GLS2 links glutamine metabolism and atherosclerosis by remodeling artery walls.

Metabolic dysregulation, including perturbed glutamine-glutamate homeostasis, is common among patients with cardiovascular diseases, but the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Using the human MESA cohort, here we show that plasma glutamine-glutamate ratio is an independent risk factor for carotid plaque progression. Mice deficient in glutaminase-2 (Gls2), the enzyme that mediates hepatic glutaminolysis, developed accelerated atherosclerosis and susceptibility to catastrophic cardiac events, while Gls2 overexpression partially protected from disease progression.

Factors Associated With Missing Biological Samples in the Dog Ageing Project.

Background: The Dog Aging Project (DAP) is a longitudinal study examining aging in US companion dogs, where missing data pose a challenge to result validity and statistical power. Early recognition and procedural adjustments are vital to address missing samples.

Objectives: This research assesses missing biospecimen samples within the PRECISION cohort of the DAP, aiming to identify contributing factors and propose mitigation strategies.

Relationship of Plasma Apolipoprotein C-I Truncation With Risk of Diabetes in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis and the Actos Now for the Prevention of Diabetes Study.

Objective: Higher truncated-to-native apolipoprotein (apo) C-I proteoform ratios (C-I'/C-I) are associated with favorable cardiometabolic risk profiles, but their relationship with longitudinal changes in insulin resistance (IR) and incident diabetes is unknown.

Research Design And Methods: Plasma apoC-I proteoforms were measured by mass spectrometry immunoassay at baseline in 4,742 nondiabetic participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) and 524 participants with prediabetes in the Actos Now for Prevention of Diabetes (ACT NOW) study. The primary outcome was incident diabetes (fasting glucose [FG] ≥7.

Racial Disparities in Incident and Recurrent Cardiovascular Events: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Most prior studies of cardiovascular (CVD) events have focused on incident events. We analyzed differences by race/ethnicity in incident and recurrent CVD events in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis from baseline in 2000-2002 through 2019 using joint and multivariable adjusted Cox proportional hazards modeling. Among 6,814 men and women aged 45-85 years without known CVD at enrollment, during median follow up of 17.

Potato Consumption and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Harmonized Analysis of 7 Prospective Cohorts.

Background: Data on the relation of potato consumption with risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) are limited and inconsistent. It is unclear whether the plant-based diet index (PDI), which is a novel and comprehensive tool to assess overall dietary pattern, modifies the association of potato intake with T2D.

Objectives: We examined the association of total, combined baked, boiled, and mashed potatoes and fried potatoes with risk of T2D and test the interaction between PDI score and potato consumption on T2D risk.

Impact of Nonalcoholic Hepatic Steatosis on the Warranty Period of a Coronary Artery Calcium Score of 0: Results From the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Background: For individuals with a coronary artery calcium (CAC) score of 0, CAC rescans at appropriate timings are recommended, depending on individual risk profiles. Although nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, recently redefined as metabolic-associated fatty liver disease, is a risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events, its relationship with the warranty period of a CAC score of 0 has not been elucidated.

Methods: A total of 1944 subjects from the MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) with a baseline CAC score of 0, presence or absence of nonalcoholic hepatic steatosis, and at least 1 follow-up computed tomography scan were included.

Addition of Social Determinants of Health to Coronary Heart Disease Risk Prediction: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Background: Social determinants of health (SDoH) are associated with cardiovascular risk factors and outcomes; however, they are absent from risk prediction models. We aimed to assess if the addition of SDoH improves the predictive ability of the MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) Risk Score.

Methods And Results: This was a community-based prospective population cohort study that enrolled 6286 men and women, ages 45-84 years, who were free of clinical coronary heart disease (CHD) at baseline.

Thoracic versus coronary calcification for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events prediction.

Unlabelled: This study compared the prognostic value of quantified thoracic artery calcium (TAC) including aortic arch on chest CT and coronary artery calcium (CAC) score on ECG-gated cardiac CT.

Methods: A total of 2412 participants who underwent both chest CT and ECG-gated cardiac CT at the same period were included in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis Exam 5. All participants were monitored for incident atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension treatment: an individual participant data network meta-analysis.

Background And Aims: Effective therapies that target three main signalling pathways are approved to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). However, there are few large patient-level studies that compare the effectiveness of these pathways. The aim of this analysis was to compare the effectiveness of the treatment pathways in PAH and to assess treatment heterogeneity.

Discrimination, Smoking, and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: A Moderated Mediation Analysis With MESA.

Background: Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and carotid plaque are reliable indicators of cardiovascular disease risk, and research highlights that racial and ethnic minority individuals generally exhibit higher cIMT and carotid plaque than White individuals. At present, the mechanisms driving these disparities among different racial and ethnic and biological sex groups are poorly understood.

Methods And Results: Data came from the baseline examination of MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis).

Associations of Abdominal Muscle Density and Area and Incident Cardiovascular Disease, Coronary Heart Disease, and Stroke: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Background: Muscle density is inversely associated with all-cause mortality, but associations with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk are not well understood. This study evaluated the association between muscle density and muscle area and incident total CVD, coronary heart disease (CHD), and stroke in diverse men and women.

Methods And Results: Adult participants (N=1869) in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis Ancillary Body Composition Study underwent computer tomography scans of the L2-L4 region of the abdomen.

Dog size and patterns of disease history across the canine age spectrum: Results from the Dog Aging Project.

Age in dogs is associated with the risk of many diseases, and canine size is a major factor in that risk. However, the size patterns are complex. While small size dogs tend to live longer, some diseases are more prevalent among small dogs.

The Association of Upper Airway Anatomy with Brain Structure: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Sleep apnea, affecting an estimated 1 in 4 American adults, has been reported to be associated with both brain structural abnormality and impaired cognitive function. Obstructive sleep apnea is known to be affected by upper airway anatomy. To better understand the contribution of upper airway anatomy to pathways linking sleep apnea with impaired cognitive function, we investigated the association of upper airway anatomy with structural brain abnormalities.

The association of upper airway anatomy with cognitive test performance: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Background: Numerous upper airway anatomy characteristics are risk factors for sleep apnea, which affects 26% of older Americans, and more severe sleep apnea is associated with cognitive impairment. This study explores the pathophysiology and links between upper airway anatomy, sleep, and cognition.

Methods: Participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis underwent an upper airway MRI, polysomnography to assess sleep measures including the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and completed the Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument (CASI).

Association of apolipoproteins C-I and C-II truncations with coronary heart disease and progression of coronary artery calcium: Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Background And Aims: Higher truncated-to-native proteoform ratios of apolipoproteins (apo) C-I (C-I'/C-I) and C-II (C-II'/C-II) are associated with less atherogenic lipid profiles. We examined prospective relationships of C-I'/C-II and C-II'/C-II with coronary heart disease (CHD) and coronary artery calcium (CAC).

Methods: ApoC-I and apoC-II proteoforms were measured by mass spectrometry immunoassay in 5790 MESA baseline plasma samples.

Incremental value of ABI and CAC beyond traditional risk markers in long-term prediction of cardiovascular disease incidence in participants with diabetes and impaired fasting glucose: Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Background And Aims: Subclinical atherosclerosis (SA) diagnosis is key to primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). SA is common among diabetics. Ankle brachial index (ABI) and coronary artery calcium (CAC) are markers of SA.

Apo CIII Proteoforms, Plasma Lipids, and Cardiovascular Risk in MESA.

Background: Apo CIII (apolipoprotein CIII) is an important regulator of triglyceride metabolism and was associated with cardiovascular risk in several cohorts. It is present in 4 major proteoforms, a native peptide (CIII), and glycosylated proteoforms with zero (CIII), 1 (CIII, most abundant), or 2 (CIII) sialic acids, which may differentially modify lipoprotein metabolism. We studied the relationships of these proteoforms with plasma lipids and cardiovascular risk.

Improving 10-year cardiovascular risk prediction in apparently healthy people: flexible addition of risk modifiers on top of SCORE2.

Aims: In clinical practice, factors associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) like albuminuria, education level, or coronary artery calcium (CAC) are often known, but not incorporated in cardiovascular risk prediction models. The aims of the current study were to evaluate a methodology for the flexible addition of risk modifying characteristics on top of SCORE2 and to quantify the added value of several clinically relevant risk modifying characteristics.

Methods And Results: Individuals without previous CVD or DM were included from the UK Biobank; Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC); Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA); European Prospective Investigation into Cancer, The Netherlands (EPIC-NL); and Heinz Nixdorf Recall (HNR) studies (n = 409 757) in whom 16 166 CVD events and 19 149 non-cardiovascular deaths were observed over exactly 10.

Incidence of interstitial lung abnormalities: the MESA Lung Study.

Background: The incidence of newly developed interstitial lung abnormalities (ILA) and fibrotic ILA has not been previously reported.

Methods: Trained thoracic radiologists evaluated 13 944 cardiac computed tomography scans for the presence of ILA in 6197 Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) longitudinal cohort study participants >45 years of age from 2000 to 2012. Five percent of the scans were re-read by the same or a different observer in a blinded fashion.