Detection of silent cerebral microcirculatory abnormalities in patients with manifest ischemic coronary disease: a perfusion brain MRI study combined with dipyridamole stress.

OBJECTIVES: Intravenous dipyridamole (DP) can induce transient perfusion abnormalities in the heart but also the brain indicated by brain SPECT. L-arginine can regulate the vascular tone via nitric oxide (NO). Therefore, we examined cerebral blood volume (CBV) by perfusion MRI and L-arginine level before and after DP stress in patients, who developed transient neurological signs, and compared these to unaffected patients. DESIGN: A total of nine patients with ischemic coronary disease after myocardial perfusion scintigraphy were selected for this prospective pilot study. Four had DP-induced transient mild neurologic signs during myocardial perfusion scintigraphy, while five had no neurological signs. By using perfusion MRI in both groups in a second stage, we examined CBV in identical areas of the two hemispheres before and during DP stress. Besides, pre-and post-stress L-arginine serum levels were also analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Trial registration: NCT03688815. RESULTS: CBV in the sensory-motor area at baseline was significantly higher in patients with DP-induced transient neurological signs compared to patients without signs (p = 0.028). Intravenous DP normalized the higher perfusion by decreasing CBV, and also increased serum L-arginine level (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous DP changed the CBV accompanied by a systemic elevation of L-arginine: this indicates a direct vasorelaxing effect on brain vessels, and an indirect vasodilator effect through L-arginine release presumably via NO. In areas with decreased CBV before DP, such double effects caused transient neurological symptoms presumably due to steal phenomenon. Therefore, intravenous DP may have a potential to identify patients with high risk for cerebral ischemia.

Cost-effectiveness of anesthesia maintained with sevoflurane or propofol with and without additional monitoring: a prospective, randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: We compared cost-effectiveness of anesthesia maintained with sevoflurane or propofol with and without additional monitoring, in the clinical setting of ear-nose-throat surgery. METHODS: One hundred twenty adult patients were randomized to four groups. In groups SEVO and SEVO+ anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane, in group SEVO+ with additional bispectral index (BIS) and train-of-four (TOF) monitoring. In groups PROP and PROP+ anesthesia was maintained with propofol, in group PROP+ with additional BIS and TOF monitoring. RESULTS: Total cost of anesthesia per hour was greater in group SEVO+ compared to SEVO [€ 19.95(8.53) vs. 12.15(5.32), p <  0.001], and in group PROP+ compared to PROP (€ 22.11(8.08) vs. 13.23(4.23), p <  0.001]. Time to extubation was shorter in group SEVO+ compared to SEVO [11.1(4.7) vs. 14.5(3.9) min, p = 0.002], and in PROP+ compared to PROP [12.6(5.4) vs. 15.2(4.7) min, p <  0.001]. Postoperatively, arterial blood pressure returned to its initial values sooner in groups SEVO+ and PROP+. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that the use of BIS and TOF monitoring decreased the total cost of anesthesia drugs and hastened postoperative recovery. However, in our circumstances, these were associated with higher disposables costs. Detailed cost analysis and further investigations are needed to identify patient populations who would benefit most from additional monitoring. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02920749 . Retrospectively registered (date of registration September 2016).

Blood-Based Protein Biomarkers for the Management of Traumatic Brain Injuries in Adults Presenting to Emergency Departments with Mild Brain Injury: A Living Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Accurate diagnosis of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is critical to effective management and intervention, but can be challenging in patients with mild TBI. A substantial number of studies have reported the use of circulating biomarkers as signatures for TBI, capable of improving diagnostic accuracy and clinical decision making beyond current practice standards. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to comprehensively and critically evaluate the existing body of evidence for the use of blood protein biomarkers (S100 calcium binding protein B [S100B], glial fibrillary acidic protein [GFAP], neuron specific enolase [NSE], ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase-L1 [UCH-L1]. tau, and neurofilament proteins) for diagnosis of intracranial lesions on CT following mild TBI. Effects of potential confounding factors and differential diagnostic performance of the included markers were explored. Further, appropriateness of study design, analysis, quality, and demonstration of clinical utility were assessed. Studies published up to October 2016 were identified through searches of MEDLINE®, Embase, EBM Reviews, the Cochrane Library, World Health Organization (WHO), International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP), and clinicaltrials.gov. Following screening of the identified articles, 26 were selected as relevant. We found that measurement of S100B can help informed decision making in the emergency department, possibly reducing resource use; however, there is insufficient evidence that any of the other markers is ready for clinical application. Our work pointed out serious problems in the design, analysis, and reporting of many of the studies, and identified substantial heterogeneity and research gaps. These findings emphasize the importance of methodologically rigorous studies focused on a biomarker's intended use, and defining standardized, validated, and reproducible approaches. The living nature of this systematic review, which will summarize key updated information as it becomes available, can inform and guide future implementation of biomarkers in the clinical arena.

From Newborn to Senescence Morphological and Functional Remodeling Leads to Increased Contractile Capacity of Arteries.

Aging induces substantial morphological and functional changes in vessels. We hypothesized that due to morphological remodeling the total contractile forces of arteries increase, especially in older age as a function of age. Mean arterial blood pressure of rats and morphological and functional characteristics of isolated carotid arteries rats, from newborn to senescent, were assessed. The arterial blood pressure of rats increased significantly from 0.25 to the age of 6 months, and then it reached a level, which was maintained until age of 30 months. Wall lumen and wall thickness increased with age, mostly due to media (smooth muscle) thickening, whereas wall tension gradually reduced with age. Contractions of arteries to nonreceptor-mediated vasomotor agent (KCl, 60mM) increased in three consecutive age groups, whereas contractility first increased (until 2 months), then it did not change further with aging. Norepinephrine-induced contractions initially increased in young age and then did not change further in older age. These findings suggest that during normal aging due to remodeling of arterial wall (smooth muscle) the contractile capacity of arteries increases, which seems to be independent from systemic blood pressure. Thus, arterial remodeling can favor the development of increased circulatory resistance in older age.

Hemolyzed Blood Elicits a Calcium Antagonist and High CO2 Reversible Constriction via Elevation of [Ca2+]i in Isolated Cerebral Arteries.

During acute subarachnoid hemorrhage, blood is hemolyzed, which is followed by a significant cerebrovascular spasm resulting in a serious clinical condition. Interestingly, however, the direct vasomotor effect of perivascular hemolyzed blood (HB) has not yet been characterized, preventing the assessment of contribution of vasoconstrictor mechanisms deriving from brain tissue and/or blood and development of possible treatments. We hypothesized that perivascular HB reduces the diameter of the cerebral arteries (i.e., basilar artery [BA]; middle cerebral artery [MCA]) by elevating vascular tissue [Ca2+]i level. Vasomotor responses were measured by videomicroscopy and intracellular Ca2+ by the Fura2-AM ratiometric method. Adding HB to the vessel chamber reduced the diameter significantly (BA: from 264 ± 7 to 164 ± 11 µm; MCA: from 185 ± 15 to 155 ± 14 µm), which was reversed to control level by wash-out of HB. Potassium chloride (KCl), HB, serum, hemolyzed red blood cell (RBC), plasma, and platelet suspension (PLTs) elicited significant constrictions of isolated basilar arteries. There was a significant increase in K+ concentration in hemolyzed HB (7.02 ± 0.22 mmol/L) compared to Krebs' solution (6.20 ± 0.01 mmol/L). Before HB, acetylcholine (ACh), sodium-nitroprussid (SNP), nifedipin, and CO2 elicited substantial dilations in cerebral arteries. In contrast, in the presence of HB dilations to ACh, SNP decreased, but not to nifedipine and CO2. After washout of HB, nitric oxide-mediated dilations remained significantly reduced compared to control. HB significantly increased the ratiometric Ca signal, which returned to control level after washout. In conclusion, perivascular hemolyzed blood elicits significant-nifedipine and high CO2 reversible-constrictions of isolated BAs and MCAs, primarily by increasing intracellular Ca2+, findings that can contribute to the refinement of local treatment of subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Chronic PARP-1 inhibition reduces carotid vessel remodeling and oxidative damage of the dorsal hippocampus in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Vascular remodeling during chronic hypertension may impair the supply of tissues with oxygen, glucose and other compounds, potentially unleashing deleterious effects. In this study, we used Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats with or without pharmacological inhibition of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-1 by an experimental compound L-2286, to evaluate carotid artery remodeling and consequent damage of neuronal tissue during hypertension. We observed elevated oxidative stress and profound thickening of the vascular wall with fibrotic tissue accumulation induced by elevated blood pressure. 32 weeks of L-2286 treatment attenuated these processes by modulating mitogen activated protein kinase phosphatase-1 cellular levels in carotid arteries. In hypertensive animals, vascular inflammation and endothelial dysfunction was observed by NF-κB nuclear accumulation and impaired vasodilation to acetylcholine, respectively. Pharmacological poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-1 inhibition interfered in these processes and mitigated Apoptosis Inducing Factor dependent cell death events, thus improved structural and functional alterations of carotid arteries, without affecting blood pressure. Chronic poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-1 inhibition protected neuronal tissue against oxidative damage, assessed by nitrotyrosine, 4-hydroxinonenal and 8-oxoguanosine immunohistochemistry in the area of Cornu ammonis 1 of the dorsal hippocampus in hypertensive rats. In this area, extensive pyramidal cell loss was also attenuated by treatment with lowered poly(ADP-ribose)polymer formation. It also preserved the structure of fissural arteries and attenuated perivascular white matter lesions and reactive astrogliosis in hypertensive rats. These data support the premise in which chronic poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-1 inhibition has beneficial effects on hypertension related tissue damage both in vascular tissue and in the hippocampus by altering signaling events, reducing oxidative/nitrosative stress and inflammatory status, without lowering blood pressure.

The Beta-1-Receptor Blocker Nebivolol Elicits Dilation of Cerebral Arteries by Reducing Smooth Muscle [Ca2+]i.

RATIONALE: Nebivolol is known to have beta-1 blocker activity, but it was also suggested that it elicits relaxation of the peripheral arteries in part via release of nitric oxide (NO). However, the effect of nebivolol on the vasomotor tone of cerebral arteries is still unclear. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of nebivolol on the diameter of isolated rat basilar arteries (BA) in control, in the presence of inhibitors of vasomotor signaling pathways of know action and hemolysed blood. METHODS AND RESULTS: Vasomotor responses were measured by videomicroscopy and the intracellular Ca2+ by the Fura-2 AM ratiometric method. Under control conditions, nebivolol elicited a substantial dilation of the BA (from 216±22 to 394±20 µm; p<0.05) in a concentration-dependent manner (10-7 to 10-4 M). The dilatation was significantly reduced by endothelium denudation or by L-NAME (inhibitor of NO synthase) or by SQ22536 (adenylyl cyclase blocker). Dilatation of BA was also affected by beta-2 receptor blockade with butoxamine, but not by the guanylate cyclase blocker ODQ. Interestingly, beta-1 blockade by atenolol inhibited nebivolol-induced dilation. Also, the BKCa channel blocker iberiotoxin and KCa channel inhibitor TEA significantly reduced nebivolol-induced dilation. Nebivolol significantly reduced smooth muscle Ca2+ level, which correlated with the increases in diameters and moreover it reversed the hemolysed blood-induced constriction of BA. CONCLUSIONS: Nebivolol seems to have an important dilator effect in cerebral arteries, which is mediated via several vasomotor mechanisms, converging on the reduction of smooth muscle Ca2+ levels. As such, nebivolol may be effective to improve cerebral circulation in various diseased conditions, such as hemorrhage.

Age determines the magnitudes of angiotensin II-induced contractions, mRNA, and protein expression of angiotensin type 1 receptors in rat carotid arteries.

In this study, we hypothesized that aging alters angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced vasomotor responses and expression of vascular mRNA and protein angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R). Thus, carotid arteries were isolated from the following age groups of rats: 8 days, 2-9 months, 12-20 months, and 20-30 months, and their vasomotor responses were measured in a myograph after repeated administrations of Ang II. Vascular relative AT1R mRNA level was determined by quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and the AT1R protein density was measured by Western blot. Contractions to the first administration of Ang II increased from 8 days to 6 months and then they decreased to 30 months. In general, second administration of Ang II elicited reduced contractions, but they also increased from 8 days until 2 months and then they decreased to 30 months. Similarly the AT1R mRNA level increased from 8 days to 12 months and then decreased to 30 months. Similarly the AT1R protein density increased from 8 days until 16 months and then they decreased to 30 months. The pattern of these changes correlated with functional vasomotor data. We conclude that aging (newborn to senescence) has substantial effects on Ang II-induced vasomotor responses and AT1R signaling suggesting the importance of genetic programs.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) induces relaxations of peripheral and cerebral arteries, which are differentially impaired by aging.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a well-known neuropeptide, which also has vasomotor effects. However, little is known regarding its age-related and organ-specific vasomotor effects. We hypothesized that the vasomotor effects of PACAP depend on the tissue origin of the vessels and aging substantially modulates its actions. Thus, carotid (CA) and basilar arteries (BA) were isolated from young (2 months old), middle age (12 months old), and old (30 months old) rats. Their vasomotor responses were measured with an isometric myograph (DMT610M) in response to cumulative concentrations of PACAP1-38 (10(-9)-10(-6) M). PACAP1-38 induced (1) significantly greater concentration-dependent relaxations in CA compared to that of BA of young, middle age, and old rats; (2) relaxations of CA significantly decreased, whereas they did not change substantially in BA, as a function of age; (3) sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced relaxation did not change after PACAP1-38 administration in any conditions; and (4) inhibition of PAC1 receptors by selective PAC1 receptor blocker (PACAP6-38) completely diminished the responses to PACAP in all age groups of BA and CA. In conclusion, these findings suggest that PACAP1-38 has greater vasomotor effect in CA than that in BA, whereas aging has less effect on PACAP-induced relaxation of cerebral arteries and BA than that in peripheral arteries and CA suggesting that the relaxation to PACAP is maintained in cerebral arteries even in old age.