Low-Density Lipoprotein Subfraction Phenotype Is Associated with Epicardial Adipose Tissue Volume in Type 2 Diabetes.

: Increased epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) volume is a common feature in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) which is directly associated with heart failure and advanced atherosclerosis. We aimed to evaluate lipoprotein-related biomarkers of EAT volume in T2DM patients before and after glycemic control. : This study included 36 T2DM patients before and after optimization of glycemic control and on 14 healthy controls (HCs).

Alterations in LDL and HDL after an ischemic stroke associated with carotid atherosclerosis are reversed after 1 year.

Approximately, 20% of ischemic strokes are attributed to the presence of atherosclerosis. Lipoproteins play a crucial role in the development of atherosclerosis, with LDL promoting atherogenesis and HDL inhibiting it. Therefore, both their concentrations and their biological properties are decisive factors in atherosclerotic processes.

Atherogenic circulating lipoproteins in ischemic stroke.

The fundamental role of qualitative alterations of lipoproteins in the early development of atherosclerosis has been widely demonstrated. Modified low-density lipoproteins (LDL), such as oxidized LDL (oxLDL), small dense LDL (sdLDL), and electronegative LDL [LDL(-)], are capable of triggering the atherogenic process, favoring the subendothelial accumulation of cholesterol and promoting inflammatory, proliferative, and apoptotic processes characteristic of atherosclerotic lesions. In contrast, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) prevents and/or reverses these atherogenic effects.

sICAM-1 concentrations are associated with inflammation in contralateral carotid plaque in patients with ischemic stroke.

Background: Atherosclerotic plaques in the internal carotid artery are responsible for more than 15% of ischemic strokes. Carotid F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (F-FDG PET) detects plaque inflammation. Plasma ICAM-1 and LRP1 concentrations have been associated with inflammation in ipsilateral carotid plaque.

Apolipoprotein J protects cardiomyocytes from lipid-mediated inflammation and cytotoxicity induced by the epicardial adipose tissue of diabetic patients.

Diabetic patients present increased volume and functional alterations in epicardial adipose tissue (EAT). We aimed to analyze EAT from type 2 diabetic patients and the inflammatory and cytotoxic effects induced on cardiomyocytes. Furthermore, we analyzed the cardioprotective role of apolipoprotein J (apoJ).

Novel Therapeutic Approaches to Prevent Atherothrombotic Ischemic Stroke in Patients with Carotid Atherosclerosis.

Atherothrombotic stroke represents approximately 20% of all ischemic strokes. It is caused by large-artery atherosclerosis, mostly in the internal carotid artery, and it is associated with a high risk of early recurrence. After an ischemic stroke, tissue plasminogen activator is used in clinical practice, although it is not possible in all patients.

Electronegative LDL Is Associated with Plaque Vulnerability in Patients with Ischemic Stroke and Carotid Atherosclerosis.

Owing to the high risk of recurrence, identifying indicators of carotid plaque vulnerability in atherothrombotic ischemic stroke is essential. In this study, we aimed to identify modified LDLs and antioxidant enzymes associated with plaque vulnerability in plasma from patients with a recent ischemic stroke and carotid atherosclerosis. Patients underwent an ultrasound, a CT-angiography, and an F-FDG PET.

Soluble low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 as a surrogate marker of carotid plaque inflammation assessed by F-FDG PET in patients with a recent ischemic stroke.

Background: F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (F-FDG PET) identifies carotid plaque inflammation and predicts stroke recurrence.

Aim: Our aim was to evaluate the performance of soluble low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (sLRP1) as an indicator of carotid plaque inflammation.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted among adult patients with recent (< 7 days) anterior circulation ischemic stroke and at least one atherosclerotic plaque in the ipsilateral internal carotid artery.

Presence of Ceramidase Activity in Electronegative LDL.

Electronegative low-density lipoprotein (LDL(-)) is a minor modified fraction of human plasma LDL with several atherogenic properties. Among them is increased bioactive lipid mediator content, such as lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), ceramide (Cer), and sphingosine (Sph), which are related to the presence of some phospholipolytic activities, including platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH), phospholipase C (PLC), and sphingomyelinase (SMase), in LDL(-). However, these enzymes' activities do not explain the increased Sph content, which typically derives from Cer degradation.

Serum from Stroke Patients with High-Grade Carotid Stenosis Promotes Cyclooxygenase-Dependent Endothelial Dysfunction in Non-ischemic Mice Carotid Arteries.

Atherosclerosis is responsible for 20% of ischemic strokes, and severe carotid stenosis is associated with a higher incidence of first-ever and recurrent strokes. The release of pro-inflammatory mediators into the blood in severe atherosclerosis may aggravate endothelial dysfunction after stroke contributing to impair disease outcomes. We hypothesize that environments of severe carotid atherosclerotic disease worsen endothelial dysfunction in stroke linked to enhanced risk of further cerebrovascular events.

Plasma sICAM-1 as a Biomarker of Carotid Plaque Inflammation in Patients with a Recent Ischemic Stroke.

F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (F-FDG PET) identifies carotid plaque inflammation and predicts stroke recurrence in patients with atherothrombotic stroke. The aim of the study was to identify plasma inflammatory biomarkers associated with plaque inflammation according to F-FDG uptake. We conducted a prospective study of consecutive adult patients with a recent (< 7 days) anterior circulation ischemic stroke and at least one atherosclerotic plaque in the ipsilateral internal carotid artery.

The Capacity of APOB-Depleted Plasma in Inducing ATP-Binding Cassette A1/G1-Mediated Macrophage Cholesterol Efflux-But Not Gut Microbial-Derived Metabolites-Is Independently Associated with Mortality in Patients with ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Impaired HDL-mediated macrophage cholesterol efflux and higher circulating concentrations of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) levels are independent risk factors for cardiovascular mortality. The TMAO precursors, γ-butyrobetaine (γBB) and Trimethyllysine (TML), have also been recently associated with cardiovascular death, but their interactions with HDL-mediated cholesterol efflux remain unclear. We aimed to determine the associations between APOB depleted plasma-mediated macrophage cholesterol efflux and plasma TMAO, γBB, and TML concentrations and explore their association with two-year follow-up mortality in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and unstable angina (UA).

Endothelial Progenitor Cells Count after Acute Ischemic Stroke Predicts Functional Outcome in Patients with Carotid Atherosclerosis.

Objectives: Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells (EPCs) predict cardiovascular outcomes in patients with coronary disease. However, the predictive value of EPCs after ischemic stroke is not well established. We aimed to study the prognostic role of EPCs in patients with acute ischemic stroke and carotid atherosclerosis, focusing on post-stroke functional outcome and stroke recurrences.

Changes in the Composition and Function of Lipoproteins after Bariatric Surgery in Patients with Severe Obesity.

The effect of bariatric surgery on lipid profile and the qualitative characteristics of lipoproteins was analyzed in morbidly obese subjects. Thirteen obese patients underwent bariatric surgery. Plasma samples were obtained before surgery and at 6 and 12 months after the intervention.

Comparison of Plasma Lipoprotein Composition and Function in Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy and Alzheimer's Disease.

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) refers to beta-amyloid (Aβ) deposition in brain vessels and is clinically the main cause of lobar intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Aβ can also accumulate in brain parenchyma forming neuritic plaques in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Our study aimed to determine whether the peripheral lipid profile and lipoprotein composition are associated with cerebral beta-amyloidosis pathology and may reflect biological differences in AD and CAA.

Search for Reliable Circulating Biomarkers to Predict Carotid Plaque Vulnerability.

Atherosclerosis is responsible for 20% of ischemic strokes, and the plaques from the internal carotid artery the most frequently involved. Lipoproteins play a key role in carotid atherosclerosis since lipid accumulation contributes to plaque progression and chronic inflammation, both factors leading to plaque vulnerability. Carotid revascularization to prevent future vascular events is reasonable in some patients with high-grade carotid stenosis.

Subcutaneous Administration of Apolipoprotein J-Derived Mimetic Peptide d-[113-122]apoJ Improves LDL and HDL Function and Prevents Atherosclerosis in LDLR-KO Mice.

Mimetic peptides are potential therapeutic agents for atherosclerosis. d-[,,,,,,,,,]apolipoprotein (apo) J (D-[,,,,,,,,,]apoJ) is a 10-residue peptide that is predicted to form a class G* amphipathic helix 6 from apoJ; it shows anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic properties. In the present study, we analyzed the effect of d-[,,,,,,,,,]apoJ in low-density lipoprotein receptor knockout mice(LDLR-KO) on the development of atherosclerosis and lipoprotein function.

Electronegative LDL Promotes Inflammation and Triglyceride Accumulation in Macrophages.

Electronegative low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (LDL(-)), a modified LDL that is present in blood and exerts atherogenic effects on endothelial cells and monocytes. This study aimed to determine the action of LDL(-) on monocytes differentiated into macrophages. LDL(-) and in vitro-modified LDLs (oxidized, aggregated, and acetylated) were added to macrophages derived from THP1 monocytes over-expressing CD14 (THP1-CD14).

Familial Combined Hyperlipidemia (FCH) Patients with High Triglyceride Levels Present with Worse Lipoprotein Function Than FCH Patients with Isolated Hypercholesterolemia.

Lipoprotein characteristics were analyzed in familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCH) patients before and after statin treatment. Twenty-six FCH patients were classified according to the presence (HTG group, = 13) or absence (normotriglyceridemic (NTG) group, = 13) of hypertriglyceridemia. Fifteen healthy subjects comprised the control group.

The Role of Distinctive Sphingolipids in the Inflammatory and Apoptotic Effects of Electronegative LDL on Monocytes.

Electronegative low-density lipoprotein (LDL(-)) is a minor LDL subfraction that is present in blood with inflammatory and apoptotic effects. We aimed to evaluate the role of sphingolipids ceramide (Cer), sphingosine (Sph), and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) in the LDL(-)-induced effect on monocytes. Total LDL was subfractioned into native LDL and LDL(-) by anion-exchange chromatography and their sphingolipid content evaluated by mass spectrometry.

Plasma microRNA Profiling Reveals Novel Biomarkers of Epicardial Adipose Tissue: A Multidetector Computed Tomography Study.

Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) constitutes a novel parameter for cardiometabolic risk assessment and a target for therapy. Here, we evaluated for the first time the plasma microRNA (miRNA) profile as a source of biomarkers for epicardial fat volume (EFV). miRNAs were profiled in plasma samples from 180 patients whose EFV was quantified using multidetector computed tomography.

Electronegative LDL induces MMP-9 and TIMP-1 release in monocytes through CD14 activation: Inhibitory effect of glycosaminoglycan sulodexide.

Objective: Electronegative LDL (LDL(-)) is involved in atherosclerosis through the activation of the TLR4/CD14 inflammatory pathway in monocytes. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and their inhibitors (tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase [TIMP]) are also crucially involved in atherosclerosis, but their modulation by LDL(-) has never been investigated. The aim of this study was to examine the ability of LDL(-) to release MMPs and TIMPs in human monocytes and to determine whether sulodexide (SDX), a glycosaminoglycan-based drug, was able to affect their secretion.

Positive functions of emotions in achievement sports.

This article presents the results of two research projects on the emotions of men engaged in achievement outdoor sports. The conditions were analyzed under which emotions carry out positive functions. The question strikes us as a fundamental one, because it is of crucial importance when it comes to increasing sportspeople's success.