At the beginning of the journal Pulse was the belief that pulse measurement, one of the oldest clinical practices performed in ancient times in Asia as well as in Western countries, could significantly contribute to the diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases in a contemporary setting [1]. In this issue of Pulse, Suzuki and colleagues demonstrate that pulse pressure [2] and pulse wave velocity [3] measurements are powerful tools to determine the right therapeutic approach in hypertensive postmenopausal women. Hypertension is more and more considered to be both a vascular and a metabolic disease. In this issue, we are proud to present the rationale, design and participant characteristics of the K-MetS study [4]. This exciting study aims to reveal the effects of the novel angiotensin receptor blocker fimasartan on major adverse cardiovascular events and, most interestingly, on the development of the metabolic syndrome in hypertensivepatients. Because of its specific design detailed by Kim et al. [4], this Korea-wide study should most closely reflect the real-world clinical settings. We are eager to learn the definitive results of this study! Of note, these articles are the first of a certainly long series of original papers published in Pulse.With the objective to cover the broadest spectrum of vascular diseases and to present the most recent advances in diagnosis and treatment, this issue additionally features topical reviews on exercise hypertension [5] and pulmonary hypertension in heart failure [6] as well as a fascinating report on the use of the cardio-ankle vascular index to monitor the cardiovascular risk in patients with sleep apnea [7].In the name of Chair Dr. Akira Yamashina, we would like to warmly welcome you to the Pulse of Asia 2014 in Athens. With the main theme ‘Artery and Hypertension', the fifth meeting organized by the Pulse of Asia Society will be a unique opportunity for researchers from the most diverse specialties related to pulse and vascular research to share their newest progresses in basic and clinical research.The Organizing Committee is to be particularly complimented on having brought together the Artery Society, the European Society of Cardiology Working Group on Peripheral Circulation, the European Society of Hypertension Working Group on Vascular Structure and Function, and the North American Artery Society as well as on having made The Pulse of Asia 2014 an official satellite symposium of the ESH/ISH2014.The organizers have prepared a wonderful program which will be of interest for cardiologists, endocrinologists, nephrologists, gerontologists, neurologists, physiologists, molecular biologists, and more.As editors of Pulse, we are proud to invite participants to submit their original research to our journal! We wish you all a successful meeting and fruitful discussions!