A Family History of Stroke Is Associated with Increased Intima-Media Thickness in Young Ischemic Stroke - The Norwegian Stroke in the Young Study (NOR-SYS)

Premature Parental Cardiovascular Disease and Subclinical Disease Burden in the Offspring

Background Offspring of parents with premature cardiovascular disease (CVD) have an increased risk of developing subclinical and clinical CVD. It is unclear whether this association differs by vascular beds in the offspring or by the age cut points used to define premature parental CVD. Methods and Results Using 3 generations of Framingham Heart Study participants, we assessed prevalent coronary artery calcification, the progression of coronary artery calcification over 6.1 years (median), carotid intima media thickness and the ankle-brachial index in 1046 offspring of parents with premature CVD before age 70 years, in 1618 offspring with both parents free of CVD and in 923 offspring with parents with CVD after age 70 years. We used different age cut points (55, 60, 65, and 70 years) to define premature parental CVD. In multivariable-adjusted models, offspring of parents with premature CVD (onset before age 65 years) displayed greater odds for prevalent coronary artery calcification (odds ratio [OR], 1.81; 95% CI, 1.35-2.43), higher carotid intima media thickness (OR, 1.50; 95% CI, 0.92-2.44) and lower ankle-brachial index (OR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.00-3.58). These associations were generally consistent across different age cut points used to define premature parental CVD. The association with the progression of coronary artery calcification was less consistent. Conclusions Parental premature CVD is associated with increased subclinical CVD burden in the offspring, with consistent relations across different vascular beds and for different age cut points used to define premature parental CVD. Future studies should evaluate whether screening for subclinical CVD traits is warranted in offspring with premature parental CVD.

Young ischaemic stroke incidence and demographic characteristics - The Norwegian stroke in the young study - A three-generation research program

INTRODUCTION

Norwegian Stroke in the Young Study (NOR-SYS) is a three-generation research program of young ischaemic stroke. In this study, we assessed ischaemic stroke incidence, education and work status among young stroke patients. Furthermore, we evaluated the participation of family members for future validated information on hereditary cardiovascular events.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients aged 15-60 years with radiologically verified acute ischaemic stroke, admitted to Haukeland University Hospital in Bergen, Norway from 2010 to 2015, were included. Patients' partners, common offspring ≥ 18 years and biological parents of patients and partners were invited to participate. Ischaemic stroke incidence was analysed with respect to year, age and sex using multiple logistic regression.

RESULTS

A total of 385 patients, 260 partners (80.0%) and 414 offspring (74.6%) were clinically examined. The mean annual ischaemic stroke incidence rate was 30.2 per 100,000. Incidence was higher in men, and the difference was accentuated with increasing age (p = 0.008). There was no sex difference in educational status (p = 0.104) in contrast to work status (p < 0.001) for patients. In all, 84.1% of men worked, and of these, 80.3% are fulltime. In all, 74.4% of women worked, and of these, 52.9% are fulltime. Parents participated by returning a questionnaire. For patients, 91 fathers (55.2%) and 142 mothers (57.3%) participated. For partners, 48 fathers (38.4%) and 68 mothers (40.2%) participated.

CONCLUSION

The mean annual incidence rate of young stroke was 30.2 per 100,000, and the incidence rate was higher in men. Work status was high among both sexes. Active participation rates were high for patients, partners and offspring.

A functional variant rs12904 in the miR-200c binding site was associated with a decreased risk of ischemic stroke

Genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified chromosome 12p13 rs12425791 and rs11833579 as susceptibility loci of ischemic stroke (IS) in a European population. However, conflicting results were obtained in subsequent replication analysis. miR-200c, located on chromosome 12p13, was found to have a neuroprotective effect on ischemia. Our aim of this study was to investigate the association of the rs12425791, rs11833579 and rs12904 in the binding site of miR-200c with the risk of IS. The rs12425791, rs11833579, and rs12904 were genotyped using a TaqMan allelic discrimination assay. The results were verified by Sanger sequencing. We found that the rs12904 AG/GG genotypes and G allele were associated with a decreased risk of IS (AG/GG vs. AA: adjusted OR = 0.64; 95% CI, 0.44-0.95; G vs. A: adjusted OR = 0.65; 95% CI, 0.46-0.93). The combined genotypes of the rs11833579AG/AA and rs12904AG/GG were also associated with a reduced risk of IS (OR = 0.65; 95% CI, 0.46-0.93). These findings suggest that the rs12904 may have a jointly protective effect against the risk of IS.

Nonlinear model for the carotid artery disease 10-year risk prediction by fusing conventional cardiovascular factors to carotid ultrasound image phenotypes: A Japanese diabetes cohort study

MOTIVATION

This study presents a novel nonlinear model which can predict 10-year carotid ultrasound image-based phenotypes by fusing nine traditional cardiovascular risk factors (ethnicity, gender, age, artery type, body mass index, hemoglobin A1c, hypertension, low-density lipoprotein, and smoking) with five types of carotid automated image phenotypes (three types of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), wall variability, and total plaque area).

METHODOLOGY

Two-step process was adapted: First, five baseline carotid image-based phenotypes were automatically measured using AtheroEdge^™ (AtheroPoint^™ , CA, USA) system by two operators (novice and experienced) and an expert. Second, based on the annual progression rates of cIMT due to nine traditional cardiovascular risk factors, a novel nonlinear model was adapted for 10-year predictions of carotid phenotypes.

RESULTS

Institute review board (IRB) approved 204 Japanese patients' left/right common carotid artery (407 ultrasound scans) was collected with a mean age of 69 ± 11 years. Age and hemoglobin were reported to have a high influence on the 10-year carotid phenotypes. Mean correlation coefficient (CC) between 10-year carotid image-based phenotype and age was improved by 39.35% in males and 25.38% in females. The area under the curves for the 10-year measurements of five phenotypes IMT_ave10yr , IMT_max10yr , IMT_min10yr , IMTV_10yr , and TPA_10yr were 0.96, 0.94, 0.90, 1.0, and 1.0. Inter-operator variability between two operators showed significant CC (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

A nonlinear model was developed and validated by fusing nine conventional CV risk factors with current carotid image-based phenotypes for predicting the 10-year carotid ultrasound image-based phenotypes which may be used risk assessment.