Volume 217 | Issue 1 |July 2011

Highlighted Articles

By Sarah leigh (Editorial Assistant) and Steve Humphries (Editor-in-Chief)

In this issue of Atherosclerosis Khan et al report that although “metabolically benign” obese women have a similar 10 year cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk to their normal weight counterparts, they carry a significantly increased burden of subclinical CVD. Describing this subclinical CVD as a “Wolf in Sheep’s clothing”, McEvoy et al discuss in their invited commentary the difficulty of classifying differing forms of obesity and therefore the clinical implications associated with each.

In an attempt to further understand the interactions between proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), statins and fibrates, Noguchi et al have examined the effects of fibrates on circulating PCSK9 and adipocytokine levels in dyslipidemic subjects with glucose intolerance or type 2 diabetes. The complex interactions associated with PCSK9 regulation and effect are discussed in Dick Chan's invited commentary. He concludes that although Noguchi et al suggest inclusion of PCSK9 inhibitors may be beneficial in lipid lowering therapies, the involvement of PCSK9 in VLDL metabolism and other metabolic pathways means that further work is required before such inhibitors are considered for therapeutic use. 
 

Review Articles

Both review articles in this issue of Atherosclerosis focus on abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). Harrison et al report the findings of genome wide association studies and conclude that while no immediate translational strategies can be developed at present for this complex disease, the results are providing useful insights into the etiology of AAA. Golledge & Norman outline current strategies for medical management of small AAAs, and suggest that as AAA pathogenesis is better understood novel strategies should become available within the next decade which will limit AAA progression and reduce AAA associated mortality. 


Papers in this issue include

ESC/EAS Joint Guidelines for the management of dyslipidemias

Vascular Biology, Hemostasis & Oxidative Stress

  • Extra-nuclear activation of progesterone receptor in regulating arterial smooth muscle cell migration.
  • Influenza vaccination promotes stable atherosclerotic plaques in apoE knockout mice.

Metabolism: Lipids, Lipoproteins, Carbohydrates, Homocysteine & Cholesterol

  • Scavenger receptor SR-BI in macrophage lipid metabolism.

Imaging and Measurement of Vessel Health

  • Impact of wall thickness on conduit artery function in humans: is there a “Folkow” effect?
  • Longitudinal Common Carotid Artery Wall Motion is Associated with Plaque Burden in Man & Mouse.

Genetics

  • The P-selectin gene Pro715 allele & low levels of soluble P-selectin: association with reduced P2Y12 ADP receptor reactivity in clopidogrel-treated patients.
  • Evaluation of the gene-age interactions in HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels: The impact of the SORT1 polymorphism on LDL cholesterol levels is age dependent.

Intervention

  • Rosuvastatin combined with regular exercise preserves coenzyme Q10 levels associated with a significant increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in patients with CAD.
  • Comparison of the effects of bezafibrate & fenofibrate on circulating PCSK 9 & adipocytokine levels in dyslipidemic subjects with impaired glucose tolerance or type 2 diabetes mellitus: Results from a crossover study.

Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Nutrition

  • Burden of Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease in 'Metabolically Benign' & 'At-Risk' Overweight & Obese Women: The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN).
  • Plasma phospholipid transfer protein activity is independently determined by obesity & insulin resistance in non-diabetic subjects.