Radial artery intima-media thickness regresses after secondary prevention interventions in patients' post-acute coronary syndrome and is associated with cardiac and kidney biomarkers.

Background: Radial artery intima-media thickness (rIMT) measured by ultra-high-resolution ultrasound is associated with increased cardiovascular risk and predicts outcomes. We performed non-invasive high-resolution ultrasound of the radial artery to investigate vascular changes in subjects presenting with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and who had undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Purpose: In the present work, we aimed to follow rIMT change over time post-acute coronary syndrome as a tool to monitor potential response to intensified medical therapy.

Impaired adipose tissue lipid storage, but not altered lipolysis, contributes to elevated levels of NEFA in type 2 diabetes. Degree of hyperglycemia and adiposity are important factors.

Background: Elevated levels of circulating non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) mediate many adverse metabolic effects. In this work we aim to determine the impact of type 2 diabetes (T2D), glycemic control and obesity on lipolysis regulation.

Design And Participants: 20 control and 20 metformin-treated T2D subjects were matched for sex (10M/10 F), age (58±11 vs 58±9 y) and BMI (30.

Interaction effects of long-term air pollution exposure and variants in the GSTP1, GSTT1 and GSTCD genes on risk of acute myocardial infarction and hypertension: a case-control study.

Introduction: Experimental and epidemiological studies have reported associations between air pollution exposure, in particular related to vehicle exhaust, and cardiovascular disease. A potential pathophysiological pathway is pollution-induced pulmonary oxidative stress, with secondary systemic inflammation. Genetic polymorphisms in genes implicated in oxidative stress, such as GSTP1, GSTT1 and GSTCD, may contribute to determining individual susceptibility to air pollution as a promoter of coronary vulnerability.

Haplotypes of the inducible nitric oxide synthase gene are strongly associated with exhaled nitric oxide levels in adults: a population-based study.

Background: Previous genetic association studies have reported evidence for association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the NOS2 gene, encoding inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), to variation in levels of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) in children and adults. In this study, we evaluated 10 SNPs in the region of chromosome 17 from 26.07 Mb to 26.

Short-term exposure to ozone and levels of exhaled nitric oxide.

Background: Adverse effects of air pollution include respiratory inflammation. A few epidemiologic studies have shown elevations in the fraction of exhaled nitric oxide, a marker of airway inflammation, after exposure to traffic-related pollutants.

Methods: We examined whether short-term exposures to ozone (O3), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), or particulate matter <10 μm (PM10) were associated with proximal and distal airway inflammation.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the NOS2 and NOS3 genes are associated with exhaled nitric oxide.

Background: Polymorphisms in nitric oxide synthase genes (NOS1, NOS2, and NOS3) have been suggested to have a major impact on fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FENO), a biomarker of airway inflammation. However, the genetic contribution of NOS polymorphisms to FENO is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to investigate comprehensively the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in all three NOS genes and FENO in an adult population, and to assess whether such associations are modified by asthma or atopy.

Effect of five genetic variants associated with lung function on the risk of chronic obstructive lung disease, and their joint effects on lung function.

Rationale: Genomic loci are associated with FEV1 or the ratio of FEV1 to FVC in population samples, but their association with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has not yet been proven, nor have their combined effects on lung function and COPD been studied.

Objectives: To test association with COPD of variants at five loci (TNS1, GSTCD, HTR4, AGER, and THSD4) and to evaluate joint effects on lung function and COPD of these single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and variants at the previously reported locus near HHIP.

Methods: By sampling from 12 population-based studies (n = 31,422), we obtained genotype data on 3,284 COPD case subjects and 17,538 control subjects for sentinel SNPs in TNS1, GSTCD, HTR4, AGER, and THSD4.

Genome-wide association and large-scale follow up identifies 16 new loci influencing lung function.

Pulmonary function measures reflect respiratory health and are used in the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. We tested genome-wide association with forced expiratory volume in 1 second and the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second to forced vital capacity in 48,201 individuals of European ancestry with follow up of the top associations in up to an additional 46,411 individuals. We identified new regions showing association (combined P < 5 × 10(-8)) with pulmonary function in or near MFAP2, TGFB2, HDAC4, RARB, MECOM (also known as EVI1), SPATA9, ARMC2, NCR3, ZKSCAN3, CDC123, C10orf11, LRP1, CCDC38, MMP15, CFDP1 and KCNE2.

Genetic variants in novel pathways influence blood pressure and cardiovascular disease risk.

Blood pressure is a heritable trait influenced by several biological pathways and responsive to environmental stimuli. Over one billion people worldwide have hypertension (≥140 mm Hg systolic blood pressure or  ≥90 mm Hg diastolic blood pressure). Even small increments in blood pressure are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events.