P3462IDO activity forecasts obesity in premenopausal females in 10-year follow-up study: the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study

Background

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is an intracellular enzyme that has an important immunomodulator function. Human inflammatory response promotes upregulation of IDO level in blood. This may lead to suppression of inflammation in atherosclerotic vessel wall and consequently may slow the progression of the disease. Previous studies have shown that IDO activity correlates with early signs of atherosclerosis especially in females but is not an atherosclerosis-specific marker.

Materials and methods

IDO levels were measured from females (n=544; age 24–39; weight 40.5–134.4 kg) in 2001 along with several risk factors for atherosclerosis. Follow-up risk factor measurements were performed in 2007 and 2011. Here we aimed to elucidate the relationship between IDO measurements from 2001 and several atherosclerotic risk factors from 2007 and 2011 by analyzing correlations and risk ratios from the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study patient cohort.

Results

After age standardization, IDO correlated significantly with BMI (p=0.0008), waist (p=0.0009) and logarithmically modified triglycerides (p=0.0488) and CRP (p=0.0014) in female samples (n=434) from 2007. When female samples (n=384) from 2011 were examined, statistically significant correlations were discovered in BMI and Waist in both unadjusted (p<0.0001 and 0.0003, respectively) and age-adjusted analysis (p=0.0007 and 0.006, respectively). In contrast, only weak correlations were found in male samples. In risk ratio analysis IDO promoted obesity (RR=1.027, p=0.01) in females (n=431) in 10-year follow-up study even after the data was adjusted for age, CRP and BMI.

Conclusions

It is concluded that IDO activity forecasts obesity – a well-characterized risk factor for diabetes and atherosclerosis – in premenopausal females.

Nine loci for ocular axial length identified through genome-wide association studies, including shared loci with refractive error

Refractive errors are common eye disorders of public health importance worldwide. Ocular axial length (AL) is the major determinant of refraction and thus of myopia and hyperopia. We conducted a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies for AL, combining 12,531 Europeans and 8,216 Asians. We identified eight genome-wide significant loci for AL (RSPO1, C3orf26, LAMA2, GJD2, ZNRF3, CD55, MIP, and ALPPL2) and confirmed one previously reported AL locus (ZC3H11B). Of the nine loci, five (LAMA2, GJD2, CD55, ALPPL2, and ZC3H11B) were associated with refraction in 18 independent cohorts (n = 23,591). Differential gene expression was observed for these loci in minus-lens-induced myopia mouse experiments and human ocular tissues. Two of the AL genes, RSPO1 and ZNRF3, are involved in Wnt signaling, a pathway playing a major role in the regulation of eyeball size. This study provides evidence of shared genes between AL and refraction, but importantly also suggests that these traits may have unique pathways.

Pre-eclampsia is a risk factor of carotid artery atherosclerosis

BACKGROUND

A history of pre-eclampsia has been shown to be associated with an increased risk of subsequent coronary artery disease. The intima-media thickness of carotid arteries and the detection of plaques are useful measures as regards preclinical atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to examine whether women with a history of pre-eclampsia more often show signs of atherosclerosis compared with 2 control groups.

METHODS

We used data from a large Finnish cross-sectional health examination survey. We had women with previous pre-eclampsia (n = 35) or pregnancy-induced hypertension (n = 61) and 2 control groups. Laboratory tests and physical examination were performed. Information on reproductive and medical history was obtained at the home interview. Carotid atherosclerosis was assessed by ultrasonography.

RESULTS

The women with previous pre-eclampsia had significantly (p = 0.008) more atherosclerotic plaques than the healthy parous controls. The intima-media thickness in the women with previous pre-eclampsia also tended to be higher than in the other groups, although the differences did not reach statistical significance. In logistic regression analysis, advanced age (OR: 1.08; 95% CI: 1.04-1.13; p < 0.001) and pre-eclampsia (OR: 3.63; 95% CI: 1.50-8.79; p = 0.004) were independent risk factors as regards plaque, and in linear regression analysis advanced age (estimate: 0.012; 95% CI: 0.010-0.014; p < 0.001), HDL cholesterol (estimate: -0.049; 95% CI: -0.088 to -0.010; p = 0.013), systolic blood pressure, BMI (estimate: 0.005; 95% CI: 0.000-0.009; p = 0.043) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (estimate: -0.003; 95% CI: -0.007 to -0.000; p = 0.048) were independent risk factors with respect to intima-media thickness.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that pre-eclampsia is an independent risk factor as regards developing plaque later in life.

The association between cigarette smoking and carotid intima-media thickness is influenced by the -930A/G CYBA gene polymorphism: the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study

BACKGROUND

Smoking-induced damage to the cardiovascular system has been shown in many studies; however, the degree of damage varies from individual to individual. We hypothesized that the -930A/G CYBA gene polymorphism in the NADPH oxidase influences the association between cigarette smoking and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in young healthy adults.

METHODS

Cross-sectional data obtained in 2001 for the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study were used. IMT was measured with ultrasound. The genotyping was performed using a 5'-nuclease assay. A linear regression model was used to test whether the interaction between smoking and the genotypes was associated with IMT. The magnitude of the interaction effect was further examined by performing a stratified analysis according to smoking habits.

RESULTS

In the entire population, the mean and maxima IMT were higher in smokers than nonsmokers (P = 0.005 and 0.008, respectively). The differences were most significant in subjects with the GG genotype, borderline significant for the GA genotype, and nonsignificant for the AA genotype. The interaction of genotypes with smoking was associated with mean and maximal IMT (P = 0.042 and 0.022). Among smokers, subjects with the GG genotype had a higher mean and maximal IMT compared with carriers of the A allele (P = 0.021 and 0.012). In contrast, the mean and maximal IMT were lower for G allele carriers than subjects with the AA genotype among nonsmokers (P = 0.022 and 0.026). All results had been adjusted for potential risk factors related to IMT.

CONCLUSION

The -930A/G polymorphism modifies the association between cigarette smoking and IMT in young healthy adults.

Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) has a role in regulating systemic vascular tone in young healthy subjects: the cardiovascular risk in young Finns study

BACKGROUND

This study was designed to evaluate whether plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) has any role in predicting hemodynamic responses in clinically healthy young subjects. ADMA, as an endogenous nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor, has been demonstrated to associate with hypertension and vascular reactivity in experimental but not undoubtedly in physiological settings.

METHODS

A total of 199 subjects aged 31.4 years (range 24-39 years) were studied. Plasma ADMA and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) were assessed by isocratic high-pressure liquid chromatography using precolumn derivatization with o-phtaldialdehyde at baseline. Blood pressure (BP) was measured by casual measurements in the beginning of the study and after a follow-up period of 2.45 +/- 0.42 years (range, 1.86-3.19 years). Hemodynamic regulation was assessed by noninvasive methods after a follow-up.

RESULTS

Plasma ADMA had a negative association with resting systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) (r = -0.23, P < 0.01) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) (r = -0.17, P < 0.05) and positive association with cardiac index (CI) (r = 0.21, P < 0.01) after the follow-up. Plasma ADMA had also negative association with responses of SVRI (r = -0.19, P < 0.01) and positive association with CI (r = 0.25, P < 0.001) in a hemodynamic reactivity test. In a multivariate linear model (R2 = 0.20, P < 0.00001), diastolic BP (R = 0.37, P < 0.00001) and ADMA (R = -0.20, P < 0.01) were significant predictors of SVRI.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that plasma ADMA seems to play a role in the regulation of vascular tone in young healthy subjects.

Influences of nonselective, beta(1)-selective and vasodilatory beta(1)-selective beta-blockers on arterial pulse wave velocity in normotensive subjects

beta-Adrenoceptor blockers with disparate properties may have differential influences on arterial pulse wave velocity (PWV). Therefore, influences of single medium doses of bisoprolol, propranolol and celiprolol on PWV were compared in healthy subjects. Arterial PWV was obtained from the time delay between flow pulses measured from the root of the aorta and the popliteal artery. Bisoprolol and propranolol decreased arterial PWV more than placebo (P less-than-or-equal to .002) and celiprolol (P<.0001). In conclusion, the acute effects of bisoprolol and propranolol on arterial PWV in normotensive subjects seem to differ from that of celiprolol.