MitoQ Treatment of Claudication: Myofiber and Micro-vessel Pathology

Evaluation of maximum walking distance on treadmill until participant chooses to stop due to pain in his legs.

Evaluation of maximum walking distance the participant can walk over 6 minutes in hallway.

Evaluation of walking distance on treadmill until participant starts experiencing claudication pain in his legs.

Measurement of average steps taken daily using a pedometer

Walking Impairment Questionnaire: There are 14 questions across three categories of walking distance, walking speed and stair climbing.

The WIQ is graded on a scale of 0-4; 0 represents no difficulty; 4 represents inability to walk. 0 score represents no difficulty, 1 score is slight difficulty, 2 score is some difficulty, 3 score is much difficulty, 4 score is unable to complete the task in question.

Walking Impairment Short Form-36 - (The Short Form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire) has 8 scale (physical functioning, role physical, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, role emotional, and mental health) that measures quality of life. The SF-36 scoring ranges from 0-100. Higher scores indicate better health; lower scores indicate more disability.

Evaluation of ankle/brachial index at rest and after stress. The ankle-brachial index test compares the blood pressure measured at the ankle with the blood pressure measured at the arm. A care provider measures your blood pressure in both arms and both ankles. This is done using an inflatable cuff and a hand-held ultrasound device. The device uses sound waves to detect blood flow and allows the pulse in the ankle arteries to be heard after the cuff is deflated.

The test will be done first with you resting and then under stress. The stress will be produced by a blood pressure cuff placed around the lower thigh and the cuff being inflated to block blood flow to your calf and foot for five minutes.The cuff is then deflated, allowing blood to flow back into the leg.

Evaluation of the level of oxygen in your calf muscle at rest and during during exercise. StO2 is measured with a wireless, probe placed on the skin of your calf.

In the small tissue sample (biopsy) from your calf muscle we will look at the damage of the muscle cells by oxidative stress and the way the shape and size of the cells changes. This will be measured with quantitative widefield fluorescence microscopy.

In the small tissue sample (biopsy) from your calf muscle we will look at the function and possible damage of the mitochondria in your muscle cells. Mitochondria are the powerhouses of your cells. We'll see if they're working properly or damaged.This will be measured with high-resolution respirometry, quantitative widefield fluorescence microscopy, 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry.

In the small tissue sample (biopsy) from your calf muscle we will look at the amount of scarring (fibrosis) and measure if there is there any scar tissue buildup in the muscle.This will be measured with high-resolution respirometry, quantitative widefield fluorescence microscopy and with multiSpectral wide-field microscopy.

In the small tissue sample (biopsy) from your calf muscle we will measure the inflammation present in the muscle.This will be measured with quantitative widefield fluorescence microscopy and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

In the small tissue sample (biopsy) from your calf muscle we will check how well the tiny blood vessels inside your muscle are working and if they are damaged and how much.This will be measured with videomicroscopy of calf muscle micro-vessel vasomotor function, high-resolution respirometry and quantitative widefield fluorescence microscopy.

In the blood sample and the muscle sample we will collect from you we will check the level of MitoQ. This will be measured with mass spectrometry.