ObjectiveTo explore the association of elongase of very long chain fatty acids family member 6 (ELOVL6) gene with increased risk of large-artery atherosclerosis stroke (LAA) in Han Chinese population in Chengdu.MethodsHan Chinese populations in Chengdu, Sichuan were chosen for this study using the case-control design between January 2015 and December 2017. The genotypes and haplotypes of six single nucleotides polymorphisms (SNPs) of ELOVL6 gene (rs3813825, rs17041272, rs4141123, rs9997926, rs6824447, and rs12504538) were analyzed in different genetic models in entire samples, and gene-enviromental interaction analyses were also carried out to get an insight of the risk factors for LAA. At the same time, we also analyzed the gene expression profile in peripheral blood mononuclear cells between groups.ResultsA total of 240 LAA cases and 211 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. All the enrolled subjects presented CC genotype of rs9997926, while the other five SNPs (rs3813825, rs17041272, rs4141123, rs6824447, and rs12504538) were genotyped successfully in all the enrolled subjects. rs17041272 polymorphism and TGTTG haplotype were significantly associated with LAA risk in studied population [CC/(CG+GG): odds ratio (OR)=0.640, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.423, 0.968), P=0.034; TGTTG: OR=1.776, 95%CI (1.069, 2.951), P=0.024], and the interaction among rs17041272, rs6824447 SNPs and dyslipidemia increased susceptibility to LAA [OR=2.737, 95%CI (1.715, 4.368), P<0.001]. The ELOVL6 gene expression level was higher in LAA subjects (t=?3.167, P=0.003).ConclusionsELOVL6 gene is associated with LAA risk in Han nationality of Chinese population in Chengdu, and the interaction of gene-environmental risk factors could be of great importance in pathophysiology of LAA.
Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a multi-effect endocrine factor, mainly secreted in liver and adipose tissue, with the properties of lipid-lowering, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-atherosclerosis. Recent studies found that FGF21 can induce protective effect in cardiovascular disease, and plasma FGF21 levels in patients with disease cardiovascular are elevated. These studies have suggested the use of FGF21 as a biomarker for subclinical atherosclerosis and its potential role in the treatment of established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. This article will review the recent advances in the anti-atherosclerosis effect of FGF21.
Sclerostin, as a bone-derived secreted glycoprotein, is a suppressor of Wnt signaling pathway. Recently, adverse cardiovascular events in the treatment of osteoporosis with sclerostin inhibitors have raised concerns about the association of sclerostin with atherosclerotic heart disease. Whether the role of sclerostin in atherosclerotic heart disease is harmful or beneficial is not clear. This article reviews the progress of the mechanisms of sclerostin in vascular calcification and atherosclerotic heart disease, focusing on the relationship between sclerostin and vascular calcification, the impact of its concentration changes on atherosclerotic heart disease, and the effect of sclerostin inhibitor on cardiovascular events.
Atherosclerotic plaque rupture is the main cause of many cardiovascular diseases, and biomechanical factors play an important role in the process of plaque rupture. In the study of plaque biomechanics, there are relatively few studies based on fatigue fracture failure theory, and most of them mainly focus on the whole fatigue propagation process from crack initiation to plaque rupture, while there are few studies on the influence of crack on plaque rupture at a certain time in the process of fatigue propagation. In this paper, a two-dimensional plaque model with crack was established. Based on the theory of fracture mechanics and combined with the finite element numerical simulation method, the stress intensity factor (SIF) and related influencing factors at the crack tip in the plaque were studied. The SIF was used to measure the influence of crack on plaque rupture. The results show that the existence of crack can lead to local stress concentration, which increases the risk of plaque rupture. The SIF at the crack tip in the plaque was positively correlated with blood pressure, but negatively correlated with fibrous cap thickness and lipid pool stiffness. The effect of the thickness and angle of lipid pool on the SIF at the crack tip in the plaque was less than 4%, which could be ignored. This study provides a theoretical basis for the risk assessment of plaque rupture with cracks.
ObjectiveTo explore the association between hypertriglyceridemic waist (HTGW) and subclinical atherosclerosis among general Chinese population. MethodsPeople who took routine physical exam in the Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital were randomly selected from June 2011 to June 2012. We included those who received carotid artery ultrasonography and denied having symptoms of arterial ischemia, and screened the risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among them, including waist circumstance (WC) and triglycerides (TG). According to levels of WC and TG, the subjects were divided into three groups:Group I (those with normal levels of WC and TG); Group II (those with elevated levels of WC or TG); and Group Ⅲ (those with elevated WC and TG). ResultsA total of 484 subjects were included with average age of 47.3±11.3 years, of which, 72.1% of the subjects were male. The risk factors of CVD in Group I, Group II and Group III orderly increased, with significant differences. Then the subjects were stratified by age. For the elderly (no less than 60 years, n=75), the morbidities of subclinical atherosclerosis was 73.7% in Group I, 79.3% in Group II, and 70.4% in Group Ⅲ, respectively; and the results of univariate analysis and multivariate analysis showed that, HTGW was poorly associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in the elderly. For the young and middle-aged (less than 60 years, n=409), the morbidities were 19.8% in Group I, 35.1% in Group II, and 36.1% in Group III, respectively; after adjusting the confounding factors, Group II and Group III showed close association with subclinical atherosclerosis in the young and middle-aged when taking Group I as referent, with ORs (Group Ⅱ:1.987, 95%CI 1.073 to 3.679, P=0.029; and Group Ⅲ:2.060, 95%CI 1.020 to 4.161, P=0.044). ConclusionHTGW population has high-level risk factors of CVD which also present a tendency of aggregation. HTGW is closely associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in the young and middle-aged; while in the elderly, HTGW is poorly associated with subclinical atherosclerosis, but the morbidity of subclinical atherosclerosis is higher.
Obesity, sleep disorders, psychological stress, sedentary are modifiable cardiovascular risk factors. There is growing evidence that these risk factors may accelerate the chronic inflammatory process of atherosclerosis and lead to myocardial infarction. Studies on the role of immune cells and their related immune mechanisms in atherosclerosis have shown that the above modifiable risk factors can affect the hematopoiesis of the bone marrow system, affect the production of immune cells and phenotypes, and then affect the progress of atherosclerosis. This review will focus on the effects of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors on the progression of atherosclerosis through the role of the innate immune system.
Objective To investigate the predictive factors of clinical progression and short-term prognosis of cerebral infarction caused by large artery atherosclerosis (LAA). MethodsPatients with acute LAA cerebral infarction who were hospitalized in the Department of Neurology, Lianyungang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine between January 2016 and May 2019 were included. On admission, the patients’ medical history was collected. The degree of neurological deficit was assessed, blood pressure, blood glucose, blood lipids, plasma homocysteine, lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) were measured, and intracranial and extracranial blood vessels related test results were collected. Within 72 hours of onset, the Scandinavian Stroke Scale (SSS) was used to determine whether the patients’ condition progressed. The modified Rankin scale was used to evaluate the short-term prognosis at 30 days of onset. The related factors of clinical progression and short-term prognosis of LAA cerebral infarction were analyzed. Results Finally, 100 patients were included. According to the SSS assessment results within 72 hours of onset, 27 cases were divided into the progression group and 73 cases in the non-progression group. There was no significant difference in gender and age between the two groups (P>0.05). According to the evaluation results of the modified Rankin scale at 30 days of onset, they were divided into 31 cases in the poor prognosis group and 69 cases in the good prognosis group. There was no significant difference in gender and age between the two groups (P>0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that plasma Lp-PLA2 [odds ratio (OR)=1.013, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.007, 1.018), P<0.001], SSS score [OR=0.910, 95%CI (0.842, 0.985), P=0.019], and history of hypertension [OR=5.527, 95%CI (1.241, 24.613), P=0.025] were the predictors of disease progression within 72 hours. SSS score [OR=0.849, 95%CI (0.744, 0.930), P<0.001], carotid artery stenosis [OR=9.536, 95%CI (1.395, 65.169), P=0.021] and progressive stroke [OR=8.873, 95%CI (1.937, 40.640), P=0.005] were the predictors of short-term prognosis of LAA cerebral infarction. Conclusions History of hypertension and high levels of plasma Lp-PLA2 are predictors of early progression of cerebral infarction. Carotid artery stenosis and progressive stroke are predictors of adverse outcomes in the acute phase of cerebral infarction. Neurological scores on admission was a predictor for short-term adverse outcomes in the early and acute phases.
Objective To investigate the management during offpump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) for patients with ascending aorta atherosclerosis and to find appropriate treatment for minimizing the postoperative cerebrovascular accidents. Methods 236 patients with ascending aorta atherosclerosis were retrospectively analyzed underwent OPCAB in this hospital from Sep.2004 to Dec.2007, 4 of them received “No-touch” technique, 35 of them had the proximal anastomoses with the Enclose assistant, and 197 of them had the proximal anastomoses with the assistant of Heartstring. Hemodynamic indexes were consecutively monitored, blood streams of grafts was monitored by transit time flow measurement (TTFM) to evaluate the quality. Results Distal anastomoses 881，proximal anastomoses 267, the blood stream of 881 grafts was monitored, the mean flow was 16.2±18.7 ml/min, and the pulsatility index (PI) were 4.9±2.3, indicating the good quality of all grafts. The change of hemodynamic indexes including mean artery pressure (MAP, 78.1±10.4 mmHg vs. 80.9±8.1 mmHg）, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP, 11.9±3.6 vs. 10.9±2.1 mmHg）, mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP, 17.3±4.3 mmHg vs. 15.3±2.8 mmHg）, cardiac output (CO, 4.2±1.2 L/min vs. 4.5±1.6 L/min）, center vinous pressure (CVP, 9.2±2.3cmH2O vs. 9.3±1.8 cmH2O）, heart rate (HR, 71.4±14.0 beats/min vs. 73.4±16.5 beats/min）, there were no statistically difference between before and after proximal anastomoses (Pgt;0.05). Two patients died of low cardio output during operation, 4 patients with transient ischemic attack were improved by 2 months medical therapy, and others had no postoperative complications as perioperative myocardial infarction etc, and the time of stay hospital was 10.5±4.2d. Followup 3-24 months for 185 patients, all living patients had no myocardial or cerebrovascular accidents, the symptoms were alleviated and myocardiac function improved. Conclusion Assessing the degree of the ascending aorta atherosclerosis sufficiently before and during the operation, choosing different operational strategy, and decreasing the manipulation of aorta can decrease the incidence of cerebrovascular accident and get better clinical result.
Objective To investigated the influence of the CYP2C9 polymorphism on lipid profile and blood concentration in epileptic children with VPA. Methods This study collected the information of healthy children and epilepsy children who were treated with VPA in the First Affiliated Hospital of Putian University during June, 2018 to March, 2021. The serum lipids of 184 cases were collected and compared between epilepsy group before and after treatment with VPA with the control group. The polymorphism of CYP2C9 gene in children with epilepsy was detected, and lipid and VPA concentration were compared after classification. Results There was no significant difference in lipid between the control group and the epilepsy group before treatment (P>0.05); The TC, HDL, LDL, TC/HDL, LDL/HDL were statistically different in VPA treatment group from the control group (P<0.05), and there were statistical differences in TG, LDL, TC/HDL, LDL/HDL between the trial group before the initiation and VPA treatment (P<0.05); There is no correlation between VPA blood concentration and lipid (P>0.05). VPA concentration, TC, HDL, LDL, TC/HDL and LDL/HDL in CYP2C9 wild-type were statistically different from heterozygous mutant. Conculsions CYP2C9 polymorphism and long-term use of VPA caused the changes in serum lipid levels in epilepsy children.
ObjectiveTo explore the risk factors affecting occurrence of arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO) for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and to develop a nomogram predictive model using these risk factors. MethodsA case-control study was conducted. The patients with T2DM accompanied with ASO and those with T2DM alone, admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from January 2017 to December 2022, were retrospectively collected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The basic characteristics, blood, thyroid hormones, and other relevant indicators of the paitents in two groups were compared. The multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for the occurrence of ASO in the patients with T2DM, and then a nomogram predictive model was developed. ResultsThere were 119 patients with T2DM alone and 114 patients with T2DM accompanied with lower extremity ASO in this study. The significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of smoking history, white blood cell count, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, platelet count, systemic immune-inflammation index, systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), apolipoprotein α (Apoα), serum cystatin C, free-triiodothyronine (FT3), total triiodothyronine, FT3/total triiodothyronine ratio, fibrinogen (Fib), fibrinogen degradation products, and plasma D-dimer (P<0.05). Further the results of the multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the history of smoking, increased Fib level and SIRI value increased the probabilities of ASO occurrence in the patients with T2DM [OR (95%CI)=2.921 (1.023, 4.227), P=0.003; OR (95%CI)=2.641 (1.810, 4.327), P<0.001; OR (95%CI)=1.020 (1.004, 1.044), P=0.018], whereas higher levels of ApoA1 and FT3 were associated with reduced probabilities of ASO occurrence in the patients with T2DM [OR (95%CI)=0.231 (0.054, 0.782), P=0.021; OR (95%CI)=0.503 (0.352, 0.809), P=0.002]. The nomogram predictive model based on these factors demonstrated a good discrimination for predicting the ASO occurrence in the T2DM patients [area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (95%CI)=0.788 (0.730, 0.846)]. The predicted curve closely matched the ideal curve (Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test, χ2=5.952, P=0.653). The clinical decision analysis curve showed that the clinical net benefit of intervention based on the nomogram model was higher within a threshold probability range of 0.18 to 0.80 compared to no intervention or universal intervention. ConclusionsThe analysis results indicate that T2DM patients with a smoking history, elevated Fib level and SIRI value, as well as decreased ApoA1 and FT3 levels should be closely monitored for ASO risk. The nomogram predictive model based on these features has a good discriminatory power for ASO occurrence in T2DM patients, though its value warrants further investigation.