Impact of body mass index on changes in common carotid artery wall thickness

OBJECTIVE: To examine associations between changes in body mass index (BMI) and changes in carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) in a community-based sample. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Carotid artery IMT and BMI were assessed at baseline (between 1987 and 1990) and in three subsequent examinations at 3-year intervals in participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities cohort. The 9,316 African-American and white men and women in the analysis were 45 to 64 years of age at baseline. Cross-sectional associations between BMI and IMT were assessed using general linear models. Longitudinal associations were examined using mixed models analysis. RESULTS: Cross-sectional associations between BMI and IMT were confirmed. At baseline, a 1-kg/m(2) increase in BMI was associated with an increase in IMT that ranged from 2.5 to 7.5 micro m among the ethnic-gender groups examined. Changes in BMI were not associated with changes in IMT in models that adjusted for aging and other covariates. Results were similar across ethnic-gender groups. DISCUSSION: Among free-living, 45- to 64-year-old adults, changes in common carotid artery IMT associated with changes in BMI are either very small or absent.     

Whole-grain intake and carotid artery atherosclerosis in a multiethnic cohort: the Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study

BACKGROUND: Whole-grain intake has been shown to be inversely associated with cardiovascular events, but an association with atherosclerosis is less well established. OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the association of whole-grain intake with carotid intimal medial thickness (IMT) and IMT progression in a multiethnic cohort. DESIGN: This study evaluated 1178 participants in the Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study. Baseline whole-grain intake was estimated on the basis of intake of dark breads, cooked cereals, and high-fiber cereals assessed with a validated food-frequency questionnaire. Bilateral carotid IMT was evaluated ultrasonographically, yielding 16 IMT measures at baseline and year 5. Multivariate models evaluated the independent association of whole-grain intake with common carotid artery (CCA) and internal carotid artery (ICA) IMT and IMT progression. RESULTS: The cohort had a mean (+/-SD) age of 55.2 +/- 8.4 y and was 56% female. The baseline median whole-grain intake was 0.79 servings/d. Whole-grain intake was inversely associated with CCA IMT (beta +/- SE: -0.043 +/- 0.013, P = 0.005) and IMT progression (beta +/- SE: -0.019 +/- 0.011, P = 0.09) in models adjusted for demographics, energy intake, energy expenditure, cardiovascular disease risk factors, and medication use. This association was less significant for ICA IMT (beta +/- SE: -0.049 +/- 0.023, P = 0.05) and not significant for ICA IMT progression (beta +/- SE: -0.013 +/- 0.014, P = 0.35). The relation between whole-grain intake and CCA IMT remained significant after adjustment for mediating pathways (lipids, adiposity, and insulin resistance), nutrient constituents, and a principal components-derived healthy dietary pattern. CONCLUSIONS: Whole-grain intake is inversely associated with CCA IMT, and this relation is not attributable to individual risk intermediates, single nutrient constituents, or larger dietary patterns.     

Arsenic exposure from drinking-water and carotid artery intima-medial thickness in healthy young adults in Bangladesh

Epidemiological studies have linked high levels (>200 microg/L) of chronic exposure to arsenic in drinking-water with elevated risks of several vascular diseases. In this pilot study, the association between low-level arsenic exposure and carotid artery intimal-medial thickness (IMT) was evaluated among 66 healthy, normotensive, relatively young individuals (mean age 35 years) participating in the ongoing Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study in Bangladesh. Participants with a higher carotid IMT (>0.75 mm) in general had higher levels of past chronic exposure of arsenic than those with a lower carotid IMT (< or = 0.75 mm). Although the differences in average arsenic exposure between the two groups were not statistically significant, the findings suggest a possible association between low-level arsenic exposure from drinking-water and carotid atherosclerosis, warranting the need for larger studies.     

Environmental tobacco smoke and lung cancer: a case-control study in Germany

To assess the association between exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and lung cancer, the authors personally interviewed 292 lifelong nonsmoking lung cancer cases (recruited from 15 hospitals in the study area) and 1,338 nonsmoking controls (randomly selected by population registries) between 1990 and 1996 in Germany. Subjects were asked by a standardized questionnaire about exposure to ETS in childhood, by spouse, at work, and in transportation and social settings. Several indicators of these different sources of exposure were investigated, using not or low exposed subjects as the reference category. The most informative quantification index was weighted duration of exposure (hours x level of smokiness). No effect of ETS exposure during childhood and no clear effect of spousal ETS were observed. However, for the highest category of exposure, clear effects of ETS at the workplace (odds ratio (OR) = 1.93; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04, 3.58), in vehicles (OR = 2.64; 95% CI: 1.30, 5.36), and from all sources combined (OR = 1.39; 95% CI: 0.96, 2.01) were found. Adjustment for occupational carcinogens, radon, and diet did not appreciably change the results. These findings suggest that exposures to high levels of ETS at the workplace and in other public indoor settings appear to be important risk factors for lung cancer risk in nonsmokers.     

彩超评价冠状动脉病变与颈动脉内-中膜厚度相关性的研究

目的：研究颈动脉内-中膜厚度（IMT）与斑块发生率对冠心病患者的诊断价值。方法：用彩色多普勒超声仪检测36例冠状动脉单支病变及34例双支以上病变组和50例正常对照组的颈动脉IMT和斑块发生率,分析并比较三组之间存在的差异。结果：颈动脉IMT及斑块发生率与各组间均有显著差异。单支病变组及双支以上病变组冠心病患者颈动脉IMT和斑块发生率与正常对照组比较均增高,有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。而双支以上病变组冠心病患者颈动脉IMT和斑块发生率显著高于单支病变组,有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论：冠状动脉病变与颈动脉IMT变化及斑块发生率有一定的关联性,通过检测颈动脉IMT及斑块发生率可以预测冠状动脉病变程度。对疑有冠心病的患者具有较好的筛选及预测价值。     

代谢综合征患者大动脉顺应性与颈动脉内-中膜厚度变化的研究

目的探讨代谢综合征(MS)患者大动脉顺应性及颈动脉内-中膜厚度(IMT)的变化。方法64例MS患者和56例年龄相匹配的正常对照者,测定所有入选者颈动脉-股动脉的脉搏波速度(PWV)、颈动脉IMT,同时检测其身高、体重、腰围、臀围、血压、血糖、血脂水平,并计算体重指数(BMI)、腰臀比(WHR)。结果MS组PWV和颈动脉IMT与对照组比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。MS组颈动脉IMT与年龄、腰围、收缩压、脉压、总胆固醇、甘油三酯、PWV呈显著正相关(P<0.01),与高密度脂蛋白-胆固醇呈显著负相关(P<0.01);PWV与年龄、收缩压、脉压、体重指数、总胆固醇、甘油三酯、颈动脉IMT、体重呈显著正相关(P<0.05),与高密度脂蛋白-胆固醇呈显著负相关(P<0.01)。结论MS患者PWV及颈动脉IMT均明显升高,已经存在大动脉顺应性的减退;MS患者大动脉顺应性的变化与年龄、血压、肥胖及血脂紊乱有关,且PWV与颈动脉IMT有明显的相关性。     

极速成像技术对原发性高血压患者颈动脉弹性的早期变化研究

目的:研究极速成像技术在原发性高血压患者颈动脉弹性的早期变化中的应用价值,为后续临床应用奠定基础。方法:选取本院2018年2月~2019年2月收治的原发性高血压患者216例,正常参加体检的人员215例作为对照组。两组均使用二维超声测量颈动脉内膜中层厚度(IMT)并计算出动脉僵硬度指数β。使用极速超声成像检测收缩早期脉搏波速度(BS)以及收缩末期脉搏波速度(ES),比较两组结果差异。结果:研究组BS、ES、动脉僵硬度指数与对照组差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);而且BS、ES与动脉僵硬度指数β呈显著正相关。结论:极速成像技术测量的PWV对于早期原发性高血压患者颈动脉弹性的变化及发展可准确评估。     

高血压患者血脂紊乱与颈动脉重构相关性的探讨

目的　探讨血脂代谢紊乱与颈动脉重构的关系。方法　入选14 2例,其中正常血压组4 0例,高血压血脂正常者5 2例,高血压伴血脂紊乱者5 0例,通过颈动脉超声测定颈动脉内膜-中膜厚度(intima-mediathickness,IMT)和舒张末期内径(end -diastolicdiameter,Dd) ,探讨低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL -C)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL -C)与IMT和Dd 的关系。结果　高血压组IMT及Dd 明显高于正常血压组,高血压伴血脂紊乱组IMT及Dd 高于高血压血脂正常组。LDL -C与颈动脉IMT(R =0 .312 ,P <0 .0 0 1)、Dd(R =0 .32 6 ,P <0 .0 0 1)呈正相关,HDL -C与颈动脉IMT及Dd无明显相关。结论　血脂代谢紊乱尤其LDL -C升高可促进颈动脉重构,伴有高血压血脂紊乱者尤重。     

2型糖尿病患者血清瘦素与颈动脉内膜中层厚度的相关性研究

目的探讨2型糖尿病（T2DM）患者血清瘦素水平与颈动脉内膜中层厚度（IMT）的关系。方法选择35例2型糖尿病患者、16例正常对照者,分别测定其血清瘦素、空腹血糖、糖化血红蛋白Alc（HbAlc）、C肽、血脂、血压、体重指数（BMI）及腰围,同时使用高分辨率超声检测双侧颈动脉IMT。结果T2DM患者血清瘦素浓度与颈动脉IMT呈显著正相关。结论血清瘦素浓度与颈动脉IMT的增厚有关,提示瘦素可能是导致T2DM患者动脉粥样硬化中的一项危险因素。     

射频超声技术定量评估陕西地区正常儿童颈部动脉的研究

目的 定量评估陕西地区正常儿童双侧颈部动脉内中膜厚度及管壁弹性各项参数的大致范围,为动脉粥样硬化早期诊断和儿童期干预提供正常参考数据。方法 对150例正常儿童志愿者应用超声射频信号血管内中膜分析技术QIMT及超声射频信号动脉僵硬度分析技术QAS获取双侧颈动脉的内中膜厚度(IMT) 、顺应性指标(膨胀系数DC、顺应系数CC)及僵硬度指标(反射波增强指数AIX、α系数、β系数、脉搏波传导速度PWV),确定各项参数儿童期的大致范围。结果 1)陕西地区7~15岁正常儿童IMT(441.483±85.126)μm,DC(0.077±0.030)mm²/kPa,CC(2.290±0.952)mm²/kPa,AIX(-2.804±2.449),α系数(1.453±0.519),β系数(3.002±1.050),PWV(3.650±0.558) m/s;2)颈动脉左右侧之间、不同性别间颈动脉各项参数差异无统计学意义(P值均>0.05)。 结论 应用射频超声技术可准确提供陕西地区正常儿童期颈部动脉IMT厚度及血管弹性总体参数,为儿童干预预防动脉硬化提供科学依据。     

Impact of multiple cardiovascular risk factors on the carotid intima-media thickness in young adults: the Kangwha Study.

OBJECTIVES: Although risk factors for coronary artery disease are also associated with increased carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), there is little information available on the asymptomatic, young adult population. We examined the association between multiple cardiovascular risk factors and the common carotid IMT in 280 young Korean adults. METHODS: The data used for this study was obtained from 280 subjects (130 men and 150 women) aged 25 years who participated in the Kangwha Study follow-up examination in 2005. We measured cardiovascular risk factors, including anthropometrics, blood pressure, blood chemistry, carotid ultrasonography, and reviewed questionnaires on health behaviors. Risk factors were defined as values above the sex-specific 75th percentile of systolic blood pressure, body mass index, total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, fasting blood glucose and smoking status. RESULTS: The mean carotid IMT +/- standard deviation observed was 0.683 +/- 0.079 mm in men and 0.678 +/- 0.067 mm in women (p=0.567) and the evidence of plaque was not observed in any individuals. Mean carotid IMT increased with an increasing number of risk factors(p for trend <0.001) and carotid IMT values were 0.665 mm, 0.674 mm, 0.686 mm, 0.702 mm, and 0.748 mm for 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 to 5 risk factors, respectively. The odds ratio for having the top quartile carotid IMT in men with 3 or more risk factors versus 0-2 risk factors was 5.09 (95% CI, 2.05-12.64). CONCLUSIONS: Current findings indicate the need for prevention and control of cardiovascular risk factors in young adults and more focus on those with multiple cardiovascular risk factors.     

Depressive Symptoms and Subclinical Markers of Cardiovascular Disease in Adolescents

PurposeTo examine the association between depressive symptoms and subclinical markers of cardiovascular disease (CVD), specifically arterial stiffness, as indexed by pulse wave velocity (PWV), and carotid artery intima media thickening (IMT), in a sample of healthy adolescents, and to explore adolescent hostility as a potential moderator of depression on subclinical markers of CVD.MethodsOne hundred fifty-seven (n = 157) black and white adolescents between the ages of 16–21 completed a follow-up study of psychosocial stress and cardiovascular risk factors that included measures of PWV and carotid IMT. Psychosocial measures included the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (divided into tertiles), and the Cook–Medley Hostility Inventory subscales. Linear regression models controlled for sociodemographic variables, health behaviors, blood pressure, body mass index, and heart rate.ResultsResults show that more severe depressive symptoms were associated with higher levels of PWV (B = .17, R² = .30, ΔR² = .03, confidence interval = 2.2–47.0, p = .03) but not with higher IMT. Adolescent depression remained a significant predictor of PWV when controlling for adolescent hostility; hostility did not moderate the relationship between adolescent depression and PWV.ConclusionDepression may be important in the development of arterial stiffness in adolescence. Further research is needed to delineate the relationship in adolescence and young adulthood between depressive symptoms and the pathogenesis of CVD.     

非酒精性脂肪性肝病诊疗指南(2010年1月修订)

  目的  探讨2型糖尿病合并非酒精性脂肪肝（NAFLD）患者相关影响因素,为相关疾病防治提供依据。  方法  回顾性分析2014 — 2017年间446例2型糖尿病住院患者的临床资料,通过腹部B超进行定性检查,根据结果分为无NAFLD组和NAFLD组。收集2组人群的一般资料,检测糖化血红蛋白（HbA1c）、体质指数（BMI）、腰围/臀围比值（WHR）、颈动脉内膜中层厚度（IMT）、血脂、肝功能、肾功能等指标,采用logistic 回归分析,探讨2型糖尿病合并NAFLD的相关影响因素。  结果  与无NAFLD组比较,NAFLD组2型糖尿病患者BMI、血尿酸、谷丙转氨酶（ALT）、甘油三酯（TG）、胆固醇、WHR、右颈动脉IMT、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）、胰岛素抵抗指数（HOMA-IR）[分别为（27.71 ± 3.43）kg/m²、（307.91 ± 72.89）μmol/L、（34.25 ± 22.13）U/L、（2.52 ± 0.89）mmol/L、（5.41 ± 1.06）mmol/L、（0.932 ± 0.12）、（0.968 ± 0.11）mm、（3.36 ± 0.91）mmol/L、（4.55 ± 1.06）] 均升高,差异均有统计学意义（P < 0.05）。logistic 回归分析显示,BMI、血尿酸、TG、HOMA-IR、WHR、右颈动脉IMT是NAFLD主要危险因素（β 值分别为0.192、0.363、0.562、0.219、0.170、0.356）。  结论  BMI、血尿酸、TG、WHR、右颈动脉IMT及胰岛素抵抗是2型糖尿病合并NAFLD的重要危险因素。     

Occupational status, educational level, and the prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis in a general population sample of middle-aged Swedish men and women: results from the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study

The associations among educational level, occupational status, and atherosclerosis were investigated during 1992-1994 in a general population sample of 4,176 Swedish men and women. Carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and carotid stenosis were determined by B-mode ultrasound. Socioeconomic differences in mean carotid IMT and odds ratios for carotid stenosis prevalence were estimated. In women, the associations among educational level, occupational status, and IMT were weak. In men, there was no association between education and IMT, while low occupational status was associated with a thicker IMT. Women with low education had an increased odds of carotid stenosis compared with women with high education (odds ratio (OR) = 2.04, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.53, 2.73), while this pattern was weaker among men. Women in manual occupations had an increased odds of carotid stenosis compared with women in high- or medium-level nonmanual occupations (OR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.29, 2.36), which could not be seen among men. After adjustment for risk factors, the association between IMT and occupational status in men disappeared, while the associations among educational level, occupational status, and carotid stenosis in women persisted. The results imply that the atherosclerotic process is associated with socioeconomic status in both sexes, and they also indicate the possibility of sex differences in the mechanisms connecting socioeconomic status to atherosclerosis.     

Race-gender differences in the association of trait anger with subclinical carotid artery atherosclerosis: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

This paper examines the association between trait anger and subclinical carotid artery atherosclerosis among 14,098 Black or White men and women, aged 48-67 years, in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study cohort, 1990-1992. Trait anger was assessed using the 10-item Spielberger Trait Anger Scale. Carotid atherosclerosis was determined by an averaged measure of the wall intimal-medial thickness (IMT) of the carotid bifurcation and of the internal and common carotids, measured by high-resolution B-mode ultrasound. In the full study cohort, trait anger and carotid IMT were significantly and positively associated (p = 0.04). In race-gender stratified analysis, the association was strongest and independent only in Black men, among whom a significant trait anger-carotid IMT relation was observed for both the overall trait anger measure (p = 0.004) and the anger reaction dimension (p = 0.001). In Black men, carotid IMT levels increased across categories of overall trait anger and anger reaction, resulting in clinically significant differences (67 microm (95% confidence interval: 23, 110) and 82 microm (95% confidence interval: 40, 125), respectively) from low to high anger. Sociodemographic, lifestyle, anthropometric, and biologic cardiovascular disease risk factors appear to mediate the relation in Black women, White men, and White women. In conclusion, these findings document disparate race-gender patterns in the association of trait anger with subclinical carotid artery atherosclerosis.     

Determination of endothelial function and early atherosclerotic changes in healthy obese women

The aim of this study was to determine the associations between vascular endothelial function, intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery and anthropometric/metabolic parameters in healthy obese women without obesity-related metabolic complications and age-matched healthy lean controls. Twenty-four obese [body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m2; age 31.4 +/- 7.4 yr] and 14 lean (BMI < 24 kg/m2; age 30.5 +/- 7.2 yr) women were studied. All of the subjects had normolipemia. Insulin resistance was calculated according to the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) formula. Endothelial function was measured by flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery. IMT of the common carotid artery was calculated from high-resolution ultrasound imaging of the two common carotid arteries. Obese and lean women were matched with respect to age, smoking status, blood pressure, glucose, insulin concentrations and HOMA. IMT of common carotid artery was significantly higher (0.56 +/- 0.09 vs 0.45 +/- 0.06 mm, p < 0.001) and FMD (percentage of change from baseline) was significantly lower (13.3 +/- 6.5% vs 25.2 +/- 13.9%,p < 0.001) in the obese subjects. Lipid profile, blood pressure, indirect measurement of insulin resistance, leptin concentrations and anthropometric parameters did not predict the FMD or IMT in the obese and lean groups. It is concluded that even in healthy obese women with a normal metabolic profile, deterioration in endothelial function and early atherosclerotic changes are evident compared with healthy lean counterparts. Some undetermined factors in our study other than obesity-related well-known risk factors could be responsible for this observation.     

Carotid wall thickness is predictive of incident clinical stroke: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study

Few studies have determined whether carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) is associated prospectively with risk of first ischemic stroke. In the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, carotid IMT, an index of generalized atherosclerosis, was defined as the mean of IMT measured by B-mode ultrasonography at six sites of the carotid arteries. The authors assessed the relation of mean IMT to stroke incidence over 6-9 years' follow-up (1987-1995) among 7,865 women and 6,349 men aged 45-64 years without prior stroke at baseline in four US communities. There were 90 incident ischemic stroke events for women and 109 for men. In sex-specific Cox proportional hazards models adjusting only for age, race, and community, the hazard rate ratios comparing extreme mean IMT values (> or =1 mm) to values less than 0.6 mm were 8.5 for women (95% confidence interval: 3.5, 20.7) and 3.6 for men (95% confidence interval: 1.5, 9.2). The relation was graded, and models with cubic splines indicated significant nonlinearity, with hazards increasing more rapidly at lower IMTs than at higher IMTs. Thus, models using linear IMT values substantially underestimate the strength of the association at lower IMTs. The strength of the association was reduced by the inclusion of putative stroke risk factors, but it remained elevated at higher IMTs. Hence, mean carotid IMT is a noninvasive predictor of future ischemic stroke incidence.     

应用超声评价颈动脉硬化与冠心病的关系

目的 评价颈动脉与冠心病病变程度的关系。方法 对62例不同程度冠脉病变患者及20例正常人进行颈动脉超声检查。结果 冠心病患者颈动脉内-中膜厚度(IMT)较对照组明显增大，随着冠状动脉病变加重，内中膜明显增厚，斑块指数增加，颈动脉斑块以硬斑多见，颈动脉分叉处(BIF)多发。结论 颈动脉硬化与冠状动脉病变关系密切，超声检测颈动脉硬化是一种无创、实时又精确的诊断方法。     

Environmental tobacco smoke and risk of adult leukemia

BACKGROUND: The role of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in the causation of lung and breast cancer has been repeatedly evaluated over recent years. In contrast, its impact on the risk of adult leukemia has received little attention. METHODS: We used the lifetime residential and occupational ETS exposure histories from a population-based sample of 1068 incident and histologically confirmed adult leukemia cases and 5039 population controls age 20 to 74 years to evaluate the relationship between ETS exposure and adult leukemia risk among nonsmokers in Canada. The duration of exposure and smoker-years index were used as indices of ETS exposure. We restricted our analysis to the 266 case and 1326 control subjects who reported being lifetime nonsmokers and provided residential ETS exposure history for at least 75% of their lifetime. RESULTS: No association was found for most leukemia subtypes, and in particular for acute myeloid leukemia. In contrast, the risk for chronic lymphocytic leukemia was clearly associated with ETS exposure, with an adjusted odds ratio of 2.3 (95% confidence interval = 1.2-4.5) for more than 83 smoker-years of residential exposure and 2.4 (1.3-4.3) for more than 72 smoker-years of occupational exposure. There was a dose-response relationship for chronic lymphocytic leukemia with both indices of exposure. Risk was not higher with recent exposure, using time-window-exposure analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Regular long-term ETS exposure may be a risk factor for chronic lymphocytic leukemia.