Association between serum phosphate, magnesium, calcium and aortic valve sclerosis: a propensity score-matched case-control study.

OBJECTIVES: Aortic valve sclerosis has been proposed to signify greater cardiovascular risk; the correlation between serum trace elements and aortic valve sclerosis has been reported. Therefore, an in-depth exploration of the risk factors for aortic valve sclerosis and early intervention may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. METHODS: In this study, Patients with aortic valve sclerosis and non-aortic valve sclerosis who underwent echocardiographic diagnosis in the People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region during the period from 2019 to 2021 were selected for this study. The correlation between aortic valve sclerosis and serum phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium levels was explored using the propensity score matching technique by pairing the two groups of patients 1:1. RESULTS: A total of 1,533 non-aortic valve sclerosis and 1,533 aortic valve sclerosis patients were included. Logistic regression analysis showed that serum magnesium [OR: 0.346; 95%CI: 0.227, 0.528] and serum calcium [OR: 7.022; 95%CI: 4.755, 10.369] were influential factors. Patients with low, intermediate, and high serum magnesium levels had a significantly lower risk of aortic valve sclerosis compared to patients with very low micronutrient levels (p < 0.05). Comparatively, patients with low or high serum calcium levels had an elevated risk of aortic valve sclerosis (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Serum magnesium may have a protective role against aortic valve sclerosis, while both low and high levels of serum calcium could be risk factor for the condition. These serum micronutrients may be indications of cardiovascular disease risk prediction or prevention, and more research is required.

TXLNG improves insulin resistance in obese subjects in vitro and in vivo by inhibiting ATF4 transcriptional activity.

Lipotoxicity contributes to insulin resistance and dysfunction of pancreatic ß-cells. Insulin promotes 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation and facilitates glucose entry into muscle, adipose, and other tissues. In this study, differential gene expression was analyzed using four datasets, and taxilin gamma (TXLNG) was the only shared downregulated gene in all four datasets. TXLNG expression was significantly reduced in obese subjects according to online datasets and in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced insulin-resistant (IR) mice according to experimental investigations. TXLNG overexpression significantly improved IR induced by HFD in mouse models by reducing body weight and epididymal adipose weight, decreasing mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory factors interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and reducing adipocyte size. High-glucose/high-insulin-stimulated adipocytes exhibited decreased TXLNG and increased signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4). IR significantly decreased glucose uptake, cell surface glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) levels, and Akt phosphorylation, while increasing the mRNA expression levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in adipocytes. However, these changes were significantly reversed by TXLNG overexpression, while they were exacerbated by TXLNG knockdown. TXLNG overexpression had no effect on ATF4 protein levels, while ATF4 overexpression increased ATF4 protein levels. Furthermore, ATF4 overexpression notably abolished the improvements in IR adipocyte dysfunction caused by TXLNG overexpression. In conclusion, TXLNG improves IR in obese subjects in vitro and in vivo by inhibiting ATF4 transcriptional activity.

Plasma VWF: Ag levels predict long-term clinical outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Background: A vital role in coronary artery disease is played by Von Willebrand factor (VWF), which serves as a bridge between platelets and the subendothelial matrix after vessel damage. The purpose of the study was to assess the validity of plasma VWF antigen (VWF: Ag) levels as a predictor of clinical outcomes after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods: Three hundred and seventy-four patients were studied following coronary angiography, including 209 patients suffering from acute myocardial infarction and 165 healthy participants. Coronary angiography was followed by measurement of plasma VWF: Ag levels. Over a 2-year follow-up period, major adverse cardiopulmonary and cerebrovascular events (MACEs) were the primary endpoint. All-cause mortality was investigated as a secondary endpoint. Results: When compared to controls, patients with AMI had mean plasma VWF: Ag levels that were ~1.63 times higher (0.860 ± 0.309 vs. 0.529 ± 0.258 IU/ml; P < 0.001). The plasma VWF: Ag levels were substantially higher in patients who experienced MACEs after myocardial infarction vs. those without MACEs (1.088 ± 0.253 vs. 0.731 ± 0.252 IU/ml; P < 0.001). For predicting long-term MACEs using the optimal cut-off value (0.7884 IU/ml) of VWF: Ag, ROC curve area for VWF: Ag was 0.847, with a sensitivity of 87.2% and a specificity of 66.3% (95%CI: 0.792-0.902; P = 0.001). Two-year follow-up revealed a strong link between higher plasma VWF: Ag levels and long-term MACEs. At the 2-year follow-up, multivariate regression analysis revealed an independent relationship between plasma VWF: Ag levels and MACEs (HR = 6.004, 95%CI: 2.987-12.070). Conclusion: We found evidence that plasma VWF: Ag levels were independent risk factors for AMI. Meanwhile, higher plasma VWF: Ag levels are associated with long-term MACEs in people with AMI.