scholarly journals Remnant cholesterol is an independent determinant of the presence and extent of subclinical carotid atherosclerosis in statin-naive individuals

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
D Delialis ◽  
E Aivalioti ◽  
G Mavraganis ◽  
A M Dimopoulou ◽  
A Sianis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wall Thickness ◽  
Carotid Atherosclerosis ◽  
Intima Media Thickness ◽  
Cholesterol Content ◽  
Plaque Burden ◽  
Cardiac Events ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
Therapeutic Algorithms ◽  
Remnant Cholesterol

Abstract Background Despite continuous improvements of diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms for cardiovascular disease (CVD), mortality from CVD remains high suggesting unaddressed residual risk. Remnant cholesterol (RC) consists the cholesterol content of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, which along with LDL cholesterol infiltrate the arterial wall, accumulate and cause atherosclerosis. Increased remnant cholesterol (RC) levels have been previously associated with future adverse cardiac events despite hypolipidemic therapy. However, a mechanistic association of RC levels with human atherosclerosis in vivo has not been proven in a clinical setting. Purpose To evaluate the association of RC levels with the presence and extend of subclinical carotid atherosclerosis. Methods In this retrospective cohort study, 438 subjects from the Athens Vascular Registry without clinically overt CVD or treatment with statin were recruited. Atherosclerotic burden was assessed by B-mode carotid ultrasonography using: 1. Maximal carotid wall thickness [maxWT, the highest intima-media thickness (IMT) or highest atherosclerotic plaque thickness (PLQ) if present derived from all carotid sites], 2. Total thickness (sumWT, sum of maximal wall thickness), 3) high plaque burden (PLQ ≥2) and 4) average carotid IMT (avgIMT). RC was calculated using the formula RC=total cholesterol-LDL-C-HDL-C. Results Mean (SD) age was 54.8±12.4 years old with 41% being males. Subjects with RC>median (=18mg/dl) had higher sumWT (6.12±0.7 vs 5.57±1.7, p=0.002), maxWT (1.61±0.7 vs 1.43±0.7, p=0.008) and avgIMT (0.88±0.16 vs 0.83±0.16, p=0.003) vs RC<median.>median was associated with higher odds for increased sumWT (highest tertile, OR: 2.15 95% CI 1.26–3.66, p=0.006) and maxWT (OR: 2.15 95% CI: 1.38–3.33, p=0.001), and a higher plaque burden (≥2 plaques, OR: 2.1 95% CI 1.93–3.1, p<0.001) after adjustment for age, gender and systolic blood pressure, glomerular filtration rate, smoking, diabetes mellitus, body mass index and LDL-C Conclusion In a statin-naive population without clinically overt CVD, increased RC levels were associated with the presence and extend of subclinical carotid atherosclerosis. These findings provide novel mechanistic insight into mechanisms associated with increased CVD risk in individuals with high RC levels. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

Association of habitual alcohol consumption with carotid atherosclerotic lesions: results from the Corinthia study

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
P Theofilis ◽  
E Oikonomou ◽  
G Vogiatzi ◽  
G Lazaros ◽  
S Tsalamandris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Carotid Atherosclerosis ◽  
Intima Media Thickness ◽  
Carotid Intima Media Thickness ◽  
Plaque Burden ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Drinking Habits ◽  
Atherosclerotic Burden ◽  
Wine Glass ◽  
Adjacent Segments

Abstract Introduction Alcohol is implicated in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases. However, it is also believed to play a cardioprotective role if consumed in appropriate amounts. Purpose To assess the association between alcohol consumption and carotid atherosclerosis. Methods In the setting of the cross-sectional Corinthia study, volunteers filled in questionnaires regarding drinking habits and were characterized as social drinkers (SD) or habitual alcohol consumers (HAC). Furthermore, they underwent carotid ultrasonography examination to evaluate the carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT). Thickness of cIMT>1.5 mm or protrusion >50% compared to adjacent segments was considered as atherosclerotic plaque. Results HAC consumers were usually male (HAC: 61.1%, SD: 24.9%, p<0.001), smokers (HAC: 33.3%, SD: 23.5%, p<0.001) and frequently had a history of hypertension (HAC: 72.8%, SD: 67.5%, p=0.02) when compared to SD (Table 1). However, no significant differences were noted regarding other risk factors of atherosclerosis (Table). Notably, HAC had a greater extent of carotid atherosclerosis as demonstrated by an increased cIMT (HAC: 1.03±0.45mm, SD: 0.96±0.39mm, p<0.001) and carotid plaque burden (HAC: 27.7%, SD: 21.3%, p=0.004). Importantly, when taking into account the number of alcoholic drinks (in wine glasses), alcohol consumption of more than 1 wine glass resulted in significantly higher values of cIMT (1 wine glass: 1.00±0.42mm, >1 wine glass: 1.06±0.45mm, p=0.04) (Figure 1A) and extensive amount of carotid plaques (1 wine glass: 22.7%, >1 wine glass: 30.4%, p=0.02) when compared to consumption of 1 wine glass (Figure 1B). Conclusion Habitual alcohol consumption of more than one wine glass is associated with a higher carotid atherosclerotic burden. Figure 1 Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

Abstract P321: Pregnancy Loss is Associated With Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease in Mexican Women

Circulation ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 135 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra A Hartasanchez ◽  
Mario Flores ◽  
Adriana Monge ◽  
Elsa Yunes ◽  
Carlos Cantu-Brito ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Pregnancy Loss ◽  
Carotid Atherosclerosis ◽  
Intima Media Thickness ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
The Impact

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women often develops in the absence of conventional risk factors. Prenatal loss, a common pregnancy outcome, may result in physiologic changes that could affect future risk of myocardial infarction. Little is known about the impact of pregnancy loss on early markers of CVD risk. Hypothesis: Pregnancy loss affects carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT). Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis among 1,769 disease-free women from the Mexican Teachers’ Cohort who had been pregnant to evaluate the relation between pregnancy loss and CIMT. In 2008 participants answered a baseline questionnaire on reproductive history, risk factors for chronic disease and medical conditions that was updated in 2011. We defined pregnancy loss as abortion and/or stillbirth. Between 2012 and 2016, CIMT was measured by trained neurologists using ultrasound in three clinical sites. We log-transformed CIMT and defined carotid atherosclerosis as CIMT ≥0.8mm or plaque. We used multivariable linear and logistic regression models to assess the relation between pregnancy loss, CIMT and carotid atherosclerosis. Results: Mean age of participants was 49.8 (SD ± 5.1) years. The prevalence of pregnancy loss was 22% (394 of 1769) , while we observed carotid atherosclerosis in 23% (405 of 1769) of participants. Comparing participants who reported a pregnancy loss to those who did not, the multivariable-adjusted odds ratio for carotid atherosclerosis was 1.52 (95% CI 1.12, 2.06). Women who experienced a stillbirth had 2.32 higher odds (95% CI 1.03, 5.21) of carotid atherosclerosis than those who did not. Mean CIMT appeared to be higher in women who reported a pregnancy loss relative to those who did not, however, in multivariable analyses, pregnancy loss and stillbirth were not significantly associated with CIMT. Conclusions: Abortion and stillbirth may be associated with a higher risk of CVD. Additional investigation on potential underlying mechanisms for this association is required.

scholarly journals Association Between Uric Acid, Carotid Intima‐Media Thickness, and Cardiovascular Events: Prospective Results From the IMPROVE Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Massimo R. Mannarino ◽  
Matteo Pirro ◽  
Bruna Gigante ◽  
Kai Savonen ◽  
Sudhir Kurl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Uric Acid ◽  
Carotid Atherosclerosis ◽  
Elevated Serum ◽  
Intima Media Thickness ◽  
Carotid Intima Media Thickness ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
Vascular Events ◽  
Media Thickness ◽  
Hazard Ratios ◽  
Increased Risk

Background The association between elevated serum uric acid (SUA), cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, and carotid atherosclerosis has long been explored, and contrasting results have been reported. Therefore, the role of SUA as an independent risk factor for vascular events (VEs) and carotid atherosclerosis deserves further attention. We investigated the relationship between SUA, incident VEs, carotid intima‐media thickness (cIMT), and cIMT progression in subjects at moderate‐to‐high CVD risk. Methods and Results In the IMPROVE (IMT‐Progression as Predictors of VEs) study, 3686 participants (median age 64 years; 48% men) with ≥ 3 vascular risk factors, free from VEs at baseline, were grouped according to SUA quartiles (division points: 244–284–328 µmol/L in women, 295–336–385 µmol/L in men). Carotid‐IMT and its 15‐month progression, along with incident VEs, were recorded. A U‐shaped association between SUA and VEs was observed in men, with 2.4‐fold ( P = 0.004) and 2.5‐fold ( P = 0.002) increased CVD risk in the first and fourth SUA quartiles as compared with the second. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for cerebro‐VEs in men were the highest (first and fourth quartile versus second: HR, 5.3, P = 0.010 and HR, 4.4, P = 0.023, respectively). SUA level was independently associated with cIMT progression in men (β = 0.068, P = 0.014). No significant association between SUA levels, CVD end points, and cIMT progression were found in women. Conclusions Both low and high SUA levels are associated with an increased risk of VEs in men at moderate‐to‐high CVD risk but not in women. Only elevated SUA levels predict cIMT progression and at a lesser but not significant extent in women.

Apolipoprotein(a), Fibrinopeptide A and Carotid Atherosclerosis in Middle-Aged Men

1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (04) ◽  
pp. 563-566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuomo Rankinen ◽  
Sari Väisänen ◽  
Michele Mercuri ◽  
Rainer Rauramaa
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cardiovascular Diseases ◽  
Carotid Atherosclerosis ◽  
Intima Media Thickness ◽  
Carotid Bifurcation ◽  
Carotid Intima Media Thickness ◽  
Fibrinopeptide A ◽  
Carotid Imt ◽  
Apolipoprotein A ◽  
The Difference

SummaryThe association between apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)], fibrinogen, fibrinopeptide A (FPA) and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) was analyzed in Eastern Finnish men aged 50 to 60 years. Apo(a) correlated directly with carotid bifurcation (r = 0.26, p = 0.001), but not with common carotid IMT. Men in the lowest quartile of apo(a) had thinner (p = 0.013) IMT in bifurcation [1.59 mm (95% Cl 1.49; 1.68)] compared to the men in the highest [1.91 mm (95% Cl 1.73; 2.09)] apo(a) quartile. The difference remained (p=0.038) after adjusting for confounders. Plasma fibrinogen was not related to carotid IMT, whereas FPA correlated with common carotid (r = 0.21, p = 0.016) and carotid bifurcation (r = 0.21, p = 0.018) IMT. These associations abolished after adjusting for the confounders. The data suggest that apo(a) associate with carotid atherosclerosis independent of other risk factors for ischemic cardiovascular diseases.

Correlation of Waist to Calf Circumference Ratio and Carotid Intima Media Thickness in Diabetes Mellitus

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harish A Rao ◽  
Prakash Harischandra ◽  
Srikanth Yadav
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Carotid Atherosclerosis ◽  
Intima Media Thickness ◽  
Carotid Intima Media Thickness ◽  
Calf Circumference ◽  
Media Thickness

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a well-known risk factor for cardiovascular disease, because of the accelerated process of atherosclerosis. Obesity is an established risk factor and has gained immense importance in recent studies as an important risk factor for clinical cardiovascular disease, yet the fundamental component stays unclear. Calf circumference is another form for lean mass and peripheral subcutaneous fat and is inversely associated with occurrence of carotid plaques (CP). Multiplicative and opposite effects of both Calf Circumference (CC) and Waist Circumference (WC) in event of CP suggest that the two measures should be taken into account commonly while assessing vascular risk profile. Aim & Objective: To ascertain if waist to calf circumference ratio (WCR) is a marker of Carotid atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. To asses s the correlation between waist to calf circumference ratio and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT ) in patients with Type 2 diabetes. Materials and methods: A cross sectional study at Hospital affiliated to Kasturba Medical college Mangalore from Sept 2016 to Sept 2018 . Method of study: Patients with type 2 DM as per ADA criteria, age >18years are recruited for the study. Results and discussion: In our study with 150 population 25 patients had carotid atherosclerosis and 20 patients had CIMT>1.1. The waist circumference in patients with CA is in the range of 93.07 and 99.85 & the CC in patients with CA is in the range of 29.49 to 31.25. The WCR in patients with CA is in the range of 3.12 to 3.26. The difference was statistically significant with a p value of <0.05. In our study it was found that WC and WCR correlated well with carotid atherosclerosis, and surprisingly calf circumference also correlated with carotid atherosclerosis but not as significant as both WC and WCR. Conclusion: To conclude, in our population based study of 150 subjects we found that carotid atherosclerosis is significantly more in people with increased waist calf circumference ratio. WCR may be a new, useful and practical anthropometric index that facilitates the early identification of diabetic subjects with high risk for cardiovascular disease. Validation of this finding in individual populations is required. Future studies should test the association of calf circumference with carotid intima media thickness and carotid plaques using better measures than ultrasound such as magnetic resonance imaging. Further research focusing on underlying mechanisms in the role of lean mass and peripheral fat mass is required.

scholarly journals The Relationship between Cardiovascular Risk Scores and Several Markers of Subclinical Atherosclerosis in an Asymptomatic Population

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 955
Author(s):  
Ovidiu Mitu ◽  
Adrian Crisan ◽  
Simon Redwood ◽  
Ioan-Elian Cazacu-Davidescu ◽  
Ivona Mitu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Score ◽  
Subclinical Atherosclerosis ◽  
Ankle Brachial Index ◽  
Intima Media Thickness ◽  
Carotid Intima Media Thickness ◽  
Risk Scores ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Single Center Study ◽  
Asymptomatic Individuals

Background: The current cardiovascular disease (CVD) primary prevention guidelines prioritize risk stratification by using clinical risk scores. However, subclinical atherosclerosis may rest long term undetected. This study aimed to evaluate multiple subclinical atherosclerosis parameters in relation to several CV risk scores in asymptomatic individuals. Methods: A cross-sectional, single-center study included 120 asymptomatic CVD subjects. Four CVD risk scores were computed: SCORE, Framingham, QRISK, and PROCAM. Subclinical atherosclerosis has been determined by carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), pulse wave velocity (PWV), aortic and brachial augmentation indexes (AIXAo, respectively AIXbr), aortic systolic blood pressure (SBPao), and ankle-brachial index (ABI). Results: The mean age was 52.01 ± 10.73 years. For cIMT—SCORE was more sensitive; for PWV—Framingham score was more sensitive; for AIXbr—QRISK and PROCAM were more sensitive while for AIXao—QRISK presented better results. As for SBPao—SCORE presented more sensitive results. However, ABI did not correlate with any CVD risk score. Conclusions: All four CV risk scores are associated with markers of subclinical atherosclerosis in asymptomatic population, except for ABI, with specific particularities for each CVD risk score. Moreover, we propose specific cut-off values of CV risk scores that may indicate the need for subclinical atherosclerosis assessment.

scholarly journals Weight Status Influences Carotid Intima-Media Thickness to Executive Function Among Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 367-368
Author(s):  
Desiree Bygrave ◽  
Regina Wright
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Verbal Fluency ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Carotid Atherosclerosis ◽  
Intima Media Thickness ◽  
Carotid Intima Media Thickness ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Media Thickness

Abstract Carotid atherosclerosis has emerged as an early predictor of reduced cognitive function. Underlying this association are risk factors, such as overweight and obesity, that promote carotid atherosclerosis and poor cognitive outcomes. Given the prevalence of overweight and obesity among older adults, there is a critical need to better understand how atherosclerosis influences cognitive function in the context of elevated weight. To address this gap, the current study examined relations between carotid atherosclerosis (carotid intima-media thickness [IMT]), and attention (Trailmaking Test) and executive function (Verbal Fluency Test) performance, and whether they varied as a function of weight status (body mass index [BMI] classification). Data were analyzed from 162 older adults (mean age = 68.43y, 34% male, 41% African American), free of major disease. Mutliple regression and analysis of variance analyses, adjusted for age, sex, education and mean arterial pressure, showed a statistically significant IMT x BMI interaction for Verbal Fluency performance (p=.04) and a trending IMT x BMI interaction for Trailmaking A performance (p=.05). Simple effects analysis of IMT and Verbal Fluency performance showed that this association was most pronounced among those who are obese. Findings suggest atherosclerosis may influence executive function in the context of obesity among older adults. As the development of carotid atherosclerosis is strongly related to aging, our findings suggest that maintaining a healthy weight may reduce its impact on executive function in older adulthood.

scholarly journals Aspartame Intake Relates to Coronary Plaque Burden and Inflammatory Indices in Human Immunodeficiency Virus

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leangelo N. Hall ◽  
Laura R. Sanchez ◽  
Jane Hubbard ◽  
Hang Lee ◽  
Sara E. Looby ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Cardiac Computed Tomography ◽  
Coronary Plaque ◽  
Plaque Burden ◽  
Artificial Sweetener ◽  
Food Record ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
Cardiac Computed Tomography Angiography ◽  
Markers Of Inflammation ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus

Abstract Background Dietary sweeteners may contribute to metabolic dysregulation and cardiovascular disease (CVD), but this has not been assessed in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Methods One hundred twenty-four HIV-infected and 56 non-HIV-infected participants, without history of known coronary artery disease were included. Dietary intake was assessed using a 4-day food record. Coronary plaque was determined using cardiac computed tomography angiography. Results Human immunodeficiency virus-infected participants had significantly greater intake of dietary sweeteners, including total sugar (P = .03) and added sugar (P = .009); intake of aspartame (artificial sweetener) was greater among aspartame consumers with HIV versus non-HIV consumers (P = .03). Among HIV-infected participants, aspartame intake was significantly associated with coronary plaque (P = .002) and noncalcified plaque (P = .007) segments, as well as markers of inflammation/immune activation (monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2), which may contribute to increased atherogenesis. In multivariable regression modeling, aspartame remained an independent predictor of plaque in HIV. In contrast, among non-HIV-infected participants, no sweetener type was shown to relate to plaque characteristics. Conclusions We demonstrate increased intake of dietary sweeteners and a potential novel association between aspartame intake, plaque burden, and inflammation in HIV. Our data suggest that aspartame may contribute to CVD risk in HIV. Further studies should address potential mechanisms by which aspartame may contribute to increased plaque burden and cardiovascular benefits of dietary strategies targeting aspartame intake in HIV.

scholarly journals Effect of the cholesterol content of small unilamellar liposomes on their stability in vivo and in vitro

1980 ◽  
Vol 186 (2) ◽  
pp. 591-598 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Kirby ◽  
Jacqui Clarke ◽  
Gregory Gregoriadis
Keyword(s):  
Blood Plasma ◽  
Intravenous Injection ◽  
Whole Blood ◽  
Cholesterol Content ◽  
Molar Ratio ◽  
Phosphatidylcholine Liposomes ◽  
Effective Use ◽  
Positively Charged

Small unilamellar neutral, negatively and positively charged liposomes composed of egg phosphatidylcholine, various amounts of cholesterol and, when appropriate, phosphatidic acid or stearylamine and containing 6-carboxyfluorescein were injected into mice, incubated with mouse whole blood, plasma or serum or stored at 4°C. Liposomal stability, i.e. the extent to which 6-carboxyfluorescein is retained by liposomes, was dependent on their cholesterol content. (1) Cholesterol-rich (egg phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol, 7:7 molar ratio) liposomes, regardless of surface charge, remained stable in the blood of intravenously injected animals for up to at least 400min. In addition, stability of cholesterol-rich liposomes was largely maintained in vitro in the presence of whole blood, plasma or serum for at least 90min. (2) Cholesterol-poor (egg phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol, 7:2 molar ratio) or cholesterol-free (egg phosphatidylcholine) liposomes lost very rapidly (at most within 2min) much of their stability after intravenous injection or upon contact with whole blood, plasma or serum. Whole blood and to some extent plasma were less detrimental to stability than was serum. (3) After intraperitoneal injection, neutral cholesterol-rich liposomes survived in the peritoneal cavity to enter the blood circulation in their intact form. Liposomes injected intramuscularly also entered the circulation, although with somewhat diminished stability. (4) Stability of neutral and negatively charged cholesterol-rich liposomes stored at 4°C was maintained for several days, and by 53 days it had declined only moderately. Stored liposomes retained their unilamellar structure and their ability to remain stable in the blood after intravenous injection. (5) Control of liposomal stability by adjusting their cholesterol content may help in the design of liposomes for effective use in biological systems in vivo and in vitro.

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