To determine SNO-Hb levels, blood samples (~ 2 mL) were drawn from the subject’s radial artery, prior to any ischemia intervention. RBC SNO levels were quantified offline using photolysis-chemiluminescence (39 (link)). Additional analyses (nitrite, nitrate, blood gasses) were conducted by the research team or by University Hospital’s Clinical Chemistry laboratory (complete blood count, complete metabolic panel).