Association of serum levels of arachidonic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid with prevalence of major adverse cardiac events after acute myocardial infarction.

We studied the association of serum levels of arachidonic acid (AA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) with the prevalence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We measured serum AA and EPA on admission in 146 consecutive AMI patients. The primary clinical endpoint was occurrence of MACE, defined as cardiac death, occurrence of heart failure, reinfarction, recurrent angina pectoris, and requirement of coronary intervention.

Connective tissue growth factor induction in a pressure-overloaded heart ameliorated by the angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker olmesartan.

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a secreted protein that regulates fibrosis. We hypothesized that CTGF is induced in a pressure-overloaded (PO) heart and that blocking the angiotensin II type 1 receptor would reduce CTGF expression. Accordingly, we administered olmesartan and compared its effects with other antihypertensive drugs in a PO heart.

Fragmented QRS is associated with torsades de pointes in patients with acquired long QT syndrome.

Background: Acquired long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a disease due to a secondary repolarization abnormality induced by various predisposing factors. In contrast to congenital LQTS, risk factors that produce acquired LQTS include organic heart diseases that often exhibit depolarization abnormality. Although various repolarization parameters have been evaluated in acquired LQTS, the existence of depolarization abnormality in association with torsades de pointes (TdP) has not been reported.

AHR, a novel acute hypoxia-response sequence, drives reporter gene expression under hypoxia in vitro and in vivo.

ADAMTS1 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 1) is an early immediate gene. We have previously reported that ADAMTS1 was strongly induced by hypoxia. In this study, we investigated whether ADAMTS1 promoter-driven reporter signal is detectable by acute hypoxia.

Effect of cilnidipine on normal to marginally elevated urine albumin-creatinine ratio in asymptomatic non-diabetic hypertensive patients: an exponential decay curve analysis.

Background: High-normal urinary albumin excretion has been reported to have clinical significance with respect to progression of proteinuria and hypertension.

Objective: We analysed the effect of cilnidipine (10 mg/day) on morning systolic blood pressure (SBP) and urine albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR) in 16 non-diabetic hypertensive patients with a normal to marginally elevated UACR (mean +/- SD 29.4 +/- 21.

Significant relationship between changes in brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity relative to blood pressure elevation and coronary artery disease.

Objectives: Based on well-established physiological theories, we studied correlations between changes in brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) relative to blood pressure (BP) elevation (elasticity of large-to-medium-sized arteries), and coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: The baPWV (in centimeters/second) and BP (in millimeters of mercury) were determined in 101 patients before, during, and/or after a cold pressor test using a volume-plethysmographic system.

Results: Significantly higher rates of increase in PWV relative to changes in BP were observed in the CAD(+) group than in the CAD(-) group when mean BP [median (25th-75th percentiles): 14.

Combination therapy of calcium channel blocker and angiotensin II receptor blocker reduces augmentation index in hypertensive patients.

Introduction: The optimal combination treatment for hypertension has not been established. We investigated the effect of a calcium channel blocker or a diuretic added to angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) on the augmentation index (AI), as a marker of arterial stiffness and wave reflection, in hypertensive patients.

Methods: Thirty-seven patients treated with ARBs were randomly allocated to either of the 2 groups receiving an ARB plus azelnidipine (AZ group) or trichlormethiazide (TCM group).

Impact of olmesartan on progression of coronary atherosclerosis a serial volumetric intravascular ultrasound analysis from the OLIVUS (impact of OLmesarten on progression of coronary atherosclerosis: evaluation by intravascular ultrasound) trial.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of olmesartan on progression of coronary atherosclerosis.

Background: Prior intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) trial results suggest slowing of coronary atheroma progression with some medicines but have not shown convincing evidence of regression with angiotension-II receptor blocking agents.

Methods: A prospective, randomized, multicenter trial-OLIVUS (Impact of OLmesartan on progression of coronary atherosclerosis: evaluation by IntraVascular UltraSound)-was performed in 247 stable angina pectoris patients with native coronary artery disease.

Serum adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein is independently associated with coronary atherosclerotic burden measured by intravascular ultrasound.

Objectives: Adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP) has been shown to have an effect on insulin resistance, lipid metabolism, and atherosclerosis in animals. We therefore investigated the association between the serum A-FABP level and coronary atherosclerosis.

Methods: One hundred twenty-five consecutive patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) were enrolled after coronary angiography.

Cardio-ankle vascular index is independently associated with the severity of coronary atherosclerosis and left ventricular function in patients with ischemic heart disease.

Aim: The cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) has been proposed as a new noninvasive marker of arterial stiffness independent of blood pressure. We investigated the association of the CAVI with coronary atherosclerosis and left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD).

Methods: A total of 206 consecutive subjects undergoing coronary angiography were enrolled.

Type IV collagen induces expression of thrombospondin-1 that is mediated by integrin alpha1beta1 in astrocytes.

Following brain injury, thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) is involved in angiogenesis and synaptic recovery. In this study, we used a cold injury-model and found that TSP-1 mRNA was markedly upregulated after brain injury. Immunohistochemistry showed that TSP-1 was upregulated in both the core of the lesion and in the perilesional area of injured brain tissue.

Augmentation index is associated with B-type natriuretic peptide in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels have been shown to be elevated in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF); however, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Earlier, we reported that an increase in the augmentation index (AI), which is an index of wave reflection and arterial stiffness, is associated with PAF. In this study, we investigate the relationship between the BNP level and AI in patients with PAF.

ADAMTS1 is a unique hypoxic early response gene expressed by endothelial cells.

ADAMTS1 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 1) is a member of the matrix metalloproteinase family. We have previously reported that ADAMTS1 was strongly expressed in myocardial infarction. In this study, we investigated whether hypoxia induced ADAMTS1 and investigated its regulatory mechanism.

Microarray analysis of gene expression in mouse aorta reveals role of the calcium signaling pathway in control of atherosclerosis susceptibility.

Inbred mouse strains C57BL/6J (B6) and C3H/HeJ (C3H) exhibit a marked difference in atherosclerotic lesion formation when deficient in apolipoprotein E (apoE(-/-)), and the arterial wall has been identified as a source of the difference in atherosclerosis susceptibility. In the present study, differences in gene expression in aortic walls of the two strains were analyzed by microarrays. Total RNA was extracted from the aorta of 6-wk-old female B6 and C3H apoE(-/-) mice fed a chow or Western diet.

Increased augmentation index of the radial pressure waveform in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Objective: The augmentation index, a marker of wave reflection, has been reported to reflect vascular properties and to determine left ventricular (LV) characteristics. We investigated the relationship between the augmentation index and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: A total of 244 outpatients (122 patients with paroxysmal AF and 122 age-, and gender-matched controls without paroxysmal AF) were examined during sinus rhythm.

Relationship between activin A level and infarct size in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing successful primary coronary intervention.

Background: Activin A, a member of the transforming growth factor-beta cytokine family, has been suggested to have a role in inflammation. We examined the serum level of activin A in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: The subjects were 30 AMI patients, 20 stable angina pectoris (AP) patients and 20 normal subjects.

Association of new arterial stiffness parameter, the cardio-ankle vascular index, with left ventricular diastolic function.

Aim: Pulse wave velocity has been used as an index of aortic stiffness. Recently, the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), which reflects the stiffness of the aorta independently of blood pressure, has been developed. In this study, we analyzed the relationship between CAVI and left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction.

Hyaluronan receptors involved in cytokine induction in monocytes.

During inflammation, lower molecular weight fragments of hyaluronan accumulate, and this is known to be inflammatory and immune-stimulatory. In diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, inflammatory cells bind to hyaluronan; however, the cellular response and molecular mechanism of hyaluronan-hyaluronan receptor interactions in mononuclear cells are not well understood. The expression of hyaluronan receptors in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was examined.

Serum N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid levels correlate with the extent of coronary plaques and calcifications in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Background: The relationship between serum fatty acid levels and the extent of coronary plaques and calcification was examined in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods And Results: The serum levels of the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)) and the n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (arachidonic acid (AA) and dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA)) were determined using gas chromatography on admission of 95 consecutive patients with their first AMI and 17 controls. Using multidetector-row computed tomography, soft plaques and calcification lesions were scored according to the extent of coronary involvement.

Prone position is essential for detection of pulmonary vein pseudostenosis by enhanced multidetector computed tomography in patients who undergo pulmonary vein isolation.

Background: Pulmonary vein (PV) stenosis is a major complication of PV isolation (PVI) by catheter ablation, so in the present study the optimal position for detecting PV stenosis on enhanced multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) image acquisition was determined.

Methods And Results: The 64-slice enhanced MDCT was carried out before and after PVI in 116 consecutive patients with atrial fibrillation while they were in the prone position, as well as while supine. The supine position MDCT image showed >50% diameter stenosis of the PV in 11 (9%) patients before PVI (% diameter stenosis: mean 55+/-4%, range 51-65%).

Quantitative trait locus analysis of circulating adhesion molecules in hyperlipidemic apolipoprotein E-deficient mice.

Circulating soluble adhesion molecules have been suggested as useful markers to predict several clinical conditions such as atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and hypertension. To determine genetic factors influencing plasma levels of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and P-selectin, quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis was performed on an intercross between C57BL/6J (B6) and C3H/HeJ (C3H) mouse strains deficient in apolipoprotein E-deficient (apoE-/-). Female F2 mice were fed a western diet for 12 weeks.

siRNA silencing reveals role of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in vascular smooth muscle cell migration.

Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) is an adhesion molecule expressed by endothelial cells for recruitment of leukocytes during inflammation. It is also abundantly expressed by smooth muscle cells in atherosclerotic lesions and in injured arteries. In this study, we examined the role of VCAM-1 in smooth muscle cell migration.

Serum interferon-gamma-inducible protein 10 level was increased in myocardial infarction patients, and negatively correlated with infarct size.

Objectives: We examined the serum levels of interferon-gamma-inducible protein 10 (IP-10), an inflammation-induced chemokine, in acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Design And Methods: The subjects were 33 AMI patients, 20 stable angina pectoris patients (AP) and 20 normal subjects. In AMI patients, blood samples were collected before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and on days 3, 7 and 28.

Association of a Vcam1 mutation with atherosclerosis susceptibility in diet-induced models of atherosclerosis.

We previously identified a G>A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) between C57BL/6J (B6) and C3H/HeJ (C3H) mouse strains at position 2077 in the coding region of Vcam1 that leads to substitution of an amino acid from aspartic acid (D) to asparagine (N) in the protein product. In the present study, we investigated the association of this SNP with atherosclerosis susceptibility using a panel of inbred mouse strains, a set of recombinant inbred (RI) strains derived from B6 and C3H mice, and a cohort of F2 mice derived from B6 and C3H apolipoprotein E-deficient (apoE(-/-)) mice. Inbred strain analysis revealed that mouse strains with the B6 Vcam1 genotype developed significantly larger atherosclerotic lesions than strains with the C3H genotype (4622+/-2816 microm(2)/section versus 362+/-697 microm(2)/section; P=0.

Direct evidence for a crucial role of the arterial wall in control of atherosclerosis susceptibility.

Background: Inbred mouse strains C57BL/6J (B6) and C3H/HeJ (C3H) exhibit marked differences in atherosclerosis susceptibility. We sought to determine whether the difference in atherosclerosis susceptibility resides at the level of arterial walls.

Methods And Results: Thoracic aortic segments from 8-week-old female B6 and C3H apolipoprotein E-deficient mice were transplanted into the infrarenal aorta of 10-week-old female F1 mice.