A New Paradigm to Reduce Cardiovascular #Disease Based on the Pathogenesis of #Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerotic coronary artery disease is the number one cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, Europe, and Westernized countries. This review recommends a new paradigm for the reduction of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, namely prevention and treatment by addressing the pathophysiological basis of atherosclerotic disease. This paradigm utilizes the role of cholesterol transport… Continue reading A New Paradigm to Reduce Cardiovascular #Disease Based on the Pathogenesis of #Atherosclerosis

Viridans Streptococcal Biofilm Evades Immune Detection and Contributes to Inflammation and Rupture of Atherosclerotic Plaques

Bacterial DNA from the oral cavity, respiratory tract, gut, and skin has been detected in atherosclerotic plaques, suggesting a role in chronic inflammation linked to atherosclerosis. Chronic bacterial infections often form biofilms resistant to antibiotics and immune detection, giving rise to a new generation of virulent bacteria in suitable conditions. This study explores the role… Continue reading Viridans Streptococcal Biofilm Evades Immune Detection and Contributes to Inflammation and Rupture of Atherosclerotic Plaques

Subclinical Coronary Atherosclerosis and Risk for Myocardial Infarction in a Danish CohortA Prospective Observational Cohort Study

Background:Coronary atherosclerosis may develop at an early age and remain latent for many years.Objective:To define characteristics of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis associated with the development of myocardial infarction.Design:Prospective observational cohort study.Setting:Copenhagen General Population Study, Denmark.Participants:9533 asymptomatic persons aged 40 years or older without known ischemic heart disease.Measurements:Subclinical coronary atherosclerosis was assessed with coronary computed tomography angiography… Continue reading Subclinical Coronary Atherosclerosis and Risk for Myocardial Infarction in a Danish CohortA Prospective Observational Cohort Study

Persistent Asthma Is Associated With Carotid Plaque in MESA

BackgroundAsthma and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease share an underlying inflammatory pathophysiology. We hypothesized that persistent asthma is associated with carotid plaque burden, a strong predictor of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events.Methods and ResultsThe MESA (Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) enrolled adults free of known atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease at baseline. Subtype of asthma was determined at examination 1. Persistent… Continue reading Persistent Asthma Is Associated With Carotid Plaque in MESA

Cannabinoid receptor 1 antagonist genistein attenuates marijuana-induced vascular inflammation

Epidemiological studies reveal that marijuana increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, little is known about the mechanism. Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), the psychoactive component of marijuana, binds to cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1/CNR1) in the vasculature and is implicated in CVD. A UK Biobank analysis found that cannabis was an risk factor for CVD. We found… Continue reading Cannabinoid receptor 1 antagonist genistein attenuates marijuana-induced vascular inflammation

Association of Cardiac Biomarkers with Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis and Psoriasis: A Longitudinal Cohort Study

In patients with psoriatic disease (PsD), we determined whether cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and N-terminal pro-brain-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) were associated with carotid plaque burden and the development of cardiovascular (CV) events independent of the Framingham Risk Score (FRS). MethodsAmong 1,000 patients with PsD, carotid total plaque area (TPA) was measured in 358 participants at… Continue reading Association of Cardiac Biomarkers with Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis and Psoriasis: A Longitudinal Cohort Study

Carotid Atherosclerosis Predicts Blood Pressure Control in Patients With Hypertension: The Campania Salute Network Registry

The 2018 European Society of Cardiology/European Society of Hypertension arterial hypertension guidelines do not recommend routine carotid ultrasound as a tool to identify hypertension‐mediated organ damage, unless clinically indicated. However, carotid plaque (CP) is a strong correlate of increased arterial stiffness, which influences blood pressure (BP) control over time. Thus, we assessed whether evidence of… Continue reading Carotid Atherosclerosis Predicts Blood Pressure Control in Patients With Hypertension: The Campania Salute Network Registry

#Proteinuria as a Significant Predictive Factor for the Progression of Carotid Artery #Atherosclerosis in Non-Albuminuric Type 2 #Diabetes

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the urine protein to creatinine ratio (uPCR) has have clinical significance in relation to cardiovascular risk associated with carotid artery intima-media thickness (cIMT) progression, in subjects with type 2 diabetes and normoalbuminuria. MethodsIn this retrospective longitudinal study on T2D, we recruited 927 subjects with normoalbuminuria (urine… Continue reading #Proteinuria as a Significant Predictive Factor for the Progression of Carotid Artery #Atherosclerosis in Non-Albuminuric Type 2 #Diabetes

#Cysteamine Decreases Low‐Density Lipoprotein Oxidation, Causes Regression of #Atherosclerosis, and Improves #Liver and Muscle Function in Low‐Density Lipoprotein Receptor–Deficient Mice

We have shown previously that low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) can be oxidized in the lysosomes of macrophages, that this oxidation can be inhibited by cysteamine, an antioxidant that accumulates in lysosomes, and that this drug decreases atherosclerosis in LDL receptor–deficient mice fed a high‐fat diet. We have now performed a regression study with cysteamine, which is… Continue reading #Cysteamine Decreases Low‐Density Lipoprotein Oxidation, Causes Regression of #Atherosclerosis, and Improves #Liver and Muscle Function in Low‐Density Lipoprotein Receptor–Deficient Mice