Atherosclerotic Disorder Research Articles

Micro-RNA 7975 directly regulates MDTH expression and mediates endothelial cell proliferation and migration in the development of early atherosclerosis.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is commonly due to the development of atherosclerosis. Endothelial integrity is critical in the prevention of pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The key to prevention of CVD is understanding the molecular mechanisms responsible for initiation of early atherosclerosis. MiRNAs are mediators of endothelial homeostasis, and their dysregulation could lead to early atherosclerotic disorder. We previously revealed the expression of miR-7975 in early atherosclerotic lesions. The aim of this study was to investigate the novel roles of miR-7975 on endothelial cell proliferation and migration, and in the regulation of metadherin (MTDH) expression. We performed proliferation and migration assays coupled with luciferase assay. We show that miR-7975 promotes proliferation and migration of endothelial cells and that miR-7976 directly regulates (MTDH), previously associated with cancer pathogenesis. In conclusion our results show miR-7975 could be a potential mediator of endothelial homeostasis and that MTDH is a novel target of miR-7975.

HTLV1 infection and long term association with liver function and lipid indices; 10 years’ follow-up

BackgroundHuman T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a well-known retrovirus, particularly prevalent in northeastern Iran, where it is associated with a range of disorders, including liver dysfunction. Previous studies have demonstrated that HTLV-1 infection can alter lipid profiles, yet no research has examined lipid indices and liver function tests in these patients in the long term.MethodsThis data is part of the Mashhad stroke and heart atherosclerotic disorder (MASHAD) study. A total of 1116 participants were randomly selected, including 837 healthy individuals and 279 HTLV-1-infected patients. Following a 10-year follow-up period, Serum levels of liver enzymes were measured. Lipid indices such as the Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP), Body Adiposity Index (BAC), Castelli risk index (CRI-I, CRI-II), Lipid Accumulation Product (LAP), Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI), Triglyceride-glucose index (TyG), and Triglyceride and HDL-C Ratio (THR) were calculated.ResultsMultivariable-adjusted regression analysis demonstrated a significant coefficient for the Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI) in HTLV-infected patients compared to healthy controls (B: -0.014, 95% CI: -0.02, 0.00, p = 0.046). However, no significant differences were observed in other lipid indices between HTLV-infected patients and healthy individuals. Regarding liver enzymes, significant variations were noted in HTLV-infected patients compared to healthy controls: Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) (B: 2.978, 95% CI: 1.34, 4.61, p < 0.001), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) (B: 3.687, 95% CI: 1.59, 5.78, p = 0.001), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) (B: 18.232, 95% CI: 6.81, 29.65, p = 0.002), and Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT) (B: 3.714, 95% CI: 0.18, 7.24, p = 0.039).ConclusionIndividuals with HTLV-1 infection exhibit reduced VAI but elevated levels of liver enzymes such as AST, ALT, ALP, and GGT, indicating liver damage. These findings emphasize the virus’s involvement in liver pathology. Also, HTLV-I is associated with reduced visceral fat tissue.

Efficient integration of analytical quality-by-design and tri-hued HPLC-DAD approach for synchronized assessment of gemigliptin and rosuvastatin in their fixed-dose pills: Application to stability study

Life-threatening atherosclerotic cardiovascular disorder is a well-recognized risk among diabetics, which is clinically ascribed to their unbalanced plasma lipoproteins. Gemigliptin-Rosuvastatin is a recently introduced polytherapy prescribed for the management of diabetic dyslipidemia. Currently, the main focus of several analysts is to design more ecologically friendly sustainable approaches for pharmaceutical analysis. In this context, an innovative tri-hued (green, blue, and white) stability-indicating HPLC-DAD approach was developed to concurrently quantify Gemigliptin and Rosuvastatin polypills. Consequently, a strategic integration between analytical quality-by-design and green/white analytical chemistry principles was specifically designed to optimize efficiency and practicality while minimizing ecological burden. Two experimental designs, namely two-level fractional factorial and Box-Behnken designs, were employed for screening and optimization procedures, respectively. Optimal separation was attained utilizing an Agilent HC-C18 column in conjunction with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and 10 mM sodium dihydrogen phosphate buffer, pH 3 (60:40 v/v), eluted in an isocratic manner at a 1 mL/min flow rate. Both analytes exhibited good linearities within the concentration range of 0.5–100 μg/mL. Furthermore, stability studies were conducted on both drugs in response to variable stress degradation scenarios. Fortunately, the adopted approach was well-suited to resolve the studied drugs from their respective degradants, thereby verifying the method's stability-indicating power. Tri-hued evaluation for the implemented approach was performed via up-to-date metrics, specifically, the Analytical Eco-scale, AGREE, Blue Applicability Grade Index, and RGB 12. Ultimately, our adopted stability-indicating HPLC approach exhibited great sensitivity, specificity, applicability, and rapidity as well as being ecologically sound. It is worth noting that this is the first stability-indicating HPLC approach for simultaneous assessment of the studied drugs.

Oxidative balance and mental health: Exploring the link between prooxidant-antioxidant balance and depression in hypertensive and normotensive individuals, accounting for sex differences

BackgroundExisting studies have suggested a link between oxidative stress levels and depression. Additionally, factors such as gender and conditions like hypertension have been shown to influence oxidative stress. This ten-year follow-up cohort study aims to examine the association between prooxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB) and the onset of depression and its symptoms in both hypertensive and normotensive individuals, while considering gender differences. MethodsThe data for this study was obtained from the Mashhad Stroke and Heart Atherosclerotic Disorder (MASHAD) study, a cohort study conducted in eastern Iran. Serum PAB levels were measured in 1702 hypertensive and 4096 normotensive individuals aged 35 to 65 years. After ten years, the participants' depression status was evaluated using the Beck questionnaire, and depression symptoms were investigated using the BDI-II structural model, which includes somatic, affective, and cognitive symptoms. ResultThe analysis indicates that in hypertensive male participants, the highest tertile of PAB is associated with an increased risk of depression (β: 1.22, 95 % CI: −0.046, 2.485; P = 0.059) and symptoms of depression, including cognitive (β: 2.937, 95 % CI: 0.511, 5.362; P = 0.018) and somatic (β: 2.654, 95 % CI: 0.37, 4.939; P = 0.023) symptoms. However, there was no significant association between affective symptoms and PAB tertiles. Additionally, there was no significant link between depression and depressive symptoms in female hypertensive and normotensive individuals. ConclusionIn male hypertensive patients, but not in normotensive individuals of both genders and hypertensive women, depression and its associated symptoms, including somatic and cognitive symptoms, are associated with elevated levels of oxidative stress, as evidenced by higher serum PAB values. PAB is not associated with affective symptoms. Future studies should focus on the gender-specific nature of this relationship and work to clarify its underlying mechanisms.

Investigation of the relationship between atherogenic index, anthropometric characteristics, and 10-year risk of metabolic syndrome: a population-based study.

People with metabolic syndrome (MetS) are at a higher risk of coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, stroke, osteoarthritis, and some types of cancers. Finding markers which are available and inexpensive are most useful for the prediction of MetS. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between atherogenic index and anthropometric indicators and the 10-year risk of MetS. During the 10-year follow-up on Mashhad stroke and heart atherosclerotic disorder (MASHAD study), 4684 subjects who did not MetS at baseline were recruited in this study. The anthropometric indices and atherogenic index including atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), Castelli's risk index I and II (CRI-I, CRI-I), and atherogenic coefficient (AC) were measured. SPSS-23 was used for all statistical analyses. Among subjects who did not have MetS at baseline 1599 cases (34.1%) developed MetS. The anthropometric and lipid indices were significantly elevated in patients with MetS compared to the healthy ones (p < 0.001). It was revealed that an increase of one unit in AIP and AC can raise the risk of MetS 22.7% (OR: 1.227 (95% CI, 1.166-1.291)) and 37.7% (OR: 1.377 (95% CI, 1.291-1.468)), respectively. Moreover, increasing one unit of WHtR decreases the risk of MetS by 8.5% (OR: 0.915 (95% CI, 0.886-0.946)). The results of this longitudinal study showed that increasing AC and AIP could enhance the risk of MetS. The present study also indicated that AC and AIP are useful predictors in the clinical setting for identifying individuals with MetS in the Iranian adult population.

Anxiety, a significant risk factor for coronary artery disease: what is the best index

BackgroundCoronary artery disease (CAD) is known as the leading cause of disability and death globally. Anxiety disorders are also recognized as common types of mental disorders that substantially impact global health. Iran ranks among the countries with a high incidence of CAD and anxiety disorders. Therefore, the present study aims to determine the potential association and epidemiological aspects of anxiety and CAD within the population of Mashhad, the second most popoulos city in Iran.MethodsThe present study is based on extracted data from the Mashhad stroke and heart atherosclerotic disorder (MASHAD) study which is a 10-year prospective cohort study intended to assess the effects of various CAD risk factors among Mashhad city residents. Anxiety scores were assessed at the baseline using Beck Anxiety Inventory and individuals were classified based on the BAI 4-factor structure model which included autonomic, cognitive, panic, and neuromotor components. Accordingly, the association between baseline anxiety scores and the BAI four-factor model with the risk of CAD events was analyzed using SPSS software version 21.ResultsBased on the results, 60.4% of the sample were female, and 5.6% were classified as having severe forms of anxiety. Moreover, severe anxiety was more prevalent in females. Results showed a 1.7% risk of CAD (p-value < 0.001) over 10 years with one unit increase in anxiety score. Based on the 4-factor model structure, we found that only panic disorder could significantly increase the risk of CAD by 1.1% over the 10-year follow-up (p-value < 0.001).ConclusionAnxiety symptoms, particularly panic disorder, are independently and significantly associated with an increased overall risk of developing CAD over a 10-year period. Therefore, further studies are warranted to investigate the mechanisms through which anxiety may cause CAD, as well as possible interventions to mitigate these processes.

Association of major and minor ECG abnormalities with traditional cardiovascular risk factors in the general population: a large scale study

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) can be determined and quantified using the electrocardiogram (ECG) analysis. Identification of the risk factors associated with ECG abnormalities may advise prevention approaches to decrease CVD burden. In this study we aimed to investigate the association between CVD risk factors and minor and major ECG abnormalities in a general Iranian adult population. This study was conducted in 2010 and covered a population of 9035 males and females aged 35 to 65 years recruiting from the phase I of Mashhad Stroke and Heart Atherosclerotic Disorder (MASHAD) cohort study. The participants were drawn by a stratified cluster random sampling technique. The Bivariate and multinomial logistic regression analysis were conducted considering gender stratification to explore the association of ECG abnormalities with traditional cardiovascular risk factors. There was a significant association between minor and major ECG abnormalities and hypertension (HTN), type 2 diabetes (T2DM), smoking, and physical activity (p < 0.005). There was a significant trend, in both genders, for increasing major abnormalities as the number of CVD risk factors increased. But, only in women, the minor abnormalities increase in frequency as the number of CVD risk factors increased. The results of multinomial logistic regression showed that men with HTN [ARRR = 1.25, 95% CI 0.99, 1.57] and T2DM [ARRR = 1.31, 95% CI 0.99, 1.74] had the highest likelihood to have major abnormalities, although these are not statistically significant. For women, those with HTN had the highest likelihood to have major [ARRR = 1.36, 95% CI 1.13, 1.63] and minor [ARRR = 1.35, 95% CI 1.15, 1.58] abnormalities. Also, women aged > 60 years were more likely to have major [ARRR = 2.01, 95% CI 1.49, 2.74] and minor [ARRR = 1.59, 95% CI 1.20, 2.10] abnormalities compared to women aged < 45 years. Age and HTN were significantly associated with major and minor ECG abnormalities in women, and, on the other hand, HTN and T2DM were associated with major abnormalities in men. Taken together, these findings suggest that healthcare providers should advise preventive approaches to the asymptomatic adults with both major and minor electrocardiographic abnormalities that may predict cardiovascular risk.

Association of Three Novel Inflammatory Markers: Lymphocyte to HDL-C Ratio, High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein to HDL-C Ratio and High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein to Lymphocyte Ratio With Metabolic Syndrome.

We aimed to compare the association of three novel inflammatory indicators with metabolic syndrome (MetS) among Mashhad stroke and heart atherosclerotic disorder (MASHAD) cohort participants. According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria, the cohort participants were divided into the MetS(+) and MetS(-) groups. The lymphocyte to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio (LHR), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) to HDL-C ratio (HCHR) and hs-CRP to lymphocyte ratio (HCLR) were calculated and were compared between the groups. Binary logistic regression (LR) analysis was performed to find the association of the indices with the presence of MetS among men and women. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to establish cut-off values in predicting MetS for men and women. p-Values <0.05 were considered as statistically significant. Among a total of 8890 participants (5500 MetS(-) and 3390 MetS(+)), LHR, HCHR and HCLR were significantly higher in the MetS(+) group than in MetS(-) group (p < 0.001). In LR analysis, after adjusting for multiple cofounders, LHR remained an independent factor for the presence of MetS among men (OR: 1.254; 95% CI: 1.202-1.308; p < 0.001) and women (OR: 1.393; 95% CI: 1.340-1.448; p < 0.001). HCHR also remained an independent factor for the presence of MetS only in women (OR: 1.058; 95% CI: 1.043-1.073; p < 0.001). ROC curve analysis showed that LHR had the higher AUC for predicting MetS in both men (AUC: 0.627; 95% CI: 0.611-0.643; p < 0.001) and women (AUC: 0.683; 95% CI: 0.670, 0.696; p < 0.001). This suggests that among both genders, the LHR as an inexpensive and easy-to-access marker has a better diagnostic performance and could be a promising alternative to the traditional expensive inflammatory markers such as hs-CRP for the evaluation of inflammation in patients with MetS.

The associations of oxidative stress and inflammatory markers with obesity in Iranian population: MASHAD cohort study

BackgroundLow-grade inflammation and stress oxidative condition play a role in the pathogenesis of obesity, and the serum levels of these markers, such as pro-oxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and uric acid may indicate obesity progression. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between obesity with PAB, hs-CRP, and uric acid in the Iranian population.MethodsThis study was derived from the Mashhad Stroke and Heart Atherosclerotic Disorder (MASHAD) study. A total of 7985 subjects aged 35 to 65 years were divided into three groups according to body mass index (BMI) as: normal, overweight and obese groups. Anthropometric indices and biochemical parameters such as PAB, superoxide dismutase type 1 (SOD1), hs-CRP, and uric acid were measured in all the participants. We evaluated the association of obesity with inflammatory factors by using multivariate regression analysis. Also, those participants with hypertension, an endocrine disorder, history of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus were excluded from the study.ResultsThere was a positive significant correlation between BMI and serum PAB, hs-CRP and uric acid (p < 0.001). While no statistically significant relation was observed between BMI and SOD1 (p = 0.85). Multivariate regression analysis showed that the risk of overweight and obesity increased 1.02 and 1.03-fold according to increase 10 units of PAB raise in comparison to reference group (normal weight) [(odds ratio (OR): 1.02, 95% CI (1.01–1.03)] and [OR: 1.03, 95% CI (1.01–1.04)], respectively). In addition, hs-CRP serum concentration was significantly associated with a high risk of obesity [(OR: 1.02; 95% CI (1.01–1.03)]. While the high levels of serum uric acid were associated with increased odds of overweight and obesity risk [OR: 1.4; CI (1.39–1.58) and OR: 1.76; CI (1.63–1.89), respectively].ConclusionsGenerally, we showed a significant association between BMI and serum PAB, hs-CRP values and uric acid levels, suggesting the role of these factors as risk stratification factors for obesity.

Predicting the 10-year incidence of dyslipidemia based on novel anthropometric indices, using data mining

BackgroundThe aim was to establish a 10-year dyslipidemia incidence model, investigating novel anthropometric indices using exploratory regression and data mining.MethodsThis data mining study was conducted on people who were diagnosed with dyslipidemia in phase 2 (n = 1097) of the Mashhad Stroke and Heart Atherosclerotic Disorder (MASHAD) study, who were compared with healthy people in this phase (n = 679). The association of dyslipidemia with several novel anthropometric indices including Conicity Index (C-Index), Body Roundness Index (BRI), Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI), Lipid Accumulation Product (LAP), Abdominal Volume Index (AVI), Weight-Adjusted-Waist Index (WWI), A Body Shape Index (ABSI), Body Mass Index (BMI), Body Adiposity Index (BAI) and Body Surface Area (BSA) was evaluated. Logistic Regression (LR) and Decision Tree (DT) analysis were utilized to evaluate the association. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of DT were assessed through the performance of a Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve using R software.ResultsA total of 1776 subjects without dyslipidemia during phase 1 were followed up in phase 2 and enrolled into the current study. The AUC of models A and B were 0.69 and 0.63 among subjects with dyslipidemia, respectively. VAI has been identified as a significant predictor of dyslipidemias (OR: 2.81, (95% CI: 2.07, 3.81)) in all models. Moreover, the DT showed that VAI followed by BMI and LAP were the most critical variables in predicting dyslipidemia incidence.ConclusionsBased on the results, model A had an acceptable performance for predicting 10 years of dyslipidemia incidence. Furthermore, the VAI, BMI, and LAP were the principal anthropometric factors for predicting dyslipidemia incidence by LR and DT models.

Tuberculosis survivors and the risk of cardiovascular disease: analysis using a nationwide survey in Korea.

Although the association between tuberculosis (TB) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been reported in several studies and is explained by mechanisms related to chronic inflammation, few studies have comprehensively evaluated the association between TB and CVD in Korea. Using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey, we classified individuals according to the presence or absence of previous pulmonary TB was defined as the formal reading of a chest radiograph or a previous diagnosis of pulmonary TB by a physician. Using multivariable logistic regression analyses, we evaluated the association between the 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disorder (ASCVD) risk and TB exposure, as well as the 10-year ASCVD risk according to epidemiological characteristics. Among the 69,331 participants, 4% (n = 3,101) had post-TB survivor group. Comparing the 10-year ASCVD risk between the post-TB survivor and control groups, the post-TB survivor group had an increased 10-year ASCVD risk in the high-risk group (40.46% vs. 24.00%, P < 0.001). Compared to the control group, the intermediate- and high-risk groups had also significantly increased 10-year ASCVD risks (odds ratio [OR] 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.23 and OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.59-1.78, respectively) in the post-TB survivor group. In the association of CVD among post-TB survivors according to epidemiologic characteristics, age [adjusted OR (aOR) 1.10, 95% CI 1.07-1.12], current smoking (aOR 2.63, 95% CI 1.34-5.14), a high family income (aOR 2.48, 95% CI 1.33-4.62), diabetes mellitus (aOR 1.97, 95% CI 1.23-3.14), and depression (aOR 2.06, 95% CI 1.03-4.10) were associated with CVD in the post-TB survivor group. Our study findings suggest a higher 10-year ASCVD risk among TB survivors than healthy participants. This warrants long-term cardiovascular monitoring and management of the post-TB population.

The relationship between anthropometric indices and the presence of hypertension in an Iranian population sample using data mining algorithms.

Hypertension (HTN) is a common chronic condition associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Anthropometric indices of adiposity are known to be associated with a risk of HTN. The aim of this study was to identify the anthropometric indices that best associate with HTN in an Iranian population. 9704 individuals aged 35-65 years were recruited as part of the Mashhad Stroke and Heart Atherosclerotic Disorder (MASHAD) study. Demographic and anthropometric data of all participants were recorded. HTN was defined as a systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥ 140 mmHg, and/ or a diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥ 90 mmHg on two subsequent measurements, or being treated with oral drug therapy for BP. Data mining methods including Logistic Regression (LR), Decision Tree (DT), and Bootstrap Forest (BF) were applied. Of 9704 participants, 3070 had HTN, and 6634 were normotensive. LR showed that body roundness index (BRI), body mass index (BMI) and visceral adiposity index (VAI) were significantly associated with HTN in both genders (P < 0.0001). BRI showed the greatest association with HTN (OR = 1.276, 95%CI = (1.224, 1.330)). For BMI we had OR = 1.063, 95%CI = (1.047, 1.080), for VAI we had OR = 1.029, 95%CI = (1.020, 1.038). An age < 47 years and BRI < 4.04 was associated with a 90% probability of being normotensive. The BF indicated that age, sex and BRI had the most important role in HTN. In summary, among anthropometric indices the most powerful indicator for discriminating hypertensive from normotensive patients was BRI.

Non-HDL cholesterol and long-term follow-up outcomes in patients with metabolic syndrome

BackgroundNon-high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (non-HDL-C) has been identified as a potential biomarker for metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, its predictive capability for MetS varies among different ethnic groups, necessitating further investigation. This study aimed to assess the role of non-HDL-C in the early diagnosis of MetS in the Iranian population through a longitudinal study with a 10-year follow-up period.MethodsOur study enrolled 4684 individuals from the MASHAD (Mashhad Stroke and Heart Atherosclerotic Disorder) cohort who were followed for 10 years to examine the association between non-HDL-C and the incidence of MetS. Additionally, the contribution of individual MetS components to the overall burden was evaluated.ResultsA total of 1599 subjects developed MetS, while 3085 did not. Non-HDL-C levels ≥ 130 were associated with a 42% higher risk of developing MetS (relative risk (RR), 1.42; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.25–1.62). Regarding MetS components, elevated waist circumference (WC) showed the strongest association with MetS incidence (RR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.45–2.9), whereas triglyceride (TG) levels ≥ 150 mg/dL demonstrated the weakest association (RR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.04–1.46). Additionally, higher HDL-C levels were reported to be 20% protective against the risk of MetS (RR, 0.8; 95% CI, 0.73–0.86). Moreover, fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels ≥ 100 mg/dL were not significantly linked to MetS burden, while systolic blood pressure (BP) levels ≥ 130 mmHg or diastolic BP levels ≥ 85 mmHg increased the risk of MetS incidence (RR, 1.25; 95% CI: 1.11–1.41).ConclusionsElevated non-HDL-C and increased WC serve as significant predictors of MetS in Iranians. Strategies targeting non-HDL-C levels and weight loss should be emphasized to mitigate the risk of MetS development.

A large population-based study on the prevalence of electrocardiographic abnormalities: A result of Mashhad stroke and heart atherosclerotic disorder cohort study.

Twelve-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) is a common and inexpensive tool for the diagnostic workup of patients with suspected cardiovascular disease, both in clinical and epidemiological settings. The present study was designed to evaluate ECG abnormalities in Mashhad population. ECGs were taken as part of MASHAD cohort study (phase1) and were coded according to the Minnesota coding criteria. Data were analyzed using SPSS. Total 9035 ECGs were available for final analysis including 3615 (40.0%) male and 5420 (60.0%) female. Among ECG abnormalities precordial Q wave, major T-wave abnormalities, inferior Q wave, sinus bradycardia, and left axis deviation were the most prevalent abnormalities. The frequency of precordial and inferior Q wave, inferior QS pattern, major and minor ST abnormalities, major and minor T abnormalities, Wolff-Parkinson-White and Brugada pattern, sinus bradycardia, sinus tachycardia, left axis deviation, ST elevation, and tall T wave were significantly different between two genders. Moreover, the frequency of Q wave in precordial and aVL leads, QS pattern in precordial and inferior leads, major and minor T-wave abnormalities, Wolff-Parkinson-White, atrial fibrillation, sinus bradycardia, left axis deviation, and ST elevation were significantly different in different age groups. A comparison of the heart rate, P-wave duration, and QRS duration between men and women indicated that there was a significant difference. Our finding indicated that the prevalence ECG abnormalities are different between men and women and also it varied in different age groups.

Possible Ameliorative and Preventive Effect of Leaf Extract of Andrographis paniculata on Atherosclerosis: An Experience with Isoproterenol Induced Wistar Rats

Atherosclerosis has been regarded as one of the leading causes of death in modern-day man worldwide. The use of medicinal plants especially Andrographis paniculata in the treatment of chronic diseases, particularly atherosclerotic disorder is becoming popular. This study aimed to evaluate the possible ameliorative and preventive effect of leaf extract of Andrographis paniculata on atherosclerosis in isoproterenol-induced Wistar rats. Thirty animals were randomly divided into five groups (A-E) of six animals per group, per cage. Groups A, B and C served as the treatment groups and were orally pre-treated with 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight extract of A. paniculata for fourteen days, group D served as the positive control group and was administered 10 mg atorvastatin while group E served as the negative control and was administered distilled water. On the fifteenth and sixteenth day, 150 mg/kg isoproterenol was administered intraperitoneal at 24 h intervals to all the animals and were subsequently sacrificed. The sera obtained were used for a bioassay study. Analysis of serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) were carried out using standard methods. The result obtained revealed a significant decrease (p&gt;0.05) in the serum total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL in the extract treated groups in a dose dependent manner when compared with the untreated control while there was a significant increase in the serum HDL level of extract treated group compared to the untreated control; thereby supporting the protective effect of A. paniculata against atherosclerotic disorder.

Skeletal muscle microcirculatory and mitochondrial function in patients with claudication and critical limb ischemia

Introduction: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is an atherosclerotic progressive disorder that impairs blood flow to the lower extremities. Early-stage patients often present with intermittent claudication (leg pain during walking, CLD), but as the disease progresses, patients can experience pain at rest and tissue death (critical limb ischemia, CLI). We recently reported that skeletal muscle microvascular endothelial dysfunction presented in claudicating patients with PAD. However, it is unknown if this microvascular dysfunction continues to progress with disease severity. Objective: To compare a direct investigation of the skeletal muscle microcirculation and the mitochondrial respiratory environment in patients with claudication and patients with CLI. Hypothesis: We hypothesize that (1) CLI will have greater attenuation in microcirculatory endothelial-dependent and endothelial-independent vasodilatory function (smooth muscle function) than CLD and (2) impairments in skeletal muscle microcirculatory vasodilatory function will contribute to attenuated mitochondrial respiratory function in CLD and CLI. Methods: Medial gastrocnemius muscles were harvested from PAD patients with CLD ( n = 5), CLI ( n = 6), and age-matched controls ( n = 6) by both muscle biopsies and open incisions. Arterioles were isolated to assess endothelium-dependent and independent vasodilatory responses to flow (30 mL·min -1 ), acetylcholine (ACh), and sodium nitroprusside (SNP). Skeletal muscle mitochondrial respiratory function was determined by high-resolution respirometry. Results: Endothelium-dependent vasodilation was attenuated ( P &lt; 0.05) in response to flow (CON: 53.6 ± 23%, PAD: 26.7 ± 10.4%, CLI: 20.1 ± 14.5%) and ACh (10 -3 M, CON: 64 ± 6.9%, PAD: 39.1 ± 6.7%, CLI: 20.1 ± 14.5%) in both PAD and CLI compared to CON. However, endothelium-independent vasodilation with SNP was not different in any condition ( P &gt; 0.05). Complex I+II state 3 mitochondrial respiration was blunted in both CLD and CLI compared to CON ( P &lt; 0.05). However, state 4 respiration in CON was greater than CLI ( P &lt; 0.05) but lower than CLD. Additionally, complex I+II state 3 respiration was positively associated with both flow ( r = 0.5, P = 0.01) and ACh mediated vasodilation ( r = 0.6, P = 0.009). No differences were found between CLD and CLI conditions. Conclusions: This was the first the first study to directly examine and compare skeletal muscle microvascular function in PAD patients with CLD and CLI. Our initial data indicate that functional characteristics of the skeletal muscle microvasculature and mitochondria are altered in PAD and deteriorate with disease progression. There is a correlation between alterations in the endothelium-dependent microvessel function and the dysfunction of mitochondria in the ischemic muscle raising the possibility that the microvascular dysfunction in PAD is produced by defects in the mitochondria of the microvascular endothelium. National Institutes of Health (R01 AG034995, R01 AG049868) NIH National Institute of General Medical Sciences, which funds the Great Plains IdeA-CTR Network (U54 GM115458) This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2023 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Association between the rs2241883 polymorphism of the fatty acid-binding protein-1 (FABP1) gene and obesity in a population of MASHAD study cohort.

The fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs) gene polymorphisms are related to several metabolic properties. We investigated the association of SNPs rs2241883 of FABP 1 gene with obesity to evaluate the role of FABP1 gene in the pathogenesis of obesity in the population of MASHAD study cohort. In this cross-sectional study, 2731 individuals (1883 Obese and 848 nonobese) aged 35 to 65 years old, were enrolled from the Mashhad Stroke and Heart Atherosclerotic Disorder (MASHAD) study cohort. DNA Quantitation was determined using the NanoDrop®-1000 instrument (NanoDrop-Technologies). The rs2241883 polymorphisms were genotyped by double ARMs PCR (double amplification refractory mutation system) reactions. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS 22 and a p < 0.05 was set for statistical significance. The results showed that after adjusting for confounding factors, subjects having the CC genotype for rs2241883 polymorphism were at a higher risk of BMI ≥ 30 mg/kg2 with OR of 1.79 (CI=1.05-3.07; p=0.03) and 1.76 (CI=1.04-2.99; p=0.04) comparing with reference group using codominant and dominant models, respectively. The results showed that CC genotype for rs2241883 polymorphism is related to an increased risk of the obesity in dominant and codominant models in a population of MASHAD study cohort.

Prediction of type 2 diabetes mellitus using hematological factors based on machine learning approaches: a cohort study analysis

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a significant public health problem globally. The diagnosis and management of diabetes are critical to reduce the diabetes complications including cardiovascular disease and cancer. This study was designed to assess the potential association between T2DM and routinely measured hematological parameters. This study was a subsample of 9000 adults aged 35–65 years recruited as part of Mashhad stroke and heart atherosclerotic disorder (MASHAD) cohort study. Machine learning techniques including logistic regression (LR), decision tree (DT) and bootstrap forest (BF) algorithms were applied to analyze data. All data analyses were performed using SPSS version 22 and SAS JMP Pro version 13 at a significant level of 0.05. Based on the performance indices, the BF model gave high accuracy, precision, specificity, and AUC. Previous studies suggested the positive relationship of triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index with T2DM, so we considered the association of TyG index with hematological factors. We found this association was aligned with their results regarding T2DM, except MCHC. The most effective factors in the BF model were age and WBC (white blood cell). The BF model represented a better performance to predict T2DM. Our model provides valuable information to predict T2DM like age and WBC.

Relation between fragmented QRS complex and severity of coronary artery disease evaluated by SYNTAX score

Background: CAD is a CVD that is the main reason for mortality worldwide. CAD is an inflammatory atherosclerotic disorder characterised by stable or unstable angina, sudden cardiac death or MI. Objective: Measuring the relationship between fQRS complex and CAD severity in CA cases. Patients and Methods: This research was conducted on 120 cases that performed coronary catheterization and with developed CAD. All cases underwent clinical examination, and 12-lead ECG. CA was performed using Philips machine under local anesthesia using seldinger technique. Results: Our findings revealed highly significant correlation between prevalence of fQRS and SYNTAX score. There was statistically significant increased Syntax score in patients Inf. Notched R when compared Syntax score of patients without spikes in Inf. Notched R, statistically significant increased Syntax score in cases with non-Inf. Notched R when compared Syntax score of patients without non-Inf. Notched R statistically significant increased Syntax score in patients with Inf. Notched S compared with patients without Inf. Notched S. There was highly significant difference between prevalence of fQRS on admission and after PCI. Conclusion: fQRS complex is a simply assessed, noninvasive ECG parameter that predict the occurrence of significant CAD and validation of fQRS as Surveillance tool for CAD.

Improving Data-Driven Methods to Identify and Categorize Transgender Individuals by Gender in Insurance Claims Data.

Purpose: Prior algorithms enabled the identification and gender categorization of transgender people in insurance claims databases in which sex and gender are not simultaneously captured. However, these methods have been unable to categorize the gender of a large proportion of their samples. We improve upon these methods to identify the gender of a larger proportion of transgender people in insurance claims data. Methods: Using 2001-2019 Optum's Clinformatics® Data Mart insurance claims data, we adapted prior algorithms by combining diagnosis, procedure, and pharmacy claims to (1) identify a transgender sample; and (2) stratify the sample by gender category (trans feminine and nonbinary [TFN], trans masculine and nonbinary [TMN], unclassified). We used logistic regression to estimate the burden of 13 chronic health conditions, controlling for gender category, age, race/ethnicity, enrollment length, and census region. Results: We identified 38,598 unique transgender people, comprising 50% [n = 19,252] TMN, 26% (n = 10,040) TFN, and 24% (n = 9306) unclassified individuals. In adjusted models, relative to TMN people, TFN people had significantly higher odds of most chronic health conditions, including HIV, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disorder, myocardial infarction, alcohol use disorder, and drug use disorder. Notably, TMN individuals had significantly higher odds of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression than TFN individuals. Conclusion: By combining complex administrative claims-based algorithms, we identified the largest U.S.-based sample of transgender individuals and inferred the gender of >75% of the sample. Adjusted models extend prior research documenting key health disparities by gender category. These methods may enable researchers to explore rare and sex-specific conditions in hard-to-reach transgender populations.