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Atherosclerosis 2021 Apr 28. Epub 2021 Apr 28.

Institute of Clinical Chemistry, University of Zurich and University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address:

Atherosclerosis 2021 Apr 24;326:1-10. Epub 2021 Apr 24.

Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, 20502, Malmö, Sweden. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: The relationship between inflammation and lipid metabolism is complex and bidirectional. Lymphocyte-driven inflammation has been shown to modulate both atherosclerotic plaque development and cholesterol levels, but the mechanisms are incompletely understood.

Methods: The cardiometabolic effects of IL-2Rβγ signalling in atherosclerotic Apoe mice were investigated by treatment with an agonistic IL-2Rβγ-targeting IL-2/anti-IL-2 complex or a monoclonal anti-CD122 (IL-2Rβ) blocking antibody. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2021 Apr 16. Epub 2021 Apr 16.

Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Center, USA; Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, USA; Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Research Center at NYU Langone NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address:

Atherosclerosis is initiated by the accumulation of lipids in the arterial wall that trigger a complex and poorly understood network of inflammatory processes. At the same time, recent clinical findings reveal that targeting specific immune alterations in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) represents a promising approach to preventing recurrent cardiovascular events. In order to achieve these tailored therapies, it is critical to resolve the heterogenous environment of the atherosclerotic lesion and decipher the complex structural and functional changes which immune cells undergo throughout disease progression. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2021 Apr 20. Epub 2021 Apr 20.

Université de La Réunion, Inserm UMR 1188 DéTROI, Sainte Clotilde, France. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin Kexin Type 9 (PCSK9) is an endogenous inhibitor of the LDL receptor (LDLR). Mendelian randomization studies suggest that PCSK9 deficiency increases diabetes risk, but the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. The aim of our study was to investigate whether PCSK9 or its inhibition may modulate beta cell function. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2021 Apr 20;325:89-98. Epub 2021 Apr 20.

Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland; University Heart Center, Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Research and Education, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Early revascularization -the gold standard therapy for ischemic stroke- is often withheld in the elderly population due to high risk of complications. Thus, safe and effective preventive and therapeutic options are needed. The plant-derived omega-3-fatty-acid alpha-linolenic-acid (ALA) has emerged as a novel cardiovascular-protective agent. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2021 Apr 17;325:83-88. Epub 2021 Apr 17.

University of Health Sciences, Ankara City Hospital, Department of Cardiology, Ankara, Turkey.

Background And Aims: Myocardial injury defined by elevation of cardiac troponins (cTn) in the course of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been reported, though not fully characterized yet. Using the Turkish nationwide centralized COVID-19 database, we sought to determine whether cTn measured within 24 h of admission may help identify 30-day all-cause mortality in hospitalized patients.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at all hospitals in Turkey between March 11, 2020, and June 22, 2020. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2021 Apr 20. Epub 2021 Apr 20.

Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, 5A9-014, 11220 83rd Avenue NW, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2B7, Canada. Electronic address:

Atherosclerosis 2021 Mar 25;325:75-82. Epub 2021 Mar 25.

Dept. of Cardiology I - Coronary and Peripheral Vascular Disease, Heart Failure, University Hospital Muenster, Cardiol., Muenster, Germany.

Background And Aims: The prevalence of lower extremity artery disease (LEAD) is increasing worldwide and sex-related differences are a current matter of debate.

Methods: We analysed claims data on unselected patients with in-patient treatment for LEAD with intermittent claudication (IC; Rutherford grade 1-3) from 01.01. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2021 Apr 20;325:46-56. Epub 2021 Apr 20.

Imperial Centre for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, Department of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Several medications targeting PCSK9 reduce LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH). We aimed to assess in patients diagnosed clinically as HeFH, whether LDL-C reduction varied by different therapeutic approaches to PCSK9-targeting or by the underlying genetic variant.

Methods: We conducted a random-effects meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials assessing PCSK9-targeting therapies, namely alirocumab, evolocumab and inclisiran, in patients with clinically diagnosed HeFH and restricted analyses to those patients in whom genotypic data were available. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2021 Mar 30. Epub 2021 Mar 30.

BioMedical Engineering and Imaging Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Electronic cigarette (EC) use is popular among youth, touted as a safer alternative to smoking and promoted as a tool to aid in smoking cessation. EC cardiovascular safety however is not well established. The aim of this study was to examine cardiovascular consequences of EC use by evaluating their effect on the entire atherosclerotic cascade in young adults using noninvasive combined positron emission tomography (PET)/magnetic resonance imaging (MR) and comparing EC use with age matched smokers of traditional cigarettes and nonsmoking controls. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2021 Apr 7;325:69-74. Epub 2021 Apr 7.

Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: We aimed to determine the association of circulatory markers of innate and adaptive immunity with carotid atherosclerotic plaque characteristics.

Methods: In 1602 participants from the population-based Rotterdam Study with subclinicalcarotid atherosclerosis, blood sampling was performed to determine granulocyte, platelet, monocyte (innate immunity) and lymphocyte (adaptive immunity) counts, from which the granulocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio [GLR], platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio [PLR], monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio [MLR] and systemic immune-inflammation index [SII] were calculated. All participants underwent carotid MRI for evaluation of plaque characteristics. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2021 Apr 13. Epub 2021 Apr 13.

Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Universita' degli Studi di Milano, Milan, and IRCCS MultiMedica, Milan, Italy. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: This European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) Task Force provides practical guidance for combination therapy for elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and/or triglycerides (TG) in high-risk and very-high-risk patients.

Methods: Evidence-based review.

Results: Statin-ezetimibe combination treatment is the first choice for managing elevated LDL-C and should be given upfront in very-high-risk patients with high LDL-C unlikely to reach goal with a statin, and in primary prevention familial hypercholesterolaemia patients. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2021 Mar 31;325:63-68. Epub 2021 Mar 31.

Department of Internal Medicine, Cantonal Hospital Baden, Im Ergel 1, 5404, Baden, Switzerland; Laboratory for Platelet Research and of Endothelial Function, Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Wagistrasse 12, 8952, Schlieren, Switzerland. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Treatment with proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9 inhibitors (PCSK9i), in addition to statin therapy, reduces LDL-cholesterol (LDL-c) in some patients to extremely low levels (i.e.< 20 mg/dl or < 0. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2021 Apr 3;325:57-62. Epub 2021 Apr 3.

Department of Vascular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Netherlands.

Background And Aims: Familial dysbetalipoproteinemia (FD), characterized by remnant lipoprotein accumulation and premature cardiovascular disease, occurs in homozygous carriers of the APOE ε2 allele, but genetic predisposition alone does not suffice for the clinical phenotype. Cross-sectional studies suggest that a second metabolic hit - notably adiposity or insulin resistance - is required, but the association between these risk factors and development of FD has not been studied prospectively.

Methods: For this study, we evaluated 18,987 subjects from two large prospective Dutch population-based cohorts (PREVEND and Rotterdam Study) of whom 118 were homozygous APOE ε2 carriers. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2021 Apr 2;325:38-45. Epub 2021 Apr 2.

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, Kayll Road, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, SR4 7TP, UK.

Background And Aims: We aimed to validate a nurse-led process using electronic health records to identify those at risk of familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) for genetic diagnosis in primary care.

Methods: Those at risk of FH were identified using searches developed and refined locally and implemented in primary care by a trained nurse; they were invited for further assessment and genetic testing if indicated. Family members at risk of FH were identified and invited for cascade testing. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2021 Apr 5. Epub 2021 Apr 5.

Quebec Heart and Lung Institute, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada; Institute of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. Electronic address:

Atherosclerosis 2021 Apr 6;325:30-37. Epub 2021 Apr 6.

Central Diagnostics Laboratory, Division Laboratories, Pharmacy, and Biomedical Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Atherosclerosis is a lipid-driven inflammatory disease presumably initiated by endothelial activation. Low vascular shear stress is known for its ability to activate endothelial cells. Differential DNA methylation (DNAm) is a relatively unexplored player in atherosclerotic disease development and endothelial dysfunction. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2021 Mar 29;325:24-29. Epub 2021 Mar 29.

Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, China; Center of Stroke, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine for Cerebrovascular Disease, Beijing, China. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Serum calcium abnormality is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes, but the effects of serum calcium level on stroke outcomes remain unknown. We aimed to assess the relationship between serum calcium level and 1-year outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack.

Methods: We included 9375 stroke patients from the China National Stroke Registry III for analysis. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2021 Apr 7. Epub 2021 Apr 7.

San Giovanni Bosco Hospital, ASL Città di Torino, Turin, Italy.

Background And Aims: The potential impact of coronary atherosclerosis, as detected by coronary artery calcium, on clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients remains unsettled. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic impact of clinical and subclinical coronary artery disease (CAD), as assessed by coronary artery calcium score (CAC), in a large, unselected population of hospitalized COVID-19 patients undergoing non-gated chest computed tomography (CT) for clinical practice.

Methods: SARS-CoV 2 positive patients from the multicenter (16 Italian hospitals), retrospective observational SCORE COVID-19 (calcium score for COVID-19 Risk Evaluation) registry were stratified in three groups: (a) "clinical CAD" (prior revascularization history), (b) "subclinical CAD" (CAC >0), (c) "No CAD" (CAC = 0). Read More

Atherosclerosis 2021 Mar 27. Epub 2021 Mar 27.

Institute of Life Science, Swansea University Medical School, Singleton Park, Swansea, UK.

Atherosclerosis 2021 Mar 29;325:16-23. Epub 2021 Mar 29.

Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China. Electronic address:

Background: The structure and composition of the gut microbiota influence patients' response to therapeutic interventions. It is also known that the response to statin treatment can vary greatly from one patient to another, suggesting a possible connection between microbiome composition and response to statins. In the present study, we aim to explore the influence of the microbiome composition on the response to statin treatment among patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Read More

Atherosclerosis 2021 Mar 28;325:8-15. Epub 2021 Mar 28.

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G3, Canada. Electronic address:

The spectrum of inflammatory blood vessel diseases includes both atherosclerosis and the primary systemic vasculitides. Although the inciting triggers differ, significant overlap exists in the mechanisms that contribute to sustained inflammation and vascular damage in both entities. With improvement in therapeutics to control acute vasculitis leading to longer survival, cardiovascular morbidity and mortality has emerged as the leading cause of death for vasculitis patients. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2021 May 30;324:102-108. Epub 2021 Mar 30.

Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, CA, USA; Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) targeting LPA to lower lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a]] are in clinical trials. Patients have been recruited according to various Lp(a) thresholds, but the prevalence of LPA genetic variants and their effect on efficacy of these ASOs are not well described.

Methods: We analyzed data from 4 clinical trials of the ASO pelacarsen targeting apolipoprotein(a) that included 455 patients. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2021 Mar 28. Epub 2021 Mar 28.

Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition, Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Pepper Lane, Reading, RG6 6DZ, UK.

Controversy over fat quality and cardiovascular disease risk stems from a series of meta-analyses of prospective cohort and randomised intervention trials, which found little evidence for a significant relationship between the intake of saturated fat and disease endpoints. Possible explanations for these null findings include difficulties inherent in estimating true food intake, the confounding effects of macronutrient replacement and food composition, and marked inter-individual variation in the response of serum LDL-cholesterol. The aim of this narrative review was to present evidence for the existence and origins of variation in serum LDL-cholesterol response to the replacement of dietary saturated fat, and its potential to explain the controversy over the latter. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2021 Jan 31;325:1-7. Epub 2021 Jan 31.

Department of Family Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yongin Severance Hospital, Yongin, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Decreased skeletal muscle mass is an important change in body composition with aging. Maintaining the optimal low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level is crucial for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). We investigated whether muscle mass was associated with dyslipidemia. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2021 May 27;324:91-101. Epub 2021 Mar 27.

Cardiovascular Program-ICCC, Research Institute Hospital de La Santa Creu I Sant Pau, IIB-Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain; CiberCV, Institute Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Chair UAB, Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Silybum marianum (SM) is an herbal product with cytoprotective and antioxidant properties. We have previously demonstrated that SM ameliorates ventricular remodeling and improves cardiac performance. Here, we evaluated whether SM could exert beneficial effects against cardiac lipotoxicity in a pig model of closed-chest myocardial infarction (MI). Read More

Atherosclerosis 2021 Apr 13;323:44-53. Epub 2021 Mar 13.

Department of Pharmacology and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.

Background And Aims: A decrease in high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol concentrations during transgender hormone therapy has been shown. However, the ability of HDL to remove cholesterol from arterial wall macrophages, termed cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC), has proven to be a better predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) largely independently of HDL-concentrations. In addition, the serum capacity to load macrophages with cholesterol (cholesterol loading capacity, CLC) represents an index of pro-atherogenic potential. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2021 May 28;324:117-120. Epub 2021 Mar 28.

Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, 10461, NY, United States; Department of Medicine (Division of Cardiology), Albert Einstein College of Medicine - Montefiore University Hospital, New York City, 10461, NY, United States; Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, "Federico II" University, Naples, 80131, Italy; International Translational Research and Medical Education (ITME), Naples, 80100, Italy. Electronic address:

Atherosclerosis 2021 May 26;324:109-111. Epub 2021 Mar 26.

Center for Lipid Metabolomics, Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address:

Atherosclerosis 2021 Mar 28. Epub 2021 Mar 28.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Heart, Vascular, Thoracic Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA. Electronic address:

The role of carbohydrate in a healthy diet has been controversial. The confusion over carbohydrate has come from the long standing limitation of dietary recall studies as well as inability in many of these studies to delineate between the different types of carbohydrates. It is the aim of this paper, to understand and review the data on the role of carbohydrate as pertaining to weight, insulin resistance, diabetes, inflammation, lipids, as well as epidemiological data on long-term cardiovascular outcome and all-cause mortality. Read More