Ultrasound measurements
Carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT)
IMT measurements of common carotid artery, carotid bifurcation, and internal carotid artery.
Carotid artery elasticity
The common carotid diameter was measured during both diastole and systole. Ultrasound and concomitant brachial blood pressure measurements were used to calculate carotid artery elasticity.
Carotid artery plaques
Carotid artery plaque area and thickness measurements.
Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation
Left brachial artery diameter was measured both at rest and during reactive hyperemia. Increased flow was induced by inflation of a pneumatic tourniquet placed around the forearm to a pressure of 250 mmHg for 4.5 minutes, followed by a release.
Measurements of arterial diameter were performed at end-diastole at a fixed distance from an anatomic marker at rest and 40, 60 and 80 seconds after cuff release.
The vessel diameter in scans after reactive hyperemia was expressed as the percentage relative to resting scan (100 percent).
Cardiac ultrasound
Four-chamber view of the heart.
Liver ultrasound
Liver ultrasound was performed to measure fatty liver.