Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A2 Bound on High-Density Lipoprotein Is Associated With Lower Risk for Cardiac Death in Stable Coronary Artery Disease Patients A 3-Year Follow-Up

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to examine the prognostic value of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) associated with high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (HDL-Lp-PLA2) in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD).BackgroundLp-PLA2 is a novel risk factor for cardiovascular disease. It has been postulated that the role of Lp-PLA2 in atherosclerosis may depend on the type of lipoprotein with which it is associated.MethodsTotal plasma Lp-PLA2 and HDL-Lp-PLA2 mass and activity, lipids, and C-reactive protein were measured in 524 consecutive patients with stable CAD who were followed for a median of 34 months. The primary endpoint was cardiac death, and the secondary endpoint was hospitalization for acute coronary syndromes, myocardial revascularization, arrhythmic event, or stroke.ResultsFollow-up data were obtained from 477 patients. One hundred twenty-three patients (25.8%) presented with cardiovascular events (24 cardiac deaths, 47 acute coronary syndromes, 28 revascularizations, 22 arrhythmic events, and 2 strokes). Total plasma Lp-PLA2 mass and activity were predictors of cardiac death (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.013; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.005 to 1.021; p = 0.002; and HR: 1.040; 95% CI: 1.005 to 1.076; p = 0.025, respectively) after adjustment for traditional risk factors for CAD. In contrast, HDL-Lp-PLA2 mass and activity were associated with lower risk for cardiac death (HR: 0.972; 95% CI: 0.952 to 0.993; p = 0.010; and HR: 0.689; 95% CI: 0.496 to 0.957; p = 0.026, respectively) after adjustment for traditional risk factors for CAD.ConclusionsTotal plasma Lp-PLA2 is a predictor of cardiac death, while HDL-Lp-PLA2 is associated with lower risk for cardiac death in patients with stable CAD, independently of other traditional cardiovascular risk factors

The Effect of Exclusive Olive Oil Consumption on Successful Aging: A Combined Analysis of the ATTICA and MEDIS Epidemiological Studies

The consumption of dietary fats, which occur naturally in various foods, poses important impacts on health. The aim of this study was to elucidate the association of exclusive use of olive oil for culinary purposes with successful aging in adults aged >50 years old and residing in Greece. Use of olive oil in food preparation and bio-clinical characteristics of the Greek participants enrolled in the ATTICA (n = 1128 adults from Athens metropolitan area) and the MEDiterranean Islands Study (MEDIS) (n = 2221 adults from various Greek islands and Mani) studies, were investigated in relation to successful aging (SA). Participants were divided into the following three categories: (a) no olive oil consumption; (b) combined consumption of olive oil and other dietary fats; and (c) exclusive olive oil consumption. The SA was measured using the previously validated successful aging index (SAI). After adjusting for age, sex, and smoking habits, combined consumption of olive oil and other fats (vs. no olive oil use) was not significantly associated with SAI levels (p = 0.114). However, exclusive olive oil intake (vs. no use of olive oil) was significantly associated with SAI (p = 0.001), particularly among those aged older than 70 years. Therefore, the exclusive consumption of olive oil, as opposed to either combined or no olive oil consumption, beneficially impacts successful aging, particularly among individuals over 70 years of age. Primary public health prevention strategies should seek to encourage the enhanced adoption of such dietary practices in order to promote healthy aging and longevity

A case-control validation of Type D personality in Greek patients with stable coronary heart disease

BACKGROUND: Type D personality has been associated with a variety of emotional and social difficulties as well as with poor prognosis in patients with established coronary heart disease (CHD). We examined the psychometric properties and validity of the Type D Scale-14 (DS14) and the prevalence of Type D personality among Greek patients with CHD while taking into account demographic; clinical, such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia; as well as psychological variables such as depression, anxiety, and psychological stress. METHODS: Ninety-six patients with stable coronary heart disease and 80 healthy participants from the general population completed the Greek version of the DS14 and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). RESULTS: Cronbach's α coefficient for the negative affectivity (NA) and social inhibition (SI) subscales was 0.83 and 0.72 for the CHD and 0.88 and 0.76 for the control group, respectively. Internal-structural validity was assessed by a factor analysis (two-factor solution), and the factor structure of the original DS14 was replicated. Using the standardized cutoff point of NA ≥10 and SI ≥10, instead of the median scores, in order to have compatible results with the majority of studies, the prevalence of Type D personality was 51% for the CHD patients and 13% for the control group. Higher NA and SI were connected with higher anxiety, depression, and total psychological stress. Finally, more patients with CHD and Type D personality than those without were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes; however, no differences were observed in hypertension or hypercholesterolemia. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the Type D construct is reliable and valid in a Greek population. The prevalence of Type D personality was higher in patients with stable coronary heart disease than in people from the general population. The DS14 subscales were positively correlated with higher anxiety, depression, and total psychological stress. Regarding other CHD risk factors, only diabetes mellitus was found more frequently in CHD patients with Type D personality

Evaluating the glucose raising effect of established loci via a genetic risk score.

Recent genome-wide association studies have identified several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with glucose levels. We tested the hypothesis here whether the cumulative effect of glucose raising SNPs, assessed via a score, is associated with glucose levels. A total of 1,434 participants of Greek descent from the THISEAS study and 1,160 participants form the GOMAP study were included in this analysis. We developed a genetic risk score (GRS), based on the known glucose-raising loci, in order to investigate the cumulative effect of known glucose loci on glucose levels. In the THISEAS study, the GRS score was significantly associated with increased glucose levels (mmol/L) (β ± SE: 0.024 ± 0.004, P = 8.27e-07). The effect of the genetic risk score was also significant in the GOMAP study (β ± SE: 0.011 ± 0.005, P = 0.031). In the meta-analysis of the two studies both scores were significantly associated with higher glucose levels GRS: β ± SE: 0.019 ± 0.003, P = 1.41e-09. Also, variants at the SLC30A8, PROX1, MTNR1B, ADRA2A, G6PC2, LPIN3 loci indicated nominal evidence for association with glucose levels (p < 0.05). We replicate associations of the established glucose raising variants in the Greek population and confirm directional consistency of effects (binomial sign test p = 6.96e-05). We also demonstrate that the cumulative effect of the established glucose loci yielded a significant association with increasing glucose levels

Genome-wide association meta-analysis of fish and EPA plus DHA consumption in 17 US and European cohorts

Background Regular fish and omega-3 consumption may have several health benefits and are recommended by major dietary guidelines. Yet, their intakes remain remarkably variable both within and across populations, which could partly owe to genetic influences. Objective To identify common genetic variants that influence fish and dietary eicosapentaenoic acid plus docosahexaenoic acid (EPA+DHA) consumption. Design We conducted genome-wide association (GWA) meta-analysis of fish (n = 86,467) and EPA+DHA (n = 62,265) consumption in 17 cohorts of European descent from the CHARGE (Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology) Consortium Nutrition Working Group. Results from cohort-specific GWA analyses (additive model) for fish and EPA+DHA consumption were adjusted for age, sex, energy intake, and population stratification, and meta-analyzed separately using fixed-effect meta-analysis with inverse variance weights (METAL software). Additionally, heritability was estimated in 2 cohorts. Results Heritability estimates for fish and EPA+DHA consumption ranged from 0.13-0.24 and 0.12-0.22, respectively. A significant GWA for fish intake was observed for rs9502823 on chromosome 6: each copy of the minor allele (Freq(A) = 0.015) was associated with 0.029 servings/day (similar to 1 serving/month) lower fish consumption (P = 1.96x10(-8)). No significant association was observed for EPA+DHA, although rs7206790 in the obesity-associated FTO gene was among top hits (P = 8.18x10(-7)). Post-hoc calculations demonstrated 95% statistical power to detect a genetic variant associated with effect size of 0.05% for fish and 0.08% for EPA+DHA. Conclusions These novel findings suggest that non-genetic personal and environmental factors are principal determinants of the remarkable variation in fish consumption, representing modifiable targets for increasing intakes among all individuals. Genes underlying the signal at rs72838923 and mechanisms for the association warrant further investigation.Peer reviewe

Genome-wide association meta-analysis of fish and EPA+DHA consumption in 17 US and European cohorts

Background: Regular fish and omega-3 consumption may have several health benefits and are recommended by major dietary guidelines. Yet, their intakes remain remarkably variable both within and across populations, which could partly owe to genetic influences. Objective: To identify common genetic variants that influence fish and dietary eicosapentaenoic acid plus docosahexaenoic acid (EPA+DHA) consumption. Design: We conducted genome-wide association (GWA) meta-analysis of fish (n = 86, 467) and EPA +DHA (n = 62, 265) consumption in 17 cohorts of European descent from the CHARGE (Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology) Consortium Nutrition Working Group. Results from cohort-specific GWA analyses (additive model) for fish and EPA+DHA consumption were adjusted for age, sex, energy intake, and population stratification, and meta-analyzed separately using fixed-effect meta-analysis with inverse variance weights (METAL software). Additionally, heritability was estimated in 2 cohorts. Results: Heritability estimates for fish and EPA+DHA consumption ranged from 0.13