Impact of optimal cholesterol levels on subclinical atherosclerosis in the absence of risk factors in young adults.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: We aimed to assess the association of blood lipids with the prevalence, incidence, and progression of subclinical atherosclerosis among young individuals without dyslipidemia and other traditional cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs). METHODS: A total of 1270 participants from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study aged 32-46 years free of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, current smoking, and dyslipidemia (total cholesterol [TC] ≥ 240 mg/dL, triglycerides [TG] ≥ 150 mg/dL, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C] ≥ 160 mg/dL, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C] < 40 mg/dL, or taking lipid-lowering medications) were included. A subgroup with optimal lipids within the low-CVRF group was defined with TC < 200 mg/dL, LDL-C < 100 mg/dL, non-HDL-C < 130 mg/dL, and women with HDL-C ≥ 50 mg/dL. RESULTS: 1-SD higher TC (25.9 mg/dL), LDL-C (24.7 mg/dL), and non-HDL-C (26.6 mg/dL) were associated with a greater risk of presence (hazard ratios: 1.30-1.36), incidence (1.30-1.32), and progression (1.31-1.35) of coronary artery calcium (CAC) and a 42-44% greater odds of composite mean carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) ≥ 75th percentile [780 µm] (p < 0.05). Repeating the analyses in a subset of participants with a CAC score of zero did not alter the association of TC, LDL-C, and non-HDL-C with CIMT. In the subgroup with optimal lipids, these lipid indices remained associated with an increased risk of presence and incidence of CAC and greater CIMT measures. CONCLUSIONS: Among adults aged 32-46 years, in the absence of traditional CVRFs, elevated cholesterol levels, even within what is considered optimal, are associated with atherosclerosis and arteriopathy.

Phenotypic and genetic effect of carotid intima-media thickness on the risk of stroke.

While carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) as a noninvasive surrogate measure of atherosclerosis is widely considered a risk factor for stroke, the intrinsic link underlying cIMT and stroke has not been fully understood. We aimed to evaluate the clinical value of cIMT in stroke through the investigation of phenotypic and genetic relationships between cIMT and stroke. We evaluated phenotypic associations using observational data from UK Biobank (N = 21,526). We then investigated genetic relationships leveraging genomic data conducted in predominantly European ancestry for cIMT (N = 45,185) and any stroke (AS, Ncase/Ncontrol=40,585/406,111). Observational analyses suggested an increased hazard of stroke per one standard deviation increase in cIMT (cIMTmax-AS: hazard ratio (HR) = 1.39, 95%CI = 1.09-1.79; cIMTmean-AS: HR = 1.39, 95%CI = 1.09-1.78; cIMTmin-AS: HR = 1.32, 95%CI = 1.04-1.68). A positive global genetic correlation was observed (cIMTmax-AS: [Formula: see text]=0.23, P=9.44 × 10-5; cIMTmean-AS: [Formula: see text]=0.21, P=3.00 × 10-4; cIMTmin-AS: [Formula: see text]=0.16, P=6.30 × 10-3). This was further substantiated by five shared independent loci and 15 shared expression-trait associations. Mendelian randomization analyses suggested no causal effect of cIMT on stroke (cIMTmax-AS: odds ratio (OR)=1.12, 95%CI=0.97-1.28; cIMTmean-AS: OR=1.09, 95%CI=0.93-1.26; cIMTmin-AS: OR=1.03, 95%CI = 0.90-1.17). A putative association was observed for genetically predicted stroke on cIMT (AS-cIMTmax: beta=0.07, 95%CI = 0.01-0.13; AS-cIMTmean: beta=0.08, 95%CI = 0.01-0.15; AS-cIMTmin: beta = 0.08, 95%CI = 0.01-0.16) in the reverse direction MR, which attenuated to non-significant in sensitivity analysis. Our work does not find evidence supporting causal associations between cIMT and stroke. The pronounced cIMT-stroke association is intrinsic, and mostly attributed to shared genetic components. The clinical value of cIMT as a surrogate marker for stroke risk in the general population is likely limited.

Mobility-related brain regions linking carotid intima-media thickness to specific gait performances in old age.

BACKGROUND: Gait disturbance is common in older adults with vascular diseases. However, how carotid atherosclerosis affects gait remains poorly understood. The objectives were to investigate the associations between carotid intima-media thickness and specific gait performances and explore the potential role of brain structure in mediating these associations. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis of data from the Taizhou Imaging Study was conducted, including 707 individuals who underwent both gait and carotid ultrasound examinations. Gait assessments include the Timed-Up-and-Go test, the Tinetti test, and quantitative gait assessment using a wearable device. Quantitative parameters were summarized into independent gait domains with factor analysis. Magnetic resonance images were obtained on a 3.0-Tesla scanner, and the volumes of fifteen brain regions related to motor function (primary motor, sensorimotor), visuospatial attention (inferior posterior parietal lobules, superior posterior parietal lobules), executive control function (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate), memory (hippocampus, entorhinal cortex), motor imagery (precuneus, parahippocampus, posterior cingulated cortex), and balance (basal ganglia: pallidum, putamen, caudate, thalamus) were computed using FreeSurfer and the Desikan-Killiany atlas. Mediation analysis was conducted with carotid intima-media thickness as the predictor and mobility-related brain regions as mediators. RESULTS: Carotid intima-media thickness was found to be associated with the Timed-Up-and-Go performance (ß = 0.129, p = 0.010) as well as gait performances related to pace (ß=-0.213, p < 0.001) and symmetry (ß = 0.096, p = 0.045). Besides, gait performances were correlated with mobility-related brain regions responsible for motor, visuospatial attention, executive control, memory, and balance (all FDR < 0.05). Notably, significant regions differed depending on the gait outcomes measured. The primary motor (41.9%), sensorimotor (29.3%), visuospatial attention (inferior posterior parietal lobules, superior posterior parietal lobules) (13.8%), entorhinal cortex (36.4%), and motor imagery (precuneus, parahippocampus, posterior cingulated cortex) (27.3%) mediated the association between increased carotid intima-media thickness and poorer Timed-Up-and-Go performance. For the pace domain, the primary motor (37.5%), sensorimotor (25.8%), visuospatial attention (12.3%), entorhinal cortex (20.7%), motor imagery (24.9%), and balance (basal ganglia: pallidum, putamen, caudate, thalamus) (11.6%) acted as mediators. CONCLUSIONS: Carotid intima-media thickness is associated with gait performances, and mobility-related brain volume mediates these associations. Moreover, the distribution of brain regions regulating mobility varies in the different gait domains. Our study adds value in exploring the underlying mechanisms of gait disturbance in the aging population.

Decoding Cardiovascular Health: Carotid Intima-Media Thickness and Its Association With Coronary Artery Disease in the Indian Population.

Background Coronary artery disease, as well as other cardiovascular diseases, poses a significant health burden globally. Understanding the relationship between clinical variables and coronary artery disease is crucial for effective management. This study explores the link between carotid intima-media thickness and different risk factors in the Indian population. Aims and objectives The primary objective of this study is to investigate the correlation between coronary artery disease and carotid intima-media thickness in a cohort of Indian individuals. Secondary objectives include analyzing the impact of demographic factors, lifestyle choices, and biomarkers on coronary artery disease risk. Methodology This study adopts an analytic, prospective case-control design spanning 18 months from July 2022 to December 2023. The research is conducted in a hospital setting, utilizing data from patients undergoing coronary angiography. The case group comprises 42 patients diagnosed with coronary artery disease, while the control group consists of 18 age-matched individuals without coronary artery disease. Demographic details, lifestyle factors, and biomarker levels are assessed. Statistical analyses involve Fisher's exact tests, chi-square tests, ANOVA, and independent sample t-tests. Primary outcome measures include the association between carotid intima-media thickness and coronary artery disease, as well as the impact of demographic and lifestyle factors on coronary artery disease risk. Secondary outcome measures involve the predictive capability of carotid intima-media thickness through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results Significant findings include a notable association between gender and coronary artery disease, with a statistically significant relationship observed for smoking, alcohol consumption, and hypertension. Biomarkers such as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and carotid intima-media thickness exhibit highly significant differences in coronary artery disease patients compared to controls. Conclusions This study underscores the importance of carotid intima-media thickness as a potential predictor for coronary artery disease in the Indian population. Gender, lifestyle choices, and certain biomarkers significantly influence coronary artery disease risk. These findings contribute to a nuanced understanding of coronary artery disease etiology and risk stratification. This study sheds light on the intricate interplay of clinical factors influencing coronary artery disease in the Indian population, paving the way for enhanced risk assessment and preventative strategies.

Deciphering thyroid function and CIMT: a Mendelian randomization study of the U-shaped influence mediated by apolipoproteins.

Background: Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (CIMT) is a key marker for atherosclerosis, with its modulation being crucial for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessment. While thyroid function's impact on cardiovascular health is recognized, the causal relationship and underlying mechanisms influencing CIMT remain to be elucidated. Methods: In this study, Mendelian Randomization (MR) was employed to assess the causal relationship between thyroid function and CIMT. Thyroid hormone data were sourced from the Thyroidomics Consortium, while lipid traits and CIMT measurements were obtained from the UK Biobank. The primary analysis method was a two-sample MR using multiplicative random effects inverse variance weighting (IVW-MRE). Additionally, the study explored the influence of thyroid hormones on lipid profiles and assessed their potential mediating role in the thyroid function-CIMT relationship through multivariate MR analysis. Results: The study revealed that lower levels of Free Thyroxine (FT4) within the normal range are significantly associated with increased CIMT. This association was not observed with free triiodothyronine (FT3), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), or TPOAb. Additionally, mediation analysis suggested that apolipoprotein A-I and B are involved in the relationship between thyroid function and CIMT. The findings indicate a potential U-shaped curve relationship between FT4 levels and CIMT, with thyroid hormone supplementation in hypothyroid patients showing benefits in reducing CIMT. Conclusion: This research establishes a causal link between thyroid function and CIMT using MR methods, underscoring the importance of monitoring thyroid function for early cardiovascular risk assessment. The results advocate for the consideration of thyroid hormone supplementation in hypothyroid patients as a strategy to mitigate the risk of carotid atherosclerosis. These insights pave the way for more targeted approaches in managing patients with thyroid dysfunction to prevent cardiovascular complications.

ABO Blood Groups, RhD Factor and Their Association with Subclinical Atherosclerosis Assessed by Carotid Ultrasonography.

Background: The ABO blood group system has previously been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD), where non-O blood group individuals have shown an increased risk. Studies assessing early atherosclerotic disease while also including RhD are few. We aimed to determine whether the ABO and RhD blood groups are associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in a healthy population. Methods: We included 3532 participants from the VIPVIZA trial with available carotid ultrasonography results to assess subclinical disease. Information about blood groups was obtained from the SCANDAT-3 database, where 85% of VIPVIZA participants were registered. Results: RhD- individuals aged 40 years showed increased carotid intima-media thickness (B 1.09 CI 95% 1.03; 1.14) compared to RhD+ individuals. For ABO, there were no differences in ultrasonography results when assessing the whole study population. However, 60-year-old individuals with heredity for CVD and a non-O blood group had decreased odds for carotid plaques (OR 0.54 CI 95% 0.33; 0.88). Conclusions: RhD blood group is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in younger individuals, indicating a role as a mediator in the atherosclerotic process. In addition, a non-O blood group was associated with decreased subclinical atherosclerosis in individuals aged 60 and with heredity (corresponding to the group with the highest atherosclerotic burden).

Evaluation of the relationship between atherosclerosis and Helicobacter pylori infection with measurement of growth differentiation factor 15 and atherosclerosis indicators in adults with no comorbidity / Evaluación de la relación entre aterosclerosis e infección por Helicobacter pylori con medición del factor de diferenciación de crecimiento 15 e indicadores de aterosclerosis en adultos sin comorbilidad

Background The aim of this study was to investigate presence of subclinical atherosclerosis by measuring carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in patients with Helicobacter pylori (HP) and to assess effects of HP on atherosclerosis by evaluating markers of atherosclerosis and blood growth differentiation factor (GDF-15) levels. Materials and methods This cross-sectional study included 59 patients without comorbid disease who had HP and 30 healthy controls without HP in upper endoscopic biopsy. In order to assess atherosclerosis, the CIMT measurement was performed by sonography. Serum GDF-15 level was measured by ELISA method. In all patients, atherosclerosis markers were recorded. Atherogenic indices were calculated, including Castelli risk index I and II (TG/HDL-c and LDL-c/HDL-c, respectively), plasma atherogenic index (PAI; log TG/HDL-c), non-HDL-c (TH-HDL-c) and atherogenic coefficient (AC; non-HDL-HDL-c). Results The GDF-15 level and CIMT were significantly higher in HP-positive group when compared to HP-negative group (p≤0.001). There was a significant correlation between serum GDF-15 level and CIMT (r=0.445; p≤0.001). There was no correlation between other atherosclerosis markers and serum GDF-15 level or CIMT. The bacterial intensity on endoscopic specimen was only correlated with CIMT (p<0.001). Vitamin B12 and D levels were comparable among groups. Conclusion This study suggested that there was a correlation between GDF-15 level and subclinical atherosclerosis development in patients with HP. However, GDF-15 level, which was found to be elevated while atherogenic indices were normal, can be an earlier marker for subclinical atherosclerosis. (AU)

Antecedentes El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar la presencia de aterosclerosis subclínica mediante la medición del grosor íntima-media de la carótida (GIMC) en pacientes con Helicobacter pylori y evaluar los efectos de H.pylori sobre la aterosclerosis mediante la evaluación de marcadores de aterosclerosis y de niveles de factor de diferenciación del crecimiento sanguíneo (growth differentiation factor 15 [GDF-15]). Materiales y métodos Este estudio transversal incluyó 59 pacientes sin enfermedad comórbida que tenían H.pylori y 30 controles sanos sin H.pylori en la biopsia endoscópica superior. Para evaluar la aterosclerosis, la medición de GIMC se realizó mediante ecografía. El nivel de GDF-15 en suero se midió mediante el método ELISA. En todos los pacientes se registraron marcadores de aterosclerosis. Se calcularon los índices aterogénicos, incluyendo el índice de riesgo de Castelli I y II (TG/cHDL y cLDL-cHDL, respectivamente), el índice aterogénico plasmático (PAI; log TG/HDL-c), no-cHDL (TH-cHDL) y el coeficiente aterogénico (no-HDL-cHDL). Resultados Los niveles de GDF-15 y de GIMC fueron significativamente más altos en el grupo H.pylori positivo en comparación con el grupo H.pylori negativo (p≤0,001). Hubo una fuerte correlación entre el nivel sérico de GDF-15 y el GIMC (r=0,445; p≤0,001). No hubo correlación entre otros marcadores de aterosclerosis y el nivel sérico de GDF-15 o GIMC. La intensidad bacteriana en la muestra endoscópica solo se correlacionó con GIMC (p≤0,001). Los niveles de vitaminaB12 y de vitaminaD fueron comparables entre los grupos. Conclusión Este estudio sugirió que había una correlación entre el nivel de GDF-15 y el desarrollo de aterosclerosis subclínica en pacientes con H.pylori. Sin embargo, el nivel de GDF-15, que se encontró elevado mientras que los índices aterogénicos eran normales, puede ser un marcador temprano de aterosclerosis subclínica. (AU)

Relationships of serum FGF23 and α-klotho with atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Compelling evidence suggests that calcium/phosphorus homeostasis-related parameters may be linked to diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular events. However, few studies have investigated the association of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), α-klotho and FGF23/α-klotho ratio with atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to evaluate whether FGF23, α-klotho and FGF23/α-klotho ratio are associated with T2DM and further to explore the relationships between these three factors and atherosclerosis in Chinese patients with T2DM. METHODS: Serum FGF23 and α-klotho levels were measured via an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit, and the carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) was assessed via high-resolution color Doppler ultrasonography. The associations of serum FGF23, α-klotho and FGF23/α-klotho ratio with atherosclerosis in T2DM patients were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression models. RESULTS: This cross-sectional study involved 403 subjects (207 with T2DM and 196 without T2DM), 41.7% of the patients had atherosclerosis, and 67.2% of the carotid intima were thickened to a thickness greater than 0.9 mm. Compared with those in the lowest tertile, higher tertiles of FGF23 levels and FGF23/α-klotho ratio were positively associated with T2DM after adjusting for covariates, and serum α-klotho concentration was inversely correlated with T2DM (all P values < 0.01). Moreover, elevated serum FGF23 levels and FGF23/α-klotho ratio were positively associated with CIMT and carotid atherosclerosis in T2DM patients (all P values < 0.01). Further spline analysis similarly revealed linear dose‒response relationship (all P values < 0.01). And there was still significant differences in CIMT and carotid atherosclerosis between the highest group of α-klotho and the reference group in T2DM patients (P values = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: T2DM was positively linearly related to serum FGF23 concentration and FGF23/α-klotho ratio, and negatively correlated with serum α-klotho concentration. Furthermore, both FGF23 and FGF23/α-klotho ratio were positively correlated with CIMT and atherosclerosis in T2DM patients, while α-klotho was inversely correlated with both CIMT and atherosclerosis, although the associations were not completely significant. Prospective exploration and potential mechanisms underlying these associations remain to be further elucidated.

Assessing radiation-induced carotid artery injury using ultrasound in patients with head and neck cancer.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Radiotherapy (RT) can damage neck vessels in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). This study investigated the early effects of RT on carotid artery, including the internal media thickness (IMT) and carotid plaques of the common carotid artery (CCA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 69 patients with HNC who underwent RT at the First Hospital of Jilin University from March 2017 to September 2022, and 69 healthy participants as controls. Color Doppler ultrasound (CDUS) of the carotid artery was used to measure the CCA IMT and plaques. RESULTS: Left CCA IMT increased from 0.60 mm (0.60, 0.70) before RT to 0.70 mm (0.60, 1.20) after RT (P < 0.0001). Right CCA IMT changed from 0.60 mm (0.60, 0.71) before RT to 0.60 mm (0.60, 1.10) after RT (P = 0.0002). CCA IMT was 0.60 mm (0.60, 0.70) and 0.80 mm (0.60, 1.20) in the ≤40 Gy and >40 Gy groups(P = 0.0004). The CCA plaque number increased significantly after RT on both the left and right sides (Pleft < 0.0001; Pright < 0.0001). The CCA plaque volume increased from 0 mm3 (0, 11.35) and 0 mm3 (0, 8.55) before RT to 8.8 mm3 (0, 21.5) and 5.8 mm3 (0, 16.1) on the left and right sides. Correlation analysis revealed a correlation between CCA IMT and age (r = 0.283, P = 0.001), smoking status (r = 0.179, P = 0.020), and radiation dose (r = 0.188, P = 0.028). CONCLUSION: RT significantly increased CCA IMT, and the growth was related to the radiation dose. The number and volume of the CCA plaques also increased after RT.

Correlation between blood inflammatory indices and carotid intima-media thickness in the middle-aged and elderly adults.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the correlations between carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and systemic immune inflammation index (SII), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (NLR) ratio. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study enrolling a total of 582 middle-aged and elderly patients. The correlations between SII, PLR, and NLR with IMT were assessed using logistic regression models, which were subsequently incorporated into the underlying models with traditional risk factors and their predictive values for IMT. RESULTS: NLR exhibited a significant correlation with IMT in the simple regression analysis (ß = 0.01, 95 %CI= 0.00-0.02, p < 0.05). After controlling for potential confounding variables in the multivariate analysis, the association between NLR and both Maximum IMT [ß = 0.04, 95 %CI = 0.02-0.07, p = 0.0006] and Mean IMT [ß = 0.05, 95 %CI = 0.02-0.07, p = 0.0001] remained statistically significant. Additionally, PLR was found to be a significant independent predictor of Maximum IMT [ß = 0.04, 95 % CI =0.00-0.07, p = 0.0242] and Mean IMT [ß = 0.04, 95 % CI = 0.01-0.07, p = 0.0061]. Similarly, SII was identified as an independent predictor of Maximum IMT [ß = 1.87, 95 % CI =1.24, p = 0.0003]. The study found a significant positive correlation between Maximum IMT and the levels NLR, PLR, and SII. Specifically, in the Maximum IMT group, higher quartiles of NLR, PLR, and SII were associated with increased odds ratios (OR) for elevated IMT levels, with statistically significant results for NLR (Q4vsQ1: OR 3.87, 95 % CI 1.81-8.29), PLR (Q4vsQ1: OR 2.84, 95 % CI 1.36-5.95), and SII (Q4vsQ1: OR 2.64, 95 % CI 1.30-5.37). Finally, the inclusion of NLR, PLR, and NLR+PLR+SII in the initial model with traditional risk factors resulted in a marginal improvement in the predictive ability for Maximum IMT, as evidenced by the net reclassification index (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study discovered a positive correlation between SII, PLR, NLR, and IMT, which are likely to emerge as new predictors for IMT thickening. These findings lay a theoretical reference for future predictive research and pathophysiological research on carotid intima-media thickening.

Restless legs syndrome, periodic limb movements of sleep, and subclinical cardiovascular disease.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) and periodic limb movements of sleep (PLMS) have been variably implicated in risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), but there is lack of consensus on these relationships. We sought to assess subclinical CVD measures and RLS/PLMS in a large cohort to further evaluate these associations. The Emory Center for Health Discovery and Well Being cohort is composed of employed adults, with subclinical CVD measures including endothelial function (flow-mediated vasodilation), microvascular function (reactive hyperemia index, RHI), arterial stiffness (pulse wave velocity and augmentation index), and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT). Participants were grouped based on presence (N = 50) or absence (N = 376) of RLS and subclinical CVD measures compared between groups. A subset of participants (n = 40) underwent ambulatory monitoring for PLMS and obstructive sleep apnea. PLMS association with subclinical CVD measures was assessed. RLS status was significantly associated with flow-mediated dilation in univariate analyses but not after controlling for potential confounders; RLS was not associated with other subclinical CVD measures. PLMS were significantly correlated with the RHI, augmentation index, and cIMT in univariate analyses; only the association between PLMS and cIMT remained significant (p = 0.04) after controlling for RLS status, age, apnea-hypopnea index, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension. The observed association between higher PLMS and greater cIMT suggests that PLMS may be a marker of subclinical CVD. Further work is needed to determine the relationship between PLMS and CVD risk. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s41105-023-00497-7.

Impact on carotid intima-media thickness after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in patients with morbid obesity.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate the impact of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) on carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) & left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) which are the independent predictors of subclinical atherosclerosis. METHODS: To assess the change in CIMT & echocardiographic parameters of left ventricular function & correlate with %EWL 6 months and 12 months after LSG, the mean CIMT of bilateral common carotid arteries were measured at 3 different places & 7 parameters were assessed for left ventricular dysfunction after 6 and 12 months of LSG & correlated with the %EWL. RESULTS: A total of 30 patients (27(90%) women & 3(10%) men) with the mean age of 38 ± 7.84 were prospectively enrolled. BMI was significantly reduced from 42.66 ± 3.79 to 37.93 ± 3.60 kg/m2 at six months to 36 ± 3.34 at 12 months after LSG. CIMT values were significantly decreased at 6 months after surgery from 0.50 ± 0.11 mm to 0.46 ± 0.09 mm (p < 0.01) to 0.39 ± 0.07 (p < 0.05) at 12 months. However, no significant change was observed in the right mean CCA values at 6 months after surgery 0.50 ± 0.11 mm vs 0.47 ± 0.09 mm (p = 0.07) as compared to decrease at 12 months after surgery to 0.40 ± 0.08 (p < 0.05). Left mean CCA values at 6 months changed from 0.50 ± 0.11 to 0.45 ± 0.09 (p < 0.01) and at 12 months after surgery to 0.39 ± 007(p < 0.05). On 2D ECHO, ejection fraction increased at 6 months from 60.80 ± 5.89 to 61.93 ± 4.47 (p < 0.5) to after 12 months at 64.30 ± 4.20 (p < 0.05). Wave deceleration time changed at 6 months from 170 ± 36.80 to 150 ± 28.82 (p < 0.05) to 12 months 139.07 ± 17.98 (p < 0.05). Peak early diastolic mitral annular velocity (e) changed at 6 months from 8.12 ± 1.66 to 7.02 ± 1.76 (p < 0.05) to 12 months 6.33 ± 0.76 (p < 0.05). Inter-ventricular septum thickness (IVSD) changed at 6 months from 0.99 ± 0.14 to 0.91 ± 0.14 (p < 0.05) to 12 months 0.82 ± 0.09 (p < 0.05). Intraventricular relaxation time (IVRT) at 6 months changed from 94.33 ± 21.71 to 84.36 ± 14.85 (p < 0.03) to 12 months after surgery 77.40 ± 10.19 (p < 0.05). Left atrial volume index (LAVI) at 6 months decreased from 38.08 ± 11.23 to 30.93 ± 7.16 (p < 0.01) to 12 months after surgery 25.43 ± 3.65 (p < 0.05). Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction [LVIDD] at 6 months changed from 4.32 ± 0.52 to 4.11 ± 0.52 (p < 0.02) to 3.94 ± 0.26 (p < 0.05) to 3.94 ± 0.26 (p < 0.05) at 12 months after surgery. PwD at 6 and 12 months changed from 1.00 ± 0.19 to 0.87 ± 0.10 (p < 0.01) to 0.82 ± 0.08 (p < 0.05) respectively. LV mass changed in 6 months from 148.37 ± 33.09 to 117 ± 29.90 (p < 0.001) to 12 months at 110.64 ± 20.79 (p < 0.05) and left ventricular mass index [LVMI] changed in 6 months from 70 ± 16.89 to 59.626 ± 15.35 (p < 0.001) reaching a value of 57.53 ± 11.18 (p < 0.05) at 12 months. The mean 10-year risk of death due to CVD calculated was significantly reduced from 5.45 ± 6.6 to 2.8 ± 1.7% at 6 months (p < 0.05). This significant decrease in CVD risk has a positive correlation with the decrease in CIMT over 6 months showing a correlation coefficient of 0.018 with statistically significant analysis (p value < 0.05). CONCLUSION: We observed a significant reduction in CIMT & improvement in 2D ECHO parameters at 6 after LSG although no statistically significant change was observed in mean right CIMT & EF at 6 months.

Diagnostic and prognostic role of serum interleukin-6 and carotid ultrasonography to detect subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with RA and ANCA-associated vasculitis.

ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) can affect multiple organs with severe life-threatening manifestations. Disease monitoring is difficult due to a lack of defined biomarkers. We aimed to assess the diagnostic role of serum interleukin-6 and vascular ultrasonography in AAV and subclinical atherosclerosis. The study included 20 AAV patients and two control groups of 34 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 35 healthy controls. The levels of Il-6, carotid intima-media thickness test (CIMT), atherosclerotic plaque, and degree of stenosis were investigated. A GRACE-risk score was calculated for AAV and RA patients. The AAV patients had elevated levels of IL-6 (115 ± 23.96) compared to the RA patients (91.25 ± 42.63) and the healthy controls (15.65 ± 3.30), p < 0.001. IL-6 showed a diagnostic accuracy of 73% in distinguishing AAV from RA patients (AUC = 0.730; 95% CI 0.591 to 0834). In the AAV group, CIMT was 1.09, above the upper reference value of 0.90, p < 0.001. The AAV patients had a higher median GRACE risk score, and 60% of them had a high risk of cardiovascular events as compared to 35% of the RA patients. Sonography of extracranial vessels and serum levels of IL-6 can be used in daily clinical practice to diagnose and monitor patients with AAV.

Increased carotid intima-media thickness in patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis compared to controls and associations with markers of inflammation.

OBJECTIVE: There is an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (r-axSpA). In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to, overall and stratified by sex, (i) compare ultrasound derived carotid intima media thickness (cIMT), between patients and controls, and (ii) investigate associations between cIMT, clinical disease activity and inflammation-related laboratory markers in patients with r-axSpA. METHOD: In total, 155 patients diagnosed with r-axSpA using the modified New York criteria and 400 controls were included. Bilateral carotid ultrasound, laboratory testing, and questionaries were acquired. Disease-specific assessments were carried out for patients. Linear regression analysis was used to assess associations. RESULTS: Linear regression analyses showed that patients with r-axSpA had increased mean cIMT compared to controls (mean ± SD, 0.8 ± 0.1 mm vs 0.7± 0.1 mm, respectively, unstandardized ß (95% CI) -0.076 (-0.10, -0.052), P < 0.001) adjusted for smoking status and age. Linear regression analyses for patients with r-axSpA showed that only males presented significant associations between cIMT and inflammation-related laboratory markers, white blood cell (WBC) count (mean ± SD, 6.8 ± 1.6 109/L) and monocytes (0.6 ± 0.2 109/L); WBC count (unstandardized ß (95% CI) 0.019 (0.0065, 0.031), P = 0.003, R2 = 0.57) and monocytes (0.13 (0.0047, 0.26), P = 0.041, R2 = 0.55), adjusted for age, smoking status, body mass index, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, ASDAS-CRP, and treatment with DMARDs and glucocorticoids. No significant association was found between cIMT and clinical disease activity assessed by ASDAS-CRP. CONCLUSION: Patients with r-axSpA had significantly increased cIMT compared to controls. In male patients, higher WBC and monocyte count were associated with an increase in cIMT suggesting the role of inflammation in the development of atherosclerosis. Key Points •Carotid intima-media thickness was increased in patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis compared to controls. •White blood cell and monocyte counts were associated with carotid intima-media thickness in male patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis.

Unlocking the Dietary Puzzle: How Macronutrient Intake Shapes the Relationship between Visfatin and Atherosclerosis in Type 2 Diabetes.

Background and Objectives. Optimal nutrition for type 2 diabetes (T2DM) aims to improve glycemic control by promoting weight loss and reducing adipose tissue, consequently improving cardiovascular health. Dietary alterations can influence adipose tissue metabolism and potentially impact adipocytokines like visfatin, thereby affecting atherosclerosis development. This study aimed to investigate dietary habits and adherence to recommendations among individuals with T2DM and to examine how dietary adherence influences the association between visfatin and subclinical atherosclerosis. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional multicenter study involved 216 adults (30-70 years) with T2DM, assessing dietary habits, adherence to recommendations (carbohydrates, fats, protein, fiber, saturated fatty acid, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acid (PUFA and MUFA) and salt), and the association between visfatin and subclinical atherosclerosis. Participants completed 24 h dietary recalls; dietary misreporting was assessed using the Goldberg cut-off method. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque occurrence were evaluated with ultrasound, while visfatin levels were measured using Luminex's xMAP technology. Results: Three of the eight recommendations were followed in 31% of subjects, two in 26%, and four in 20%, with the highest adherence to MUFA and protein intake. Significant correlations between IMT and visfatin were observed in individuals with specific dietary patterns. The association between IMT and visfatin persisted when PUFA and MUFA intake aligned with recommendations. PUFA intake ≤ 10% and MUFA ≤ 20% of total energy significantly correlated with carotid artery IMT (p = 0.010 and p = 0.006, respectively). Visfatin's associations with IMT remained significant (p = 0.006) after adjusting for common risk factors, medication use, and dietary nonadherence. No association was observed with carotid artery plaque. Conclusions: Dietary compliance was limited, as only 31% adhered even to three of eight recommendations. A common dietary pattern characterized by low carbohydrate and fiber but high fat, total fat, saturated fat, and salt intake was identified. This pattern amplifies the statistical association between visfatin and subclinical atherosclerosis.

An Evaluation of Plasma TNF, VEGF-A, and IL-6 Determination as a Risk Marker of Atherosclerotic Vascular Damage in Early-Onset CAD Patients.

Background: The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis is multifactorial and diverse. Pro-inflammatory cytokines are involved in these processes. It is suggested that inflammation may represent a novel and modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Therefore, this study aimed to gain insight into the relationship between plasma concentrations of TNF, VEGF, IL-6, and radiological parameters of atherosclerosis progression in patients with early-onset coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: Seventy clinically stable patients were included in the study group. The age range for men was no more than 50 years, while for women, it was no more than 55 years. Fasting blood samples were obtained for plasma TNF, VEGF, and IL-6 protein measurements. Plasma cytokine concentrations were measured via ELISA. Doppler ultrasound of the carotid and peripheral arteries was performed in all patients. Results: After Bonferroni correction, there were no significant correlations between any cytokine and radiological parameters of atherosclerosis progression in our patients. Conclusions: The determination of plasma TNF, IL-6, and VEGF levels may not be a reliable marker for the vascular condition, and the measurement of these cytokines in plasma cannot replace the classical radiological examination of the vessels.

A Siamese ResNeXt network for predicting carotid intimal thickness of patients with T2DM from fundus images.

Objective: To develop and validate an artificial intelligence diagnostic model based on fundus images for predicting Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (CIMT) in individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Methods: In total, 1236 patients with T2DM who had both retinal fundus images and CIMT ultrasound records within a single hospital stay were enrolled. Data were divided into normal and thickened groups and sent to eight deep learning models: convolutional neural networks of the eight models were all based on ResNet or ResNeXt. Their encoder and decoder modes are different, including the standard mode, the Parallel learning mode, and the Siamese mode. Except for the six unimodal networks, two multimodal networks based on ResNeXt under the Parallel learning mode or the Siamese mode were embedded with ages. Performance of eight models were compared via the confusion matrix, precision, recall, specificity, F1 value, and ROC curve, and recall was regarded as the main indicator. Besides, Grad-CAM was used to visualize the decisions made by Siamese ResNeXt network, which is the best performance. Results: Performance of various models demonstrated the following points: 1) the RexNeXt showed a notable improvement over the ResNet; 2) the structural Siamese networks, which extracted features parallelly and independently, exhibited slight performance enhancements compared to the traditional networks. Notably, the Siamese networks resulted in significant improvements; 3) the performance of classification declined if the age factor was embedded in the network. Taken together, the Siamese ResNeXt unimodal model performed best for its superior efficacy and robustness. This model achieved a recall rate of 88.0% and an AUC value of 90.88% in the validation subset. Additionally, heatmaps calculated by the Grad-CAM algorithm presented concentrated and orderly mappings around the optic disc vascular area in normal CIMT groups and dispersed, irregular patterns in thickened CIMT groups. Conclusion: We provided a Siamese ResNeXt neural network for predicting the carotid intimal thickness of patients with T2DM from fundus images and confirmed the correlation between fundus microvascular lesions and CIMT.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Infarct Volume Correlates with Carotid Intima-Media Thickness and Plaque Echotexture in Ischemic Stroke.

Objective: To determine the correlation between cerebral infarct volume, carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), and plaque echotexture in patients with ischemic stroke. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 70 patients with ischemic stroke who were imaged using the head coil of a 1.5T Toshiba magnetic resonance machine. The volumes of infarcts were documented and calculated using the manual tracing of the infarct perimeter method. The common carotid CIMT was measured on ultrasound using a linear high-frequency 7.5 MHz transducer. Results: Seventy subjects were evaluated. The mean magnetic resonance imaging cerebral infarct volume was 8.07% volume. Hyperechoic plaques were the most prevalent (36.7%) compared to the hypoechoic (33.3%) and isoechoic (30%) plaques. There was a moderate positive correlation between CIMT and infarct volume (r = 0.70; P = 0.001) in the entire study population. Similarly, positive correlations between CIMT and infarct volume were recorded in both the male (r = 0.73; P = 0.001) and female (r = 0.67; P = 0.001) subjects. Furthermore, subjects who presented in the acute phase (1-3 days) of ictus showed a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.621; P = 0.0001) between CIMT and infarct volume, while there was a strong positive correlation (r = 0.74; P = 0.0001) in subjects that presented in the subacute phase (4-7 days). Conclusion: Common carotid artery CIMT correlated positively with cerebral infarct volume in patients with ischemic stroke. Furthermore, hyperechoic plaques were associated with significantly larger infarct volumes compared to hypoechoic and isoechoic plaques.