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Abstract First-degree atrioventricular block (AVB) is a common electrocardiogram finding in clinical practice. Vascular dysfunction is associated with cardiovascular disease and events. There is no information on the association of AVB with vascular function. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the associations of PR interval with vascular function assessed in well-characterized subjects. A total of 2220 subjects were enrolled in this study. We evaluated endothelium-dependent vasodilatation assessed by flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) and endothelium-independent vasodilatation assessed by nitroglycerine-induced vasodilation (NID) in 106 subjects with first-degree AVB (70 men; mean age, 64.3 ± 12.9 years) and 1241 subjects with normal PR interval (531 men; mean age, 56.1 ± 13.9 years). Subjects with first-degree AVB had a lower FMD value than that in subjects with normal PR interval (3.5 ± 2.4% vs. 4.9 ± 3.3%, P

Abstract Here we report the effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) on symptoms in peripheral arterial disease patients with Buerger disease. A double-blinded and randomized study with active and inactive LIPUS was conducted. We assessed symptoms in leg circulation during a 24-week period of LIPUS irradiation in 12 patients with Buerger disease. Twelve patients without LIPUS irradiation served as controls. The pain intensity on visual analog score was significantly decreased after 24-week LIPUS treatment. Skin perfusion pressure was significantly increased in patients who received LIPUS treatment. There was no significant difference in symptoms and perfusion parameters in the control group. No severe adverse effects were observed in any of the patients who underwent LIPUS treatment. LIPUS is noninvasive, safe and effective option for improving symptoms in patients with Buerger disease.

The effects of Covid-19 vaccines on vascular function are still controversial. We evaluated the effects of BNT162b2 vaccine (BioNTech and Pfizer) on endothelial function assessed by flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) and vascular smooth muscle function assessed by nitroglycerine-induced vasodilation (NID). This study was a prospective observational study. A total of 23 medical staff at Hiroshima University Hospital were enrolled in this study. FMD and NID were measured before vaccination and two weeks and six months after the 2nd dose of vaccination. FMD was significantly smaller two weeks after the 2nd dose of vaccination than before vaccination (6.5±2.4% and 8.2±2.6%, p = 0.03). FMD was significantly larger at six months than at two weeks after the 2nd dose of vaccination (8.2±3.0% and 6.5±2.4%, p = 0.03). There was no significant difference between FMD before vaccination and that at six months after the 2nd dose of vaccination (8.2±2.6% to 8.2±3.0%, p = 0.96). NID values were similar before vaccination and at two weeks, and six months after vaccination (p = 0.89). The BNT162b2 Covid-19 vaccine temporally impaired endothelial function but not vascular smooth muscle function, and the impaired endothelial function returned to the baseline level within six months after vaccination.