Background: Increased arterial stiffness (AS), intima-media thickness (IMT), and the presence of atherosclerotic plaques (PP) have been considered as important aspects of vascular aging. It is well documented that the cardiovascular system is an important target organ for growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 in humans, and GH /IGF-1 deficiency significantly increases the risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The telomere length of peripheral blood leukocytes (LTL) is a biomarker of cellular senescence and that has been proposed as an independent predictor of (CVD). The aim of this study is to determine the role of GH/IGF-1, LTL and their interaction cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) in the vascular aging.Methods: The study group included 303 ambulatory participants free of known CVD (104 males and 199 females) with a mean age of 51.8 ± 13.3 years. All subjects had one or more CVRF [age, smoking, arterial hypertension, obesity, dyslipidemia, fasting hyperglycemia, insulin resistance—HOMA (homeostatic model assessment) >2.5, or high glycated hemoglobin]. The study sample was divided into the two groups according to age as “younger” (m ≤ 45 years, f ≤ 55 years) and “older” (m > 45 years, f > 55 years). IMT and PP were determined by ultrasonography, AS was determined by measuring the carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (c-f PWV) using the SphygmoCor system (AtCor Medical). LTL was determined by PCR. Serum IGF-1 and GH concentrations we measured by immunochemiluminescence analysis.Results: Multiple linear regression analysis with adjustment for CVRF indicated that HOMA, GH, IGF-1, and LTL had an independent relationship with all the arterial wall parameters investigated in the younger group. In the model with c-f PWV as a dependent variable, p < 0.001 for HOMA, p = 0.03 for GH, and p = 0.004 for LTL. In the model with IMT as a dependent variable, p = 0.0001 for HOMA, p = 0.044 for GH, and p = 0.004 for IGF-1. In the model with the number of plaques as a dependent variable, p = 0.0001 for HOMA, and p = 0.045 for IGF-1. In the older group, there were no independent significant associations between GH/IGF-1, LTL, HOMA, and arterial wall characteristics.Conclusions: GH/IGF-1, IR, HOMA, and LTL were the important parameters of arterial aging in younger healthy participants.

It is known that glucose disturbances contribute to micro- and macrovascular complications and vascular aging. Telomere length is considered to be a cellular aging biomarker. It is important to determine the telomere length role in vascular structural and functional changes in patients with diabetes mellitus. We conducted a cross-sectional observational study in a high-risk population from Moscow, Russia. The study included 50 patients with diabetes and without clinical cardiovascular disease and 49 control group participants. Glucose metabolism assessment tests, measuring intima–media complex thickness and determining the presence of atherosclerotic plaques, pulse wave velocity measurement, and telomere length measurement were administered to all participants. Vascular changes were more dramatic in patients with diabetes than in the control group, and the telomeres were shorter in patients with diabetes. Significant differences were found in the vascular wall condition among diabetes patients, and there were no substantial differences in the arterial structure between patients with ‘long’ telomeres; however, there were statistically significant differences in the vascular wall condition between patients with ‘short’ telomeres. Vascular ageing signs were more prominent in patients with diabetes. However, despite diabetes, vascular changes in patients with long telomeres were very modest and were similar to the vascular walls in healthy individuals. Thus, long lymphocyte telomeres may have a protective effect on the vascular wall and may prevent vascular wall deterioration caused by glucose metabolism disorders.

Detection of principal subclinical arterial wall lesions is one of the most important aspects of effective cardiovascular disease (CVD) primary prevention. Such lesions include: arterial wall thickening, increased rigidity, endothelial dysfunction development. However, the role of traditional CVD risk factors in the development of individual arterial wall lesions in CVD-free people is understudied. This is particularly so with people of older age. Aim. To study the role of traditional CVD risk factors in development of arterial wall lesions in relatively healthy individuals of different age. Material and methods. We have examined a total of 303 people aged 25-91 years, with no signs of CVD and other chronic diseases and without any regular medical treatment. Anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides levels were detected in all the patients. Measurement of pulse wave velocity was conducted using SphygmoCor device (AtCorMedical, Australia). Carotid ultrasound to measure intima-media thickness and number of atherosclerotic plaques was conducted using linear transducer with ultra-high resolution 17-5 MHz (PHILIPS iU22, the Netherlands) in the B-mode. Endothelium-dependent vasodilation was assessed by the reactive hyperemia test. Results. Multivariate linear regression analysis has revealed fasting hyperglycemia and increased systolic blood pressure to be to a greater degree associated with arterial wall state in both age groups. According to the results of multivariate logistic regression analysis a relationship between risk factors and arterial wall parameters is stronger in the younger group as compared with the older one. Conclusion. Systolic blood pressure and fasting hyperglycemia must be the main targets of CVD primary prevention in older age group, while in younger age group other traditional risk factors must be taken into account as well. Keywords: arterial wall; pulse wave velocity; intima-media thickness; atherosclerotic plaques; endothelium-dependent vasodilation; traditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Одним из важнейших направлений эффективной первичной профилактики сердечно-сосудистых заболеваний (ССЗ) является определение основных детерминант суб-клинических изменений стенки артерий: ее утолщения, повышения жесткости, развития эндотелиальной дисфункции. Однако роль традиционных факторов риска ССЗ в развитии отдельных нарушений состояния артериальной стенки у лиц, не имеющих клинических проявлений ССЗ, изучены недостаточно. Особенно это касается людей старшего возраста. Цель. Изучить роль традиционных факторов риска ССЗ в развитии изменений артериальной стенки у относительно здоровых людей разного возраста. Материал и методы. Было обследовано 303 человека в возрасте от 25 до 91 года без признаков ССЗ и других хронических заболеваний, не получавших регулярную ме-дикаментозную терапию. У всех пациентов измерялись антропометрические показатели, артериальное ...

Aim. To study the relationship of individual cardiovascular risk factors with arterial stiffness and subclinical atherosclerosis in young men. Material and methods. The study is part of a 32-year prospective cohort monitoring of males, beginning with childhood (11-12 years). The study included 303 (30.1%) representatives of the initial population sample aged 41-44 who underwent an outpatient examination at the State Research Center for Preventive Medicine in 2015-2016. The examination included a survey by a standard questionnaire, measurement of anthropometric parameters, blood pressure (BP), pulse counting. Biochemical assays were carried out according to standard laboratory procedures. Applanation tonometry was used to measure stiffness of the arterial wall. Intima-media thickness (IMT) and subclinical atherosclerosis signs were determined in both left and right carotid arteries by ultrasound scanning. Results. Arterial stiffness and central pressure were significantly higher in the group with hypertension (HT). Risk of HT development depended on HT presence in mother and did not depend on HT in father. HT was associated with obesity (79.4% vs 44.3%; p<0.001), especially of abdominal type and elevated triglycerides (1.3±0.9 vs 1.8±1.1 mmol/l; p<0.05), this indirectly reflected nutritional disorder and development of metabolic syndrome. The analysis of arterial stiffness parameters showed positive correlation with mean systolic (r=0.256) and diastolic (r=0.228) BP in the brachial artery and also with heart rate (r=0.133). A statistically significant positive correlation of central pressure in the aorta and pulse BP with indices of arterial stiffness was noted. When comparing arterial stiffness and duplex scans, a correlation of mean IMT with the augmentation index (r=0.131) and augmentation BP (r=0.125) was obtained, but no correlation between IMT and pulse wave velocity was found. Correlation of vascular rigidity with total cholesterol level was also noted (r=0.121). Conclusion. The arterial stiffness was closely related to HT and already developed in early stages, in a fairly young age. Arterial stiffness in men was not associated with dyslipidemia and diabetes presence. Interrelation of arterial stiffness and degree of early atherosclerotic vascular lesions was ambiguous.