The effects of e-cigarette (e-cig) aerosol inhalation by nonsmokers have not been examined to date. The present study was designed to evaluate the acute response to aerosol inhalation of non-nicotinized e-cigarettes in terms of oxidative stress and indices of endothelial activation in human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMVEC). Ten smoking-naïve healthy subjects (mean age ± SD = 28.7 ± 5.5 yr) were subjected to an e-cig challenge, following which their serum was monitored for markers of inflammation [C-reactive protein (CRP) and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM)] and nitric oxide metabolites (NOx). The oxidative stress and inflammation burden of the circulating serum on the vascular network was also assessed by measuring reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and induction of ICAM-1 expression on HPMVEC. Our results show that serum indices of oxidative stress and inflammation increased significantly ( P < 0.05 as compared with baseline), reaching a peak at approximately 1–2 h post-e-cig aerosol inhalation and returning to baseline levels at 6 h. The circulatory burden of the serum (ICAM-1 and ROS) increased significantly at 2 h and returned to baseline values 6 h post-e-cig challenge. ROS production by HPMVEC was found to occur via activation of the NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) pathways. These findings suggest that even in the absence of nicotine, acute e-cig aerosol inhalation leads to a transient increase in oxidative stress and inflammation. This can adversely affect the vascular endothelial network by promoting oxidative stress and immune cell adhesion. Thus e-cig inhalation has the potential to drive the onset of vascular pathologies.

lectronic cigarettes (hereafter, e-cigarettes) deliver nicotine by the electric heating and aerosolization of a flavored solution, or e-liquid (1). E-cigarettes are a public health issue because of their widespread use, especially among teenagers, despite uncertainty about their effect on long-term health (2). Many studies now question whether e-cigarette aerosol inhalation, or vaping, is safe (3-11), and it was found to cause vascular endothelial damage (8,9) and alterations in vascular tone (10,11). The basic constituents of e-liquids, primarily propylene glycol and glycerol, can form irritant acetals even at room temperature (3) and carcinogens at typical working device temperatures (5,6). Moreover, metals in the form of fine (diameter , 2.5 mm) and ultrafine (diameter , 100 nm) particles, which are likely generated by the heating element, have been detected in ecigarette aerosol in concentrations similar to or higher than in conventional cigarettes (7). These particulates, together with trillions of free radicals (4), are implicated in nose, throat, and respiratory airway irritation, lung inflammation, and nervous system damage (7,12). Once inhaled, ultrafine particles and the oxidant species located on their surface can translocate into the vascular space (13), resulting in a state of chronic vascular inflammation and oxidative stress noxious to endothelial function. Moreover, ultrafine particles can penetrate the blood-brain barrier, potentially leading to neuroinflammation and neurotoxicity (14).We hypothesized that e-cigarette aerosol inhalation, in the absence of nicotine, exerts systemic, acute, detrimental effects on the vascular system. Therefore, we measured several quantitative MRI parameters sensitive to vascular function and tone across multiple vascular beds before and after nicotine-free e-cigarette inhalation in healthy young

There has been evidence that cyclical mechanical stimulation may be osteogenic, thus providing opportunities for nonpharmacological treatment of degenerative bone disease. Here, we applied this technology to a cohort of postmenopausal women with varying bone mineral density (BMD) T‐scores at the total hip (−0.524 ± 0.843) and spine (−0.795 ± 1.03) to examine the response to intervention after 1 year of daily treatment with 10 minutes of vibration therapy in a randomized double‐blinded trial. The device operates either in an active mode (30 Hz and 0.3 g) or placebo. Primary endpoints were changes in bone stiffness at the distal tibia and marrow adiposity of the vertebrae, based on 3 Tesla high‐resolution MRI and spectroscopic imaging, respectively. Secondary outcome variables included distal tibial trabecular microstructural parameters and vertebral deformity determined by MRI, volumetric and areal bone densities derived using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) of the tibia, and dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA)‐based BMD of the hip and spine. Device adherence was 83% in the active group (n = 42) and 86% in the placebo group (n = 38) and did not differ between groups (p = .7). The mean 12‐month changes in tibial stiffness in the treatment group and placebo group were +1.31 ± 6.05% and −2.55 ± 3.90%, respectively (group difference 3.86%, p = .0096). In the active group, marrow fat fraction significantly decreased after 12 months of intervention (p = .0003), whereas no significant change was observed in the placebo group (p = .7; group difference −1.59%, p = .029). Mean differences of the changes in trabecular bone volume fraction (p = .048) and erosion index (p = .044) were also significant, as was pQCT‐derived trabecular volumetric BMD (vBMD; p = .016) at the tibia. The data are commensurate with the hypothesis that vibration therapy is protective against loss in mechanical strength and, further, that the intervention minimizes the shift from the osteoblastic to the adipocytic lineage of mesenchymal stem cells. © 2020 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).

Objective: This study was designed to investigate the acute effects of non-nicotinized e-cigarette (e-cig) aerosol inhalation in nonsmokers both in terms of blood-based markers of inflammation and oxidative stress and evaluate their association with hemodynamic-metabolic MRI parameters quantifying peripheral vascular reactivity, cerebrovascular reactivity and aortic stiffness. Approach and Results: Thirty-one healthy nonsmokers were subjected to two blood draws and two identical MRI protocols, each one before and after a standardized e-cig vaping session. After vaping, the serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM-1), the danger signal machinery high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) and its downstream effector, the NLRP3 inflammasome (as monitored by its adaptor protein ASC), increased significantly relative to the respective baseline (pre-vaping) values. Moreover, nitric oxide metabolites (NOx) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production decreased and increased, respectively. These observations were paralleled by impaired peripheral vascular reactivity (with reduced flow mediated dilation and attenuated hyperemic response after a cuff-occlusion test), and metabolic alterations expressed by decreased venous oxygen saturation, post-vaping. Conclusion: The current results suggest propagation of inflammation signaling via activation of the danger signaling axis (HMGB1-NLRP3). The findings indicate that a single episode of vaping has adverse impacts on vascular inflammation and function.

Half of the women who sustain a hip fracture would not qualify for osteoporosis treatment based on current DXA-estimated bone mineral density criteria. Therefore, a better approach is needed to determine if an individual is at risk of hip fracture from a fall. The objective of this study was to determine the association between radiation-free MRI-derived bone strength and strain simulations compared to results from direct mechanical testing of cadaveric femora.Imaging was conducted on a 3-Tesla MRI scanner using two sequences: one balanced steady-state free precession sequence with 300μm isotropic voxel size and one spoiled gradient echo with anisotropic voxel size of 234×234×1500μm. Femora were dissected free of soft-tissue and 4 350ohm strain-gauges were securely applied to surfaces at the femoral shaft, inferior neck, greater trochanter, and superior neck. Cadavers were mechanically tested with a hydraulic universal test frame to simulate loading in a sideways fall orientation.