Maintenance of endothelial cell integrity is an important component of human health and disease since the endothelium can perform various functions including regulation of vascular tone, control of hemostasis and thrombosis, cellular adhesion, smooth muscle cell proliferation, and vascular inflammation. Endothelial dysfunction is encompassed by complex pathophysiology that is based on endothelial nitric oxide synthase uncoupling and endothelial activation following stimulation from various inflammatory mediators (molecular patterns, oxidized lipoproteins, cytokines). The downstream signaling via nuclear factor-κB leads to overexpression of adhesion molecules, selectins, and chemokines that facilitate leukocyte adhesion, rolling, and transmigration to the subendothelial space. Moreover, oscillatory shear stress leads to pro-inflammatory endothelial activation with increased monocyte adhesion and endothelial cell apoptosis, an effect that is dependent on multiple pathways and flow-sensitive microRNA regulation. Moreover, the role of neutrophil extracellular traps and NLRP3 inflammasome as inflammatory mechanisms contributing to endothelial dysfunction has recently been unveiled and is under further investigation. Consequently, and following their activation, injured endothelial cells release inflammatory mediators and enter a pro-thrombotic state through activation of coagulation pathways, downregulation of thrombomodulin, and an increase in platelet adhesion and aggregation owing to the action of von-Willebrand factor, ultimately promoting atherosclerosis progression.

The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet is recognized as an effective dietary intervention to reduce blood pressure (BP). However, among randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the DASH diet-mediated BP reduction, there are significant methodological and clinical differences. The purpose of this study was to comprehensively assess the DASH diet effect on BP in adults with and without hypertension, accounting for underlying methodological and clinical confounders. We systematically searched Medline and the Cochrane Collaboration Library databases and identified 30 RCTs (n = 5545 participants) that investigated the BP effects of the DASH diet compared with a control diet in hypertensive and nonhypertensive adults. Both random-effects and fixed-effect models were used to calculate the mean attained systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) differences during follow-up. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses were also conducted. Compared with a control diet, the DASH diet reduced both SBP and DBP (difference in means: -3.2 mm Hg; 95% CI: -4.2, -2.3 mm Hg; P < 0.001, and -2.5 mm Hg; 95% CI: -3.5, -1.5 mm Hg; P < 0.001, respectively). Hypertension status did not modify the effect on BP reduction. The DASH diet compared with a control diet reduced SBP levels to a higher extent in trials with sodium intake >2400 mg/d than in trials with sodium intake ≤2400 mg/d, whereas both SBP and DBP were reduced more in trials with mean age <50 y than in trials of older participants. The quality of evidence was rated as moderate for both outcomes according to the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. The adoption of the DASH diet was accompanied by significant BP reduction in adults with and without hypertension, although higher daily sodium intake and younger age enhanced the BP-lowering effect of the intervention. This meta-analysis was registered at www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero as CRD42019128120.

Subendocardial viability ratio (SEVR), calculated through pulse wave analysis, is an index of myocardial oxygen supply and demand. Our aim was to evaluate the relationship between coronary flow reserve (CFR) and SEVR in 36 consecutive untreated hypertensives (aged 57.9 years, 12 males, all Caucasian) with indications of myocardial ischaemia and normal coronary arteries in coronary angiography. CFR was calculated by a 0.014-inch Doppler guidewire (Flowire, Volcano, San Diego, CA, USA) in response to bolus intracoronary administration of adenosine (30–60 μg). SEVR was calculated by radial applanation tonometry, while diastolic function was evaluated by means of transmitral flow and tissue Doppler imaging. Hypertensive patients with low CFR (n=24) compared with those with normal CFR (n=12) exhibited significantly decreased SEVR by 24.5% (P=0.002). In hypertensives with low CFR, CFR was correlated with SEVR (r=0.651, P=0.001). After applying multivariate linear regression analysis, age, left ventricular mass index, Em/Am, 24-h diastolic blood pressure (BP) and SEVR turned out to be the only independent predictors of CFR (adjusted R²=0.718). Estimation of SEVR by using applanation tonometry may provide a reliable tool for the assessment of coronary microcirculation in essential hypertensives with indications of myocardial ischaemia and normal coronary arteries.