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JACC. Advances May 2024
PubMed: 38939635
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacadv.2024.100933 -
JACC. Advances Aug 2023
PubMed: 38939429
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacadv.2023.100444 -
JACC. Advances Feb 2024
PubMed: 38939384
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacadv.2023.100756 -
JACC. Advances Feb 2024
PubMed: 38939380
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacadv.2023.100788 -
JACC. Advances Feb 2024The initiation of coronary artery calcium (CAC) is an important physiologic milestone associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk. However, traditional risk...
BACKGROUND
The initiation of coronary artery calcium (CAC) is an important physiologic milestone associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk. However, traditional risk factors (RF) do not perform well for predicting incident CAC among the 54 million older U.S. adults.
OBJECTIVES
The authors sought to assess the association between nontraditional cardiovascular disease RF and incident CAC in older persons.
METHODS
There were 815 MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) participants ≥65 years of age who had CAC = 0 at Visit 1 and a follow-up CAC scan. Multivariable adjusted Cox hazards ratios (aHR) and C-statistics were calculated to examine the association of nontraditional RF with incident CAC.
RESULTS
The mean age was 70.2 years and 67% were women. The median follow-up time to repeat CAC scan was 3.6 years (IQR: 2.6-9.2 years) and 45% of participants developed incident CAC. Albuminuria (aHR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.07-2.09), carotid plaque (aHR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.04-1.66), and thoracic aortic calcification (TAC) (aHR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.10-1.75) were significantly associated with incident CAC, while higher levels of nontraditional RF including apolipoprotein-B, lipoprotein(a), high-sensitivity troponin T, and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide were not. When added to demographics, albuminuria, carotid plaque, and TAC provided a greater C-statistic improvement (+0.047, = 0.004) vs all traditional RF combined (+0.033, = 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Among nontraditional RF and measures of subclinical atherosclerosis, only albuminuria, carotid plaque, and TAC were significantly associated with incident CAC in persons ≥65 years of age. Identification of albuminuria or extracoronary atherosclerosis may help guide the timing of repeat CAC scoring in older persons with baseline CAC = 0.
PubMed: 38939371
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacadv.2023.100755 -
JACC. Advances Jun 2024
PubMed: 38938864
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacadv.2024.100939 -
JACC. Advances Jun 2024The long-term impact of Kawasaki disease on coronary arteries in vivo is unclear.
BACKGROUND
The long-term impact of Kawasaki disease on coronary arteries in vivo is unclear.
OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study was to investigate coronary arteries in the late convalescent phase, we followed patients with Kawasaki disease who developed coronary artery aneurysms (CAAs).
METHODS
We followed 24 patients and used optical coherence tomography at a median of 16.6 years after the onset of Kawasaki disease.
RESULTS
Of 72 coronary arteries, optical coherence tomography was performed on 61 arteries: 17 with a persistent CAA, 29 with a regressed CAA, and 15 without a CAA. Between-group comparison was performed by chi-square or Fisher's exact test, and intimal thickening (17 vs 29 vs 15, all 100%, = NA) and medial disruption (17 [100%] vs 29 [100%] vs 14 [93%], = 0.25) were commonly observed in the investigated arteries. Advanced features of atherosclerosis were more frequently seen in arteries with persistent CAAs than in those with regressed CAAs and in those without CAAs: calcification (12 [71%] vs 5 [17%] vs 1 [7%], < 0.001), microvessels (12 [71%] vs 10 [35%] vs 4 [27%], = 0.020), cholesterol crystals (6 [35%] vs 2 [7%] vs 0 [0%], = 0.009), macrophage accumulation (11 [65%] vs 4 [14%] vs 4 [27%], = 0.002), and layered plaque (8 [47%] vs 11 [38%] vs 0 [0%], = 0.004).
CONCLUSIONS
Long after onset of Kawasaki disease, all arteries showed pathological changes. Arteries with persistent CAAs had more advanced features of atherosclerosis than those with regressed CAAs and those without CAAs.
PubMed: 38938853
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacadv.2024.100937 -
Journal of Extracellular Biology Apr 2024Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally. Studies have shown that infections especially bacteraemia and sepsis are... (Review)
Review
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally. Studies have shown that infections especially bacteraemia and sepsis are associated with increased risks for endothelial dysfunction and related CVDs including atherosclerosis. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small, sealed membrane-derived structures that are released into body fluids and blood from cells and/or microbes and are critically involved in a variety of important cell functions and disease development, including intercellular communications, immune responses and inflammation. It is known that EVs-mediated mechanism(s) is important in the development of endothelial dysfunction in infections with a diverse spectrum of microorganisms including , , SARS-CoV-2 (the virus for COVID-19) and . infection is one of the most common infections globally. During infection, EVs can carry components, such as lipopolysaccharide, cytotoxin-associated gene A, or vacuolating cytotoxin A, and transfer these substances into endothelial cells, triggering inflammatory responses and endothelial dysfunction. This review is to illustrate the important role of EVs in the pathogenesis of infectious diseases, and the development of endothelial dysfunction in infectious diseases especially infection, and to discuss the potential mechanisms and clinical implications.
PubMed: 38938849
DOI: 10.1002/jex2.148 -
Frontiers in Physiology 2024The mechanisms underlying the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis (AS) are diverse, among which endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) is an important mechanism... (Review)
Review
The mechanisms underlying the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis (AS) are diverse, among which endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) is an important mechanism that should not be overlooked. However, up to now, there has been no bibliometric study on the relationship between ERS and AS. To understand the research progress in ERS and AS, this paper conducted a statistical analysis of publications in this field using bibliometrics. A total of 1,035 records were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and the R package "bibliometric" were used to analyze the spatiotemporal distribution, countries, authors, institutions, journals, references, and keywords of the literature, and to present the basic information of this field through visualized maps, as well as determine the collaboration relationships among researchers in this field. This field has gradually developed and stabilized over the past 20 years. The current research hotspots in this field mainly include the relationship between ERS and AS-related cells, the mechanisms by which ERS promotes AS, related diseases, and associated cytokines, etc. Vascular calcification, endothelial dysfunction, NLRP3 inflammasome, and heart failure represent the frontier research in this field and are becoming new research hotspots. It is hoped that this study will provide new insights for research and clinical work in the field of ERS and AS.
PubMed: 38938744
DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1392454 -
JACC. Advances Nov 2023The prevalence and degree of lower extremity artery disease in hemodialysis (HD) patients is higher than in the general population. However, the pathological features...
BACKGROUND
The prevalence and degree of lower extremity artery disease in hemodialysis (HD) patients is higher than in the general population. However, the pathological features have not yet been evaluated.
OBJECTIVES
The aim of the study was: 1) to compare lesion characteristics of lower extremity artery disease in HD vs non-HD patients; and 2) to determine factors associated with severe medial calcification.
METHODS
Seventy-seven lower limb arteries were assessed from 36 patients (median age 77 years; 23 men; 21 HD and 15 non-HD) who underwent autopsy or lower limb amputation. Arteries were serially cut at 3- to 4-mm intervals creating 2,319 histological sections. Morphometric analysis and calcification measurements were performed using ZEN software. Calcification with a circumferential angle (arc) ≥180° was defined as severe calcification. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for severe medial calcification.
RESULTS
The degree of the medial calcification arc was significantly higher in the HD group compared to the non-HD group ( < 0.0001). In the multivariable analysis, HD was associated with severe medial calcification in below-the-knee lesions (OR: 17.1; = 0.02). The degree of intimal calcification in above-the-knee lesions was also significantly higher in HD patients with a higher prevalence of advanced atherosclerotic plaque ( = 0.02). The prevalence of severe bone formation was more common in the HD patients ( = 0.01).
CONCLUSIONS
Hemodialysis patients demonstrated a higher degree of medial and intimal calcification compared with non-HD patients. The difference was more prominent in the medial calcification of below-the-knee lesions.
PubMed: 38938733
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacadv.2023.100656