Study of Vascular Function and Blood Flow in Adults with Aging and Diseases Including COPD, Pulmonary Hypertension, Heart Failure, and Hypertension

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying how blood flow to muscles is controlled and how this changes with age and certain diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD, sepsis, pulmonary hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. The study focuses on four key pathways that affect blood vessel constriction and dilation Angiotensin-II, Endothelin-1, Nitric Oxide, and oxidative stress. The goal is to better understand how these pathways contribute to reduced blood flow during exercise and whether these changes can be improved. Participants will receive various treatments including exercise tests and drugs that affect blood vessel function, such as Nitric Oxide blockers, antioxidants, receptor antagonists, and other vasoactive agents. These treatments will be given through catheter placements for measurements and infusions. Different groups include healthy young adults, older adults, and patients with conditions like COPD, pulmonary arterial hypertension, heart failure, and hypertension. The study will also evaluate effects before and after exercise training. During the study, participants will undergo tests such as maximum exercise capacity, measurements of blood flow, blood pressure, muscle metabolism, and muscle fatigue using advanced imaging techniques like Nuclear Magnetic Resonance NMR. Researchers will monitor changes in limb blood flow and other outcomes at baseline and one hour after treatments. The study aims to provide detailed insight into how vascular function changes with age and disease and how it responds to various interventions over time.

: Vascular Function in Health and Disease