Biochemical Markers Of Atherosclerosis Research Articles

Plasma Concentrations of New Biochemical Markers of Atherosclerosis in Patients with Dyslipidemia-A Pilot Study.

Background and Objectives: The process of atherosclerotic plaque formation and its destabilisation is a process in which many proteins and cytokines are involved. Examples of such proteins are osteopontin (OPN), osteoprotegerin (OPG), metalloproteinases (MMPs) and myeloperoxidase (MPO). The aim of our study is to compare the concentrations of the above-mentioned markers in the plasma of patients with the confirmed presence of rupture plaque in comparison with the plasma of healthy people. Materials and Methods: The study included people suffering from dyslipidemia in whom the presence of unstable atherosclerotic plaque was confirmed by ultrasound. The concentrations of OPN, OPG, MPO, metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2), and metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) in the plasma of these people were determined and compared with the concentrations of these proteins in the plasma of healthy people. Results: Levels of MMP-2, MMP-9 (p < 0.001), OPN, and OPG (p < 0.05) were statistically significantly lower in the group of healthy people than in the study group. Differences in MPO concentration were not statistically significant (p = 0.073). Conclusions: In the plasma of people with confirmed presence of rupture plaque, the concentrations of OPN, OPG, and MMPs are higher compared to the group of healthy people, which may suggest the use of these proteins as novel markers of the presence of unstable atherosclerotic plaque.

Significance of the Interrelations of Cardiovascular Diseases with Anaerobic Bacteria of Subgingival Biofilm

Objective: The study of subgingival biofilm composition in patients with ischemic heart disease and concomitant periodontitis. Study design: For the study, 45 patients with moderate chronic periodontitis were examined. They were divided into three groups. Group 1 included 15 patients with acute myocardial infarction, Group 2–15 included patients with exertional angina (pectoris) and Group 3–15 included patients without cardiovascular diseases. Dental and cardiological health condition was determined, a biochemical blood test was conducted, brachial artery endothelium-dependent vasodilation was measured, and periodontopathogenic bacteria DNA in subgingival biofilm was detected. Results: Frequency of P. gingivalis, T. forsythia, and A. actinomycetemcomitans detection in Group 1 was significantly higher than in Group 3. In patients of Group 1 and Group 2 subgingival biofilm contained P. gingivalis two times more often (p = 0.027), while P. intermedia – four times less often (p = 0.006) than in Group 3. Presence of P. gingivalis and A. actinomycetemcomitans was related to periodontal destruction level. Brachial artery endothelium-dependent vasodilation moderately correlated with patient’s cardiological condition (r = 0.3284), biochemical markers of atherosclerosis (r = 0.6465), and frequency of P. intermedia detection in periodontal pockets (r = 0.3828). Values of brachial artery endothelium-dependent vasodilation in Group 1 and Group 2 were statistically significantly lower than in Group 3 (p < 0.05). Conclusions: A reliable relationship between parodontopathogenic bacteria colonization and development of acute myocardial infarction was established. In all patients with chronic periodontitis, endothelial dysfunction was observed, but brachial artery endothelium-dependent vasodilation was significantly lower in patients with concomitant cardiovascular diseases, which could be used for pathology prognosis

Circulating level of pigment epithelium-derived factor is associated with vascular function and structure: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundPigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is a glycoprotein that belongs to the superfamily of serine protease inhibitors. It is thought that PEDF plays a protective role against atherosclerosis. Clinical studies have shown that serum levels of PEDF are increased in subjects with cardiovascular risk factors. The role of PEDF in cardiovascular disease is still controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the associations between serum levels of PEDF and vascular function and structure. MethodsWe measured serum levels of PEDF, assessed vascular function by measurements of flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) and nitroglycerine-induced vasodilation in the brachial artery, and measured brachial artery intima-media thickness (IMT) in 150 subjects who underwent health examinations. Results and conclusionsUnivariate regression analysis revealed that serum level of PEDF was significantly correlated with body mass index, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, glucose, FMD, nitroglycerine-induced vasodilation, and brachial artery IMT. Multivariate analysis revealed that serum levels of PEDF remained an independent predictor of nitroglycerine-induced vasodilation (β=−0.20, P=0.02) and brachial artery IMT (β=0.14, P=0.03) after adjustment of cardiovascular risk factors, while serum level of PEDF was not associated with FMD (β=−0.02, P=0.79). These findings suggest that PEDF may be a factor directly associated with atherosclerosis. The serum level of PEDF may be a new biochemical marker of atherosclerosis.

Evaluation of Cardiovascular Changes in Children with BAVs.

The objectives of this study were to investigate left ventricular (LV) function, aortic dilation, and atherosclerosis in children with mildly deteriorated isolated bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) function using echocardiographic studies and biochemical markers of atherosclerosis and to correlate results with normal children. Biochemical analyses indicating cardiovascular risk of atherosclerosis and vascular changes in the aorta in relation to BAV were performed in 41 children aged 5-15 years old with isolated BAV and in 25 children with tricuspid aortic valves. Evaluations of aortic valve structures and functions; examinations of the LV M-mode and ascending aorta Doppler; and measurements of the LV Tei index (MPI), propagation velocity, ascending aorta at four levels, and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) were performed. There were no statistically significant differences in CIMTs, plasma matrix metalloproteinase-9, tissue metalloproteinase inhibitor-1 levels, or other biochemical parameters indicating cardiovascular risk or atherosclerosis between study and control groups. Deterioration of LV function, which could not be seen with M-mode echocardiography, was evident by MPI. MPI values in the study versus control groups were 0.46 ± 0.080 versus 0.40 ± 0.086 (p < 0.05). Diameters of the aorta in the study and control groups were 19.7 ± 4.7 and 17.2 ± 2.8 mm (p < 0.05) at the sinotubular junction level and 20.6 (14.4-40.5) and 18.3 (12.4-24) mm at the ascending aorta level (p < 0.05). Increased aortic valve insufficiency was related to increased aortic diameter. No sign of atherosclerosis was detected in children with BAV. Deterioration of LV function was seen using MPI, and aortic dilation was related to the severity of aortic valve insufficiency.

Tek-Tablet Amlodipin ve Valsartan Kombinasyon Tedavisinin Aterosklerozun Biyokimyasal Belirteçleri Üzerine Etkisinin Matematiksel Modelleme ile Belirlenmesi

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to construct a model that could predict the overall effect of concomitant administration of amlodipine and valsartan on biochemical markers of atherosclerosis. Material and Methods: The medical literature was systematically reviewed by searching the PubMed, Embase and Biosis databases using the terms hypertension and ''amlodipine or valsartan'' and ''atherosclerosis or insulin resistance or insulin sensitivity or inflammation''. In total, 39 publications, in which atherosclerotic risk parameters before and after treatment were reported, were identified and included in this analysis. The percentage difference between pre- and post-treatment values was calculated by weighting the values by the number of patients. The additive effect of amlodipine and valsartan was also calculated using a formula postulated on the basis of a previous study. Results: According to the criteria given above, data from 1765 patients from 39 studies were analyzed. The median duration of treatment was 16 weeks (range, 4'156 weeks). Amlodipine and valsartan treatment produced a decrease in HOMA, hsCRP, TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels, and an increase in adiponectin and triglyceride levels. Concomitant use of amlodipine and valsartan is estimated to decrease HOMA, hsCRP, TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels while increasing adiponectin, triglyceride, HDL-C and BMI levels. Conclusion: In conclusion, both amlodipine and valsartan have positive effects on atherosclerotic risk parameters, and the combination of amlodipine/valsartan is predicted to be more effective than either drug administered individually for reduction of atherosclerosis risk, using mathematical modeling. This study provides preliminary results based on mathematical modeling, which need to be confirmed with prospective and controlled clinical studies.

Epicardial fat thickness correlates with ApoB/ApoA1 ratio, coronary calcium and carotid intima media thickness in asymptomatic subjects

Different methods are used to stratify and predict the cardiovascular risk, as nicely highlighted in a review paper previously published in the International Journal of Cardiology[1]. Epicardial fat is an emerging cardio-metabolic risk factor and its thickness can be easily and accurately measured with echocardiography, as recently reported in the International Journal of Cardiology[2–4]. However, whether it may correlate with established imaging and biochemical markers of atherosclerosis and therefore serve as simple predictor of cardiovascular risk in asymptomatic subjects has not been explored yet.

Arterial stiffness, carotid artery intima-media thickness and plasma myeloperoxidase level in children with type 1 diabetes

Objective The present study investigated the functional–structural changes of the arteries along with a new biochemical marker of atherosclerosis, plasma myeloperoxidase level, in children with type 1 diabetes (T1DM). Methods We studied 30 children with T1DM, aged 4.7–18.6 years (mean T1DM duration 5.4 ± 3.4 years, mean HbA 1c 9.8%) and 30 healthy subjects, matched by sex, age and body mass index. Fasting blood samples were obtained for myeloperoxidase (MPO). Ultrasonography and pulse wave analysis were used to measure carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), augmentation index corrected to a heart rate of 75 (AIx@75) and pulse wave velocity (PWV). Results Children with diabetes had significantly higher plasma MPO levels ( p = 0.006), increased AIx@75 ( p = 0.02), IMT ( p = 0.005) and IMT standard deviation scores (IMT SDS) ( p = 0.02), compared to the control group. IMT SDS correlated positively with HbA 1c ( r = 0.39, p = 0.05). PWV, adjusted for age and mean arterial blood pressure, correlated with diabetes duration ( r = 0.49, p = 0.02). Conclusions Children with T1DM have substantially elevated plasma levels of myeloperoxidase as well as atherosclerosis-related structural and functional changes of the arterial wall.

Nontraditional approaches to biomedical screening: Multifactorial diseases. Communication I

The concept of nontraditional biomedical screening of chemical compounds as potential drugs for various diseases is presented. This concept, based on ideas developed by L.A. Piruzyan, envisages (i) the maximum possible similarity of the testing conditions to the conditions in the human body affected by pathology and (ii) novel approaches to screening: (1) tests using molecular targets or biological test objects (BTOs) obtained from patients; (2) obtaining of BTOs from patients with (a) the disease stage and (b) the patient’s ethnicity being taken into account in order to determine the characteristic features of the pathological process at different stages of disease and in different populations; (3) mapping of patients with a given disease with respect to the corresponding markers; (4) selection of substances that normalize the values of the markers to control levels; and (5) clinical trials of these substances. Published data on the properties, dynamics, and pathogenetic significance of biochemical markers of atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, and progeria are systematized. Theoretical grounds are presented for the possibility of nontraditional biomedical screening of potential agents for “molecular/biochemical treatment” for these diseases.

Plasma annexin A5 level relates inversely to the severity of coronary stenosis

Exogenous radiolabeled annexin A5 is taken up by atherosclerotic tissue. We measured endogenous plasma annexin A5 and circulating oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL), a biochemical marker of atherosclerosis, in men with either severe angiographically determined coronary stenosis ( n = 90) or no or only minor stenosis ( n = 96). Men without history of cardiac disease or treatment and free of plaques in the carotid artery (by ultrasonography) were taken as controls ( n = 87). Opposite to oxLDL, annexin A5 decreased at increasing severity of stenosis. OxLDL was lowest and annexin A5 was highest in controls. Percentage differences between groups were higher for annexin A5 than for oxLDL, and highest for oxLDL/annexin A5 ratio. The oxLDL/annexin A5 ratio is a better marker of the severity of coronary stenosis than oxLDL alone, may reflect the presence and extent of the atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and might prove useful for preclinical screening purposes.

Plasma Osteoprotegerin Level, a New Biochemical Marker of Atherosclerosis, is Associated with Diabetes Mellitus and Age in Coronary Artery Disease

Background and Objectives：There have been reports of an association between osteoprotegerin (OPG) and cardiovascular disease. Therefore, the aims of this study were to evaluate the association between the plasma OPG level and the severity of atherosclerosis, as well as search for conventional cardiovascular risk factors associated with the plasma OPG level in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Subjects and Methods：Plasma OPG levels were measured in 583 consecutive patients (mean age: 62±10 yrs, M：F=398：185), using an ELISA method, with CAD confirmed from the coronary angiogram. The intima media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery was also measured in 252 patients. Results：The plasma OPG level was correlated with the IMT (r=0.184, p= 0.003), with the median level found to be elevated in accordance with the severity of CAD (2704 in 1VD vs. 2914 in 2VD vs. 3046 pg/mL in 3VD, p=0.024). Median plasma OPG levels were significantly higher in female (3024 vs. 2828 pg/mL, p=0.003) and DM patients (3098 vs. 2711 pg/mL, p<0.001), and positively correlated with age (r=0.340, p<0.001) and the HbA1C level (r=0.102, p=0.035), but showed an inverse correlation with BMI (r=-0.199, p<0.001). No correlation was found between high sensitive C reactive protein (hs-CRP) and the plasma OPG level, and no relation was found between CRP and the severity of CAD or the IMT. From a multivariate logistic regression analysis, increasing age (odds ratio, 1.053 [95% confidence interval, 1.034-1.073]), DM (odds ratio 1.664 [95% confidence interval, 1.149-2.410]) and a BMI less than 25 kg/mm 2 (odds ratio, 1.625 [95% confidence interval, 1.142-2.314]) were associated with the supramedian OPG level (2831 pg/mL). Conclusion：The plasma OPG level might be a biochemical marker of atherosclerosis, and is associated with cardiovascular risk factors, especially DM and age. (Korean Circulation J 2006;36:543-548)

Paraoxonase activity in human pericardial fluid: its relationship to coronary artery disease.

Pericardial fluid paraoxonase activity was compared with 3 biochemical markers of atherosclerosis (HDL, LDL/HDL ratio and Apolipoprotein A-I) and a significant association was found. When the paraoxonase activity in pericardial fluid samples was separated into 2 groups according to the degree of coronary atherosclerosis (slight and severe), most of the cases showing low levels of paraoxonase activity also showed severe coronary atherosclerosis. In addition, paraoxonase activity in pericardial fluid was found to be statistically correlated with HDL levels, which agrees with the results reported in serum.