. Changes in PKB/Akt and calcineurin signaling during recovery in atrophied soleus muscle induced by unloading.

No abstract

No abstract

SUMMARYSeveral studies have suggested that an increased high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) level is a strong independent predictor of increased risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Reduced heart rate variability (HRV) has also been reported to predict cardiovascular events such as sudden death and myocardial infarction in apparently healthy subjects. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to test the possible correlation between variation of the R-R interval as one of the markers of HRV and serum hsCRP levels in a general population in Japan.Resting, supine, 2-minute, beat-to-beat heart rate data were collected in 823 randomly selected participants enrolled in our cohort study. The coefficient of variation of the R-R interval (CVrr) was obtained as a parameter of HRV. To determine which factors predict the presence of low CVrr (below the 5 percentile) in this group, we performed a multivariate logistic regression analysis using cardiovascular risk factors and an elevated hsCRP level as independent variables.The lowest CVrr group showed significantly higher hsCRP levels compared to those of other quartiles (P < 0.01). After adjustment for confounding factors such as age, heart rate, obesity, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension by multivariate logistic analysis, an elevated hsCRP level (OR = 3.11, 95%CI; 1.27-7.60: P < 0.02) was a significant independent predictor of low CVrr.The results of the present study indicate that an increased serum hsCRP level is significantly associated with reduced CVrr in this general population. It is conceivable that the parasympathetic nerve withdrawal and inflammation could interact with each other, resulting in the progression of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. (Int Heart J 2006; 47: 867-876)

SummarySeveral recent studies have suggested that arterial stiffness parameters such as peripheral pulse pressure (PPP), central blood pressure (CBP), and pulse wave velocity (PWV) are more accurate markers than brachial blood pressure for prediction of cardiovascular (CV) events. However, it remains unknown which arterial stiffness parameter is the most useful for predicting CV risk in the general population. Participants in the present study were randomly selected from the 40 to 79 year age group in the general population (n = 973; mean age, 59). PPP was determined in the upper arm with an oscillometric device. CBP was estimated noninvasively by radial pulsatile analysis, and brachial-ankle PWV was measured using a validated automatic device. A follow-up survey assessing the incidence of CV events including CV death was carried out after the baseline study. The mean follow-up duration was 7.8 years. Subjects were divided into quartiles according to PPP, CBP, or PWV. Event-free rates among the PWV quartiles were clearly divergent (P < 0.001); however, the rates among quartiles for the other parameters were not significant. In a multivariate Cox regression model, both the 90th percentile level of PWV (HR = 2.51, 95% CI; 1.21 -5.22: P = 0.014) and the increase in PWV per one standard deviation (HR = 1.42, 95% CI; 1.06 -1.90: P = 0.019) were significantly associated with risk of CV events. The area under the curves of the receiver operating characteristics analysis for CV event prediction of PWV was significantly larger than the others (P = 0.002 versus PPP; P = 0.043 versus systolic CBP). The measurement of brachial-ankle PWV is more useful than determination of PPP or CBP for identifying subjects at high risk of CV events within the general population. (Int Heart J 2013; 54: 160-165) Key words: Blood pressure, Central blood pressure, Pulse pressure, Pulse wave velocity I t has been reported that several types of arterial stiffness parameters are independent predictors apart from brachial blood pressure (BP) levels for cardiovascular (CV) events.1,2) Several previous studies have demonstrated that pulse wave velocity (PWV), peripheral pulse pressure (PPP), and central blood pressure (CBP) are useful for evaluation of arterial stiffness and prediction of CV events and mortality in clinical and screening settings. [3][4][5][6] However, a few studies to date have compared the utility of brachial-ankle PWV (baP-WV), PPP, and CBP for predicting CV risk in communitybased populations. It thus remains uncertain which of the pulsatile hemodynamic measures is the best screening marker for predicting future CV events in the general population. The aim of the present study was to clarify this issue. MethodsSubjects: Subjects were recruited from the general population aged 40 -79 years in Higashiyama district of Ichinoseki city, Iwate prefecture, northern Japan. The total population of the district at the time of baseline survey was 8,425 (men, 4,140; women, 4,285) with 4,651 (men, 2,263; women, 2,388) falling within th...