J Cardiovasc Ultrasound.  2013 Sep;21(3):130-136. 10.4250/jcu.2013.21.3.130.

Acute Effect of Whole-Body Periodic Acceleration on Brachial Flow-Mediated Vasodilatation Assessed by a Novel Semi-Automatic Vessel Chasing UNEXEF18G System

• Takase B
• Hattori H
• Tanaka Y
• Uehata A
• Nagata M
• Ishihara M
• Fujita M

• KMID: 1500192
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4250/jcu.2013.21.3.130

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Repeated application of whole-body periodic acceleration (WBPA) upregulates endothelial nitric oxide synthase and improves brachial artery endothelial function (BAEF) as assessed by measurement of flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD). However, the acute effect of a single application of WBPA on BAEF has not been fully characterized. In addition, although a novel semi-automatic vessel chasing system (UNEXEF18G) has now been developed in Japan, the direct comparison of UNEXEF18G with a conventional method for FMD measures has not been conducted even if UNEXEF18G has already been utilized in a relatively large scale study.
METHODS
We have developed a novel semi-automatic vessel chasing system (UNEXEF18G) that can measure FMD on-line, identify time to peak vasodilatation (TPV), and determine the area under the vasodilatation curve (AUC). Thus, 45 min of WBPA was applied in 20 healthy volunteers (age, 34 +/- 13 years), and BAEF was measured by UNEXEF18G before and after WBPA. Also, UNEXEF18G measured FMD was compared with those of a conventional FMD measurement method at rest in order to validate a novel UNEXEF18G measured FMD.
RESULTS
Single WBPA resulted in a significant increase in FMD (from 6.4 +/- 3.4 to 10.7 +/- 4.3%, p < 0.01), a significant decrease in TPV and a significant increase in AUC. In the validation study for UNEXEF18G, Bland and Altman analysis showed that UNEXEF18G measured FMD was almost identical to those of the conventional method at rest.
CONCLUSION
These data suggest the usefulness of a new UNEXEF18G and that single application of WBPA results in acute improvement in BAEF in humans.

Keyword

Cardiac rehabilitation; Endothelial function; Nitric oxide; Brachial artery

MeSH Terms

Acceleration*
Area Under Curve
Brachial Artery
Humans
Japan
Nitric Oxide
Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III
Vasodilation*
Nitric Oxide
Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Study protocol (random cross-over). WBPA: whole-body periodic acceleration, BP: blood pressure, HR: heart rate, FMD: flow-mediated vasodilatation.

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  Fig. 2 Whole-body periodic acceleration platform (bed).

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  Fig. 3 Novel equipment for measurement of FMD (endothelial function; UNEXEF18G; UNEX, Nagoya, Japan; Semi-automatic). Right middle to lower portion; Japanese letters were contained because of simply showing original view of panel. FMD: flow-mediated vasodilatation.

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  Fig. 4 UNEXEF18G probe.

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  Fig. 5 UNEXEF18G analysis software. Japanese letters were contained because of simply showing original view of panel.

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  Fig. 6 Effect of 45-min of WBPA or bed rest on FMD. *p < 0.05 vs. Pre. WBPA: whole-body periodic acceleration, FMD: flow-mediated vasodilatation, Pre WBPA: before 45 min of whole-body periodic acceleration, Post WBPA: after 45 min of whole-body periodic acceleration, Pre CTRL: 45 min of bed rest, Post CTRL: after 45 min of bed rest, Pre: before.

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  Fig. 7 Effect of 45 min of WBPA or 45 min of bed rest on time to PD. *p < 0.05 vs. Pre. WBPA: whole-body periodic acceleration, PD: peak vasodilatation, TPD: time to peak vasodilatation, Pre WBPA: before 45 min of whole-body periodic acceleration, Post WBPA: after 45 min of whole-body periodic acceleration, Pre CTRL: 45 min of bed rest, Post CTRL: after 45 min of bed rest, Pre: before.

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  Fig. 8 Reproducibility of UNEXEF18G for measurement of FMD (14 control subjects). FMD: flow-mediated vasodilatation, BA: brachial artery, D: diameter.

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