Helda

Helsingin yliopisto

Helsingfors universitet

University of Helsinki

Browsing by Subject "PLAQUES"

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Coronary computed tomography angiography derived risk score in predicting cardiac events

Uusitalo, Valtteri; Kamperidis, Vasileios; de Graaf, Michiel A.; Maaniitty, Teemu; Stenstrom, Iida; Broersen, Alexander; Dijkstra, Jouke; Scholte, Arthur J.; Saraste, Antti; Bax, Jeroen J.; Knuuti, Juhani (2017)

Background: We evaluated the prognostic value of an integrated atherosclerosis risk score combining the markers of coronary plaque burden, location and composition as assessed by computed tomography angiography (CTA). Methods: 922 consecutive patients underwent CTA for suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). Patients without atherosclerosis (n = 261) and in whom quantitative CTA analysis was not feasible due to image quality, step-artefacts or technical factors related to image acquisition or data storage (n = 153) were excluded. Thus, final study group consisted of 508 patients aged 63 9 years. Coronary plaque location, severity and composition for each coronary segment were identified using automated CTA quantification software and integrated in a single CTA score (0-42). Adverse events (AE) including death, myocardial infarction (MI) and unstable angina (UA) were obtained from the national healthcare statistics. Results: There were a total of 20 (4%) AE during a median follow-up of 3.6 years (9 deaths, 5 MI and 6 UA). The CTA risk score was divided into tertiles: 0-6.7, 6.8-14.8 and > 14.8, respectively. All MI (n = 5) and most of the other AE occurred in the highest risk score tertile (3 vs. 3 vs. 14, p = 0.002). After correction for age and gender, the CTA risk score remained independently associated with AE. Conclusions: Comprehensive CIA risk score integrating the location, burden and composition of coronary atherosclerosis predicts future cardiac events in patients with suspected CAD. (C) 2017 Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
The Helicobacter cinaedi antigen CAIP participates in atherosclerotic inflammation by promoting the differentiation of macrophages in foam cells

D'Elios, Mario Milco; Vallese, Francesca; Capitani, Nagaja; Benagiano, Marisa; Bernardini, Maria Lina; Rossi, Mirko; Rossi, Gian Paolo; Ferrari, Mauro; Baldari, Cosima Tatiana; Zanotti, Giuseppe; de Bernard, Marina; Codolo, Gaia (2017)

Recent studies have shown that certain specific microbial infections participate in atherosclerosis by inducing inflammation and immune reactions, but how the pathogens implicated in this pathology trigger the host responses remains unknown. In this study we show that Helicobacter cinaedi (Hc) is a human pathogen linked to atherosclerosis development since at least 27% of sera from atherosclerotic patients specifically recognize a protein of the Hc proteome, that we named Cinaedi Atherosclerosis Inflammatory Protein (CAIP) (n = 71). CAIP appears to be implicated in this pathology because atheromatous plaques isolated from atherosclerotic patients are enriched in CAIP-specific T cells (10%) which, in turn, we show to drive a Th1 inflammation, an immunopathological response typically associated to atherosclerosis. Recombinant CAIP promotes the differentiation and maintenance of the pro-inflammatory profile of human macrophages and triggers the formation of foam cells, which are a hallmark of atherosclerosis. This study identifies CAIP as a relevant factor in atherosclerosis inflammation linked to Hc infection and suggests that preventing and eradicating Hc infection could reduce the incidence of atherosclerosis.