Prevention or attenuation of diabetic vascular complications includes anti-hypertensive treatment with renin-angiotensin system inhibitors on account of their protective effects beyond blood pressure reduction. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of telmisartan, an angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker (ARB), on blood pressure, aortic stiffening, and aortic remodelling in experimental type 1 diabetes in rats.

There is no clear understanding about the effect of intensive physical load on arterial stiffness and related biomarkers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of half-marathon running on arterial stiffness and blood biomarkers during post-competitive recovery period in competitive and recreational male athletes. Eleven high-level long-distance runners (27.1 ± 4.8 yrs) and seven recreational athletes (34.3 ± 6.1 yrs), who participated in a half-marathon run were examined. Blood biomarkers and arterial stiffness (SphygmoCor 7.1) were measured at baseline and at 18 to 22 hours after the competition. There were no statistically significant changes between the groups in augmentation index (AIx, AIx@75) or pulse wave velocities at carotid-femoral segment (cfPWV) during recovery period. Between-group comparison did not reveal significant differences in blood pressure and arterial stiffness values at baseline and during recovery period. The change of cfPWV (difference between cfPWV at baseline and cfPWV during post-competitive recovery period) was significantly dependent on race time and sports level of the athlete (high-level or recreational). A significant increase was found in hsCRP, creatine kinase and LDH activity during the post-race period in both groups. No significant changes were found in oxidative stress markers in the groups after the race except for higher diene conjugates level in recreational athletes in comparison with the high-level group during recovery period. Our study results showed that half-marathon competition did not cause any significant changes in arterial stiffness parameters during the recovery period. However, the change in cfPWV was independently associated with half-marathon race time and the athlete’s level of training revealing a mild increase of arterial stiffness in high-level athletes and athletes with a faster race time.

Background and Objectives: Prior cardiac pacemaker studies examining the relationship between heart rate and central (aortic) blood pressure (BP) have predominantly used acute designs, limiting generalisability to long-term settings. The aim of this study was to assess the long-term effects of two clinically realistic pacing rate strategies on the central BP profile in permanently paced sinus node dysfunction (SND) patients in sinus rhythm and on antihypertensive medication. Materials and Methods: In this prospective, single-centre, randomised, single-blind, exploratory crossover clinical trial, the study participants completed two eight-week intervention periods (DDD 55 and 75 bpm) separated by a two-week washout. Office peripheral and central haemodynamics were measured at baseline and at the end of each period non-invasively with an oscillometric cuff-based device (SphygmoCor XCEL). Results: The study included 22 subjects (median age 76 (IQR 73–78) years, 16 women). At DDD 55 bpm, central systolic BP (primary outcome) was higher than at DDD 75 bpm (mean 127.8 ± 13.4 and 121.3 ± 10.6 mmHg, respectively, p = 0.04), whereas systolic BP amplification (peripheral systolic BP—central systolic BP) and pulse pressure (PP) amplification (peripheral PP/central PP) were lower (systolic BP amplification: mean 8.5 ± 3.2 and 10.1 ± 2.9 mmHg, respectively, p = 0.02; PP amplification: mean 1.2 ± 0.1 and 1.3 ± 0.1, respectively, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Long-term pacing at a moderately accelerated physiological rate may be associated with lower central systolic BP compared with pacing at a slightly bradycardic rate, in older permanently paced SND patients with hypertension.