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Atherosclerosis 2020 May 8. Epub 2020 May 8.

Department of Nephrology, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia. Electronic address:

Atherosclerosis 2020 May 11. Epub 2020 May 11.

Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of Experimental Vascular Medicine, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Electronic address:

The endothelium is crucial for maintaining vascular homeostasis and functions as a barrier between blood components and tissue. In atherosclerosis, this barrier function is impaired, which is characterized by secretion of chemoattractants and cytokines, upregulation of adhesion molecules and increased vascular permeability. This facilitates enhanced leukocyte migration through the vessel wall. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2020 May 11. Epub 2020 May 11.

Department of Vascular Biology and Thrombosis Research, Centre of Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. Electronic address:

Vascular disease is a progressive inflammatory condition fuelled by an unhealthy lifestyle of physical inactivity, cholesterol-rich diet, and smoking. Together with endogenous factors such as age, gender, and autoimmune status, an unhealthy lifestyle fosters a pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic milieu, which can lead to endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerotic plaque formation and vascular obstruction or degradation of the subendothelial matrix. Platelet-leukocyte interplay represents an important feature in this context. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2020 Apr 28;302:43-51. Epub 2020 Apr 28.

Monash Cardiovascular Research Centre and MonashHeart, Monash Health, Melbourne, Australia. Electronic address:

The pathophysiology of coronary atherosclerosis is multifaceted. Plaque initiation and progression are governed by a complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors acting through processes such as lipid accumulation, altered haemodynamics and inflammation. There is increasing recognition that biomechanical stresses play an important role in atherogenesis, and integration of these metrics with clinical imaging has potential to significantly improve cardiovascular risk prediction. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2020 Apr 28;302:36-42. Epub 2020 Apr 28.

Cardiovascular Risk and Nutrition Research Group, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom; CIBER of Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to synthesize studies assessing the associations between high-density lipoprotein functionality and risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality.

Methods: We searched Medline and Embase for the identification of observational studies meeting the inclusion criteria. This meta-analysis was conducted following the PRISMA statement and was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42017065857). Read More

Atherosclerosis 2020 Apr 29;302:27-35. Epub 2020 Apr 29.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Perivascular epicardial adipose tissue (pEAT) plays a key role in the progression of atherosclerosis, plaque rupture, and thrombosis. However, the relationship between pEAT and prognosis after revascularization of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between pEAT thickness and prognosis after STEMI. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2020 May 4;302:20-26. Epub 2020 May 4.

Metabolic and Cardiovascular Disease Laboratory, Molecular Cell Biology of Lipids Group, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) begins in youth, and is exacerbated by obesity and metabolic syndrome. Apolipoprotein (Apo)B-remnant cholesterol is considered a primary contributor to CVD risk. Fasting plasma apoB48 can be used as a biomarker of intestinal remnant cholesterol as well as postprandial dyslipidemia. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2020 Apr 22;302:15-19. Epub 2020 Apr 22.

Los Angeles Biomed Research Institute at Harbor UCLA, Torrance, CA, USA. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis are linked by multiple mechanisms. Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) rate is used to evaluate endothelial function and has been independently associated with adverse cardiac outcomes. The relationship between brachial artery FMD rate and severity of subclinical atherosclerosis by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is not understood. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2020 Apr 2;301:69-78. Epub 2020 Apr 2.

Department of Cardiology, Kailuan Hospital, North China University of Science and Technology,Tangshan, China; Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Although serum lipids are widely accepted as independent predictors of myocardial infarction (MI), there is insufficient evidence for associations of changes in lipid levels with MI. The present study aimed at investigating the associations between changes in lipids and incidence of MI in people without lipid-lowering therapy.

Methods: 64,031 Chinese participants (mean age: 53. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2020 Apr 22;302:8-14. Epub 2020 Apr 22.

Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Province, Heilongjiang, China; The Key Laboratory of Myocardial Ischemia, Chinese Ministry of Education, Harbin, Province, Heilongjiang, China. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Ceramides (Cer) are an atherogenic substance. However, the associations between specific plasma Cer levels and culprit plaque morphology in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients are unclear.

Methods: The study consisted of two parallel cohorts. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2020 Apr 10. Epub 2020 Apr 10.

Turku PET Centre, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 4-8, FI-20520, Turku, Finland; Turku PET Centre, Turku University Hospital, Kiinamyllynkatu 4-8, FI-20520, Turku, Finland; Heart Center, Turku University Hospital, Hämeentie 11, FI-20520, Turku, Finland. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors have anti-inflammatory and atheroprotective effects. We evaluated the effects of the DPP-4 inhibitor linagliptin on atherosclerotic plaque and hepatic inflammation using histology and 2-deoxy-2-[F]-fluoro-d-glucose (F-FDG), a positron emission tomography tracer of inflammation, in a mouse model of hypercholesterolemia and type 2 diabetes.

Methods: Igf2/LdlrApob mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks and then randomly allocated to receive HFD (n = 14), or HFD with added linagliptin (n = 15) for additional 12 weeks. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2020 Apr 19. Epub 2020 Apr 19.

Division BioTherapeutics, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research (LACDR), Leiden University, the Netherlands.

Atherosclerosis 2020 Apr 24;302:1-7. Epub 2020 Apr 24.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Japan.

Background And Aims: Endothelial glycocalyx covers the endothelium and maintains vascular integrity. However, its association with the severity and vulnerability of coronary artery disease (CAD) remains to be elucidated.

Methods: A total of 259 consecutive patients with stable CAD requiring percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were prospectively enrolled. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2020 Apr 20. Epub 2020 Apr 20.

Nightingale Health Ltd, Helsinki, Finland.

Atherosclerosis 2020 Apr 10. Epub 2020 Apr 10.

Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Siaogang Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Low ankle-brachial index (ABI) calculated using systolic blood pressure (SBP) is associated with poor prognosis. However, there is no study assessing ABI calculated using mean artery pressure (MAP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in predicting mortality.

Methods: Two cohort populations were enrolled. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2020 Mar 25. Epub 2020 Mar 25.

British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

Calcification plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and begins early on in the disease process. The presence of calcium has long been seen as a surrogate marker of atherosclerosis and is a well-established predictor of cardiac risk. Evidence suggests that different calcification patterns are associated with different histopathological and clinical features. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2020 Apr 9. Epub 2020 Apr 9.

Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark; The Copenhagen General Population Study, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address:

Atherosclerosis 2020 Apr 9;301:65-68. Epub 2020 Apr 9.

Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: We sought to understand the risk factor correlates of very early coronary artery calcium (CAC), and the potential investigational value of CAC phenotyping in adults aged 20-30 years.

Methods: We studied all participants aged 20-30 years at baseline (N = 373) in the Coronary Artery Calcium Consortium, a large multi-center cohort study of patients aged 18 years or older without known atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) at baseline, referred for CAC scoring for clinical risk stratification. We described the prevalence of CAC in men and women, the frequency of risk factors by the presence of CAC (CAC = 0 vs CAC >0), and assessed the association between traditional non-demographic CVD risk factors (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, smoking, family history of CHD, and diabetes) and prevalent CAC, using age- and sex-adjusted logistic regression models. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2020 Apr 9;301:54-64. Epub 2020 Apr 9.

Division of Cardiology, Severance Cardiovascular Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea.

Background And Aims: The long-term comparative results between culprit-only percutaneous coronary intervention (C-PCI) and multivessel PCI (M-PCI) or those between complete revascularization (CR) and incomplete revascularization (IR) in patients with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and multivessel disease (MVD) after successful newer-generation drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation are limited. Therefore, we compared the 2-year clinical outcomes in such patients.

Methods: A total of 4588 patients with NSTEMI and MVD (C-PCI, n = 2055; M-PCI, n = 2533; CR, n = 2029; IR, n = 504) were evaluated. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2020 Apr 13;301:44-53. Epub 2020 Apr 13.

Department of Cardiology, The General Hospital of Western Theater Command, PR China. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: TRPA1 is a calcium permeable non-selective cation channel, its expression is up-regulated in atherosclerosis plaque, yet its function in macrophages activation is unknown. We sought to establish the role of TRPA1 in inflammatory macrophages activation.

Methods: TRPA1ApoE mice and C57BL/6 J control were treated with a high-fat diet (HFD) and the TRPA1 agonist cinnamaldehyde (CIN). Read More

Atherosclerosis 2020 Apr 10. Epub 2020 Apr 10.

NYU Cardiovascular Research Center, The Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address:

Atherosclerosis 2020 Mar 21. Epub 2020 Mar 21.

Division of Anti-Ageing Medicine, Center for Molecular Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi, Japan.

Background And Aims: Calciprotein particles (CPPs), nano-aggregates containing fetuin-A-bound calcium-phosphate, are associated with aortic stiffness and coronary calcification in maintenance hemodialysis patients. A novel gel-filtration assay can detect low-density small CPPs, which are actually a major form of circulating CPPs in vivo. We sought to investigate whether circulating CPP levels measured by gel-filtration method would accurately predict hard endpoints in maintenance hemodialysis patients. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2020 Apr 6;301:37-43. Epub 2020 Apr 6.

Department of Vascular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht (UMCU), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Pharmacological lowering of inflammation has proven effective in reducing recurrent cardiovascular event rates. Aim of the current study is to evaluate lifestyle changes (smoking cessation, weight loss, physical activity level increase, alcohol moderation, and a summary lifestyle improvement score) in relation to change in plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration in patients with established cardiovascular disease.

Methods: In total, 1794 patients from the UCC-SMART cohort with stable cardiovascular disease and CRP levels ≤10 mg/L, who returned for a follow-up study visit after median 9. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2020 Mar 27. Epub 2020 Mar 27.

Department of Biochemistry, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands. Electronic address:

Atherosclerosis 2020 Mar 9;301:30-36. Epub 2020 Mar 9.

Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ionic-Molecular Function of Cardiovascular Disease, Tianjin Institute of Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300211, PR China; School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PR China. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Risk stratification in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is important for guiding clinical management. Current risk scores are mostly derived from clinical trials with stringent patient selection. We aimed to establish and evaluate a composite scoring system to improve short-term mortality classification after index episodes of AMI, independent of electrocardiography (ECG) pattern, in a large real-world cohort. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2020 May 30;300:26-33. Epub 2020 Mar 30.

Department of Radiology, Innsbruck Medical University, Austria.

Background And Aims: Long-term data relating coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) to coronary artery disease (CAD) prognosis including novel CTA-biomarkers ("high-risk plaque criteria") is scarce. The aim of this study was to define predictors of long-term outcomes.

Methods: 1430 low-to-intermediate risk patients (57. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2020 Apr 5;301:23-29. Epub 2020 Apr 5.

Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100043, China. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: The mechanisms by which passive smoking leads to cardiometabolic risks, and the tissues involved still require elucidation. We aimed to evaluate the association of parental smoking exposure (PSE) with the secretion of adipocyte-derived hormones and cardiometabolic risk factors in Chinese children.

Methods: We included 3150 school children aged 6-18 years from the Beijing Child and Adolescent Metabolic Syndrome (BCAMS) study. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2020 Apr 4;301:8-14. Epub 2020 Apr 4.

The Copenhagen Trial Unit, Centre for Clinical Intervention Research, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Background And Aims: Elevated circulating levels of osteoprotegerin (OPG) are known to add to the prediction of cardiovascular mortality. Our objective was to clarify the long-term risk associated with serum OPG and the possible influence of diabetes and statins on OPG levels in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: We assessed the placebo-treated group (n = 1998) from the CLARICOR trial (NCT00121550), a cohort with stable CAD. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2020 Apr 6;301:15-22. Epub 2020 Apr 6.

CNRS, UMR 7021, University of Strasbourg, 67401, Illkirch, France.

Atherosclerosis, a pathology affecting large and medium-sized arteries, is the major cause of cardiovascular morbidity/mortality in industrialized countries. During atherosclerosis, cells accumulate large amounts of cholesterol through the uptake of modified low-density lipoprotein particles to form foam cells. This accumulation forms the basis for the development of the disease and for a large spectrum of other diseases in various organs. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2020 Apr 7;301:1-7. Epub 2020 Apr 7.

Epidemiology and Preventive Pharmacology Service (SEFAP), Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; IRCCS MultiMedica, Sesto S. Giovanni (Milan), Italy.

Background And Aims: Although bisphosphonates have been suggested to protect against atherosclerotic cardiovascular (CV) events, evidence is still conflicting. We aimed at investigating the effect of bisphosphonates on hospitalizations for atherosclerotic CV events.

Methods: We carried out a retrospective cohort study selecting subjects aged>40 years, incident users of bisphosphonates. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2020 Apr 4. Epub 2020 Apr 4.

Cicarrone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Atherosclerosis 2020 May 27;300:19-25. Epub 2020 Mar 27.

Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 13 Hongkong Rd, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Cohort studies found blood lipid traits were associated with the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD). We aimed to investigate whether blood lipid traits were causally associated with the risk of CKD in the Chinese.

Methods: 15,244 participants without kidney disease and cancer from the Dongfeng-Tongji cohort were recruited in 2008-2010 in Shiyan City, China. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2020 May 31;300:37-38. Epub 2020 Mar 31.

European Atherosclerosis Society, World Trade Center Göteborg, Mässans Gata 10, SE-412 51, Göteborg, Sweden. Electronic address:

Atherosclerosis 2020 Apr 19;299:67-75. Epub 2020 Mar 19.

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

Atherosclerosis 2020 May 21;300:10-18. Epub 2020 Mar 21.

Department of Cardiology, Fukang Hospital of T.C.M, Fukang, Xinjiang Province, China.

Background And Aims: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a well-recognized independent risk factor for ASCVD, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, sitagliptin, on prevention of progression of coronary atherosclerosis assessed by three-dimensional quantitative coronary angiography (3D-QCA) in T2DM patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, double-center, open-label, blinded end point, controlled 18-month study in patients with CAD and T2DM. A total of 149 patients, who had at least 1 atherosclerotic plaque with 20%-80% luminal narrowing in a coronary artery, and had not undergone intervention during a clinically indicated coronary angiography or percutaneous coronary intervention, were randomized to sitagliptin group (n = 74) or control group (n = 75). Read More

Atherosclerosis 2020 May 23;300:56-57. Epub 2020 Mar 23.

University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Center for Care Delivery & Outcomes Research, VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA.

Atherosclerosis 2020 Apr 14;299:45-52. Epub 2020 Mar 14.

Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China; Guangdong Engineering Technology Center of Nutrition Transformation, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Fatty liver diseases are highly prevalent in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and might progress to irreversible liver fibrosis. Whether baseline liver fibrosis (LF) scores are associated with long-term mortality among patients with CAD requires investigation.

Methods: The analysis was conducted based on a prospective cohort study among 3263 patients with CAD in China. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2020 May 13;300:1-9. Epub 2020 Mar 13.

Vascular Medicine Program, Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

The emergence of pathophysiological, epidemiologic, and genetic data strongly supports the causality for lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] in cardiovascular disease (CVD) and calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD). In parallel, novel Lp(a) lowering approaches have been developed that have re-invigorated clinical interest in Lp(a). Because Lp(a) is the most prevalent monogenetic lipid disorder globally, with prevalence of Lp(a) > 50 mg/dL estimated at >1. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2020 Feb 28. Epub 2020 Feb 28.

Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA; Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA; Department of Pathology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, 119992, Russia. Electronic address:

Despite the focus placed on cardiovascular research, the prevalence of vascular and valvular calcification is increasing and remains a leading contributor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Accumulating studies provide evidence that cardiovascular calcification is an inflammatory disease in which innate immune signaling becomes sustained and/or excessive, shaping a deleterious adaptive response. The triggering immune factors and subsequent inflammatory events surrounding cardiovascular calcification remain poorly understood, despite sustained significant research interest and support in the field. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2020 Apr 16;299:38-44. Epub 2020 Mar 16.

Lipid Research Group, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with inflammation and atherogenic lipoprotein abnormalities. Previous studies suggest an association of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) with NAFLD. Therefore, we assessed the association of circulating FGF21 levels with inflammatory markers, lipoprotein profile and NAFLD in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Read More

Atherosclerosis 2020 May 12;300:34-36. Epub 2020 Mar 12.

Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia. Electronic address:

Atherosclerosis 2020 Mar 19. Epub 2020 Mar 19.

Fundación Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria, Fundación Jiménez Díaz (FIIS-FJD), Avenida Reyes Católicos 2, 28040, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address:

Cardiovascular complications due to accelerated atherosclerosis and arterial stiffening are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the Western society. Both pathologies are frequently associated with vascular calcification. Deposits of calcium phosphate salts, mainly in form of hydroxyapatite, is the hallmark of vascular calcification. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2020 May 16;300:47-53. Epub 2020 Mar 16.

Cardiovascular Health Research Unit, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; College of Pharmacy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Cell-mediated immunity is implicated in atherosclerosis. We evaluated whether innate and adaptive immune cell subsets in peripheral blood are risk factors for coronary heart disease.

Methods: A nested case-cohort study (n = 2155) was performed within the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) and the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS). Read More

Atherosclerosis 2020 Apr 7;299:32-37. Epub 2020 Mar 7.

Department of Gastroenterology and Metabology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Shitsukawa, Toon, Ehime, Japan.

Background And Aims: Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is an important independent cardiovascular risk factor. However, Lp(a) levels are lower in patients with chronic liver disease than in healthy subjects. Furthermore, Lp(a) levels decrease as residual liver function declines. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2020 Apr 18;299:24-31. Epub 2020 Feb 18.

Department of Paediatrics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Background And Aims: Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (hoFH) may cause life-threatening atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in childhood. Lipoprotein apheresis (LA) is considered a pivotal treatment option, but data on its efficacy, safety and optimal performance are limited. We therefore established an international registry on the execution and outcomes of LA in HoFH children. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2020 Apr 28;299:15-23. Epub 2020 Feb 28.

Molecular Imaging and Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Goyang, South Korea. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Exercise training (ET) helps treat atherosclerosis. However, many patients stop regular ET for various reasons. The effect of detraining on atherosclerosis is not well studied. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2020 Apr 3;299:9-14. Epub 2020 Mar 3.

Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania; Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos, Vilnius, Lithuania.

Background And Aims: The aim of the study was to estimate trends and differences in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor prevalence among middle-aged men and women based on the data from the Lithuanian High Cardiovascular Risk (LitHiR) primary prevention program between 2009 and 2018.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study included men aged 40-54 years and women aged 50-64 years without overt CVD. Nationally representative data comprised 110,370 Lithuanian adults (42. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2020 Apr 7;299:1-8. Epub 2020 Mar 7.

Department of Echocardiography, Royal Brompton Hospital, Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.

Background And Aims: Statin associated muscle symptoms are common and affect adherence to statin treatment. The objective of this study was to assess whether patients with statin-associated myalgia can be successfully treated with Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) to improve symptoms and maintain them on statin therapy.

Methods: This systematic review was performed in line with the 2015 PRISMA statement. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2020 Apr 9;299:53-55. Epub 2020 Mar 9.

Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Rigshospitalet and Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address:

Atherosclerosis 2020 Apr 4;298:58-69. Epub 2020 Mar 4.

Department of Cardiology, The Affiliated hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, China; Department of Cardiology, The Affiliated Cardiovascular Hospital of Qingdao University, No. 5 Zhiquan Road, Qingdao, 266000, China. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: The endothelium is crucially involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis according to accumulating evidence. Moreover, recent studies have showed that lncRNAs could serve as biomarkers of cardiovascular diseases, in particular atherosclerosis. However, the underlying mechanism of endothelial dysfunction involving lncRNAs in atherosclerosis remains unknown. Read More