Antonis A Manolis, Theodora A Manolis, Antonis S Manolis
{"title":"Cardiovascular Disorders in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.","authors":"Antonis A Manolis, Theodora A Manolis, Antonis S Manolis","doi":"10.2174/0115701611348352250319034731","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/0115701611348352250319034731","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease with multiorgan and system involvement, including the Cardiovascular (CV) system. Cardiac involvement in these patients is frequent and most often asymptomatic, at least in the early stages. It includes accelerated atherosclerosis, premature Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), and a high risk of CV complications. The risk of developing CV Disease (CVD) in SLE is linked not only with classical CV risk factors but also with disease-specific factors, like the degree of activity, autoantibodies, organ damage, and type of therapy. Clinical presentation comprises several clinical manifestations ranging from angina to acute Myocardial Infarction (MI) and Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD). The leading cause of death in SLE patients is from CVD due to accelerated atherosclerosis, which often has a more rapid progression compared with the general population. The CV risk in SLE is greater when antiphospholipid antibodies are present. Regarding diagnosis, apart from relevant blood tests, the simplest and readily available diagnostic test, echocardiography, with its contemporary techniques that include global longitudinal strain, is needed to provide a more thorough cardiac evaluation and allow for early management. These aspects of the disease, together with issues regarding phenotypes, biomarkers, neonatal lupus, heart block, SLE-related CV ailments such as coronary artery disease, myocarditis, valvular heart disease, and the antiphospholipid syndrome, as well as diagnostic modalities, drug and interventional therapies, and current relevant guidelines are all thoroughly reviewed and discussed in this article.</p>","PeriodicalId":11278,"journal":{"name":"Current vascular pharmacology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143987150","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Agata Buonacera, Benedetta Stancanelli, Debora Giarratana, Lorenzo Malatino
{"title":"Evidence for the Interplay between Inflammation and Clotting System in the Pathogenetic Chain of Pulmonary Embolism: A Potential Therapeutic Target to Prevent Multi-organ Failure and Residual Thrombotic Risk.","authors":"Agata Buonacera, Benedetta Stancanelli, Debora Giarratana, Lorenzo Malatino","doi":"10.2174/0115701611390778250321130817","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/0115701611390778250321130817","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":11278,"journal":{"name":"Current vascular pharmacology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143729302","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Association between Statin use and Abdominal Aortic Calcification in Male, Non-diabetic Elderly.","authors":"Meng Wang, Changju Liu, Hongjian Shan","doi":"10.2174/0115701611304116250221104627","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/0115701611304116250221104627","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>Our study was to investigate the association between statin use and the prevalence of abdominal aortic calcification (AAC).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The population was enrolled in the 2013-2014 cycle of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The statin use was determined from the questionnaire inquiring the medications taken in the past month. The presence of AAC and severe AAC were assessed based on the AAC score measured by abdominal dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between statin treatment and AAC after adjustment for potential confounders.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study included a total of 2074 individuals; the average age 61.6±11.8 years old and 922 (44.5%) were male. AAC (AAC score >0) was present in 35.4% of the population and 12.0% had severe AAC. There were 836 (40.3%) statin users. After adjustment for demographics, lifestyles, comorbidities, and laboratory examinations, statin use was associated with higher odds of AAC (OR 1.28, 95%CI 1.02-1.62; P=0.034) and severe AAC (OR 1.78, 95%CI 1.24-2.55; P=0.002), respectively. Subgroup analysis revealed that the association was stronger in male, non-diabetic participants and those aged >60 years old.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Stain use was associated with a greater presence of AAC and severe AAC. This association was stronger for male, non-diabetic participants and those aged >60 years.</p>","PeriodicalId":11278,"journal":{"name":"Current vascular pharmacology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143540531","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nasr Alrabadi, Mohammed Al-Nusair, Razan Haddad, Lama Alburie, Nizar Mhaidat, Mohamad I Jarrah, Ayman Hammoudeh
{"title":"Clinical Predictors of Warfarin Response Among Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: Evidence from the Middle Eastern JoFib Study.","authors":"Nasr Alrabadi, Mohammed Al-Nusair, Razan Haddad, Lama Alburie, Nizar Mhaidat, Mohamad I Jarrah, Ayman Hammoudeh","doi":"10.2174/0115701611297687250221010411","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/0115701611297687250221010411","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To describe clinical factors predictive of warfarin response in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients and to evaluate its association with adverse outcomes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Patients in the Middle Eastern JoFib study, a prospective, multicenter registry of AF patients, using warfarin with at least one international normalized ratio (INR) reading, were enrolled. We used the most recent INR as a measure of warfarin control.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Out of the total 2020 patients, 544 (26.9%) were using warfarin. Multivariable logistic regression analysis demonstrated that heart failure (adjusted OR 0.55, 95%CI 0.36-0.86) and increasing HAS-BLED score (adjusted OR 0.73, 95%CI 0.58-0.92) decreased the odds of having a therapeutic INR. Chronic kidney disease (adjusted OR 3.11, 95%CI 1.46-6.62), heart failure (adjusted OR 2.37, 95%CI 1.4-4.01), and cancer (adjusted OR 2.48, 95%CI 1.03-6.01) were independently predictive of having INR less than 2.0. The first episode of AF was independently predictive of having INR above 3.0 (adjusted OR 2.48, 95%CI 1.39-4.42). Multivariable Cox regression analysis demonstrated that INR below the therapeutic range (aHR 4.36, 95%CI 2.19-8.68) and INR above the therapeutic range (aHR 3.03, 95%CI 1.33-6.92) were predictive of all-cause mortality. Below-range INR also predicted cardiovascular mortality (aHR 3.69, 95%CI 1.66-8.16).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Clinical factors predictive of sub-optimal INR in Middle Eastern AF patients using warfarin include chronic kidney disease, heart failure, cancer, high HAS-BLED score, and first episode of AF. Furthermore, sub-optimal INR is predictive of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.</p>","PeriodicalId":11278,"journal":{"name":"Current vascular pharmacology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143514962","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Hepatic Fibrosis Predicts the Prognosis of Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke Through the Mediation of Cardioembolism.","authors":"Mingyue Zhao, Jiexi Huang, Tian Zeng, Minyue Zhang, Jiaqi Huang, Yufan Gao, Haobo Xie, Shengqi Li, Yilin Chen, Jiahan Xu, Yanchu Wang, Shenyi Lin, Yiyun Weng, Guangyong Chen","doi":"10.2174/0115701611343296250218111614","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/0115701611343296250218111614","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Hepatic fibrosis, a chronic pathological condition, is associated with adverse outcomes in stroke patients. Cardioembolism (CE) is a common etiology of stroke, yet the association between hepatic fibrosis and CE remains understudied.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>This study aims to investigate the association between hepatic fibrosis and CE-induced stroke, as well as its impact on stroke patient prognosis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective study included 344 acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients who underwent thrombolytic therapy. Hepatic fibrosis was assessed using the Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index and the Aspartate Aminotransferase-Platelet Ratio Index (APRI). Mediation analysis examined the role of CE in the association between hepatic fibrosis and 3-month functional outcomes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 344 patients, 319 were classified using the Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment criteria. Severe fibrosis (FIB-4 ≥ 2.01) was observed in 131 patients (38.08%), and CE was identified in 79 patients. FIB-4 was an independent predictor of CE (OR: 2.038, 95%CI: 1.507- 2.757, p < 0.001) and poor 3-month functional outcome (OR: 1.477, 95%CI: 1.103-1.978, p = 0.009) after adjusting for confounders. The effect of FIB-4 on poor 3-month functional outcomes was partially mediated by CE, with a mediation proportion of 30.63%.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Hepatic fibrosis is a significant predictor of short-term functional outcomes in AIS, particularly cardioembolic stroke. The association between hepatic fibrosis and stroke outcomes is partially mediated through CE. These findings highlight the importance of assessing hepatic fibrosis in stroke patients, particularly those with CE etiology.</p>","PeriodicalId":11278,"journal":{"name":"Current vascular pharmacology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143491335","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Comparison of Clinical Outcomes between Newly Diagnosed and Pre-Existing Diabetes Mellitus Patients after Acute Coronary Syndrome.","authors":"Wei-Chieh Lee, Huang-Chung Chen, Chih-Yuan Fang, Yi-Hsuan Tsai, Yun-Yu Hsieh, Tien-Yu Chen, Yen-Nan Fang, Po-Jui Wu, Hsiu-Yu Fang, Ping-Yen Liu","doi":"10.2174/0115701611322555250219111038","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/0115701611322555250219111038","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>This study aimed to evaluate clinical outcomes, including recurrent acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and mortality, in ACS patients with varying HbA1c levels, addressing the controversy over optimal targets in those with newly diagnosed and pre-existing diabetes mellitus (DM).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>From January 2005 to December 2019, a total of 33,990 patients were identified with ACS in the Chang Gung Research Database based on their medical history. After excluding patients without DM and baseline or subsequent HbA1C data, a cohort of 11,870 DM patients was divided into two groups: one consisting of 6,089 patients with newly diagnosed DM and the other comprising 5,781 patients with pre-existing DM.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>During the three-year follow-up, the pre-existing DM group experienced worse clinical outcomes, such as increased rates of re-ACS, major bleeding, cardiovascular (CV) events, and all-cause mortality. Optimal HbA1c levels for mitigating re-ACS and/or CV mortality and all-cause mortality appeared to differ between the two DM cohorts. Re-ACS and CV mortality reached their highest at an HbA1c of 6.8% for all DM patients, 6.6% for newly diagnosed, and 6.7% for pre-existing cases. The greatest all-cause mortality risk was at an HbA1c of 7.4% for all DM patients, 7.0% in newly diagnosed, and 8.2% in pre-existing patients.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Upon comparing newly diagnosed DM patients with those with pre-existing DM, a poorer prognosis was observed in the latter group, attributed to older age and a higher burden of comorbidities. Throughout the follow-up period, maintaining consistently low HbA1c levels did not reduce the incidence of re-ACS nor enhance survival rates.</p>","PeriodicalId":11278,"journal":{"name":"Current vascular pharmacology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143491333","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mohamed Gamil Mehanna, Thamir Mahmoud Eid, Badr Abdullah Maarof, Mirza Rafi Baig, Salma Naqvi, Fahad A Alabassi, Ahmed El Sayed El Gayar, Abdelmaaboud M M Omar, Omar A Al-Bar, Shaikh Gazi, Vikas Kumar, Firoz Anwar
{"title":"Evaluation of Cardiovascular and Hepatic Changes in Myocardial Infarction Patients Post-Covid-19 Vaccination.","authors":"Mohamed Gamil Mehanna, Thamir Mahmoud Eid, Badr Abdullah Maarof, Mirza Rafi Baig, Salma Naqvi, Fahad A Alabassi, Ahmed El Sayed El Gayar, Abdelmaaboud M M Omar, Omar A Al-Bar, Shaikh Gazi, Vikas Kumar, Firoz Anwar","doi":"10.2174/0115701611362338250214103331","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/0115701611362338250214103331","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The global COVID-19 vaccination campaign has significantly reduced severe illness and mortality; however, emerging evidence raises concerns regarding its potential cardiovascular effects, particularly myocardial infarction (MI).</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>This study investigates the relationship between COVID-19 vaccination and MI incidence among first-time MI patients in Saudi Arabia. Post-COVID-19 vaccination within six months postvaccination accounted for potential confounding factors, such as pre-existing health conditions, age, and lifestyle. A total of 102 MI patients, with a male predominance of 60.8% and a significant correlation with middle age, were analysed. A+ blood group patients were the most prevalent (33.3%), followed by B+ (29.4%), while Rh-negative patients constituted only 7.8%. Elevated mean BNP (761.98 pg/ml), pulse rate (87.72 bpm), and systolic blood pressure (139.98 mmHg) indicated heightened cardiac stress (p < 0.01).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Significant elevations in AST (121.65 U/L) and ALT (133.63 U/L) levels suggested liver stress post-Covid-19 vaccination (p < 0.01). Males had higher AST, ALT, and bilirubin levels than females, with p-values of 0.02, 0.01, and 0.04, respectively, indicating hepatic differences. Elevated biomarkers like CK-MB (58.05 IU/L) and CPK (313.86 mcg/L) further affirmed significant myocardial damage post-vaccination (p < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings suggest a link between vaccination and cardiovascular events and highlight the importance of considering individual health profiles in evaluating vaccine safety, cardiovascular health, and hepatic implications.</p>","PeriodicalId":11278,"journal":{"name":"Current vascular pharmacology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143457222","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jiale Tan, Zihang Yu, Ruozheng Pi, Yan Lin, Wei Wang, Minfeng Chen, Xue Bai
{"title":"Tumor-Associated Pericytes: Tumorigenicity and Targeting for Cancer Therapy.","authors":"Jiale Tan, Zihang Yu, Ruozheng Pi, Yan Lin, Wei Wang, Minfeng Chen, Xue Bai","doi":"10.2174/0115701611365339250213101338","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/0115701611365339250213101338","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Pericytes, also known as mural cells, are cells embedded between endothelial cells and the basement membrane of capillaries, where they orchestrate the morphological and functional homeostasis of blood vessels. Within the tumor microenvironment, pericytes interact closely with various cellular components, including tumor cells, stromal cells, and immune cells. Through these dynamic interactions, pericytes are activated and subsequently transform into tumor-associated pericytes (TPCs). The origin of TPCs varies depending on the tissue and tumor type, contributing to their phenotypic and functional heterogeneity. TPCs play pivotal roles in facilitating tumor progression, metastasis, immune evasion, and therapeutic resistance by promoting angiogenesis, engaging in reciprocal interactions with tumor cells, remodeling the extracellular matrix, and fostering an immunosuppressive microenvironment. This review synthesizes the latest significant advancements in targeted therapies against TPCs. It underscores the challenges inherent in developing effective anti-TPC therapies, which include the heterogeneity and pluripotency of TPCs, the absence of specific markers for precise TPC targeting, and the limited understanding of how current anti-tumor therapies affect TPCs and vice versa. This review furnishes a comprehensive understanding of the origins, markers, and functions of TPCs, and their interplays within the tumor microenvironment, providing prospective strategies for more effective anti-tumor therapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":11278,"journal":{"name":"Current vascular pharmacology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143457278","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}