Atherosclerosis
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
The association of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, obesity, and metabolic syndrome, with systemic inflammation and subclinical atherosclerosis: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).
We characterized the association of 3 metabolic conditions - obesity, metabolic syndrome, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) - with increased inflammation and subclinical atherosclerosis. ⋯ NAFLD is associated with increased inflammation and CAC independent of traditional risk factors, obesity and metabolic syndrome. There is a graded association between obesity, metabolic syndrome, and NAFLD with inflammation and CAC.
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Soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is a novel biomarker released from leukocytes and endothelial cells that has been associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. We hypothesized that plasma suPAR level is an independent predictor of coronary microvascular function. ⋯ In this cross-sectional study, plasma suPAR level was an independent predictor of coronary microvascular function. Larger prospective clinical trials are warranted to investigate the prognostic value of this novel biomarker and the role of immune dysregulation in coronary microvascular disease.
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Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), which acts an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), is involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. Arginine (Arg) may regulate vascular endothelial function, since Arg is the substrate of NO competing with ADMA. In our previous study, low Arg/ADMA ratio is an independent risk for microangiopathy-related cerebral damage. ⋯ Imbalance of Arg and ADMA is independently involved in the progression of atherosclerosis, and the Arg/ADMA ratio may be a sensitive marker for atherosclerosis.
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Review Meta Analysis
Breast arterial calcifications: a systematic review and meta-analysis of their determinants and their association with cardiovascular events.
Breast arterial calcifications (BAC), regularly observed at mammography, are medial calcifications and as such an expression of arteriosclerosis. Our objective was to evaluate and summarize the available evidence on the associations of BAC with cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular risk. ⋯ BAC appear to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease events, while only being associated with some of the known cardiovascular risk factors, illustrating that medial arterial calcification might contribute to cardiovascular disease through a pathway distinct from the intimal atherosclerotic process.
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Comparative Study
Expression of anaphylatoxin receptors on platelets in patients with coronary heart disease.
Inhibition of components of the complement system or of its receptors has been postulated as a concept for primary and secondary prevention in atherosclerosis and was applied in clinical trials. Although the anaphylatoxin-receptors C3aR and C5aR are commonly associated with inflammatory cells, in vitro studies suggested their expression also on platelets. ⋯ In summary, we observed a positive correlation between the expression of anaphylatoxin-receptors C3aR and C5aR with platelet activation in patients with CAD. Further investigations are needed to study the clinical and mechanistic relevance of these findings.