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Arterial hypertension leads to modification of the cerebral circulation. This results from the changes in the properties of the large arteries, the correlation between large and small arteries, and the local and systemic molecular factors. The current literature indicates several mechanical components that can modify arterial pressure and flow in the brain: 1. Functionally significant arterial stenosis (with reference to the completed or not-completed Willis circle pattern); 2. Elastic properties of the arteries that are transmitted to the microcirculation (vascular wall characteristics and central aortic pressure); including vascular modification by the general atherosclerotic burden; 3. Small vessel dysfunction; 4. Systemic and local biochemical factors that can influence cerebral microcirculation. The microvascular endothelium is the end of the arterial tree - the ultimate target organ, which responds to mechanical and biochemical, systemic, and local molecular stimuli in almost one and the same way. It is modified by systemic vascular and local metabolic requirements. When microvascular endothelium is impaired, a uniform endothelial "response to injury" follows, abnormal neurohormonal and paracrine signaling, which leads to disruption of the blood-brain barrier and the neurovascular coupling, molecular spill out, modification of local and systemic flow, which in turn closes the vicious circle of endothelial impairment. Large arteries' properties influence microvasculature and local endothelial paracrine and mechanical function. The exact correlation between large and small vessels, morphological characteristics of the aorta and cerebral microcirculation is not fully understood. Further studies of this correlation may have potential implications for the clinical practice. In this review, we herein discuss the possible interaction between the characteristics of large arteries, the small cerebral arteries, and the vascular endothelium in terms of the significance of this process for the cerebral perfusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Central aortic pressure (CAP) can be measured through noninvasive methods, and CAP wave analysis can provide information about arterial stiffness. The objective of this study was to compare CAP in women with preeclampsia and normotensive postpartum women from an urban region in western Mexico. Materials and Methods: We recruited 78 women in immediate puerperium, including 39 with preeclampsia and 39 with normotension, who received delivery care in our hospital between September 2017 and January 2018. Pulse wave analysis was used to assess central hemodynamics as well as arterial stiffness with an oscillometric device. For this purpose, the measurement of the wave of the left radial artery was obtained with a wrist applanation tonometer and the ascending aortic pressure wave was generated using the accompanying software (V 1.1, Omron, Japan). Additionally, the systolic CAP, diastolic pressure, pulse pressure, heart rate, and rise rate adjusted for a heart rate of 75 bpm were determined. The radial pulse wave was calibrated using the diastolic and mean arterial pressures obtained from the left brachial artery. For all the statistical analyses, we considered p < 0.05 to be significant. Results: The results were as follows: a systolic CAP of 125.40 (SD 15.46) vs. 112.10 (SD 10.12) with p < 0.0001 for women with and without preeclampsia, respectively. Systolic CAP was significantly elevated in women with preeclampsia and could indicate an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease. Conclusion: CAP is an important parameter that can be measured in this group of patients and is significantly elevated in women with postpartum preeclampsia, even when the brachial blood pressure is normal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Central aortic pressure (CAP) can be measured through noninvasive methods, and CAP wave analysis can provide information about arterial stiffness. The objective of this study was to compare CAP in women with preeclampsia and normotensive postpartum women from an urban region in western Mexico. Materials and Methods: We recruited 78 women in immediate puerperium, including 39 with preeclampsia and 39 with normotension, who received delivery care in our hospital between September 2017 and January 2018. Pulse wave analysis was used to assess central hemodynamics as well as arterial stiffness with an oscillometric device. For this purpose, the measurement of the wave of the left radial artery was obtained with a wrist applanation tonometer and the ascending aortic pressure wave was generated using the accompanying software (V 1.1, Omron, Japan). Additionally, the systolic CAP, diastolic pressure, pulse pressure, heart rate, and rise rate adjusted for a heart rate of 75 bpm were determined. The radial pulse wave was calibrated using the diastolic and mean arterial pressures obtained from the left brachial artery. For all the statistical analyses, we considered p < 0.05 to be significant. Results: The results were as follows: a systolic CAP of 125.40 (SD 15.46) vs. 112.10 (SD 10.12) with p < 0.0001 for women with and without preeclampsia, respectively. Systolic CAP was significantly elevated in women with preeclampsia and could indicate an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease. Conclusion: CAP is an important parameter that can be measured in this group of patients and is significantly elevated in women with postpartum preeclampsia, even when the brachial blood pressure is normal.

Background. Changes in the vascular wall, in particular, an increase in its stiffness and an increase in pressure in the aorta, as well as hypertrophy of the left ventricular myocardium are factors that determine a poor prognosis in patients with arterial hypertension. At the same time, the peculiarities of changes in arterial stiffness indices and left ventricular myocardial remodeling in patients with different sensitivity to salt loading have not been adequately studied. Aim. To conduct a comparative analysis of the values of peripheral blood pressure and central aortic pressure, indicators of left ventricular myocardial remodeling in salt-sensitive and salt-resistant patients with arterial hypertension. Materials and methods. The study involved 180 patients with arterial hypertension: 96 men and 84 women. The median age was 59 years. Salt sensitivity test was performed according to V.I. Kharchenko. All patients underwent 24-hour blood pressure monitoring, echocardiography. Indicators of peripheral arterial pressure and central aortic pressure, remodeling of the left ventricular myocardium were determined. Results. According to the results of the test V.I. Kharchenko, 88 patients were classified as salt-sensitive, 92 as salt-resistant. After a salt sensitivity test in salt-sensitive patients, the main indicators of peripheral blood pressure and central aortic pressure exceeded those in salt-resistant patients in the daytime, at night, and throughout the day as a whole. In the group of salt-sensitive individuals, statistically more significant negative changes in echocardiographic parameters were recorded; a significant number of salt-sensitive patients were diagnosed with prognostically unfavorable variants of left ventricular myocardial remodeling. Conclusion. In salt-sensitive patients with arterial hypertension, compared with salt-resistant patients, there are higher values of both peripheral blood pressure and central aortic pressure, more significant negative changes in echocardiographic parameters with the formation of concentric hypertrophy and eccentric remodeling of the left ventricular myocardium. It can be assumed that the assessment of salt sensitivity makes it possible to verify patients with the most unfavorable changes in parameters of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and significant remodeling of the left ventricular myocardium. This approach can be used to individualize pharmacotherapy in patients with arterial hypertension and increase its effectiveness.

Background. Anxiety-depressive disorders (ADD) afflict almost half of patients with arterial hypertension (AH). AH aggravation by psychoemotional disorders causes a more severe illness and rapid target organ injury, particularly, the increased arterial stiffness and central aortic pressure (CAP). However, the prospects of combined antihypertensive-antidepressant treatments in AH-ADD patients remain largely unexplored.Objectives. The effect assessment in combined antihypertensive-psychocorrective therapy on circadian blood pressure (BP), vascular stiffness and CAP, anxiety and depression in women with AH and ADD.Methods. The study enrolled 60 AH-ADD women randomised between two cohorts. Cohort 1 received a fixed combination of valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide, bisoprolol and sertraline antidepressant; cohort 2 only had same combined AH therapy. Past 24 weeks of trial, all patients had a general clinical examination and daily blood pressure monitoring (DBPM) with BpLab Vasotens (Petr Telegin Ltd., Russia) and control of daily BP, CAP and vascular stiffness. The psychometric HADS and CES-D scales were used along with psychiatric counselling.Results. Past four weeks of treatment, the target blood pressure (TBP) was revealed in 60 and 36.7% patients, and in 90 and 66.6% — past eight weeks in cohorts 1 and 2, respectively. Cohort 1 vs. 2 required a lower valsartan dose to attain TBP. Past six months, both cohorts showed improved main DBPM values reflecting vascular stiffness and CAP. However, a statistical decrease in nocturnal central and peripheral BP, as well as improved BP variability and vascular stiffness were registered at antidepressant use. A normalised daily BP profile was significantly more frequent in cohort 1. In addition, sertraline had a significant ADD-reductive impact.Conclusion. An antidepressant-combined conventional AH therapy in AH-ADD women facilitated a faster TBP achievement at lower AH agent doses and the significantly improved DBPM (nocturnal specifically), arterial stiffness and CAP values. A sertraline treatment improved the psychoemotional patient state.

Abstract Introduction Structural and functional changes of the vascular wall in women occur already at the very early stages of reproductive aging. An emergence of applanation tonometry made it possible to evaluate arterial stiffness and central hemodynamic parameters non-invasively, which considerably expanded the information that had been provided previously by invasive methods used for studying these parameters during cardiac catheterization. Whereas a few studies have assessed central aortic pressure (CAP) parameters and reflected pulse wave in women at different phases of their reproductive aging, none investigated the daily profile of CAP and reflected pulse wave parameters in women undergoing different stages of the menopause. Background: assessment of the daily variability in CAP and daily profile of amplification and augmentation of pulse blood pressure (PBP) in women at different menopause phases. Methods The study involved 384 climacteric women. The first group included 168 women undergoing perimenopause, the second group comprised of 216 women in their early postmenopausal stage. A 24-h blood pressure (BP) monitoring in the brachial artery and aorta (BPLab® Vasotens® system, Petr Telegin LLC, Russia) was performed via the measurements of the following indicators: systolic blood pressure (SBP), pulse blood pressure (PBP), central aortic systolic pressure (CASP), central aortic pulse pressure (CAPP), aortic augmentation index (AIxao), and pulse pressure amplification (PPA). Results When investigating PPA values in the brachial artery and aorta, we detected smaller amplification and higher aortic augmentation index at night than in daytime, which reflected a disproportionately higher CAP level during night hours. This pattern was more pronounced in postmenopausal women. We calculated the logistic regression equation (adjusted R2 = 0.49, log-likelihood = − 50.3, chi-square (19) = 97.6, p

This review highlights the relationship of age and arterial hypertension observed in the aging process. The main structural and functional changes underlying the increase in vascular stiffness are analyzed. The similarity of vascular changes in aging and arterial hypertension was noted. The negative effect of increased central blood pressure on target organs is considered. Attention is paid to the analysis of arterial stiffness as a marker of vascular aging. The parameters of the carotid-femoral pulse wave propagation velocity, the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), the ankle-brachial index, the finger-brachial index, and the augmentation index were examined separately. The prognostic and clinical value of the parameters of vascular stiffness is considered. In particular, the clinical guidelines for arterial hypertension report the need to use arterial stiffness indicators to improve the accuracy of cardiovascular risk stratification, especially in medium-risk patients. Measurement of vascular stiffness and central aortic pressure should be recommended as one of the methods for stratifying cardiovascular risk in patients with intermediate SCORE risk, as well as in those whose target organ damage was not detected by routine methods. The article also notes the independent diagnostic and prognostic value of the CAVI.

Background. An elevated or inadequate sensitivity to salt intake is an important mechanism for maintaining high blood pressure in patients with arterial hypertension. Chronopharmacotherapy comprises an important approach to control arterial hypertension through personalised correction of blood pressure but requires a further proof of efficacy in salt-sensitive hypertensive patients.Objectives. An assessment of six-month dynamics of diurnal and nocturnal peripheral and central blood pressure in salt-sensitive patients with arterial hypertension under chronopharmacothe­rapy.Methods. A controlled randomised trial included 86 salt-sensitive patients with arterial hypertension. Salt sensitivity was estimated with a Kharchenko’s test. All patients had circadian monitoring of the peripheral and central blood pressure and glomerular filtration rate at baseline and in a six-month follow-up. The patients were randomised into 3 cohorts. Cohort A united patients received perindopril and amlodipine in morning, cohort B — perindopril in morning, amlodipine in evening, cohort C — perindopril in evening, amlodipine in morning. Statistica 12 (StatSoftInc, USA) was used for nonparametric statistical analyses.Results. In six months of chronopharmacotherapy a target arterial pressure was registered in 87.5% patients in cohort A, 96.4 and 96.2% patients in cohorts B and C, respectively. All cohorts exhibited a declining peripheral and central blood pressure over therapy. Cohort A had a greater decline in daytime, and cohorts B and C — both diurnally and nocturnally. Cohorts B and C had more patients with an adequate nocturnal blood pressure decline. Glomerular filtration rate also elevated with perindopril or amlodipine intake before bedtime.Conclusion. The perindopril or amlodipine intake before bedtime in a combined therapy for arterial hypertension provided for a target blood pressure in the overall majority of patients, effectively reduced peripheral and central blood pressure at all time intervals, contributed to optimising the circadian blood pressure profile and increased the glomerular filtration rate.

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Relevance. Arterial hypertension (AH) and anxiety-depressive disorders (ADD) are comorbid pathologies that are common in clinical practice. At the same time, the possibility of including an antidepressant in antihypertensive therapy for optimal control of hypertension, as well as to ensure a vasoprotective effect, has not been studied enough. Aim. To compare the effect of traditional antihypertensive therapy and therapy, including an antidepressant, on indicators of the daily profile of blood pressure (BP), stiffness of the vascular wall and central aortic pressure (CAP), the severity of anxiety and depression, as well as on cognitive function (CF) in patients AH and ADD. Materials and methods. The study included 90 patients with AH and ADD, who were randomized into two groups: group 1 patients who received a fixed combination of an angiotensin II receptor blocker and a diuretic, a b-blocker and an antidepressant; group 2 persons who took only three-component antihypertensive therapy. Before and after 24 weeks, all patients underwent a general clinical examination, 24-hour BP monitoring ABPM (BpLab Vasotens, Petr Telegin, Russia) with an assessment of the daily profile of BP, CAP and vascular stiffness. In addition, testing was carried out on the HADS, CES-D scales; CF were rated according to the Montreal scale. Results. In the group of patients treated with an antidepressant, it was noted that the target BP level was achieved more quickly when lower doses of angiotensin II receptor blockers were prescribed. After 6 months of therapy in both groups, there was a comparable positive dynamics of the main indicators of ABPM. In group 1, a statistically more pronounced decrease in both peripheral and CAP at night was recorded. In both groups of patients, a decrease in the augmentation index was noted; however, a statistically significant improvement in the parameters of the speed of propagation of the pulse wave in the aorta and the time of propagation of the reflected wave was recorded only in persons receiving antidepressant. In group 1, there was a regression of ADD, as well as a significant improvement in CF. Conclusions. The use of sertraline as part of a combination antihypertensive therapy in patients with AH and ADD contributed to a more rapid achievement of target BP values, a significant improvement in ABPM (especially at night), vascular wall stiffness and CAP. It is also important that the appointment of sertraline was accompanied by a regression of anxiety-depressive symptoms, an improvement in CF.

Aims: In the general population, central arterial blood pressure has proved to be more closely related to left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) than brachial arterial blood pressure. We aimed to investigate whether this relationship was true in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods: In this retrospective study, we reviewed the medical records of 289 adult patients with CKD from the Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital in Zhejiang, China. Demographic, echocardiographic and brachial and central blood pressure parameters were retrieved from medical records. Central blood pressure was measured using the SphygmoCor® CvMS (AtCor, Australia) device and its corresponding software. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of LVH. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to determine the ability of central and brachial blood pressure to predict LVH. Results: The left ventricular mass index was positively associated with both central and brachial blood pressures. However, multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that a central pulse pressure (CPP) ≥ 58 mm Hg was an independent risk factor for LVH (OR = 5.597, 95%CI 2.363–13.259, p <.001). Brachial pulse pressure is not superior to CPP in predicting LVH (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.695, 95%CI 0.634–0.756, p <.001 vs. AUC = 0.687, 95%CI: 0.626–0.748, p <.001, respectively; p =.4824). Conclusion: Our results suggested that, similarly to the general population, CPP is a better parameter for predicting the occurrence of LVH in patients with CKD. SUMMARY AT A GLANCE: Increased central pulse pressure (CPP, estimated using a special device and software) and phosphate levels, and decreased haemoglobin levels are independent risk factors for left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in CKD patients. CPP is a better clinical parameter than brachial pulse pressure in predicting the occurrence of LVH in patients with CKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim.Assessment of Vamloset and Co-Vamloset effects on blood pressure target levels and indicators associated with organ protection: albuminuria; elasticity of arteries and central aortic pressure (CAP); endothelial function; tumor necrosis factor-a, interleukin (IL) IL-6 and IL-10, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A). Materials and methods.The Russian multicenter open-label prospective clinical study VICTORY II which was conducted in 8 clinical centers included 103 patients 18 years with grade 23 essential arterial hypertension (AH), who were previously untreated office systolic blood pressure (SBP) 160mmHg and/or office diastolic blood pressure (DBP) 100 mm Hg or have not reached the target office blood pressure with mono- or dual therapy. The active phase of the study included 100 patients; the per-protocol (PP) population 80 patients completing the study without major protocol deviations. Patients were not randomized. The target office BP for patients without diabetes were: SBP139 mm Hg, DBP89 mm Hg; for patients with diabetes: SBP139 mm Hg, DBP84 mm Hg. All patients with grade 2 hypertension (group 1) were administrated Vamloset (amlodipine/valsartan, 5/80mg), with grade 3 hypertension Vamloset (amlodipin/valsartan, 5/160 mg). Up-titration of the dose of amlodipine/valsartan to 5/160 mg and 10/160 mg, the administration of Co-Vamloset (amlodipine/valsartan/hydrochlorothiazide) in doses of 10/160/12.5 mg, 10/160/25 mg (LLC KRKA-RUS) was carried out every 4 weeks according to the prescribed schemes. In the total group, the effect of studied therapy on the level of albumin in the urine was assessed. Before starting treatment and after 16 weeks of treatment, 40 patients in the subgroup with additional examinations underwent daily monitoring of blood pressure, assessment of pulse wave velocity and augmentation index; CAP; levels of tumor necrosis factor-, IL-6 and IL-10, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1and VEGF-A. Results.The active phase of the study included 100 patients aged 59.510.9 years (59% of women) with a duration of AH 83.48.4 months. 83% of patients received prior antihypertensive therapy by the time of enrollment in the study. The treatment duration for all patients was 15.9 weeks. After 16 weeks, therapy with Vamloset and Co-Vamloset provided an optimal decrease in BP: 90% of patients with grade 23 AH in the PP population reached the target level of office BP, the mean change in SBP / DBP was -32.2/-16.0 mm Hg. According to the data of daily monitoring of BP in the subgroup with additional examinations, the target levels of average daily SBP/DBP were reached in 52.9/67.6% of patients, respectively. Along with reliable control of blood pressure, additional organ protection with studied antihypertensive drugs after 16 weeks of therapy was shown by assessment data: albuminuria in 58.8% of patients with an initially elevated level of albuminuria (n=17), a positive effect of the studied therapy on the level of albumin in the urine was determined, augmentation index improvement in 57.1% of patients in the study group, CAP improvement in 73% of patients in the study group; positive dynamics of endothelial damage markers (IL-6, IL-10, VEGF-A) was achieved. The data on the good tolerability of AHT corresponded to the previously established safety profile of these drugs. Conclusion.In the VICTORY II clinical study in patients with grade 23 hypertension, along with high antihypertensive efficacy, a spectrum of organoprotective effects of Vamloset and Co-Vamloset on aortic stiffness with improved augmentation index and CAP, markers of endothelial damage (IL-6, IL-10, VEGF-A), the severity of albuminuria was shown.

Aim: to assess changes in parameters of vascular stiffness, central aortic pressure (CAP) as well as reflected pulse wave in women in different phases of the climacteric period.Materials and Methods. An open non-randomized single-center comparative study was conducted with 384 menopausal women subdivided into: Group 1 – 168 women at menopausal transition, Group 2 – 216 women at early postmenopause. A 24-hour blood pressure (BP) monitoring was performed with assessing daily dynamics of parameters of arterial stiffness, CAP and reflected pulse wave. The aortic pulse wave velocity and local aortic stiffness were estimated.Results. It was found that women in early postmenopausal period vs. menopausal transition showed significantly higher values of daily central BP combined with more prominent changes in vascular stiffness. Menopausal women were characterized by lowered difference between nocturnal central and peripheral BP level (less amplified nocturnal vs. diurnal peripheral BP magnitude), which is associated with a greater augmented CAP at this time point. Such pattern was more pronounced in women at postmenopausal period.Conclusion. Women in climacteric period were found to have increased vascular stiffness combined with elevated CAP, decreased amplification of pulse pressure and increased amplitude of the reflected pulse wave may be associated with increased risk of cardiovascular complications. Much more prominent changes were noted in women in early postmenopausal period.

Aim. To determine the value of concomitant non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with arterial hypertension in the progression of rigidity of the main arteries and in increase of risk of cardiovascular complications. Material and methods. A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted. Group 1 (n=50, 35(70%) women, average age 57,4±6,9 years) included patients with arterial hypertension and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, group 2 (n=50, 40(80%) women, average age 56,5±7,0 years) included patients with arterial hypertension only. The groups were comparable in the main clinical and demographic indicators (p>0,05). A comparative analysis of pulse wave velocity, central aortic pressure, vascular age and a 10-year risk of developing cardiovascular complications in both groups was performed.Results. There is a statistically larger number of patients with metabolic index>7,0 (58,0% vs 28,0%, p=0,0019). It was also established that systolic (121,9±10,9 mm Hg vs 115,9±8,9 mm Hg) and diastolic (82,5±9,3 mm Hg vs 77,4±8,9 mm Hg) aortic pressure, as well as the augmentation index (26,5±8,5% vs 18,6±4,2%), were significantly higher in patients with arterial hypertension and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease than in patients with isolated arterial hypertension. In the 1st group, a statistically significant increased pulse wave velocity was found both in muscular (12,0±3,1 m/s vs 10,6±1,8 m/s) and elastic (10,4±2,8 m/s vs 9,1±1,7 m/s) vessels, which indicates an increase in arterial stiffness. In addition, there was an increase in post-occlusal pulse wave velocity in this category of patients (11,0±3,3 m/s vs 9,4±1,9 m/s, p=0,0037). A significant increase in vascular age in relation to the passport age (60,4 [56,0:68,0] years vs 58,0 [53,0:60,0] years) and an increase in the 10-year fatal risk was detected (2,15 [1,42: 4,63] and 1,05 [0,52: 2,82] %, p = 0,0043 ) were also revealed in patients with arterial hypertension and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease compared to patients with isolated arterial hypertension. Significantly more patients with a high (13 (26,0%) vs 5 (10,0%), p = 0,0332) total cardiovascular risk were observed in group 1 than in group 2.Conclusions. Arterial stiffness was significantly higher in patients with arterial hypertension and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease than in patients with isolated arterial hypertension, which is confirmed by a statistically significant increase in pulse wave velocity and central aortic pressure. Comorbid patients have pronounced endothelial dysfunction, which is confirmed by a significant increase in the post-occlusion rate of the pulse wave. An increase in vascular age in relation to the passport age indicates earlier aging of blood vessels in the 1st group compared with the 2nd group. Patients in the main group have a higher incidence of a high 10-year risk of developing cardiovascular events compared with patients in the control group.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess indices of a comprehensive panel of central aortic pressure and arterial stiffness for prediction of cardiovascular events in a hypertensive cohort. Methods: Noninvasive measurements of central aortic blood pressure, brachial pressure, wave reflection augmentation index, pressure amplification, pulse wave velocity (PWV) and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) were obtained in 675 hypertensive patients (age 61 ± 9 years, 425 males) for a mean follow-up period 25 ± 4 months. The primary endpoints were defined as cardiovascular disease (CVD) events or death from CVD. Results: After adjusting for confounding factors, central systolic (cSBP) and pulse pressure (cPP) showed higher hazard ratios (HR/10 mmHg) for cardiovascular events (CV) compared to peripheral pressure indices (pSBP, pPP) at age >60 years (cSBP: HR = 1.18, pSBP: HR = 1.17, p = 0.034; cPP: HR = 1.28, pPP: HR = 1.2, p = 0.019). Each SD increase in IMT and in central augmented pressure (cAP) entailed a 1.4 times higher risk of increased total events in elderly patients (age >60 years). For males, each SD increase in cAP was associated with 1.36 times higher risk of increased total events. For females, each SD increase in cAIx and cAP was associated with 0.4 and 0.5 times lower risk of increased total and major CV, respectively. This sex difference is most likely due to lack of age-related increase of cAIx in females after age >60 years compared to males. Conclusions: Central pressure improved prediction of CVD compared to peripheral pressure during a relatively short-term follow up of approximately 2 years at age >60 years.

BackgroundCompliance with physical activity recommendations (CPARs) is associated with better health indicators. However, there are only few studies to date that have comprehensively analyzed the association between CPARs and cardiovascular status “as a whole” (e.g., analyzing hemodynamic, structural, and functional properties, and different arterial territories). The relationship between CPARs and cardiovascular properties could be strongly influenced by the growth and aging process.AimThe goal of the study is to investigate the association between CPAR and cardiovascular properties by placing special emphasis on: (i) identifying if there is an independent association, (ii) if the association is “moderated” by age, and (iii) to what extent the association depends on the arterial parameter (hemodynamic vs. structural vs. functional) and/or the arterial segment (e.g., central vs. peripheral; elastic vs. transitional vs. muscular arteries).MethodsA total of 3,619 subjects (3–90 years of age) were studied. Extensive cardiovascular evaluations were performed. Cardiovascular risk factors (CRFs) and physical activity (PA) levels were determined. The subjects were categorized as compliant (n = 1, 969) or non-compliant (n = 1,650) with World Health Organization-related PA recommendations. Correlation and multiple regression models (including CPAR*Age interaction) were obtained, and Johnson-Neyman technique was used to produce regions of significance.ResultsThe independent association between CPARs and cardiovascular characteristics were strongly moderated by age. The moderation was observed on a wide range of age but particularly notorious on the extremes of life. Certain arterial characteristics demonstrated opposite effects in relation to CPAR status depending on the range of age considered. The association between CPAR and cardiovascular characteristics was independent of CRFs and moderated by age. In subjects younger than 45–55 years, CPAR status was associated with lower central and peripheral blood pressure (i.e., the younger the subject, the higher the reduction). During adult life, as age increases in the subjects, CPARs was associated with a beneficial hemodynamic profile, which is not related with variations in pressure but strongly related with lower levels of waveform-derived indexes and ventricular afterload determinants.ConclusionsThe independent associations between CPARs and arterial properties were strongly moderated by age. Data provided by blood pressure levels and waveform-derived indexes would be enough to evaluate the independent association between CPARs and the vascular system in the general population.

The purpose of the study was to determine which out-of-office BP measurement modality has the best correlation with central aortic systolic BP, arterial stiffness (a determinant of central aortic pressure) and LV mass index (LVMI) which represents LV adaptation to elevated central aortic pressures. In this prospective study, we demonstrated that 24h ambulatory systolic BP has better correlation with central aortic systolic BP (arterial load) and LVMI as compared to home systolic BP. 24h ambulatory systolic BP also correlated with arterial stiffness (determinant of arterial load), although this correlation was comparable to that observed with home systolic BP. Collectively, these results suggest that ambulatory systolic BP provides the best approximation of arterial load, which is the underpinning hemodynamic stress leading to LV remodeling, end-organ dysfunction, and cardiovascular mortality in patients with COA. These findings provide a foundation for further studies to determine whether titrating antihypertensive therapy based on ambulatory BP indices will slow the progression of LV remodeling and end-organ dysfunction due to hypertension, and in turn, reduce cardiovascular death in this population.

The principle of proportionality of the systolic area of the central aortic pressure to stroke volume (SV) has been long known. The aim of the present work was to evaluate an in silico solution derived from this principle for modelling SV (iSV model) in cardiovascular safety pharmacology studies by telemetry. Blood pressure was measured in the abdominal aorta in accordance with standard practice. Central aortic pressure was modelled from the abdominal aortic pressure waveform using the N-point moving average (NPMA) method for beat-to-beat estimation of SV. First, the iSV was compared to the SV measured by ultrasonic flowmetry in the ascending aorta (uSV) after various pharmacological challenges in beagle dogs anaesthetised with etomidate/fentanyl. The iSV showed minimal bias (0.2 mL i.e. 2%) and excellent agreement with uSV. Then, previous telemetry studies including reference vasoactive and inotropic compounds were retrospectively reanalysed to model drug effects on stroke volume (iSV), cardiac output (iCO) and systemic vascular resistance (iSVR). Among them, the examples of nicardipine and isoprenaline highlight risks of erroneous or biased estimation of drug effects from the abdominal aortic pressure due to pulse pressure amplification. Furthermore, the examples of verapamil, quinidine and moxifloxacin show that iSV, iCO and iSVR are earlier biomarkers than blood pressure itself for predicting drug effect on blood pressure. This in silico modelling approach included in vivo telemetry safety pharmacology studies can be considered as a New Approach Methodology (NAM) that provides valuable additional information and contribute to improving non-clinical translational research to the clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, arterial stiffness has been shown to be increased in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). However, this issue has not been sufficiently studied today.Objective: to investigate central aortic pressure values and pulse wave velocity (PWV) in patients with AS and their relationship to the clinical manifestations of the disease.Subjects and methods. A total of 47 patients (mean age 37.0+10.1) with AS were examined. ASDAS-CRP averaged 3.2+0.9; the duration of AS was 6.0+4.6 years; and the radiographic stage of sacroiliitis was 2.3+1.4. A control group included 33 healthy individuals. The groups were matched for age, gender, and office blood pressure (BP). Central aortic pressure and PWV were determined by applanation tonometry on a SphygmoCor apparatus (AtCorMedical, Australia). The Mann-Whitney U test and the Spearman correlation coefficient test were used for statistical analysis.Results and discussion. In the patients with AS, central systolic and diastolic BP was significantly higher than that in the controls (115.4+14.04 and 101.1 + 10.2 mm Hg, p=0.00001 and 78.6+12.3 and 71.8+7.3 mm Hg respectively, p=0.001). The patients with AS showed a 15.01% increase in mean central aortic pressure values compared to the control group (106.5+13.7 and 92.6+9.4 mm Hg, respectively; p=0.0001). Carotid-femoral PWV averaged 6.6+1.7 m/sec in the patients with AS and 5.20+0.96 m/sec in the controls (p=0.0001). There was a direct correlation of PWV with the occiput-wall distance r= 0.36; p=0.01) and an inverse correlation with Schober's test (r=-0.54; p=0.0001).Conclusion. The patients with AS were found to have increased arterial stiffness parameters, such as PWV, central aortic pressure, central diastolic BP, and central hemodynamic pressure. PWV was demonstrated to be related to clinical data.

Aim of the study was to investigate in a comparative manner associations between the parameters of central aortic pressure, office and ambulatory blood pressure with indicators of target organ damage. Material and methods. 47 consecutive outpatients and hospital patients (22 men and 25 women) aged 19–70 years were included in the open one-stage follow-up of a series of cases. The study program included anthropometry, measurement of office and ambulatory blood pressure, applanation tonometry of the radial artery, recording of resting ECG, echocardiography, biochemical blood analysis. In analyzing the data, the methods of descriptive statistics and the general linear model (GLM) were used. Results. Central aortic pressure is comparable to office blood pressure and, more than ambulatory blood pressure, was associated with indicators of left ventricular hypertrophy. Systolic central aortic pressure was associated with all electrocardiographic and echocardiographic indices used in the study. Of the central aortic pressure parameters characterizing the amplification and augmentation of the pulse wave, only non-augmented amplification of systolic pressure was associated with signs of left ventricular hypertrophy, but the amplification and augmentation of the pulse wave showed a sufficiently high degree of association with estimated glomerular filtration rate. Conclusion. The results of this study substantiate the relevance of using aortic pressure parameters in addition to traditional methods for determining blood pressure.

Based on the cumulative data of scientific research reference values for the central blood pressure and its amplification were proposed in patients with different cardiovascular risk factors. Still, the possibility of its practical implementation in patients of different age groups has not been fully studied. There were examined 132 untreated patients (23 females and 109 males) with uncom­plicated essential hypertension, which were divided into 3 groups depending on age (WHO, 2012): I group included 47 patients of the young age, II group - 50 middle-aged patients and III group – 35 elderly patients. Measurements of central systolic blood pressure (cSBP), SBP amplification (SBP Amp), pulse wave velocity (PWV) were carried out by Arteriograph Tensioclinic (Tensiomed, Hungary). Target-organ damage included LVH which was determined by echocardiographic left ventricular mass index (LVMI), adjusted for body surface (g/m2) or height (LVMI2,7), aortic PWV>10 m/s. It was established that the use of a personalized approach in the examination of patients with arterial hypertension makes it possible to increase the efficiency of diagnosis of hypertensive-mediated subclinical organ damage. So in order to identify impairment of the vascular wall in patients of a young age with hypertension, with overweight and obesity, the reference values of PWV and cSBP in accordance with the age norm should be taken into account. It was particularly in this cohort of patients that the greatest adverse effect of vascular stiffness and body mass index (BMI) on the formation of left ventricular hypertrophy was revealed, while in elderly people it is necessary to use the reference values of cSBP, depending on the degree of hypertension.

Aim. To evaluate gender-related differences of left atrial (LA) phasic function and structural remodeling in conjunction with the parameters of left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction and central aortic pressure in patients with hypertension and recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF).Material and methods. The comparative study included 30 men and 37 women with non-valvular AF, hypertension and LV hypertrophy. Conventional echocardiographic measures were extended with LA measures, including its volume in three phases, LAemptying fraction (LAEF), passive and active ejection fraction. The parameters of central aortic pressure were estimated by applanation tonometry method.Results. No difference was observed between LA and LV structural parameters in men and women. However, in women LAEF (39 [28;50] vs 50 [42;55]%; p=0.02) and E/E’(9.7 [7.8;12] vs 7.1 [5.6;8.6]; p=0.001) were worse than in men. Active LA ejection fraction was higher in women (31 [21;42] vs 24 [19;31]%; p=0.04), whereas passive one – in men (12 [10;14] vs 33 [23;38]%; p

Abstract The physiological processes and mechanisms of an arterial system are complex and subtle. Physics-based models have been proven to be a very useful tool to simulate actual physiological behavior of the arteries. The current physics-based models include high-dimensional models (2D and 3D models) and low-dimensional models (0D, 1D and tube-load models). High-dimensional models can describe the local hemodynamic information of arteries in detail. With regard to an exact model of the whole arterial system, a high-dimensional model is computationally impracticable since the complex geometry, viscosity or elastic properties and complex vectorial output need to be provided. For low-dimensional models, the structure, centerline and viscosity or elastic properties only need to be provided. Therefore, low-dimensional modeling with lower computational costs might be a more applicable approach to represent hemodynamic properties of the entire arterial system and these three types of low-dimensional models have been extensively used in the study of cardiovascular dynamics. In recent decades, application of physics-based models to estimate central aortic pressure has attracted increasing interest. However, to our best knowledge, there has been few review paper about reconstruction of central aortic pressure using these physics-based models. In this paper, three types of low-dimensional physical models (0D, 1D and tube-load models) of systemic arteries are reviewed, the application of three types of models on estimation of central aortic pressure is taken as an example to discuss their advantages and disadvantages, and the proper choice of models for specific researches and applications are advised.

Aim. There is evidence that central aortic blood pressure (BP) is more associated with left ventricular myocardial hypertrophy than brachial BP. The purpose of this work is to compare the association of brachial and central aortic BP with electrocardiographic parameters of left ventricular hypertrophy in the general population of Novosibirsk.Material and methods. We examined 327 people: 155 men and 172 women aged 25-44 years from a representative sample from the general population of Novosibirsk. The study program included anthropometry, BP measurement, electrocardiography, biochemical blood analysis. Radial artery applanation tonometry and pulse wave analysis were performed using the SphygmoCor system. Left ventricular hypertrophy was determined by electrocardiographic parameters.Results. In the general population of Novosibirsk, central aortic BP is more associated with left ventricular myocardial hypertrophy than brachial BP. Central pulse pressure, in contrast to brachial BP, is significantly associated with the R+S index (p=0,0085), as well as RI (p=0,0038) and RaVL (p=0,0039) wave amplitude. Central systolic aortic BP, in contrast to brachial systolic BP, is significantly associated with RI (p=0,042) and RaVL (p=0,029) wave amplitudes. Amplification parameters of central aortic BP, regardless of brachial BP, are associated with indices of left ventricular hypertrophy. Pulse pressure amplification in groups with or without left ventricular hypertrophy, standardized for age, gender, height, waist circumference, heart rate, triglyceride levels, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, blood glucose, and brachial pulse pressure, was 13,3 mm Hg and 12,5 mm Hg, respectively (p=0,035).Conclusion. The results of this study substantiate the relevance of the practical use of central aortic BP parameters in addition to the office measurement of brachial BP.

Aim. To study the effect of two regimens of combined antihypertensive therapy during the day on daily monitoring of arterial pressure, central aortic pressure, and arterial stiffness, depending on the salt sensitivity of hypertensive patients with diabetes mellitus type 2. Material and methods. 130 hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were included into the study. They were divided into 2 subgroups: salt-sensitive (group 1) and salt-resistant (group 2), and then randomized to subgroups A and B of ongoing therapy: in the morning ramipril and indapamide retard, bedtime – amlodipine (subgroup 1A and 2A); or in the morning amlodipine and indapamide retard, bedtime – ramipril (subgroup 1B and 2B). Initially and after 24 weeks of antihypertensive therapy, 24-hour blood pressure monitoring was performed, the indices of central aortic pressure and arterial stiffness were determined. Results. After 24 weeks, in all subgroups, there was a significant positive dynamics of the parameters of 24-hour blood pressure monitoring, central aortic pressure and arterial stiffness indices. In the subgroup 1В, it was registered a significant improvement in the majority of parameters of 24-hour blood pressure monitoring (decrease in 24-hours systolic BP by 24.4%, 24-hours diastolic BP by 22.1%; p

Introduction: Structural and functional changes of the vascular wall in women occur already at the very early stages of reproductive aging. An emergence of applanation tonometry made it possible to evaluate arterial stiffness and central hemodynamic parameters non-invasively, which considerably expanded the information that had been provided previously by invasive methods used for studying these parameters during cardiac catheterization. Whereas a few studies have assessed central aortic pressure (CAP) parameters and reflected pulse wave in women at different phases of their reproductive aging, none investigated the daily profile of CAP and reflected pulse wave parameters in women undergoing different stages of the menopause.Background: assessment of the daily variability in CAP and daily profile of amplification and augmentation of pulse blood pressure (PBP) in women at different menopause phases.Methods: The study involved 384 climacteric women. The first group included 168 women undergoing perimenopause, the second group comprised of 216 women in their early postmenopausal stage. A 24-h blood pressure (BP) monitoring in the brachial artery and aorta (BPLab® Vasotens® system, Petr Telegin LLC, Russia) was performed via the measurements of the following indicators: systolic blood pressure (SBP), pulse blood pressure (PBP), central aortic systolic pressure (CASP), central aortic pulse pressure (CAPP), aortic augmentation index (AIxao), and pulse pressure amplification (PPA).Results: When investigating PPA values in the brachial artery and aorta, we detected smaller amplification and higher aortic augmentation index at night than in daytime, which reflected a disproportionately higher CAP level during night hours. This pattern was more pronounced in postmenopausal women. We calculated the logistic regression equation (adjusted R2 = 0.49, log-likelihood = - 50.3, chi-square (19) = 97.6, p < 0.001), in which dependent variable was represented by the menopausal status, whereas body mass index with all indicators of a 24-h BP monitoring represented independent variables. In this model, two indicators (body mass index and AIxao) were, independently of each other, associated significantly with the menopause phases. Differences among women at various climacteric phases in terms of remaining indicators of a 24-h BP monitoring, apparently, matched the differences in their body mass index values.Conclusion: Rising CAP, in combination with declining PPA and augmenting reflected pulse wave amplitude, may be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundPreventive cardiology has expanded beyond coronary heart disease towards prevention of a broader spectrum of cardiovascular diseases. Ethnic minorities are at proportionately greater risk for developing extracoronary vascular disease including heart failure and cerebrovascular disease.MethodsWe performed a cross sectional study of Latino and White hypertension patients in a safety-net healthcare system. Framingham risk factors, markers of inflammation (hsCRP, LPpLA2), arterial stiffness (Pulse wave velocity, augmentation index, and central aortic pressure), and endothelial function (brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation) were measured. Univariate and multivariable associations between these parameters and an index of extracoronary atherosclerosis (carotid intima media thickness) was performed.ResultsAmong 177 subjects, mean age was 62 years, 67% were female, and 67% were Latino. In univariate analysis, markers associated with carotid intima media thickness (IMT) at p.10). Only PWV retained a significant association with carotid IMT independent of the Framingham general risk profile parameters (p=.016). No statistically significant interactions between Framingham and other independent variables with ethnicity (all p>.05) were observed.ConclusionIn this safety net cohort, PWV is a potentially useful adjunctive atherosclerotic risk marker independent of traditional risk factors and irrespective of ethnicity.

The predictive value of vascular biomarkers such as pulse wave velocity (PWV), central arterial pressure (CAP), and augmentation index (AIx), obtained through pulse wave analysis (PWA) in resting conditions, has been documented in a variety of patient groups and populations. There are appropriate recommendations on their clinical use in clinical practice guidelines of various scientific societies. Operator-independent methods are currently available for estimating vascular biomarkers also in ambulatory conditions. The acceptable accuracy and reproducibility of ambulatory PWA makes it be a promising tool for evaluating vascular biomarkers in daily-life conditions. This approach may provide an opportunity to further improve the early cardiovascular screening in subjects at risk. However, there is no sufficient evidence to support the routine clinical use of PWA in ambulatory conditions at the moment. In particular, long-term outcome studies are needed to show the predictive value of ambulatory PWV, CAP and AIx values.

Aim. To study the effect of long-term combined antihypertensive therapy with lisinopril plus amlodipine on the parameters of central aortic pressure (CAD) and visceral obesity in patients with arterial hypertension (HT) combined with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).Material and methods. 30 patients with stage III of HT and DM type 2 aged 40-65 years were included into the study. After "washout period", combined therapy with amlodipine 6.2Ѓ}2.5 mg/day and lisinopril 12.3Ѓ}5.0 mg/day was prescribed, hypolipidemic therapy with atorvastatin 17.0Ѓ}4.7 mg/day and combined hypoglycemic therapy with metformin 1093.8Ѓ}253.6 mg/day and gliclazide 82.1Ѓ}38.5 mg/day were continued within 24 weeks. Initially, and after 24 weeks, a standard physical examination, 24-hour CAP parameters monitoring, body composition analysis with a percentage of visceral fat calculation, a visceral fat index (VAI) determination, the degree of adipose tissue dysfunction and the level of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) assessment were performed.Results. Because of long-term therapy with lisinopril + amlodipine, a significant decrease in the level of office systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) by 22.3 and 12.5%, respectively, heart rate by 9,8%, and HbA1C level by 1.4% was found in comparison with the initial values. According to bioimpedanceometry a statistically significant decrease in the percentage of visceral fat (by 13.6%) was revealed, as well as VAI (by 22.5%) and the percentage of patients with very high visceral fat (Δ%=-36.7, р

Aim. To assess and compare the efficacy of combination antihypertension drugs influence with various dosage regimens during 24 hour, on the parameters of daily blood pressure (BP) profile, central aortic pressure (CAP) and vessel wall stiffness in arterial hypertension (AH) patients with ischemic stroke (IS).Material and methods. To the study, 177 AH patients included, with IS within last 4 weeks. All patients were randomized to 3 groups depending on the regimen of antihypertensive drugs combination intake during 24 hours. At baseline and in 12 months of therapy all patients underwent 24 hour BP monitoring (ABPM), CAP measurement and vessel wall stiffness evaluation. Results. In 8 weeks of antihypertension therapy, target pressure level achievement was significantly more common in b. i.d. valsartan (group 3) comparing to once daily in the morning (group 1) or evening (group 2) (p

Aim. To assess the features of diurnal blood pressure profile, arterial stiffness and central aortic pressure in patients with arterial hypertension (AH) and prediabetes.Materials and methods. The study included 118 patients with AH, 38 without prediabetes, 80 with prediabetes, 48 of them patients with impaired fasting glucose and 32 patients with impaired glucose tolerance. Prediabetes was determined by the results of an oral glucose tolerance test. All patients underwent 24-hour blood pressure monitoring the main parameters of arterial stiffness and central aortic pressure were determined using the BPLab Vasotens complex of OOO «Petr Telegin» (Russia).Results. The obtained data showed that in patients with hypertension and prediabetes there were recorded increased levels of systolic and pulsatile blood pressure in the brachial artery and aorta, a more pronounced "pressure load" was detected compared to patients without prediabetes. At night, the level of diastolic blood pressure in the brachial artery and aorta, the diastolic pressure time index was higher than in patients with AH without prediabetes. Pathological type of the "non-dipper" curve was detected 2.5 times more often in patients with AH and prediabetes. Moreover, the pulse wave velocity, the augmentation index in the brachial artery and aorta characterizing the stiffness of the vessel wall were significantly higher in hypertensive patients with prediabetes.Conclusion. Thereby, in patients with AH in combination with prediabetes, unlike patients without prediabetes, there were more pronounced changes in the parameters of the diurnal blood pressure profile, arterial stiffness and central aortic pressure including the pulse wave velocity, the augmentation index and pulsatile pressure which are known to be sensitive indicators of target organ damage and are associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications.

Actuality: the contribution of changes in central aortic pressure (CAP) to target organ damage and the effect of a fixed combination of perindopril with arnolate with amlodipine besylate on these parameters in patients with arterial hypertension (AH) and type 2 diabetes (DM) has not been studied. Objective: to reveal the relationship between the main indicators of CAP and the damage of target organs (vessels, kidneys and heart) in patients with AH and type 2 diabetes; assess the organoprotective properties of a 12-week therapy with a fixed combination of perindopril arginate with amlodipine besylate in this category of patients. Materials and methods: 30 patients with AH stage III and DM at the age of 45 to 65 years were examined. The indicators of CAP were determined by Vasotens 24 software (“Petr Telegin” LLC, Russia). The structural and functional state of the myocardium was assessed echocardiographically with a Doppler sensor. The pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured with Polyspectr 8/E apparatus (Neurosoft, Russia). To evaluate the kidney function, the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was calculated, and albumin excretion in the urine was determined. A fixed combination of perindopril arginine / amlodipine besylate was administered for 12 weeks. Results: 12-week therapy was accompanied by the achievement of target values of blood pressure in 100% of patients, a decrease in office systolic and diastolic blood pressure. There was a significant improvement in indicators of CAP, which was accompanied by a statistically significant decrease in PWV in vessels of the elastic and muscular type, an improvement in the functional state of the kidneys: a decrease in the level of the albumin/creatinine ratio of urine, an increase in rGFR, by a significant decrease in the left ventricular myocardium index. Conclusion: admission of a fixed combination of perindopril and amlodipine in patients with AH in combination with type 2 diabetes for 12 weeks is accompanied by reliable cardio, nephroprotective and endotheliotropic effects, statistically significantly reduces systolic and diastolic CAP, augmentation index in daytime and night hours, leads to a significant reduction of rigidity of the main arteries.

Aim. To assess antihypertensive efficacy of various 24-hour regimens of antihypertensive drugs prescription and the influence on 24-hour profile of blood pressure (BP) and aortic pressure, in systemic hypertension patients post transient ischemic attack.Material and methods. Totally, 174 patients were included, with grade 1-2 hypertension and previous non-effective treatment; who during the previous 4 weeks had transient ischemic attack. All patients were randomized to 3 groups according to the treatment variant: group 1 (n=59) — valsartan 160 mg and thiazide-like diuretic in the morning, group 2 (n=58) — thiazide-like diuretic in the morning and valsartan 160 mg at bedtime, group 3 (n=57) — thiazide-like diuretic in the morning and valsartan 80 mg b.i.d. (morning and bedtime). At baseline and in 12 months of therapy all patients underwent BP monitoring (ABPM) with assessment of mean 24 hour, daytime, nocturnal systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP), mean pulse pressure, time index of hypertension, SBP and DBP variability at daytime and at night, prominence and velocity of morning SBP and DBP raise, heart rate, central aortic pressure (CAP): SBP and DBP in aorta, variability of SBP and DBP in aorta, pulse BP in aorta, augmentation index in aorta, pulse pressure amplification, ejection period duration, efficacy index of subendocardial blood flow. Valsacor (KRKA, Slovenia) was included in the study as valsartan.Results. In 12 weeks of fixed combination therapy, the target levels of BP were registered: in group 1 — 43 patients (72,9%), group 2 — 48 (82,7%), group 3 — 55 (96,4%). Reached target BP was more common in b.i.d. intake of valsartan (group 3) comparing to group 1 (p=0,001) and group 2 (p=0,03). Statistically significant positive shifts of ABPM and CAP values were registered in all three regimens. However, in group 2 there was significantly more prominent decrease of the main parameters of ABPM and CAP, than in group 1. Valsartan two times daily (group 3) led to more prominent (p

Objectives: The primary objective of the study was to assess the association between central aortic blood pressure indices and coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients undergoing elective angiography and the secondary objective was to study whether any association exists between central aortic pressure indices and the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in the same patients during a 6-month follow-up period. Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study in consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography. Central and peripheral pressures were invasively recorded and CAD was classified into obstructive and nonobstructive group. CAD severity was graded using the Gensini score and patients were divided into tertiles. Patients were followed up, and the role of central aortic pressure indices in the prediction of cardiovascular events was analyzed. Results: A total of 623 patients were enrolled. Central pulsatility was found to be most closely associated with severity of CAD by univariate analysis, with age, sex, and smoking status being important predictors of pulsatility. A positive correlation was found between the central and peripheral mean and pulse pressures. No significant association was noted between the central aortic pressures and MACE on short-term follow-up. Conclusions: Of the various central aortic pressure indices studied, central pulsatility was found to be most closely associated with the severity of CAD.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess indices of a comprehensive panel of central aortic pressure and arterial stiffness for prediction of cardiovascular events in a hypertensive cohort. Methods: Noninvasive measurements of central aortic blood pressure, brachial pressure, wave reflection augmentation index, pressure amplification, pulse wave velocity (PWV) and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) were obtained in 675 hypertensive patients (age 61 ± 9 years, 425 males) for a mean follow-up period 25 ± 4 months. The primary endpoints were defined as cardiovascular disease (CVD) events or death from CVD. Results: After adjusting for confounding factors, central systolic (cSBP) and pulse pressure (cPP) showed higher hazard ratios (HR/10 mmHg) for cardiovascular events (CV) compared to peripheral pressure indices (pSBP, pPP) at age >60 years (cSBP: HR = 1.18, pSBP: HR = 1.17, p = 0.034; cPP: HR = 1.28, pPP: HR = 1.2, p = 0.019). Each SD increase in IMT and in central augmented pressure (cAP) entailed a 1.4 times higher risk of increased total events in elderly patients (age >60 years). For males, each SD increase in cAP was associated with 1.36 times higher risk of increased total events. For females, each SD increase in cAIx and cAP was associated with 0.4 and 0.5 times lower risk of increased total and major CV, respectively. This sex difference is most likely due to lack of age-related increase of cAIx in females after age >60 years compared to males. Conclusions: Central pressure improved prediction of CVD compared to peripheral pressure during a relatively short-term follow up of approximately 2 years at age >60 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today there is enough data on gender differences in regard to epidemiology, pathogenesis and prognostic value of atrial fibrillation (AF). Left atrial structural and functional changes associated with development and persistence of AF can be more significant for women than for men. Explanation for it can be provided by a higher prevalence of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in women, which is strongly related with central aortic pressures. Many studies have shown gender differences of central pulse wave contour; however further investigations of their prognostic power and relationship with left atrial remodeling are needed. According to current guidelines for AF management rhythm control is not a superior treatment strategy compared with heart rate control. The subanalysis of RACE study showed that rhythm control in female patients with AF increased significantly the risk of composite endpoints including cardiovascular mortality, heart failure, thromboembolic events, bleedings, severe side effects of antiarrhythmic drugs and the need for a pacemaker implantation. It seems that in some cases rate control approach may be preferable in female patients with recurrent AF. The current management of AF is still suboptimal and one of the ways to increase effectiveness should take into consideration the gender differences of left atrial, left ventricular and arterial interaction. More relevant randomized studies will be required to confirm this hypothesis.

Aim. To evaluate the efficiency of triple antihypertensive therapy in patients with uncontrolled hypertension and depressive disorders (DD). Materials and methods. 153 patients with uncontrolled hypertension were examined, of whom 82 patients were diagnosed with mild and moderate DD. A combination of perindopril 10 mg/day, indapamide SR 1.5 mg/day, and amlodipine at an initial dose of 5 mg/day was given to patients with hypertension and DD. After 4 weeks of treatment, if target blood pressure (BP) levels could not be achieved, the dose of amlodipine was increased up to 10 mg/day. General clinical examination and 24-hour BP monitoring (BPM) were performed in all the patients at baseline and in the patients with DD also after 24 weeks of therapy. The traditional measures of the diurnal BP profile, as well as the parameters characterizing arterial stiffness and central aortic pressure (CAP) were estimated. Results. After 8 weeks of therapy, target BP levels were recorded in 63 (76.8%) patients. After 24 weeks of treatment, the hypertensive patients with DD showed significant positive changes in all the investigated 24-hour BPM parameters and normalization of the diurnal BP profile in 65.1% of cases. During the treatment, there were significant decreases in pulse wave velocity, brachial arterial and aortic augmentation indices, aortic systolic and diastolic pressures, and mean aortic BP and an increase in the velocity of the reflected wave. Conclusion. Triple therapy, including perindopril, indapamide SR, and amlodipine, contributed to the achievement of target BP levels in the majority of hypertensive patients with DD, with significant positive changes in all 24-hour BPM parameters, optimization of the diurnal BP profile in most patients, clinically significant improvement of the parameters that characterize arterial stiffness and CAP.

Objective. Currently increasing attention to the parameters of central aortic pressure (cAP). The study associations of cAP, its augmentation and amplification, with a number of metabolic parameters in the general population of Novosibirsk is of interest. Material and methods. The study involved 327 people: 155 men and 172 women aged 25-44 years from a representative sample of the general population of Novosibirsk. The research program included anthropometry, blood pressure measurement and biochemical analysis of blood serum. Central hemodynamic parameters were determined using SphygmoCor system. Metabolic syndrome components were determined according to the criteria of RSC 2009. We used the methods of descriptive statistics and analysis of data in the general linear model (GLM). Results. Systolic cAP was associated with waist circumference, triglycerides and blood glucose levels independently of other metabolic parameters, sex, age, height and heart rate. Diastolic cAP was associated with the waist circumference, triglycerides, blood glucose and low density lipoproteins levels. Triglycerides level was also associated with central augmented pressure, heart rate corrected central augmented pressure and non augmented amplification of systolic pressure. Central aortic hypertension was associated with abdominal obesity and hypertriglyceridemia, regardless of other metabolic syndrome components, sex, age, height and heart rate. Central aortic pressure in persons with abdominal obesity was 109/79 mm Hg, in the group of persons with hypertriglyceridemia - 110/78 mm Hg. Conclusion. In the general population of Novosibirsk residents 25-44 years independent determinants of central aortic pressure were waist circumference, triglycerides, low density lipoproteins and blood glucose levels. Triglycerides level was also independently associated with central augmented pressure, heart rate corrected central augmented pressure and non augmented amplification of systolic pressure. Central aortic hypertension was independently associated with abdominal obesity and hypertriglyceridemia.

Measurement of the central aortic pressure and the augmentation may have additional benefits for characterizing the state of the cardiovascular system than the only stiffness of the vascular wall. The purpose of the study is to assess the changes of indicators of central aortic pressure and arterial stiffness in women of early postmenopausal period, against the background of the prolonged use of menopausal hormone therapy 1 mg E2 / 2mg DRSP. Material and Methods. The study included 162 women in early postmenopause. The subjects were divided into 2 groups: primary — 84 patients, which was appointed menopausal hormone therapy 1 mg E2 / 2mg of DRSP (drug "Angelique", Bayer), control group — 78 women who did not receive menopausal hormone therapy. The duration of observation is 5.2 years. ABPM was performed with the evaluation indicators of arterial stiffness (RWTT, Alx, ASI, AASI, (dP/dt) max.), central aortic pressure, aoPW. Results. Initial aoPW increase was detected in 15 (21.4%) women of the main group and in 19 (24.3%) control group patients (p=0,4). The women in both groups showed an increase to the end of the study aoPW more pronounced in women of control group. Increasing falls detected in 25 (29.7%) women of the main group and in 25 (32%) women of control group (p=0.84). It was noted that in women in both groups a significant decrease of central aortic pressure has been matched. In women of the main group to the end of the study there was a reduction in pulse pressure from 38,4±6,2 to 35,3±4,19mm Hg (p

The VASOTENS Registry is an international telehealth-based repository of 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitorings (ABPM) obtained through an oscillometric upper-arm BP monitor allowing combined estimation of some vascular biomarkers. The present paper reports the results obtained in 1200 participants according to different categories of CV risk. Individual readings were averaged for each recording and 24-hour mean of brachial and aortic systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), pulse wave velocity (PWV), and augmentation index (AIx) obtained. Peripheral and central BP, PWV and AIx values were increased in older participants (SBP only) and in case of hypertension (SBP and DBP). BP was lower and PWV and AIx higher in females. PWV was increased and BP unchanged in case of metabolic syndrome. Our results suggest that ambulatory pulse wave analysis in a daily life setting may help evaluate vascular health of individuals at risk for CV disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the cumulative data of scientific research reference values for the central blood pressure and its amplification were proposed in patients with different cardiovascular risk factors. Still, the possibility of its practical implementation in patients of different age groups has not been fully studied. There were examined 132 untreated patients (23 females and 109 males) with uncomplicated essential hypertension, which were divided into 3 groups depending on age (WHO, 2012): I group included 47 patients of the young age, II group - 50 middle-aged patients and III group – 35 elderly patients. Measurements of central systolic blood pressure (cSBP), SBP amplification (SBP Amp), pulse wave velocity (PWV) were carried out by Arteriograph Tensioclinic (Tensiomed, Hungary). Target-organ damage included LVH which was determined by echocardiographic left ventricular mass index (LVMI), adjusted for body surface (g/m2) or height (LVMI2,7), aortic PWV>10 m/s. It was established that the use of a personalized approach in the examination of patients with arterial hypertension makes it possible to increase the efficiency of diagnosis of hypertensive-mediated subclinical organ damage. So in order to identify impairment of the vascular wall in patients of a young age with hypertension, with overweight and obesity, the reference values of PWV and cSBP in accordance with the age norm should be taken into account. It was particularly in this cohort of patients that the greatest adverse effect of vascular stiffness and body mass index (BMI) on the formation of left ventricular hypertrophy was revealed, while in elderly people it is necessary to use the reference values of cSBP, depending on the degree of hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Effects of the high-dose of alacepril on the hemodynamics in dogs with experimentally induced mitral valve regurgitation were assessed. • High dose alacepril reduced aortic pressure and left atrial pressure. • The reduction in left atrial pressure was preceded by a lowering effect on the aortic pressure. • High dose alacepril showed no adverse effects within the short-term. Abstract The purpose of this study was to clarify how alacepril in amounts greater than those recommended on the product labeling approved by drug regulatory agencies affects left atrial pressure (LAP) and central aortic pressure in dogs with experimentally induced mitral valve regurgitation (MR). Six healthy Beagle dogs were surgically induced for MR and received alacepril at either 1.5 mg/kg/12-h (3.0 mg/kg/day) or 3.0 mg/kg/12-h (6.0 mg/kg/day) per one administration for seven days. After a four-week washout period, another dosage was administrated as a crossover study. Dogs were randomised to receive 3.0 mg/kg/day or 6.0 mg/kg/day first. LAP and central systolic (SAP), mean (MAP), and diastolic (DAP) aortic pressure were measured for 24-h before and during the administration of alacepril. The earliest decreases in SAP, MAP, and DAP with 6.0 mg/kg/day were observed on days 4, 4, and 5, respectively. With 3.0 mg/kg/day, the earliest decrease in DAP was observed on day 7. The maximum LAP was decreased on days 5 and 7 with 6.0 mg/kg/day. The mean LAP was decreased on day 7 with 6.0 mg/kg/day. In conclusion, the administration of alacepril at 6.0 mg/kg/day reduced the LAP and central aortic pressure within several days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]