Search

• Cumulative LDL-C exposure, calculated by age × LDL-C, had significant negative correlations with FMD value and NID value and significant positive correlations with mean CCA-IMT and maximum CCA-IMT in subjects not being treated with lipid-lowering drugs. • Endothelial dysfunction was found to be induced by cumulative LDL-C exposure of >4000 mg·year/dL, vascular smooth muscle damage >5000 mg·year/dL, and increase in IMT and plaque formation ≥6000 mg·year/dL. • Cumulative LDL-C calculated by age × LDL-C is useful for assessing the progression of atherosclerosis. The relationship between cumulative low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) exposure and progression of atherosclerosis remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between cumulative LDL-C level and flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD), nitroglycerine-induced vasodilation (NID) and the presence of plaque in the common carotid artery (CCA). This was a cross-sectional study. We measured FMD in 8208 subjects, NID in 1822 subjects, and CCA plaque in 591 subjects who were not taking lipid-lowering drugs. The subjects were divided into four groups based on cumulative LDL-C exposure: <4000 mg·year/dL, 4000–4999 mg·year/dL, 5000–5999 mg·year/dL, and ≥6000 mg·year/dL. The odds ratio of the lower quartile of FMD in the cholesterol-year-score <4000 mg·year/dL group was significantly higher than the odds ratios in the other groups. The odds ratio of the lower quartile of NID in the <4000 mg·year/dL group was significantly higher than the odds ratios in the 5000–5999 mg·year/dL and ≥6000 mg·year/dL groups. The odds ratio of the prevalence of CCA plaque in the <4000 mg·year/dL group was significantly higher than that in the ≥6000 mg·year/dL group. Endothelial dysfunction occurred from cumulative LDL-C exposure of 4000 mg·year/dL, vascular smooth muscle dysfunction occurred from cumulative LDL-C exposure of 5000 mg·year/dL, and prevalence of CCA plaque occurred from cumulative LDL-C exposure of 6000 mg·year/dL. http://www.umin.ac.jp (UMIN000012950, UMIN000012951, and UMIN000012952, UMIN000003409) [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• FMD values were highest in the group with extremely low levels of triglycerides. • Lower triglyceride levels are associated with better endothelial function. • The group with extremely low triglycerides had fewer atherosclerosis risk factors. • The odds ratio for a lower quartile of FMD remained independently lower. Increased serum triglyceride levels are independently associated with endothelial dysfunction. However, there is little evidence to define normal levels of triglycerides and there is little information on endothelial function in subjects with extremely low levels of triglycerides. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between triglycerides, especially low levels of triglycerides, and vascular function. We measured flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) in 7047 subjects and nitroglycerine-induced vasodilation (NID) in 1017 subjects. We divided the subjects into eight groups by triglyceride levels: <50 mg/dL, 50-69 mg/dL, 70-89 mg/dL, 90-109 mg/dL, 110-129 mg/dL, 130-149 mg/dL, 150-199 mg/dL, and ≥200 mg/dL. FMD was significantly higher in subjects with triglyceride levels of <50 mg/dL than in subjects with triglyceride levels of 50-69 mg/dL, 70-89 mg/dL, 90-109 mg/dL, 110-129 mg/dL, 130-149 mg/dL, 150-199 mg/dL, and ≥200 mg/dL (p =0.002, p <0.001, p <0.001, p <0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, and p <0.001, respectively). Using triglyceride levels of >200 mg/dL as a reference, the odds ratios for a lower quartile of FMD were significantly lower in the <50 mg/dL group, 50-69 mg/dL group, 70-89 mg/dL group, and 90-109 mg/dL group after adjustment for age, gender and other cardiovascular risk factors. There was a slight negative correlation between NID and triglycerides (r =-0.074; p =0.019). However, there was no significant differences in NID among the eight groups. FMD values were highest in subjects with extremely low levels of triglycerides (<50 mg/dL). Lower triglyceride levels were associated with better endothelial function. http://www.umin.ac.jp (University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry) (UMIN000012950) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The estimated morbidity rate of chronic kidney disease is 8% to 16% worldwide, and many patients with chronic kidney disease eventually develop renal failure. Thus, the development of new therapeutic strategies for preventing renal failure is crucial. In this study, we assessed the effects of daily low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) therapy on experimental hypertensive nephropathy and diabetic nephropathy. Unilateral nephrectomy and subcutaneous infusion of angiotensin II via osmotic mini-pumps were used to induce hypertensive nephropathy in mice. Immunohistochemistry revealed that daily LIPUS treatment ameliorated renal fibrosis and infiltration of inflammatory cells induced by angiotensin II. A similar therapeutic effect was also observed in mice with angiotensin II-induced hypertensive nephropathy in which splenectomy was performed. In addition, LIPUS treatment significantly decreased systolic blood pressure after 21 days. Subsequently, db/db mice with unilateral nephrectomy developed proteinuria; daily LIPUS treatment significantly reduced proteinuria after 42 days. In addition, immunohistochemistry revealed that renal fibrosis was significantly ameliorated by LIPUS treatment. Finally, LIPUS stimulation suppressed TGF-β1 (transforming growth factor-β1)-induced phosphorylation of Smad2 and Smad3 in HK-2 (human proximal tubular cell line) cells. LIPUS treatment may be a useful therapy for preventing the progression of renal fibrosis in patients with chronic kidney disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is not clear whether a high level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is associated with lower risk of atherosclerosis. It is likely that HDL-C is a double-edged sword for atherosclerosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between HDL-C levels and endothelial function in men. This was a cross-sectional study. We evaluated flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) and serum levels of HDL-C in 5842 men aged 18 to 92 years who were not receiving lipid-lowering therapy. All participants were divided into four groups by HDL-C level: low HDL-C (<40 mg/dL), moderate HDL-C (40–59 mg/dL), high HDL-C (60–79 md/dL), and extremely high HDL-C (≥80 mg/dL). We were not able to evaluate the amount of alcohol intake because there was limited information on the amount of alcohol drinking in our database. FMD values were significantly smaller in the low group and the extremely high group than in the high group (P =.001 and P =.016, respectively). There was no significant difference in FMD between the low group and the extremely high group. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that extremely high HDL-C, but not low HDL-C, was independently associated with the lowest quartile of FMD (odds ratio: 1.39, 95% confidence interval: 1.09–1.77; P =.009). An extremely high level of HDL-C in men (8.1% of this population) was associated with a significant reduction in FMD. • Flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) was smaller in the low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) than in the high HDL-C group. • FMD was smaller in the extremely high HDL-C group than in the high HDL-C group. • There was no difference in FMD between the low and extremely high HDL-C groups. • Extremely high HDL-C was associated with a lower quartile of FMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]