The aim of this study was to investigate whether the omega-3 fatty acids help to improve erectile function in an atherosclerosis-induced erectile dysfunction rat model. A total of 20 male Sprague-Dawley rats at age 8 weeks were divided into three groups: Control group (n = 6, untreated sham operated rats), Pathologic group (n = 7, untreated rats with chronic pelvic ischemia [CPI]), and Treatment group (n = 7, CPI rats treated with omega-3 fatty acids). For the in vivo study, electrical stimulation of the cavernosal nerve was performed and erectile function was measured in all groups. Immunohistochemical antibody staining was performed for transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and hypoxia inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α). In vivo measurement of erectile function in the Pathologic group showed significantly lower values than those in the Control group, whereas the Treatment group showed significantly improved values in comparison with those in the Pathologic group. The results of western blot analysis revealed that systemically administered omega-3 fatty acids ameliorated the cavernosal molecular environment. Our study suggests that omega-3 fatty acids improve intracavernosal pressure and have a beneficial role against pathophysiological consequences such as fibrosis or hypoxic damage on a CPI rat model, which represents a structural erectile dysfunction model.
Animals ; Atherosclerosis/*complications ; Blotting, Western ; Carotid Arteries/physiology ; Chronic Disease ; Disease Models, Animal ; Electric Stimulation ; Fatty Acids, Omega-3/*pharmacology ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/metabolism ; Ischemia/etiology/*pathology ; Male ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III/metabolism ; Penile Erection/*drug effects ; Penis/metabolism/pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1/metabolism

Atherosclerosis is a chronic progressive inflammatory disorder and the leading cause of cardiovascular mortality. Here we assessed the dynamic changes of T-cell-derived cytokines, such as inteferon (IFN)-gamma, interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-4, during the progression of atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-null (ApoE(-/-)) mice, to understand the role of immune responses in different stages of atherosclerosis. Male ApoE(-/-) mice were fed a high-fat, western-type diet (WD: 21% lipid, 1.5% cholesterol) after 5 weeks of age and were compared with C57BL/6 wild-type control mice fed a standard chow diet. Atherosclerotic lesions appeared in the aortic sinus of ApoE(-/-) mice 4 weeks after WD and the lesions progressed and occupied >50% of the total sinus area 16 weeks after WD. Aortic IL-17 mRNA and protein expression started to increase in ApoE(-/-) mice after 4 weeks on the WD and peaked at around 8-12 weeks on the WD. In terms of systemic expression of T-cell-derived cytokines, IL-17 production from splenocytes after anti-CD3/CD28 stimuli increased from 4 weeks on the WD, peaked at 12 weeks and returned to control levels at 16 weeks. The production of IFN-gamma and IL-4 (Th1 and Th2 cytokines, respectively) from splenocytes was delayed compared with IL-17. Taken together, the present data indicate that Th17 cell response may be involved at an early stage in the development of atherosclerosis.
Animals ; Aorta/metabolism/*pathology ; Apolipoproteins E/*genetics ; Atherosclerosis/etiology/*genetics/immunology/*pathology ; Diet, High-Fat/adverse effects ; Gene Deletion ; Interferon-gamma/genetics ; Interleukin-17/*genetics/immunology ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; T-Lymphocytes/immunology/metabolism/pathology ; Up-Regulation

Atherosclerosis is a chronic progressive inflammatory disorder and the leading cause of cardiovascular mortality. Here we assessed the dynamic changes of T-cell-derived cytokines, such as inteferon (IFN)-gamma, interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-4, during the progression of atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-null (ApoE(-/-)) mice, to understand the role of immune responses in different stages of atherosclerosis. Male ApoE(-/-) mice were fed a high-fat, western-type diet (WD: 21% lipid, 1.5% cholesterol) after 5 weeks of age and were compared with C57BL/6 wild-type control mice fed a standard chow diet. Atherosclerotic lesions appeared in the aortic sinus of ApoE(-/-) mice 4 weeks after WD and the lesions progressed and occupied >50% of the total sinus area 16 weeks after WD. Aortic IL-17 mRNA and protein expression started to increase in ApoE(-/-) mice after 4 weeks on the WD and peaked at around 8-12 weeks on the WD. In terms of systemic expression of T-cell-derived cytokines, IL-17 production from splenocytes after anti-CD3/CD28 stimuli increased from 4 weeks on the WD, peaked at 12 weeks and returned to control levels at 16 weeks. The production of IFN-gamma and IL-4 (Th1 and Th2 cytokines, respectively) from splenocytes was delayed compared with IL-17. Taken together, the present data indicate that Th17 cell response may be involved at an early stage in the development of atherosclerosis.
Animals ; Aorta/metabolism/*pathology ; Apolipoproteins E/*genetics ; Atherosclerosis/etiology/*genetics/immunology/*pathology ; Diet, High-Fat/adverse effects ; Gene Deletion ; Interferon-gamma/genetics ; Interleukin-17/*genetics/immunology ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; T-Lymphocytes/immunology/metabolism/pathology ; Up-Regulation

Atherosclerosis ; complications ; pathology ; Blood Platelets ; physiology ; Humans ; Platelet Activation ; Thrombosis ; etiology ; pathology

BACKGROUNDPatients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS) are in substantial risk of cardiovascular adverse events. We investigated whether myocardial infarction patients with ARAS are in additional risk of cardiovascular events.

METHODSIn this retrospective study, 257 patients with type 1 myocardial infarction were enrolled. Median follow-up was 42 months. Composite endpoint events are analyzed by definitions of ARAS as ≥ 50% or ≥ 70% diameter stenosis.

RESULTSDefining ARAS as ≥ 70% diameter stenosis, ARAS was a significant predictor for composite endpoint events including death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, ischaemic stroke and intracranial haemorrhage, rehospitalisation for cardiac failure (HR: 4.381; 95% CI: 1.770-10.842) by Cox regression analysis, but not for death. Diabetes mellitus was also a significant predictor for composite endpoint events (HR: 2.756; 95% CI: 1.295-5.863). However, defining ARAS ≥ 50% diameter stenosis, ARAS was no longer a significant predictor for composite endpoint events or death.

CONCLUSIONSAlthough not associated with mortality, ARAS ≥ 70% is associated with major adverse cardiac events after acute myocardial infarction. For prognosis, ≥ 70% diameter stenosis is a more appropriate criteria for ARAS definition than ≥ 50% diameter stenosis.

Atherosclerosis ; pathology ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; etiology ; Diabetes Complications ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; complications ; Renal Artery Obstruction ; complications ; pathology ; Retrospective Studies

Atherosclerosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; pathology ; therapy

BACKGROUNDMultiple neonatal characteristics and adult cardiovascular risk factors are associated with the development of atherosclerosis, however little conclusive evidence exists characterizing the relative strength of these factors. In a large retrospective study, we investigated the association between both objective neonatal measurements and comprehensive adult cardiovascular risk factors with the development of atherosclerosis, quantified by carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT). Further, we assessed the impact of gender on the relative impact of these risk factors.

METHODSCIMT, a measure of atherosclerosis, was determined by carotid ultrasound on 1568 participants (age 50-85) whose birth records were obtained from Peking Union Medical College Hospital. In addition, each participant was given a physical examination, and completed a medical questionnaire to identify a panel of cardiovascular risk factors. Multiple regression analysis was performed on the population and on the male and female cohorts individually, to identify the relative contribution of these risk factors to increased CIMT.

RESULTSFor the total population the Framingham score, renal function, adult abdominal circumference and mother's gestational age were associated with CIMT, accounting for 14.7%, 1.4%, 0.9%, and 0.2% of total variance, respectively. In the male population the Framingham score, renal function, abdominal circumference and hemoglobin were the most significant risk factors for CIMT. Risk in the female population was associated with Framingham score, renal function, insulin resistance and gestational age. No relationship between birth weight or head circumference and CIMT were observed.

CONCLUSIONSAdult cardiovascular risk factors were the most significantly associated with the development of atherosclerosis; however mother's age at birth was associated with CIMT, particularly in the female cohort. The relative contribution of the risk factors analyzed varied between the male and female populations.

Adult ; Aged ; Atherosclerosis ; etiology ; Birth Weight ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; etiology ; Carotid Arteries ; pathology ; China ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Maternal Age ; Middle Aged ; Pregnancy ; Risk Factors ; Sex Characteristics ; Tunica Intima ; pathology ; Tunica Media ; pathology

Atherosclerosis ; etiology ; pathology ; Coronary Angiography ; Humans ; Myocardial Bridging ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo analyze the correlation between myocardial ischemia and carotid atherosclerosis in hypertensive patients.

METHODSThe clinical data were collected from 85 hospitalized hypertensive patients admitted between May 2005 and September 2008 without the complication of coronary artery disease as confirmed by cardiac computed tomographic angiography (CTA). According to the results of treadmill exercise test, the patients were divided myocardial ischemia group and ischemia-free group. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to screen the risk factors of myocardial ischemia. The correlations were analyzed between myocardial ischemia, common carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), Crouse score of the carotid plaque, thickness of the intraventricular septum and left artrium. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of IMT and Crouse score in predicting the presence of myocardial ischemia in hypertensive patients.

RESULTSCarotid plaque formation was identified as the major risk factor of myocardial ischemia in hypertensive patients (OR=4.982, P=0.004). The incidence of myocardial ischemia in the hypertensive patients with carotid plaques was significantly higher than that in the patients without the plaque (Chi2=9.317, P=0.002). Myocardial ischemia in hypertensive patients was positively correlated to the thickness of the intraventricular septum (r=0.362, P=0.001) and left artrium (r=0.298, P=0.009), and the IMT of the common carotid artery was positively correlated to the thickness of the intraventricular septum (r=0.231, P=0.045). The area under cure (AUC) of the ROC curve of Crouse score was 0.726-/+0.061 in predicting the presence of myocardial ischemia in the hypertensive patients (P=0.001), and that of IMT was 0.682-/+0.061 (P=0.006).

CONCLUSIONCarotid plaque formation is the major risk factor of myocardial ischemia in hypertensive patients and shows a positive correlation to the onset of myocardial ischemia, but both the common carotid artery IMT and the Crouse score of the carotid plaque are not accurate markers for predicting myocardial ischemia in patients with hypertension.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Atherosclerosis ; complications ; pathology ; Carotid Artery, Common ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Coronary Angiography ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Myocardial Ischemia ; etiology ; pathology ; Risk Factors ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVES: The effect of meat consumption on cardiometabolic risk has been continuously studied, but their associations are not conclusive. The aim of this study is to examine the association between the consumption of meat or red meat and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in healthy Korean adults. METHODS: This study evaluated 2374 community-dwelling adults (933 men and 1441 women) who were free of cardiovascular disease or cancer, living in a rural area in Korea. Total meat and red meat intakes were assessed with a validated 103 item-food frequency questionnaire. Carotid IMT was evaluated ultrasonographically, IMTmax was defined as the highest value among IMT of bilateral common carotid arteries. RESULTS: After adjustment for potential confounding factors, the mean IMTmax tended to increase in higher meat consumption groups in both men and women with metabolic syndrome (p for trend= 0.027 and 0.049, respectively), but not in participants without metabolic syndrome. Frequent meat consumption (> or =5 servings/week) was significantly associated with higher IMTmax in men with metabolic syndrome (by 0.08 mm, p=0.015). Whereas, the association was not significant in women (by 0.05 mm, p=0.115). Similar but attenuated findings were shown with red meat intake. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that a higher meat consumption may be associated with a higher carotid IMT in Korean adults with metabolic syndrome. The frequent meat consumption (> or =5 servings/week), compared with the others, was associated with a higher carotid IMTmax only in men with metabolic syndrome. Further research is required to explore optimal meat consumption in people with specific medical conditions.
Adult ; Aged ; Atherosclerosis/etiology/*pathology ; Carotid Arteries/*pathology/ultrasonography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Meat/*adverse effects ; Metabolic Syndrome X/complications/*pathology/ultrasonography ; Middle Aged ; Republic of Korea ; Risk Factors ; Tunica Intima/pathology/ultrasonography ; Tunica Media/*pathology/ultrasonography