Atherosclerosis 2017 Sep 9;265:231-241. Epub 2017 Sep 9.

Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, SC 29401, USA; Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Medical Genetics, Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Either lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or high-fat diet (HFD) enriched with saturated fatty acid (SFA) promotes atherosclerosis. In this study, we investigated the effect of LPS in combination with SFA-rich HFD on atherosclerosis and how LPS and SFA interact to stimulate inflammatory response in vascular endothelial cells.

Methods: Low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient (LDLR(-/-)) mice were fed a low-fat diet (LFD), HFD with low palmitic acid (PA) (LP-HFD), or HFD with high PA (HP-HFD) for 20 weeks. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2017 Sep 14;266:1-7. Epub 2017 Sep 14.

Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China; Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: We performed a prospective investigation of the longer-term prognostic value of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) mass for all-cause mortality and vascular events within one year after acute ischemic stroke.

Methods: We examined the Lp-PLA2 mass among 3401 participants enrolled in the China Antihypertensive Trial in Acute Ischemic Stroke. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2017 Sep 9;265:225-230. Epub 2017 Sep 9.

Department of Cardiovascular and Internal Medicine, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, 920-8641, Japan.

Background And Aims: Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis has been used to treat refractory hyperlipidemia such as familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). Evolocumab, a proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor used in clinical settings, can reduce LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) levels by >70%. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the impact of evolocumab on withdrawal from regular LDL apheresis in patients with heterozygous FH (HeFH). Read More

Atherosclerosis 2017 Sep 5;265:215-224. Epub 2017 Sep 5.

Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Edobashi 2-174, Tsu City, Mie Prefecture, 514-8507, Japan.

Background And Aims: Thrombin, the active enzyme of the coagulation system, plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Vascular repair promoted by stromal cell-derived factor-1 is a protective process in atherosclerosis. Consumption of low amount of alcohol is believed to reduce the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease but the mechanism is unclear. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2017 Sep 9. Epub 2017 Sep 9.

Department of Metabolic Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; Department of Metabolism and Atherosclerosis, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan. Electronic address:

Atherosclerosis 2017 Aug 18;265:207-214. Epub 2017 Aug 18.

Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Gentofte, Denmark; National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark; Greenland University, Nuuk, Greenland.

Background And Aims: Inuit populations have lower levels of cardiometabolic risk factors for the same level of body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference (WC) compared to Europeans in cross-sectional studies. We aimed to compare the longitudinal associations of anthropometric measures with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality in Inuit and Europeans.

Methods: Using pooled data from three population-based studies in Canada, Greenland and Denmark, we conducted a cohort study of 10,033 adult participants (765 Nunavik Inuit, 2960 Greenlandic Inuit and 6308 Europeans). Read More

Atherosclerosis 2017 Sep 4;265:197-206. Epub 2017 Sep 4.

Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Munich, Germany. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: In a previous work, a female-specific atherosclerosis risk locus on chromosome (Chr) 3 was identified in an intercross of atherosclerosis-resistant FVB and atherosclerosis-susceptible C57BL/6 (B6) mice on the LDL-receptor deficient (Ldlr(-/-)) background. It was the aim of the current study to identify causative genes at this locus.

Methods: We established a congenic mouse model, where FVB. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2017 Sep 7;265:190-196. Epub 2017 Sep 7.

Division of Preventive Medicine, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, USA.

Background And Aims: The volume and density of coronary artery calcium (CAC) both independently predict cardiovascular disease (CVD) beyond standard risk factors, with CAC density inversely associated with incident CVD after accounting for CAC volume. We tested the hypothesis that ascending thoracic aorta calcium (ATAC) volume and density predict incident CVD events independently of CAC.

Methods: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) is a prospective cohort study of participants without clinical CVD at baseline. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2017 Sep 6;265:184-189. Epub 2017 Sep 6.

Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.

Background And Aims: The outcome of carotid artery total occlusion (CATO) is unclear. The aim of this study is to report the medium incidence of composite end-point events and risk factors (especially age), in patients with CATO, treated medically.

Methods: This was a single center retrospective study. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2017 Sep 7;265:179-183. Epub 2017 Sep 7.

Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.

Background And Aims: Cerebral white matter hyperintensity (WMH) is commonly found in ischemic stroke patients, especially when accompanied by intracranial atherosclerosis (ICAS). However, the relationship between WMH and ICAS in a healthy population has not been evaluated.

Methods: A total of 3159 healthy subjects who underwent health checkups, including brain magnetic resonance imaging and angiography, were enrolled. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2017 Aug 31;265:172-178. Epub 2017 Aug 31.

Department of Epidemiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, PO Box 30001, 9700 RB, Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Cross-sectional twin and family studies report a moderate heritability of baseline levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), ranging from 0.10 to 0.65 for different age ranges. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2017 Sep 4;265:162-171. Epub 2017 Sep 4.

Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy; Division of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Parma, Parma, Italy.

Background And Aims: Saturated free fatty acids (SFAs) can induce lipotoxicity in different cells. No studies have investigated the effects of SFA in circulating angiogenic cells (CACs), which play a key role in endothelial repair processes. The aim of the study was to assess the effects of SFAs, specifically stearic acid (SA), on viability and function of CACs and to investigate potential underlying molecular mechanisms. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2017 Sep 4;265:155-161. Epub 2017 Sep 4.

Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, 250, Wu-xing St., Taipei, Taiwan, ROC; Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Medical University Hospital, 252, Wu-xing St., Taipei, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, 252, Wu-xing St., Taipei, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Previous studies show that serum bilirubin has potent antioxidant effect and is associated with protection from kidney damage and reduce cardiovascular events. The aim of this study was to examine the association of serum total bilirubin level and mortality in uremia patients who underwent hemodialysis.

Methods: This is a nationwide retrospective long-term cohort study. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2017 Sep 7;265:147-154. Epub 2017 Sep 7.

Epidemiology and Prevention Group, Center for Public Health Sciences, National Cancer Center, Tokyo, Japan.

Background And Aims: Although low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentration is an established risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD), information regarding subtypes of stroke is very limited, especially in Asian populations.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted among 30,736 individuals aged 40-69 years, who lived in nine communities in Japan and did not have a history of cardiovascular disease (CVD). CHD and stroke, including its subtypes, were assessed, and sex-specific hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for outcomes were estimated according to quintiles of HDL cholesterol using Cox proportional models adjusted for other CVD risk factors. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2017 Sep 1;265:140-146. Epub 2017 Sep 1.

Department of Exercise Science at Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Carotid extra-media thickness (EMT) encompasses arterial adventitia and perivascular adipose tissue (PAT). Adventitial remodeling and PAT may contribute independently to functional (stiffness) and structural (remodeling) changes in artery wall properties. Visceral adiposity may contribute to PAT, thereby affecting artery stiffness. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2017 Aug 26. Epub 2017 Aug 26.

Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA; Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Frailty and cardiovascular disease share many risk factors. We evaluated whether frailty is independently associated with subclinical coronary atherosclerosis and whether any relationships differ by HIV-serostatus.

Methods: We studied 976 [62% HIV-infected] male participants of the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study who underwent assessment of frailty and non-contrast cardiac CT scanning; of these, 747 men also underwent coronary CT angiography (CCTA). Read More

Atherosclerosis 2017 Sep 1. Epub 2017 Sep 1.

Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada. Electronic address:

Atherosclerosis imaging has been the focus of intense debate and research for several decades. Among its primary applications are risk stratification of asymptomatic individuals and follow-up of atherosclerosis progression under a variety of treatments designed to retard or regress the development of arterial disease. Although endorsed and supported by many, this approach has been fiercely opposed by several key opinion leaders over the years. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2017 Aug 25;265:133-139. Epub 2017 Aug 25.

Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: The factor VII activating protease (FSAP) knockout mice have a bigger neointima after vascular injury and a larger infarct volume after stroke. The Marburg I (MI) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the FSAP-encoding gene is associated with an increased risk of stroke and carotid stenosis in humans. We hypothesize that the regulation of gene expression by FSAP in vascular cells accounts for its vasculo-regulatory properties. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2017 Aug 26;265:124-132. Epub 2017 Aug 26.

Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Childhood/Adult-onset Lysosomal Acid Lipase Deficiency (LAL-D) is a recessive disorder due to loss of function variants of LAL, the enzyme which hydrolyses cholesteryl esters, derived from internalized apoB containing lipoproteins. The disease is characterized by multi-organ involvement including the liver, spleen, intestine and cardiovascular system. The aim of this study was the clinical and molecular characterization of 14 (13 unrelated) previously unreported patients with childhood-onset LAL-D. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2017 Aug 18;265:117-123. Epub 2017 Aug 18.

Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.

Background And Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the accumulation of optical coherence tomography (OCT)-macrophages and OCT findings after CoCr everolimus-eluting stent placement, in addition to coronary risk factors.

Methods: A total of 89 lesions in 89 patients were registered in the 1- and 3-month cohort of the multi-centre study. Lesion characteristics and post-procedure OCT images were evaluated immediately and 1 and 3 months after stenting. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2017 Aug 31;265:110-116. Epub 2017 Aug 31.

Vascular Research Centre, Heart Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, Australia; Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Little is known about the relation between serum lipid parameters and serial change in plaque composition using in vivo coronary imaging. The aim of this study was to examine the association between serum lipids and change in coronary plaque lipid burden assessed by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS).

Methods: We performed serial NIRS-intravascular ultrasound studies in 49 patients who underwent coronary angiography for an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or stable ischemic symptoms. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2017 Aug 26;265:102-109. Epub 2017 Aug 26.

Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health, Catholic Kwandong University, Gangneung, 25601, Republic of Korea.

Background And Aims: Insufficient evidence has been reported on the associations between gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality from studies with an adequate number of participants.

Methods: 512,990 Korean adults who participated in routine health examinations during the period 2002-2003 were followed up until 2013. Hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated after adjusting for potential confounders. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2017 Aug 19. Epub 2017 Aug 19.

Department of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+), Maastricht, The Netherlands; School for Cardiovascular Disease (CARIM), Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+), Maastricht, The Netherlands; Heart and Vascular Center, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+), Maastricht, The Netherlands. Electronic address:

Atherosclerosis 2017 Aug 26. Epub 2017 Aug 26.

Department of Hypertension, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland; Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital Research Institute, Lodz, Poland; Cardiovascular Research Centre, University of Zielona-Gora, Zielona-Gora, Poland. Electronic address:

The sirtuins, silent mating-type information regulation 2 (SIRTs), are a family of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(+))-dependent histone deacetylases with important roles in regulating energy metabolism and senescence. Activation of SIRTs appears to have beneficial effects on lipid metabolism and antioxidants, prompting investigation of the roles of these proteins in atherogenesis. Although clinical data are currently limited, the availability and safety of SIRT activators such as metformin and resveratrol provide an excellent opportunity to conduct research to better understand the role of SIRTs in human atherosclerosis. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2017 Aug 18. Epub 2017 Aug 18.

Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. Electronic address:

Atherosclerosis 2017 Aug 18;265:93-101. Epub 2017 Aug 18.

Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Chronic kidney disease is characterized by uremia and causes premature death, partly due to accelerated atherosclerosis. Apolipoprotein (apo) M is a plasma carrier protein for the lipid sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). The Apom-S1P complex associates with HDL, and may contribute to its anti-atherosclerotic effects. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2017 Aug 24. Epub 2017 Aug 24.

School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. Electronic address:

The long saphenous vein is the most commonly used conduit in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery when bypassing multiple diseased arteries; however, its use is complicated by the development of vascular inflammation, intimal hyperplasia and accelerated atherosclerosis leading to compromised graft efficacy. Despite refinement of surgical techniques to improve graft patency, late vein graft failure remains a significant problem. Moreover, there is a lack of pharmacological interventions proven to be effective in the treatment of late vein graft failure. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2017 Aug 22;265:87-92. Epub 2017 Aug 22.

Department of Anesthesiology, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Anesthesiology, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Anesthesiology and Health Policy Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. Electronic address:

Background & Aims: The relationship between stroke and diabetes is not completely understood. This study evaluated diabetes risk and post-diabetes adverse events in patients with stroke.

Methods: We identified 10,255 adults, newly diagnosed with stroke from 2000 to 2005, using the Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2017 Aug 19;265:78-86. Epub 2017 Aug 19.

Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern, Switzerland; The National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) "Kidney.CH - Kidney Control of Homeostasis", Switzerland. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Vascular calcification is a common health problem related to oxidative stress, inflammation, and circulating calciprotein particles (CPP). Hydrogen sulfide is an endogenous signaling molecule with antioxidant properties and potential for drug development targeting redox signaling. Yet, its molecular mechanisms of action in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) calcification have not been delineated. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2017 Aug 26;265:71-77. Epub 2017 Aug 26.

Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardio-Vascular Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Japan.

Background And Aims: Cognitive impairment is an important element affecting our well-being, and as such, early diagnosis is critical today. We investigated whether serum cystatin C and microalbuminuria are associated with cognitive impairment.

Methods: A total of 1943 subjects (774 males, 1169 females, mean age 65. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2017 Aug 19;265:60-70. Epub 2017 Aug 19.

Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Bandar Barat, 31900 Kampar, Perak, Malaysia. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Genetic studies have been reported on the association between APOA5, APOB, APOC3 and ABCA1 gene polymorphisms and ischemic stroke, but results remain controversial. Hence, this meta-analysis aimed to infer the causal relationships of APOA5 (rs662799, rs3135506), APOB (rs693, rs1042031, rs1801701), APOC3 (rs4520, rs5128, rs2854116, rs2854117) and ABCA1 rs2230806 with ischemic stroke risk.

Methods: A systematic review was performed for all the articles retrieved from multiple databases, up until March 2017. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2017 Aug 23. Epub 2017 Aug 23.

Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany.

Background And Aims: Soluble RAGE (sRAGE) serum level could be a biomarker for atherosclerosis and subsequent diseases such as cardiovascular disease (CVD). Therefore, we wanted to investigate whether peripheral sRAGE level is associated with new cardiovascular events among patients with CVD using the Cox's regression analysis.

Methods: In this three-year longitudinal cohort study, 1002 in-patients with angiographically proven CVD were included. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2017 Aug 24. Epub 2017 Aug 24.

Center for Clinical and Epidemiological Research, University Hospital, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Preventive Medicine Center Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein & School of Medicine, Faculdade Israelita de Ciência da Saúde Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address:

Atherosclerosis 2017 Aug 18. Epub 2017 Aug 18.

State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China. Electronic address:

Thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) is a nonatherosclerotic, segmental, inflammatory vasculitis, which commonly affects the small- and medium-sized arteries of the upper and lower extremities. Despite its discovery more than a century ago, little progress has been made in its treatment. Unless the pathogenesis is elucidated, therapeutic approaches will be limited. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2017 Aug 19;265:54-59. Epub 2017 Aug 19.

Department of Clinical Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Danderyd University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.

Background And Aims: The effectiveness of statins in the treatment of dyslipidaemia and reduction of cardiovascular risk is well established. However, the association of statin-mediated lipid effects with age and gender is unclear. This study aimed to determine whether age and gender are associated with statin-mediated changes in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and non-HDL-C. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2017 Aug 18;265:47-53. Epub 2017 Aug 18.

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

Background And Aims: Monocyte levels predict cardiovascular outcomes and play a causal role in atherogenesis. Monocytes can be produced in the spleen and track to the atherosclerotic lesion in significant numbers. The cholinergic system has been shown to have anti-inflammatory actions in the spleen. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2017 Aug 26. Epub 2017 Aug 26.

Department of Medical Science and Cardiorenal Medicine, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan.

Atherosclerosis 2017 Aug 18;265:41-46. Epub 2017 Aug 18.

Integrative Vascular Biology Laboratory, Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Center, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.

Background And Aims: Habitual short nightly sleep duration is associated with increased atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk and morbidity. Vascular endothelial dysfunction represents an important mechanism that may underlie this heightened cardiovascular risk. Impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation, particularly NO-mediated vasodilation, contributes to the development and progression of atherosclerotic vascular disease and acute vascular events. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2017 Aug 18;265:35-40. Epub 2017 Aug 18.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.

Background And Aims: An elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been associated with worse clinical outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome. However, the long-term prognostic value of NLR in stable coronary artery disease (CAD) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has not been fully investigated. The aim of this study was to determine whether NLR is an independent predictor of long-term cardiac outcomes after PCI. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2017 Jul 24;265:29-34. Epub 2017 Jul 24.

Oslo Centre for Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Department for Biostatistics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Reducing the diastolic blood pressure (DBP) below a certain threshold may lead to inadequate organ perfusion. This raises some concerns, because pharmacotherapy reduces both systolic and diastolic pressure. We aimed to investigate whether a pathway from intensive systolic blood pressure (SBP) treatment influences cardiovascular outcomes by inducing too low DBP. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2017 Jul 29;265:22-28. Epub 2017 Jul 29.

Univ-Lyon, CarMeN Laboratory, Inserm U1060, INRA U1397, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, INSA Lyon, F-69100, Villeurbanne, France; Fédération d'endocrinologie, Maladies Métaboliques, Diabète et Nutrition, Hôpital Louis Pradel, Hospices Civils de Lyon, F-69677, Bron Cedex, France.

Background And Aims: The heterogeneity and mechanisms of multifactorial chylomicronemia (MCM) remain poorly understood. To gain new insights, post heparin lipolysis measured at 60 min (PHLA60), in addition to the more commonly used 10 min (PHLA10), was assessed in patients with history of MCM.

Methods: 62 consecutive MCM patients were studied. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2017 Jul 29;265:14-21. Epub 2017 Jul 29.

Departments of IIEP- Research and Teaching Institute, Critical Care Medicine and Cardiology, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Obesity and diabetes potentiate vascular calcification by increasing vascular smooth muscle cells osteoblastic differentiation mediated by the transcription factor Msx2 and bone morphogenetic protein-2 signaling. However, Bmp-2/Msx2 crosstalk to induce VSMC osteogenic phenotype transition and calcification is poorly understood in diabetes. We aimed to investigate mechanisms underlying Bmp-2-driven VSMC osteogenic differentiation and calcification in leptin-deficient ob/ob mice. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2017 Jul 29;265:7-13. Epub 2017 Jul 29.

Department of Neurology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemoon-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Although stroke patients have a high risk of ischemic heart disease, little information is available on the risk of coronary events in stroke patients with asymptomatic coronary artery disease (CAD). We investigated the long-term vascular outcomes in stroke patients with asymptomatic CAD diagnosed with multi-detector coronary computed tomography (MDCT).

Methods: This study was a retrospective analysis using a prospective cohort of ischemic stroke patients. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2017 Jul 22;265:1-6. Epub 2017 Jul 22.

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Vermont, Berlington, VT, USA.

Background And Aims: Adipokines are known to predict cardiovascular events, yet their association with coronary artery calcium (CAC), a surrogate marker of coronary atherosclerosis and risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), is unclear. We aimed at assessing the association between adipokines and the severity and progression of CAC in healthy older adults, and at exploring potential modification by gender.

Methods: 409 men and women from the Rancho Bernardo Study with no known CVD underwent a chest computed tomography scan to determine baseline CAC severity; 329 returned 4. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2017 Aug 1. Epub 2017 Aug 1.

Paavo Nurmi Centre, Dpt of Health and Physical Activity, University of Turku, Turku, Finland. Electronic address:

Atherosclerosis 2017 Jul 29. Epub 2017 Jul 29.

Cholesterol Clinic, Department of Cardiology, Kanazawa University Hospital, Kanazawa University Health Service Center, Takara-machi 13-1, Kanazawa 920-8641, Japan. Electronic address:

Atherosclerosis 2017 Aug 1. Epub 2017 Aug 1.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, National Cerebral & Cardiovascular Centre, Osaka, Japan. Electronic address:

Atherosclerosis 2017 Sep 12;264:67-73. Epub 2017 Jul 12.

Usher Institute of Population Health Sciences and Informatics, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: We aimed at comparing the impact of multiple non-traditional biomarkers (ankle brachial pressure index (ABI), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), high sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTnT), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and four markers of systemic inflammation), both individually and in combination, on cardiovascular risk prediction, over and above traditional risk factors incorporated in the QRISK2 score, in older people with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: We conducted a prospective study of 1066 men and women aged 60-75 years with type 2 diabetes mellitus, living in Lothian, Scotland.

Results: After 8 years, 205 cardiovascular events occurred. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2017 Sep 8;264:74-76. Epub 2017 Jul 8.

AtheroThrombosis Research Unit, Cardiovascular Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1428 Madison Avenue, Atran Building, 6th Floor, Room 6.20, New York City, NY, USA.

Atherosclerosis 2017 Jul 21. Epub 2017 Jul 21.

Department of Heart Disease, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021 Bergen, Norway; KG Jebsen Centre for Diabetes Research, University of Bergen, 5009 Bergen, Norway; Department of Clinical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway.

Background And Aims: Apolipoproteins B (apoB) and A1 (apoA1) are major protein constituents of low-density and high-density lipoproteins, respectively, and serum concentrations of these apolipoproteins are associated with risk of atherosclerosis. Vitamin A (VA) has been implicated in lipoprotein metabolism. We evaluated the associations of serum apoB, apoA1 and their ratio (apoBAR) with risk of incident acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and the possible modification by serum VA. Read More