Aortic arterial stiffness associates with carotid intima-media thickness and carotid plaques in younger middle-aged healthy people.

Purpose: Aortic stiffness, assessed as estimated aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV), and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) are markers of vascular age, and carotid plaques are a marker of early atherosclerosis. In this cross-sectional study we aimed to investigate the association between aPWV, cIMT and plaques across different age groups and in women and men, in a middle-aged healthy population.

Materials And Methods: Participants in the 6.

ABO Blood Groups, RhD Factor and Their Association with Subclinical Atherosclerosis Assessed by Carotid Ultrasonography.

The ABO blood group system has previously been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD), where non-O blood group individuals have shown an increased risk. Studies assessing early atherosclerotic disease while also including RhD are few. We aimed to determine whether the ABO and RhD blood groups are associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in a healthy population.

Associations between emotional support and cardiovascular risk factors and subclinical atherosclerosis in middle-age.

Objective: To test the hypothesis of low emotional support being associated with lifestyle and biomedical cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, estimated risk of CVD morbidity and mortality, and subclinical atherosclerosis in middle-aged healthy adults.

Methods And Measures: Cross-sectional data were obtained from participants aged 40-60 years who had one or more conventional CVD risk factor. They underwent assessment based on questionnaires, clinical examination, blood sampling, and carotid ultrasound of plaque formation and carotid intima-media wall thickness (cIMT).

Changes in fasting plasma glucose and subclinical atherosclerosis: A cohort study from VIPVIZA trial.

Background And Aims: Studies on the influence of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) on the development of carotid plaque (CP) and intima media thickness (CIMT) mainly focused on single FPG measures. We investigated whether changes in FPG (ΔFPG) are associated with incident CP and CIMT change (ΔCIMT) over time.

Methods: Analyses were based on information from 1896 participants from the VIPVIZA trial (Visualization of asymptomatic atherosclerotic disease for optimum cardiovascular prevention), with baseline and 3-year follow-up data on FPG, ultrasonographic CP (none or ≥1 lesion/s) and CIMT assessments.

Multi-view carotid ultrasound is stronger associated with cardiovascular risk factors than presence of plaque or single carotid intima media thickness measurements in subclinical atherosclerosis.

We aimed to explore the prevalence of atherosclerosis by using multi-view ultrasound examination of the carotid arteries and its association with clinical risk factors in a middle-aged population at low to intermediate risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Carotid vascular ultrasound was performed in 3532 participants in the VIPVIZA trial. Mean and maximal carotid intima media thickness (cIMT) at prespecified angles and plaque presence were examined on the left and right side.

Carotid wall echogenicity at baseline associates with accelerated vascular aging in a middle-aged population.

Ultrasonic echolucent carotid intima-media (IM) complex and accelerated progression of carotid intima mediathickness (cIMT) have both separately been shown to predict future cardiovascular events. The aim of this studywas to evaluate if the echogenicity of the IM-complex is associated with the 3-year progression of cIMT. B-modeultrasound images captured at baseline and 3-year follow-up in the 'Visualization of asymptomatic atherosclerotic disease for optimum cardiovascular prevention' (VIPVIZA) trial were included (n: 3154).

Reduced progression of carotid intima media thickness by personalised pictorial presentation of subclinical atherosclerosis in VIPVIZA-A randomised controlled trial.

Objectives: Reduced progression of atherosclerosis can decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study aimed at evaluating the effect of a pictorial intervention showing atherosclerotic severity on the progression of carotid atherosclerosis.

Methods: A prospective randomised open-label blinded end-point trial with participants aged 40-60 years enroled from a routine CVD prevention programme.

Interframe Echo Intensity Variation of Subregions and Whole Plaque in Two-Dimensional Carotid Ultrasonography: Simulations and In Vivo Observations.

Objectives: The risk of cardiovascular disease is associated with the echo intensity of carotid plaques in ultrasound images and their cardiac cycle-induced intensity variations. In this study, we aimed to 1) explore the underlying origin of echo intensity variations by using simulations and 2) evaluate the association between the two-dimensional (2D) spatial distribution of these echo intensity variations and plaque vulnerability.

Methods: First, we analyzed how out-of-plane motion and compression of simulated scattering spheres of different sizes affect the ultrasound echo intensity.

The beneficial effect over 3 years by pictorial information to patients and their physician about subclinical atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk: Results from the VIPVIZA randomized clinical trial.

Objective: Non-adherence to guidelines and preventive measures is a major challenge, particularly so to obtain long-term adherence to lifestyle changes and recommended medication. The objective was to investigate if pictorial information regarding subclinical carotid atherosclerosis provided to individuals and physicians gave sustained effects on cardiovascular risk beyond the previously reported effect after 1 year and up to 3 years.

Methods: A Prospective Randomized Open Blinded End-point (PROBE) trial.

Ultrasound risk marker variability in symptomatic carotid plaque: impact on risk reclassification and association with temporal variation pattern.

Purpose: Ultrasound examinations of atherosclerotic carotid plaques can be used to calculate risk markers associated with plaque vulnerability. Recent studies demonstrate significant inter-frame variability in risk markers. Here, we investigate risk marker variability in symptomatic plaques and its impact on reclassification of plaque vulnerability, as well as its association with the shape of the temporal variation over the cardiac cycle.

Inter-sonographer reproducibility of carotid ultrasound plaque detection using Mannheim consensus in subclinical atherosclerosis.

Aims: To determine the inter-sonographer reproducibility of carotid ultrasound plaque detection using Mannheim consensus in a subclinical population and evaluate associations related to the reproducibility.

Methods And Results: Bilateral ultrasound screening for carotid plaques defined by Mannheim consensus was performed on 106 subclinical participants. Two different sonographers scanned the same participant, and reproducibility of plaque detection was measured by Cohens kappa.

Visualization of asymptomatic atherosclerotic disease for optimum cardiovascular prevention (VIPVIZA): a pragmatic, open-label, randomised controlled trial.

Background: Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease often fails because of poor adherence among practitioners and individuals to prevention guidelines. We aimed to investigate whether ultrasound-based pictorial information about subclinical carotid atherosclerosis, targeting both primary care physicians and individuals, improves prevention.

Methods: Visualization of asymptomatic atherosclerotic disease for optimum cardiovascular prevention (VIPVIZA) is a pragmatic, open-label, randomised controlled trial that was integrated within the Västerbotten Intervention Programme, an ongoing population-based cardiovascular disease prevention programme in northern Sweden.

Risk Marker Variability in Subclinical Carotid Plaques Based on Ultrasound is Influenced by Cardiac Phase, Echogenicity and Size.

Identification of risk markers based on quantitative ultrasound texture analysis of carotid plaques has the ability to define vulnerable components that correlate with increased cardiovascular risk. However, data describing factors with the potential to influence the measurement variability of risk markers are limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of electrocardiogram-guided image selection, plaque echogenicity and area on carotid plaque risk markers and their variability in asymptomatic carotid plaques.

Role of nicotine dependence in the association between the dopamine receptor gene DRD3 and major depressive disorder.

Background: The aims of this study were to analyze associations of dopamine receptor genes (DRD1-5) with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and nicotine dependence (ND), and to investigate whether ND moderates genetic influences on MDD.

Methods: The sample was ascertained from the Finnish Twin Cohort. Twin pairs concordant for smoking history were recruited along with their family members, as part of the multisite Nicotine Addiction Genetics consortium.

The association between DRD2/ANKK1 and genetically informed measures of alcohol use and problems.

In 1990, Blum and colleagues first reported an association between DRD2 and alcoholism. While there have been subsequent replications of this genetic association, there have also been numerous studies that failed to detect an association between DRD2 and alcohol dependence. We propose that one aspect contributing to this inconsistency is the variation in alcohol phenotype used across studies.

Sex-specific influence of DRD2 on ADHD-type temperament in a large population-based birth cohort.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a childhood-onset neurodevelopmental disorder with a significant public-health impact. Previously, we described a candidate gene study in a population-based birth cohort that demonstrated an association with ADHD-affected males and the dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2). The current study evaluates potential associations of dopamine receptor genes and Cloninger temperament traits within this same sample.

Interaction of early environment, gender and genes of monoamine neurotransmission in the aetiology of depression in a large population-based Finnish birth cohort.

Objectives Depression is a worldwide leading cause of morbidity and disability. Genetic studies have recently begun to elucidate its molecular aetiology. The authors investigated candidate genes of monoamine neurotransmission and early environmental risk factors for depressiveness in the genetically isolated population-based Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (12 058 live births).

Impact of temperament on depression and anxiety symptoms and depressive disorder in a population-based birth cohort.

Background: The aim of this study was to characterize at the population level how innate features of temperament relate to experience of depressive mood and anxiety, and whether these symptoms have separable temperamental backgrounds.

Methods: The study subjects were 4773 members of the population-based Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966, a culturally and genetically homogeneous study sample. Temperament was measured at age 31 using the temperament items of the Temperament and Character Inventory and a separate Pessimism score.

A population-based association study of candidate genes for depression and sleep disturbance.

The clinical manifestation of depression comprises a variety of symptoms, including early morning awakenings and fatigue, features also indicating disturbed sleep. The presence or absence of these symptoms may reflect differences in neurobiological processes leading to prolonged depression. Several neurobiological mechanisms have been indicated in the induction of depression, including disturbances in serotonergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission and in the action of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.

Impact of the dopamine receptor gene family on temperament traits in a population-based birth cohort.

Although the genetic determinants of personality have been intensively investigated especially since Cloninger proposed his psychobiological model of temperament and character, findings to date remain inconclusive and very few studies have addressed the topic in large population cohorts. In the current study we investigated one gene family in its entirety by addressing the role of all known dopamine receptor genes, DRD1-DRD5, on Cloninger's temperament traits in a Finnish population-based birth cohort. The study sample (n = 1,434) was ascertained from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 with over 5,000 study individuals tested at the age of 31 years.

ADHD candidate gene study in a population-based birth cohort: association with DBH and DRD2.

Objective: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common childhood-onset disorder with a significant impact on public health. Although a genetic contribution to risk is evident, predisposing genetic determinants remain largely unknown despite extensive research. So far, the most promising candidate genes have been those involved in dopamine and serotonin pathways.

Research advances in the use of tetrapyrrolic photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising new treatment modality for several diseases, most notably cancer. In PDT, light, O2, and a photosensitizing drug are combined to produce a selective therapeutic effect. Lately, there has been active research on new photosensitizer candidates, because the most commonly used porphyrin photosensitizers are far from ideal with respect to PDT.