By Sarah Leigh (Editorial Assistant) and Steve Humphries (Editor–in-Chief)
The efficacy of zinc (Zn) supplementation as a way of reducing oxidative stress and vascular damage in type 2 diabetics (T2D), has been examined in a study by
Seet et al. The small 3 month placebo-controlled study found that the Zn supplement (200mg) gave no benefit to T2D patients with normal Zn levels. In his commentary
Antonis Zampelas commends the quality of this study and concludes that although Zn is not beneficial in this instance, its overall role in the development and treatment of diabetes remains inconclusive and requires further study.
Maranghi et al set out to investigate the mechanisms underlying the inverse relationship between plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels and HDL reported in the FIELD study, which may counteract the beneficial effect of fenofibrate. In his invited commentary
Dmitri Sviridov applauds this investigation and discusses the complexity of these and other related interactions.
The validity of using plasma glutathione levels as an independent marker of oxidative stress and a predictor of impaired coronary microvascular function and plaque vulnerability in vivo is evaluated in a study by
Dhawan et al. Although
Micheal Ragosta compliments Dhawan et al on their convincing and elegant piece of translational research in his invited commentary, he also highlights the limitations of this study.
Review Articles
The current understanding of the interrelationship between periodontitis and hypertension is examined by
Tsioufis et al in their review article. As the two conditions share many common risk factors Tsioufis et al conclude that well designed prospective and interventional trials are required to unravel this relationship, with a view to providing relevant clinical approaches to both groups of patients.
In their review article
Agewall et al present and overview of Myocardial Infarction with Normal Coronary Arteries. Interest in and awareness of this important subgroup of myocardial infarction has increased recently with the frequent use of coronary angiography, the description of Takotsubo stress cardiomyopathy and new sensitive troponin assays.
The possible plasma triglyceride lowering mechanisms of apoA-V are discussed in a review article by
Nilsson et al. They demonstrate that there is strong evidence that apoA-V works through an LPL-mediated mechanism and that ApoA-V might increase hepatic lipoprotein remnant uptake. However, they comment that further studies are required to elucidate the pathways involved in these processes.
Papers in this issue include:
Vascular Biology, Hemostasis & Oxidative Stress
- Humanin Preserves Endothelial Function & Prevents Atherosclerotic Plaque Progression in Hypercholesterolemic ApoE Deficient Mice.
- Adventitial gene transfer of VEGFR-2 specific VEGF-E chimera induces MCP-1 expression in VSM cells & enhances neointimal formation.
Metabolism: Lipids, Lipoproteins, Carbohydrates, Homocysteine & Cholesterol
- The amino-terminal 1-185 domain of human ApoE suffices for the de novo biogenesis of ApoE-containing HDL-like particles in ApoA-I deficient mice.
- Glucosamine-supplementation promotes endoplasmic reticulum stress, hepatic steatosis & accelerated atherogenesis in ApoE-/- mice.
Imaging and Measurement of Vessel Health
- Influence of Pericoronary Adipose Tissue on Local Coronary Atherosclerosis as Assessed by a Novel MDCT Volumetric Method.
- Detection & quantification of coronary atherosclerotic plaque by 64-slice multidetector CT: a systematic head-to-head comparison with Intravascular Ultrasound.
Genetics
- Association of the SHBG gene promoter polymorphism with early markers of atherosclerosis in apparently healthy women.
- miR-21, miR-210, miR-34a & miR-146a/b are up-regulated in human atherosclerotic plaques in the Tampere Vascular Study.
Intervention
- Oral zinc supplementation does not improve oxidative stress or vascular function in patients with type 2 diabetes with normal zinc levels.
- Vitamin E therapy results in a reduction in HDL function in individuals with Diabetes & the Haptoglobin 2-1 genotype.
Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Nutrition
- Macrophage cholesterol efflux to plasma & HDL in subjects with low & high homocysteine levels: a FIELD substudy.
- The Role of Plasma Aminothiols in the Prediction of Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction & Plaque Vulnerability.