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Background Hemodialysis (HD) patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) are at heightened risk of adverse vascular events, and aspirin positively affects those outcomes. We aimed to investigate the association between different patterns of aspirin use and clinical vascular events in chronic HD patients with PAD.Methods This retrospective nationwide cohort study enrolled 758 chronic HD patients who had been diagnosed with PAD between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2012, and followed up until the end of 2020. Patients were divided into three groups according to medication possession ratio (MPR) and continued use of aspirin (i.e., low MPR, high MPR but discontinuous prescription, and high MPR and continuous prescription). Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), surgical bypass, lower leg amputation, cardiovascular events, cerebrovascular events, and all-cause mortality were evaluated.Results High MPR and continuous aspirin use had the lowest incidence of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events compared with the two other groups, and it was significantly associated with low risk of PTA, surgical bypass, cardiovascular events, and all-cause mortality (aHR: 0.58 [0.41–0.83], 0.49 [0.25–0.95], 0.57 [0.40–0.81], and 0.70 [0.55–0.88], respectively). Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed that event-free rates of PTA, cardiovascular events, and all-cause mortality of patients with high MPR and continuous aspirin treatment were the highest among the three groups (p

Purpose: Dementia and cardio-metabolic diseases share many risk factors. Management of these risk factors could contribute to successful aging, including the prevention of cardio-metabolic disease and dementia. The increasing use of smartphones offers an opportunity for remote preventive interventions. We provided a systematic review of telephone and smartphone-based interventions targeting the prevention of cognitive decline, dementia cardio-metabolic diseases or their risk factors among adults aged over 50 years. Patients and Methods: We searched Pubmed and the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform for experimental studies. We used the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool (Version 2) for randomized trials or TREND (Transparent Reporting of Evaluations with Nonrandomized Designs) checklists to assess study quality for completed studies. Results: We analyzed 21 completed (3 for cognition, 18 for cardio-metabolic outcomes) and 50 ongoing studies (23 for cognition, 27 for cardio-metabolic outcomes). Smartphone interventions were used in 26 studies (3 completed, 23 ongoing). Other interventions involved telephone vocal support and text messaging. Few studies were at low risk of bias. There were heterogeneous cognitive and cardio-metabolic outcomes. The highest quality studies found no significant effects on cognition, and inconsistent results for HbA1c, blood pressure or physical activity. The lower quality-studies found effects on global cognition, working memory, memory and language and inconsistent results for clinical, biological or behavioral cardio-metabolic outcomes. Conclusion and Implications: Despite the large number of commercially available mobile health applications, the magnitude of the scientific evidence base remains very limited. Based on published studies, the added value of telephone and smartphone tools for the prevention of cardio-metabolic diseases, cognitive decline or dementia is currently uncertain, but, there are several ongoing studies expected to be completed in the coming years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tobacco smoking is a leading preventable cause of death and increases perioperative risk. Determinants of smoking abstinence after noncardiac surgery and the association between smoking and 1-yr vascular outcomes are not fully elucidated.Methods: We did a prospective cohort study of 40 004 patients, aged ≥45 yr, enrolled between August 2007 and November 2013, and followed for 1 yr after surgery. Patients were categorised as never smokers, ex-smokers (quit >4 weeks preoperatively), and current smokers (smoking ≤4 weeks preoperatively). Primary outcome was abstinence at 1 yr. Secondary outcome was a composite of all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and non-fatal stroke at 1 yr.Results: Of 4658 current smokers, 1838 (39.5%) were abstinent 1 yr after surgery. Median (inter-quartile range) time to resumption was 7 (3-23) days post-surgery. Perioperatively, 7.2% of current smokers obtained smoking cessation pharmacotherapy. Older age (adjusted risk ratio [aRR] 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12-1.32); having recent coronary artery disease (aRR 1.41; 95% CI: 1.29-1.55); cancer (aRR 1.37; 95% CI: 1.18-1.59); and undergoing major vascular (aRR 1.20; 95% CI: 1.02-1.41), urgent/emergent (aRR 1.14; 95% CI: 1.05-1.23), or thoracic (aRR 1.41; 95% CI: 1.26-1.56) surgeries increased abstinence. One-year abstinence was less likely when patients stopped smoking 0-1 day (aRR 0.53; 95% CI: 0.43-0.66) and 2-14 days (aRR 0.76; 95% CI: 0.71-0.82) before surgery compared with >14 days before surgery. Current smokers (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.14; 95% CI: 1.01-1.29) and ex-smokers (aHR 1.11; 95% CI: 1.03-1.21) had higher risk of the 1-yr vascular outcome compared with never smokers.Conclusions: Long-term tobacco abstinence is more likely after major surgery in those with serious medical comorbidities. Interventions to prevent smoking resumption after surgery remain a priority. Clinical trial registration NCT00512109. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hemodialysis (HD) patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) are at heightened risk of adverse vascular events, and aspirin positively affects those outcomes. We aimed to investigate the association between different patterns of aspirin use and clinical vascular events in chronic HD patients with PAD., Methods: This retrospective nationwide cohort study enrolled 758 chronic HD patients who had been diagnosed with PAD between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2012, and followed up until the end of 2020. Patients were divided into three groups according to medication possession ratio (MPR) and continued use of aspirin (i.e., low MPR, high MPR but discontinuous prescription, and high MPR and continuous prescription). Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), surgical bypass, lower leg amputation, cardiovascular events, cerebrovascular events, and all-cause mortality were evaluated., Results: High MPR and continuous aspirin use had the lowest incidence of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events compared with the two other groups, and it was significantly associated with low risk of PTA, surgical bypass, cardiovascular events, and all-cause mortality (aHR: 0.58 [0.41-0.83], 0.49 [0.25-0.95], 0.57 [0.40-0.81], and 0.70 [0.55-0.88], respectively). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that event-free rates of PTA, cardiovascular events, and all-cause mortality of patients with high MPR and continuous aspirin treatment were the highest among the three groups ( p  < 0.05)., Conclusion: Among HD patients with PAD, high MPR and continuous aspirin use significantly reduced the risk of PTA, surgical bypass, cardiovascular events, and all-cause mortality and improved the event-free rates of PTA, cardiovascular events, and all-cause mortality during long-term follow-up.

Common carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) is an index of subclinical atherosclerosis that is associated with ischemic stroke and coronary artery disease (CAD). We undertook a cross-sectional epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) of measures of cIMT in 6400 individuals. Mendelian randomization analysis was applied to investigate the potential causal role of DNA methylation in the link between atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk factors and cIMT or clinical cardiovascular disease. The CpG site cg05575921 was associated with cIMT (beta = −0.0264, p value = 3.5 × 10–8) in the discovery panel and was replicated in replication panel (beta = −0.07, p value = 0.005). This CpG is located at chr5:81649347 in the intron 3 of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor repressor gene (AHRR). Our results indicate that DNA methylation at cg05575921 might be in the pathway between smoking, cIMT and stroke. Moreover, in a region-based analysis, 34 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were identified of which a DMR upstream of ALOX12 showed the strongest association with cIMT (p value = 1.4 × 10–13). In conclusion, our study suggests that DNA methylation may play a role in the link between cardiovascular risk factors, cIMT and clinical cardiovascular disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Large bore access procedures rely on vascular closure devices to minimize access site complications. Suture-based vascular closure devices (S-VCD) such as ProGlide and ProStar XL have been readily used, but recently, newer generation collagen-based vascular closure devices (C-VCD) such as MANTA have been introduced. Data on comparisons of these devices are limited. Methods: PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane were searched for articles on vascular closure devices using keywords, (“Vascular closure devices” OR “MANTA” OR “ProStar XL” OR “ProGlide”) AND (“outcomes”) that resulted in a total of 875 studies. Studies were included if bleeding or vascular complications as defined by Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 were compared between the two types of VCDs. The event level data were pooled across trials to calculate the Odds Ratio (OR) with 95% CI, and analysis was done with Review Manager 5.4 using random effects model. Results: Pooled analyses from these nine studies resulted in a total of 3410 patients, out of which 2855 were available for analysis. A total of 1229 received C-VCD and 1626 received S- VCD. Among the patients who received C-VCD, the bleeding complications (major and minor) were similar to patients who received S-VCD ((OR: 0.70 (0.35–1.39), p = 0.31, I2 = 55%), OR: 0.92 (0.53–1.61), p = 0.77, I2 = 65%)). The vascular complications (major and minor) in patients who received C-VCD were also similar to patients who received S-VCD ((OR: 1.01 (0.48–2.12), p = 0.98, I2 = 52%), (OR: 0.90 (0.62–1.30), p = 0.56, I2 = 35%)). Conclusions: Bleeding and vascular complications after large bore arteriotomy closure with collagen-based vascular closure devices are similar to suture-based vascular closure devices.

Background and Aims: Alterations in novel immune cell subsets, such as angiogenic T cells (Tang), senescent T cells (CD4+CD28null), and monocyte subsets are associated with impaired vascular homeostasis in several inflammatory conditions. However, mediators underlying vascular deterioration in chronic kidney disease (CKD) are poorly characterized. This study assessed their role in the vascular deterioration of CKD using a broad spectrum of surrogate markers ranging from altered functionality to overt calcification.Methods: Tang (CD3+CD31+CXCR4+), CD4+CD28null cells, and monocytes [CD14/CD16 subsets and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) expression] were measured in peripheral blood by flow cytometry in 33 CKD stage 5 patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (CKD5-PD) and 15 healthy controls (HCs). Analyses were replicated in a hemodialysis cohort. Vascular surrogate markers (including adventitial vasa vasorum, pulse wave velocity, intima-media thickness, and vascular calcification) were assessed by appropriate imaging methods.Results: In CKD5-PD, decreased Tang levels (p < 0.001) were unrelated to clinical features or traditional cardiovascular (CV) risk factors but correlated negatively with troponin T levels (r = −0.550, p = 0.003). Instead, CD4+CD28null frequency was increased (p < 0.001), especially in those with vascular calcifications. Quantitative and qualitative differences were also observed within the monocyte pool, a shift toward CD16+ subsets and ACE expression being found in CKD. Equivalent results were observed in the replication cohort. Each subset associated distinctly with adverse vascular outcomes in univariate and multivariate analyses: while Tang depletion was linked to poor vascular function and subclinical atherosclerosis, increases in CD4+CD28null were associated with overt vascular thickening and calcification. Monocytes were not independently associated with vascular outcomes in CKD patients.Conclusions: Novel T cell and monocyte subsets are altered in CKD. Altered T-cell subpopulations, but not monocytes, exhibited distinct associations with different vascular outcomes in CKD. Tang are emerging biomarkers of subclinical vascular deterioration in CKD.

Abstract Background Haemorrhage is the leading cause of death on the battlefield. Seventy percent of injuries are due to explosive mechanisms. Anecdotally, these patients have had poorer outcomes when compared to those with penetrating mechanisms of injury (MOI). We wished to test the hypothesis that outcomes following vascular reconstruction were worse in blast-injured than non blast-injured patients. Methods Retrospective cohort study. British and American combat casualties with arterial injuries sustained in Iraq or Afghanistan (2003–2014) were identified from the UK Joint Theatre Trauma Registry (JTTR). Eligibility included explosive or penetrating MOI, with follow-up to UK hospital discharge, or death. Outcomes were mortality, amputation, graft thrombosis, haemorrhage, and infection. Statistical analysis was performed using Pearson Chi-Square test, t-tests, ANOVA or non-parametric equivalent, and survival analyses. Results One hundred and fifteen patients were included, 80 injured by explosive and 35 by penetrating mechanisms. Evacuation time, ISS, number of arterial injuries, age and gender were comparable between groups. Seventy percent of arterial injuries resulted from an explosive MOI. The explosive injuries group received more blood products (p = 0.008) and suffered more regions injured (p < 0.0001). Early surgical interventions in both were ligation (n = 36, 31%), vein graft (n = 33, 29%) and shunting (n = 9, 8%). Mortality (n = 12, 10%) was similar between groups. Differences in limb salvage rates following explosive (n = 17, 53%) vs penetrating (n = 13, 76.47%) mechanisms approached statistical significance (p = 0.056). Nine (28%) vein grafted patients developed complications. No evidence of a difference in the incidence of vein graft thrombosis was found when comparing explosive with non-explosive cohorts (p = 0.154). Conclusions The recorded numbers of vein grafts following combat arterial trauma in are small in the JTTR. No statistically-significant differences in complications, including vein graft thrombosis, were found between cohorts injured by explosive and non-explosive mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association between serum cystatin C level and vascular outcomes has not been fully elucidated in diabetes and is unclear in prediabetes. We aim to evaluate whether cystatin C level predicts future risk for mortality and vascular outcomes in prediabetes and diabetes. A total of 85,371 participants with prediabetes and diabetes, and available baseline cystatin C in the UK biobank were included with a 14-year follow-up. Cox hazards models were used to calculate the associations between cystatin C level, mortality (all-cause, cause-specfic mortality) and vascular outcomes (myocardial infarction [MI], stroke, end-stage renal disease [ESRD] and diabetic retinopathy [DR]). The 1136 diabetes subjects in Guangzhou Diabetic Eye Study (GDES) were included for examing the impact of cystatin C on in vivo retinal degeneration and microvascular changes by using SS-OCT and OCTA. The highest cystatin C quartile had increased risks of all-cause (hazard ratio [HR], 2.02; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.86–2.19), cardiovascular (HR, 2.29; 95% CI 1.97–2.67), cancer (HR, 1.86; 95% CI 1.65–2.10) and other-cause mortality (HR, 2.24; 95% CI 1.90–2.64), MI (HR, 1.40; 95% CI 1.26–1.55), stroke (HR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.57–2.26), ESRD (HR, 7.33; 95% CI, 5.02–10.71), DR (HR, 1.17; 95% CI 1.03–1.32) than those in the lowest quartile. Adding cystatin C to the conventional model improved C-statistic for all-cause (0.699–0.724), cardiovascular (0.762–0.789), cancer (0.661–0.674) and other-cause mortality (0.675–0.715), MI (0.748–0.750), stroke (0.712–0.718), and ESRD (0.808–0.827). The GDES analysis identified a strong association between increased cystatin C levels and diminished retinal neural layers, as well as microvascular rarefaction in both macular and optic disc regions (all P < 0.05). Serum cystatin C refines the risk stratification for mortality and vascular outcomes among patients with prediabetes or diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Cardiovascular disease is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality, and prevention relies on accurate identification of those at risk. Studies of the association between quality of life (QOL) and mortality and vascular events incompletely accounted for depression, cognitive status, social support, and functional status, all of which have an impact on vascular outcomes. We hypothesized that baseline QOL is independently associated with long-term mortality in a large, multi-ethnic urban cohort.Methods: In the prospective, population-based Northern Manhattan Study, Spitzer QOL index (SQI, range 0-10, with ten signifying the highest QOL) was assessed at baseline. Participants were followed over a median 11 years for stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), and vascular and non-vascular death. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression estimated hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval (HR, 95% CI) for each outcome, with SQI as the main predictor, dichotomized at 10, adjusting for baseline demographics, vascular risk factors, history of cancer, social support, cognitive status, depression, and functional status.Results: Among 3298 participants, mean age was 69.7 + 10.3 years; 1795 (54.5%) had SQI of 10. In fully adjusted models, SQI of 10 (compared to SQI <10) was associated with reduced risk of all-cause mortality (HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.72-0.90), vascular death (0.81, 0.69-0.97), non-vascular death (0.78, 0.67-0.91), and stroke or MI or death (0.82, 0.74-0.91). In fully adjusted competing risk models, there was no association with stroke (0.93, 0.74-1.17), MI (0.98, 0.75-1.28), and stroke or MI (1.03, 0.86-1.24). Results were consistent when SQI was analyzed continuously.Conclusion: In this large population-based cohort, highest QOL was inversely associated with long-term mortality, vascular and non-vascular, independently of baseline primary vascular risk factors, social support, cognition, depression, and functional status. QOL was not associated with non-fatal vascular events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Large bore access procedures rely on vascular closure devices to minimize access site complications. Suture-based vascular closure devices (S-VCD) such as ProGlide and ProStar XL have been readily used, but recently, newer generation collagen-based vascular closure devices (C-VCD) such as MANTA have been introduced. Data on comparisons of these devices are limited., Methods: PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane were searched for articles on vascular closure devices using keywords, ("Vascular closure devices" OR "MANTA" OR "ProStar XL" OR "ProGlide") AND ("outcomes") that resulted in a total of 875 studies. Studies were included if bleeding or vascular complications as defined by Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 were compared between the two types of VCDs. The event level data were pooled across trials to calculate the Odds Ratio (OR) with 95% CI, and analysis was done with Review Manager 5.4 using random effects model., Results: Pooled analyses from these nine studies resulted in a total of 3410 patients, out of which 2855 were available for analysis. A total of 1229 received C-VCD and 1626 received S- VCD. Among the patients who received C-VCD, the bleeding complications (major and minor) were similar to patients who received S-VCD ((OR: 0.70 (0.35-1.39), p = 0.31, I 2 = 55%), OR: 0.92 (0.53-1.61), p = 0.77, I 2 = 65%)). The vascular complications (major and minor) in patients who received C-VCD were also similar to patients who received S-VCD ((OR: 1.01 (0.48-2.12), p = 0.98, I 2 = 52%), (OR: 0.90 (0.62-1.30), p = 0.56, I 2 = 35%))., Conclusions: Bleeding and vascular complications after large bore arteriotomy closure with collagen-based vascular closure devices are similar to suture-based vascular closure devices.

Abstract: TRial to assess Improvement in Therapeutic Outcomes by optimizing platelet inhibitioN with prasugrel Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction 38 (TRITON-TIMI 38) was a Phase 3, randomized, double blind, parallel-group, multinational head-to-head study of prasugrel vs. clopidogrel both on top of aspirin. The primary end point was the rate of cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), or stroke, and was reached in 12.1% of patients treated with clopidogrel and in 9.9% of patients randomized to prasugrel, suggesting impressive vascular outcome benefit of prasugrel over clopidogrel. However, this overoptimistic interpretation of the trial results was challenged by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Secondary Review, which revealed several shortcomings with TRITON design and data interpretation including the front-loaded nature of prasugrel benefit. Recently, following approval with black box warning, the FDA posted the complete documentation set (Action Package), revealing additional information including the timing of loading in TRITON, and how it affects vascular outcomes. The detailed FDA communications revealed highly significant correlation of the loading dose delay and primary efficacy outcomes favoring prasugrel. Indeed, when patients in TRITON were loaded early, or pretreated, the benefit of prasugrel was nonexistent. However, the longer it takes during or especially after PCI to load with thienopyridine, the more prasugrel benefit occurs. Considering that pretreatment with clopidogrel was disallowed; that three quarters of patients in TRITON were loaded during or after intervention; and that prasugrel was used at the 60-mg loading dose, which is over three times more potent than 300 mg clopidogrel, the claim of superiority of prasugrel over clopidogrel is not valid due to inappropriate use of clopidogrel. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background and Aims: Alterations in novel immune cell subsets, such as angiogenic T cells (Tang), senescent T cells (CD4 + CD28 null ), and monocyte subsets are associated with impaired vascular homeostasis in several inflammatory conditions. However, mediators underlying vascular deterioration in chronic kidney disease (CKD) are poorly characterized. This study assessed their role in the vascular deterioration of CKD using a broad spectrum of surrogate markers ranging from altered functionality to overt calcification. Methods: Tang (CD3 + CD31 + CXCR4 + ), CD4 + CD28 null cells, and monocytes [CD14/CD16 subsets and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) expression] were measured in peripheral blood by flow cytometry in 33 CKD stage 5 patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (CKD5-PD) and 15 healthy controls (HCs). Analyses were replicated in a hemodialysis cohort. Vascular surrogate markers (including adventitial vasa vasorum, pulse wave velocity, intima-media thickness, and vascular calcification) were assessed by appropriate imaging methods. Results: In CKD5-PD, decreased Tang levels ( p < 0.001) were unrelated to clinical features or traditional cardiovascular (CV) risk factors but correlated negatively with troponin T levels ( r = -0.550, p = 0.003). Instead, CD4 + CD28 null frequency was increased ( p < 0.001), especially in those with vascular calcifications. Quantitative and qualitative differences were also observed within the monocyte pool, a shift toward CD16 + subsets and ACE expression being found in CKD. Equivalent results were observed in the replication cohort. Each subset associated distinctly with adverse vascular outcomes in univariate and multivariate analyses: while Tang depletion was linked to poor vascular function and subclinical atherosclerosis, increases in CD4 + CD28 null were associated with overt vascular thickening and calcification. Monocytes were not independently associated with vascular outcomes in CKD patients. Conclusions: Novel T cell and monocyte subsets are altered in CKD. Altered T-cell subpopulations, but not monocytes, exhibited distinct associations with different vascular outcomes in CKD. Tang are emerging biomarkers of subclinical vascular deterioration in CKD., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Rodríguez-Carrio, Carrillo-López, Ulloa, Martín-Carro, Rodríguez-Suárez, Naves-Díaz, Sánchez-Álvarez, Rodríguez-García, Arcidiacono, Fernández-Mariño, Cannata-Andía, Suárez and Dusso.)

Sit-stand workstations are a popular workplace intervention. Organizations often require a medical professional's guidance for implementation. Therefore, it is important to understand potential negative outcomes associated with standing work, such as lower limb discomfort and peripheral vascular issues. The objective of this study was to compare changes in lower limb discomfort, blood pressure and blood flow accumulation during a light-load repetitive upper limb work task accomplished from seated and standing postures. At the Jewish Rehabilitation Hospital (Laval, Quebec, Canada), 16 participants were outfitted with Laser Doppler Flow (LDF) electrodes to measure blood flow in the lower limb, and a sphygmomanometer to measure lower limb mean arterial blood pressure (MAP). Participants completed simulated work over 34 min in standing and seated conditions. Repeated measures ANOVAs (Posture x Time) were used to assess the differences. There were significant effects for both Posture (p = 0.003) and Time (p = 0.007) for LDF-measured of blood flow accumulation in the soleus and the foot, with a mean increase of 77% blood flow over time in the standing posture, when compared to seated work. There was a significant 'Posture × Time' (p = 0.0034) interaction effect and a significant Posture (p = 0.0001) effect for MAP, with higher values in the standing posture by a mean of 37.2 mmHg. Posture had a significant effect (p < 0.001) on lower limb discomfort, with standing posture reporting higher levels. These results suggest that recommendations for using static standing work postures should be tempered, and physicians' guidance on workstation changes should consider the impacts on the lower limb.