The effect of sex and menopause on carotid intima-media thickness and pulse wave velocity in morbid obesity.

Background: Women are relatively protected from cardiovascular disease compared with men. Since morbid obesity is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the current study investigated whether the association between sex and cardiovascular risk factors and outcomes can be demonstrated in subjects suffering from morbid obesity.

Materials And Methods: Two hundred subjects enrolled in a study on cardiovascular risk factors in morbid obesity underwent extensive laboratory screening, carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) measurements.

Effect of a treat-to-target intervention of cardiovascular risk factors on subclinical and clinical atherosclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis: a randomised clinical trial.

Background: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). No long-term intervention trials on CVD risk factors have been published, and a debate on the efficacy of controlling traditional risk factors in RA is ongoing. We aimed to evaluate a treat-to-target approach versus usual care regarding traditional CVD risk factors in patients with RA.

Contribution of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus to Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Subjects with Morbid Obesity.

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity are both related to increased risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. Early atherosclerotic vascular changes can be detected by non-invasive tests like carotid artery intima-media thickness (cIMT) and pulse wave velocity (PWV). Both cIMT and PWV are significantly impaired in T2DM patients and in obese patients, but the additional effect of T2DM on these vascular measurements in obese subjects has not been evaluated.

Progression of subclinical atherosclerosis in subjects with rheumatoid arthritis and the metabolic syndrome.

Background And Aims: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis. We aimed to evaluate the progression of carotid intima media thickness (cIMT) in RA patients subject to a cardiovascular treat-to-target intervention. In addition, the presence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) on cIMT outcomes was evaluated.

Evidence for increased chylomicron remnants in rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Levels of apolipoprotein (apo) B48 may be increased in conditions associated with systemic inflammation and increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We aimed to evaluate apo B48 levels in patients with RA in relation to subclinical atherosclerosis.

Methods: Patients with RA (without CVD) and controls without RA but with high CVD risk (based on the presence of diabetes mellitus or a history of CVD) and healthy controls were included in this cross-sectional study.

Erythrocyte-bound apolipoprotein B in atherosclerosis and mortality.

Background: The binding of apolipoprotein (apo) B-containing lipoproteins to circulating erythrocytes (ery-apoB) is associated with a decreased prevalence of atherosclerosis. In this study, we evaluated ery-apoB as a possible prognostic factor in cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality, in a prospective cohort study.

Materials And Methods: Ery-apoB was measured by flow cytometry in subjects with and without cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Effect of a Single Dose of Vitamin D3 on Postprandial Arterial Stiffness and Inflammation in Vitamin D-Deficient Women.

Context: Cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) improves vascular function and inflammation, potentially providing an explanation for the proposed cardiovascular protection of vitamin D.

Objective: We investigated whether cholecalciferol supplementation reduces postprandial arterial dysfunction and inflammation.

Design: Randomized, 1:1, double-blind trial.

Leucocyte-bound apolipoprotein B in the circulation is inversely associated with the presence of clinical and subclinical atherosclerosis.

Background: Atherosclerosis is a pro-inflammatory condition, in which leucocyte activation plays an important role. The interaction between circulating leucocytes and apolipoprotein (apo) B-containing lipoproteins results in pro-inflammatory changes of these cells. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between apo B bound to circulating leucocytes and atherosclerosis.

Do traditional cardiovascular risk factors solely explain intima-media thickening in youth with type 1 diabetes?

Aims: The aim of this study was to assess age-specific carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes and to investigate associations between cIMT, age, classical cardiovascular disease (CVD) and other risk factors.

Methods: This study included a cross-sectional analysis of cIMT in 178 patients with type 1 diabetes and 208 healthy controls across age categories. In patients, the impact of gender, socio-economic status, ethnicity, current and historical body mass index, blood pressure, hemoglobin A1c, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol on cIMT was studied in a retrospective follow-up cohort study.

Marked underdiagnosis and undertreatment of hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of underdiagnosis and undertreatment of traditional cardiovascular risk factors in RA patients.

Methods: RA patients ⩽70 years of age without cardiovascular disease (CVD) or diabetes mellitus were included. Systolic blood pressure and a fasting lipid profile were measured.

Coronary leukocyte activation in relation to progression of coronary artery disease.

Leukocyte activation has been linked to atherogenesis, but there is little in vivo evidence for its role in the progression of atherosclerosis. We evaluated the predictive value for progression of coronary artery disease (CAD) of leukocyte activation markers in the coronary circulation. Monocyte and neutrophil CD11b, neutrophil CD66b expression and intracellular neutrophil myeloperoxidase (MPO) in the coronary arteries were determined by flow cytometry in patients undergoing coronary angiography.

Association of Cardiovascular Risk Factors with Carotid Intima Media Thickness in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis with Low Disease Activity Compared to Controls: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been identified as an independent cardiovascular risk factor. The importance of risk factors such as hypertension and hyperlipidemia in the generation of atherosclerosis in RA patients is unclear. This study analyzed clinical parameters associated with carotid intima media thickness (cIMT) in patients with RA.

Glucose-dependent leukocyte activation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, familial combined hyperlipidemia and healthy controls.

Background: Leukocyte activation has been associated with vascular complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Hyperglycemia may be involved in this leukocyte activation. Our aim was to investigate the role of elevated glucose concentrations on leukocyte activation in patients with a wide range of insulin sensitivity.

Erythrocyte-bound apolipoprotein B in relation to atherosclerosis, serum lipids and ABO blood group.

Introduction: Erythrocytes carry apolipoprotein B on their membrane, but the determining factors of erythrocyte-bound apolipoprotein B (ery-apoB) are unknown. We aimed to explore the determinants of ery-apoB to gain more insight into potential mechanisms.

Methods: Subjects with and without CVD were included (N = 398).

Exploring the value of apoB48 as a marker for atherosclerosis in clinical practice.

Background:   Postprandial accumulation of atherogenic remnants has been described in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), familial combined hyperlipidaemia (FCH), familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) and coronary artery disease (CAD). Scarce data are available on fasting plasma apolipoprotein (apo) B48 levels in relation to these conditions and atherosclerosis.

Design:   Treated patients with FCH (18), FH (20), T2DM (26), CAD (65), T2DM with CAD (T2DM/CAD) (28) and 33 healthy controls were included.