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Aim: To assess the relationship of cardiovascular risk factors (CRFs) with carotid intima media thickness (IMT) in adolescents with a parental history of premature coronary artery disease (PCAD). Methods: This cross-sectional study included 50 healthy adolescents, aged 14–18 years, both sexes, with a parental history of PCAD, that were compared to 50 controls without this history. Questionnaires regarding information of CRFs were applied. Blood chemistry analyses, included lipid profile, lipoprotein (a), low density lipoprotein (LDL) susceptibility to oxidation, and inflammatory cytokine levels. The IMT was evaluated by ultrasound. Results: The mean age of all participants was 15.9 years. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, and lipid profile were similar in both groups. However, the parental history of PCAD group exhibited lower high density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations, shorter LDL particle oxidation time, and higher lipoprotein (a) levels compared to the control group. IMT was significantly higher in adolescents with a parental history of PCAD compared to controls, (0.53 ± 0.04 mm vs 0.47 ± 0.02 mm, p = 0.001). Among adolescents with a parental history of PCAD, those with ≥ 3 CRFs had significantly higher IMT values (0.56 mm) than those with < 3 CRFs (0.52 mm) and controls (0.48 mm). Multivariable analyses identified that systolic blood pressure and parental history of PCAD explained 26.8% and 16.1% of the variation in IMT. Furthermore, body mass index, LDL-C, ApoB-100, triglycerides and lipoprotein (a) interact with blood pressure levels to explain the IMT values. Conclusion: Adolescents with a parental history of PCAD had higher IMT values than the control group, primary explained by systolic blood pressure and the parental inheritance. Adolescents with parental history of PCAD and ≥ 3 CRFs exhibited the highest IMT values. Notably, lipids and systolic blood pressure jointly contribute to explain IMT in these adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: The effect of ABCA1 genetic variation on HDL-C levels has been widely documented, although studies in children are scarce. We recently found a frequent non-synonymous ABCA1 variant (R230C) exclusive to populations with Native American ancestry, associated with low HDL-C levels and other metabolic traits in adults. Methods: We genotyped R230C variant in 1253 healthy unrelated Mexican school-aged children aged 6–15years (595 boys and 658 girls) to seek associations with HDL-C levels and other metabolic traits. HDL subclass distribution was analyzed in a subgroup of 81 age, gender and BMI-matched children. Results: Individuals carrying the C230 allele showed a significantly lower HDL-C levels (P =2.9×10−8), and higher TC/HDL-C ratio, BMI, BMI z-score and percent fat mass (P =0.001, 0.049, 0.032 and 0.039, respectively). HDL size was smaller in R230C heterozygotes as compared to R230R homozygotes (P <0.05). Moreover, the proportion of HDL2b was lower, while the proportion of HDL3a and HDL3b particles was higher in R230C heterozygous and/or C230C homozygous individuals as compared to R230R homozygotes (P <0.05). Conclusions: Our data suggest that the R230C ABCA1 gene variant plays an important role in HDL-C level regulation and HDL subclass distribution in healthy Mexican school-aged children. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Microalbuminuria is an early marker of atherosclerosis. Ethnic differences for both conditions have been reported. We studied microalbuminuria prevalence and its association with coronary artery calcification as an early atherosclerosis marker in a Mexican-Mestizo population free of diabetes and hypertension (healthy), as well as in hypertensive and diabetic subjects., Methods: In 1,472 adults (53.3 ± 9.4 years old, 50.3% women), anthropometric measurements, fasting blood glucose, and lipid profile were determined. A spot urine sample was used to quantify the albumin-to-creatinine ratio and to define microalbuminuria (20-200 mg/g in men, and 30-300 mg/g in women). A coronary artery calcification score was obtained by electron-beam computed tomography and subclinical atherosclerosis was defined as a score > 0., Results: Overall microalbuminuria prevalence was 9.3% (5.4% in healthy, 11.6% in obese, 12% in hypertensive, and 25% in diabetic subjects). Compared to "healthy" subjects without microalbuminuria, those with microalbuminuria had a ∼3-fold higher prevalence of coronary artery calcification > 0, while normal-high albumin-to-creatinine ratio (OR: 1.8; p < 0.05) and microalbuminuria (OR: 2.6; p < 0.001) was independently associated with coronary artery calcification > 0 only among diabetic subjects., Conclusions: Microalbuminuria and high-normal albumin-to-creatinine ratio were independently associated with subclinical atherosclerosis, suggesting that they may confer a higher risk of future cardiovascular events.

Background and Rationale: Fatty liver (FL) and abdominal visceral fat (AVF) are strongly associated with systemic inflammation, however, it has not been defined if each one is independently involved, and if the insulin resistance is associated. To investigate if FL, AVF and insulin resistance are independently or additively associated with the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in subjects without coronary artery disease we included 491 men and 553 women., Material and Methods: All had anthropometric and plasma biochemical measurements, FL and AVF assessments by computed tomography., Results: The FL prevalence was 35.6% in men and 28.0% in women, p < 0.01. The prevalence of obesity, metabolic syndrome and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was significantly higher in FL compared to non FL subjects. FL and AVF accounted for 21 and 17%, respectively, to hs-CRP plasma levels. FL, AVF ≥ P75 and HOMA-IR ≥ P75 were independently and additively associated with plasma hs-CRP. The risk of hs-CRP ≥ 3 mg/L increased progressively in men from 1.36 (0.5-3.86) through 3.58 (1.32-9.7) in those with 1 or 3 factors respectively. In women from 2.25 (1.2-4.2) to 4.67 (2.3-9.4), respectively. In conclusion, both the FL and hs-CRP ≥ 3 mg/L occur in 1 of every 3 non CAD subjects. In men, FL and AVF ≥ P75 were associated with 3.6 times the risk of hs-CRP ≥ 3 mg/L, while in women, these factors were independently and additively associated with a 4.7 times higher risk of systemic inflammation.

The CLEC16A gene has an important role in the immune activation and regulation inflammatory. This gene encodes to C-type lectin domain that is involved in the recognition of DAMPS. The aim of this study was assess the CLEC16A gene polymorphisms in the risk of developing ACS in a group of patients. Four rs12708716, rs12917716, rs6498142 and rs9925481 (positions 146529 A>G, 155804 G>C, 47905 C>G and 64135 C>T, respectively) single nucleotide polymorphisms of CLEC16A gene were analyzed by TaqMan assays in a group of 452 patients with ACS and 456 healthy controls. The analysis was performed on the total group of individuals and then in groups of men and women separately. Under co-dominant model adjusted by cardiovascular risk factors the rs12708716 (146529 A>G) and rs12917716 (155804 G>C) polymorphisms were significantly associated with decrease risk of ACS in men (OR=0.16, PCo-dom=0.027 and OR=0.37, PCo-dom=0.016, respectively). In summary, our data suggests that two polymorphisms of the CLEC16A gene play an important role in the developing of ACS in men., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate high-density lipoprotein functionality and the cardiovascular risk factor profile in the overweight pediatric population. We hypothesized that overweight adolescents with low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and elevated triglyceride plasma levels have metabolic abnormalities and dysfunctional high-density lipoprotein particles, similar to those reported in adults., Patients and Methods: Overweight adolescents with (group 1 [n = 21]) and without (group 2 [n = 36]) atherogenic dyslipidemia (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol: ≤ 40 mg/dL and triglycerides: ≥ 150 mg/dL) and normal-weight normolipidemic subjects, as a reference (group 3 [n = 36]), were included. The cardiovascular risk factor profile (lipids, lipoproteins, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and insulin), high-density lipoprotein subclass distribution, composition, and cholesterol efflux capacity were studied., Results: Group 1 adolescents showed abnormalities in high-density lipoprotein subclass distribution and high-density lipoprotein chemical composition, as well as a significantly lower capacity to promote cholesterol efflux (14.8 ± 2.8, 16.5 ± 3.8, 20.4 ± 3.5, for groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively). High-density lipoprotein(2a) (R(2) = 0.212, β = 0.472, P < .0001) and the Tanner score (R(2) = 0.054, β = -0.253, P = .02) were the independent predictors of cholesterol efflux. Group 1 also showed a higher degree of cardiovascular abnormalities (an adverse lipoprotein profile, greater insulin resistance and systemic inflammation; and lower low-density lipoprotein size) than group 2, even after BMI and Tanner score adjustment., Conclusions: This study suggests that atherogenic dyslipidemia identifies overweight adolescents with quantitative, qualitative, and functional high-density lipoprotein abnormalities. Atherogenic dyslipidemia seems to be a marker of an increased risk for developing cardiovascular disease and indicates that those adolescents should be a target of aggressive prevention programs and lipid management guidelines.

We tested whether low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and/or high triglycerides are associated to abnormal HDL subclasses distribution and composition, and their relationships with fasting insulin and C-reactive protein (CRP). Four groups of adolescents were studied: group 1 (HDL-C< or =35 mg/dl+TG> or =150 mg/dl; n=16); group 2 (isolated HDL-C< or =35 mg/dl; n=31); group 3 (isolated TG> or =150 mg/dl; n=20); and group 4 (CT<200 mg/dl, HDL-C>35 mg/dl, LDL-C<130 mg/dl, and TG<150 mg/dl; n=39). Tanner score-adjusted proportions of large subspecies (HDL(2b), HDL(2a)) were lower, and small (HDL(3b), HDL(3c)) were higher in groups 1, 2 and 3 than in group 4. As a result, HDL particle size in the three dyslipidemic groups was smaller than in group 4 (p<0.001). HDL CE, FC, PL, and apo AI percent contents were lower, whereas HDL TG percent content was higher in groups 1, 2 and 3 compared to group 4. CRP median values were also significantly higher in the three groups with dyslipidemia than in normolipidemic subjects (group 4). Fasting Insulin concentration and HOMA-IR were significantly higher in group 1 than in the other three groups. In stepwise multivariate analysis HDL subclass distribution and composition were independently associated only with HDL-C and waist circumference. As reported in adults, adolescents with low HDL-C and/or high TG have abnormalities in HDL subclasses distribution and lipid composition, which may render their HDL dysfunctional. In addition, these subjects have high CRP and insulin levels suggesting the presence of chronic low-grade inflammation.