- Lack of informed consent Age <18 or >64 years Current smoker Current involvement in a clinical trial Clinically significant comorbidity: heart failure, hypertension, known hyper-lipidaemia, diabetes mellitus, asthma, coagulopathy or bleeding disorders Current intake of aspirin, other non-steroid anti-inflammatory medications, or vasodilators Recent infective/inflammatory condition Recent blood donation (during the preceding three months)