Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

J Hypertens 2021 Apr 14. Epub 2021 Apr 14.

Department of Pediatric and Adolescents Medicine, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Campus AHUS, Lørenskog, Norway NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton Vascular Physiology Unit, Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, London Institute of Developmental Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.

Objective: In children aged 8--9 years, we examined the associations of linear and abdominal circumference growth during critical stages of prenatal and postnatal development with six vascular measurements commonly used as early markers of atherosclerosis and later cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.

Methods: In 724 children from the UK Southampton Women's Survey mother--offspring cohort, offspring length/height and abdominal circumference measurements were collected at 10 ages between 11 weeks' gestation and age 8--9 years. Using residual growth modelling and linear regression, we examined the independent associations between growth and detailed vascular measures made at 8--9 years. Read More

Adv Biol (Weinh) 2021 Apr 6;5(4):e2000428. Epub 2021 Mar 6.

Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA.

Atherosclerosis begins with the accumulation of cholesterol-carrying lipoproteins on blood vessel walls and progresses to endothelial cell dysfunction, monocyte adhesion, and foam cell formation. Endothelialized tissue-engineered blood vessels (TEBVs) have previously been fabricated to recapitulate artery functionalities, including vasoconstriction, vasodilation, and endothelium activation. Here, the initiation of atherosclerosis is emulated by designing branched TEBVs (brTEBVs) of various geometries treated with enzyme-modified low-density-lipoprotein (eLDL) and TNF-α to induce endothelial cell dysfunction and adhesion of perfused human monocytes. Read More

Ann Transl Med 2021 Mar;9(6):471

Department of Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.

Background: Previous studies have reported that the use of a patch in carotid endarterectomy (CEA) surgery can reduce the rate of restenosis and perioperative complications. The goal of this study was to compare the short- and medium-term outcomes of endothelialization and neointimal hyperplasia of patch closure (PC) angioplasty in CEA with direct closure (DC) in a rabbit model. A bovine pericardial patch (BPP) was used in the PC procedures. Read More

Pharmazie 2021 Apr;76(4):127-131

College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.

Ischemic stroke is an injury caused by temporary or permanent cerebral vascular occlusion. It has a high incidence, mortality, and disability rate in clinical practice, and thus poses a considerable threat to public health as one of the top three major conditions endangering human health. Vascular endothelial growth factor is a specific mitogen of endothelial cells and a protein factor that is closely related to ischemic stroke. Read More

J Am Chem Soc 2021 Apr 12. Epub 2021 Apr 12.

Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, White City Campus, Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, U.K.

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a vital enzyme in humans that primarily regulates free heme concentrations. The overexpression of HO-1 is commonly associated with cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases including atherosclerosis and ischemic stroke. Currently, there are no known chemical probes to detect HO-1 activity, limiting its potential as an early diagnostic/prognostic marker in these serious diseases. Read More

Am J Transl Res 2021 15;13(3):1352-1364. Epub 2021 Mar 15.

Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago, IL 60612, USA.

Arterial stiffness is an effective predictor of atherosclerosis. Measurement of pulse-wave velocity (PWV) is a gold-standard approach to study arterial stiffness. This study aims to examine arterial stiffness and heart functions via echocardiography at an early stage of atherosclerosis. Read More

Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2021 Apr 8;556:65-71. Epub 2021 Apr 8.

School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250353, China. Electronic address:

Ethyl gallate (EG) is a well-known constituent of medicinal plants, but its effects on atherosclerosis development are not clear. In the present study, the anti-atherosclerosis effects of EG and the underlying mechanisms were explored using macrophage cultures, zebrafish and apolipoprotein (apo) E deficient mice. Treatment of macrophages with EG (20 μM) enhanced cellular cholesterol efflux to HDL, and reduced net lipid accumulation in response to oxidized LDL. Read More

Nat Rev Cardiol 2021 Apr 8. Epub 2021 Apr 8.

Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.

Plasma HDL-cholesterol concentrations correlate negatively with the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). According to a widely cited model, HDL elicits its atheroprotective effect through its role in reverse cholesterol transport, which comprises the efflux of cholesterol from macrophages to early forms of HDL, followed by the conversion of free cholesterol (FCh) contained in HDL into cholesteryl esters, which are hepatically extracted from the plasma by HDL receptors and transferred to the bile for intestinal excretion. Given that increasing plasma HDL-cholesterol levels by genetic approaches does not reduce the risk of ASCVD, the focus of research has shifted to HDL function, especially in the context of macrophage cholesterol efflux. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2021 Mar 29;324:84-90. Epub 2021 Mar 29.

Clinical Research Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Kyoto Medical Center, National Hospital Organization, Endocrine Center, Ijinkai Takeda General Hospital, Kyoto, Japan.

Background And Aims: We used a dataset from a Japanese nationwide registry of patients with primary aldosteronism, to determine which of the parameters of hyperaldosteronism and blood pressure before or after treatments for primary aldosteronism (i.e., surgical adrenalectomy or a medication treatment) are important in terms of cardiovascular prognosis. Read More

Angiol Sosud Khir 2021 ;27(1):113-119

Department of Hospital Surgery, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia.

Our study was aimed at determining advantages of profundoplasty in patients with critical ischaemia of lower limbs in repeat arterial reconstructions. It included a total of 56 patients subjected to redo operations for thrombosis of a femoropopliteal bypass graft. Of these, 29 underwent profundoplasty (group I) and 27 repeat femoropopliteal bypass grafting (group II). Read More

Angiol Sosud Khir 2021 ;27(1):107-112

Department of Hospital Surgery, Perm State Medical University named after Academician E.A. Wagner under the RF Ministry of Public Health, Perm, Russia.

Aim: The aim of our investigation was to analyse the results of treatment of patients with atherosclerotic lesions of the femoropopliteal segment by means of femoropopliteal bypass grafting or loop endarterectomy within the framework of a single-centre retrospective study.

Patients And Methods: The study included a total of 177 patients who were divided into two groups. Group One was composed of 108 patients subjected to loop endarterectomy from the arteries of the femoropopliteal segment, and Group Two comprised 69 patients who endured femoropopliteal bypass surgery using a synthetic graft. Read More

Angiol Sosud Khir 2021 ;27(1):97-106

Chair of Cardiovascular and Endovascular Surgery, Kazan State Medical University of the RF Ministry of Public Health, Kazan, Russia.

Surgical revascularization of the carotid basin in the acutest period of ischaemic stroke, i.e., within 72 hours, will make it possible to prevent the development of recurrent stroke by removing an embologenically dangerous atherosclerotic plaque of the symptomatic carotid artery and to improve cerebral blood supply, having eliminated haemodynamic stenosis of the carotid artery. Read More

Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann 2021 Apr 6:2184923211006851. Epub 2021 Apr 6.

Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, 13621Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong.

Background: Coronary endarterectomy aims to improve completeness of revascularization in patients with occluded coronary vessels. The benefits of coronary endarterectomy remain uncertain. The aim of this study was to evaluate short-term surgical outcomes and factors affecting graft patency post-coronary endarterectomy. Read More

Inflammation 2021 Apr 5. Epub 2021 Apr 5.

Department of Medicine and Biomedical Research Institute, NYU Long Island School of Medicine, 101 Mineola Boulevard, Mineola, NY, 11501, USA.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) carries a significant risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The prevalence of premature CVD is especially noteworthy because it occurs in premenopausal women with SLE who would otherwise have very low rates of CVD. While traditional risk factors likely play a role in development of CVD in the setting of SLE, they do not fully explain the excess risk. Read More

J Med Genet 2021 Apr 5. Epub 2021 Apr 5.

Center for Medical Genetics, University Hospital Ghent, Ghent, Belgium

Background: Biallelic pathogenic variants in the () gene cause pseudoxanthoma elasticum, a multisystemic ectopic calcification disorder, while heterozygous variants are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. As the prevalence of pathogenic variants in the general population is estimated at ~1%, identifying additional -related (sub)clinical manifestations in heterozygous carriers is of the utmost importance to reduce this burden of disease. Here, we present a large Belgian cohort of heterozygous carriers with comprehensive clinical, biochemical and imaging data. Read More

Clin Investig Arterioscler 2021 Apr 2. Epub 2021 Apr 2.

Laboratorio de Análisis Clínicos, Unidad de Lípidos, Hospital Juan Ramón Jiménez, Huelva, España.

Introduction: The combination of biochemical markers, together with the design and implementation of diagnostic algorithms in laboratory computer systems could become very powerful tools in the stratification of cardiovascular risk.

Objectives: To implement new biochemical markers and diagnostic algorithms not yet available, in order to provide an estimation of cardiovascular risk and the diagnostic orientation of lipid alterations.

Material And Methods: Study of the implementation of apolipoprotein B and lipoprotein (a), as well as the inclusion of different diagnostic algorithms. Read More

BMC Med Inform Decis Mak 2021 Apr 5;21(1):115. Epub 2021 Apr 5.

Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 157 West Five Road, Xi'an, 710004, Shaanxi, China.

Background: Screening carotid B-mode ultrasonography is a frequently used method to detect subjects with carotid atherosclerosis (CAS). Due to the asymptomatic progression of most CAS patients, early identification is challenging for clinicians, and it may trigger ischemic stroke. Recently, machine learning has shown a strong ability to classify data and a potential for prediction in the medical field. Read More

Physiol Rep 2021 Apr;9(7):e14815

Liverpool Vascular and Endovascular Service, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK.

Objective: Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is often used to assess pre-operative fitness in elderly patients, in whom peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is highly prevalent, but may affect the results of CPET by early lactate release due to muscle ischemia. This study investigated the effect revascularization of PAD on oxygen delivery (VO ) during CPET.

Method: We conducted a prospective cohort study of 30 patients, who underwent CPET before and after treatment of ilio-femoral PAD. Read More

Cardiol Res Pract 2021 13;2021:6647995. Epub 2021 Mar 13.

Cardiovascular Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

Background: Erectile dysfunction (ED) has been become an important health challenge in recent years affecting the quality of life significantly. In addition to imposed social problems, it may warn the existence of cardiovascular diseases especially that of ischemic heart disease (IHD). We aimed to investigate the association between ED and coronary artery disease (CAD) in a population of patients with stable angina based on angiographic findings. Read More

Clin Rheumatol 2021 Apr 4. Epub 2021 Apr 4.

Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the risk for atherosclerosis by using echocardiographic arterial stiffness (AS) parameters and serum endocan levels, as a biomarker of endothelial dysfunction (ED) in children with FMF.

Methods: Seventy-nine children with FMF (12-18 years) and 41 healthy children were included, and clinical features (age at the first attack, age at the time of diagnosis, diagnosis delay time, colchicine dose, biological agent usage, MEFV mutations, and symptoms of attacks) of patients were noted. Arterial stiffness parameters were calculated by using echocardiographic aortic measurements with blood pressure monitoring. Read More

Am J Med 2021 Apr 1. Epub 2021 Apr 1.

Health Policy, Quality & Informatics Program, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center Health Services Research & Development Center, Houston, TX; Section of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX; Section of Cardiology, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, TX. Electronic address:

Background: Recent literature has shown an association between atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and inflammatory bowel disease, potentially mediated through chronic inflammatory pathways. However, there is a paucity of data demonstrating this relationship among young patients with premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Methods: Using data from the nationwide Veterans wIth premaTure AtheroscLerosis (VITAL) registry, we assessed the association between extremely premature and premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (age at diagnosis: <40 years and ≤55 years, respectively) and inflammatory bowel disease. Read More

J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2021 Mar 31;30(6):105751. Epub 2021 Mar 31.

Department of Radiology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 215 West Heping Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province 050000, China. Electronic address:

Objectives: To quantitatively evaluate changes in vascular elasticity and intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery (CCA) with Ultrasound radiofrequency (RF)-data technology in asymptomatic patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and controls.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-seven T2DM patients and 39 controls were enrolled. Arterial elasticity and CCA-IMT were quantitatively assessed by RF-data technology. Read More

Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis 2021 Feb 17. Epub 2021 Feb 17.

Genética Molecular, Hospital Universitario Central Asturias, Oviedo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias, ISPA, Oviedo, Spain; Red de Investigación Renal (REDINREN), Madrid, Spain.

Background And Aims: Apoliprotein B (ApoB) has been associated with hypercholesterolemia and ischemic coronary disease. This study was aimed to determine the effect of two APOB gene variants in the risk of developing early-onset coronary artery disease (EO-CAD) in a Spanish population. The association of these polymorphisms with hypercholesterolemia was also analysed. Read More

Ann Chir Plast Esthet 2021 Mar 30. Epub 2021 Mar 30.

Department of Stomatology-Maxillofacial surgery, CHU Saint Pierre, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium.

Introduction: The fibular free flap (FFF) is the best choice method for mandibular reconstruction. However, the failure and the complications risk factors (RF) are not yet fully identified. This study aims to analyze these RF in order to improve the success rate. Read More

Nutrients 2021 Mar 26;13(4). Epub 2021 Mar 26.

Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), CIBERCV, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.

(1) Background: Working night shifts has been associated with altered circadian rhythms, lifestyle habits, and cardiometabolic risks. No information on the potential association of working shift and the presence of atherosclerosis is available. The aim of this study was to quantify the association between different work shifts and the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis objectively measured by imaging. Read More

Bioengineering (Basel) 2021 Mar 19;8(3). Epub 2021 Mar 19.

Infrasonix Inc., 3100 Breckinridge Blvd, Unit 712, Duluth, GA 30096, USA.

Treatments of atherosclerosis depend on the severity of the disease at the diagnosis time. Non-invasive diagnosis techniques, capable of detecting stenosis at early stages, are essential to reduce associated costs and mortality rates. We used computational fluid dynamics and acoustics analysis to extensively investigate the sound sources arising from high-turbulent fluctuating flow through stenosis. Read More

Bioengineering (Basel) 2021 Mar 4;8(3). Epub 2021 Mar 4.

Infrasonix Inc., 1665 Lakes Parkway, Suite 102, Lawrenceville, GA 30043, USA.

For the early detection of atherosclerosis, it is imperative to explore the capabilities of new, effective noninvasive diagnosis techniques to significantly reduce the associated treatment costs and mortality rates. In this study, a multifaceted comprehensive approach involving advanced computational fluid dynamics combined with signal processing techniques was exploited to investigate the highly turbulent fluctuating flow through arterial stenosis. The focus was on localizing high-energy mechano-acoustic source potential to transmit to the epidermal surface. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2021 Mar 4;22(5). Epub 2021 Mar 4.

Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 42121 Modena, Italy.

Endothelial dysfunction is an early event in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and represents the first step in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. The evaluation of endothelial health is fundamental in clinical practice and several direct and indirect markers have been suggested so far to identify any alterations in endothelial homeostasis. Alongside the known endothelial role on vascular health, several pieces of evidence have demonstrated that proper endothelial functioning plays a key role in human fertility and reproduction. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021 Mar 1;18(5). Epub 2021 Mar 1.

School of Health and Kinesiology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE 68182, USA.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is characterized by the development of atherosclerotic plaques in the lower-body conduit arteries. PAD is commonly accompanied by microvascular disease, which may result in poor wound healing, plantar ulcer development, and subsequent limb amputation. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the development of plantar ulcers is a critical step in the development of adequate treatment options for patients with PAD. Read More

Pharmaceutics 2021 Mar 7;13(3). Epub 2021 Mar 7.

Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Harry and Diane Rinker Health Science Campus, Chapman University, Irvine, CA 92618, USA.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a group of conditions associated with heart and blood vessels and are considered the leading cause of death globally. Coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction represents the CVDs. Since CVDs are associated with a series of pathophysiological conditions with an alarming mortality and morbidity rate, early diagnosis and appropriate therapeutic approaches are critical for saving patients' lives. Read More