Regular high-intensity interval exercise training was associated with a significant reduction in late luminal loss in the stented coronary segment. This effect was associated with increased aerobic capacity, improved endothelium function, and attenuated inflammation.

Conversion of conductance catheter data to absolute ventricular volumes requires assessment of parallel conductance (G(P)). We determined the accuracy of GP obtained by the hypertonic saline method (G(P)saline) compared with angiographically derived GP (G(P)Angio) and quantified the variabilities of GP for the dual-field conductance catheter method in nine anesthetized sheep studied at baseline, treated with dobutamine, and subjected to volume loading and beta-blockade. G(P)saline and G(P)Angio showed an excellent linear correlation (G(P)saline = 1.002 x G(P)Angio + 0.001 Omega(-1), R2 = 0.92), and Bland-Altman analysis yielded a nonsignificant bias and narrow limits of agreement (bias +/- 2SD = 0.002 +/- 0.112 Omega(-1)). Within-animal variability of GP was very similar with both methods and was due to changes in blood conductivity rather than geometrical changes. Variability between animals was significant (26.3% of mean for G(P)saline and 25.7% for G(P)Angio) and thus warrants individual assessment. Variations during the cardiac cycle were not significantly different from zero. With biplane angiography used as gold standard, the hypertonic saline method accurately determines GP for the dual-field conductance catheter over a wide range of hemodynamic conditions.

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The impact of hypertension on left ventricular structure and outcome during progression of aortic valve stenosis has not been reported from a large prospective study. Data from 1616 patients with asymptomatic aortic stenosis randomized to placebo-controlled treatment with combined simvastatin and ezetimibe in the Simvastatin Ezetimibe in Aortic Stenosis Study were used. The primary study end point included combined cardiovascular death, aortic valve events, and ischemic cardiovascular events. Hypertension was defined as history of hypertension or elevated baseline blood pressure. Left ventricular hypertrophy was defined as left ventricular mass/height(2.7) ≥ 46.7 g/m(2.7) in women and ≥ 49.2 g/m(2.7) in men and concentric geometry as relative wall thickness ≥ 0.43. Baseline peak aortic jet velocity and aortic stenosis progression rate did not differ between hypertensive (n = 1340) and normotensive (n = 276) patients. During 4.3 years of follow-up, the prevalence of concentric left ventricular hypertrophy increased 3 times in both groups. Hypertension predicted 51% higher incidence of abnormal LV geometry at final study visit independent of other confounders (P<0.01). In time-varying Cox regression, hypertension did not predict increased rate of the primary study end point. However, hypertension was associated with a 56% higher rate of ischemic cardiovascular events and a 2-fold increased mortality (both P<0.01), independent of aortic stenosis severity, abnormal left ventricular geometry, in-treatment systolic blood pressure, and randomized study treatment. No impact on aortic valve replacement was found. In conclusion, among patients with initial asymptomatic mild-to-moderate aortic stenosis, hypertension was associated with more abnormal left ventricular structure and increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.