Use of coronarycomputed tomography for cardiovascular risk assessment in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.

Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) are recognised risk factors for accelerated atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD), particularly in younger individuals and women who lack traditional CVD risk factors. Reflective of the critical role that inflammation plays in the formation, progression and rupture of atherosclerotic plaques, research into immune mechanisms of CVD has led to the identification of a range of therapeutic targets that are the subject of ongoing clinical trials. Several key inflammatory pathways implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis are targeted in people with IMIDs.

The actions of methotrexate on endothelial cells are dependent on the shear stress-induced regulation of one carbon metabolism.

Objectives: The disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug methotrexate (MTX) is recognized to reduce cardiovascular risk in patients with systemic inflammatory diseases. However, the molecular basis for these cardioprotective effects remains incompletely understood. This study evaluated the actions of low-dose MTX on the vascular endothelium.

Somatostatin Receptor PET/MR Imaging of Inflammation in Patients With Large Vessel Vasculitis and Atherosclerosis.

Background: Assessing inflammatory disease activity in large vessel vasculitis (LVV) can be challenging by conventional measures.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate somatostatin receptor 2 (SST) as a novel inflammation-specific molecular imaging target in LVV.

Methods: In a prospective, observational cohort study, in vivo arterial SST expression was assessed by positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) using Ga-DOTATATE and F-FET-βAG-TOCA.

Placental Inflammation Leads to Abnormal Embryonic Heart Development.

Background: Placental heart development and embryonic heart development occur in parallel, and these organs have been proposed to exert reciprocal regulation during gestation. Poor placentation has been associated with congenital heart disease, an important cause of infant mortality. However, the mechanisms by which altered placental development can lead to congenital heart disease remain unresolved.

Improved adipose tissue function with initiation of protease inhibitor-only ART.

Objectives: Use of ART containing HIV PIs has previously been associated with toxicity in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), potentially contributing to the development of lipodystrophy and insulin resistance. However, the effect of PIs on SAT function in ART-naive patients independent of other ART classes is unknown. This study aimed to elucidate the effect of initiating PI-only ART on SAT function in ART-naive subjects.