Plasma angiopoietin-like protein 2 levels and mortality risk among younger-old Japanese people: a population-based case-cohort study

Aging is important medical and social problem. Excessive angiopoietin-like protein (ANGPTL)-2 signaling causes chronic tissue inflammation, promoting development and progression of aging-related diseases. Moreover, circulating ANGPTL2 levels reportedly predict risk of some aging-related diseases and subsequent death. However, there are as yet no reports of whether circulating ANGPTL2 levels predict vital prognosis in younger-old, community-dwelling populations. This study investigated associations between plasma ANGPTL2 levels and all-cause and specific-cause mortality in this population. The case-cohort study was abstracted from an on-going, age-specific prospective cohort study: the New Integrated Suburban Seniority Investigation Project. This project enrolled 3073 participants aged 64 years at the beginning of the investigation from 1996 through 2005. A sub-cohort of 714 randomly sampled participants plus 387 cases representing deceased participants followed through 2015 underwent survival analysis. Plasma ANGPTL2 concentrations were positively associated with >80% and 100% higher risk of all-cause mortality and cancer mortality, respectively, after adjustment for gender, smoking, alcohol consumption, walking time, sleep duration, caloric intake, medical status, disease history, BMI, and triglyceride, creatinine, uric acid, and high sensitivity C-reactive protein levels. More robust association between ANGPTL2 levels and all-cause and cancer mortality was seen in subjects with either frailties or with lifestyles of heavier drinking or current smoking. Elevated plasma ANGPTL2 levels are associated with high all-cause and cancer mortality in a community-dwelling sample of younger-old adults. These findings expand our knowledge of human aging and associated diseases.

Evaluation of C-reactive protein and magnesium level in migraine patients on pre and post prophylactic treatment

Migraine affects the day to day life of the sufferers with the symptoms of photophobia and phonophobia with pulsatile or non-pulsatile headache lasting from 1 to 4 hours. Prophylactic treatment or anti-migraine drugs were given to migraineurs to overcome the complications. C-reactive protein (CRP) and Magnesium level of symptomatic migraineurs, which act as biomarkers for the inflammatory cerebrovascular diseases before and after the treatment with Sodium Divalproex, Flunarizine and Propranolol. The evaluation of C-reactive protein and magnesium levels are noted along with symptoms when they first walk into the clinic. Treatment provided with Sodium Divalproex, Flunarizine and Propranolol for one month. After 1 month, the same tests are being performed. During the test at first instance, the values of pain scale were 31%, CRP value for negative were 20% and positive were 80% and pre-test of Serum magnesium level was 8.8% and at the second visit the pain scale reduced to 10.25%; CRP level was negative 25% and positive was 75%; Serum Magnesium was 9.35%. So, the significant values are being measured by the statistics, which we applied and found P=0.05. The patients who visited first didn’t come for the second visit. So, the results might vary and the patients who visited for the second time after one-month treatment, some got effective results while others remained ineffective. The reason for being ineffective is that they might have adapted to their current regimen.

The Significance of Apolipoprotein-A in the Long-Term Death of Patients with STEMI

Objective. To analyze apolipoprotein-A for its predictive value for long-term death in individuals suffering from acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction following percutaneous coronary intervention. Methods. We selected patients suffering from acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction who underwent emergency PCI at the Affiliated Hospital of Putian University from January 2017 to August 2019. The patients were divided into a high-Apo-A group and low-Apo-A group, and we observed all-cause deaths of patients in the 2 groups within 2 years. Results. The ROC curve analysis indicated the best critical value for predicting 2-year mortality as 0.8150 (area under the curve was 0.626, sensitivity 75.1%, and specificity 51.9%). There was no statistical difference among the two groups in gender, age, lesion vessel, and comorbidities. The two groups had statistically significant differences in apolipoprotein-B/A, high-density lipoprotein, apolipoprotein-A, and hypersensitivity C-reactive protein. Correlation analysis showed a significant negative correlation between apolipoprotein-A and hypersensitive C-reactive protein. The results of the 24-month analysis indicated the incidence of all-cause mortality as higher in the low-Apo-A group, and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis showed the same trend. Conclusion. Apolipoprotein-A can predict the potential for long-term mortality among individuals having acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Relevant Biomarkers in Medical Practices: An Analysis of the Needs Addressed by an International Survey

(1) Backround: Technological advances should foster gains in physicians’ efficiency. For example, a reduction of the medical decision time can be enabled by faster biological tests. The main objective of this study was to collect responses from an international panel of physicians on their needs for biomarkers and also to convey the improvement in the outcome to be made possible by the potential development of fast diagnostic tests for these biomarkers. (2) Methods: we distributed a questionnaire on the Internet to physicians. (3) Results: 508 physicians participated in this survey. The mean age was 38 years. General practice and emergency medicine were heavily represented, with 95% CIs of 44% (39.78, 48.41) and 32% (27.84, 35.94)), respectively. The two most represented countries were France (95% CI: 74% (70.20, 77.83)) and the USA (95% CI: 11% (8.65, 14.18)). Ninety-eight percentages of the physicians thought that obtaining cited biomarkers more quickly would be beneficial to their practice and to patient’s care. The main biomarkers of interest identified by our panel were troponin (95% CI: 51% (46.24, 54.94)), C-reactive protein (95% CI: 42% (38.03, 46.62)), D-dimer (95% CI: 29% (24.80, 32.68)), and brain natriuretic peptide (95% CI: 13% (10.25, 16.13)). (4) Conclusions: Our study highlights the real technological need for fast biomarker results, which could be provided by biosensors. The relevance of some answers such as troponin is questionable.

Blood Biomarkers and Serologic Immunological Profiles Related to Periodontitis in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Patients

BackgroundPeriodontitis is a chronic inflammatory gum disease associated with systemic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases.AimTo investigate the association of systemic blood biomarkers, C-reactive protein (CRP), levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and IgG levels against periodontal pathogens Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) and Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) with the stability, based on the aortic diameter, the growth rate and the eligibility for surgical intervention, of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).MethodsPatients with stable AAA (n = 30) and unstable AAA (n = 31) were recruited. The anti-A. actinomycetemcomitans and anti-P. gingivalis IgG levels were analyzed by ELISA, the LPS analysis was performed by using the limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) test, and plasma levels of CRP were determined using an immune turbidimetric method. The association between these blood systemic biomarkers, AAA features, periodontal clinical parameters and oral microbial profiles were explored. Regression models were used to test the relationship between variables.ResultsThe presence of antibodies against Pg and Aa, LPS and high CRP concentrations were found in all AAA patients. The IgG levels were similar in patients with stable and unstable AAA (both for Aa and Pg). Among investigated blood biomarkers, only CRP was associated with AAA stability. The amount of LPS in saliva, supra, and subgingival plaque were significantly associated with the systemic LPS (p <0.05).ConclusionsThis post-hoc study emphasizes the presence of antibodies against Pg and Aa, LPS and high CRP concentrations in all AAA patients. The presence of Pg in saliva and subgingival plaque was significantly associated with the blood LPS levels. For further studies investigating periodontitis and systemic diseases, specific predictive blood biomarkers should be considered instead of the use of antibodies alone.