Aim:The cardio-ankle vascular stiffness index (CAVI) is a new parameter that reflects the stiffness of the aorta, femoral artery and tibial artery as a whole. One of its conspicuous features is that CAVI is independent of blood pressure at measuring time, theoretically. But, it has not been experimentally proved yet. For confirmation, pharmacological studies were performed comparing with brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). Methods: Used drugs were a 1-adrenoceptor blocker, metoprorol and an 1-adrenoceptor blocker doxazosin. Both were administered to 12 healthy volunteer men. CAVI and baPWV were measured every one hour for 6 hours using VaSera.

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effect and safety of treatment with low-calorie formula diet on renal function and proteinuria in obese patients with diabetic nephropathy. DESIGN: Prospective study on safety and efficacy of a 4-week low-calorie (11-19 kcal/kg/day) normal-protein (0.9-1.2 g/kg/ day) diet partly supplemented with formula diet. SUBJECTS: In all, 22 obese patients with diabetic nephropathy (BMI: 30.475.3 kg/m 2 , HbA1c: 7.171.4%, serum creatinine: 172.4757.5 mmol/l, urinary protein: 3.372.6 g/day). RESULTS: The mean body weight decreased by 6.273.0 kg. The mean systolic blood pressure, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, urinary protein, and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine decreased significantly by 7.5712.7 mmHg, 41.6723.9 mmol/l, 1.5071.61 mmol/l, 1.871.7 g/day, and 3.173.6 ng/mg creatinine, respectively. No patient had increased serum creatinine and urinary protein. Mean creatinine clearance (40.6717.9 to 46.1714.6 ml/s/1.73 m 2 ) and serum albumin showed no significant changes. Dserum creatinine and Durinary protein correlated with Dbody weight (r ¼ 0.62 and 0.49, respectively) and Dvisceral fat area (r ¼ 0.58 and 0.58, respectively), but did not correlate with Dsystolic blood pressure, Dfasting blood glucose and Dsubcutaneous fat area. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that weight reduction using formula diet might improve renal function and proteinuria safely for a short term in obese patients with diabetic nephropathy.

Aim:The three types of calcium channel blocker (CCB), L-, T-and N-type, possess heterogeneous actions on endothelial function and renal microvascular function. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of two CCBs, efonidipine and amlodipine, on renal function and arterial stiffness. Methods: Forty type 2 diabetic patients with hypertension and nephropathy receiving angiotensin receptor blockers were enrolled and randomly divided into two groups: the efonidipine group was administered efonidipine hydrochloride ethanolate 40 mg/day and the amlodipine group was administered amlodipine besilate 5 mg/day for 12 months. Arterial stiffness was evaluated by the cardioankle vascular index (CAVI). Results: Changes in blood pressure during the study were almost the same in the two groups. Significant increases in serum creatinine and urinary albumin and a significant decrease in the estimated glomerular filtration rate were observed in the amlodipine group, but not in the efonidipine group. On the other hand, significant decreases in plasma aldosterone, urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine and CAVI were observed after 12 months in the efonidipine group, but not in the amlodipine group. Conclusions: These results suggest that efonidipine, which is both a T-type and L-type calcium channel blocker, has more favorable effects on renal function, oxidative stress and arterial stiffness than amlodipine, an L-type calcium channel blocker. J Atheroscler

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Aim: A novel device has been developed for measuring the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) as an indicator of arterial stiffness. In this study, we evaluated the effect of pitavastatin on CAVI in type 2 diabetic patients. Methods: Forty-five type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with low-density lipoprotein cholesterolemia were enrolled and treated with pitavastatin 2 mg/day for 12 months. Before and after pitavastatin administration, HbA1c, serum lipids, serum malondialdehyde-LDL (MDA-LDL), urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and CAVI were measured.