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Am J Clin Nutr 2021 Mar 11. Epub 2021 Mar 11.

Department of Epidemiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition, and Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.

Background: Many studies have examined associations between dietary isoflavones and atherosclerosis, but few used objective biomarkers.

Objectives: We examined the associations of isoflavone biomarkers (primary analyses) and equol production (secondary analyses) with the progression of carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), and whether inflammation, systolic blood pressure (SBP), blood lipids, and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) mediated these associations, in Chinese adults.

Methods: This 8. Read More

Acta Biochim Pol 2021 Feb;68(1):143-149

Department of Physiotherapy, Wroclaw Medical University, Wrocław, Poland.

Introduction: Patients with type 2 diabetes represent 50% of all sudden cardiac deaths. Disseminated arteriosclerotic lesions are the cause of vascular incidents that cause permanent disability resulting from lower limb amputations.

Objectives: Our study was designed to investigate the relationship between asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA), symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) plasma concentration and intima-media thickness (IMT) in subjects with diabetes mellitus without vascular complications (group A) and a group of diabetic patients diagnosed with diabetes micro- and macroangiopathy (group B). Read More

Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis 2021 02 27;31(2):489-497. Epub 2020 Oct 27.

Department of General Surgery and Clinical Nutrition, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, 231 Czerniakowska st, 00-416 Warsaw, Poland. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Nutrition regimen in parenteral nutrition (PN) patients allows for a control of diet components. This may affect the process of lipid deposition in the vascular wall and change the risk of atherosclerosis. This study aims to examine the effect of long-term PN in adults on carotid intima-media thickness. Read More

Eur J Clin Invest 2020 Nov 7;50(11):e13348. Epub 2020 Aug 7.

Department of Neurology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.

Introduction: An increase in the common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT) is generally considered an early marker of atherosclerosis and is a well-established predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD). An association between changes in CCA-IMT and risk of stroke has been reported but has conflicting findings.

Objective: The present meta-analysis was aimed to clarify the association between CCA-IMT with the risk of stroke and its subtype by estimating pooled analysis of published literature. Read More

Biosci Rep 2020 07;40(7)

Laboratorio de Lipides, LIM-10, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.

It is controversial whether atherosclerosis is linked to increased intestinal cholesterol absorption or synthesis in humans. The aim of the present study was to relate atherosclerosis to the measurements of plasma markers of cholesterol synthesis (desmosterol, lathosterol) and absorption (campesterol, sitosterol). In healthy male (n=344), non-obese, non-diabetics, belonging to the city of São Paulo branch of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil), we measured in plasma these non-cholesterol sterol markers, together with their anthropometric, dietary parameters, traditional atherosclerotic risk factors, and blood chemistry, coronary arterial calcium score (CAC), and ultrasonographically measured common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT). Read More

Physiol Int 2019 Sep 27;106(3):283-293. Epub 2019 Sep 27.

2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

Background: Inflammation plays a major role in the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its progression. Recent studies have shown that pentraxin-3 (PTX-3), osteoprogerin (OPG), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) are key factors in MetS pathophysiology, but evidence for endorsing their clinical use is currently unclear and insufficient.

Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the association between the inflammatory biomarkers' levels and the severity of MetS. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2019 11 30;290:206-213. Epub 2019 May 30.

Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.

Background And Aims: Pre-eclampsia is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and premature death. However, conventional common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT) measurement does not reflect this. In contrast, measurement of the individual CCA intima and media thicknesses clearly indicates increased vascular risk both at diagnosis and about one year after pre-eclampsia. Read More

PLoS One 2019 4;14(4):e0214735. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America.

Background: HIV-infected persons have an increased risk of atherosclerosis relative to uninfected individuals. Inflammatory processes may contribute to this risk. We evaluated the associations of 10 biomarkers of systemic inflammation (CRP, IL-6, sTNF-αR1 and 2), monocyte activation (CCL2, sCD163, sCD14), coagulation (fibrinogen, D-dimer), and endothelial dysfunction (ICAM-1) with subclinical carotid atherosclerosis among participants in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS). Read More

Int J Impot Res 2019 Mar 29;31(2):139-144. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Harran University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Urology, Sanliurfa, Turkey.

This study investigated the role of carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) as a morphological marker of the response of vasculogenic erectile dysfunction (ED) patients to tadalafil, one of the phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor (PDE5-I). Through March-December 2016, 51 men with vasculogenic ED aged over 30 years were enrolled in this prospective study. Vasculogenic ED was accepted as a normal testosterone level, with penile colour Doppler ultrasonography showing arteriogenic ED, venogenic ED or mixed arteriogenic and venogenic ED. Read More

Ther Apher Dial 2018 Oct 4;22(5):519-529. Epub 2018 Jul 4.

Department of Nephrology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland.

We studied the correlations between circulating osteoprotegerin (OPG) level and radial artery calcification (RAC) assessed histologically and carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT). Moreover, we studied the relationship between OPG levels and all-cause and cardiovascular (CV) mortality during a 5-year observation period. The study comprised 59 CKD patients (36 hemodialyzed (HD), 23 predialysis). Read More

Int J Cardiol 2018 Dec 6;272:308-313. Epub 2018 Jun 6.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan. Electronic address:

Objectives: The endothelial dysfunction-arterial stiffness-atherosclerosis continuum plays an important pathophysiological role in hypertension. The aim of this study was to investigate the cross-sectional association between serum uric acid (SUA) and vascular markers related to this continuum, and to assess the longitudinal association between SUA and endothelial function that represents the initial step of the continuum.

Methods: We evaluated the baseline associations between SUA levels and vascular markers that included flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD), brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), and common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT) in 648 subjects receiving antihypertensive treatment. Read More

Zhong Nan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban 2017 Jun;42(6):617-622

Department of Nephrology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.

Objective: To determine the plasma level of apelin in patients of maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) and to explore the relationship between apelin level and carotid atherosclerosis (AS) in MHD patients.
 Methods: A total of 92 MHD patients and 36 sex- and age-matched healthy subjects were enrolled in this study. The plasma level of apelin was evaluated by radiation immunoassay; serum endothelial injury markers including thrombomodulin, von Willebrand factor (vWF), and CD146, and inflammatory factors including high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), IL-6 and TNF-α were determined by ELISA. Read More

Pol Arch Intern Med 2017 02 27;127(3):170-177. Epub 2017 Feb 27.

INTRODUCTION    Pentraxin3 (PTX3) play an important role in the inflammatory response, taking part in recognizing pathogens and damaged tissues. OBJECTIVES    The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between PTX3 levels and all-cause and cardiovascular (CV) mortality in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients during five-year observation period.  PATIENTS AND METHODS    The study comprised 78 patients (51 hemodialyzed, 27 predialysis). Read More

Ann Med 2017 09 17;49(6):513-524. Epub 2017 Apr 17.

d Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Division of Cardiology , Federico II University , Naples , Italy.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients have an increased cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality. Common carotid intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT) and carotid plaques are surrogate markers of subclinical atherosclerosis and predictors of CV events.

Methods And Results: We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the association between COPD and subclinical atherosclerosis. Read More

J Korean Med Sci 2017 Jan;32(1):70-76

Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.

Bone mineral density (BMD) has been suggested to be associated with atherosclerosis. In the present study, we evaluated the association between lumbar BMD and the segments of carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), a surrogate marker of subclinical atherosclerosis, in Korean adults, with consideration of sex and menopause status. Among 1,679 Korean adults who enrolled in a Healthy Twin Study, 723 men, 690 premenopausal women, and 266 postmenopausal women measured the CIMT at the common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT), carotid bifurcation intima-media thickness (BIF-IMT), internal carotid artery intima-media thickness (ICA-IMT) using B-mode ultrasound and lumbar BMD using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2016 12 15;255:11-16. Epub 2016 Oct 15.

Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.

Background And Aims: We aimed to identify clusters of metabolic syndrome (MetS) components, risky for extremely high intima-media thickness.

Methods: We studied 41,513 volunteers (men and women) from eleven cohorts worldwide, participating in the MARE (Metabolic syndrome and Artery REsearch) Consortium.

Results: Specific clusters of MetS components - high triglycerides-high blood pressure-abdominal obesity (TBW), low HDL cholesterol-high blood pressure-abdominal obesity (HBW), high glucose-high blood pressure-abdominal obesity (GBW) - were accompanied by a 50-90% significantly greater likelihood of presenting extremely high intima-media thickness (via ultrasound of carotid artery, CCA IMT), after controlling for age, sex, smoking, non-HDL cholesterol, and presence of diabetes mellitus. Read More

J Neurol Sci 2016 Nov 17;370:107-111. Epub 2016 Sep 17.

Iranian Center of Neurological Research, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address:

Objectives: Methamphetamine use is a strong risk factor for stroke. This study was designed to evaluate arterial function and structure in methamphetamine users ultrasonographically.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 20 methamphetamine users and 21 controls, aged between 20 and 40years, were enrolled. Read More

AIDS 2016 09;30(14):2195-203

aCase Western Reserve University School of Medicine bUniversity Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

Objective: To determine the effect of statins on the progression of subclinical atherosclerosis in a population of HIV-infected adults on antiretroviral therapy.

Design: Double-blind, randomized clinical trial.

Methods: Stopping Atherosclerosis and Treating Unhealthy Bone with RosuvastatiN in HIV infection was a 96-week double-blind, randomized clinical trial of 10 mg daily rosuvastatin (n = 72) vs. Read More

PLoS One 2016 11;11(3):e0149057. Epub 2016 Mar 11.

Institute of Preventive Pediatrics, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.

Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) is a surrogate marker of early atherosclerotic changes in children. cIMT-studies are hard to compare, due to variations in ultrasound protocols, especially regarding the common carotid artery (CCA) segment measured in relation to the bulb. This study's purpose was therefore to compare two distinct CCA segments in children, to see if cIMT values differ substantially according to the site of measurement. Read More

Int J Cardiol 2016 Apr 21;208:46-55. Epub 2016 Jan 21.

Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Division of Cardiology, Federico II University, Naples, Italy; Unit of Cell and Molecular Biology in Cardiovascular Diseases, Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Milan, Italy. Electronic address:

Background/objectives: Several studies reported an increased cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA). We performed a meta-analysis on the impact of PA on major markers of CV risk.

Methods: Studies on the relationship between PA and common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT), prevalence of carotid plaques, flow-mediated dilation (FMD), nitrate-mediated dilation (NMD), pulse-wave velocity (PWV), augmentation index (AIx), and ankle-brachial index (ABI) were systematically searched in the PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and EMBASE databases. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2015 Nov 9;243(1):186-91. Epub 2015 Sep 9.

Center for Stroke Research Berlin (CSB), Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany; Klinik und Hochschulambulanz für Neurologie, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany.

Background: Common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT) is an established marker for atherosclerosis. The role of triglycerides in CCA-IMT remains controversial. We sought to determine if elevated fasting and post-challenge triglycerides are associated with CCA-IMT. Read More

Am J Clin Nutr 2015 Oct 9;102(4):771-9. Epub 2015 Sep 9.

School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences & Sansom Institute for Health Research, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia

Background: People with diabetes are at a heightened risk of cardiovascular disease compared with the general population. To our knowledge, randomized controlled trials investigating the effect of improving dietary quality on carotid intima media thickness, a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis and predictor of cardiovascular disease, have not been conducted in populations with diabetes.

Objective: We aimed to determine whether increasing fruit (+1 serving; 150 g/d), vegetable (+2 servings; 150 g/d), and dairy (+1 serving; 200-250 g/d) intakes slows 12-mo common carotid artery intima media thickness (CCA IMT) progression, compared with a control group continuing to consume their usual diet, in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Read More

Neurol Sci 2016 Jan 30;37(1):117-122. Epub 2015 Aug 30.

Neurology Department, Cairo University, 49 Misr Hilwan Elzraai Street, Maadi, Cairo, 2218, Egypt.

Atherosclerosis causes significant morbidity and mortality. Carotid intima media thickness (IMT) predicts future ischaemic strok e incidence. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a considerable role in atherosclerosis and hold therapeutic promise as well. Read More

Diabetes Care 2015 Oct 15;38(10):1921-9. Epub 2015 Jul 15.

Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, U.K.

Objective: Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is a marker of subclinical organ damage and predicts cardiovascular disease (CVD) events in the general population. It has also been associated with vascular risk in people with diabetes. However, the association of CIMT change in repeated examinations with subsequent CVD events is uncertain, and its use as a surrogate end point in clinical trials is controversial. Read More

Clin Rheumatol 2015 Aug 1;34(8):1363-6. Epub 2015 Jul 1.

Department of Imaging, Taleghani Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Chamran Highway, Evin, Tehran, 1985717443, Iran,

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) exhibit higher cardiovascular morbidity and mortality than the general population. The common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT) measured by ultrasound is a validated surrogate marker of atherosclerosis. We studied the prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with inactive RA. Read More

Ann Med 2015 Jun 8;47(4):346-53. Epub 2015 May 8.

Unit of Cell and Molecular Biology in Cardiovascular Diseases, Centro Cardiologico Monzino , IRCCS, Milan , Italy.

Introduction: Several studies reported an increased cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). We performed a meta-analysis on the impact of PsA on major markers of CV risk.

Methods: Studies on the relationship between PsA and common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT), prevalence of carotid plaques, flow-mediated dilation (FMD), nitrate-mediated dilation (NMD), pulse wave velocity (PWV), augmentation index (AIx), and ankle-brachial index (ABI) were systematically searched in the PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and EMBASE databases. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2015 Jul 16;241(1):229-33. Epub 2015 Feb 16.

Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Medical Genetics, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Electronic address:

Background And Purpose: Parental stroke is a risk factor for stroke among the offspring. Carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) is a widely regarded surrogate marker for atherosclerosis and a predictive marker for stroke. This study examines whether parental stroke is associated with IMT progression. Read More

Thromb Haemost 2015 May 26;113(5):916-30. Epub 2015 Feb 26.

Matteo Nicola Dario Di Minno, MD, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University, Via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Napoli, Italy, Tel./Fax: +39 081 7462060, E-mail:

We performed a systematic review with meta-analysis and meta-regression of literature studies evaluating the impact of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT) and on the prevalence of carotid plaques. Studies evaluating the relationship between RA and markers of cardiovascular (CV) risk (CCA-IMT and prevalence of carotid plaques) were systematically searched in the PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and EMBASE databases. A total of 59 studies (4,317 RA patients and 3,606 controls) were included in the final analysis, 51 studies with data on CCA-IMT (52 data-sets on 3,600 RA patients and 3,020 controls) and 35 studies reporting on the prevalence of carotid plaques (2,859 RA patients and 2,303 controls). Read More

Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 2015 Jan;40(1):72-8

a Experimental Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada.

Elevated blood pressure (BP) in adults is associated with increased arterial stiffness and thickness; however, its effect on arterial health in a pediatric population is less understood. The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between childhood BP and arterial markers of arteriosclerotic progression. The study consisted of 106 children across a wide range of BP values divided into 2 BP groups: high BP (HBP; ≥ 95th percentile; n = 21) and normal BP (NBP; < 90th percentile; n = 85) based on consistent automated BP measures taken at 2 time points. Read More

Eur J Prev Cardiol 2016 Jan 21;23(2):194-205. Epub 2014 Nov 21.

Department of Neurology, Benedictus Krankenhaus Tutzing and Feldafing, Tutzing, Germany and Technische Universität München, Germany

Background: Large-scale epidemiological evidence on the role of inflammation in early atherosclerosis, assessed by carotid ultrasound, is lacking. We aimed to quantify cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of inflammatory markers with common-carotid-artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT) in the general population.

Methods: Information on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, leucocyte count and CCA-IMT was available in 20 prospective cohort studies of the PROG-IMT collaboration involving 49,097 participants free of pre-existing cardiovascular disease. Read More