Burden of ischemic heart disease and its attributable risk factors in 204 countries and territories, 1990-2019

Cardiac comorbidities in McArdle disease: case report and systematic review

INTRODUCTION AND METHODS

Myophosphorylase deficiency, also known as McArdle disease or Glycogen Storage Disease type V (GSD-V), is an autosomal recessive metabolic myopathy that results in impaired glycogen breakdown in skeletal muscle. Despite being labelled as a "pure myopathy," cardiac involvement has been reported in some cases, including various cardiac abnormalities such as electrocardiographic changes, coronary artery disease, and cardiomyopathy. Here, we present a unique case of a 72-year-old man with GSD-V and both mitral valvulopathy and coronary artery disease, prompting a systematic review to explore the existing literature on cardiac comorbidities in McArdle disease.

RESULTS

Our systematic literature revision identified 7 case reports and 1 retrospective cohort study. The case reports described 7 GSD-V patients, averaging 54.3 years in age, mostly male (85.7%). Coronary artery disease was noted in 57.1% of cases, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in 28.5%, severe aortic stenosis in 14.3%, and genetic dilated cardiomyopathy in one. In the retrospective cohort study, five out of 14 subjects (36%) had coronary artery disease.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Despite McArdle disease primarily affecting skeletal muscle, cardiac involvement has been observed, especially coronary artery disease, the frequency of which was moreover found to be higher in McArdle patients than in the background population in a previous study from a European registry. Exaggerated cardiovascular responses during exercise and impaired glycolytic metabolism have been speculated as potential contributors. A comprehensive cardiological screening might be recommended for McArdle disease patients to detect and manage cardiac comorbidities. A multidisciplinary approach is crucial to effectively manage both neurological and cardiac aspects of the disease and improve patient outcomes. Further research is required to establish clearer pathophysiological links between McArdle disease and cardiac manifestations in order to clarify the existing findings.

A global analysis of the burden of ischemic heart disease attributable to diet low in fiber between 1990 and 2019

AIM

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) represents a major cardiovascular condition heavily influenced by dietary factors. This study endeavors to assess the global, regional, and temporal impact of low-fiber diets on the burden of IHD.

METHOD

Leveraging data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 study, we analyzed the worldwide burden of IHD resulting from diet low in fiber using indices including death and disability-adjusted life years (DALY). This burden was further segmented based on variables including regions and countries. To track the evolution from 1990 to 2019, we utilized the Joinpoint regression model to estimate the temporal trend of IHD burden stemming from low-fiber diets.

RESULTS

In 2019, a total of 348.85 thousand (95%UI: 147.57, 568.31) deaths and 7942.96 thousand (95%UI: 3373.58,12978.29) DALY (95% UI: 707.88, 1818) of IHD were attributed to diet low in fiber globally. These figures correspond to 3.82% of all IHD deaths and 4.36% of total IHD DALYs. The age-standardized death and DALY rates per 100,000 individuals were 4.48 (95% UI: 1.90,7.27) and 97.4(95%UI: 41.44, 158.88) respectively. However, significant regional disparities emerged in these age-standardized rates, with South Asia and Central Asia experiencing the highest rates. Between 1990 and 2019, we observed that most regions displayed a downward trend of the age-standardized DALY and death rate of IHD resulting from low-fiber diets, except for Central Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Sub-Saharan Africa.

CONCLUSION

Our analysis underscores the substantial toll of IHD associated with low-fiber diets, particularly considering the significant regional variations. Therefore, it is imperative to sustain efforts to implement effective measures aimed at enhancing fiber intake worldwide, particularly in countries with lower socio-demographic indices.

Engineered model of heart tissue repair for exploring fibrotic processes and therapeutic interventions

Advancements in human-engineered heart tissue have enhanced the understanding of cardiac cellular alteration. Nevertheless, a human model simulating pathological remodeling following myocardial infarction for therapeutic development remains essential. Here we develop an engineered model of myocardial repair that replicates the phased remodeling process, including hypoxic stress, fibrosis, and electrophysiological dysfunction. Transcriptomic analysis identifies nine critical signaling pathways related to cellular fate transitions, leading to the evaluation of seventeen modulators for their therapeutic potential in a mini-repair model. A scoring system quantitatively evaluates the restoration of abnormal electrophysiology, demonstrating that the phased combination of TGFβ inhibitor SB431542, Rho kinase inhibitor Y27632, and WNT activator CHIR99021 yields enhanced functional restoration compared to single factor treatments in both engineered and mouse myocardial infarction model. This engineered heart tissue repair model effectively captures the phased remodeling following myocardial infarction, providing a crucial platform for discovering therapeutic targets for ischemic heart disease.

Exploring the predictive values of CRP and lymphocytes in coronary artery disease based on a machine learning and Mendelian randomization

Purpose

To investigate the predictive value of leukocyte subsets and C-reactive protein (CRP) in coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods

We conducted a Mendelian randomization analysis (MR) on leukocyte subsets, C-reactive protein (CRP) and CAD, incorporating data from 68,624 patients who underwent coronary angiography from 2010 to 2022. After initial screening, clinical data from 46,664 patients were analyzed. Techniques employed included propensity score matching (PSM), logistic regression, lasso regression, and random forest algorithms (RF). Risk factors were assessed, and the sensitivity and specificity of the models were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Additionally, survival analysis was conducted based on a 36-month follow-up period.

Results

The inverse variance weight (IVW) analysis showed that basophil count (OR 0.92, 95% CI: 0.84-1.00, P = 0.048), CRP levels (OR 0.87, 95% CI: 0.73-1.00, P = 0.040), and lymphocyte count (OR 1.10, 95% CI: 1.04-1.16, P = 0.001) are significant risk factors for CAD. Using LASSO regression, logistic regression, and RF analysis, both CRP and lymphocyte counts were consistently identified as risk factors for CAD, prior to and following PSM. The ROC curve analysis indicated that the combination of lymphocyte and CRP levels after PSM achieves a higher diagnostic value (0.85). Survival analysis revealed that high lymphocyte counts and low CRP levels are associated with a decreased risk of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events (MACE) (P < 0.001). Conversely, a higher CRP level combined with lymphocyte counts correlates with a poorer prognosis.

Conclusion

There is a causal relationship between lymphocytes, CRP and CAD. The combined assessment of CRP and lymphocytes offers diagnostic value for CAD. Furthermore, high CRP levels coupled with low lymphocyte counts are associated with a poor prognosis.

The predictive value of mBDNF for major adverse cardiovascular events in stable coronary artery disease patients with depressive symptoms: A single-center, 5-year follow-up study

BACKGROUND

Myokines play vital roles in both stable coronary artery disease (SCAD) and depression. Meanwhile, there is a pressing necessity to find effective biomarkers for early predictor of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in SCAD patients with depressive symptoms.

METHODS

A single-center, 5-year follow-up study was investigated. MACE was defined as composite end points, including cardiovascular death, non-fatal stroke, non-fatal myocardial infarction, coronary artery revascularization, or hospitalization for unstable angina.

RESULTS

A total of 116 SCAD patients were enrolled, consisting of 30 cases (25.9%) without depressive symptoms and 86 cases (74.1%) with depressive symptoms. During the follow-up, 3 patients (2.6%) were lost. Out of 113 patients, 51 (45.1%) experienced MACE. In the subgroup of 84 SCAD patients with depressive symptoms, 44 cases (52.4%) of MACE were observed. Finally, mature brain-derived neurotrophic factor (mBDNF), pro-brain-derived neurotrophic factor, receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand, smoking history, hypertension and cystatin C were incorporated into the predictive model.

CONCLUSIONS

Depressive symptoms represent an independent risk factor for MACE in patients with SCAD. Additionally, low mBDNF expression may be an important early predictor for MACE in SCAD patients with depressive symptoms. The predictive model may exhibit a commendable predictive performance for MACE in SCAD patients with depressive symptoms.

Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 2 rs671 G/A and a/A Genotypes are Associated with the Risk of Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) is a key catalytic enzyme involved in the aldehyde metabolism that plays an important role in the occurrence and development of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, the relationship of ALDH2 polymorphism and susceptibility to AMI may differ among different regions and populations, and it has not yet been reported in Hakka population. The purpose of the present study was to investigate it in this population.

Methods

Four hundred and nineteen AMI patients and 636 individuals without AMI were included in the present study. The ALDH2 rs671 polymorphism was genotyped using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-microarray. Differences in ALDH2 rs671 genotypes and alleles between patients and controls were compared, and the relationship between ALDH2 rs671 genotypes and AMI risk was analyzed.

Results

Patients with AMI had a lower frequency of ALDH2 rs671 G/G genotype (43.2% vs 52.7%, p=0.003), and a higher G/A genotype (45.6% vs 38.5%, p=0.025) than controls. And AMI patients had a lower frequency of ALDH2 rs671 G allele (66.0% vs 71.9%), and a higher A allele (34.0% vs 28.1%) (p=0.004) than controls. Logistic regression analysis showed that overweight (body mass index (BMI)≥24.0 kg/m2 vs BMI 18.5-23.9 kg/m2: odds ratio (OR) 2.046, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.520-2.754, p<0.001), history of hypertension (yes vs no: OR 3.464, 95% CI: 2.515-4.770, p<0.001), ALDH2 rs671 G/A genotype (G/A vs G/G: OR 1.476, 95% CI: 1.102-1.976, p=0.009), and A/A genotype (A/A vs G/G: OR 1.656, 95% CI: 1.027-2.668, p=0.038) maybe the independent risk factors for AMI.

Conclusion

Overweight (BMI≥24.0 kg/m2), a history of hypertension, and ALDH2 rs671 G/A or A/A genotypes increased the risk of developing AMI in Hakka population.

Global, regional, and national burden of ischaemic heart disease and its attributable risk factors in youth from 1990 to 2019: a Global Burden of Disease study

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to analyse the global, regional, and national burdens of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) in adults aged 15-49 years and its attributable risk factors from 1990 to 2019.

STUDY DESIGN

Epidemiological study.

METHODS

Data were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2019. The estimated annual percentage change was used to evaluate temporal trends in incidence, deaths, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of youth IHD. We selected IHD-associated risk factors, including five environmental/occupational factors, 16 behavioural risks, and five metabolic factors. We computed the age-standardised rates and percentage of age-standardised DALY rates attributable to these factors of youth IHD.

RESULTS

Globally, there were 2.26 million cases of incidence, 0.63 million deaths, and 30.58 million DALYs in 2019. The age-standardised incidence, death, and DALY rates decreased from 1990 to 2019, whereas the absolute number of incidences, deaths, and DALYs increased significantly. Globally, approximately 94.1% of age-standardised DALY rates from IHD in youths aged 15-49 years are attributable to risk factors listed in the GBD 2019 dataset. The leading global and regional risk factors for youth IHD in 2019 were high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (68.9%), high systolic blood pressure (51.2%), high body mass index (33.1%), smoking (30.5%), and ambient particulate-matter pollution (25.4%).

CONCLUSIONS

The burden of IHD among young people is still heavy, and metabolic risk factors are the leading drivers of IHD. Therefore, formulating relevant policies to control and treat cardiovascular risk factors is an effective measure to reduce the IHD burden in youth.

Association between body shape index and coronary heart disease in individuals over 20 years old with obese

BACKGROUND

While body mass index (BMI) defines obesity as a well-established risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the paradoxical theory of BMI suggests that obesity may indeed have a favorable impact on the prognosis of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, this study aims to assess the correlation between body shape index (ABSI), which is a novel measure of obesity, and coronary heart disease (CHD) among obese individuals in the United States.

METHODS

The data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were evaluated by us for 5046 patients. We assessed the exposure variable ABSI, which includes waist circumference (WC), height, and BMI. The outcome variable was CHD.

RESULTS

The cross-sectional study included a total of 5046 obese adults aged over 20 years, with an average age (standard deviation: SD) of 49.86 (16.24) years and a male proportion of 44.57%.The odds ratio (OR) values for CHD in Model 1, Model 2, 3 were found to be 2.45 (95%CI: 2.12, 2.83), 1.53 (95%CI:1.30, 1.81) and 1.31 (95%CI:1.09, 1.56) per SD increase in ABSI, respectively. In the fully adjusted model, we designated participants in the T1 group as the reference group. Our findings indicate a significant increase in the prevalence of CHD (OR:1.82, 95%CI: 1.07-3.10) only within the T3 group. Although there is an increased prevalence of CHD (OR:1.32, 95%CI: 0.77-2.29) in the T2 group, no statistically significant difference was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

The increase in ABSI is strongly associated with the rise in CHD prevalence among obese individuals in the United States.

Exploring the causality of appendectomy and ischaemic heart disease: a Mendelian randomization study and meta-analysis

Background

The risk of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) is increased in appendectomy patients, but it is not clear whether there is a causal relationship. We aimed to systematically estimate the causal relationship between appendectomy and IHD and its subtypes, acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and angina pectoris (AP), using Mendelian randomization (MR) study methods and meta-analysis.

Methods

As the discovery cohort analysis, we extracted independent genetic variants strongly associated with appendectomy from the FinnGen study (28,601 cases) as instrumental variables (IVs). Genome-wide association study (GWAS) from UK Biobank were selected for outcome data. A first two-sample MR analysis was then conducted. As the replication cohort, IVs associated with appendectomy were extracted in the UK Biobank (50,105 cases). GWAS from the FinnGen study were selected for outcome data. A second MR analysis was then performed. Finally, meta-analyses were applied to assess the combined causal effects of the MR results.

Results

In the discovery cohort, there was a significant positive causal relationship between appendectomy and IHD and its subtypes AMI and AP. The replication cohort only found a positive causal relationship between appendectomy and AMI. Meta-analysis showed a positive causal relationship between appendectomy and IHD (OR: 1.128, 95% CI: 1.067-1.193, P = 2.459e-05), AMI (OR: 1.195, 95% CI: 1.095-1.305, P = 6.898e-05), and AP (OR: 1.087, 95% CI: 1.016-1.164, P = 1.598e-02).

Conclusions

This comprehensive MR analysis suggests that genetically predicted appendectomy may be a risk factor for the development of IHD and its subtypes AMI and AP. We need to continue to pay attention to these links.

Emerging Trends and Innovations in the Treatment and Diagnosis of Atherosclerosis and Cardiovascular Disease: A Comprehensive Review towards Healthier Aging

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are classed as diseases of aging, which are associated with an increased prevalence of atherosclerotic lesion formation caused by such diseases and is considered as one of the leading causes of death globally, representing a severe health crisis affecting the heart and blood vessels. Atherosclerosis is described as a chronic condition that can lead to myocardial infarction, ischemic cardiomyopathy, stroke, and peripheral arterial disease and to date, most pharmacological therapies mainly aim to control risk factors in patients with cardiovascular disease. Advances in transformative therapies and imaging diagnostics agents could shape the clinical applications of such approaches, including nanomedicine, biomaterials, immunotherapy, cell therapy, and gene therapy, which are emerging and likely to significantly impact CVD management in the coming decade. This review summarizes the current anti-atherosclerotic therapies' major milestones, strengths, and limitations. It provides an overview of the recent discoveries and emerging technologies in nanomedicine, cell therapy, and gene and immune therapeutics that can revolutionize CVD clinical practice by steering it toward precision medicine. CVD-related clinical trials and promising pre-clinical strategies that would significantly impact patients with CVD are discussed. Here, we review these recent advances, highlighting key clinical opportunities in the rapidly emerging field of CVD medicine.

Metabolic risks remain a serious threat to cardiovascular disease: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Metabolic factors are major and controllable risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), and few studies have described this burden. We aim to assess it from 1990 to 2019 and predict the trends through 2034. Global Burden of Disease (GBD) provides data on sex, age, and socio-demographic index (SDI) levels. Numbers, age-standardized death rates (ASDR) and estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) were used. Future trends were estimated by NORDPRED model. The deaths cases of metabolic-related CVD increased from 8.61 million (95% UI: 7.91-9.29) to 13.71 million (95% UI: 12.24-14.94) globally. The ASDR continued to decline globally (EAPC = -1.36). The burden was heavier in male and middle-aged people and elderly people. CVD-related ASDR caused by high systolic blood pressure (SBP) had a downward trend globally (EAPC = -1.45), while trends of high body mass index (BMI) (EAPC = 1.29, 1.97, 0.92) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (EAPC = 0.95, 1.08, 0.46) were increasing in the middle, low-middle, and low SDI regions, respectively. Compared to 2015-2019, cumulative deaths will increase by 27.85% from 2030 to 2034, while ASDR will decrease 10.47%. The metabolic-related CVD burden remained high globally and deaths will continue to rise in the future. Men, middle-aged and elderly people were focus of concern. High SBP was globally well-managed over the past 30 years, but the CVD burden due to high BMI and FPG remained high. Exceptional initiatives are needed to regarding interventions targeting high BMI and FPG in middle and lower SDI regions.

Remnant cholesterol and risk of major adverse cardiovascular events: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of cohort studies

Emerging evidence indicates a significant role of remnant cholesterol in contributing to the residual risk associated with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). This study aims to evaluate the dose-response relationship between remnant cholesterol and the risk of MACE. PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases were reviewed to identify cohort studies published in English up to 1 August 2023. Twenty-eight articles were selected. Pooled hazard ratios (HR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using fixed or random-effects models to evaluate the association between remnant cholesterol and the risk of MACE. The dose-response relationship between remnant cholesterol levels and the risk of MACE was analyzed using the linear model and restricted cubic spline regression models. For calculated remnant cholesterol levels, the pooled HR (95% CI) of MACE for per 1-SD increase was 1.13 (1.08, 1.17); HR (95% CI) for the second quartile (Q2), the third quartile (Q3) and the highest quartile (Q4) of remnant cholesterol levels were 1.14 (1.03, 1.25), 1.43 (1.23, 1.68) and 1.68 (1.44, 1.97), respectively, compared with the lowest quartile (Q1). For measured remnant cholesterol levels, the pooled HR (95% CI) of MACE per 1-SD increase was 1.67 (1.39, 2.01). The dose-response meta-analysis showed a dose-response relationship between remnant cholesterol levels and the risk of MACE, both on a linear trend (P < 0.0001) and a nonlinear trend (P < 0.0001). The risk of MACE is associated with increased levels of remnant cholesterol, and the dose-response relationship between remnant cholesterol levels and the risk of MACE showed both linear and nonlinear trends.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress signaling modulates ischemia/reperfusion injury in the aged heart by regulating mitochondrial maintenance

Aging is associated with an increased risk of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI). With an increasing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases such as coronary arteriosclerosis in older people, there has been increasing interest in understanding the mechanisms of myocardial IRI to develop therapeutics that can attenuate its damaging effects. Previous studies identified that abnormal mitochondria, involved in cellar senescence and oxidative stress, are the master subcellular organelle that induces IRI. In addition, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is also associated with IRI. Cellular adaptation to ER stress is achieved by the activation of ER molecular chaperones and folding enzymes, which provide an important link between ER stress and oxidative stress gene programs. In this review, we outline how these ER stress-related molecules affect myocardial IRI via the crosstalk of ER stress and mitochondrial homeostasis and discuss how these may offer promising novel therapeutic targets and strategies against age-related cardiovascular diseases.

Vitamin D and Atherosclerosis: Unraveling the Impact on Macrophage Function

Vitamin D plays a crucial role in preventing atherosclerosis and in the regulation of macrophage function. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the clinical evidence regarding the impact of vitamin D on atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, atherosclerotic cerebrovascular disease, peripheral arterial disease, and associated risk factors. Additionally, it explores the mechanistic studies investigating the influence of vitamin D on macrophage function in atherosclerosis. Numerous findings indicate that vitamin D inhibits monocyte or macrophage recruitment, macrophage cholesterol uptake, and esterification. Moreover, it induces autophagy of lipid droplets in macrophages, promotes cholesterol efflux from macrophages, and regulates macrophage polarization. This review particularly focuses on analyzing the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways through which vitamin D modulates macrophage function in atherosclerosis. It claims that vitamin D has a direct inhibitory effect on the formation, adhesion, and migration of lipid-loaded monocytes, thus exerting anti-atherosclerotic effects. Therefore, this review emphasizes the crucial role of vitamin D in regulating macrophage function and preventing the development of atherosclerosis.

Cost prediction for ischemic heart disease hospitalization: Interpretable feature extraction using network analysis

OBJECTIVES

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is a significant contributor to global mortality and disability, imposing a substantial social and economic burden on individuals and healthcare systems. To enhance the efficient allocation of medical resources and ultimately benefit a larger population, accurate prediction of healthcare costs is crucial.

METHODS

We developed an interpretable IHD hospitalization cost prediction model that integrates network analysis with machine learning. Specifically, our network-enhanced model extracts explainable features by leveraging a diagnosis-procedure concurrence network and advanced graph kernel techniques, facilitating the capture of intricate relationships between medical codes.

RESULTS

The proposed model achieved an R2 of 0.804 ± 0.008 and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 17,076 ± 420 CNY on the temporal validation dataset, demonstrating comparable performance to the model employing less interpretable code embedding features (R2: 0.800 ± 0.008; RMSE: 17,279 ± 437 CNY) and the hybrid graph isomorphism network (R2: 0.802 ± 0.007; RMSE: 17,249 ± 387 CNY). The interpretation of the network-enhanced model assisted in pinpointing specific diagnoses and procedures associated with higher hospitalization costs, including acute kidney injury, permanent atrial fibrillation, intra-aortic balloon bump, and temporary pacemaker placement, among others.

CONCLUSION

Our analysis results demonstrate that the proposed model strikes a balance between predictive accuracy and interpretability. It aids in identifying specific diagnoses and procedures associated with higher hospitalization costs, underscoring its potential to support intelligent management of IHD.

Hospital admission and mortality rates for ischemic heart disease in Thailand: 2012-2021

OBJECTIVE

To provide an update on the epidemiology of ischemic heart disease (IHD), including the age-standardized rates of hospital admission and mortality for IHD in Thailand from 2012 to 2021, using the Ministry of Public Health National database.

RESULTS

The overall age-standardized hospital admission rate for IHD decreased from 427.5 per 100,000 people in 2012 to 390.5 per 100,000 in 2021. In men, the age-standardized hospital admission rate was 462.7 per 100,000 people in 2012, reaching 485.8 per 100,000 in 2021, p for trend = 0.141. In women, the age-standardization hospital admission rate for IHD dropped by 24.1% over the decade (p for trend = 0.008). The overall age-standardized IHD mortality rate in 2012 was 23.4 per 100,000 people, peaked at 28.6 per 100,000 in 2016, and reached 26.9 per 100,000 in 2021, p for trend = 0.181. In men, the age-standardized IHD mortality rate rose by 26.6% over a decade, p for trend = 0.004. The age-standardized IHD mortality rate among women was consistent from 2012 to 2021, p for trend = 0.130. However, for people aged < 60, rising trends in IHD mortality rates over a decade were observed; it rose by 59.6% in men and 36.1% in women.

Global Burden of Ischemic Heart Disease in Adolescents and Young Adults, 1990-2019

INTRODUCTION

Few studies have evaluated the global burden of ischemic heart disease (IHD) in adolescents and young adults (AYAs).

METHODS

Age-standardized rates (ASRs) of incidence (ASIR), mortality (ASMR) and Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) (ASDR) were used to describe the burden of IHD in AYAs. Estimated Annual Percentage Changes (EAPCs) of ASRs were used to describe the trend from 1990 to 2019. Risk factors were calculated by population attributable fractions (PAFs). Analyses were conducted in 2023.

RESULTS

In 2019, the ASIR, ASMR, and ASDR of IHD in AYAs were 26.81 (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 20.36-34.54) per 100,000, 7.15 (95% UI: 6.56-7.87) per 100,000 and 409.51 (95% UI: 376.57-449.59) per 100,000. The ASIR and ASMR were higher among men than among women. From 1990 to 2019, the ASIR increased (EAPC=0.18%, 95% CI 0.14%-0.22%), while the ASMR (EAPC=-0.39%, -0.50% to -0.27%) and ASDR (EAPC=-0.40%, -0.52% to -0.29%) decreased. The largest increase in ASIR was observed in countries with a middle sociodemographic index (SDI) (EAPC=0.56%, 0.51%-0.60%). Globally, the proportional contribution of risk factors for DALY varied across regions, with the highest proportions of high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in high SDI regions (PAF=74.26%) and high-middle (PAF=71.30%) and the highest proportions of air pollution in low (PAF=41.79%) and low-middle SDI regions (PAF=40.90%).

CONCLUSIONS

The burden of IHD in AYAs remains high globally, and varies by age, sex, (male/female), region, and country. Targeted measures are needed to address the rising burden of IHD in AYAs, focusing on prevention, early diagnosis, and reduction in disparities.

​Comprehensive mendelian randomization analysis of plasma proteomics to identify new therapeutic targets for the treatment of coronary heart disease and myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

Ischemic heart disease is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, and thus calls for development of more effective therapeutic strategies. This study aimed to identify potential therapeutic targets for coronary heart disease (CHD) and myocardial infarction (MI) by investigating the causal relationship between plasma proteins and these conditions.

METHODS

A two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study was performed to evaluate more than 1600 plasma proteins for their causal associations with CHD and MI. The MR findings were further confirmed through Bayesian colocalization, Summary-data-based Mendelian Randomization (SMR), and Transcriptome-Wide Association Studies (TWAS) analyses. Further analyses, including enrichment analysis, single-cell analysis, MR analysis of cardiovascular risk factors, phenome-wide Mendelian Randomization (Phe-MR), and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction were conducted to verify the roles of selected causal proteins.

RESULTS

Thirteen proteins were causally associated with CHD, seven of which were also causal for MI. Among them, FES and PCSK9 were causal proteins for both diseases as determined by several analytical methods. PCSK9 was a risk factor of CHD (OR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.13-1.38, P = 7.47E-06) and MI (OR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.21-1.54, P = 2.30E-07), whereas FES was protective against CHD (OR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.59-0.79, P = 6.40E-07) and MI (OR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.54-0.77, P = 5.38E-07). Further validation through enrichment and single-cell analysis confirmed the causal effects of these proteins. Moreover, MR analysis of cardiovascular risk factors, Phe-MR, and PPI network provided insights into the potential drug development based on the proteins.

CONCLUSIONS

This study investigated the causal pathways associated with CHD and MI, highlighting the protective and risk roles of FES and PCSK9, respectively. FES. Specifically, the results showed that these proteins are promising therapeutic targets for future drug development.

[High performance liquid chromatography combined with the 2,2'-dithiodipyridine derivatization reaction for determination of different types of free thiols in human serum and analysis of their relationship with coronary heart disease]

Oxidative stress, which is characterized by an imbalance between antioxidants and free radicals, plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease, a common and serious cardiovascular condition, and contributes significantly to its development and progression. Serum free thiols are crucial components of the body's antioxidant defense system. The accurate determination of serum free thiol levels provides a reference basis for understanding the body's status and monitoring the risk factors associated with the occurrence and progression of coronary heart disease. In this study, a high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method based on the derivatization reaction of 2,2'-dithiodipyridine was developed to simultaneously obtain the concentrations of total free thiols (Total-SH), low-molecular-mass free thiols (LMM-SH), and protein-free thiols (P-SH) in human serum. An Agilent Eclipse XDB-C18 column (150 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm) was used for the analysis, and gradient elution was performed at a flow rate of 1 mL/min. A 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution was used as mobile phase A, and a 0.1% formic acid acetonitrile solution was used as mobile phase B. The gradient elution program was as follows: 0-0.1 min, 12%B-30%B; 0.1-2 min, 30%B; 2-2.1 min, 30%B-100%B; 2.1-6 min, 100%B; 6-6.1 min, 100%B-12%B; 6.1-7 min, 12%B. Well-separated peaks appeared after a run time of 5 min. The peak of 2-thiopyridone represented the Total-SH content of the samples, and the peak of the pyridyldithio derivative represented the LMM-SH content. The difference between these two peaks indicated the P-SH content. The derivatization reaction conditions were optimized, and the method was validated. The method demonstrated good linearity, with a correlation coefficient ≥0.9994, over the concentration range of 31.25-1000 μmol/L. The limits of detection for Total-SH and LMM-SH were 2.61 and 0.50 μmol/L, and the limits of quantification for Total-SH and LMM-SH were 8.71 and 1.67 μmol/L, respectively. The recoveries of Total-SH and LMM-SH were in the range of 91.1%-106.0%. The intra- and inter-day precisions ranged from 0.4% to 9.1%. The developed method was used to analyze serum samples from 714 volunteers. The Total-SH concentrations ranged from 376.60 to 781.12 μmol/L, with an average concentration of 555.62 μmol/L. The LMM-SH concentrations varied from 36.37 to 231.65 μmol/L,with an average of 82.34 μmol/L. The P-SH concentrations ranged from 288.36 to 687.74 μmol/L, with an average of 473.27 μmol/L. Spearman's correlation test showed that serum thiol levels were correlated with the severity of coronary artery disease and common clinical biochemical indicators. The proposed study provides a simple and reliable HPLC method for detecting serum free thiols and exploring their relationship with coronary heart disease, offering a new reference for the study of markers related to the risk of coronary heart disease.

Stem Cell Therapy against Ischemic Heart Disease

Ischemic heart disease, which is one of the top killers worldwide, encompasses a series of heart problems stemming from a compromised coronary blood supply to the myocardium. The severity of the disease ranges from an unstable manifestation of ischemic symptoms, such as unstable angina, to myocardial death, that is, the immediate life-threatening condition of myocardial infarction. Even though patients may survive myocardial infarction, the resulting ischemia-reperfusion injury triggers a cascade of inflammatory reactions and oxidative stress that poses a significant threat to myocardial function following successful revascularization. Moreover, despite evidence suggesting the presence of cardiac stem cells, the fact that cardiomyocytes are terminally differentiated and cannot significantly regenerate after injury accounts for the subsequent progression to ischemic cardiomyopathy and ischemic heart failure, despite the current advancements in cardiac medicine. In the last two decades, researchers have realized the possibility of utilizing stem cell plasticity for therapeutic purposes. Indeed, stem cells of different origin, such as bone-marrow- and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells, circulation-derived progenitor cells, and induced pluripotent stem cells, have all been shown to play therapeutic roles in ischemic heart disease. In addition, the discovery of stem-cell-associated paracrine effects has triggered intense investigations into the actions of exosomes. Notwithstanding the seemingly promising outcomes from both experimental and clinical studies regarding the therapeutic use of stem cells against ischemic heart disease, positive results from fraud or false data interpretation need to be taken into consideration. The current review is aimed at overviewing the therapeutic application of stem cells in different categories of ischemic heart disease, including relevant experimental and clinical outcomes, as well as the proposed mechanisms underpinning such observations.

Effect of long-term inorganic nitrate administration on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in ovariectomized rats

Introduction: Menopause is associated with reduced nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability and lower tolerance against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. This study investigated whether long-term nitrate administration provides resistance against myocardial IR injury in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Method: After ovariectomy, female rats were assigned to the OVX and the OVX + nitrate groups (n = 14/group); the latter group consumed nitrate (100 mg/L) for 9 months. At month 9, each group was divided into two subgroups (n = 7/subgroup), of which one subgroup was exposed to myocardial IR (IR+ hearts) and the other was not exposed (IR- hearts). The hearts of rats were isolated, and NO metabolite (NOx), oxidative stress indices, and mRNA expressions of endothelial (eNOS), inducible (iNOS), and neuronal (nNOS) NO synthases, as well as markers of apoptosis, were measured in the IR- and IR+ hearts. In the IR+ hearts, cardiac function indices (CFI) and the infarct size were also measured. Results: Nitrate increased catalase activity (97%) and eNOS expression (2.94-fold) in the IR- hearts. In the IR+ hearts, nitrate reduced left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic pressure (11.6%) and infarct size (26.2%) and increased recovery of LV developed pressure (44.0%) and peak rate of positive (28.9%) and negative (15.4%) changes in LV pressure. In addition, in the IR+ hearts, nitrate increased eNOS and B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) as well as decreased iNOS, Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax), caspase-3, caspase-8, caspase-9, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) expression. Nitrate increased total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and catalase (CAT) activity and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels at month nine in serum and IR+ hearts. Conclusion: The favorable effects of nitrate against IR injury were associated with higher eNOS and Bcl-2 expression, CAT activity, TAC, and lower iNOS, Bax, caspase-3, caspase-8, caspase-9 and TNF-α expression, and MDA in the heart tissue. Nitrate preconditioning alleviated IR-induced myocardial injury in OVX rats; this effect was associated with eNOS upregulation before IR and the blunting of OVX-induced eNOS downregulation, iNOS upregulation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress in heart tissue after IR.

Comprehensive effect of Naoxintong capsule combined with Western medicine on coronary heart disease after percutaneous coronary intervention: a meta-analysis

Aims

To systematically evaluate the comprehensive effect of combining Naoxintong capsule (NXT) with Western medicine (WM) on coronary heart disease post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of NXT for patients with CHD after PCI were systematically searched across multiple databases, including the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP), and Wan Fang, from inception until 31 January 2023. Study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment were performed by two independent reviewers. The quality of the included studies was evaluated using version 2 of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool (RoB 2), and data analysis was performed using R4.2.2.

Results

Fifteen RCTs conducted between 2011 and 2022 and involving 1,551 patients were identified, with 774 and 777 patients in the experimental and control groups respectively. It was found that the NXT and WM combination was superior to the WM therapy alone in terms of the effective clinical rate (odds ratio [OR] = 4.69, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.13-10.30), effective rate in electrocardiogram (OR = 6.92, 95% CI = 3.44-13.92), effective rate in angina (OR = 5.90, 95% CI = 3.04-11.46), left ventricular ejection fraction (mean difference [MD] = 4.94, 95% CI = 2.89-6.99), brain natriuretic peptide (MD = -294.00, 95% CI = -584.60 to -3.39), creatine kinase-MB (MD = -7.82, 95% CI = -13.26 to -2.37), major adverse cardiovascular events (OR = 0.24, 95% CI = 0.14-0.43), maximum platelet aggregation rate (MD = -8.33, 95% CI = -11.64 to -5.01), and Chinese medicine evidence score (OR = 9.79, 95% CI = 3.57-26.85). However, there was no significant difference in cardiac troponin I level reduction (MD = -0.13, 95% CI = 0.35-0.09) or the occurrence of adverse medicine events (OR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.41-2.05). Meta-regression and subgroup analyses indicated that NXT capsule dosage, treatment duration, and patient baseline characteristics contributed to the heterogeneity.

Conclusion

A combination of NXT and WM can improve clinical outcomes in patients undergoing PCI. However, further studies are needed to confirm the reliability and safety of this combined treatment approach.

Systematic Review Registration

PROSPERO, https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=369174, Identifier CRD42022369174.

Fried Frailty Phenotype in Elderly Patients with Chronic Coronary Syndrome: Prevalence, Associated Factors, and Impact on Hospitalization

Purpose

To investigate the prevalence and factors associated with frailty and impact of frailty on hospitalization due to any cause in elderly patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS).

Patients and Methods

We conducted a study wherein we assessed frailty using Fried frailty phenotype for outpatients aged ≥60 years with CCS. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the factors associated with frailty. Frailty was adjusted for demographic and geriatric variables and comorbidities to assess its impact on hospitalization.

Results

Overall, 420 patients (median age 70 years [interquartile range, 65-77]; men, 74.5%) who completed the 3-month follow-up period were analyzed. Coronary revascularization for > 1 year was the most common clinical scenario for CCS (59.8%; n = 251). The prevalence of non-frail, pre-frail, and frail patients were 22.4% (n = 94), 49.7% (n = 209), and 27.9% (n = 117), respectively. In the adjusted model, three factors associated with frailty were age ≥ 75 years (odds ratio [OR] 2.29, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.39-3.75, P = 0.001), limitations in instrumental activity of daily living (OR 3.89, 95% CI 2.33-6.48, P < 0.001), and heart failure (OR 2.30, 95% CI 1.32-4.02, P = 0.003). The overall 3-month hospitalization rate was higher in frail patients than in non-frail patients (23.9% vs 13.5%, P = 0.012). Frailty was associated with hospitalization (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.04-3.30, P = 0.037) but in a weak strength of association (r = 0.126).

Conclusion

The prevalence of frailty was 27.9% in the elderly patients with CCS. Age ≥ 75 years, limitations in functional status, and heart failure were associated with increased odds of frailty. Frailty was a predictor of 3-month all-cause hospitalization in these patients.

The global burden of ischemic heart disease attributed to high fasting plasma glucose: Data from 1990 to 2019

Background

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. High fasting plasma glucose (FPG) is an increasing risk factor for IHD. We aimed to explore the long-term trends of high FPG-attributed IHD mortality during 1990-2019.

Methods

Data were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 database. Deaths, disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), the age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) and age-standardized DALY rate (ASDR) of IHD attributable to high FPG were estimated by sex, socio-demographic index (SDI), regions and age. Estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) were calculated to assess the trends of ASMR and ASDR of IHD attributable to high FPG.

Results

IHD attributable to high FPG deaths increased from 1.04 million (0.62-1.63) in 1990 to 2.35 million (1.4-3.7) in 2019, and the corresponding DALYs rose from 19.82 million (12.68-29.4) to 43.3 million (27.8-64.2). In 2019, ASMR and ASDR of IHD burden attributable to high FPG were 30.45 (17.09-49.03) and 534.8 (340.7-792.2), respectively. The highest ASMR and ASDR of IHD attributable to high FPG occurred in low-middle SDI quintiles, with 39.28 (22.40-62.76) and 742.3 (461.5-1117.5), respectively, followed by low SDI quintiles and middle SDI quintiles. Males had higher ASMR and ASDR compared to females across the past 30 years. In addition, ASRs of DALYs and deaths were highest in those over 95 years old.

Conclusion

High FPG-attributed IHD mortality and DALYs have increased dramatically and globally, particularly in low, low-middle SDI quintiles and among the elderly. High FPG remains a great concern on the global burden of IHD and effective prevention and interventions are urgently needed to curb the ranking IHD burden, especially in lower SDI regions.

Gender Differences in Trends in Incidence and Mortality of Acute Myocardial Infarction in the Small Island Developing State of Barbados

Objective To determine trends, identify predictors of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) incidence and mortality, and explore performance metrics for AMI care in Barbados. Methods Data on all cases diagnosed with AMI were collected by the Barbados National Registry for Non-Communicable Diseases (BNR) from the island's only tertiary hospital, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and the National Vital Registration Department. Participants who survived hospital admission were then followed up at 28 days and one year post event via telephone survey and retrieval of death certificates. Age-standardized incidence and mortality rates were calculated. Determinants of mortality at 28 days were examined in multivariable logistic regression models. Median and interquartile ranges (IQR) were calculated for performance metrics (e.g., time from pain onset to reperfusion). Results In a 10-year period between 2010 and 2019, 4,065 cases of myocardial infarction were recorded. The median age of the sample was 73 years (IQR: 61,83), and approximately half (47%) were female. Over a 10-year period, standardized incidence increased in women on average yearly by three per 100,000 (95% CI: 1 to 6; p=0.02), while in men, the average increase per year was six per 100,000 (95% CI: 4 to 8; p<0.001). There was no increase in 28-day mortality in women; mortality in men increased each year by 2.5 per 100,000 (95% CI: 0.4 to 4.5; p=0.02). The time from arrival at the hospital to the ECG was 44 minutes IQR (20,113). Conclusion AMI incidence and mortality are increasing in Barbados, and men have a higher velocity of mortality rate increase than women, which contradicts global data.

The effect of self-disclosure on loneliness among patients with coronary heart disease: The chain mediating effect of social support and sense of coherence

BACKGROUND

Loneliness is prevalent in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). It has a serious impact on the physical and mental health and the quality of life of patients with CHD. However, what factors contribute to loneliness and the mechanism of action still need to be explored.

OBJECTIVES

To explore the chain mediating effect among self-disclosure, social support, sense of coherence and loneliness in patients with CHD through a chain mediating model.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 248 patients with CHD from three tertiary hospitals in Shiyan, Hubei Province, China. Self-reported scales were used to assess feelings of loneliness, self-disclosure, social support and sense of coherence. The Amos 26.0 software was used to construct the chain mediating effect.

RESULTS

Self-disclosure cannot directly affect patients' loneliness (β = -0.60, P>0.05). Social support and sense of coherence play a significant complete mediating role between self-disclosure and loneliness, with an overall mediating effect value of -0.479.

CONCLUSION

Self-disclosure in CHD patients indirectly affect loneliness through social support and sense of coherence (β = -0.479, P = 0.001). Improving patient self-disclosure and modulation of social support and sense of coherence help reduce in loneliness.

Ambient PM2.5-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) associated with pro-thrombotic biomarkers among young healthy adults: A 16 times repeated measurements panel study

Studies have shown that the cardio/cerebrovascular toxicity of ambient PM2.5 is related to its bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Currently, only a few studies have reported the relationship between PM2.5-bound PAHs and promoted blood coagulation and thrombosis, but there isn't a consistent conclusion. Therefore, we conducted a prospective panel study to investigate the association. Thirty-three young healthy adults participated in sixteen repeated visits from 2014 to 2018 in Tianjin, China. During each visit, three pro-thrombotic biomarkers: ADAMTS13 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motif 13), D-dimer and Myeloperoxidase (MPO) were measured. Before each visit, ambient PM2.5 samples were daily collected for one week. Sixteen PAHs were determined using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer, and the positive matrix factorization (PMF) model was applied to identify the sources. Linear mixed-effects models were fitted to investigate the associations between PM2.5-bound PAHs exposure and the biomarkers. Thirteen time-metrics were defined to identify significant time points of PM2.5-bound PAHs' effects. We observed that the increase of PM2.5-bound PAHs exposure was significantly associated with reduced ADAMTS13, elevated D-dimer and MPO. At lag0, each 5.7 ng/m3 increase in Benzo[j]fluoranthene and per 3.4 ng/m3 increase Dibenz[a,h]anthracene could make a maximum change of -19.08 % in ADAMTS13 and 132.60 % in D-dimer. Additionally, per 16.43 ng/m3 increase in Chrysene could lead to a maximum elevation of 32.14 % in MPO at lag4. The PM2.5-bound PAHs often triggered more significant changes at lag 3,4 and 6. The ambient PM2.5-bound PAHs originated from six sources: coal combustion (43.10 %), biomass combustion (20.77 %), diesel emission (14.78 %), gasoline emission (10.95 %), industrial emission (7.58 %), and cooking emission (2.83 %). The greatest contributors to alterations in ADAMTS13, D-dimer and MPO are industrial emission (-48.43 %), biomass combustion (470.32 %) and diesel emission (13.14 %) at lag4. Our findings indicated that short-term exposure to ambient PM2.5-bound PAHs can induce alterations of pro-thrombotic biomarkers among healthy adults.

Females Display Lower Risk of Myocardial Infarction From Higher Estimated Cardiorespiratory Fitness Than Males: The Tromsø Study 1994-2014

Objective

To examine the dose-response association between estimated cardiorespiratory fitness (eCRF) and risk of myocardial infarction (MI).

Patients and Methods

Adults who attended Tromsø Study surveys 4-6 (Janurary 1,1994-December 20, 2008) with no previous cardiovascular disease were followed up through December 31, 2014 for incident MI. Associations were examined using restricted cubic splines Fine and Gray regressions, adjusted for education, smoking, alcohol, diet, sex, adiposity, physical activity, study survey, and age (timescale) in the total cohort and subsamples with hyperlipidemia (n=2956), hypertension (n=8290), obesity (n=5784), metabolic syndrome (n=1410), smokers (n=3823), and poor diet (n=3463) and in those who were physically inactive (n=6255).

Results

Of 14,285 participants (mean age ± SD, 53.7±11.4 years), 979 (6.9%) experienced MI during follow-up (median, 7.2 years; 25th-75th, 5.3-14.6 years). Females with median eCRF (32 mL/kg/min) had 43% lower MI risk (subdistributed hazard ratio [SHR], 0.57; 95% CI, 0.48-0.68) than those at the 10th percentile (25 mL/kg/min) as reference. The lowest MI risk was observed at 47 mL/kg/min (SHR, 0.02; 95% CI, 0.01-0.11). Males had 26% lower MI risk at median eCRF (40 mL/kg/min; SHR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.63-0.86) than those at the 10th percentile (32 mL/kg/min), and the lowest risk was 69% (SHR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.14-0.71) at 60 mL/kg/min. The associations were similar in subsamples with cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Conclusion

Higher eCRF associated with lower MI risk in females and males, but associations were more pronounced among females than those in males. This suggest eCRF as a vital estimate to implement in medical care to identify individuals at high risk of future MI, especially for females.

RETINAL MICROVASCULAR CHANGES AND RISK OF CORONARY HEART DISEASE: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

PURPOSE

To quantify associations between various retinal microvascular changes and the risk of the development of coronary heart disease (CHD).

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for cohort studies on the association between retinal microvascular changes and incident CHD up to July 31, 2023. The summary risk estimates were estimated using the random-effects model. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed to investigate the potential source of heterogeneity.

RESULTS

The authors identified 21 studies that met the inclusion criteria of this meta-analysis through database searching. This study yielded significant associations between retinal microvascular changes, including arteriolar narrowing, venular widening, vessel occlusion, and other retinal vascular signs, and the risk of CHD, with pooled adjusted hazard ratios of 1.20 (95% confidence interval: 1.13-1.27). In sex- and age-stratified analyses, retinal microvascular changes were associated with a greater risk of developing CHD in female patients and younger adults.

CONCLUSION

A range of retinal microvascular changes was associated with the risk of CHD, particularly in female patients and younger ages. The results of this study support the concept that retinal microvascular abnormalities may be markers for future CHD. Noninvasive retinal microvascular assessments may be helpful in screening patients with increased CHD risk.

Effects of a PRECEDE-PROCEED Model-Based Intervention on Fatigue in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE

This research aimed to determine how a 12-week PRECEDE-PROCEED model-based intervention affected fatigue in patients with coronary heart disease.

METHODS

This cluster randomized controlled trial recruited participants diagnosed with coronary heart disease at 2 community health centers in China. Participants in the control group (n = 36) received routine health education, whereas those in the intervention group (n = 38) were given a 12-week PRECEDE-PROCEED model-based intervention and routine health education. The intervention consisted of 6 training sessions on coronary heart disease, fatigue, fatigue management, self-management skills and social support. A primary outcome (fatigue) and 4 secondary outcomes (knowledge of fatigue, self-management, quality of life and body mass index) were assessed using the Fatigue Scale-14, Fatigue Cognitive Questionnaire for Patients with Coronary Heart Disease, Coronary Artery Disease Self-Management Scale, Chinese Cardiovascular Questionnaire of Quality of Life, and electronic weighing scale, respectively. Data were collected 3 times over 12 weeks.

RESULTS

Compared with the control group, the intervention group showed a statistically significant improvement in the level of fatigue (8.72 vs 7.06, P < .001), knowledge of fatigue (P < .001), self-management skills (P < .001), and quality of life (P < .001). However, there was no significant difference in body mass index between the 2 groups (P = .504).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that a well-designed intervention based on the PRECEDE-PROCEED model could alleviate fatigue symptoms and increase knowledge of fatigue, self-management skills and quality of life in patients with coronary heart disease.

The Role of Pro-Opiomelanocortin Derivatives in the Development of Type 2 Diabetes-Associated Myocardial Infarction: Possible Links with Prediabetes

Myocardial infarction is a major contributor to CVD-related mortality. T2DM is a risk factor for MI. Stress activates the HPA axis, SNS, and endogenous OPS. These POMC derivatives increase the blood glucose and cardiovascular response by inhibiting the PI3K/AkT insulin signaling pathway and increasing cardiac contraction. Opioids regulate the effect of the HPA axis and SNS and they are cardioprotective. The chronic activation of the stress response may lead to insulin resistance, cardiac dysfunction, and MI. Stress and T2DM, therefore, increase the risk of MI. T2DM is preceded by prediabetes. Studies have shown that prediabetes is associated with an increased risk of MI because of inflammation, hyperlipidemia, endothelial dysfunction, and hypertension. The HPA axis is reported to be dysregulated in prediabetes. However, the SNS and the OPS have not been explored during prediabetes. The effect of prediabetes on POMC derivatives has yet to be fully explored and understood. The impact of stress and prediabetes on the cardiovascular response needs to be investigated. This study sought to review the potential impact of prediabetes on the POMC derivatives and pathways that could lead to MI.

Methodology of generation of CFD meshes and 4D shape reconstruction of coronary arteries from patient-specific dynamic CT

Due to the difficulties in retrieving both the time-dependent shapes of the vessels and the generation of numerical meshes for such cases, most of the simulations of blood flow in the cardiac arteries use static geometry. The article describes a methodology for generating a sequence of time-dependent 3D shapes based on images of different resolutions and qualities acquired from ECG-gated coronary artery CT angiography. The precision of the shape restoration method has been validated using an independent technique. The original proposed approach also generates for each of the retrieved vessel shapes a numerical mesh of the same topology (connectivity matrix), greatly simplifying the CFD blood flow simulations. This feature is of significant importance in practical CFD simulations, as it gives the possibility of using the mesh-morphing utility, minimizing the computation time and the need of interpolation between boundary meshes at subsequent time instants. The developed technique can be applied to generate numerical meshes in arteries and other organs whose shapes change over time. It is applicable to medical images produced by other than angio-CT modalities.

Hybrid Cardiac Rehabilitation Program in a Low-Resource Setting: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

While effective, cardiovascular rehabilitation (CR) as traditionally delivered is not well implemented in lower-resource settings.

Objective

To test the noninferiority of hybrid CR compared with traditional CR in terms of cardiovascular events.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This pragmatic, multicenter, parallel arm, open-label randomized clinical trial (the Hybrid Cardiac Rehabilitation Trial [HYCARET]) with blinded outcome assessment was conducted at 6 referral centers in Chile. Adults aged 18 years or older who had a cardiovascular event or procedure, no contraindications to exercise, and access to a mobile telephone were eligible and recruited between April 1, 2019, and March 15, 2020, with follow-up until July 29, 2021.

Interventions

Participants were randomized 1:1 in permuted blocks to the experimental arm, which received 10 center-based supervised exercise sessions plus counseling in 4 to 6 weeks and then were supported at home via telephone calls and text messages through weeks 8 to 12, or the control arm, which received the standard CR of 18 to 22 sessions with exercises and education in 8 to 12 weeks.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was cardiovascular events or mortality. Secondary outcomes were quality of life, return to work, and lifestyle behaviors measured with validated questionnaires; muscle strength and functional capacity, measured through physical tests; and program adherence and exercise-related adverse events, assessed using checklists.

Results

A total of 191 participants were included (mean [SD] age, 58.74 [9.80] years; 145 [75.92%] male); 93 were assigned to hybrid CR and 98 to standard CR. At 1 year, events had occurred in 5 unique participants in the hybrid CR group (5.38%) and 9 in the standard CR group (9.18%). In the intention-to-treat analysis, the hybrid CR group had 3.80% (95% CI, -11.13% to 3.52%) fewer cardiovascular events than the standard CR group, and relative risk was 0.59 (95% CI, 0.20-1.68) for the primary outcome. In the per-protocol analysis at different levels of adherence to the intervention, all 95% CIs crossed the noninferiority boundary (eg, 20% adherence: absolute risk difference, -0.35% [95% CI, -7.56% to 6.85%]; 80% adherence: absolute risk difference, 3.30% [95% CI, -3.70% to 10.31%]). No between-group differences were found for secondary outcomes except adherence to supervised CR sessions (79.14% [736 of 930 supervised sessions] in the hybrid CR group vs 61.46% [1201 of 1954 sessions] in the standard CR group).

Conclusions and Relevance

The results suggest that a hybrid CR program is noninferior to standard center-based CR in a low-resource setting, primarily in terms of recurrent cardiovascular events and potentially in terms of intermediate outcomes. Hybrid CR may induce superior adherence to supervised exercise. Clinical factors and patient preferences should inform CR model allocation.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03881150.

Role of cyclophilin A in aggravation of myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury via regulation of apoptosis mediated by thioredoxin-interacting protein

BACKGROUND

The progression and persistence of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MI/RI) are strongly linked to local inflammatory responses and oxidative stress. Cyclophilin A (CypA), a pro-inflammatory factor, is involved in various cardiovascular diseases. However, the role and mechanism of action of CypA in MI/RI are still not fully understood.

METHODS

We used the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database for bioinformatic analysis. We collected blood samples from patients and controls for detecting the levels of serum CypA using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. We then developed a myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury model in wild-type (WT) mice and Ppia-/- mice. We utilized echocardiography, hemodynamic measurements, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, immunohistochemistry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining to determine the role of CypA in myocardial I/R injury. Finally, we conducted an in vitrostudy, cell transfection, flow cytometry, RNA interference, and a co-immunoprecipitation assay to clarify the mechanism of CypA in aggravating cardiomyocyte apoptosis.

RESULTS

We found that CypA inhibited TXNIP degradation to enhance oxidative stress-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis during MI/RI. By comparing and analyzing CypA expression in patients with coronary atherosclerotic heart disease and in healthy controls, we found that CypA was upregulated in patients with Coronary Atmospheric Heart Disease, and its expression was positively correlated with Gensini scores. In addition, CypA deficiency decreased cytokine expression, oxidative stress, and cardiomyocyte apoptosis in I/R-treated mice, eventually alleviating cardiac dysfunction. CypA knockdown also reduced H2O2-induced apoptosis in H9c2 cells. Mechanistically, we found that CypA inhibited K48-linked ubiquitination mediated by atrophin-interacting protein 4 (AIP4) and proteasomal degradation of TXNIP, a thioredoxin-binding protein that mediates oxidative stress and induces apoptosis.

CONCLUSION

These findings highlight the critical role CypA plays in myocardial injury caused by oxidative stress-induced apoptosis, indicating that CypA can be a viable biomarker and a therapeutic target candidate for MI/RI.

Natural Allies for Heart Health: Nrf2 Activation and Cardiovascular Disease Management

The term "cardiovascular diseases" (CVD) refers to various ailments that affect the heart and blood vessels, including myocardial ischemia, congenital heart defects, heart failure, rheumatic heart disease, hypertension, peripheral artery disease, atherosclerosis, and cardiomyopathies. Despite significant breakthroughs in preventative measures and treatment choices, CVDs significantly contribute to morbidity and mortality, imposing a considerable financial burden. Oxidative stress (OS) is a fundamental contributor to the development and progression of CVDs, resulting from an inherent disparity in generating reactive oxygen species. The disparity above significantly contributes to the aberrant operation of the cardiovascular system. To tackle this issue, therapeutic intervention primarily emphasizes the nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a transcription factor crucial in regulating endogenous antioxidant defense systems against OS. The Nrf2 exhibits potential as a promising target for effectively managing CVDs. Significantly, an emerging field of study is around the utilization of natural substances to stimulate the activation of Nrf2, hence facilitating the promotion of cardioprotection. This technique introduces a new pathway for treating CVD. The substances above elicit their advantageous effects by mitigating the impact of OS via initiating Nrf2 signaling. The primary objective of our study is to provide significant insights that can contribute to advancing treatment methods, including natural products. These strategies aim to tackle the obstacles associated with CVDs.

Clinical study of two-dimensional speckle tracking to evaluate abnormal myocardial motion due to coronary lesions

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the predictive ability of global longitudinal strain (GLS) and mechanical dispersion for coronary stenosis and provide a more reliable noninvasive method for diagnosis of obstructive coronary artery disease(OCAD).

METHODS

Sixty-seven patients diagnosed with suspected CAD were included in the study. Patients with coronary stenosis greater than 50% were assigned as OCAD, while the others were assigned as non obstructive coronary artery disease(NOCAD). General information was collected and patients underwent speckle tracking echocardiogram(STE).

RESULTS

Spearman's correlation analysis showed that GLS and mechanical dispersion were positively correlated with the degree of coronary stenosis (r = 0.383, 0.342, p < 0.05), and there was also a positive correlation between GLS and mechanical dispersion (r = 0.327, p < 0.05). GLS, longitudinal strain (LS) of each chamber, and mechanical dispersion were higher in the OCAD group than in the NOCAD group (p < 0.05). Univariate regression analysis showed that GLS, each lumen LS and mechanical dispersion were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Multifactorial regression analysis showed that elevated GLS (p = 0.007) and elevated mechanical dispersion (p = 0.030) were independent risk factors for OCAD. The ROC curves showed that GLS predicted OCAD (AUC area 0.745, 95% CI 0.624 to 0.865) versus mechanical discrete prediction of OCAD (AUC area 0.702, 95% CI 0.569 to 0.834) were more diagnostic than conventional cardiac ultrasound observations of ventricular wall motion abnormalities (AUC area 0.566, 95% CI 0.463 to 0.669).

CONCLUSIONS

Combining GLS with mechanical dispersion can rapidly assess OCAD in a very short period, which has strong promotion value and in-depth research value.

Epidemiological characterization of ischemic heart disease at different altitudes: A nationwide population-based analysis from 2011 to 2021 in Ecuador

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular diseases, including ischemic heart disease, are the leading cause of premature death and disability worldwide. While traditional risk factors such as smoking, obesity, and diabetes have been thoroughly investigated, non-traditional risk factors like high-altitude exposure remain underexplored. This study aims to examine the incidence and mortality rates of ischemic heart disease over the past decade in Ecuador, a country with a diverse altitude profile spanning from 0 to 4,300 meters.

METHODS

We conducted a geographic distribution analysis of ischemic heart disease in Ecuador, utilizing hospital discharge and mortality data from the National Institute of Census and Statistics for the years 2011-2021. Altitude exposure was categorized according to two distinct classifications: the traditional division into low (< 2,500 m) and high (> 2,500 m) altitudes, as well as the classification proposed by the International Society of Mountain Medicine, which delineates low (< 1,500 m), moderate (1,500-2,500 m), high (2,500-3,500 m), and very high (3,500-5,800 m) altitudes.

FINDINGS

From 2011-2021, we analyzed 49,765 IHD-related hospital admissions and 62,620 deaths. Men had an age-adjusted incidence rate of 55.08/100,000 and a mortality rate of 47.2/100,000, compared to 20.77/100,000 and 34.8/100,000 in women. Incidence and mortality surged in 2020 by 83% in men and 75% in women. Altitudinal stratification revealed higher IHD rates at lower altitudes (<2500 m), averaging 61.65 and 121.8 per 100,000 for incidence and mortality, which declined to 25.9 and 38.5 at elevations >2500 m. Men had more pronounced rates across altitudes, exhibiting 138.7% and 150.0% higher incidence at low and high altitudes respectively, and mortality rates increased by 48.3% at low altitudes and 23.2% at high altitudes relative to women.

CONCLUSION

Ecuador bears a significant burden of ischemic heart disease (IHD), with men being more affected than women in terms of incidence. However, women have a higher percentage of mortality post-hospital admission. Regarding elevation, our analysis, using two different altitude cutoff points, reveals higher mortality rates in low-altitude regions compared to high-altitude areas, suggesting a potential protective effect of high elevation on IHD risk. Nevertheless, a definitive dose-response relationship between high altitude and reduced IHD risk could not be conclusively established.

Comparison of LASSO and random forest models for predicting the risk of premature coronary artery disease

PURPOSE

With the change of lifestyle, the occurrence of coronary artery disease presents a younger trend, increasing the medical and economic burden on the family and society. To reduce the burden caused by this disease, this study applied LASSO Logistic Regression and Random Forest to establish a risk prediction model for premature coronary artery disease(PCAD) separately and compared the predictive performance of the two models.

METHODS

The data are obtained from 1004 patients with coronary artery disease admitted to a third-class hospital in Liaoning Province from September 2019 to December 2021. The data from 797 patients were ultimately evaluated. The dataset of 797 patients was randomly divided into the training set (569 persons) and the validation set (228 persons) scale by 7:3. The risk prediction model was established and compared by LASSO Logistic and Random Forest.

RESULT

The two models in this study showed that hyperuricemia, chronic renal disease, carotid artery atherosclerosis were important predictors of premature coronary artery disease. A result of the AUC between the two models showed statistical difference (Z = 3.47, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Random Forest has better prediction performance for PCAD and is suitable for clinical practice. It can provide an objective reference for the early screening and diagnosis of premature coronary artery disease, guide clinical decision-making and promote disease prevention.

Proteomic insights into the associations between obesity, lifestyle factors, and coronary artery disease

BACKGROUND

We aimed to investigate the protein pathways linking obesity and lifestyle factors to coronary artery disease (CAD).

METHODS

Summary-level genome-wide association statistics of CAD were obtained from the CARDIoGRAMplusC4D consortium (60,801 cases and 123,504 controls) and the FinnGen study (R8, 39,036 cases and 303,463 controls). Proteome-wide Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was conducted to identify CAD-associated blood proteins, supplemented by colocalization analysis to minimize potential bias caused by linkage disequilibrium. Two-sample MR analyses were performed to assess the associations of genetically predicted four obesity measures and 13 lifestyle factors with CAD risk and CAD-associated proteins' levels. A two-step network MR analysis was conducted to explore the mediating effects of proteins in the associations between these modifiable factors and CAD.

RESULTS

Genetically predicted levels of 41 circulating proteins were associated with CAD, and 17 of them were supported by medium to high colocalization evidence. PTK7 (protein tyrosine kinase-7), RGMB (repulsive guidance molecule BMP co-receptor B), TAGLN2 (transgelin-2), TIMP3 (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 3), and VIM (vimentin) were identified as promising therapeutic targets. Several proteins were found to mediate the associations between some modifiable factors and CAD, with PCSK9, C1S, AGER (advanced glycosylation end product-specific receptor), and MST1 (mammalian Ste20-like kinase 1) exhibiting highest frequency among the mediating networks.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests pathways explaining the associations of obesity and lifestyle factors with CAD from alterations in blood protein levels. These insights may be used to prioritize therapeutic intervention for further study.

Global disease burden and its attributable risk factors of peripheral arterial disease

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a prevalent subtype of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. It is crucial to assess the PAD-related burden and its attributable risk factors. We use the Global Burden of Disease study 2019 database to calculate the incidence, prevalence, mortality, disability-adjusted life years (DALY), attributable risk factors and estimated annual percentage change. The disease burden of PAD grows significantly with age accompanied by prominent heterogeneity between male and female. Despite the increase in the absolute numbers of disease burden from 1990 to 2019, the global PAD-related age-standardized death rate (ASDR) and age-standardized disability-adjusted life years rate (ASDALYR) have a mild downward trend from 1990 to 2019, which negatively correlated with sociodemographic index (SDI). Smoking and high systolic blood pressure (SBP) were the primary attributable risk factors for males (ASDR: 33.4%; ASDALYR: 43.4%) and females (ASDR: 25.3%; ASDALYR: 27.6%), respectively. High fasting plasma glucose (FPG) had become the second risk factor for ASDR (males: 28.5%; females: 25.2%) and ASDALYR (males: 29.3%; females: 26.3%) with an upward tendency. Low-middle SDI regions were predicted to have the most remarkable upward trend of PAD-related burden caused by high FPG. Smoking caused more disease burden in males before 85-90 years old and females before 65-70 years old, while high FPG and high SBP caused more burden after that. The patterns of PAD-related burden and its attributable risk factors are heterogeneous across ages, genders, and SDI regions. To reduce disease burden, tailored strategies should be implemented.

Body Mass Index Asian populations category and stroke and heart disease in the adult population: a longitudinal study of the Indonesia Family Life Survey (IFLS) 2007 and 2014

BACKGROUND

A substantially elevated Body Mass Index (BMI) is one of the largest global modifiable risk factors for stroke and heart diseases. Most studies classify BMI according to the WHO BMI cut-off point in stroke and heart disease studies. However, there is a limited understanding of the association between the BMI cut-off point in the Asian population category and stroke and heart disease. This study aimed to investigate the incidence rate ratio of stroke and heart disease by BMI categories for the Asian population.

METHODS

A 7-year prospective longitudinal study (2007-2014) was conducted on 6,688 adult Indonesian individuals (≥ 35 years) residing across 13 different provinces in Indonesia during the survey periods. Data on BMI were collected in 2007. Information on stroke and heart disease was obtained in both 2007 and in 2014. A multivariate-adjusted Poisson regression model was used to estimate the incidence rate ratio (IRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of either stroke or heart disease or both stroke and heart disease by BMI.

RESULTS

Among the 6,688 eligible participants, 334 (5%) were judged as stroke and heart disease in 2014. The IRR (95% CI) of stroke and heart disease for participants with obesity was 2.57 (1.64-4.04) compared with those within normal weight. This incidence rate ratio was more pronounced among middle-aged adults (< 55 years) rather than the older adults (≥55 years).The IRR of stroke and heart disease among obese middle-aged adults was 4.18 (95% CI 2.10-8.31).

CONCLUSIONS

An association was observed between obesity and the risk of stroke and heart disease, especially in middle-aged adults. These findings suggest that lowering BMI through the adoption of healthy dietary habits and increasing physical activity, particularly among middle-aged adults with high education, occupational employment, and residence in either urban or rural areas, may be beneficial for preventing stroke and heart disease.

Prognostic value of coronary CT angiography for the prediction of all-cause mortality and non-fatal myocardial infarction: a propensity score analysis

To explore the relationship between comprehensive assessment of coronary atherosclerosis by coronary CT angiography (CCTA) and all-cause mortality and non-fatal myocardial infarction in the Chinese population. Sixty-three patients from the prospective long-term study who experienced major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) during the follow-up were included. No-MACE patients were 1:1 propensity-matched. Various qualitative and quantitative CCTA parameters, such as coronary artery calcium score (CACS), high-risk plaque, coronary artery disease (CAD) severity, number of obstructive vessels, segment involvement score (SIS), segment stenosis score (SSS), computed tomography-adapt Leaman score (CT-LeSc), and peri-coronary adipose tissue (PCAT) CT attenuation, were compared between both groups. Cox regression analysis was performed to determine the association between CCTA parameters and MACE. The MACE group had higher CACS, more high-risk plaques, more obstructive CAD, more obstructive vessels, higher PCAT CT attenuation, and higher coronary atherosclerotic burden (SIS: 5.76 ± 3.36 vs. 2.84 ± 3.07; SSS: 11.06 ± 8.41 vs. 3.94 ± 4.78; CT-LeSc: 11.25 ± 6.57 vs. 5.49 ± 5.82) than the control group (all p < 0.05). On multivariable analysis, hazard ratios were 1.058 for the SSS (p = 0.004), and 2.152 for the obstructive CAD. When the burden of coronary atherosclerosis was defined as the CT-LeSc, hazard ratios were 1.057 for the CT-LeSc (p = 0.036), and 2.272 for the obstructive CAD. The SSS, CT-LeSc, and presence of obstructive CAD were independently associated with the all-cause mortality and non-fatal myocardial infarction in the suspected CADs in the Chinese population.

Global epidemiology of acute coronary syndromes

This Review provides an epidemiological overview of global mortality from acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Across the regions of the world where data are available, mortality from ACS - including premature (age <70 years) mortality from ACS - was higher in men than in women. In both sexes, age-standardized mortality rates (ASMRs) for ACS in 2020 were highest in lower-income global regions. However, 20 years earlier, ASMRs for ACS were highest in higher-income global regions, including Europe, Northern America and Oceania. These higher-income regions have seen progressive reductions in mortality from ACS during the past 20 years, which is in contrast to the more stable levels of mortality from ACS in Asia and in Latin America and the Caribbean. In the seven African countries with data available, a small upwards trend in ASMRs for ACS was observed, reflecting an epidemiological transition that is already well advanced in these regions. Consistent with these changes during the past 20 years were >50% reductions in ASMRs for ACS in the high-income countries of the world compared with <15% reductions in lower-middle-income countries. Policymakers need more complete epidemiological data across and within global regions to identify those countries in which the burden of death from ACS is greatest and the need to implement preventive strategies is most pressing.

Trajectories of Disability and Long-Term Care Utilization After Acute Health Events

Hip fractures, strokes, and heart attacks are common acute health events that can lead to long-term disability, care utilization, and unmet needs. However, such impacts, especially in the long term, are not fully understood. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, 1992-2018, this study examines the long-term trajectories of individuals suffering such health shocks, comparing with individuals not experiencing health shocks. Hip fracture, stroke, and heart attack are confirmed to have severe implications for disability. In most cases of stroke and heart attack, informal caregivers provide the daily support needed by survivors, whereas following hip fracture, nursing home care is more relevant. These health shocks put individuals on worse trajectories of disability, care utilization, and unmet needs. There is no long-term recovery or convergence with individuals who do not suffer shocks. Unmet need is prevalent, even pre-shock and among individuals who do not experience health shocks, emphasizing the importance of preventative care measures. These findings support policy action to ensure hospitalized individuals, especially those aged 50 and above, receive rehabilitative services and other post-acute care. Furthermore, hospitalization is an event that requires the detection and addressing of unmet care needs beyond the short run.

Bioinformatics analysis of potential common pathogenic mechanisms for systemic lupus erythematosus and acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients have a higher risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) compared to the general population. However, the underlying common mechanism of this association is not fully understood. This study aims to investigate the molecular mechanism of this complication.

METHODS

Gene expression profiles of SLE (GSE50772) and AMI (GSE66360) were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in SLE and AMI were identified, and functional annotation, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, module construction, and hub gene identification were performed. Additionally, transcription factor (TF)-gene regulatory network and TF-miRNA regulatory network were constructed for the hub genes.

RESULTS

70 common DEGs (7 downregulated genes and 63 upregulated genes) were identified and were mostly enriched in signaling pathways such as the IL-17 signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, lipid metabolism, and atherosclerosis. Using cytoHubba, 12 significant hub genes were identified, including IL1B, TNF, FOS, CXCL8, JUN, PTGS2, FN1, EGR1, CXCL1, DUSP1, MMP9, and ZFP36.

CONCLUSIONS

This study reveals a common pathogenesis of SLE and AMI and provides new perspectives for further mechanism research. The identified common pathways and hub genes may have important clinical implications for the prevention and treatment of AMI in SLE patients.

The crosstalk between Nrf2 and NF-κB pathways in coronary artery disease: Can it be regulated by SIRT6?

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. Oxidative stress and inflammation are major mechanisms responsible for the progression of CAD. Nuclear transcription factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a transcription factor that modulates the cellular redox status. Nrf2 upregulation increases the expression of antioxidant genes, decreases the expression of Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB), and increases free radical metabolism. Activated NF-kB increases the production of inflammatory cytokines causing endothelial dysfunction. The two pathways of Nrf2 and NF-kB can regulate the expression of each other. Foremost, the Nrf2 pathway can decrease the level of active NF-κB by increasing the level of antioxidants and cytoprotective enzymes. Furthermore, the Nrf2 pathway prevents IκB-α degradation, an inhibitor of NF-kB, and thus inhibits NF-κB mediated transcription. Also, NF-kB transcription inhibits Nrf2 activation by reducing the antioxidant response element (ARE) transcription. Sirtuin 6 (SIRT6) is a member of the Sirtuins family that was found to protect against cardiovascular diseases. SIRT6 can suppress the production of Reactive oxygen species (ROS) through deacetylation of NRF2 which results in NRF2 activation. Furthermore, SIRT6 can inhibit the inflammatory process through the downregulation of NF-kB transcription. Therefore, targeting sirtuins could be a therapeutic strategy to treat CAD. This review describes the potential role of SIRT6 in regulating the crosstalk between NRF2 and NF-kB signaling pathways in CAD.

The Increased TIGIT-Expressing CD3+CD56+ Cells Are Associated with Coronary Artery Disease and Its Inflammatory Environment

We aimed to examine the correlation of T-cell immunoglobulin and ITIM domain (TIGIT)-expressing CD3 + CD56 + cells (TNKS) with coronary artery disease (CAD), atherosclerotic lesion progression, and inflammatory environment. A total of 199 subjects, including 98 patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), 52 patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS), and 49 control subjects, were recruited in the study. The TIGIT-expressing TNKS were quantified by flow cytometric analysis; the severity of coronary artery lesions was evaluated by the Gensini score. Whole blood cells were stimulated with interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-7 (IL-7), and interleukin-15 (IL-15) in presence or absence of STAT, PI3K, and P38 MAPK inhibitors, respectively. The TIGIT-expressing TNKS was significantly increased in patients with CAD, ACS, and CCS compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The TIGIT-expressing TNKS were independent predictors of CAD, ACS and CCS (P < 0.05). The TIGIT-expressing TNKS were positively associated with Gensini score (P < 0.05). The TIGIT-expressing TNKS was positively correlated with age, and being male (P < 0.05). The inflammatory microenviroment with increased IL-2, IL-7, and IL-15 contributed to upregulation of TIGIT expression in TNKS. PI3K and P38 MAPK inhibitors could inhibit the upregulation of TIGIT expression in TNKS induced by IL-2, IL-7, and IL-15. The TIGIT-expressing TNKS may be involved in common pathogenesis of ACS and CCS, and atherosclerotic lesion progression. Meanwhile, the increased TIGIT-expressing TNKS might be associated with a proatherogenic microenvironment or inflammatory microenvironment. PI3K and P38 MAPK signaling pathways were involved in the regulation of TIGIT expression.