CONCLUSION: PAD is present in a notable proportion of DM patients referred for Doppler evaluation. Longer DM duration is an exploratory predictor. Findings are limited by small sample size, few PAD events, and missing HbA1c data. Larger, multicenter studies are needed to confirm risk factors and improve generalizability.
The ADAMTS (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type-1 motifs) metalloprotease family comprises 19 members, and they play critical roles in development, angiogenesis and coagulation. These enzymes are also pivotal in the turnover of extracellular matrix proteins in various tissues, and their dysregulation has been linked to diseases such as arthritis, atherosclerosis, cancer and inflammation. These secreted zinc metalloproteases are composed of multiple domains and are...
In our previous study, we identified Niemann-Pick C1 like intracellular cholesterol transporter 1 (NPC1L1) as a key contributor in lipid oxidative stress during atherosclerosis (AS) progression. However, the regulation mode of its expression and the specific approaches by which it functions in lipid oxidative stress are still unclear. HUVECs and macrophages were treated with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) to induce endothelial cell injury. First, the effects of the RNA binding...
CONCLUSIONS: ASS1 drives atherosclerosis by activating the STAT3/NLRP3 inflammasome axis, shifting the IL-33/ST2 balance toward a pro-inflammatory state, and amplifying foam cell-mediated endothelial injury and smooth muscle cell dysfunction. Targeting ASS1 may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for inflammatory vascular disease.
Mast cells, traditionally recognized for their roles in allergy and host defense, have recently been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Their strategic localization in vascularized tissues and capacity to release a wide array of bioactive mediators position them as crucial contributors to both early and advanced stages of plaque development. This review summarizes the current understanding of mast cell functions in vascular homeostasis and immunity, with a special focus on their...
CONCLUSION: Lower ambient temperatures are associated with increased mortality from pan-arterial diseases in the United States. These findings highlight shared vulnerability to cold exposure across arterial diseases and support winter-focused preventive and healthcare preparedness strategies.
CONCLUSION: LDL-C control remains low in high- and very-high-risk patients from a Portuguese integrated health care unit, with particularly low achievement rates among middle-aged adults, despite their higher use of high-intensity LLT. These findings highlight the need for optimized treatment strategies, including age-specific approaches.
Atherosclerosis in postmenopausal women is a significant cardiovascular complication that is caused by estrogen deficiency, leading to increased inflammation and oxidative stress, and dysregulated lipid metabolism. The review summarizes the evidence gathered in ovariectomized mice models in order to determine mechanistic associations between different pharmacological therapeutic strategies and their impact on the progression of atherosclerosis in postmenopausal conditions. This review builds on...
Atherosclerosis (AS), a chronic cardiovascular disease, originates from endothelial dysfunction, a process closely linked to cellular energy metabolism. While rosmarinic acid (RA) exhibits protective cardiovascular effects, its precise mechanism against AS remains undefined. This study demonstrates that RA alleviates AS in ApoE^(-/-) mice, as evidenced by reduced aortic plaques, enhanced CD31 expression, and improved serum NO and ET-levels. Integrating network pharmacology and experimental...
Adiponectin and omentin are adipose tissue-derived adipokines implicated in insulin sensitivity and cardiometabolic regulation. Their behavior across different stages of dysglycemia, as well as in relation to visceral adiposity and cardiometabolic phenotypes, remains incompletely understood. In this cross-sectional study, circulating adiponectin and omentin levels were evaluated in individuals with prediabetes (PreDM, n = 100) and newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM, n = 128)....
Sodium-glucose co-transporter (SGLT) inhibitors are a novel class of glucose-lowering drugs with beneficial pleiotropic effects that have been widely investigated in the past decade in several experimental models and patients in the absence of diabetes. There are two types of transporters: the SGLT1 isoform that is distributed across a broad range of tissues, including the cardiovascular system, and the SGLT2 isoform, which is mostly expressed in renal proximal tubular cells. It is known that...
The ankle-brachial index (ABI) is the most non-invasive technique used for diagnosing and assessing peripheral artery disease (PAD), although it is operator-dependent and limited by arterial calcification. Since photoplethysmography (PPG) is a non-invasive, low-cost, and easy-to-use technique that is not limited by arterial compressibility, PPG morphological parameters have been studied for PAD diagnosis, mostly based on mean values. In this work, the relationship between variability indices of...
HIV infection can promote persistent immune activation and endothelial dysfunction, contributing to atherosclerosis. Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) is an established marker of subclinical atherosclerosis. We evaluated the association between cIMT severity and two routinely available markers of immune dysregulation (CD4/CD8 ratio and nadir CD4+ cell count) in people living with HIV (PLWH). We conducted an Italian multicenter cross-sectional study including 1148 PLWH who underwent carotid...
Osteoporosis (OP) and atherosclerosis (AS) are increasingly prevalent in aging populations and frequently coexist, sharing pathological features such as abnormal vascular calcification. However, the common marker genes underlying the crosstalk between OP and AS remain poorly understood. This study aimed to identify shared marker genes and cellular mechanisms contributing to the coexistence of OP and AS. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) dataset and mRNA expression profiles related to OP and...
Portulaca oleracea L. (purslane) is a widely cultivated herb with edible and medicinal value. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that purslane has potent anti-inflammatory effects. However, its potential role in ameliorating atherosclerosis remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of purslane extract in ameliorating atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E(ApoE) knock-out (ApoE^(-/-)) mice. ApoE^(-/-) mice fed a Western diet were administered either purslane ethanol...
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) remains the leading cause of mortality and health burden worldwide. We aimed to assess ASCVD epidemiology, 10-year risk, and cardiometabolic care using nationally representative data in Iran. Using the 2021 Iran STEPS study, a cross-sectional analysis was conducted to evaluate ASCVD (self-reported myocardial infarction, angina, revascularization, or stroke) prevalence and annual event rate. The 2013 AHA/ACC pooled cohort equations estimated 10-year...
Atherosclerosis, a major contributor to cardiovascular diseases, is characterized by chronic inflammation in arterial walls. The role of NF-κB signaling in this process is well-established, but the upstream regulators remain incompletely understood. This study explored the role of TRIM47, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, in promoting atherosclerosis through NF-κB activation. In vitro studies used human umbilical vein endothelial cells (EC) treated with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL). TRIM47...
Atherosclerosis is a complex vascular disorder driven by oxidative stress, inflammation, and platelet activation. Agents capable of targeting multiple atherogenic pathways may provide improved therapeutic benefits. In this study, we evaluated the anti-atherogenic effects of chrysotoxine, a bibenzyl compound isolated from Dendrobium pulchellum, using in vitro models relevant to atherogenesis. Chrysotoxine significantly suppressed hemin-induced LDL oxidation by reducing lipid peroxidation and...
CONCLUSION: Puerarin alleviates DA progression through dual modulation of endothelial protection and Fstl1-mediated inflammatory pathways.
CONCLUSION: Low TBI was associated with a fourfold higher prevalence of unruptured IAs compared with normal TBI. In this retrospective cohort, the strongest association remained between low TBI and unruptured IAs after adjustment for established IA risk factors. These finding support a potential role of atherosclerosis in IA formation. Prospective studies are warranted to clarify the temporal relationship and to evaluate whether TBI could contribute to risk stratification in patients at risk of...
Atherosclerosis (AS) represents a chronic immunoinflammatory disorder characterized by lipid metabolism dysregulation, predominantly affecting medium and large arteries. During the initial phase of the disease, endothelial cells (ECs) undergo mesenchymal transformation, subsequently releasing various adhesion molecules and chemokines that facilitate the recruitment of monocytes and neutrophils (NEs) to developing plaque sites. Under sustained inflammatory stimulation, NEs transform into...
Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, known as danshen in China, is a key medicinal herb in traditional Chinese medicine that has long been used for the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disorders. Its principal bioactive constituents fall into two broad categories: water-soluble phenolic acids (primarily including danshensu, salvianic acid A, salvianolic acid B, and rosmarinic acid) and lipid-soluble diterpenoids (primarily including tanshinone I, tanshinone IIA, cryptotanshinone, and...
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Atherosclerosis is a highly complex and heterogeneous disease characterized by inflammation and lipid accumulation in the arterial wall. Genetic studies to identify loci and genes predisposing to the disease have now been carried out in large human cohorts and the underlying pathways have been studied in animal models, primarily mice. This review summarizes recent findings relating to genetic contributions to the disease and implications for diagnosis and treatment.
CONCLUSION: Medication adherence was the most frequently assessed domain in secondary prevention of ASCVD, with unspecified PROMs being the most applied measurement approach. Lack of a gold standard combined with inconsistent adherence measures across studies of ASCVD continues to pose a significant challenge for evaluating treatment quality.
ObjectiveTo descriptively compare the clinical outcomes of drug-coated balloons (DCB) and plain balloon angioplasty (POBA) in hemodialysis patients with Below-The-Knee (BTK) peripheral artery disease.MethodsThis retrospective study included 96 hemodialysis patients (DCB:55 POBA:41). Outcomes included changes in Rutherford grade, wound healing, freedom from target lesion revascularization (CD-TLR), survival, and amputation-free survival.ResultsBoth groups demonstrated improvement in Rutherford...
Atherosclerosis (AS) is a leading cause of cardiovascular events and mortality worldwide. Plaque stability is a direct determinant of clinical outcomes for patients. Within the hypoxic and inflammatory microenvironment of plaques, glycolysis is significantly enhanced in macrophages and other cells, leading to substantial lactate accumulation. Recent studies reveal that lactate serves not only as a metabolic byproduct but also as a substrate for a novel post-translational modification, driving...
CONCLUSIONS: Among participants who had a history of or were at risk for a first atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease event, treatment with the oral PCSK9 inhibitor enlicitide resulted in significantly lower LDL cholesterol levels than placebo at 24 weeks. (Funded by MSD [Rahway, NJ]; CORALreef Lipids ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT05952856.).
Dietary protocatechuic acid (PCA) inhibits atherosclerosis development in male ApoE-/- mice. However, its anti-atherosclerotic property in genetically unmodified (wild-type) male or female mice remains unknown.Five-week-old C57BL/6J mice (half males and females) were divided into negative (fed a chow diet), positive (fed an atherogenic diet), or 5, 25, 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg BW/d of PCA (fed an atherogenic diet) groups. Oral gavage with PCA between 25-100 mg/kg BW/d for 25 weeks significantly...
Guidelines recommend GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1-RA) and SGLT2-inhibitors (SGLT2i) for individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) at high risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). In the context of precision medicine, we evaluated a personalized treatment algorithm to guide the initial decision between these therapies.Using data from the observational Diabetes Prospective Follow-up registry (Germany/Austria) we studied individuals with T2D who initiated GLP-1-RA (n=1433) or SGLT2i...
CONCLUSION: NP and molecular docking analysis suggested that screened compounds may inhibit progression of atherosclerosis by modulating key associated pathways. Hence, this machine learning aided NP study provides basis for understanding and recognizing the activity of these plants in treating atherosclerosis.
CONCLUSIONS: PCATa was higher in RA than controls. Mean PCATa was higher in men and associated with coronary atherosclerosis in RA but not in controls. PCATa differences around plaque-free LCx and RCA vessels between RA and controls were observed among participants with plaque elsewhere.
CONCLUSION: This study elucidated that OP-D reprogrammed the polarization of macrophages through modulating BCAAs catabolism to delay atherogenesis. These findings will deepen the understanding of OP-D's atheroprotective mechanisms and provide a potential therapeutic target for AS.
The cardiovascular effects of coffee consumption remain debated, particularly regarding early-stage subclinical atherosclerosis. This study investigated the association between coffee intake, genetic predisposition, and the risk of subclinical coronary and carotid atherosclerosis in 24,835 participants from the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study (SCAPIS). Coffee intake was assessed via self-reported questionnaires. Atherosclerosis was assessed via segment involvement score (SIS), coronary...
CONCLUSION: USP18 modulates TAK1 to suppress the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway in macrophages, consequently exerting an anti-atherosclerotic effect and offering a potential therapeutic strategy for atherosclerosis treatment.
Objective: To analyze the utilization, intensity, and associated factors of lipid-lowering therapy in Chinese patients at high or very high risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Methods: This nationwide hospital-based cross-sectional study was led by Peking University First Hospital. Patients at high or very high risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) were recruited from 1 785 medical institutions across China between September 2022 and November 2024. Clinical...
Objective: To investigate the association between baseline cumulative atherogenic index of plasma and the risk of new-onset cardiovascular disease in middle-aged and young populations. Methods: A total of 35 212 populations under 60-years old with complete physical examination in 2006 and 2010 from the Kailuan Study were retrospectively enrolled. Complete atherogenic index of plasma data were extracted and populations were grouped by cumulative atherogenic index of plasma quartile: Q1 group...
CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated a significant inverse association between SBP-TTR and all-cause mortality among patients with ASCVD. The association between maintaining SBP within the 120-140 mm Hg target range and reduced mortality was more evident in younger individuals. These findings suggest that sustained and stable blood pressure control may improve long-term survival in patients with ASCVD.
CONCLUSIONS: Notable gaps exist in statin prescribing and LDL goal attainment among adults with T1D, particularly women. Efforts to enhance care coordination, promote healthcare professional education and expand the use of adjunctive lipid-lowering therapies may help improve cardiovascular prevention in this high-risk population.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease associated with significantly accelerated atherosclerosis (AS) and increased cardiovascular risk. This review elucidates the complex immunopathological mechanisms through which SLE promotes AS, involving both innate and adaptive immune dysregulation. Aberrant activation of the type I interferon signaling pathway and dysfunctional neutrophil/NETosis reciprocally amplify each other, forming a core upstream positive feedback loop....
Utilizing 1999 to 2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) datasets, this cross-sectional analysis evaluates the relationship of periodontitis with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) among adults in the United States. Our investigation employed NHANES 1999 to 2004 datasets to quantify the periodontitis-PAD association. Clinical classifications applied Center for Disease Control and the American Academy of Periodontics (CDC/AAP) diagnostic thresholds. An ankle-brachial index...
CONCLUSIONS: AIP and the risk of HUA demonstrated an inverted L-shaped positive association in the adult US population. The association was stronger in females than in males.
Lower extremity amputations in patients with diabetes mellitus and peripheral arterial disease carry significant risks of reamputation. This article highlights strategies to optimize outcomes, including meticulous surgical technique, aggressive infection and ischemia management, and systemic optimization through glycemic control and smoking cessation. Pressure redistribution and offloading are also critical to prevent reamputation. Lastly, close monitoring and follow-up in the postoperative...
The effective and safe delivery of drugs to arterial targets via endovascular devices is governed by several key principles. These include the concepts of dissolution, diffusion and convection, drug binding (specific and nonspecific), the presence of barriers to absorption, mechanically driven delivery, and finally, the interaction between the drug, delivery vehicle, and the accepting arterial wall. Though the understanding of stent-based drug delivery is vast, more work is needed to better...
Drug-eluting resorbable scaffolds represent a transformative advancement in percutaneous vascular intervention, integrating the benefits of balloon angioplasty and drug-eluting stents into a single, transient device. These scaffolds are engineered to "leave nothing behind" by providing temporary mechanical support, facilitating vascular healing, and ultimately degrading benignly while restoring natural vessel function. Tailoring material degradation kinetics to align with specific physiologic...
Peripheral endovascular stents serve as a durable scaffold to limit abrupt vessel closure following balloon angioplasty. Their performance is not only derived from basic physical and three-dimensional properties but also influenced by their composition-features that include metallic alloy, stent geometry, and type of coating. In addition, peripheral stents are divided into balloon-expandable (BX) and self-expanding subtypes, each with specific physical characteristics that direct their use in...
CONCLUSION: This review found there is a paucity of information on prevalence and incidence of diabetes-related foot disease in Ireland. However, these findings suggest that prevalence is similar to, if not lower than, global rates of peripheral neuropathy, peripheral artery disease outcomes and amputation incidence outcomes. High heterogeneity in populations and outcomes highlights the need for robust studies and consensus on diabetes-related foot outcome assessment. Establishing a national...
CONCLUSIONS: In this community-based cohort of individuals in late midlife, individuals with CBI did not have an increased cardiovascular risk compared with those without, as indicated by SCORE2, CHA₂DS₂-VA score, age-appropriate carotid plaque burden and a low prevalence of AF.
Background Supracardiac atherosclerosis is a major cause of stroke. Although vessel wall MRI (vwMRI) can assess plaques, current techniques lack full head-neck-aortic arch coverage and efficiency. Purpose To develop and evaluate a head-neck-aortic vwMRI protocol for supracardiac atherosclerosis, compare its performance with that of supra-aortic CT angiography (CTA), and determine its feasibility in helping identify causes of embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS). Materials and Methods We...
CONCLUSIONS: Albuminuria was positively associated with heightened systemic and cellular inflammation, and several inflammatory markers were also associated with greater CIMT and the presence of early atherosclerosis. Exploratory mediation analyses suggested that inflammatory pathways may partly account for the association between albuminuria and SA, with IL6, IL1β, and TLR2 as key mediators; however, these findings should be interpreted cautiously due to the cross-sectional design.
The lack of rapid, reproducible carotid-specific atherosclerosis models in wild-type mice limits translational studies of plaque biology and therapies. This protocol describes a non-genomically edited, time-efficient method to induce reproducible carotid atherosclerosis in C57BL/6 mice by combining adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated PCSK9 overexpression, an atherogenic high-fat diet, and left partial carotid ligation (PCL). The objective is to provide a standardized workflow that reproduces...
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