Unique reproduction system of invasive ants avoids genetic bottlenecks

INTRODUCTION: Advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) may be involved in the development of atherosclerosis, beyond diabetes and renal disease. Skin autofluorescence (AF) is a non-invasive marker for AGEs. We examined whether skin AF is increased in (subclinical) atherosclerosis and associated with the degree of atherosclerosis independent of diabetes and renal function. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 223 patients referred for primary (n = 163) or secondary (n = 60) prevention between 2006 and 2012 was performed. Skin AF was measured using the AGE-Reader. Ultrasonography was used to assess plaques in carotid and femoral arteries and computed tomography for the calculation of the coronary artery calcium score (CACS; in primary prevention only). Primary prevention patients were divided into a group with subclinical atherosclerosis defined as >1 plaque or CACS>100 (n = 67; age 53 year [interquartile range 48-56]; 49% male) and without (controls; 96; 43 [38-51]; 55%). Secondary prevention were patients with peripheral arterial disease (60; 64 [58-70]; 73%). RESULTS: Skin AF was higher in subclinical and clinical atherosclerosis compared with controls (skin AF 2.11 [interquartile range 1.83-2.46] and 2.71 [2.15-3.27] vs. 1.87 [1.68-2.12] respectively; P = 0.005 and <0.001). In a multivariate analysis, the association of skin AF with the atherosclerosis categories was independent of age, sex, diabetes, presence of the metabolic syndrome, Framingham Risk Score, and renal function. Skin AF correlated with most cardiovascular risk factors, Framingham risk score, and IMT and CACS. CONCLUSIONS: Skin AF is increased in documented subclinical and clinical atherosclerosis, independent of known risk factors such as diabetes and renal disease. These data suggest that AGEs may be associated with the burden of atherosclerosis and warrant a prospective study to investigate its clinical usability as a risk assessment tool for primary prevention

Biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress indepently predict the progression of subclinical atherosclerosis

Objectives: Prediction of cardiovascular events by inflammation and oxidative stress biomarkers reflects their pivotal role in development of atherosclerosis. However, it is unclear whether such biomarkers are associated with an accelerated progression of subclinical atherosclerosis. Methods: 151 asymptomatic subjects with 653 RFs participating in the IMPROVE observational study were included (median age 63; 67 male). Carotid IMT was measured at baseline and after 30 months. At baseline biomarkers were measured in blood samples, including WBC and CRP, neopterin, soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (AGEs), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP1) and metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9), and diene concentration and antibodies against oxidized LDL (oxLDL), and autofluorescence, noninvasively measured in skin (SAF) as a marker for tissue accumulation of AGEs. Results: At baseline most conventional RFs correlated significantly with CIMT. Of the biomarkers, only SAF correlated with CIMT (r=0.24, p=0.001). At follow-up, a small increase was observed in the CIMT (0.020 (0.086) mm, p=0.006). In contrast to RFs, the biomarkers, including CRP (r=0.22, p=0.007), oxLDL (r=0.21, p=0.012), TIMP1 (r=0.29, p=0.001), and WBC (r=0.23, p=0.004) correlated with CIMT progression. After stepwise, multiple regression, TIMP1 (beta=0.28, p=0.001) and oxLDL (beta=0.25, p=0.003) remained independently associated with CIMT. Conclusions: In asymptomatic subjects at high cardiovascular risk, conventional RF and SAF reflected the initial atherosclerosis profile, but several biomarkers independently predicted the 30 month progression of CIMT. These observational data strengthen the hypothesis that inflammation and oxidative stress promote the progression of subclinical atherosclerosis and thus are of clinical relevance in detecting high risk subjects

Change in saturated fat intake is associated with progression of carotid and femoral intima-media thickness, and with levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1

BACKGROUND: A high saturated fat (SFA) intake may stimulate progression of atherosclerosis, and may be positively associated with expression of adhesion molecules. METHODS: In moderately hypercholesterolaemic participants of a dietary intervention study (n=103; 55+/-10 years), we examined associations between reported changes in SFA intake and changes in carotid and femoral intima-media thickness (IMT) and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) levels after 2 years. The carotid and femoral IMT was assessed by high-resolution B-mode ultrasound images. RESULTS: After 2 years, dietary intake of SFA decreased with 1.8+/-2.6% of energy (P<0.01). In the lowest quintile of change in SFA intake (-5.9+/-1.4% of energy), changes in carotid and femoral IMT were +0.03 mm (SEM 0.03) and -0.09 mm (SEM 0.07), respectively, versus +0.10 mm (SEM 0.03), +0.17 mm (SEM 0.07) in the top quintile (+1.6+/-0.7% of energy) (P linear trend 0.07 (carotis), 0.02 (femoralis)). Changes in sICAM-1 were -19.0 ng/nl (SEM 5.6) in the lowest quintile, versus +8.6 ng/ml (SEM 5.3) in the top quintile (P linear trend <0.001), adjusted for baseline level, SFA intake, body mass index, age, changes in intake of fruit, polyunsaturated fat, and dietary cholesterol. Adjustments for changes in established risk factors did not alter these results. CONCLUSIONS: Decreased SFA intake may reduce progression of atherosclerosis, as assessed by IMT, and is associated with reduced levels of sICAM-1 after 2 years. Further research using randomised placebo-controlled trials is necessary to exclude potential confounding variables and to confirm causality. Record 6 of 32 - SilverPlatter MEDLINE(R)

Clinical diagnosis of diabetic polyneuropathy with the diabetic neuropathy symptom and diabetic nueropathy examination scores

OBJECTIVE - To evaluate the discriminative power of the Diabetic Neuropathy Symptom (DNS) and Diabetic Neuropathy Examination (DNE) scores for diagnosing diabetic polyneuropathy (PNP), as well as their relation with cardiovascular autonomic function testing (cAFT) and electro-diagnostic studies (EDS). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - Three groups (matched for age and sex) were selected: 24 diabetic patients with neuropathic foot ulcers (DU), 24 diabetic patients without clinical neuropathy or ulcers (DC), and 21 control subjects without diabetes (C). In all participants, the DNS and DNE scores were assessed and cAFT (heart rate variability [HRV], baroreflex sensitivity [BRS]), and EDS were performed (Nerve Conduction Sum [NCS] score; muscle fiber conduction velocity fastest/slowest ratio [F/S ratio]). RESULTS - Both the DNS and the DNE scores discriminated between the DU and DC groups significantly (P <0.001). The DNE score even discriminated between DC and C (P <0.05). Spearman's correlation coefficients between both DNS and DNE scores and cAFT (HRV -0.42 and -0.44; BRS -0.30 and -0.29, respectively) and EDS (NCS 0.51 and 0.62; F/S ratio 0.44 and 0.62, respectively) were high. Odds ratios were calculated for both DNS and DNE score, with cAFT (HRV 4.4 and 5.7; BRS 20.7 and 14.2, respectively) and EDS (NCS 5.6 and 16.8; F/S ratio 7.2 and 18.8, respectively). CONCLUSIONS - The DNS and DNE scores are able to discriminate between patients with and without PNP and are strongly related to cAFT and EDS. This further confirms the strength of the DNS and DNE scores in diagnosing diabetic PNP in daily clinical practice