Myosteatosis is associated with coronary artery calcification in patients with type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND Myosteatosis,rather than low muscle mass,is the primary etiologic factor of sarcopenia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).Myosteatosis may lead to a series of metabolic dysfunctions,such as insulin resistance,systematic inflammation,and oxidative stress,and all these dysfunctions are closely associated with the acceleration of T2DM and atherosclerosis.AIM To investigate the association between myosteatosis and coronary artery calcification(CAC)in patients with T2DM.METHODS Patients with T2DM,who had not experienced major cardiovascular events and had undergone both abdominal and thoracic computed tomography(CT)scans,were included.The mean skeletal muscle attenuation was assessed using abdominal CT images at the L3 level.The CAC score was determined from thoracic CT images using the Agatston scoring method.Myosteatosis was diagnosed according to Martin’s criteria.Severe CAC(SCAC)was defined when the CAC score exceeded 300.Logistic regression and decision tree analyses were performed.RESULTS A total of 652 patients with T2DM were enrolled.Among them,167(25.6%)patients had SCAC.Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that myosteatosis,age,duration of diabetes,cigarette smoking,and alcohol consumption were independent risk factors of SCAC.Myosteatosis was significantly associated with an increased risk of SCAC(OR=2.381,P=0.003).The association between myosteatosis and SCAC was significant in the younger patients(OR=2.672,95%CI:1.477-4.834,P=0.002),but not the older patients(OR=1.456,95%CI:0.863-2.455,P=0.188),and was more prominent in the population with lower risks of atherosclerosis.The decision tree analyses prioritized older age as the primary variable for SCAC.In older patients,cigarette smoking was the main contributing factor for SCAC,while in younger patients,it was myosteatosis.CONCLUSION Myosteatosis is a novel risk factor for atherosclerosis in patients with T2DM,especially in the population with younger ages and fewer traditional risk factors.

Current understanding of coronary artery calcification

Coronary artery calcification （CAC） is highly prevalent in patients with coronary heart disease （CHD） and is associated with major adverse cardiovascular events. There are two recognized type of CAC--intimal and medial calcification, and each of them have specific risk factors. Several theories about the mechanism of vascular calcification have been put forward, and we currently believe that vascular calcification is an active, regulated process. CAC can usually be found in patients with severe CHD, and this asymptomatic phenomenon make early diagnosis of CAC important. Coronary computed tomographic angiography is the main noninvasive tool to detect calcified lesions. Measurement of coronary artery calcification by scoring is a reasonable metric for cardiovascular risk assessment in asymptomatic adults at intermediate risk. To date, effective medical treatment of CAC has not been identified. Several strategies of percutaneous coronary interven- tion have been applied to CHD patients with CAC, but with unsatisfactory results. Prognosis of CAC is still a major problem of CHD pa- tients. Thus, more details about the mechanisms of CAC need to be elucidated in order to improve the understanding and treatment of CAC.

Association between serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein and coronary artery calcification in maintenance hemodialysis patients

Background Coronary artery calcification(CAC)is common in end-stage renal disease(ESRD)patients,and the extent of CAC is closely related to cardiovascular outcomes in ESRD patients.Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein(COMP),as a component of the vascular matrix,has been found to be an inhibitor of arterial calcification in basic studies.However,there is no clinical research on the correlation between COMP and CAC in maintenance hemodialysis(MHD)patients.The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between serum COMP levels and CAC and cardiovascular events in MHD patients.Methods Serum COMP levels were compared between 54 MHD patients and 66 healthy people.MHD patients were then divided into three groups according to the tertiles of the concentration of COMP level and were followed up for major adverse cardiac events(MACEs),which were defined as a combined end point of new onset angina pectoris,nonfatal myocardial infarction,heart failure,coronary artery revascularization,hospitalization due to angina pectoris and all-cause deaths.The CAC score was calculated based on computed tomography scans.Results The serum COMP level in MHD patients was significantly higher than that in the general population[984.23(248.43-1902.61)ng/mL vs.219.01(97.26-821.92)ng/mL,P<0.01].Serum COMP levels were positively correlated with CAC(r=0.313,P=0.021)and serum parathyroid hormone in MHD patients(r=0.359,P<0.01).Linear regression suggested that after adjusting for age,fasting blood glucose(Glu)and glycosylated hemoglobin(HbAlc),CAC score was an independent predictor in the final model for COMP level(β=0.424,t=3.130,P<0.01).The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve showed that COMP≥994 mg/mL had 68.0%sensitivity and 72.4%specificity for the prediction of severe CAC[area under the curve(AUC):0.674,P=0.030,95%CI:0.526-0.882].After a median follow-up of 16 months(8-24 months),there was no difference in the incidence rate of MACEs between the upper,middle and lower serum COMP groups.Conclusions Our study found that MHD patients have higher levels of circulating COMP than controls.The serum COMP level is positively correlated with CAC score and could be used as a biomarker of severe CAC in MHD patients.However,there is no obvious correlation between serum COMP levels and the incidence of cardiovascular events.

Ideal Cardiovascular Health Metrics and Coronary Artery Calcification in Northern Chinese Population:A Cross-sectional Study

Objective Coronary artery calcification（CAC） is a well-established risk predictor of coronary heart disease events and is recognized as an indicator of subclinical atherosclerosis.Methods A cross-sectional study consisting of 2999 participants aged ≥40 years from the Jidong community of Tangshan City,an industrial and modern city of China,was conducted between 2013 and 2014 to examine the association between the ideal cardiovascular health（CVH） metrics and CAC.The ideal CVH metrics were determined based on the definition of the American Heart Association（AHA）.The participants were then grouped into 4 categories according to the quartiles of their CVH metric scores as follows：first quartile（0-2）,second quartile（3）,third quartile（4）,and fourth quartile（5-7）.CAC was assessed by using high-pitch dual-source CT,and patients were identified based on thresholds of 0,10,100,or 400 Agatston units,as per common practice.Results The prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis was 15.92%,13.85%,6.76%,and 1.93%,determined by using the CAC scores at thresholds of 0,10,100,and 400 Agatston units,respectively.Compared with the group in the first quartile,the other three CVH groups had a lower odds ratio of CAC 0 after adjusting for age,sex,income level,education level,and alcohol use in the logistic regression analysis.The odds ratios in these groups were 0.86 [95% confidence interval（CI）,0.63-1.17;P0.05],0.75（95% CI,0.55-1.02;P0.05）,and 0.49（95% CI,0.35-0.69;P0.05）,respectively.These associations of CAC with the CVH metrics were consistent when different CAC cutoff scores were used（0,10,100,or 400）.Conclusion The participants with more-ideal cardiovascular metrics had a lower prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis determined according to CAC score.Maintaining an ideal cardiovascular health may be valuable in the prevention of atherosclerosis in the general population.

Metabolic syndrome and coronary artery calcification： a community-based natural population study

Background Little is known about the influence of metabolic syndrome （MetS） on coronary artery calcification （CAC） in China. In this article, we aimed to explore the distribution of CAC in populations with and without MetS, and estimate the influence of MetS and its components on CAC in a community-based population of Beijing. Methods A total of 1647 local residents of Beijing, age 40-77 years, were recruited for a cardiovascular risk factors survey and were determined fasting plasma glucose （FPG）, blood lipids, and 64 multi-detector computed tomography （64-MDCT） coronary artery calcium score （CACS） measurement （Agatston scoring）. The distribution of CAC was described, and the influence of MetS components on CAC was evaluated. Results In this population, the prevalence and extent of CAC increased with increasing age and both were higher in MetS subjects compared to nonMetS subjects （all P 〈0.05）, with the exception of those older than 65 years old. The risk of CAC increased with increasing numbers of MetS components, and the odds ratios for predicting positive CAC in subjects with 1, 2, 3, and 〉4 MetS components were 1.60, 1.84, 2.12, and 3.12, respectively （all P 〈0.05）. Elevated blood pressure, elevated FPG, elevated triglycerides, and overweight increased the risk of CAC, yielding odds ratios of 2.64, 1.67, 1.32, and 1.37, respectively （all P 〈0.05）. Conclusions In the Beijing community-based population, MetS increases the risk of CAC. The risk of CAC increases with increasing numbers of MetS components. Not only the number, but also the variety of risk factors for MetS is correlated with the risk of CAC. Elevated blood pressure, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia and overweight increase the risk of CAC.

Coronary artery calcification is associated with atherogenic lipid changes, cardiac dysfunction and morphologic abnormalities in HIV-1 infected black adults

The heart is an organ frequently affected in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.~1 But there is little information as to whether the coronary artery calcification can identify asymptomatic individuals at high risk for having cardiac morphological and functional abnormalities and cardiac risk factors in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to determine whether coronary artery calcification was associated with cardiac morphological and functional abnormalities, atherogenic lipid and C-reactive protein (CRP) changes in a black adult population with HIV-1 infection.

Altered serum level of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein and its association with coronary calcification in patients with coronary heart disease

Background Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein （COMP） is mainly found in the skeletal system and vascular smooth muscle cells. Recent researches showed that it had a protective function on blood vessels and could also inhibit vascular calcification. We investigated the serum COMPs in coronary heart disease （CHD） patients, and the relationship between serum COMP and the calcification of coronary artery. Methods A total of 233 consecutive chest pain patients who first underwent coronary angiography followed by multi-slice computed to- mography （MSCT） within six months were recruited and divided into two groups according to the coronary angiography luminal diameter narrowing percentages： CHD group （diameter narrowing 〉 50%, n = 194） and control group （diameter narrowing 〈 50%, n = 39）. The Gen- sini score, Syntax score and coronary artery calcium score （CACs） were calculated. The serum COMP level was determined using ELISA. Results The levels of COMP were significantly higher in the CHD group than in the control group 155.7 （124.5-194.5） ng/mL vs. 128.4 （113.0-159.9） ng/mL, P = 0.019. There were no correlation between COMP, Gensini score, Syntax score, severity of coronary stenosis and the number of coronary artery with stenosis 〉 50%. The serum COMP was correlated with age （r = 0.294, P 〈 0.001）, fasting glucose （r = 0.163, P = 0.015）, HbAlc （r = 0.194, P = 0.015） and CACs （r = 0.137, P = 0.037）. Stepwise linear regression analysis showed that COMP level and age were independent predictors of CACs in the CHD patients （fl = 0.402, t = 2.612, P = 0.015; fl = 0.472, t = 3.077, P = 0.005）. Performance of COMP for predicting CHD was shown as area under curve （AUC）： 0.632, 95% CI： 0.549-0.715 and upper tertile CACs was AUC： 0.602, 95% CI： 0.5264）.678 in receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curve analysis. Conclusion Calcification of coronary artery was an independent predictor of serum COMPs.

Coronary artery disease in Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus estimated by electron beam computed tomography and electron beam computed tomography angiography

Objective To assess the prevalence and risk of coronary artery disease(CAD)in Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)using electron beam computed tomography(EBCT)and EBCT angiography(EBCTA).Methods:Ninety-four cases were enrolled in this study including diabetes(n=28),impaired glucose tolerance(IGT,n=30),coronary heart disease(CHD,n=11),and control(n=25).Cardiac EBCT plain scanning and EBCTA were performed on all of these subjects to evaluate coronary artery calcifica-tion(CAC)scores,and number of segments of stenosed coronary arteries.Both CAC and/or coronary artery stenosis were defined as patients with coronary artery lesions(CAL).Results CAC scores were not different with the control,diabetes,IGT,or CHD(P>0.05)groups.Compared to control(0.520±1.295),more stenosed coronary arteries segments(P<0.05)were detected in diabetes(2.964±1.915),IGT(2.200±2.024),and CHD(2.273±1.679).Number of stenosed artery segments were correlated with age(r=0.215,P=0.019),postprandial glucose(r=0.224,P=0.015),total cholesterol(r=0.323,P=0.000),and duration of diabetes(r=0.208,P=0.004).The incidences of CAL in diabetes(96.43%),IGT(93.33%),and CHD(90.91%)was substantially higher than that in normal control(56.00%,P<0.01).The odds ratio of CAL associated with having diabetes was estimated to be 7.514(95%CI:1.885-63.778).Conclusions Coronary artery lesions are prevalent in Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes,implying a high CAD risk.EBCTA holds potential in depicting the details of CAL and can be used to track the progression of CAD in diabetes patients.

Intravascular lithotripsy for coronary calcium:A case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND Coronary calcium poses a challenge for the interventional cardiologist often leading to stent under-expansion and subsequent ischemic events.Aggressive balloon post-dilatation though helpful is usually inadequate.Multiple plaque ablation techniques are in vogue,but they are technically demanding and are not without complications.Shockwave intravascular lithotripsy(S-IVL)has emerged as a user-friendly and effective mechanism for calcium management with a high safety margin.A series of trials(DISRUPT CAD I-IV)have demonstrated both short-term and long-term safety and efficacy of the technique.As experience with the technique grows more and more,therapy areas like stent restenosis are being covered by the S-IVL.CASE SUMMARY We report a series of 2 cases successfully managed with S-IVL therapy at our center.The first case is of a 57-year-old smoker who presented with acute coronary syndrome.His left anterior descending coronary artery revealed calcified 90%stenosis on angiogram and a combination of superficial-deep calcium on intracoronary imaging.The calcium was treated with 20 pulses of S-IVL to create discontinuity and a sirolimus eluting drug-eluting stent was successfully implanted.The second case is that of an elderly lady who presented with stable angina and demonstrated diffuse calcified lesions in the left anterior descending artery on angiogram.She also demonstrated a mixture of superficial and deep seated calcium zones on imaging.S-IVL therapy was applied to generate fractures in calcium,and two overlapping drug-eluting stents were implanted successfully without any complications.CONCLUSION S-IVL is an emerging,efficient,user-friendly and safe therapy for managing intracoronary calcium in routine interventional practice.

Oxidized phospholipids and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A_2 as important determinants of Lp(a) functionality and pathophysiological role

Lipoprotein（a） [Lp（a）] is composed of a low density lipoprotein（LDL）-like particle to which apolipoprotein（a）[apo（a）] is linked by a single disulfide bridge. Lp（a） is considered a causal risk factor for ischemic cardiovascular disease（CVD） and calcific aortic valve stenosis（CAVS）. The evidence for a causal role of Lp（a） in CVD and CAVS is based on data from large epidemiological databases, mendelian randomization studies, and genome-wide association studies. Despite the well-established role of Lp（a） as a causal risk factor for CVD and CAVS, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. A key role in the Lp（a） functionality may be played by its oxidized phospholipids（OxPL） content. Importantly, most of circulating OxPL are associated with Lp（a）; however, the underlying mechanisms leading to this preferential sequestration of OxPL on Lp（a） over the other lipoproteins,are mostly unknown. Several studies support the hypothesis that the risk of Lp（a） is primarily driven by its OxPL content.An important role in Lp（a） functionality may be played by the lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A_2（Lp-PLA_2）,an enzyme that catalyzes the degradation of OxPL and is bound to plasma lipoproteins including Lp（a）. The present review article discusses new data on the pathophysiological role of Lp（a） and particularly focuses on the functional role of OxPL and Lp-PLA_2 associated with Lp（a）.