Nicotine metabolite ratio in people with HIV who smoke cigarettes receiving pharmacologic and behavioral cessation therapy.

People with HIV (PWH) smoke cigarettes at triple the rate of the general population in the US. Efforts to increase quit rates in this group have met with limited success. The nicotine metabolite ratio (NMR) has shown promise as a phenotypic marker that may be useful in selecting the most appropriate cessation treatments for people who smoke cigarettes.

Optimizing behavioral and pharmacological smoking cessation interventions among people with HIV.

Background: People with HIV/AIDS (PWH) smoke at nearly three times the rate of the general population. Interventions to promote sustained quitting among PWH are urgently needed.

Methods: Our study used a randomized factorial design to evaluate the effects of varenicline, compared with placebo, and behavioral cessation therapy, positively smoke free (PSF), compared with standard of care (SOC) among PWH who smoke.

Proteomic Signature of Subclinical Coronary Artery Disease in People With HIV: Analysis of the REPRIEVE Mechanistic Substudy.

Background: People with HIV (PWH) have subclinical coronary artery disease (CAD) despite low traditional atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk scores. Coronary plaque in PWH presents as a unique phenotype, but little is known about the contributions of specific inflammatory pathways to plaque phenotypes in PWH.

Methods: The REPRIEVE Mechanistic Substudy enrolled PWH on ART without known cardiovascular disease.

Association of circulating cardiac biomarkers with electrocardiographic abnormalities in chronic kidney disease.

Background: Among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), the circulating cardiac biomarkers soluble ST2 (SST2), galectin-3, growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and high-sensitivity troponin-T (hsTnT) possibly reflect pathophysiologic processes and are associated with clinical cardiovascular disease. Whether these biomarkers are associated with electrocardiographic findings is not known. The aim of this study was to test the association between serum cardiac biomarkers and the presence of electrocardiographic changes potentially indicative of subclinical myocardial disease in patients with CKD.

Predicting Long-Term Absence of Coronary Artery Calcium in Metabolic Syndrome and Diabetes: The MESA Study.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of healthy arterial aging (long-term coronary artery calcification [CAC] of 0) among individuals with metabolic syndrome (MetS) or type 2 diabetes (T2D), which may improve primary prevention strategies.

Background: Individuals with MetS or T2D have a heterogeneously increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and not all have a high-intermediate risk.

Methods: We included 574 participants from the MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) with MetS or T2D who had CAC=0 at baseline and a repeat CAC scan 10 years later.

Differential Plasma Protein Regulation and Statin Effects in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-Infected and Non-HIV-Infected Patients Utilizing a Proteomics Approach.

Background: People with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH) demonstrate increased atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Statins are being studied to prevent ASCVD in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), but little is known regarding the effects of statins on a broad range of inflammatory and cardiovascular proteins in this population.

Methods: We used a highly specific discovery proteomic approach (Protein Extension Assay), to determine statin effects on over 350 plasma proteins in relevant ASCVD pathways among HIV and non-HIV groups.

Novel mediators of statin effects on plaque in HIV: a proteomics approach.

Objective: HIV patients have increased atherosclerotic coronary vascular disease (ASCVD), thought to be mediated through inflammatory mechanisms. We hypothesized that among asymptomatic HIV-infected patients with subclinical coronary plaque, statin therapy would modulate unique inflammatory and cardiovascular proteins in relation to change in subclinical coronary plaque volume. We tested this hypothesis using a novel proteomics approach.

Risk factors for cardiovascular disease across the spectrum of older age: the Cardiovascular Health Study.

Objective: The associations of some risk factors with cardiovascular disease (CVD) are attenuated in older age; whereas others appear robust. The present study aimed to compare CVD risk factors across older age.

Methods: Participants (n = 4883) in the Cardiovascular Health Study free of prevalent CVD, were stratified into three age groups: 65-74, 75-84, 85+ years.

Incidence of and risk factors for sick sinus syndrome in the general population.

Background: Little is known about the incidence of and risk factors for sick sinus syndrome (SSS), a common indication for pacemaker implantation.

Objectives: This study sought to describe the epidemiology of SSS.

Methods: This analysis included 20,572 participants (mean baseline age 59 years, 43% male) in the ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities) study and the CHS (Cardiovascular Health Study), who at baseline were free of prevalent atrial fibrillation and pacemaker therapy, had a heart rate of ≥ 50 beats/min unless using beta blockers, and were identified as of white or black race.

Risk factors for coronary artery calcium among patients with chronic kidney disease (from the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort Study).

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We examined the cross-sectional association between novel risk factors and coronary artery calcium (CAC) measured using electron beam computed tomography or multidetector computed tomography among 2,018 patients with CKD. Using the total Agatston scores, the participants were classified as having no (0), moderate (>0-100), or high (>100) CAC.