Aim:Pulse wave velocity (PWV), an estimate of arterial stiffness, is an important predictor of cardiovascular risk. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between lipoprotein subclasses and brachial-ankle PWV (baPWV). Methods: A total of 131 apparently healthy Japanese men without a history of cardiovascular disease were divided into two groups: normal glucose metabolism (n 87) and impaired glucose metabolism (n 44). Cholesterol concentrations of major lipoproteins and their subclasses were determined by HPLC with gel permeation columns. Results: In the normal glucose metabolism group, age, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic pressure were associated with increased baPWV, and a stepwise multiple linear regression analysis revealed that age (p 0.022) and systolic blood pressure (p 0.001) were significantly independent determinants of baPWV. In the impaired glucose metabolism group, age (p 0.002), very small LDL cholesterol (p 0.012), systolic blood pressure (p 0.021), and the fasting plasma glucose concentration (p 0.038) were identified as independent determinants of baPWV, although a univariate analysis revealed significant relationships of several plasma lipid compositions or species to baPWV. Conclusions: In addition to aging, hypertension and glucose levels, very small LDL cholesterol levels appear to play an important role in the development of arterial stiffness in men with impaired glucose metabolism.

No abstract

No abstract

Twenty-four-hour ambulatory blood pressure (BP) was monitored in 540 healthy Japanese adults whose casual BP was less than 140 mmHg in systole and less than 90 mmHg in diastole. A total of 304 men and 236 women, ranging in age from 20 to 79 years, with a mean of 40.9±12.8 years, were studied. BP was measured every 30 min using ABPM-630 (Nippon Colin Co.) for 24 h in 395 subjects and for 48 h in 145 subjects. Periodic regression curves were obtained and the coefficients of determination (R2) was calculated for each periodic component. The periodic regression curves by age and sex were tested statistically for differences in terms of the level (mean value) and the pattern (amplitude and acrophase) of the curves using periodic analysis of covariance (PERCOVA). The periodic regression curve composed of 24-and 12-h periods was fitted satisfactorily to the measured BP values (R2=0.97 for systolic BP and 0.98 for diastolic BP). The level of the periodic regression curve increased significantly with increasing age, being significantly higher in males than in females. The pattern of BP curve did differ among some age groups but not significantly between the sexes.

Although the circadian variation of catecholamine has been reported, that of the pulse wave velocity (PWV) has not. Brachial ankle (ba) PWV is associated with well-established indices of central stiffness. It is not known whether arterial stiffness is associated with catecholamine. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the changes in baPWV and those on the plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine levels in the morning and evening in hypertensive patients (HPs) and normotensive subjects (NSs). The baPWV and blood pressure (BP) were measured in 14 NSs (14 males, 39 ± 5 years) and 10 HPs (9 males and 1 female, 55 ± 13 years) at 06:00 h, noon, 18:00 h, and midnight, respectively. The plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine levels were measured in 14 NSs and 5 HPs at 06:00 h and 18:00 h, respectively. There was no significant difference in BPs at 06:00 h, noon, 18:00 h, and midnight in either NSs or HPs. The baPWV at 06:00 h was significantly lower than that at noon, 18:00 h, and midnight in NSs (P = 0.01, 0.04, and 0.0008, respectively). The plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine levels at 06:00 h were markedly lower than those at 18:00 h in NSs (P = 0.002 and 0.003, respectively). There were no significant changes in the baPWV of HPs at 06:00 h, noon, 18:00 h, or midnight. The plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine levels at 06:00 h were notably lower than those at 18:00 h in HPs (P = 0.004 and 0.01, respectively). Only NSs showed a significant reduction in the baPWV with a decrease in the plasma catecholamine levels in the morning, suggesting that the baPWV of NSs may be correlated with the variation of the plasma catecholamine levels.