Factors affecting high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T elevation in Japanese metabolic syndrome patients

Arterial Stiffness Assessed by Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index

Arterial stiffness is an age-related disorder. In the medial layer of arteries, mechanical fracture due to fatigue failure for the pulsatile wall strain causes medial degeneration vascular remodeling. The alteration of extracellular matrix composition and arterial geometry result in structural arterial stiffness. Calcium deposition and other factors such as advanced glycation end product-mediated collagen cross-linking aggravate the structural arterial stiffness. On the other hand, endothelial dysfunction is a cause of arterial stiffness. The biological molecular mechanisms relating to aging are known to involve the progression of arterial stiffness. Arterial stiffness further applies stress on large arteries and also microcirculation. Therefore, it is closely related to adverse outcomes in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular system. Cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) is a promising diagnostic tool for evaluating arterial stiffness. The principle is based on stiffness parameter β, which is an index intended to assess the distensibility of carotid artery. Stiffness parameter β is a two-dimensional technique obtained from changes of arterial diameter by pulse in one section. CAVI applied the stiffness parameter β to all of the arterial segments between heart and ankle using pulse wave velocity. CAVI has been commercially available for a decade and the clinical data of its effectiveness has accumulated. The characteristics of CAVI differ from other physiological tests of arterial stiffness due to the independency from blood pressure at the time of examination. This review describes the pathophysiology of arterial stiffness and CAVI. Molecular mechanisms will also be covered.

Relationships Between Skin Autofluorescence and Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index in Japanese Male Patients With Metabolic Syndrome

Background

An autofluorescence (AF) reader can be used to noninvasively measure tissues that accumulated advanced glycation end-products to diagnose skin AF. This study aimed to clarify the clinical significance of skin AF as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in Japanese male patients with metabolic syndrome using the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) as a marker of arterial function.

Methods

This cross-sectional study enrolled 261 Japanese male patients with metabolic syndrome without history of cardiovascular disease (mean age, 58 ± 7 years (mean ± standard deviation)). Associations between skin AF and various clinical parameters including CAVI were examined.

Results

Skin AF was significantly positively correlated with CAVI (r = 0.40, P < 0.001). Furthermore, multiple regression analyses revealed that skin AF (β = 0.18, P = 0.002) was selected as an independent subordinate factor for CAVI. Meanwhile, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) as a marker of insulin resistance, smoking habits and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein as an inflammation marker were independent variables for either CAVI or skin AF as a subordinate factor. According to the receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis and results of previous reports that determined CAVI of ≥ 9.0 as a diagnostic criterion for vascular failure, skin AF of > 2.7 arbitrary unit is the optimal cut-off point for discriminating high CAVI (area under the curve = 0.718, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Findings in this study indicate that skin AF may be an important risk factor of cardiovascular disease in Japanese male patients with metabolic syndrome. In addition, the risk value of skin AF was considered as higher than 2.7 arbitrary unit. Further investigations in a large number of prospective studies, including intervention therapies, are required to validate the results in this study.

Prospective associations between cardiac stress, glucose dysregulation and executive cognitive function in Black men: The Sympathetic activity and Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Africans study

OBJECTIVE

Glucose dysregulation is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disease development through synaptic dysfunction resulting in cognitive decline. The aim of this study was to study the interplay between impaired glycaemic metabolism (hyperglycaemia and insulin resistance), cardiac stress (cardiac troponin T and N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide) and executive cognitive function prospectively, in a bi-ethnic sex cohort.

METHODS

Black and White teachers (N = 338, aged 20-63 years) from the Sympathetic activity and Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Africans study were monitored over a 3-year period. Fasting blood samples were obtained for cardiac troponin T, N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide, glycated haemoglobin and the homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance for insulin resistance. The Stroop colour-word conflict test was applied to assess executive cognitive function at baseline.

RESULTS

Over the 3-year period, Black men revealed constant high levels of cardiac troponin T (⩾4.2 ng/L), pre-diabetes (glycated haemoglobin > 5.7%) and insulin resistance (homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance >3). %Δ Glycated haemoglobin was associated with %Δ insulin resistance (p < 0.001) and increases in %ΔN-terminal brain natriuretic peptide (p = 0.02) in Black men only. In the latter, baseline Stroop colour-word conflict test was inversely associated with %Δ cardiac troponin T (p = 0.001) and %Δ insulin resistance levels (p = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Progressive myocyte stretch and chronic myocyte injury, coupled with glucose dysregulation, may interfere with processes related to interference control in Black men.

Cardiac biomarkers in diabetes mellitus: New dawn for risk stratification?

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains a leading cause of cardiovascular (CV) events and diseases worldwide. The aim of the review is to summarize our knowledge regarding clinical implementation of the biomarker-based strategy of the CV risk assessment in T2DM patient population. There is large body of evidence regarding use of the cardiac biomarkers to risk stratification at higher CV risk individuals who belongs to general population and cohort with established CV disease. Although T2DM patients have higher incidence of macrovascular and microvascular CV complications than the general population, whether cardiac biomarkers would be effective to risk stratification of the T2DM is not fully understood. The role of natriuretic peptides, galectin-3, interleukins, growth differentiation factor-15, as well as biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction are widely discussed. In conclusion, future directions, which associate with discovering of novel biomarkers and their best combinations to provide additional predictive information beyond other traditional CV risk factors, are discussed.

Clinical impact of skin autofluorescence on high-sensitivity troponin T in hypertensive patients

Background

Recent studies have reported the importance of high-sensitivity troponin T (hs-cTnT) or skin autofluorescence (AF) as a cardiovascular risk factor. However, little is known about the relationship between these two markers. The aim of this study was to clarify the clinical impact of skin AF on hs-cTnT in hypertensive patients, from the perspective of primary prevention of cardiovascular events.

Methods

In total, 457 outpatients on treatment for hypertension [182 men and 275 women; mean (± SD) age, 67 ± 13 y] and with no history of cardiovascular events were enrolled. Hs-cTnT levels and skin AF were measured using commercial devices, and relationships between hs-cTnT levels and various clinical parameters including skin AF were examined.

Results

Hs-cTnT was detected in 405 (88.6%) patients. Skin AF was significantly higher in patients with detectable hs-cTnT than in those without detectable hs-cTnT [2.6 ± 0.5 arbitrary units (AU) vs. 2.2 ± 0.5 AU, respectively, p < 0.001]. In patients with detectable hs-cTnT, there was a significantly positive correlation between skin AF and Log-hs-cTnT (r = 0.41, p < 0.001). Furthermore, multiple regression analysis revealed that skin AF was the strongest variable associated with Log-hs-cTnT as a subordinate factor (β = 0.30, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The results of this study indicate that skin AF is an important determining factor for hs-cTnT elevation in hypertensive patients with no history of cardiovascular events.

N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide and associated factors in the general working population: a baseline survey of the Uranosaki cohort study

Few data on clinical characteristics associated with N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) or the clinical value of measuring NT-proBNP in the working population are available. The aim of the present study was to investigate the levels of NT-proBNP and their association with clinical variables in the Japanese general working population by using baseline data from the Uranosaki cohort study. In the study, the plasma concentration of NT-proBNP and some biomarkers were measured in addition to the standard health checkups at the workplace. Questionnaires regarding health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) were also completed. A total of 2140 participants were enrolled in the study. Plasma levels of NT-proBNP were positively associated with age, female sex, systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, prevalent hypertension, smoking habit, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and prevalent proteinuria, and negatively associated with body mass index, lipid profiles except HDL-C, uric acid, renal function, and hemoglobin. Both the plasma concentration of high-molecular weight adiponectin and that of high-sensitivity troponin T were positively and independently associated with NT-proBNP. In addition, the HR-QOL score regarding sleep disorder was independently associated with NT-proBNP. Thus, we have obtained evidence that the plasma NT-proBNP is affected by several clinical variables in the general working population.

Arterial Velocity Pulse Index as a Novel Marker of Atherosclerosis Using Pulse Wave Analysis on High Sensitivity Troponin T in Hypertensive Patients

Background

The arterial velocity pulse index (AVI) is explored as a novel marker of atherosclerosis using pulse wave analysis in clinical settings. Recent clinical studies have reported that the level of high-sensitivity troponin T (hs-cTnT) is an important biomarker in hypertensive patients. The aim of this study was to clarify the impact of AVI on hs-cTnT in these patients.

Methods

This study enrolled 455 hypertensive outpatients (181 males and 274 females; mean age, 65 ± 11 years (mean ± standard deviation)) without a history of cardiovascular events. AVI and hs-cTnT levels were measured using a commercial device, and relations among various clinical parameters, including AVI and hs-cTnT, were examined.

Results

Hs-cTnT was detected in 405 patients (89.0%). AVI was significantly higher in patients with detectable hs-cTnT than in those without (28 ± 7 vs. 24 ± 8, respectively, P < 0.001). In patients with detectable hs-cTnT, there was a significant positive correlation between AVI and hs-cTnT (r = 0.42, P < 0.001). Furthermore, multiple regression analyses revealed that AVI was an independent variable when hs-cTnT was used as a subordinate factor. On the other hand, hs-cTnT age, Cornell electrocardiographic voltage, height, urinary albumin excretion, pulse rate, and derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites test were independent variables when AVI was used as a subordinate factor.

Conclusion

The results of this study indicate that AVI reflects features of arterial wave reflection and is an important factor for hs-cTnT elevation in hypertensive patients.