Highlighted Articles
By Sarah leigh (Editorial Assistant) and Steve Humphries (Editor-in-Chief)
In an attempt to establish a link between Acute-phase Serum Amyloid A (ASAA) and obesity associated cardiovascular disease, Tan et al studied levels of this pro-inflammatory adipokine in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients and BMI matched controls. They report that serum and adipose ASAA levels were elevated in PCOS women, decreased by Metformin treatment and elevated ex vivo by glucose. In their Commentary, Karakas & Mortada agree that although these findings validate ASAA as a sensitive biomarker for the inflammatory state in metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis, further work is required to establish a causal role for ASAA in these conditions.
By performing non-dimensional modeling Wellnhofer et al have been able to discriminate between different types of coronary artery remodeling based on wall shear stress patterns and vessel morphology. Francesco Tona commends this novel approach in his Commentary and suggests that the most important result of this study is the feasibility of inter-individual comparison of wall shear stress and shape of coronary artery, furthermore, this technique should contribute to non-invasive clinical diagnosis, grading and therapeutic surveillance of coronary artery disease.
In their paper Mannheim et al report that Simvastatin has the effect of reducing diastolic dysfunction independently of it’s lipid lowering properties in hypercholesterolemic pigs, they suggest that statins could prevent the accumulation of myocardial collagen which underlies diastolic dysfunction. The implications of this study are discussed in a Commentary by Monopoli et al who say that in order to move from bench to bedside these important findings should be the subject of large prospective clinical trials.
Review Articles
The potential for ankle brackial index (ABI) to be used as a marker of cognitive impairment is assessed in a literature Review by Guerchet et al. From analysis of 6 cross-sectional and 6 longitudinal studies they conclude that an ABI of <0.90 can be considered to be a marker of cognitive impairment and dementia. They suggest that in view of it’s ease of use, safety to patients and low cost, the clinical benefits of ABI should be assessed in an aging population in the field of cognitive disease.
In their Review article Cariou et al examine the clinical significance of proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) in hypercholesterolemia. They discuss the clinical features associated with PCSK9 variants, outline the significance of PCSK9 as a clinical biomarker and report on the proposed use of PCSK9 inhibitors as therapeutic agents for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia.
Papers in this issue include
Vascular Biology, Hemostasis & Oxidative Stress
Metabolism: Lipids, Lipoproteins, Carbohydrates, Homocysteine & Cholesterol
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Insulin Down-Regulates Specific Activity Of ABCA1 For HDL Biogenesis Through Its Specific Phosphorylation.
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LRP1b shows restricted expression in human tissues & binds to several extracellular ligands, including fibrinogen & apoE - carrying lipoproteins.
Imaging and Measurement of Vessel Health
Genetics
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CETP deficiency due to a novel mutation in the CETP gene promoter and its effect on cholesterol efflux and selective uptake into hepatocytes.
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Array-based resequencing for mutations causing familial hypercholesterolemia.
Intervention
Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Nutrition
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The Anti-atherogenic aspect of Metformin treatment in insulin resistant women with the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: role of the newly established Pro-inflammatory Adipokine Acute-Phase Serum Amyloid A; evidence of an Adipose Tissue-Monocyte axis.
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Exercise-induced alterations of retinal vessel diameters and cardiovascular risk reduction in obesity.