Cardiovascular Disease Biomarkers Research Articles

Anti-Obesity Effect of Combining White Kidney Bean Extract, Propolis Ethanolic Extract and CrPi3 on Sprague-Dawley Rats Fed a High-Fat Diet.

Obesity has been associated with the occurrence and prevalence of various chronic metabolic diseases. The management of obesity has evolved to focus not only on reducing weight, but also on preventing obesity-related complications. Studies have shown that bioactive components in natural products like white kidney bean extract (WKBE), propolis ethanolic extract (PEE), and chromium picolinate (CrPi3) showed anti-obesity properties. However, no studies have examined the outcomes of combining any of these nutraceutical supplements. We compared the effects of HFD supplemented with WKBE, WKBE+PEE, or WKBE+PEE+CrPi3 against control and obese groups using Sprague-Dawley rats fed a 45% high-fat diet as an in vivo model. Nutritional parameters, biochemical parameters, and biomarkers of cardiovascular disease, liver function, kidney function, and gut health were among the comparable effects. Our findings showed that combining the three nutraceutical supplements had a synergetic effect on reducing weight gain, food utilization rate, abdominal fat, serum lipids, arterial and hepatic lipids, risk of cardiovascular disease, and blood glucose level, in addition to improving renal function and gut microbiota. We attributed these effects to the α-amylase inhibitor action of WKBE, flavonoids, and polyphenol content of PEE, which were potentiated with CrPi3 resulting in a further reduction or normalization of certain parameters.

Role of miRNA in Cardiovascular Diseases in Children-Systematic Review.

The number of children suffering from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is rising globally. Therefore, there is an urgent need to acquire a better understanding of the genetic factors and molecular mechanisms related to the pathogenesis of CVDs in order to develop new prevention and treatment strategies for the future. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) constitute a class of small non-coding RNA fragments that range from 17 to 25 nucleotides in length and play an essential role in regulating gene expression, controlling an abundance of biological aspects of cell life, such as proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, thus affecting immune response, stem cell growth, ageing and haematopoiesis. In recent years, the concept of miRNAs as diagnostic markers allowing discrimination between healthy individuals and those affected by CVDs entered the purview of academic debate. In this review, we aimed to systematise available information regarding miRNAs associated with arrhythmias, cardiomyopathies, myocarditis and congenital heart diseases in children. We focused on the targeted genes and metabolic pathways influenced by those particular miRNAs, and finally, tried to determine the future of miRNAs as novel biomarkers of CVD.

Association of PCSK-9 with the Biomarkers of Type-2 Diabetes and its Complications in the Indian Population: a Pilot Study.

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type-9 (PCSK-9) is a serine protease with profound effects on plasma LDL-C, the major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). However, plasma PCSK-9 level and its association with the biomarkers of CVDs, diabetes, and associated complications have not yet been reported in the northeastern population of India. Of the total cohort (n = 233), we analyzed healthy controls (HC; n = 50), freshly diagnosed type-2-diabetes mellitus (T2DM-FD; n = 46), T2DM treated (T2DM-T; n = 49), diabetic nephropathy (T2DM-N; n = 43), and diabetic dyslipidemia (T2DM-DL; n = 45) subjects. Plasma PCSK-9 and other biological determinants associated with T2DM, CVD, and nephrotic dysfunction were assessed. The level of plasma PCSK-9 in HC, T2DM-FD, T2DM-T, T2DM-N, and T2DM-DL groups was found to be 184.1 ± 13.83, 183.1 ± 24.4.3, 241.8 ± 75.42, 403.7 ± 85.94, and 641.3 ± 135.5 ng/mL, respectively, indicating its role in the severity of the here-mentioned complications. Moreover, plasma PCSK-9 levels further showed a significant correlation with the biomarkers of hyperglycemia, particularly HbA1c, as well as LDL-C in T2DM-FD, T2DM-N, and T2DM-DL subjects of the Indian population, while moderate association in T2DM-T subjects. Our first-of-its-kind clinical study aiming to quantify the circulatory PCSK-9 level in the Indian population concluded that elevated PCSK-9 was significantly associated with the severity of diabetes and associated complications. Moreover, such elevation in PCSK-9 might be attributed to the lipid- and glucoselowering medication-induced SREBP-2-dependent mechanisms. Since our conclusion is based on a pilot study, further cohort studies in larger populations of India are required to get a generalization regarding the role of PCSK-9 in DM and associated complications.

Role of High-sensitivity C-reactive Protein in Future Cardiovascular Events in Hemodialysis Patients.

The pathogenesis of cardio-vascular disease (CVD) in hemodialysis (HD) patients involves inflammation and oxidative stress. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is an established inflammatory biomarker associated with CVD. Several studies have suggested that the inflammatory biomarker pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) and the oxidative stress-related biomarker soluble lectin-like low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (sLOX-1) are novel biomarkers for CVD in non-HD populations. This study aimed to clarify the association of these established and novel biomarkers with future cardiovascular (CV) events in HD patients. This was a single-center prospective cohort study that included 255 HD patients. The primary outcome was the composite of nonfatal and fatal CV events. The event-free survival rate between the two groups according to the median plasma level of each biomarker at baseline was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method. The risk for CV events at elevated levels of each biomarker was estimated using Cox proportional hazard model. We observed 44 CV events during the median follow-up period of 743 days. The event-free survival rate significantly differed between the two groups in hs-CRP but not in PTX-3 or sLOX-1. The unadjusted hazard ratio (HR) for CV events in patients with hs-CRP levels above the median was 2.63 [95% confidence interval (CI)=1.37-5.02]. The HR remained significant after adjusting for age, sex, history of CVD, and diabetes (HR=2.30; 95%CI=1.20-4.43). In HD patients, hs-CRP may have a predictable role for future CV events, whereas PTX-3 and sLOX-1 do not.

Emerging Circulating Biomarkers for Enhanced Cardiovascular Risk Prediction.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to be the primary cause of mortality worldwide, underscoring the importance of identifying additional cardiovascular risk factors. The consensus is that lipid levels alone do not fully reflect the status of atherosclerosis, thus necessitating extensive research on cardiovascular biomarkers. This review encompasses a wide spectrum of methodologies for identifying novel risk factors or biomarkers for CVD. Inflammation, oxidative stress, plaque instability, cardiac remodeling, and fibrosis play pivotal roles in CVD pathogenesis. We introduce and discuss several promising biomarkers-namely, osteocalcin, angiogenin, lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2, growth differentiation factor 15, galectin-3, growth stimulation expressed gene 2, and microRNAs, all of which have potential implications in the assessment and management of cardiovascular risk.

SuPAR in cardiovascular disease.

Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR), the soluble counterpart of urokinase plasminogen activator receptor, is found in the circulation at various levels. suPAR and its parent molecule, cell surface uPAR, exhibit similar structure and extracellular functional roles facilitating fibrinolysis, cellular adhesion, and migration. Studies have assessed the correlation between suPAR in cardiovascular disease (CVD). It is postulated that suPAR may serve as an indicator of inflammatory activation and burden during CVD progression. Increased suPAR independently predicts poorer outcomes in acute coronary syndromes, in heart failure, as well as in coronary artery disease and atherosclerosis. To guide translation into clinical utization, suPAR has been assessed in numerous CVD settings for improved risk discrimination independently or in association with established traditional risk factors. Whilst the involvement of suPAR has been explored in other diseases such as kidney diseases and cancer, there is only emerging evidence of suPAR's mechanistic involvement in cardiovascular disease. In this review, we provide a background into suPAR and its potential role as a biomarker in CVD.

Fibroblast Growth Factors in Cardiovascular Disease.

Despite advancements in managing traditional cardiovascular risk factors, many cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) persist. Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) have emerged as potential diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for CVDs. FGF1, FGF2, and FGF4 are primarily used for therapeutic angiogenesis. Clinical applications are being explored based on animal studies using approaches such as recombinant protein administration and adenovirus-mediated gene delivery, targeting patients with coronary artery disease and lower extremity arterial disease. Although promising results have been observed in animal models and early-stage clinical trials, further studies are required to assess their therapeutic potential. The FGF19 subfamily, consisting of FGF19, FGF21, and FGF23, act via endocrine signaling in various organs. FGF19, primarily expressed in the small intestine, plays important roles in glucose, lipid, and bile acid metabolism and has therapeutic potential for metabolic disorders. FGF21, found in various tissues, improves glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity, suggesting potential for treating obesity and diabetes. FGF23, primarily secreted by osteocytes, regulates vitamin D and phosphate metabolism and serves as an important biomarker for chronic kidney disease and CVDs. Thus, FGFs holds promise for both therapeutic and diagnostic applications in metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Understanding the mechanisms of FGF may pave the way for novel strategies to prevent and manage CVDs, potentially addressing the limitations of current treatments. This review explores the roles of FGF1, FGF2, FGF4, and the FGF19 subfamily in maintaining cardiovascular health. Further research and clinical trials are crucial to fully understand the therapeutic potential of FGFs in managing cardiovascular health.

Identification of taurine biomarker in human biofluids using plasmonic patterns of silver nanostructure.

Taurine is now widely used as a new biomarker for cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. This study discusses the importance of accurately determining taurine biomarker levels in various tissues and fluids for the early diagnosis of important pathologies and diseases. Current methods for taurine analysis face challenges such as low sensitivity, lack of selectivity, and complex procedures. Therefore, an efficient analytical method/technique is urgently needed by clinicians. A new paper-based photochemical method using triangular silver nanoparticles (TA-AgNPs) as optical nanoprobes was developed to detect taurine in human blood plasma and urine samples. This method involves a chemical reaction between taurine and TA-AgNPs, leading to a color change at pH 4.8, which is detected using a paper-based colorimetry (PCD) assay. The reaction is further confirmed by UV-visible spectrophotometry as the interaction between taurine and TA-AgNPs causes a significant change in the absorption spectrum, enabling the rapid and reliable measurement of this important biomarker with a detection limit of less than 0.2 μM to 20 mM. The method has been successfully applied to bioanalyzing taurine in human body fluids. Additionally, it requires optimized single-drop paper/parafilm-based colorimetric devices (OD-PCDs) for in situ and on-demand taurine analysis. This study represents the first use of TA-AgNPs for the specific and sensitive detection of taurine in real samples. The sensor design allows for the direct quantification of biomarkers in biological samples without the need for derivatization procedures or sample preparation. The simplicity and portability of OD-PCDs make them promising for tracking and monitoring. This method is expected to contribute to improving environmental health and occupational safety and represents a significant advancement in colorimetric analysis for the sensitive and selective detection of taurine, potentially providing a platform for the identification of taurine and other biomarkers.

Physics-Guided Neural Networks for Intraventricular Vector Flow Mapping.

Intraventricular vector flow mapping (iVFM) seeks to enhance and quantify color Doppler in cardiac imaging. In this study, we propose novel alternatives to the traditional iVFM optimization scheme by utilizing physics-informed neural networks (PINNs) and a physics-guided nnU-Net-based supervised approach. When evaluated on simulated color Doppler images derived from a patient-specific computational fluid dynamics model and in vivo Doppler acquisitions, both approaches demonstrate comparable reconstruction performance to the original iVFM algorithm. The efficiency of PINNs is boosted through dual-stage optimization and pre-optimized weights. On the other hand, the nnU-Net method excels in generalizability and real-time capabilities. Notably, nnU-Net shows superior robustness on sparse and truncated Doppler data while maintaining independence from explicit boundary conditions. Overall, our results highlight the effectiveness of these methods in reconstructing intraventricular vector blood flow. The study also suggests potential applications of PINNs in ultrafast color Doppler imaging and the incorporation of fluid dynamics equations to derive biomarkers for cardiovascular diseases based on blood flow.

Identification of circulating microRNA-126-3p as a new biomarker for coronary artery calcification.

Several circulating microRNAs, including microRNA-126-3p, have been identified as diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of cardiovascular disease. However, whether microRNA-126-3p is an independent risk predictor for coronary artery calcification is unclear. In this prospective single-center study, we collected blood samples from coronary artery atherosclerosis patients (n = 54), patients with coronary artery calcification (n = 33) and controls (n = 56). Total RNA was extracted from plasma and blood cells with TRIzol reagents. The microRNA-126-3p level was determined via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). MicroRNA-126-3p levels were significantly increased in patients with coronary artery calcification than in coronary artery atherosclerosis patients or controls. The highest expression of microRNA-126-3p was observed in patients with moderate calcification who were diagnosed with Grade 2 calcification by coronary angiography. Age, microRNA-126-3p expression in veins, hypertension and diabetes significantly influence the occurrence of coronary artery calcification, among which diabetes and venous microRNA-126-3p expression were found to be independent risk factors for coronary artery calcification. Taken together, the data in this study suggest that circulating microRNA-126-3p may be a novel noninvasive biomarker for coronary artery calcification. Regulating microRNA-126-3p expression may be an effective and promising strategy for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, especially coronary artery calcification.

Identifying Biomarkers of Cardiovascular Diseases with Machine Learning: Evidence from The UK Household Longitudinal Study

Cardiovascular diseases are a significant global health concern, responsible for one-third of deaths worldwide and posing a substantial burden on society and national healthcare systems. To effectively address this challenge and develop targeted intervention strategies, the ability to predict cardiovascular diseases from standardized assessments, such as occupational health encounters or national surveys, is critical. This study aims to assist these efforts by identifying a set of biomarkers, which together with known risk factors, can predict cardiovascular diseases on the onset. We used a sample of 7,767 individuals from the UK household longitudinal study ‘Understanding Society’ to train several machine learning models able to pinpoint biomarkers and risk factors at baseline that predict cardiovascular diseases at a ten-year follow-up. A logistic regression model was trained for comparison. A gaussian naïve bayes classifier returned 82% recall in contrast to 48% of the logistic regression, allowing us to identify the most prominent biomarkers predicting cardiovascular diseases. These findings show the opportunity to use machine learning to identify a wide range of previously overlooked biomarkers associated with cardiovascular diseases onset and thus encourage the implementation of such a model in the early diagnosis and prevention of cardiovascular diseases in future research and practice.

Advancements in electrochemical biosensing of cardiovascular disease biomarkers.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) stand as a predominant global health concern, introducing vast socioeconomic challenges. In addressing this pressing dilemma, enhanced diagnostic modalities have become paramount, positioning electrochemical biosensing as an instrumental innovation. This comprehensive review navigates the multifaceted terrain of CVDs, elucidating their defining characteristics, clinical manifestations, therapeutic avenues, and intrinsic risk factors. Notable emphasis is placed on pivotal diagnostic tools, spotlighting cardiac biomarkers distinguished by their unmatched clinical precision in terms of relevance, sensitivity, and specificity. Highlighting the broader repercussions of CVDs, there emerges an accentuated need for refined diagnostic strategies. Such an exploration segues into a profound analysis of electrochemical biosensing, encapsulating its foundational principles, diverse classifications, and integral components, notably recognition molecules and transducers. Contemporary advancements in biosensing technologies are brought to the fore, emphasizing pioneering electrode architectures, cutting-edge signal amplification processes, and the synergistic integration of biosensors with microfluidic platforms. At the core of this discourse is the demonstrated proficiency of biosensors in detecting cardiovascular anomalies, underpinned by empirical case studies, systematic evaluations, and clinical insights. As the narrative unfolds, it addresses an array of inherent challenges, spanning intricate technicalities, real-world applicability constraints, and regulatory considerations, finally, by casting an anticipatory gaze upon the future of electrochemical biosensing, heralding a new era of diagnostic tools primed to revolutionize cardiovascular healthcare.

A multiplexed immunochemical microarray for the determination of cardiovascular disease biomarkers

A fluorescence antibody microarray has been developed for the determination of relevant cardiovascular disease biomarkers for the analysis of human plasma samples. Recording characteristic protein molecular fingerprints to assess individual’s states of health could allow diagnosis to go beyond the simple identification of the disease, providing information on its stage or prognosis. Precisely, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are complex disorders which involve different degenerative processes encompassing a collection of biomarkers related to disease progression or stage. The novel approach that we propose is a fluorescent microarray chip has been developed accomplishing simultaneous determination of the most significant cardiac biomarkers in plasma aiming to determine the CVD status stage of the patient. As proof of concept, we have chosen five relevant biomarkers, C-reactive protein (CRP) as biomarker of inflammation, cystatin C (CysC) as biomarker of renal failure that is directly related with heart failure, cardiac troponin I (cTnI) as already established biomarker for cardiac damage, heart fatty acid binding protein as biomarker of ischemia (H-FABP), and finally, NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide), a well-established heart failure biomarker. After the optimization of the multiplexed microarray, the assay allowed the simultaneous determination of 5 biomarkers in a buffer solution reaching LODs of 15 ± 5, 3 ± 1, 24 ± 3, 25 ± 3, and 3 ± 1 ng mL−1, for CRP, CysC, H-FABP, cTnI, and NT-proBNP, respectively. After solving the matrix effect, and demonstrating the accuracy for each biomarker, the chip was able to determine 24 samples per microarray chip. Then, the microarray has been used on a small pilot clinical study with 29 plasma samples from clinical patients which suffered different CVD and other related disorders. Results show the superior capability of the chip to provide clinical information related to the disease in terms of turnaround time (1 h 30 min total assay and measurement) and amount of information delivered in respect to reference technologies used in hospital laboratories (clinical analyzers). Despite the failure to detect c-TnI at the reported threshold, the microarray technology could be a powerful approach to diagnose the cardiovascular disease at early stage, monitor its progress, and eventually providing information about an eminent potential risk of suffering a myocardial infarction. The microarray chip here reported could be the starting point for achieving powerful multiplexed diagnostic technologies for the diagnosis of CVDs or any other pathology for which biomarkers have been identified at different stages of the disease.Graphical

Extracellular Vesicles in Atherosclerosis: State of the Art.

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease driven by lipid accumulation in the arteries, leading to narrowing and thrombosis that causes mortality. Emerging evidence has confirmed that atherosclerosis affects younger people and is involved in the majority of deaths worldwide. EVs are associated with critical steps in atherosclerosis, cholesterol metabolism, immune response, endothelial dysfunction, vascular inflammation, and remodeling. Endothelial cell-derived EVs can interact with platelets and monocytes, thereby influencing endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerotic plaque destabilization, and the formation of thrombus. EVs are potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in atherosclerosis (AS) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Importantly, EVs derived from stem/progenitor cells are essential mediators of cardiogenesis and cardioprotection and may be used in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.

CuS-Cu hybrid nanostructures and their applications in electrochemical sensing of homocysteine

In this study, copper sulfide nanostructures (CuS) and CuS-Cu hybrid structures were synthesized and tested for their potential in electrochemical sensing of homocysteine (HcySH). The determination of HcySH assumes high clinical relevance, as it is a biomarker of cardiovascular diseases, and an indicator of vitamin B12 deficiency. We introduce a portable and versatile sensor system by preparing an FTO-based electrode, thus enhancing the practical utility of the CuS-based sensor in diverse applications. The electrochemical sensing activity is tested in GC/CuS-Cu and FTO/CuS-Cu electrodes. The fabricated FTO/CuS-Cu stand-alone electrode system exhibited superior performances in the quantitative estimation of HcySH. The cyclic voltammetric response showed linearity of current against the concentration of HcySH in the range from 0 to 50 μM.The amperometric response of the FTO/CuS-Cu electrode against different concentrations of HcySH varies linearly in the range of 16 to 83 μM. The limit of detection (LOD) of the system for HcySH is 1.63 µM. CuS and Cu NPs form an electrically conductive layer at the surface of the electrode, and they enable active sites and provide direct electron transfer. The synergetic combination of “binding Cu NPs with HcySH” and the “catalytic activity of CuS in the redox reaction of HcySH” might facilitate electrochemical communication. The platform is also studied in Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS), and it can be employed as a low-cost point-of-care diagnostic tool.

Association of carotid atherosclerotic plaque and intima-media thickness with the monocyte to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio among low-income residents of rural China: a population-based cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe monocytes to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (MHR) has been identified as a potential biomarker for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. In this population-based cross-sectional study, we explored the relationships among carotid artery disease (CAD), including the presence of carotid atherosclerotic plaque (CAP) and carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT), the MHR, and related parameter changes.MethodsThis cross-sectional study, Conducted from April to June 2019 in a rural area of Tianjin, involved middle-aged and elderly participants. Based on carotid ultrasound examinations, participants were divided into CAP and non-CAP groups. Logistic regression and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were utilized to assess MHR’s predictive value for CAP. Gender-specific analyses were also performed to examine predictive variations. The relationship between CIMT and MHR was evaluated using linear regression.ResultsOf the 2109 participants meeting the inclusion criteria, 51.6% were identified with CAP. Multivariate analysis revealed a significant association between MHR and CAP prevalence, (OR, 9.670; 95% CI, 2.359–39.631; P = 0.002), particularly in females (OR, 5.921; 95% CI, 1.823–19.231; P = 0.003), after adjusting for covariates. However, no significant correlation was found between CIMT and MHR when adjusted for other factors. The ROC analysis showed the area under the curve for MHR and CAP to be 0.569 (95% CI: 0.544–0.593; P < 0.001).ConclusionsThese findings suggested that it is crucial to enhance early screening and intervention for CAD, specifically focusing on the prevention and progression of CAP, to address the unique health challenges faced by low-income groups in rural settings. Emphasizing these preventive measures could significantly contribute to improving cardiovascular health outcomes in this vulnerable population.

A self-driven, microfluidic, integrated-circuit biosensing chip for detecting four cardiovascular disease biomarkers

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) claimed the lives of nearly 21 million people worldwide in 2021, accounting for 30% of global deaths. However, one in five CVD patients is unaware that they have the disease, emphasizing the need for accurate biomarker monitoring. Herein we developed an integrated microfluidic system (IMS) for rapid quantification of four CVD biomarkers, including N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), fibrinogen, cardiac troponin I (cTnI), and C-reactive protein (CRP)- via aptamer-coated interdigitated electrodes (IDE) with integrated circuits (IC) and a self-driven IMS for sample treatment. The device was composed of plasma filtration, metering, and fluidic delay modules, and the former could extract 45% of plasma from a 20-μL blood sample; the metering module could quantify 5 μL of plasma within 90 s. Subsequently, the plasma was transported to a detection chamber, where IC-based IDE sensors made measurements within 5 min. The entire 15-min process allowed us to evaluate biomarkers across a wide dynamic range: NT-proBNP (0.1–10,000 pg/mL), fibrinogen (50-1,000 mg/dL), cTnI (0.1–10,000 pg/mL), and CRP (0.5-9 mg/L). Given that spiked blood samples were measured with reasonable accuracy (>80%), the IMS could see utility in CVD risk assessment and personalized medicine.

Galectin-3 and its correlation with carotid ultrasound in rheumatoid arthritis patients

BackgroundRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease resulting in disability as well as joint damage. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for improving outcomes. RA patients have a twofold elevated risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) development compared to the general population. Carotid ultrasound is a noninvasive imaging modality that can detect early signs of atherosclerosis and plaque buildup in the carotid arteries, which are strongly associated with CVD risk. Galectin-3 (Gal-3), a protein involved in inflammation and fibrosis, is suggested as one of the potential RA markers. Despite the growing interest in galectin-3 as a biomarker for CVD, few studies have investigated its role in RA patients. To our knowledge, only two studies have examined the correlation between galectin-3 and CVD in RA patients, and they have yielded conflicting results. This study aimed to determine the serum level of Gal-3 as well as its correlation with carotid ultrasound assessment for cardiovascular involvement in RA patients.ResultsRA cases demonstrated substantially elevated Gal-3 levels than controls (P < 0.001), and a 3.38 pg/mL cut-off value was proven to be an excellent predictor of RA diagnosis (AUC, 0.98). Gal-3 levels were proven to be positively associated with DAS-28, Larsen score, and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) (P-value 0.006, 0.026, < 0.001, respectively). A positive association was also detected between right (RT) and left (LT) CIMT and disease duration (P-values of 0.040 and 0.042, respectively).ConclusionsGal-3 is a biomarker for RA that is not only associated with activity and severity of the disease but it is also related to the chronicity of the disease and is a predictor of cardiovascular comorbidity.

Genogeographic technologies of a population biobank as a tool for assessing selection effects (using the example of pharmacogenetic biomarkers of cardiovascular diseases)

Significant differences between the gene pools of Russian peoples require the development of ethno- regional adapted pharmacogenetic tests and the identification of priority regions for their implementation.Aim. To develop a genogeographic technology to identify selection effects using the example of biomarkers that are significant for pharmacotherapy of patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD), using a population biobank and the Pharmacogenetics of Populations of Russia and Adjacent Countries database.Material and methods. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) samples from the Biobank of Northern Eurasia from 20 metapopulations of the indigenous population of the European Russia were studied using two following data sets: 24 pharmacogenetic markers of CVDs (3170 samples); 1 276 191 polymorphic DNA markers of the autosomal genome (1293 samples). For each data set, estimates of interpopulation variability in the gene pool are provided — the difference between these estimates characterizes the selection pressure on each of the 24 CVD biomarkers. A genogeographic atlas has been created, the maps of which demonstrate the selection pressure on each biomarker according to the degree of deviation from the selective- neutral variability of the gene pool.Results. Twenty-four CVD biomarkers are divided into three following classes: those close to selective- neutral variability, those subject to stabilizing and differentiating selection. For each of the 24 CVD biomarkers, genogeographic maps were created that reveal selection effects in each of the 20 metapopulations. Most maps have identified populations that are under differential selection pressure and therefore a priority for the implementation of ethno- regionally adapted pharmacogenetic protocols.Conclusion. Pharmacogenetic markers and populations under differential selection require the development of ethno- regionally adapted pharmacogenetic tests. The created cartographic atlas of selection can serve as the basis for pharmacogenetic studies carried out using genogeographic methods.

Blood-Derived Lipid and Metabolite Biomarkers in Cardiovascular Research from Clinical Studies: A Recent Update.

The primary prevention, early detection, and treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD) have been long-standing scientific research goals worldwide. In the past decades, traditional blood lipid profiles have been routinely used in clinical practice to estimate the risk of CVDs such as atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and as treatment targets for the primary prevention of adverse cardiac events. These blood lipid panel tests often fail to fully predict all CVD risks and thus need to be improved. A comprehensive analysis of molecular species of lipids and metabolites (defined as lipidomics and metabolomics, respectively) can provide molecular insights into the pathophysiology of the disease and could serve as diagnostic and prognostic indicators of disease. Mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based lipidomics and metabolomics analysis have been increasingly used to study the metabolic changes that occur during CVD pathogenesis. In this review, we provide an overview of various MS-based platforms and approaches that are commonly used in lipidomics and metabolomics workflows. This review summarizes the lipids and metabolites in human plasma/serum that have recently (from 2018 to December 2022) been identified as promising CVD biomarkers. In addition, this review describes the potential pathophysiological mechanisms associated with candidate CVD biomarkers. Future studies focused on these potential biomarkers and pathways will provide mechanistic clues of CVD pathogenesis and thus help with the risk assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of CVD.