Circulatory and Respiratory Physiology Commons^™

Impact Of Passive Leg Movement On Lower Limb Vascular Function In Patients With A Spinal Cord Injury, Christian D. Sanchez Tato, Elizabeth J. Pekas, Michael F. Allen, Cody P. Anderson, Song-Young Park

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

Background: Individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI) are at a greater risk for developing cardiovascular diseases. Of note, post injury mediated increases in physical inactivity leads to muscle atrophy, which also results in vascular dysfunction in this population. Although a growing body of evidence suggests that passive leg movement (PLM) may be a useful exercise modality to improve peripheral blood flow and skeletal muscle activation in individuals with limited mobility, few studies have examined the impact of PLM on local skeletal muscle blood flow. Therefore, there is a need to examine the impact of PLM on lower limb vascular function …

Breaks In Longitudinal Elastic Fibers Of Human Femoropopliteal Arteries, Elham Zamani

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

Breaks in Longitudinal Elastic Fibers of Human Femoropopliteal Arteries

Elham Zamani1, Majid Jadidi1

1 Department of Biomechanics, University of Nebraska Omaha, Omaha, NE

Introduction: Elastin is a major protein in the body with half-life >50 years. It is thought that elastic fibers are formed before the postnatal period. In the femoropopliteal artery (FPA), the main artery in the leg, longitudinal elastic fibers are present in External Elastic Lamina (EEL). Our team has studied more than 1000 cadaveric human FPA and has noticed that there are big breaks in their longitudinal elastic fibers in some subjects. Our goal in this work …

The Effects Of A 12-Week Jump Rope Exercise Program On Abdominal Adiposity, Vasoactive Substances, Inflammation & Vascular Function In Prehypertensive Adolescent Girls, Ronald Headid

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

Childhood obesity is strongly associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) development. It is necessary to combat unfavorable outcomes of obesity at a young age by utilizing effective interventions, such as exercise. Purpose: We sought to examine the effects of a jump rope exercise program on CVD risk factors, including body composition, vasoactive substances, inflammation, and vascular function in prehypertensive adolescent girls. Methods: Forty girls (age 14-16) were recruited and randomly assigned to a jump rope exercise group (EX, n=20) or control group (CON, n=20). Body composition, nitrate and nitrite levels, endothelin-1 (ET-1), c-reactive protein (CRP), systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood …

Impacts Of Dietary Nitrate On Endothelial Function, Arterial Stiffness, And Systemic Vascular Pressure In Peripheral Arterial Disease, Elizabeth J. Pekas, Steven D. Scott, Ronald J. Headid Iii, Michael D. Shukis, Jeonghwa Shin, Jiwon Song, Song-Young Park

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is the manifestation of atherosclerotic plaque in the larger arteries of the legs, which results in impaired blood flow to the lower extremities. Markers of vascular health, including endothelial function and arterial stiffness, have been shown to be attenuated in PAD.

Purpose: We sought to examine the effects of a nitrate supplement (body mass-normalized dosage of beetroot juice) on vascular function measurements such as endothelial function, arterial stiffness, and central and peripheral blood pressure in patients with PAD. We hypothesized that acute intake of a nitrate supplement would improve vascular function.

Methods: PAD patients (stage II-III, …