Vascular Health and Risk Management最新文献

{"title":"Short-Term Efficacy and Safety of Topical Sirolimus Gel in Pediatric Superficial Microcystic Lymphatic Malformations: A Single-Center Interventional Study of 30 Patients.","authors":"Weiyang Xu, Yu Ding, Lei Zhao, Mengqi Pi, Xinyang Zhang, Miao Xu, Ke Ma","doi":"10.2147/VHRM.S636544","DOIUrl":"10.2147/VHRM.S636544","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To evaluate the efficacy and safety of 0.2% topical sirolimus gel for pediatric superficial microcystic lymphatic malformations (LMs).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This single-center interventional study included 30 pediatric patients (14 males and 16 females; aged 2-15 years) with superficial microcystic lymphatic malformations. All patients received 0.2% topical sirolimus gel twice daily for 12 weeks according to a predefined treatment and follow-up protocol. Clinical efficacy was assessed at baseline and week 12 using clinical examination, standardized photography, symptom scores, and available imaging findings, together with a four-grade physician-assessed response scale. Adverse events were monitored throughout treatment, and blood sirolimus concentrations were measured at weeks 4 and 12.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>All patients showed lesion reduction, with an overall response rate of 96% (29/30). At week 12, efficacy was graded as IV in 10 patients, III in 11, II in 8, and I in 1. Among patients with pain symptoms, pain scores decreased significantly after treatment (2.88 ± 0.78 vs 1.18 ± 0.88; P < 0.05). In 10 patients with measurable lesions, maximum lesion diameter decreased significantly from 3.22 ± 1.36 cm to 1.89 ± 1.33 cm (P < 0.05). Only mild local adverse effects were observed, and blood sirolimus concentrations remained below 2.0 ng/mL in all patients.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Topical sirolimus gel demonstrated favorable efficacy and safety for pediatric superficial microcystic LMs.</p>","PeriodicalId":23597,"journal":{"name":"Vascular Health and Risk Management","volume":"22 ","pages":"636544"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13553331/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148921151","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Public Awareness of Stroke Risk Factors, Warning Symptoms, Prevention Measures, and Stroke Management Among Adults in Two Major Cities in Yemen: A Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Najmaddin A H Hatem, Mohamed Izham Mohamed Ibrahim, Ahmed Salem Al-Jarba'a","doi":"10.2147/VHRM.S623354","DOIUrl":"10.2147/VHRM.S623354","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Stroke remains a major global health challenge and a leading cause of mortality and long-term disability worldwide. In low-income, conflict-affected countries such as Yemen, the burden is amplified by fragile healthcare systems and limited access to preventive and acute care services. Hence, this study addresses a critical awareness gap by assessing awareness of stroke risk factors, symptom recognition, prevention strategies, and stroke management among adult community members in two major urban cities in Yemen.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>A cross-sectional survey design was employed using paper-based questionnaire. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, non-parametric tests, correlation analysis, and bivariate logistic regression analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our study revealed a high level of overall recognition-based awareness was observed among surveyed participants (87.9%; 95% CI: 84.7-91.1%). Specific areas of high recognition included obesity or overweight (89.4%) and high blood pressure (86.2%) as risk factors, dizziness/loss of balance (79.1%) as a symptom, and taking prescribed medications (87.2%) and regular medical checkups (86.9%) for prevention. Awareness of immediate medical care (87.7%) and future prevention medications (85.9%) also stood out in stroke management domain. A personal or family history of chronic diseases was strongly associated with greater overall stroke awareness score (p<0.001), as was a history of stroke itself (p=0.03). Bivariate regression analysis highlighted significant associations between high awareness and education level for symptoms, prevention, and stroke management domains scores (p <0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Despite the encouraging overall awareness, the findings highlight areas where targeted public health interventions may be warranted, particularly for less recognized aspects of stroke awareness. These should focus on reinforcing awareness, particularly concerning less recognized symptoms, and addressing disparities linked to socio-economic factors. These findings highlight the need for targeted stroke awareness interventions in urban settings, while underscoring the importance of further nationally representative studies. This study sheds light on the current level of stroke awareness and offers vital insights for policymakers and medical professionals to create culturally appropriate and successful educational campaigns.</p>","PeriodicalId":23597,"journal":{"name":"Vascular Health and Risk Management","volume":"22 ","pages":"623354"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13546043/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148897924","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Refractory Kawasaki Disease in Infants Complicated with Giant Coronary Artery Aneurysms and Takayasu Arteritis: A Rare Case Report and Literature Review.","authors":"Yaping Zhu, Muqing Niu, Yonglin Chen, Fen Li, Dandan Li, Shanshan Dong, Lei Huang, Ruijuan Gao, Xinhong Guo, Qiang Gu, Jinyong Pan","doi":"10.2147/VHRM.S624409","DOIUrl":"10.2147/VHRM.S624409","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Kawasaki disease (KD) is a common acute systemic vasculitis in children.10% to 20% of children present with refractory KD, and a few critically ill children may develop Kawasaki disease shock syndrome (KDSS) or macrophage activation syndrome (MAS). Coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) is the most serious complication of KD, and giant coronary artery aneurysm (GCAA) has an extremely poor prognosis. Takayasu arteritis (TAK) is a chronic granulomatous vasculitis mainly involving the aorta and its branches. It is extremely rare in infants, with no specific early symptoms and prone to delayed diagnosis. The combination of infant KD and TAK is extremely rare, as there is overlap in vascular involvement, making it difficult to differentiate clinically. This article reports the case of a 45-day-old male infant diagnosed with refractory KD, accompanied by KDSS and MAS. After conventional treatment, the condition relapsed and progressed to a GCAA, and subsequently TAK occurred. The complete clinical diagnosis and treatment process of the case will be elaborated in detail here. At the same time, based on the literature review, the diagnosis and treatment of this disease are analyzed to guide clinical practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":23597,"journal":{"name":"Vascular Health and Risk Management","volume":"22 ","pages":"624409"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13529311/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148867048","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Stent Retriever-Assisted Embolic Protection During Recanalization of Chronic Internal Carotid Artery Occlusion with Contralateral Carotid Stenosis: A Case Report.","authors":"Iin Pusparini, Gamaliel Wibowo Soetanto","doi":"10.2147/VHRM.S609228","DOIUrl":"10.2147/VHRM.S609228","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Chronic internal carotid artery occlusion (CICAO) with contralateral stenosis confers high stroke risk, particularly when thrombocytopenia complicates dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). We report a single case of staged carotid revascularization in which a stent retriever was used as a temporary distal protection device during CICAO recanalization after hematologic optimization.</p><p><strong>Case presentation: </strong>A 69-year-old woman with chronic hepatitis B-related thrombocytopenia (20-68 × 10⁹/L) presented with progressive imbalance (NIHSS 3, mRS 2). Imaging revealed bilateral parieto-occipital infarcts, chronic left ICA occlusion, and severe right ICA stenosis (80% North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET)). After eltrombopag therapy increased platelet counts to >300 × 10⁹/L, DAPT was initiated. Revascularization was performed in two stages: right ICA stenting with distal filter protection, followed 14 days later by left CICAO recanalization using a Catch Mini stent retriever (Balt, Montmorency, France) as temporary embolic protection and dual-stent reconstruction (proximal Wallstent (Boston Scientific, Marlborough, MA, USA) and distal braided Leo+ stent (Balt, Montmorency, France)). Both procedures were completed without periprocedural complications. At 6 months, CTA demonstrated distal re-occlusion of the cavernous (C4) segment; however, the patient remained clinically stable (NIHSS 0) without recurrent ischemic events.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The stent retriever-assisted approach was technically feasible in this single carefully selected patient and may offer a solution to the inherent limitation of conventional embolic protection devices in CICAO recanalization; however, its protective efficacy cannot be established without post-procedural imaging, which was not obtained in this case.</p>","PeriodicalId":23597,"journal":{"name":"Vascular Health and Risk Management","volume":"22 ","pages":"609228"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13505545/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148819642","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Associations of Patient Morphology and Venous Anatomy with Early Changes in Upper-Extremity Venous Blood Flow Following PICC Placement in Patients with Cancer: A Prospective Cohort Study.","authors":"Guodong Wang, Yanfen Shen, Yuan Yang, Xinpeng Wang, Jing Dong, Xiaozheng Wang Ii, Yuanyuan Zheng, Jie Chen, Chun Wang, Xiaofang Meng, Feng Liu, Jinli Song, Jun Dong","doi":"10.2147/VHRM.S629137","DOIUrl":"10.2147/VHRM.S629137","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Ultrasound evaluation of target vein diameter before peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) placement is recommended to control the catheter-to-vein ratio, but early hemodynamic changes after PICC placement remain incompletely characterized. This study evaluated the associations of patient morphology and baseline venous anatomy with early changes in upper-extremity venous blood flow velocity after PICC insertion.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>In this prospective single-center cohort study, 519 adult patients with cancer requiring PICC insertion were enrolled. Body mass index (BMI), arm circumference, baseline vascular depth, and baseline vascular diameter were recorded before catheterization. Time-averaged mean venous blood flow velocity was measured by Doppler ultrasound before insertion and on day 1 after insertion under identical conditions. Multivariable linear regression was used to identify factors independently associated with day-1 flow velocity and with the change in flow velocity.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>All 519 patients completed baseline and day-1 assessments. Mean blood flow velocity decreased from 14.87 ± 4.42 cm/s at baseline to 14.28 ± 4.87 cm/s on day 1 (mean difference, -0.59 cm/s; 95% CI, -1.08 to -0.10; p = 0.017); the effect size was small (Cohen's dz = -0.10) and the clinical significance of this change is uncertain. The mean catheter-to-vein ratio was 30.8% ± 6.6%, and 36.4% of patients exceeded a ratio of 33%. In multivariable analyses, baseline vascular diameter was independently associated with both day-1 flow velocity (adjusted β, 7.25 cm/s per cm; 95% CI, 2.85-11.64; p = 0.001) and the change in flow velocity (adjusted β, 8.33 cm/s per cm; 95% CI, 3.18-13.48; p = 0.002), with smaller veins showing lower post-insertion velocities and greater reductions. Body mass index was independently associated with day-1 flow velocity (adjusted β, 0.24 cm/s per kg/m²; 95% CI, 0.10-0.38; p = 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Patient morphology and venous anatomy were associated with different patterns of early hemodynamic change after PICC insertion. This study evaluated hemodynamic changes only; catheter-related thrombosis was not assessed, and no conclusions regarding thrombosis risk can be drawn. The observed velocity reduction was small and of uncertain clinical significance. These findings are hypothesis-generating, and future studies incorporating thrombosis endpoints are needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":23597,"journal":{"name":"Vascular Health and Risk Management","volume":"22 ","pages":"629137"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13496251/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148798492","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Incidence Trends and Disease Burden of Vascular Intestinal Disorders: A Population-Based Study in China and Worldwide from 1990 to 2021.","authors":"Lanhui Zeng, Bowen Li, Junhui Gao, Suwei He, Ling Huang","doi":"10.2147/VHRM.S609512","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/VHRM.S609512","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Vascular intestinal disorders (VID), characterized by inadequate intestinal perfusion, lead to severe complications like tissue ischemia, infarction, and inflammation. This study evaluates global and Chinese VID trends and burden from 1990 to 2021 using Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 data.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Age-standardized incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were extracted. Joinpoint regression analyzed temporal trends, computing average annual percentage changes (AAPC) and 95% confidence intervals. Subgroup analyses covered age, sex, and socio-demographic index.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Globally, the age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) declined from 18.81 to 15.98 per 100,000 (AAPC: -0.52%); in China, it fell from 5.92 to 5.03 (AAPC: -0.50%). However, China's absolute cases nearly doubled due to demographic shifts. Significant gender and age disparities emerged: younger males showed higher ASIR and ASMR, while women ≥75 years had elevated morbidity and mortality.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Despite declining age-standardized rates, the absolute VID burden escalates globally and in China. Disparities disproportionately affect elderly women and younger males. Enhanced diagnostics, equitable access, and targeted prevention are urgent. Stakeholders must prioritize integrative VID prevention strategies within non-communicable disease frameworks to mitigate this growing concern.</p>","PeriodicalId":23597,"journal":{"name":"Vascular Health and Risk Management","volume":"22 ","pages":"609512"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13488672/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148798522","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association of Composite Metabolic Indices and Oxidative Stress Biomarkers with Coronary Atherosclerosis Detected by CT Angiography in Premenopausal Women with Metabolic Syndrome.","authors":"Fariba Mohammadi Tahroodi, Ahmad Shakeri, Mehdi Noori, Hossein Pourghadamyari, Beydolah Shahouzehi, Mohammad Erfan Norouzmahani, Hossein Fallah","doi":"10.2147/VHRM.S621734","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/VHRM.S621734","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is increasingly prevalent among premenopausal women and is associated with a higher risk of subclinical atherosclerosis. This study investigated whether composite metabolic indices are more strongly associated than conventional metabolic markers with subclinical coronary artery disease (CAD) detected by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). The potential contribution of oxidative stress markers to early atherosclerosis risk assessment was also evaluated in premenopausal Iranian women.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this cross-sectional case-control study, 101 women aged 30-50 years who were referred for CCTA were enrolled and classified into MetS and control groups according to The National Cholesterol Education Program, Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III) criteria. Demographic, biochemical, metabolic, oxidative stress, and CCTA data were collected. Atherosclerotic burden was assessed using coronary calcium score, plaque number, plaque volume, and percentage of stenosis. Composite metabolic indices, including Triglyceride glucose (TyG), Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP) and others were calculated and correlated with imaging findings.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Women with MetS exhibited significantly higher coronary plaque numbers, greater lesions volume, and more extensive calcium accumulation compared to the control group. They also demonstrated poorer metabolic health and elevated oxidative stress, as reflected by lower Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) and higher levels of Malondialdehyde (MDA) and Superoxide Dismutase (SOD). While traditional lipid levels showed a weak association with plaque metrics, composite indices (TyG and AIP) demonstrated a strong correlation with plaque burden and CAD risk. Oxidative stress markers may also play a supportive role in the assessment of early vascular injury.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>MetS is strongly associated with early coronary atherosclerosis in women of reproductive age. Composite indices, especially TyG and AIP, outperform conventional metabolic markers in predicting plaque burden. Their combined use with oxidative stress markers may improve early cardiovascular risk stratification and support targeted preventive strategies in premenopausal women.</p>","PeriodicalId":23597,"journal":{"name":"Vascular Health and Risk Management","volume":"22 ","pages":"621734"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13475525/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148760277","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Dynamic Prognosis Model of Patients with Chronic Heart Failure: A Prospective Cohort Study Using Follow-Up Data and Recurrent Neural Networks.","authors":"Yujia Zhang, Mengyi Dou, Fengqin Ding, Jingjing Yan, Yixin Li, Jing Tian, Ruihua Wang","doi":"10.2147/VHRM.S611507","DOIUrl":"10.2147/VHRM.S611507","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Prediction models for mortality risk in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) have traditionally relied on static admission data, which restricts capturing disease dynamics. Longitudinal follow-up data were used to develop a dynamic model to improve accuracy and provide evidence for tailored interventions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We enrolled 1,333 CHF patients from 3 Shanxi centres. Data included CHF patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures (CHF-PROM), lifestyle, medications, and prognosis. Endpoint: all-cause mortality. Using sequential data, we developed Gated Recurrent Units (GRU), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), Multi-layer Perceptron (MLP), and Logistic Regression (LR) for 3-year risk. Performance assessed by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), accuracy, true negative rate (TNR), true positive rate (TPR), Brier score, and F1-score. Temporal Shapley Additive exPlanations (TimeSHAP) provided interpretability, and a web tool built.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among models tested, the GRU model demonstrated strongest predictive accuracy, with performance steadily increasing as follow-up progressed. By 24 months, the GRU-based model attained its peak predictive performance, yielding an AUC of 0.765 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.761-0.768), an F1-score of 0.537 (95% CI: 0.531-0.542), and a Brier score of 0.208 (95% CI: 0.199-0.216). TimeSHAP indicated that physical condition, appetite, sleep, physical independence, and anxiety within the CHF-PROM, together with age and New York Heart Association Functional Classification functional class, were key predictors of 3-year all-cause mortality in patients with CHF.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>PRO data from multiple follow-ups, combined with a model constructed using GRU, provides promising tool for predicting mortality risk in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). The self-developed web-based decision support system allows users to calculate risk scores simply by entering patient information.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>Study registered with the China Clinical Trial Registry [identifier: ChiCTR2100043337]. Experimental registration date is February 11, 2021.</p>","PeriodicalId":23597,"journal":{"name":"Vascular Health and Risk Management","volume":"22 ","pages":"611507"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13460005/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148713743","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Cross-Sectional Analytical Study: Prevalence and Clinical Profile of Metabolic Syndrome Among Middle Eastern, Mainly Jordanians, Cohort Presented with Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease.","authors":"Jafar Alsheyyab, Nuseibah Al Qtaish, Hamza AbuZamzam, Wesam Saleh Al-Saud, Afnan Saleh Al-Soud, Khaled Abdul-Aziz Ahmed, Naser Albekaen, Mohammad Bani Baker, Razan Musa, Bothainh Yahya Al Tawarh, Ahmad Mustafa Abualhayja'a, Bashar Kiwan, Mohammad S Albakri, Omar Omari, Ahmed Shukairi, Siwar Albeka'en, Hala Mousa, Abdel-Ellah Al-Shudifat","doi":"10.2147/VHRM.S583687","DOIUrl":"10.2147/VHRM.S583687","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) remains the leading cause of mortality for people living in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Accumulation of modifiable ASCVD risk factors such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), dyslipidemia, smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity leads to a higher magnitude of ASCVD burden. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a fundamental clinical factor associated with increased incidence and mortality of ASCVD. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and clinical profiles of MetS among Middle Eastern patients with ASCVD using a newly proposed definition incorporating six modifiable risk factors.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We used data from the Jordan absence of standard modifiable risk factors (SMuRF-Less) study, to evaluate demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics along with the presence and co-existence of six modifiable risk factors between ASCVD patients with and without MetS.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 5540 patients with ASCVD (mean age 57.13 ± 12.31 years) were included. MetS status was available for 1,016 patients, of whom 434 (42.7%) met the criteria for MetS. Patients with MetS were more likely to be aged 46-65 years and had a higher prevalence of hypertension, dyslipidemia (notably hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL levels), T2DM, obesity, and physical inactivity. Additionally, MetS patients showed higher rates of heart failure, chronic kidney disease, obstructive sleep apnea, lower educational levels, higher smoking prevalence, and lack of health insurance.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Nearly half of ASCVD patients in this Middle Eastern cohort had MetS. In regions with a high burden of cardiovascular risk factors, effective ASCVD prevention strategies should prioritize early detection and comprehensive management of MetS through control of modifiable risk factors and the establishment of dedicated MetS clinics.</p><p><strong>Trial registration number: </strong>: NCT06199869.</p>","PeriodicalId":23597,"journal":{"name":"Vascular Health and Risk Management","volume":"22 ","pages":"583687"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13453423/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148702234","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Malondialdehyde-Superoxide Dismutase Redox Imbalance as an Early Biological Risk Indicator in Young Adult Smokers.","authors":"Kumboyono Kumboyono, Indah Nur Chomsy, Titin Andri Wihastuti","doi":"10.2147/VHRM.S612717","DOIUrl":"10.2147/VHRM.S612717","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Young adult smokers represent a population in which smoking-related health risks may accumulate silently before the onset of clinically apparent disease. Although smoking-related changes in malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) have been widely reported, less is known about their combined oxidant-antioxidant pattern in apparently healthy young adults during the early smoking trajectory. This study aimed to compare serum MDA and SOD levels between young adult smokers and non-smokers and to evaluate the MDA-SOD interplay as a marker of early redox imbalance.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted involving 190 participants aged 18-25 years, comprising 95 smokers and 95 non-smokers recruited from university communities. Smoking exposure was assessed using structured interviews and quantified by the Heaviness of Smoking Index and serum cotinine level. Serum MDA, SOD, and cotinine levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods. Group comparisons were performed using appropriate parametric or non-parametric tests, and associations between oxidative stress biomarkers were analysed using Spearman and Pearson correlation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Smokers exhibited significantly higher serum MDA concentrations than non-smokers [median 3.28 nmol/mL (range, 1.75-5.89) vs 2.27 nmol/mL (range, 0.99-5.83); p < 0.001] and significantly lower SOD activity (132.4 ± 26.7 vs 158.3 ± 29.1 U/L; p < 0.001). Across all participants, serum cotinine was positively associated with MDA (Spear man's <i>ρ</i> = 0.576, p < 0.001) and inversely associated with SOD (Pearson's r = -0.518, p < 0.001). MDA was also inversely associated with SOD (Spearman's <i>ρ</i> = -0.318, p < 0.001). These findings indicate a measurable oxidant-antioxidant imbalance associated with biochemical tobacco exposure in young adults.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Young adult smokers exhibit early oxidant-antioxidant imbalance indicative of subclinical biological vulnerability associated with smoking exposure. These findings highlight the relevance of the MDA-SOD redox interplay as a biologically coherent marker pair for assessing early smoking-related redox disturbance in young adults.</p>","PeriodicalId":23597,"journal":{"name":"Vascular Health and Risk Management","volume":"22 ","pages":"612717"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13454871/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148707875","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}