Association of metabolic syndrome with carotid atherosclerosis in the young North Indian population

Osteoprotegerin as an Emerging Biomarker of Carotid Artery Stenosis? A Scoping Review with Meta-Analysis

Objective: In developed countries, stroke is the fifth cause of death, with a high mortality rate, and with recovery to normal neurological function in one-third of survivors. Atherosclerotic occlusive disease of the extracranial part of the internal carotid artery and related embolic complications are common preventable causes of ischemic stroke (IS), attributable to 7-18% of all first-time cases. Osteoprotegerin (OPG), a soluble member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) superfamily, is considered a modulator of vascular calcification linked to vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and collagen production in atherosclerotic plaques. Therefore, OPG emerges as a potential biomarker (BM) of calcified carotid plaques and carotid artery stenosis (CAS). Methods: We performed a literature search of PubMed on OPG in CAS and atherosclerosis published until 2024. Results: Increased levels of serum OPG were reported in both patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic CAS, and higher values were observed in those with unstable atherosclerotic plaques. Notably, increased OPG levels were observed regardless of the location of atherosclerosis, including coronary and other peripheral arteries. In addition, chronic kidney disease, the most significant confounder disturbing the association between vascular damage and circulating OPG levels, decreases the usefulness of OPG as a BM in CAS. Conclusions: Osteoprotegerin may be considered an emerging BM of global rather than cerebrovascular atherosclerosis. Its diagnostic significance in identifying patients with asymptomatic CAS and their monitoring is limited.

Using eZIS of SPECT to evaluate the therapeutic effect of carotid endarterectomy

OBJECTIVE

Stroke is an acute cerebrovascular disease with high morbidity and mortality. The main causes of ischemic stroke include carotid artery stenosis, and carotid endarterectomy (CEA) can be used to improve the blood flow of the lesion site. Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) can be decreased by using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). The Easy Z-Score imaging system (eZIS) can display the changes of rCBF as Z-Score. The purpose of this study was to determine whether eZIS of SPECT can be used to evaluate the therapeutic effect of CEA in the treatment of carotid artery stenosis.

METHODS

In this study, subjects were divided into the surgery group and the control group. The surgery group included seven patients with unilateral or bilateral internal carotid artery stenosis who received CEA treatment, and the control group included 11 patients who only received conventional drug treatment but did not receive surgery. Cerebral perfusion imaging (CPI) was collected twice before and after the corresponding treatment (within 6 months). rCBF of the lesion site was measured and Z-score was calculated before and after treatment by the eZIS technique.

RESULTS

The postoperative Z-score of the surgery group was 0.54 ± 2.71 compared with that of the preoperative -1.34 ± 2.68 ( P  = 0.0034; t  = 4.687; df  = 6), while the z-score of the control group was -0.33 ± 2.58 compared with that of the pretreatment 1.84 ± 2.62 ( P  = 0.0010; t  = 4.618; df  = 10).

CONCLUSION

CEA can effectively improve the blood flow in the lesion area of patients with carotid artery stenosis. eZIS of SPECT can be used to evaluate the therapeutic effect of CEA on carotid artery stenosis visually.

Association between behavioural risk factors and metabolic syndrome among adult population in India: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

AIMS

The impact of behavioural risk factors on the metabolic syndrome has not been well understood by the researchers. This information is important to the policymakers for developing effective strategies and implement relevant policies or programs. Hence, we undertook this meta-analysis to estimate the effect of behavioural risk factors on the burden of metabolic syndrome.

DATA SYNTHESIS

We conducted a search in the databases, such as PubMed Central, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Cochrane library, and search engines, such as ScienceDirect and Google Scholar, from inception until March 2021. We used the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) to assess the quality of published studies. We carried out a meta-analysis with random-effects model and reported pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). In total, we analysed 30 studies with 41,090 participants. The majority of the studies had good to satisfactory quality as per NOS. Physical activity had a statistically significant association with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (pooled OR = 1.57; 95%CI: 1.28 to 1.93, I2 = 91%). However, smoking (pooled OR = 0.96; 95%CI: 0.75 to 1.23, I2 = 90.5%) and alcohol (pooled OR = 1.00; 95%CI: 0.75 to 1.33, I2 = 90.8%) did not reveal a statistically significant association with the burden of metabolic syndrome.

CONCLUSION

Physical inactivity was found to be a significant risk factor for metabolic syndrome. Given the evidence, it is important that the clinicians and policymakers are alike to recommend regular physical activity among the patients and general population.

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome among adult population in India: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

This review was done to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) among adult general population in India. We also wanted to find the gender, setting, and region-wide distribution of MS in India.

METHODS

We conducted systematic searches in various databases including Medline, ScienceDirect, Cochrane library and Google Scholar from inception until August 2019. We included studies conducted in India reporting the prevalence of MS among adults aged 18 years or more. We used the Newcastle Ottawa scale to assess the quality of included studies. We carried out a meta-analysis with random-effects model and reported pooled prevalence with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We used the Funnel plot to assess publication biases.

RESULTS

In total, we analysed 113 data from 111 studies with 133,926 participants. Majority of the included studies (76 out of 111) had low risk of bias. We found significant heterogeneity among the included studies (p<0.001). We also found a symmetrical funnel plot indicating an absence of publication bias. The prevalence of MS among adult population in India was 30% (95%CI: 28%-33%). There was a steady increase in the burden across the age groups from 13% (18-29 years group) to 50% (50-59 years). We also found that people living in urban areas (32%; 95%CI: 29%-36%) had higher prevalence when compared to tribal (28%; 95%CI: 21%-36%) or rural adults (22%; 95%CI: 20%-25%). Gender distribution of MS showed that the females had higher prevalence (35%; 95%CI: 31%-38%) when compared to males 26% (95%CI: 22%-29%).

CONCLUSION

Almost one in three adults in India suffer from MS. Females, people living in urban areas and in northeast region had higher prevalence of MS. Development and implementation of policies and protocols for the screening of MS would enable us in early diagnosis and treatment with special focus towards the vulnerable and high-risk groups.

Weight loss therapy for clinical management of patients with some atherosclerotic diseases: a randomized clinical trial

Background

The prevalence and burden of atherosclerotic (AS) diseases are increasing during the last twenty years. Some studies show a close relationship between overweight and AS, but influence on AS diseases of different weight loss methods are still studying. The purpose of the research was to study the effectiveness of a weight loss program in AS patients in randomized controlled trial, and to develop a conception of evolution of AS.

Methods

A randomized controlled prospective clinical trial including 97 people, from them 71 patients with various AS manifestations. Patients were divided in 2 subgroups for non-drug weight loss program, and conventional drug therapy. The weight loss program included calorie restriction with 100–150 kcal/day, fat-free vegetables, salt diet, and optimum physical activity. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS for Windows version 17.0.

Results

The weight loss subgroup lost ranging between 7-20 % from an initial weight (P = 0.016). Weight loss was achieved due to fatty mass reduction only (P = 0.005). Hemoglobin levels (P < 0.001), bone mineral density (P < 0.001), percentages of water (P = 0.006) and muscle masses (P = 0.0038) were increased in weight loss subgroup. Ejection fraction (P < 0.0001), systolic output (P < 0.0001) were increased in patients with coronary artery disease. The weight loss program led to a decrease in symptomatic drugs doses up to total abolition. A conception of AS was developed.

Conclusions

The weight loss program treated the AS diseases; improved laboratory and instrumental parameters, decreased symptomatic drugs doses. AS development is a logical way of ontogenetic ageing of body fat.

Trial international registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01700075.

Trial national registration

State registration is # 0109RK000079, code is O.0475 at the National Center for Scientific and Technical Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Metabolic syndrome and the short-term prognosis of acute ischemic stroke: a hospital-based retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is an important risk factor for cerebral ischemic stroke, yet previous studies on the relationship between MetS or its components and acute cerebral infarction have been inconsistent. This study aims to evaluate the effects of MetS and its components on the short-term prognosis of patients with acute ischemic stroke.

METHODS

Subjects with ischemic stroke of <7-day duration (530 cases) were enrolled. MetS was defined based on the modified criteria of the International Diabetes Federation and the American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Demographic data, vascular risk factors, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, the results of physical, laboratory and imaging examinations and clinical outcomes at 30 and 90 days were recorded. Using univariate analysis, we compared different baseline characteristics between patients with MetS and those without MetS. Further, we assessed MetS and its 5 components on the contribution to short-term prognosis of ischemic stroke with multiple logistic regression models after adjusting for age and sex.

RESULTS

The prevalence of MetS among the patients with acute ischemic stroke in the study is 58.3%, with more in females (70.3%) than in males (49.7%, p < 0.001). As expected, among the MetS components, elevated waist circumference, elevated triglyceride, high fasting blood glucose and low high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were significantly more prevalent in patients with MetS than those without MetS (all p < 0.001). There was no correlation between MetS itself and the short-term prognosis of acute ischemic stroke. Only hyperglycemia in the serum was shown to have impact on poor functional outcomes in 30 and 90 days after the onset of stroke.

CONCLUSIONS

The occurrence of MetS among patients with acute ischemic stroke in our study is 58.3%. MetS itself may not be predictive for the short-term prognosis of patients, while hyperglycemia is a significant predictor for poor functional outcomes in our study.

Medical and Revascularization Therapies for Asymptomatic Carotid Stenosis

Asymptomatic internal carotid artery stenosis increases with age and is more common in men. Carotid endarterectomy and stenting have reduced stroke rates in patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis in clinical trials. A variety of risk stratification methods are available for selection of patients with carotid stenosis for revascularization. In the past decade, there is increasing evidence that the rate of stroke declined with the use of aggressive multi-modal medical therapy. These developments have led to new clinical trials to compare revascularization versus aggressive medical therapy in patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis.

Low intensive lifestyle modification in young adults with metabolic syndrome a community-based interventional study in Taiwan

The study aims to find whether a low intensity lifestyle modification (LILM) program was effective to achieve weight reduction and improves metabolic syndrome in young adults. Our study prospectively enrolled young adults aged 30 to 45 years with metabolic syndrome in northeastern Taiwan from June 1, 2008 to December 31, 2009. The participants in the intervention group attended a LILM program for 6 months, which included 4 interactive group discussion sessions and weekly phone contact with volunteer counselors. Participants in the comparison group, however, attended only 1 noninteractive session on diet and physical activity. The main outcomes measured the weight reduction and prevalence of metabolic syndrome in intervention and comparison groups. Generalized estimating equation modeling was used to analyze the effects at baseline, during the study, and postcompletion of the program. Compared with comparison group, the intervention group showed significantly greater reductions in body weight (-2.95 ± 3.52 vs -0.76 ± 2.76  kg, P < 0.0001) and body mass index (-1.03 ± 1.25 vs -0.30 ± 1.16  kg/m(2), P < 0.0001). After adjustment for potential confounders, a modest decrease in body weight resulted in a statistically significant 43.32% resolution in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the intervention group compared with 33.64% in the comparison group (P < 0.01).The 6-month LILM program is not only effective in weight reduction but also an efficient intervention tool of metabolic syndrome in a community setting. The program with restricted manpower and limited medical resources can be practically transferred into primary care in rural area.

Metabolic syndrome and early carotid atherosclerosis in the elderly

AIMS

To investigate whether metabolic syndrome(MetS) can predict the new onset of carotid plaque or the progression of carotid intima-media thickness(C-IMT) and identify other associated factors in an elderly population without evidence of early carotid atherosclerosis.

METHODS

B-mode carotid ultrasonography was used to assess the presence of carotid plaque and the C-IMT at baseline and follow-up. Participants with carotid plaque or an increased C-IMT(≥1.0mm) at baseline were excluded from the study. The new occurrence of carotid plaque, defined as early carotid atherosclerosis and the progression of C-IMT, was evaluated. Multiple regression analyses were used to determine predictors of these findings.

RESULTS

A total of 370 participants over 60 years of age(median age=66 years, 34.1% men) were enrolled. After a median follow-up period of 25 months, 64 participants(17.3%) had newly developed carotid plaque. After adjusting for variables determined to be statistically significant in univariate analyses, a multivariable regression analysis showed that predictors of newly developed carotid plaque were metabolic syndrome(hazard ratio [HR]=1.916; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.059-3.466), white blood cell count(HR=1.313; 95% CI: 1.094-1.576) and vitamin B12(HR=1.001; 95% CI: 1.000-1.002) and total cholesterol(HR=1.009; 95% CI: 1.001-1.017) levels. A multiple linear regression analysis showed that the rate of change for C-IMT tended to be associated with the development of metabolic syndrome.

CONCLUSIONS

Metabolic syndrome is associated with the progression of early carotid atherosclerosis in the general population, suggesting that metabolic syndrome plays an important role in initiating the atherosclerotic process.

Significance of the presence of metabolic syndrome in patients with asymptomatic arteriosclerosis affecting the aorta and the cerebral, extra-cranial carotid and coronary arteries

OBJECTIVE

The presence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is strongly associated with stroke and cardiovascular diseases. However, the relationship between MetS and the localization of atherosclerosis at various sites remains uncertain. In this study, in order to reveal the relevance of MetS to atherosclerosis at several sites, we investigated the relationships among vascular risk factors, asymptomatic cerebral infarction and atherosclerosis in the aorta and carotid and coronary arteries in adults without overtly symptomatic cerebrovascular or cardiovascular disease.

METHODS

The subjects in this study included 2,759 Japanese participants (1,845 men and 914 women, mean age: 52 years) with no history of stroke or cardiovascular events. The diagnosis of MetS was made based on modifications to criteria obtained from the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel. In all subjects, the presence of cerebral infarction in the extra-cranial carotid, coronary and aortic arteries was investigated using MRI, B-mode ultrasonography and CT.

RESULTS

Of the 2,759 subjects, 796 (28.9%) fulfilled the criteria for MetS. The presence of MetS increased the odds ratio (OR) to 1.89 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.35-2.65, p-value <0.0001) for asymptomatic cerebral infarction, 1.70 (95% CI: 1.37-2.10, p-value <0.0001) for carotid arteriosclerosis, 2.07 (95% CI: 1.62-2.27, p-value <0.0001) for coronary calcification and 1.67 (95% CI: 1.33-2.09, p-value<0.0001) for aortic calcification.

CONCLUSION

The presence of MetS was found to be significantly correlated with arteriosclerosis in all regions, including the cerebral small-vessels, extra-cranial carotid arteries, coronary arteries and abdominal aorta. MetS might be a predictor for small and large vessel disease throughout the body.