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Abstract

Impaired endothelial function is observed as altered vasomotion in both the peripheral and coronary circulation in the presence of cardiovascular risk factors and early atherogenesis. An improvement in endothelium-dependent vasoactivity has been reported with both cholesterol reduction and smoking cessation. This study was performed to determine whether smoking status in coronary artery disease (CAD) effects both flow-mediated and cold pressor vasoactivity. We studied 25 men (ages 30-59), 12 smokers and 13 nonsmokers with angiographically documented coronary artery disease and cardiac risk factors who were grouped as smokers and nonsmokers. Using 7.5 MHz ultrasound, we measured brachial artery diameter and Doppler flow velocity at baseline, following 5 mins of ipsilateral blood pressure cuff occlusion and release (flow-mediated), during contralateral ice water hand immersion (cold pressor test) and after sublinqual nitroglycerin administration (an endothelium-independent vasodilator). Flow-mediated percent diameter change was significantly less in the smokers than nonsmokers (1.9 +/- 5.7% vs 11.4 +/- 7.2%, p < 0.001). Both smokers and nonsmokers responded similarly to the cold pressor test (-3.9 +/- 2.3 vs -1.2 +/- 0.2%) and nitroglycerin (15.1 +/- 7.6 vs 17.5 +/- 8.3%). Cholesterol level did not appear to be an independent determinant of flow-mediated vasoactivity when smoking status was taken into account. Flow-mediated vasoactivity is associated with smoking status in the presence of coronary artery disease but cold pressor induced vasoactivity is not.

Impairment of flow-mediated vasodilatation of brachial artery in patients with Cushing’s Syndrome

“…Smoking and patients who had received any medication such as angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, angiotensin II receptor blocker, calcium channel blocker, beta blocker, or statin may affect endothelial function [25][26][27]. But, in our study, there were no significant differences regarding calcium channel blocker and beta blocker treatment between the groups.…”

Micro‐Raman spectroscopy and complementary techniques applied for the study of copper and iron wastes from Motya (Italy)

“…For this reason, it is likely that Phoenicians themselves were probably “metal producers” and/or at least “diffusers” of technological transfer and advancements of the ars flaturae during the first centuries of the first millennium BC. [ 27 ]…”

“…Data on mineralogy, microstructure, and chemical composition of waste products are necessary to obtain information about ore minerals, smelting temperatures, viscosity, different steps of metal reduction, efficiency of the process, redox conditions, cooling rates, and sos on. [ 6,14,27,28 ]…”

“…For this reason, it is likely that Phoenicians themselves were probably "metal producers" and/or at least "diffusers" of technological transfer and advancements of the ars flaturae during the first centuries of the first millennium BC. [27] The aim of this work is to characterize a set of slags from Motya, dating back from the 9 th to the beginning of the 8 th century BC and to reconstruct the smelting process and nature of the raw material involved in different archeological frames and periods.…”

“…Data on mineralogy, microstructure, and chemical composition of waste products are necessary to obtain information about ore minerals, smelting temperatures, viscosity, different steps of metal reduction, efficiency of the process, redox conditions, cooling rates, and sos on. [6,14,27,28] Finally, the effects of corrosion on the original microstructure of the slags from lagoon-like environment are also evaluated as they continuously change during corrosion history.…”