The Association of Mitral Annular Calcification With Cardiovascular and Noncardiovascular Outcomes: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Mitral annular calcification (MAC) may be a potential marker of biologic aging. However, the association of MAC with noncardiovascular measures, including bone mineral density (BMD), incident renal failure, dementia, and noncardiovascular mortality, is not well-studied in a multiracial cohort. We used data from 6,814 participants (mean age: 62.

Computational Evaluation of Bioactive Compounds from Schott as a Novel EGFR Inhibitor for Cancer Treatment.

Introduction: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a transmembrane protein that belongs to the ErbB/HER-family of tyrosine kinase receptors. Somatic mutations and overexpression of EGFR have been reported to play a vital role in cancer cell development and progression, including cell proliferation, differentiation, angiogenesis, apoptosis, and metastatic spread. Hence, EGFR is an important therapeutic target for the treatment of various types of epithelial cancers.

Life's Simple 7 and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: The Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Background: The American Heart Association (AHA) has defined Life's Simple 7 (LS7) as a measure of overall cardiovascular health . Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been involved as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. We evaluated the association between LS7 and NAFLD.

Alcohol type and ideal cardiovascular health among adults of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Background: Light to moderate alcohol consumption is associated with favorable cardiovascular health (CVH). However, the association between alcohol type and ideal CVH has not been well-established. We examined the relationship between alcohol type and ideal CVH as measured by the American Heart Association's seven CVH metrics.

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Modifies Serum Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase in Cigarette Smokers.

Background: Serum gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) is a marker of oxidative stress, associated with increased cardiovascular (CV) risk. The impact of smoking on oxidative stress may be aggravated in individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We aimed to ascertain the association of smoking on GGT levels in the presence or absence of NAFLD.

Femoral Artery Chronic Total Occlusion Revascularization (FACTOR) Score and Algorithm: Feasibility and Validation in a Single-Center Study of Femoropopliteal Occlusions.

Objectives: To develop and validate a hybrid algorithm to approach complex superficial femoral artery (SFA) chronic total occlusions (CTOs) in a step-wise fashion.

Background: SFA-CTO represents one of the most challenging subsets of lower-extremity peripheral arterial disease. Depending on lesion characteristics, successful percutaneous crossing of the occluded segment may prove to be very difficult.

Benefits and Risks of Continuing Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors, Angiotensin II Receptor Antagonists, and Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists during Hospitalizations for Acute Heart Failure.

Background: The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone axis plays a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of acute and chronic heart failure (HF) and represents an important target for guideline-directed medical therapy.

Summary: The use of appropriate directed medical therapies for inhibition of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone axis in chronic HF has been the subject of several landmark clinical trials, with high levels of adherence exhibited in the outpatient setting. However, less clarity exists with respect to the initiation, continuation, and cessation of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi) in the setting of acute HF and exacerbation of HF necessitating hospitalization.

Outcomes of Transpedal Arterial Access Hemostasis Using a Radial Hemostatic Band.

Background: There is increasing burden of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in the United States. Despite advancements in endovascular therapy, there have been significant limitations in invasive interventions aimed at revascularization. The transpedal tibial artery retrograde approach has been described as an alternative access for patients with complex disease requiring dual access or failed revascularization via conventional common femoral artery access.

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Is Associated With Arterial Distensibility and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness: (from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis).

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered a potential independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis cohort enrolled 6,814 adults without previous CVD. We excluded 2,692 participants who had missing variables, were heavy drinkers, or history of steroid use and/or chronic liver disease.

The relationship of erectile dysfunction and subclinical cardiovascular disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and CVD mortality. However, the relationship between ED and subclinical CVD is less clear. We synthesized the available data on the association of ED and measures of subclinical CVD.

Life's Simple 7 and Incident Heart Failure: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Background: The American Heart Association introduced the Life's Simple 7 (LS7) metrics to assess and promote cardiovascular health. We sought to examine the association between the LS7 metrics and incident heart failure (HF) in a multiethnic cohort.

Methods And Results: We analyzed data from 6506 participants of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis free of cardiovascular disease at baseline.

Elevated gamma-glutamyl transferase is associated with subclinical inflammation independent of cardiometabolic risk factors in an asymptomatic population: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Serum Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT), a marker of oxidative stress, has been suggested to be independently associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. We examined the association of serum GGT levels with the burden of subclinical inflammation across a spectrum of metabolic conditions.

Methods: We evaluated 5,446 asymptomatic subjects (43 ± 10 years, 78 % males) who had an employer-sponsored physical between 2008 and 2010.

Obesity Modifies the Effect of Fitness on Heart Rate Indices during Exercise Stress Testing in Asymptomatic Individuals.

Objective: To assess the impact of aerobic fitness on exercise heart rate (HR) indices in an asymptomatic cohort across different body mass index (BMI) categories.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 506 working-class Brazilian subjects, free of known clinical cardiovascular disease(e.g.

Blood pressure is associated with the presence and severity of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease across the spectrum of cardiometabolic risk.

Objectives: To determine the relationship between clinically relevant blood pressure (BP) groups and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) presence and severity especially in the milieu of other metabolic risk factors.

Patients And Methods: From a Brazilian cohort of 5362 healthy middle-aged men and women who presented for yearly physical examination and testing, the cross-sectional relationship between BP categories and NAFLD was assessed. BP groups were categorized as normal, prehypertension (PHT), and hypertension (HTN) according to the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure classification.

Relation of physical activity to prevalence of nonalcoholic Fatty liver disease independent of cardiometabolic risk.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with obesity and insulin resistance and has been linked with increased cardiovascular risk. Although physical activity (PA) and lifestyle modification are often recommended in patients at cardiovascular risk, the benefit across the cardiometabolic risk spectrum is unclear. We aimed to evaluate the relation of PA and NAFLD independent of metabolic syndrome (MS) or obesity.

Systematic review on noninvasive assessment of subclinical cardiovascular disease in obstructive sleep apnea: new kid on the block!

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have a high burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) but a causal relationship between OSA and atherosclerotic CVD remains unclear. We systematically reviewed the literature analyzing the relationship. A review of the Medline database for studies noninvasively evaluating subclinical CVD in OSA was conducted.

Subclinical cardiovascular disease in plaque psoriasis: association or causal link?

Background: Psoriasis patients have a high prevalence of cardiovascular events and are thought to have a relative risk increase of 25% as compared to the general population. However, a causal relationship between psoriasis and cardiovascular disease has not been established. We sought to perform a systematic review of existing data regarding the presence of endothelial dysfunction and subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with plaque psoriasis.

Statin use is not associated with presence of and severity of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background And Aims: There is concern that statin use may exacerbate nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We aimed to assess the association of statin use with NALFD and severity of liver fibrosis among NAFLD individuals.

Methods: We evaluated 6,385 cross-sectional healthy Brazilian subjects (43 ± 10 years, 79% males) without clinical coronary heart disease between November 2008 and July 2010.

A systematic review: burden and severity of subclinical cardiovascular disease among those with nonalcoholic fatty liver; should we care?

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an emerging disease and a leading cause of chronic liver disease. The prevalence in the general population is approximately 15-30% and it increases to 70-90% in obese or diabetic populations. NAFLD has been linked to increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.