AIMS/INTRODUCTION The present multicenter, prospective, controlled, open and randomized three-arm parallel study was designed to compare the effects of linagliptin with those of metformin on endothelial function. MATERIALS AND METHODS Type 2 diabetes patients treated with 750 mg of metformin (hemoglobin A1c ≥6.0% and <8.0%, n = 96) were randomized to continue metformin 750 mg/day (control gro...

Vascular endothelial dysfunction develops with aging, as indicated by impaired endothelium-dependent dilation, and is related to increased cardiovascular disease risk. We hypothesized that short-term treatment with fenofibrate, a lipid-lowering agent with potential pleiotropic effects, would improve endothelium-dependent dilation in middle-aged and older normolipidemic adults by reducing oxidat...

Because methionine enkephalin contributes to and dynorphin opposes dilation during a 10-min hypoxic exposure, opioids modulate pial artery dilation to this stimulus. However, such modulation may be dependent on the duration of hypoxia. The present study was designed to characterize the modulation of hypoxic pial dilation by opioids as a function of stimulus duration in newborn pigs equipped wit...

The goal of this study is to assess the effect pupillary dilation on predicted post-operative  refraction  (the Plano or least minus refraction) and recommended intraocular lens (IOL) power calculated by using third generation fourth formula measure difference  between pre  and   post   pupil  dilation  on ACD. This   study included 40 eyes with cataract will undergo phacoemulsification divided...

OBJECTIVES This study was conducted to determine whether direct stenting with TAXUS Liberté is noninferior to stenting after pre-dilation. BACKGROUND Direct stenting is performed in approximately 30% of patients, but data on clinical and angiographic outcomes with drug-eluting stents are limited. METHODS The TAXUS ATLAS DIRECT STENT is a single-arm, multicenter study that enrolled patients ...

BACKGROUND Reperfusion is mandatory after ischaemia, but it also triggers ischaemia-reperfusion (IR)-injury. It is currently unknown whether heart failure alters the magnitude of IR-injury. Ischaemic preconditioning can limit IR-injury. Since ischaemic preconditioning is typically applied in subjects at risk for cardiovascular complications, it is of clinical importance to understand its effica...

We have observed that hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), the dismutated product of superoxide, is a coronary metabolic dilator and couples myocardial oxygen consumption to coronary blood flow. Because the chemical activity of H2O2 favors its role as an oxidant, and thiol groups are susceptible to oxidation, we hypothesized that coronary metabolic dilation occurs via a redox mechanism involving thiol oxi...

OBJECTIVE Reduced iron stores after blood donation are associated with improved vascular function and decreased cardiovascular risk. We sought to determine whether iron-dependent changes in glucose metabolism may contribute to improved vascular function in blood donors. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We conducted a prospective cross-sectional study in 21 high-frequency blood donors (more than ei...

AIM To compare the mydriatic efficacy of an ophthalmic insert (Mydriasert, MY) versus phenylephrine and tropicamide (PT) eye drops. METHODS Two controlled, prospective, randomized, single-blind studies were performed. In the first study, a total of 80 eyes from 40 outpatient-clinic patients were analyzed. PT drops were applied to the right eye, and a MY device was inserted in the left eye for...

BACKGROUND Mechanisms responsible for anti-ischemic benefits of enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) remain unknown. This was the first randomized sham-controlled study to investigate the extracardiac effects of EECP on peripheral artery flow-mediated dilation. METHODS AND RESULTS Forty-two symptomatic patients with coronary artery disease were randomized (2:1 ratio) to thirty-five 1-hou...