ABSTRACT
Circulating serum miRNA are increasingly used as biomarkers and potential treatment targets in several clinical scenarios, including cardiovascular diseases. However, the current data on circulating miRNA in thoracic aorta aneurism (TAA) patients are inconclusive. The aim of the present study is to compare the levels of several circulating miRNA in patients with degenerative TAA, coronary artery disease (CAD), and controls for special profile identification. We have identified several candidates for the role of new biomarkers: miR-143-3p, miR-181-5p, miR-126-3p, miR-126-5p, miR-145-5p, miR-150-5p, and miR-195-5p. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum samples of 100 patients were analyzed, including 388 TAA patients scheduled for elective surgery, 67 patients with stable CAD and 17 controls, were used for miRNA isolation and identification. RESULTS: More specific for TAA with very high predictive ability in ROC analysis was an increase in the levels of miR-21-5p, miR-29b-5p, miR-126-5p/-3p, miR-181b-5p, and miR-92a-3p, with the latter microRNA being investigated as a novel potential marker of TAA for the first time. CONCLUSION: TAA and CAD patients demonstrated a significant increase in the levels of circulating miR-126-5p/-3p, miR-181b-5p, and miR-29b-3p. More specific for TAA with very high predictive ability in ROC analysis was an increase in the levels of miR-21-5p, -29b-5p, -126-5p/-3p, 181b-5p, and -92a-3p, with the latter microRNA being investigated as a potential marker of TAA for the first time.
ABSTRACT
Non-coding RNAs reflect many biological processes in the human body, including athero-sclerosis. In a cardiology outpatient department cohort (N = 83), we aimed to compare the levels of circulating microRNAs in groups with vulnerable plaques (N = 22), stable plaques (N = 23) and plaque-free (N = 17) depending on coronary computed tomography angiography and to evaluate associations of microRNA levels with calculated cardiovascular risks (CVR), based on the SCORE2 (+OP), ACC/AHA, ATP-III and MESA scales. Coronary computed tomography was performed on a 640-slice computed tomography scanner. Relative plasma levels of microRNA were assessed via a real-time polymerase chain reaction. We found significant differences in miR-143-3p levels (p = 0.0046 in plaque-free vs. vulnerable plaque groups) and miR-181b-5p (p = 0.0179 in stable vs. vulnerable plaques groups). Analysis of microRNA associations with CVR did not show significant differences for SCORE2 (+OP) and ATPIII scales. MiR-126-5p and miR-150-5p levels were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in patients with ACC/AHA risk >10% and miR-145-5p had linear relationships with ACC/AHA score (adjusted p = 0.0164). The relative plasma level of miR-195 was higher (p < 0.05) in patients with MESA risk > 7.5% and higher (p < 0.05) in patients with zero coronary calcium index (p = 0.036). A linear relationship with coronary calcium was observed for miR-126-3p (adjusted p = 0.0484). A positive correlation with high coronary calcium levels (> 100 Agatson units) was found for miR-181-5p (p = 0.036). Analyzing the biological pathways of these microRNAs, we suggest that miR-143-3p and miR-181-5p can be potential markers of the atherosclerosis process. Other miRNAs (miR-126-3p, 126-5p, 145-5p, 150-5p, 195-5p) can be considered as potential cardiovascular risk modifiers, but it is necessary to validate our results in a large prospective trial.
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to evaluate efficacy and applicability of the "intermittent hypoxic-hyperoxic exposures at rest" (IHHE) protocol as an adjuvant method for metabolic syndrome (MS) cardiometabolic components. A prospective, single-center, randomized controlled clinical study was conducted on 65 patients with MS subject to optimal pharmacotherapy, who were randomly allocated to IHHE or control (CON) groups. The IHHE group completed a 3-week, 5 days/week program of IHHE, each treatment session lasting for 45 min. The CON group followed the same protocol, but was breathing room air through a facial mask instead. The data were collected 2 days before, and at day 2 after the 3-week intervention. As the primary endpoints, systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure at rest, as well as arterial stiffness and hepatic tissue elasticity parameters, were selected. After the trial, the IHHE group had a significant decrease in SBP and DBP (Cohen's d = 1.15 and 0.7, p < 0.001), which became significantly lower (p < 0.001) than in CON. We have failed to detect any pre-post IHHE changes in the arterial stiffness parameters (judging by the Cohen's d), but after the intervention, cardio-ankle vascular indexes (RCAVI and LCAVI) were significantly lowered in the IHHE group as compared with the CON. The IHHE group demonstrated a medium effect (0.68; 0.69 and 0.71 Cohen's d) in pre-post decrease of Total Cholesterol (p = 0.04), LDL (p = 0.03), and Liver Steatosis (p = 0.025). In addition, the IHHE group patients demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in pre-post differences (deltas) of RCAVI, LCAVI, all antropometric indices, NTproBNP, Liver Fibrosis, and Steatosis indices, TC, LDL, ALT, and AST in comparison with CON (p = 0.001). The pre-post shifts in SBP, DBP, and HR were significantly correlated with the reduction degree in arterial stiffness (ΔRCAVI, ΔLCAVI), liver fibrosis and steatosis severity (ΔLFibr, ΔLS), anthropometric parameters, liver enzymes, and lipid metabolism in the IHHE group only. Our results suggested that IHHE is a safe, well-tolerated intervention which could be an effective adjuvant therapy in treatment and secondary prevention of atherosclerosis, obesity, and other components of MS that improve the arterial stiffness lipid profile and liver functional state in MS patients.
