Natural Sirtuin1 Activators and Atherosclerosis: an Overview
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe purpose of this review is to summarize the most recent findings investigating the impact of several natural sirtuin (SIRT) activators, particularly SIRT1, on atherosclerosis.Recent FindingsSirtuins that belong to a family of class III histone deacetylases are believed to be novel therapeutic targets to treat age-related and chronic diseases. SIRT expression is regulated by small molecules called SIRT-activating compounds that can be found in natural food products. SIRT1 may exert protective effects in atherosclerosis, which is said to be a major cause of cardiovascular diseases. Most of the evi...
Source: Current Atherosclerosis Reports - December 1, 2023 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Caregiver Influences on Eating Behaviors in Children: An Opportunity for Preventing Obesity
AbstractPurpose of reviewThis review seeks to define caregiver practices that impact childhood eating behaviors and identify ways to utilize these relationships to prevent childhood obesity.Recent FindingsChildhood obesity, which correlates with adult obesity and increased cardiovascular risk, is increasing in prevalence and severity. Caregivers play a significant role in shaping a child's eating behaviors and their predisposition to obesity. Maternal influences during pregnancy and infancy impact a child's future food preferences. Caregiver feeding styles (authoritarian, authoritative, indulgent, and uninvolved) are assoc...
Source: Current Atherosclerosis Reports - November 30, 2023 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Lipid Lowering Drugs in Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS)
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe purpose of this review is to critically discuss whether more aggressive lipid-lowering strategies are needed in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS).Recent FindingsCurrently, available data on early (in-hospital/discharge) administration of potent lipid-lowering drugs, such as proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors in patients during the vulnerable post-ACS phase, have clearly demonstrated clinical efficacy of the “strike early and strike strong” approach not only for rapid reduction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) to unprecedentedly low levels, b...
Source: Current Atherosclerosis Reports - November 28, 2023 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Gene Regulatory Networks in Coronary Artery Disease
AbstractPurpose of ReviewCoronary artery disease is a complex disorder and the leading cause of mortality worldwide. As technologies for the generation of high-throughput multiomics data have advanced, gene regulatory network modeling has become an increasingly powerful tool in understanding coronary artery disease. This review summarizes recent and novel gene regulatory network tools for bulk tissue and single cell data, existing databases for network construction, and applications of gene regulatory networks in coronary artery disease.Recent FindingsNew gene regulatory network tools can integrate multiomics data to eluci...
Source: Current Atherosclerosis Reports - November 27, 2023 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Machine Learning in Cardiovascular Risk Prediction and Precision Preventive Approaches
AbstractPurpose of ReviewIn this review, we sought to provide an overview of ML and focus on the contemporary applications of ML in cardiovascular risk prediction and precision preventive approaches. We end the review by highlighting the limitations of ML while projecting on the potential of ML in assimilating these multifaceted aspects of CAD in order to improve patient-level outcomes and further population health.Recent FindingsCoronary artery disease (CAD) is estimated to affect 20.5 million adults across the USA, while also impacting a significant burden at the socio-economic level. While the knowledge of the mechanist...
Source: Current Atherosclerosis Reports - November 27, 2023 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Rap1 in the Context of PCSK9, Atherosclerosis, and Diabetes
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe focus of this article is to highlight the importance of the small GTPase, Ras-associated protein 1 (Rap1), in proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) regulation and atherosclerosis and type 2 diabetes etiology and discuss the potential therapeutic implications of targeting Rap1 in these disease areas.Review FindingsCardiometabolic disease characterized by obesity, glucose intolerance, dyslipidemia, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease remain an important cause of mortality. Evidence using mouse models of obesity and insulin resistance indicates that Rap1 deficiency increases...
Source: Current Atherosclerosis Reports - November 18, 2023 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Obesity and Dyslipidemia
This article sumarizes pathopysiological consequencies between obesity and dyslipidemia and aims to bring some practical approach.Recent FindingsDyslipidemia is often present in individuals with obesity and simultaneusly, many obese individuals have lipid metabolism disorders. Especially the abdominal obesity increases the cardiometabolic risk because of the presence of atherogenic dyslipidemia while the total low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) may be normal. LDL-C is the primary goal in dyslipidemia treatment. Apoliprotein B (Apo B) and non – high density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) should be estimated ...
Source: Current Atherosclerosis Reports - November 18, 2023 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Highlights of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Studies Presented at the 2023 European Society of Cardiology Congress
AbstractPurpose of ReviewTo summarize selected late-breaking science on cardiovascular (CV) disease prevention presented at the 2023 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) congress.Recent FindingsThe NATURE-PARADOX was a naturally randomized trial that used genetic data from the UK Biobank registry to create “cumulative exposure to low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C)” biomarker and evaluate its association with major CV events regardless of plasma LDL-C levels or age. Safety and efficacy data of inclisiran, a PCSK9-interfering mRNA (PCSK9i) administered subcutaneously twice annually, were pr esented. Data on two ...
Source: Current Atherosclerosis Reports - November 17, 2023 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Coronary and Extra-coronary Subclinical Atherosclerosis to Guide Lipid-Lowering Therapy
AbstractPurpose of ReviewTo discuss and review the technical considerations, fundamentals, and guideline-based indications for coronary artery calcium scoring, and the use of other non-invasive imaging modalities, such as extra-coronary calcification in cardiovascular risk prediction.Recent FindingsThe most robust evidence for the use of CAC scoring is in select individuals, 40 –75 years of age, at borderline to intermediate 10-year ASCVD risk. Recent US recommendations support the use of CAC scoring in varying clinical scenarios. First, in adults with very high CAC scores (CAC ≥ 1000), the use of high-intensity statin...
Source: Current Atherosclerosis Reports - November 16, 2023 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Stratification in Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia: Imaging, Biomarkers, and Genetic Testing
The objective of this review is to provide an update on the risk stratification in patients with HeFH, incorporating new cardiovascular imaging techniques, various biomarkers, and genetic studies.Recent FindingsThe diagnosis of HeFH places patients in a high cardiovascular risk category due to the increased incidence of premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. However, the level of risk varies significantly among different individuals with HeFH. Achieving an optimal stratification of cardiovascular risk is crucial for establishing appropriate and accurate treatment and management strategies. Different new tools su...
Source: Current Atherosclerosis Reports - November 3, 2023 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
The Role of Lipid-Lowering Therapy in Post-Stroke Patients: Update and Recommendations
AbstractPurpose of ReviewStroke is the second leading cause of death and disability-adjusted life years worldwide, and the global lifetime risk of stroke is rising. Moreover, patients with a prior stroke are at high risk of recurrent events. We aimed at reviewing the evidence supporting aggressive secondary prevention strategies for lipid-lowering treatment in this population.Recent FindingsStatins are the key players in such aggressive management; however, stroke survivors remain at significant residual risk suggesting the need for both better implementation of statin use as well as additional lipid lowering therapies. Ne...
Source: Current Atherosclerosis Reports - October 26, 2023 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Predictive Modeling and Structure Analysis of Genetic Variants in Familial Hypercholesterolemia: Implications for Diagnosis and Protein Interaction Studies
AbstractPurpose of ReviewFamilial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a hereditary condition characterized by elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease if left untreated. This review aims to discuss the role of bioinformatics tools in evaluating the pathogenicity of missense variants associated with FH. Specifically, it highlights the use of predictive models based on protein sequence, structure, evolutionary conservation, and other relevant features in identifying genetic variants withinLDLR,APOB, andPCSK9 genes that contribute to FH.Recent FindingsIn recen...
Source: Current Atherosclerosis Reports - October 17, 2023 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Rhabdomyolysis or Severe Acute Hepatitis Associated with the Use of Red Yeast Rice Extracts: an Update from the Adverse Event Reporting Systems
AbstractPurpose of ReviewElevated plasma levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) are a major risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), and lowering LDL-C reduces the risk of cardiovascular adverse events. Among natural approaches known for their lipid-lowering properties, red yeast rice (RYR) has a cholesterol-lowering effect due to the presence of bioactive components (monacolins) that act by inhibiting the activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase. In August 2018, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded in its assessment of the use of RYR (furthe...
Source: Current Atherosclerosis Reports - October 13, 2023 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Sex Differences in Familial Hypercholesterolemia
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis review aims to summarize the existing research on sex differences in familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) across the lifespan.Recent FindingsFrom childhood onward, total- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in girls are higher than those in boys with FH. By the age of 30 years, women with FH have a higher LDL-C burden than men. In adulthood, women are diagnosed later than men, receive less lipid-lowering treatment, and consequently have higher LDL-C levels. An excessive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk is reported in young female compared to male FH patients. The pe...
Source: Current Atherosclerosis Reports - October 10, 2023 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
Percutaneous Coronary Interventions in Women
AbstractPurposeof ReviewCardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among women globally. Numerous studies show ongoing disparities in diagnosis, management, and outcomes of ischemic heart disease in women compared to men. We aim to review the factors contributing to sex-based differential outcomes of percutaneous coronary interventions in women.Recent FindingsHormonal influence on coronary arteries and progression of atherosclerosis in women results in distinct coronary plaque characteristics and unique pathological process such as spontaneous coronary artery dissection and myocardial infarction...
Source: Current Atherosclerosis Reports - October 10, 2023 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research
