Atherosclerosis
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Observational Study
Different effects of apnea during rapid eye movement period on peripheral arterial stiffness in obstructive sleep apnea.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) contributes to cardiovascular diseases, including arterial stiffness. The association between OSA and peripheral arterial stiffness indices remains controversial. ⋯ AHI-REM was independently correlated with a peripheral arterial stiffness index, CI. AHI-REM may be a suitable surrogate marker for predicting peripheral arterial stiffness in OSA patients.
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The relationship between lipoprotein levels, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and clinical outcome after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) remains controversial. We sought to evaluate the association of lipoprotein cholesterol levels and statin dosage with clinical and neuroimaging outcomes in patients with ICH. ⋯ Higher LDL-C levels at hospital admission were an independent predictor for lower likelihood of hematoma expansion and decreased in-hospital mortality in patients with acute spontaneous ICH. This association requires independent confirmation.
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Angiopoietin-like 3 (ANGPTL3) has emerged as a key regulator of lipoprotein metabolism in humans. Homozygous loss of ANGPTL3 function causes familial combined hypolipidemia characterized by low plasma levels of triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). While known effects of ANGPTL3 in inhibiting lipoprotein lipase and endothelial lipase contribute to the low TG and HDL-C, respectively, the basis of low LDL-C remains unclear. Our aim was to explore the role of ANGPTL3 in modulating plasma LDL-C. ⋯ Reduced secretion and increased uptake of ApoB-containing lipoproteins may contribute to the low LDL-C observed in mice and humans with genetic ANGPTL3 deficiency.
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Elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is a causal risk factor for cardiovascular (CV) events. European guidelines recommend reducing LDL-C as the primary lipid target to reduce CV risk, using lifestyle modifications and lipid-lowering therapy (LLT). Many European patients do not achieve guideline-recommended LDL-C levels. The present database analysis aimed to assess LLT treatment patterns and LDL-C threshold attainment in Germany in a large, real-world cohort of patients. ⋯ In this high/very-high CV risk population in Germany, statin utilization was low; suggesting that LLTs are not prescribed as per European guidelines. These results highlight the need to increase LLT use among high-risk patients.
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In-stent restenosis (ISR) remains a major limitation of percutaneous coronary intervention despite improvements in stent design and pharmacological agents, whereas the mechanism of ISR has not been fully clarified. In the present study, we sought to investigate the potential association of serum soluble TREM-1 (sTREM-1) levels with the incidence of ISR. The role of TREM-1 was evaluated in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). ⋯ These data suggest that TREM-1 is a predictive biomarker of ISR and an important mediator of cellular inflammation, migration, and proliferation in VSMCs. Pharmacological inhibition of TREM-1 may serve as a promising approach to attenuate the progression of ISR.