HRT AND EXERCISE EFFECTS ON CENTRAL ARTERIAL COMPLIANCE

本子项目是利用由NIH/NCRR资助的中心赠款提供的资源的众多研究子项目之一。子项目和研究者（PI）可能已经从另一个NIH来源获得了主要资金，因此可以在其他CRISP条目中表示。列出的机构是中心的，不一定是研究者的机构。全身动脉僵硬度的增加与患心脏病的高风险有关。绝经后，女性患心血管疾病的风险更高，这可能是由于雌激素的减少。患心血管疾病的风险增加，部分原因可能是由于动脉硬化的增加。激素替代疗法（HRT）和定期运动已被证明与较低的心血管疾病风险相关，并且可能通过对动脉壁的有利作用产生保护作用。拟议的方案将确定三种不同类型的HRT的效果，以及HRT和运动对改善颈部动脉（颈动脉）僵硬程度的综合效果，以及对改善心脏和神经系统功能的影响。绝经后妇女将被随机分配到四组中的一组：结合雌激素，口服雌二醇，雌激素贴片或安慰剂（无药物）。3个月后，这些女性将被安排参加一个以家庭为基础的耐力锻炼项目，包括中等强度的步行，每天40-45分钟，每周5-7天。这些女性将在参加为期3个月的步行项目的同时继续接受激素替代疗法。在研究开始时和治疗6个月后测量颈动脉和心脏的超声图像。该研究的主要结果是确定接受激素替代疗法和/或运动的女性是否能改善僵硬或动脉。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Increases in the stiffness of arteries located throughout the body are associated with an higher risk for heart disease. After menopause, women have a higher risk for cardiovascular disease possibly due to the loss of estrogen. The increased risk for cardiovascular disease may be due, in part, to the increase in the stiffness of the arteries. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and regular exercise have been shown to be associated with a lower risk for cardiovascular disease, and may be producing their protective effects through favorable effects on the walls of the artery. The proposed protocol will determine the effects of three different types of HRT and the combined effects of HRT and exercise on improving the stiffness of arteries located in your neck (carotid), as well as on improving the function of your heart and nervous system. Postmenopausal women will be randomly assigned to one of four groups: conjugated estrogen, oral estradiol, estrogen patch, or placebo (no medication). After 3 months, the women will be placed on a home-based endurance-exercise program consisting moderate intensity walking for 40-45 minutes a day, 5-7 days per week. The women will continue to take their HRT while participating in the 3 month walking program. Ultrasound images of the carotid artery and heart will be measured at the beginning of the study and after 6 months of the therapy. The primary outcome of the study will be to determine whether women taking HRT and/or exercise demonstrate an improvement in the stiffness or their arteries.