HDL levels modulate the impact of type 2 diabetes susceptibility alleles in older adults.

Background: Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is influenced by genetic, environmental, and ageing factors. Ageing pathways exacerbate metabolic diseases. This study aimed to examine both clinical and genetic factors of T2D in older adults.

Coronary artery disease patients with rs7904519 (TCF7L2) are at a persistent risk of type 2 diabetes.

Aims: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and coronary artery disease (CAD) often coexist and share genetic factors.This study aimed to investigate the common genetic factors underlying T2D and CAD in patients with CAD.

Methods: A three-step association approach was conducted: a) a discovery step involving 943 CAD patients with T2D and 1,149 CAD patients without T2D; b) an eliminating step to exclude CAD or T2D specific variants; and c) a replication step using the UK Biobank data.

Homocysteine levels, H-Hypertension, and the MTHFR C677T genotypes: A complex interaction.

Background And Objectives: High homocysteine levels are associated with increased risk of hypertension and stroke. Homocysteine is metabolized by the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (). We aimed to investigate the levels of homocysteine and their association with hypertension, stroke, and antihypertensive medication usage in patients with different C677T genotypes.

Elevated Lp(a) Levels Correlate with Severe and Multiple Coronary Artery Stenotic Lesions.

Backgrounds And Aims: The role of Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) in increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases is reported in several populations. The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation of high Lp(a) levels with the degree of coronary artery stenosis.

Methods: Two hundred and sixty-eight patients were enrolled for this study.

Quantification of epi- and pericardial adipose tissue deposits between males and females during cardiac CT may potentially help categorize coronary artery disease risk with thoracic circumference.

Introduction: This study aims to investigate the association between epi- and pericardial adipose tissue deposits around the heart against patient body habitus when using cardiac computed tomography (CT).

Methods: Ninety-two consecutive patients with suspected coronary artery disease underwent coronary CT angiography with quantitative cardiac and adipose tissue volume measurements. Body mass index (BMI), body surface area (BSA), thoracic circumference, anteroposterior diameter, cardiac and adipose tissue volumes were compared between genders by employing Pearson's correlation and results were considered statistically significant if p ≤ 0.

The association of urinary metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with obstructive coronary artery disease: A red alert for action.

In Lebanon, previous studies have indicated an onset of cardiovascular diseases 12 years earlier than in other parts of the world, suggesting the presence of additional risk factors specific to Lebanon. Measurements of airborne particles in Lebanon surpass the recommendations of the World Health Organization by over 150%. This study examined the association between obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD), assessed by a novel marker calculated from coronary catheterization, and markers of air pollution, specifically polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), in a cohort of 258 patients seen at the American University of Beirut Medical Center since 2014.

Founder Mutation in N Terminus of Cardiac Troponin I Causes Malignant Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Cardiac troponin I () gene mutations account for 3% of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and carriers have a heterogeneous phenotype, with increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Only one mutation (p.Arg21Cys) has been reported in the N terminus of the protein.

Correction: Genome-wide association analysis of HDL-C in a Lebanese cohort.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Genome-wide association analysis of HDL-C in a Lebanese cohort.

Low serum levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) have been shown to be a risk factor for coronary artery disease independent of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in different populations. In this study, we investigated genetic variants through genome-wide association studies to determine their association with HDL-C levels in a sample of 2,700 patients. We identified several SNPs associated with HDL-C levels in the Lebanese population using unadjusted and adjusted by biological factors models.

Non-familial cardiomyopathies in Lebanon: exome sequencing results for five idiopathic cases.

Background: Cardiomyopathies affect more than 0.5% of the general population. They are associated with high risk of sudden cardiac death, which can result from either heart failure or electrical abnormalities.

Hyperphosphatemic familial tumoral calcinosis secondary to fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) mutation: a report of two affected families and review of the literature.

Hyperphosphatemic familial tumoral calcinosis (HFTC), secondary to fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) gene mutation, is a rare genetic disorder characterized by recurrent calcified masses. We describe young Lebanese cousins presenting with HFTC, based on a retrospective chart review and a prospective case study. In addition, we present a comprehensive review on the topic, based on a literature search conducted in PubMed and Google Scholar, in 2014 and updated in December 2017.

Association of waterpipe smoking with myocardial infarction and determinants of metabolic syndrome among catheterized patients.

Background: Waterpipe smoking is a rising global public health epidemic perceived by many users to be less harmful, though its toxicity overlaps or even exceeds that of cigarette smoking. Short-term cardiovascular changes due to waterpipe smoking are well established, but longer-term health impacts are still not fully elucidated.

Objective: We aim to investigate the association of waterpipe smoking with myocardial infarction among patients undergoing cardiac catheterization.

Type II diabetes mellitus and hyperhomocysteinemia: a complex interaction.

Background: Elevated homocysteine (Hc) levels have a well-established and clear causal relationship to epithelial damage leading to coronary artery disease. Furthermore, it is strongly associated with other metabolic syndrome variables, such as hypertension, which is correlated with type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Studies on T2DM in relation to Hc levels have shown both positive and negative associations.

Synchronisation between contrast media administration and caudocranial scan direction increases visualisation of altered coronary artery blood flow in patients presenting with dual left anterior descending coronary artery.

Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) has the advantage over invasive coronary angiography in that its non-invasive nature and minimal risk on patients. CCTA enables accurate assessment of the entire heart, coronary artery system and thorax, displaying three-dimensional information about the spatial relations of the anomalous vessels and surrounding intraluminal and extraluminal anatomy, and thereby contributing clinically important prognostic information. Dual left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery consists of of two LAD arteries within the anterior interventricular sulcus (AIVS).

Artificial neural network-based model enhances risk stratification and reduces non-invasive cardiac stress imaging compared to Diamond-Forrester and Morise risk assessment models: A prospective study.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) accounts for more than half of all cardiovascular events. Stress testing remains the cornerstone for non-invasive assessment of patients with possible or known CAD. Clinical utilization reviews show that most patients presenting for evaluation of stable CAD by stress testing are categorized as low risk prior to the test.

Association Between Sedentary Lifestyle and Diastolic Dysfunction Among Outpatients With Normal Left Ventricular Systolic Function Presenting to a Tertiary Referral Center in the Middle East.

Background: Sedentary lifestyle has become prevalent in our community. Recent data showed controversy on the effect of regular exercise on left ventricular compliance and myocardial relaxation.

Hypothesis: We sought to assess whether physical inactivity is an independent predictor of diastolic dysfunction in or community, after adjustment for several covariates.

Association of coronary artery disease and chronic kidney disease in Lebanese population.

Background: More evidence is emerging on the strong association between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiovascular disease. We assessed the relationship between coronary artery disease (CAD) and renal dysfunction level (RDL) in a group of Lebanese patients.

Methods: A total of 1268 patients undergoing cardiac catheterization were sequentially enrolled in a multicenter cross sectional study.

Caffeine Impact on Metabolic Syndrome Components Is Modulated by a CYP1A2 Variant.

Cultural, dietary, and lifestyle factors are the main modulators of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) disease risk. Coffee is one of the most popular worldwide beverages, and recent epidemiological studies have showed that coffee consumption is associated with a lower risk of T2DM. This study investigates the impact of coffee intake on T2DM risk and assesses the effect of CYP variants with caffeine exposures on T2DM.

Quantifying the impact of using Coronary Artery Calcium Score for risk categorization instead of Framingham Score or European Heart SCORE in lipid lowering algorithms in a Middle Eastern population.

Background: The use of the Coronary Artery Calcium Score (CACS) for risk categorization instead of the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) or European Heart SCORE (EHS) to improve classification of individuals is well documented. However, the impact of reclassifying individuals using CACS on initiating lipid lowering therapy is not well understood. We aimed to determine the percentage of individuals not requiring lipid lowering therapy as per the FRS and EHS models but are found to require it using CACS and vice versa; and to determine the level of agreement between CACS, FRS and EHS based models.