Clinical chemistry
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Recent studies show a mechanistic link between intestinal microbial metabolism of dietary phosphatidylcholine and coronary artery disease pathogenesis. Concentrations of a proatherogenic gut microbe-generated metabolite, trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), predict increased incident cardiovascular disease risks in multiple cohorts. TMAO concentrations are increased in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but their prognostic value and relation to glycemic control are unclear. ⋯ Fasting plasma concentrations of the proatherogenic gut microbe-generated metabolite TMAO are higher in diabetic patients and portend higher major adverse cardiac events and mortality risks independent of traditional risk factors, renal function, and relationship to glycemic control.
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We examined whether secretoneurin (SN), a biomarker associated with cardiomyocyte Ca(2+) handling, provides prognostic information in patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF). ⋯ SN concentrations measured on ICU admission provided incremental prognostic information to established risk indices in patients with CV-related ARF, but not in patients with non-CV-related ARF.
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Observational Study
Short Telomere Length and Ischemic Heart Disease: Observational and Genetic Studies in 290 022 Individuals.
Short telomeres are associated with aging and have been associated with a high risk of ischemic heart disease in observational studies; however, the latter association could be due to residual confounding and/or reverse causation. We wanted to test the hypothesis that short telomeres are associated with high risk of ischemic heart disease using a Mendelian randomization approach free of reverse causation and of most confounding. ⋯ Shorter telomeres were associated with a higher risk of ischemic heart disease, both observationally and genetically.