigravidas is associated with weight gain and increased cardiac output. Hypertens Pregnancy 2018; 37:204-211. [PMID: 30257118 DOI: 10.1080/10641955.2018.1524479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess brachial artery distensibility and associated factors in healthy primigravidas. METHODS We assessed brachial artery distensibility using the DynaPulse 5,000A in 37 women each trimester, and 6-8 weeks and 1-5 years postpartum. Associations with physical and cardiometabolic measures were considered. RESULTS Mean (SE) brachial artery distensibility (%Δ/mmHg) decreased (stiffened) from 7.50 (0.20) 12-14 weeks to 6.93 (0.22) 36-38 weeks (p < .01) and returned to baseline 7.52 (0.44) at 2.7 years postpartum. Weight gain and greater cardiac output were significantly related to greater stiffness. CONCLUSION Increased weight and cardiac output of pregnancy were associated with brachial artery stiffening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy Anderson Niemczyk
- a Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health , University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh , PA , USA.,b Department of Health Promotion and Development, School of Nursing , University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh , PA , USA
| | - Janet M Catov
- a Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health , University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh , PA , USA.,c Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine , University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh , PA , USA.,d Department of Clinical and Translational Research, School of Medicine , University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh , PA , USA
| | - Mansi M Desai
- a Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health , University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh , PA , USA
| | - Candace K McClure
- a Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health , University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh , PA , USA
| | - James M Roberts
- a Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health , University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh , PA , USA.,c Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine , University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh , PA , USA.,d Department of Clinical and Translational Research, School of Medicine , University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh , PA , USA.,e Magee-Womens Research Institute , Magee-Womens Hospital of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) , Pittsburgh , PA , USA
| | - Akira Sekikawa
- a Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health , University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh , PA , USA
| | - Ping Guo Tepper
- a Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health , University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh , PA , USA
| | - Emma Barinas-Mitchell
- a Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health , University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh , PA , USA
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