Long-term Results of Duodeno-jejunal Bypass in the Treatment of Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes.

PURPOSE: Obesity and its related severe comorbidities are increasing rapidly. The duodenal-jejunal bypass is an endoscopically implanted device (mimicking the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass) developed to support weight reduction and improve type 2 diabetes control. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective data analysis of consecutive patients undergoing duodenal-jejunal bypass (EndoBarrier®, DJB) implantation between 2013 and 2017 was performed to evaluate safety as well as short- and long-term efficacy. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-one patients (mean BMI of 43.1 ± 7.2 kg/m2 and weight of 138.2 ± 28.6 kg) underwent DJB implantation. The mean dwelling time was 15.5 months, the mean total body weight loss (%TBWL) after explantation was 10.3% ± 7.9% (14.2 kg, p < 0.0001), and the mean BMI was 39.5 ± 7.3 kg/m2 (p < 0.0001). There was no significant weight gain 24 months after the explantation. Seventy-seven patients had type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with a mean HbA1c before implantation of 5.6% (n = 52). The mean HbA1c after explantation was 5.1% (p = 0.0001). Significant reductions in transaminase and lipid levels before and after explantation were observed. One complication occurred during implantation and another during explantation. In 16 patients, the device had to be extracted earlier than expected (7 for severe adverse events and 9 for adverse events; 13.2%). CONCLUSION: Despite an evident rate of adverse events, the DJB shows promise as a weight-loss procedure. Our results show that some patients implanted with the device maintained reduced weight even 24 months after explantation, while many improved T2DM control.

Cholesterol associated genetic risk score and acute coronary syndrome in Czech males.

BACKGROUND: Despite a general decline in mean levels across populations, LDL-cholesterol levels remain a major risk factor for acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The APOB, LDL-R, CILP, and SORT-1 genes have been shown to contain variants that have significant effects on plasma cholesterol levels. METHODS AND RESULTS: We examined polymorphisms within these genes in 1191 controls and 929 patients with ACS. Only rs646776 within SORT-1 was significantly associated with a risk of ACS (P < 0.05, AA vs. + G comparison; OR 1.21; 95% CI 1.01-1.45). With regard to genetic risk score (GRS), the presence of at least 7 alleles associated with elevated cholesterol levels was connected with increased risk (P < 0.01) of ACS (OR 1.26; 95% CI 1.06-1.52). Neither total mortality nor CVD mortality in ACS subjects (follow up-9.84 ± 3.82 years) was associated with the SNPs analysed or cholesterol-associated GRS. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that, based on only a few potent SNPs known to affect plasma cholesterol, GRS has the potential to predict ACS risk, but not ACS associated mortality.

Early vascular damage in retinal microcirculation in arterial hypertension: the Czech post-MONICA study.

Retinal microcirculation reflects retinal perfusion abnormalities and retinal arterial structural changes at relatively early stages of various cardiovascular diseases. Wall-to-lumen ratio (WLR) may represent the earliest step in hypertension-mediated organ damage.Our objective was to compare functional and structural parameters of retinal microcirculation in a randomly selected urban population sample, in hypertensive and normotensive individuals. DESIGN AND METHOD: A total of 398 randomly selected individuals from an urban population aged 25-65 years, residing in Pilsen, Czech Republic, were screened for major cardiovascular risk factors. Retinal microcirculation was assessed using scanning laser Doppler flowmetry, with data evaluable in 343 patients. Complete data were available for 342 individuals divided into four groups based on blood pressure and control status of hypertension: normotensive individuals ( n  = 213), treated controlled hypertensive individuals ( n  = 30), treated uncontrolled hypertensive individuals ( n  = 26), and newly detected/untreated hypertensive individuals ( n  = 73). RESULTS: There was a tendency to higher wall thickness in treated but uncontrolled hypertensive patients (compared to normotensive and treated controlled hypertensive individuals). WLR was significantly increased in treated but uncontrolled hypertensive patients as well as in individuals with newly detected thus untreated hypertension or in patients with known but untreated hypertension. There was no difference in WLR in treated, controlled hypertensive patients compared with normotensive individuals. CONCLUSION: Our results show that an increased WLR, reflecting early vascular damage, was found in newly detected individuals with hypertension and in untreated hypertensive patients, reflecting early hypertension-mediated vascular damage. Early initiation of hypertension treatment may be warranted.

Genetic risk score in patients with the APOE2/E2 genotype as a predictor of familial dysbetalipoproteinemia.

BACKGROUND: Familial dysbetalipoproteinemia (FD) is an autosomal recessive (rarely dominant) inherited disorder that is almost exclusively associated with the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) variability. Nonetheless, only a small proportion of APOE2/E2 subjects develop the phenotype for mixed dyslipidemia; the context of other trigger metabolic or genetic factors remains unknown. METHODS: One hundred and one patients with FD and eighty controls (all APOE2/E2 homozygotes; rs429358) were screened for 18 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the genes involved in triglyceride metabolism. RESULTS: Two SNPs were significantly associated with the FD phenotype (rs439401 within APOE; P < 0.0005 and rs964184 within ZPR1/APOA5/A4/C3/A1 gene cluster; P < 0.0001). Unweighted genetic risk scores - from these two SNPs (GRS2), and, also, additional 13 SNPs with P-value below 0.9 (GRS15) - were created as an additional tool to improve the risk estimation of FD development in subjects with the APOE2/E2 genotype. Both GRS2 and GRS15 were significantly (P < 0.0001) increased in patients and both GRSs discriminated almost identically between the groups (P = 0.86). Subjects with an unweighted GRS2 of three or more had an almost four-fold higher risk of FD development than other individuals (OR 3.58, CI: 1.78-7.18, P < 0.0005). CONCLUSIONS: We identified several SNPs that are individual additive factors influencing FD development. The use of unweighted GRS2 is a simple and clinically relevant tool that further improves the prediction of FD in APOE2/E2 homozygotes with corresponding biochemical characteristics.

Long-Term LDL-Apheresis Treatment and Dynamics of Circulating miRNAs in Patients with Severe Familial Hypercholesterolemia.

Lipoprotein apheresis (LA) is a therapeutic option for patients with severe hypercholesterolemia who have persistently elevated LDL-C levels despite attempts at drug therapy. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), important posttranscriptional gene regulators, are involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Our study aimed to monitor the dynamics of twenty preselected circulating miRNAs in patients under long-term apheresis treatment. Plasma samples from 12 FH patients (men = 50%, age = 55.3 ± 12.2 years; mean LA overall treatment time = 13.1 ± 7.8 years) were collected before each apheresis therapy every sixth month over the course of four years of treatment. Eight complete follow-up (FU) samples were measured in each patient. Dynamic changes in the relative quantity of 6 miRNAs (miR-92a, miR-21, miR-126, miR-122, miR-26a, and miR-185; all p < 0.04) during FU were identified. Overall apheresis treatment time influenced circulating miR-146a levels (p < 0.04). In LDLR mutation homozygotes (N = 5), compared to heterozygotes (N = 7), we found higher plasma levels of miR-181, miR-126, miR-155, and miR-92a (all p < 0.03). Treatment with PCSK9 inhibitors (N = 6) affected the plasma levels of 7 miRNAs (miR-126, miR-122, miR-26a, miR-155, miR-125a, miR-92a, and miR-27a; all p < 0.04). Long-term monitoring has shown that LA in patients with severe familial hypercholesterolemia influences plasma circulating miRNAs involved in endothelial dysfunction, cholesterol homeostasis, inflammation, and plaque development. The longer the treatment using LA, the better the miRNA milieu depicting the potential cardiovascular risk.

Longitudinal Trends in Severe Dyslipidemia in the Czech Population: The Czech MONICA and Czech Post-MONICA Study.

Background: Severe hypercholesterolemia is associated with an increase in the risk of developing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The aim of this analysis was to assess longitudinal trends in severe dyslipidemia (defined as total cholesterol > 8 mmol/L or LDL-cholesterol > 5 mmol/L) in a representative population sample of the Czech Republic and to analyze the longitudinal trends in the basic characteristics of individuals with severe dyslipidemia. Methods: Seven independent cross-sectional surveys were organized in the Czech Republic to screen for major cardiovascular risk factors (from 1985 to 2015-2018). A total of 20,443 randomly selected individuals aged 25-64 years were examined. Results: The overall prevalence of severe dyslipidemia was 6.6%, with a significant downward trend from the fifth survey onwards (2000/2001). Over the study period of 30+ years, the individuals with severe dyslipidemia became older, increased in BMI, and did not change their smoking habits. Total cholesterol and non-HDL-cholesterol decreased significantly in both sexes throughout the duration of the study. Conclusions: Despite a significant improvement in lipids in the Czech Republic from 1985, substantially contributing to the decline in cardiovascular mortality, the number of individuals with severe dyslipidemia remained high, and in most cases, they were newly detected during our screening examinations and were thus untreated.

Genetic risk score is associated with T2DM and diabetes complications risks.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a prototypical complex disease with polygenic architecture playing an important role in determining susceptibility to develop the disease (and its complications) in subjects exposed to modifiable lifestyle factors. A current challenge is to quantify the degree of the individual's genetic risk using genetic risk scores (GRS) capturing the results of genome-wide association studies while incorporating possible ethnicity- or population-specific differences. METHODS: This study included three groups of T2DM (T2DM-I, N = 1,032; T2DM-II, N = 353; and T2DM-III, N = 399) patients and 2,481 diabetes-free subjects. The status of the microvascular and macrovascular diabetes complications were known for the T2DM-I patients. Overall, 21 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were analyzed, and selected subsets were used to determine the GRS (both weighted - wGRS and unweighted - uGRS) for T2DM risk predictions (6 SNPs) and for predicting the risks of complications (7 SNPs). RESULTS: The strongest T2DM markers (P < 0.0001) were within the genes for TCF7L2 (transcription factor 7-like 2), FTO (fat mass and obesity associated protein) and ARAP1 (ankyrin repeat and PH domain 1). The T2DM-I subjects with uGRS values greater (Odds Ratio, 95 % Confidence Interval) than six had at least twice (2.00, 1.72-2.32) the risk of T2DM development (P < 0.0001), and these results were confirmed in the independent groups (T2DM-II 1.82, 1.45-2.27; T2DM-III 2.63, 2.11-3.27). The wGRS (>0.6) further improved (P < 0.000001) the risk estimations for all three T2DM groups. The uGRS was also a significant predictor of neuropathy (P < 0.0001), nephropathy (P < 0.005) and leg ischemia (P < 0.0005). CONCLUSIONS: If carefully selected and specified, GRS, both weighted and unweighted, could be significant predictors of T2DM development, as well as the diabetes complications development.

Significant Differences in IBD Care and Education across Europe: Results of the Pan-European VIPER Survey.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) care and education might differ around Europe. Therefore, we conducted this European Variation In IBD PracticE suRvey (VIPER) to investigate potential differences between countries. METHODS: This trainee-initiated survey, run through SurveyMonkey®, consisted of 47 questions inquiring basic demographics, IBD training, and clinical care. Results were compared according to gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, for which countries were divided into 2 groups (low/high income, according to the World Bank). RESULTS: The online survey was completed by 1,285 participants from 40 European countries, with a majority of specialists (65.3%) working in academic institutions (50.4%). Significant differences in IBD-specific training (55.9% vs. 38.4%), as well as availability of IBD units (58.4% vs. 39.7%) and multidisciplinary meetings (73.2% vs. 40.1%), were observed between respondees from high and low GDP countries (p < 0.0001). In high GDP countries, IBD nurses are more common (85.9% vs. 36.0%), also mirrored by more nurse-led IBD clinics (40.6% vs. 13.7%; p < 0.0001). IBD dieticians (33.4% vs. 16.5%) and psychologists (16.8% vs. 7.5%) are mainly present in high GDP countries (p < 0.0001). In the current COVID era, telemedicine is available in 73.2% versus 54.1% of the high/low GDP countries, respectively (p < 0.0001). Treat-to-target approaches are implemented everywhere (85.0%), though access to biologicals and small molecules differs significantly. CONCLUSION: Much variability in IBD practice exists across Europe, with marked differences between high and low GDP countries. Further work is required to help address some of these inequalities, aiming to improve and standardize IBD care and training across Europe.

Serum concentration of taurochenodeoxycholic acid predicts clinically significant portal hypertension.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Severity of portal hypertension is usually quantified by measuring the hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG). However, due to its invasiveness, alternative markers are being sought. Bile acids (BA), being synthesized, metabolized, and transported by the liver, seem to have the potential to serve as endogenous markers. The aim of the present study was to determine whether serum BA reflect the severity of portal hypertension. METHODS: We correlated serum concentrations of individual BA with portal pressure (as HVPG) in an exploratory cohort of 21 cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension. The predictive potential of selected candidates was then confirmed in an independent validation cohort (n = 214). Additionally, nine previously published noninvasive markers were added to the stepwise logistic regression model to identify the most relevant ones, which were eventually used to create a prognostic index of portal hypertension. RESULTS: Serum levels of taurochenodeoxycholic acid (TCDCA) significantly correlated with HVPG and showed a high potential to predict clinically significant portal hypertension (HVPG ≥ 10 mm Hg: AUROC = 0.97 ± 0.06). This was confirmed in the validation cohort (AUROC = 0.96 ± 0.01). The predictive index (constructed based on AST/ALT, spleen diameter, and TCDCA concentration) was able to distinguish clinically significant portal hypertension with 95% sensitivity and 76% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: TCDCA seems to be a promising noninvasive marker of clinically significant portal hypertension. Its predictive potential may be further enhanced when it is combined with both the AST/ALT ratio and spleen diameter.

Rapid Drop in Coronary Heart Disease Mortality in Czech Male Population-What Was Actually behind It?

The high mortality of coronary heart disease (CHD) among Czech men-one of the highest worldwide-began to decline in 1991 soon after the abolition of government subsidies to all foodstuffs rich in animal fat. As participants in the WHO MONICA Project, we were able to analyze the CHD risk factors just before and after this major economic change. We had previously documented that the originally subsidized prices decreased animal fat consumption and consequently non-HDL cholesterol concentrations in the population. By the early 1990s, no progress had been made in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction, statins were unavailable as was not the currently more effective antihypertensive therapy. Our recent research proved a close relationship between cholesterolemia and proinflammatory macrophages in adipose tissue and accelerated macrophage polarization with increased palmitate and palmitoleate contents in cell membrane phospholipids. By contrast, the proportion of proinflammatory macrophages decreases with increasing presence of n-3 fatty acids in the cell membrane. The combination of non-HDL cholesterol drop and a decreased proportion of proinflammatory macrophages due to replacement of alimentary fat decreased CHD mortality immediately.

Longitudinal trends in blood pressure, prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in the Czech population. Are there any sex differences?

Background: Hypertension is the most common cardiovascular disease which substantially increases cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Despite the broad availability of antihypertensive medication, control of hypertension is not satisfactory worldwide. Objective: The study aim was to assess longitudinal trends in blood pressure, prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in a representative population sample of the Czechia from 1985 to 2016/2017, focusing on sex differences. Methods: A total of 7,606 men and 8,050 women aged 25-64 years were screened for major CV risk factors in seven independent cross-sectional surveys run consistently in the same six country districts of the Czechia between 1985 and 2016/2017. The population samples were randomly selected. Results: Over a study period of 31/32 years, there was a significant decline in systolic and diastolic blood pressure in both sexes, whereas the prevalence of hypertension decreased only in women. There was an increase in hypertension awareness in both sexes over the entire study period with consistently higher rates in women. The proportion of individuals treated with antihypertensive drugs increased significantly in both sexes throughout the study, again with consistently higher rates in women. Control of hypertension increased significantly over the study period with consistently higher rates in women. The age-adjusted trends in blood pressure, prevalence, awareness, and treatment of hypertension were significantly different in men and women, always in favor of women. The age-adjusted trends in control of hypertension in treated patients were equally poor in both sexes. Conclusion: There are significant differences in longitudinal trends in blood pressure, prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension between men and women, always in favor of women except for the control of hypertension in treated patients, where it is equally poor in both sexes.

Posttransplant Complications and Genetic Loci Involved in Telomere Maintenance in Heart Transplant Patients.

Reaching critically short telomeres induces cellular senescence and ultimately cell death. Cellular senescence contributes to the loss of tissue function. We aimed to determine the association between variants within genes involved in telomere length maintenance, posttransplant events, and aortic telomere length in heart transplant patients. DNA was isolated from paired aortic samples of 383 heart recipients (age 50.7 ± 11.9 years) and corresponding donors (age 38.7 ± 12.0 years). Variants within the TERC (rs12696304), TERF2IP (rs3784929 and rs8053257), and OBCF1 (rs4387287) genes were genotyped, and telomere length was measured using qPCR. We identified similar frequencies of genotypes in heart donors and recipients. Antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) was more common (p < 0.05) in carriers of at least one G allele within the TERF2IP locus (rs3784929). Chronic graft dysfunction (CGD) was associated with the TERC (rs12696304) GG donor genotype (p = 0.05). The genetic risk score did not determine posttransplant complication risk prediction. No associations between the analyzed polymorphisms and telomere length were detected in either donor or recipient DNA. In conclusion, possible associations between donor TERF2IP (rs3784929) and AMR and between TERC (rs12696304) and CGD were found. SNPs within the examined genes were not associated with telomere length in transplanted patients.

Effects of a 12-Week Interventional Exercise Programme on Muscle Strength, Mobility and Fitness in Patients With Diabetic Foot in Remission: Results From BIONEDIAN Randomised Controlled Trial.

Objectives: Diabetic foot syndrome (DFS) is a serious late diabetic complication characterised by limited joint mobility and other biomechanical and muscle abnormalities. Aim: To evaluate the effect of an interventional exercise programme on anthropometric parameters, muscle strength, mobility and fitness in patients with diabetic foot in remission. Data Sources and Study Selection: Thirty-eight patients with type 2 diabetes and DFS without active lesions (mean age 65 ± 6.9 years, BMI 32 ± 4.7 kg.m-2, waist-hip ratio (WHR)1.02 ± 0.06) were enrolled in our randomised controlled trial. All subjects were randomised into two groups: an intervention group (I; n=19) and a control group (C; n=19). The 12-week exercise intervention focused on ankle and small-joint mobility in the foot, strengthening and stretching of the lower extremity muscles, and improvements in fitness. Changes (Δ=final minus initial results) in physical activity were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), with joint mobility detected by goniometry, muscle strength by dynamometry, and fitness using the Senior Fitness Test (SFT). Data extraction: Due to reulceration, 15.8% of patients from group I (3/19) and 15.8% of patients from group C were excluded. Based on the IPAQ, group I was more active when it came to heavy (p=0.03) and moderate physical activity (p=0.06) after intervention compared to group C. Group I improved significantly in larger-joint flexibility (p=0.012) compared to controls. In group I, dynamometric parameters increased significantly in both lower limbs (left leg; p=0.013, right leg; p=0.043) compared to group C. We observed a positive trend in the improvement of fitness in group I compared to group C. We also confirmed positive correlations between heavy physical activity and selected parameters of flexibility (r=0.47; p=0.007), SFT (r=0.453; p=0.011) and dynamometry (r=0.58; p<0.0025). Anthropometric parameters, such as BMI and WHR, were not significantly influenced by the intervention programme. Conclusion: Our 12-week interventional exercise programme proved relatively safe, resulting in improved body flexibility and increased muscle strength in DF patients in remission.

Stimulation TcPO2 Testing Improves Diagnosis of Peripheral Arterial Disease in Patients With Diabetic Foot.

Background: All diagnostic procedures of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in diabetic foot (DF) are complicated due to diabetes mellitus and its late complications.The aim of our study is to enhance diagnosis of PAD using a novel transcutaneous oximetry (TcPO2) stimulation test. Methods: The study comprised patients with mild-to-moderate PAD(WIfI-I 1 or 2) and baseline TcPO2 values of 30-50 mmHg.TcPO2 was measured across 107 different angiosomes. Stimulation examination involved a modification of the Ratschow test. All patients underwent PAD assessment (systolic blood pressures (SBP), toe pressures (TP), the ankle-brachial indexes (ABI) and toe-brachial indexes (TBI), duplex ultrasound of circulation). Angiosomes were divided into two groups based on ultrasound findings: group M(n=60) with monophasic flow; group T(n=47) with triphasic flow. Large vessel parameters and TcPO2 at rest and after exercise (minimal TcPO2, changes in TcPO2 from baseline (Δ,%), TcPO2 recovery time) measured during the stimulation test were compared between study groups. Results: During the TcPO2 stimulation exercise test, group M exhibited significantly lower minimal TcPO2 (26.2 ± 11.1 vs. 31.4 ± 9.4 mmHg; p<0.01), greater Δ and percentage decreases from resting TcPO2 (p=0.014 and p=0.007, respectively) and longer TcPO2 recovery times (446 ± 134 vs. 370 ± 81ms;p=0.0005) compared to group T. SBPs, TPs and indexes were significantly lower in group M compared to group T. Sensitivity and specificity of TcPO2 stimulation parameters during PAD detection increased significantly to the level of SBP, ABI, TP and TBI. Conclusion: Compared to resting TcPO2, TcPO2 measured during stimulation improves detection of latent forms of PAD and restenosis/obliterations of previously treated arteries in diabetic foot patients. Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov [https://register.clinicaltrials.gov/prs/app/action/SelectProtocol?sid=S0009V7W&selectaction=Edit&uid=U0005381&ts=2&cx=3j24u2], identifier NCT04404699.

Multiplex Protein Biomarker Profiling in Patients with Familial Hypercholesterolemia.

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations in the LDLR, APOB, PCSK9, and APOE genes and is characterized by high plasma levels of total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Our study aimed to analyze the influences of two different therapies on a wide spectrum of plasma protein biomarkers of cardiovascular diseases. Plasma from FH patients under hypolipidemic therapy (N = 18; men = 8, age 55.4 ± 13.1 years) and patients under combined long-term LDL apheresis/hypolipidemic therapy (N = 14; men = 7; age 58.0 ± 13.6 years) were analyzed in our study. We measured a profile of 184 cardiovascular disease (CVD) associated proteins using a proximity extension assay (PEA). Hypolipidemic therapy significantly (all p < 0.01) influenced 10 plasma proteins (TM, DKK1, CCL3, CD4, PDGF subunit B, AGRP, IL18, THPO, and LOX1 decreased; ST2 increased). Under combined apheresis/hypolipidemic treatment, 18 plasma proteins (LDLR, PCSK9, MMP-3, GDF2, CTRC, SORT1, VEGFD, IL27, CCL24, and KIM1 decreased; OPN, COL1A1, KLK6, IL4RA, PLC, TNFR1, GLO1, and PTX3 increased) were significantly affected (all p < 0.006). Hypolipidemic treatment mainly affected biomarkers involved in vascular endothelial maintenance. Combined therapy influenced proteins that participate in cholesterol metabolism and inflammation.

The APOE4 allele is associated with a decreased risk of retinopathy in type 2 diabetics.

BACKGROUND: Common polymorphisms within the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene are suggested to be associated with the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but the potential association with T2DM complications (nephropathy, neuropathy and retinopathy) remains unclear. We perform the case-control study to analyse the association between the APOE polymorphism and risk of T2DM and to analysed the potential relationship between the APOE and T2DM complications. METHODS AND RESULTS: APOE variants (rs429358 and rs7412) were genotyped by TaqMan assay in T2DM patients (N = 1274; N = 829 with complications including retinopathy, neuropathy and nephropathy status) and with PCR-RFLP in healthy nondiabetic controls (N = 2055). The comparison of subjects with genotypes associated with low plasma cholesterol (APOE2/E2 and APOE2/E3 carriers vs. others) did not show an association with T2DM (OR [95% CI] = 0.88 [0.71-1.08). The differences remained insignificant after adjusting for diabetes duration, sex and BMI. Carriers of at least one APOE4 allele (rs429358) are protected against T2DM related retinopathy (OR [95% CI] = 0.65 [0.42-0.99]. Protection against retinopathy is driven mostly by females (OR [95% CI] = 0.50 [0.25-0.99]); and remains significant (P = 0.044) after adjustment for diabetes duration and BMI. CONCLUSION: Common APOE polymorphism was not associated with T2DM in the Czech population. Yet, APOE4 allele revealed an association with retinopathy. In particular, female T2DM patients with at least one APOE4 allele exhibit lower prevalence of retinopathy in our study subjects.

The effect of long-term left ventricular assist device support on flow-sensitive plasma microRNA levels.

BACKGROUND: Implantation of current generation left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) in the treatment of end-stage heart failure (HF), not only improves HF symptoms and end-organ perfusion, but also leads to cellular and molecular responses, presumably in response to the continuous flow generated by these devices. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression in multiple biological processes, including the pathogenesis of HF. In our study, we examined the influence of long-term LVAD support on changes in flow-sensitive miRNAs in plasma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood samples from patients with end-stage heart failure (N = 33; age = 55.7 ± 11.6 years) were collected before LVAD implantation and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after implantation. Plasma levels of the flow-sensitive miRNAs; miR-10a, miR-10b, miR-146a, miR-146b, miR-663a, miR-663b, miR-21, miR-155, and miR-126 were measured using quantitative PCR. RESULTS: Increasing quantities of miR-126 (P < 0.03) and miR-146a (P < 0.02) was observed at each follow-up visit after LVAD implantation. A positive association between miR-155 and Belcaro score (P < 0.04) and an inverse correlation between miR-126 and endothelial function, measured as the reactive hyperemia index (P < 0.05), was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Our observations suggest that after LVAD implantation, low pulsatile flow up-regulates plasma levels of circulating flow-sensitive miRNAs, contributing to endothelial dysfunction and vascular remodeling.

The Effect of Artificial Pulsatility on the Peripheral Vasculature in Patients With Continuous-Flow Ventricular Assist Devices.

BACKGROUND: Implantation of left-ventricular assist systems (LVASs) has become the standard of care for advanced heart failure (HF). The absence of pulsatility in previous devices contributes to vascular and endothelial dysfunction related to atherosclerotic or vascular complications. We hypothesized that the artificial pulsatility provided by the HeartMate 3 (HM3) (Abbott, Chicago, IL) LVAS would exert a favourable effect on the vasculature. METHODS: In 32 patients implanted with HM3 (5 female patients, mean age 55 ± 13.6 years), the reactive hyperemia index (RHI) and peripheral augmentation index (AI), markers of endothelial function and arterial stiffness, were measured with an EndoPAT2000 before and in the third and sixth month after implantation. RHI and AI data from 30 HeartMate II (HM II) (Abbott) recipients in the third and sixth month after implantation, from 15 patients with advanced HF without LVASs and from 13 healthy volunteers were also analyzed. RESULTS: In HM3 recipients, the mean RHI significantly decreased at 3 and 6 months after implantation. The RHI was substantially lower at baseline than that of healthy or the HF reference group. Increasing AI values, indicating worsening arterial stiffness, were also observed. Similar trends were observed in HM II recipients between the third and sixth months but with higher absolute values of RHI and AI. CONCLUSIONS: We detected impaired vascular function in HM3 patients and provided additional evidence on the negative effect of low pulsatility on vascular function after LVAS implantation. The results suggest that the artificial pulsatility of the HM3 does not avert the progression of endothelial dysfunction.

Short-term trajectories of exercise-induced plasma lipid changes in overweight females, with a focus on HDL-cholesterol.

BACKGROUND: Increased levels of plasma lipoproteins are among some of the modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Dietary changes and increased physical activity are the most powerful non-pharmacological interventions for achieving optimal plasma lipid levels. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of an intensive short-term lifestyle intervention on plasma lipid trajectories in overweight non-diabetic females. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 202 healthy overweight (body mass index (BMI) >27.5 kg/m2) females underwent an intensive short-term (ten-week) intervention (at least 4 units of one-hour exercise activity weekly at optimal energy intake) aimed at lowering body weight. Plasma lipid (total cholesterol (TC), low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides (TG)) levels were examined at baseline and every 2 weeks over the course of the ten-week intervention. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in BMI (Δ -4.7%, p < 0.001) and body weight (Δ -4.9%, p < 0.001) after the intervention. Positive changes (decreases) in TC (Δ -8%, p < 0.001), TG (Δ -9%, p < 0.001) and LDL-C (Δ -11%, p < 0.001) were observed immediately after 2 weeks, but levels did not decrease further thereafter. In contrast, HDL-C did not increase as expected: after 2 weeks of intervention, we observed a significant decrease of about 6% (p < 0.001) followed by a slow return to baseline values. But even after 10 weeks of intervention, HDL-C values had not reached the values detected at baseline. CONCLUSIONS: In overweight females, HDL-C decreased after short-term intensive lifestyle intervention. To confirm the protective effect of increased physical activity, plasma lipids need to be examined over a longer time period.

Liver stiffness measured by two-dimensional shear-wave elastography predicts hepatic vein pressure gradient at high values in liver transplant candidates with advanced liver cirrhosis.

Liver stiffness is a reliable non-invasive predictor of Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient (HVPG) above 10 mm Hg. However, it failed to predict higher thresholds of HVPG. Our aim was to investigate whether liver stiffness and selected previously published non-invasive blood biomarkers could predict higher HVPG thresholds in liver transplant candidates without ongoing alcohol use. One hundred and nine liver transplant candidates with liver cirrhosis of various aetiologies underwent direct HVPG measurement, liver stiffness measurement by 2D shear-wave elastography (Aixplorer Multiwave, Supersonic Imagine, France) and assessment of blood HVPG biomarkers (osteopontin, VCAM-1, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1ra/IL-1F3 and ELF score). The correlation between liver stiffness and HVPG was linear up to 30 mm Hg of HVPG (r = 0.765, p < 0.0001). The regression lines had similar slopes for HVPG values below and above 16 mm Hg (p > 0.05) and the correlation in patients with HVPG <16 mm Hg (r = 0.456, p = 0.01) was similar to patients with HVPG ≥ 16 mm Hg (r = 0.499, p < 0.0001). The correlation was similar in the subgroup patients with alcoholic (r = 0.718, p < 0.0001), NASH (r = 0.740, p = 0.008), cryptogenic (r = 0.648, p = 0,0377), cholestatic and autoimmune (r = 0.706, p < 0.0001) and viral cirrhosis (r = 0.756, p < 0.0001). Liver stiffness distinguished patients with HVPG above 16, and 20 mm Hg with AUROCs 0.90243, and 0.86824, sensitivity 0.7656, and 0.7027, and specificity 0.9333, and 0.8750. All studied blood biomarkers correlated better with liver stiffness than with HVPG and their AUROCs did not exceed 0.8 at both HVPG thresholds. Therefore, a composite predictor superior to liver stiffness could not be established. We conclude that liver stiffness is a clinically reliable predictor of higher HVPG thresholds in non-drinking subjects with advanced liver cirrhosis.