BackgroundThe low-density lipoprotein cholesterol/apolipoprotein B (LDL-C/apoB) ratio has conventionally been used as an index of the LDL-particle size. Smaller LDL-particle size is associated with triglyceride (TG) metabolism disorders, often leading to atherogenesis. We investigated the association between the LDL-C/apoB ratio and TG metabolism in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients with diabetes mellitus (DM).MethodsIn the cross-sectional study, the LDL-C/apoB ratio, which provides an estimate of the LDL-particle size, was calculated in 684 consecutive patients with one additional risk factor. The patients were classified into 4 groups based on the presence or absence of CAD and DM, as follows: CAD (−) DM (−) group, n = 416; CAD (−) DM (+) group, n = 118; CAD (+) DM (−) group, n = 90; CAD (+) DM (+) group, n = 60.ResultsA multi-logistic regression analysis after adjustments for coronary risk factors revealed that the CAD (+) DM (+) condition was an independent predictor of the smallest LDL-C/apoB ratio among the four groups. Furthermore, multivariate regression analyses identified elevated TG-rich lipoprotein (TRL)-related markers (TG, very-LDL fraction, remnant-like particle cholesterol, apolipoprotein C-II, and apolipoprotein C-III) as being independently predictive of a smaller LDL-particle size in both the overall subject population and a subset of patients with a serum LDL-C level < 100 mg/dL. In the 445 patients followed up for at least 6 months, multi-logistic regression analyses identified increased levels of TRL-related markers as being independently predictive of a decreased LDL-C/apoB ratio, which is indicative of smaller LDL-particle size.ConclusionsThe association between disorders of TG metabolism and LDL heterogeneity may account for the risk of CAD in patients with DM. Combined evaluation of TRL-related markers and the LDL-C/apoB ratio may be of increasing importance in the risk stratification of CAD patients with DM. Further studies are needed to investigate the useful clinical indices and outcomes of these patients. Clinical Trial Registration UMIN (http://www.umin.ac.jp/) Study ID: UMIN000028029 retrospectively registered 1 July 2017

Hypertriglyceridemia, which often leads to both low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) metabolic disorders, is a strong risk factor for the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). We hypothesized that the triglyceride (TG)/HDL cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio may be more useful for estimation of the LDL-particle size, as a well-known risk factor for ASCVD, as compared to the serum TG level per se. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used in this study to estimate the LDL-particle size [relative LDL migration (LDL-Rm value)] in 649 consecutive patients with one additional risk factor for ASCVD. Multivariable regression analysis identified both serum TG (β = 0.556, p < 0.0001) and the serum TG/HDL-C ratio (β = 0.607, p < 0.0001) as independent indicators of the LDL-particle size. In terms of evaluation of the accuracy of indicators of LDL-Rm values equal to or greater than 0.40, which are suggestive of the presence of large amounts of small-dense LDL and represent the upper limit (mean + 2 standard deviation) of the normal range in this population, both the serum TG level and serum TG/HDL-C ratio showed high accurate areas under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (0.900 vs. 0.914), but with a negative likelihood ratio of 0.506 vs. 0.039, indicating that the TG/HDL-C ratio model is superior for excluding patients with values below the cutoff value and with LDL-Rm values ≥ 0.40. Furthermore, in 456 patients followed up for at least 1 year, multivariable regression analysis identified increased serum TG/HDL-C ratio as an independent predictor of a decreased LDL-particle size. These results suggest that the serum TG/HDL-C ratio may be more useful for assessing the risk of ASCVD as compared to the serum TG level per se. To reduce the risk of ASCVD, it may be important to focus not only on changes of the serum LDL-C, but also on those of the serum TG/HDL-C ratio.

Background and aim: Higher fish consumption has been reported to be associated with a lower incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD). We hypothesized that higher fish intake may be associated with lower serum level of non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) levels, representing the entire dyslipidemia spectrum, and a healthy lifestyle. Methods and results: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a population of 1270 apparently healthy males over the age of 50 years without lipid-modifying therapy at the Health Planning Center of Nihon University Hospital between April and August 2018. The average number of days of fish intake per week was 2.6 AE 1.4. We performed analysis of variance using fish consumption as a categorical variable (0e1 day, 2e3 days, 4e5 days, or 6e7 days per week). The serum non-HDL-C levels in the 6e7 days fish intake group were significantly lower than those in the 0e1 and 2e3days fish intake groups. Furthermore, with increasing frequency of fish intake per week, the proportion of subjects with cigarette smoking decreased (p Z 0.026), that of subjects engaging in habitual aerobic exercises increased (p Z 0.034), and the sleep duration of the subjects increased (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: These results suggest that a high frequency of fish intake, that is a fish intake of 6e7 days per week, was associated with healthier lifestyle behaviours as well as lower non-HDL-C levels, and thus may represent a component of a healthy lifestyle associated with a lower risk of CAD in Japanese males over the age of 50. Clinical trial registration: UMIN (http://www.umin.ac.jp/). Study ID: UMIN000035899.

Although serum uric acid (UA) levels are usually lower in females than in males, and the incidence of metabolic syndrome (Mets) is also lower in females, several studies have suggested a closer association between the serum UA levels and the onset of Mets in females than in males [1][2][3]. Interestingly enough, despite the lower incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD) throughout the life in females than in males, it has been shown that the serum UA level contributes to a greater degree to the onset of CAD, its prognosis [4][5][6][7][8], and the progression of coronary atherosclerosis [9,10] in females than in males. Furthermore, post-menopause, increased serum UA levels are strongly associated with the development of atherosclerosis with age [11].

Osteoporosis seen in aged individuals is represented by the reduced bone mass most likely resulting from decreased bone formation by osteoblasts. To examine whether aging causes a decrease in osteoblast activity, calvarial osteoblasts were isolated from aged rats (AOB) and studied for the capacity of the cells to form mineralized bone-like nodules in comparison with that of fetal calvarial osteoblasts (FOB). There were no significant differences in basal mineralized bone-like nodule formation determined by quantifying the size of the nodules which were formed in the cultures of AOB and FOB. However, the responsiveness of AOB to growth factors was profoundly reduced. AOB showed only marginal increase in mineralized bone-like nodule formation and growth in response to basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). On the other hand, bFGF markedly promoted mineralized bone-like nodule formation and proliferation in FOB. These results suggest that decreased responsiveness to local osteotropic growth factors such as bFGF might account for the reduced bone formation by aged osteoblasts, which in turn leads to the loss of bone mass characteristic for senile osteoporosis.

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<b><i>Background:</i></b> Higher fish consumption has been reported to be associated with a lower incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD). An elevated neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), a marker of systemic inflammation, is reportedly associated with the development of adverse CAD events. We hypothesized that a higher fish intake was associated with a lower NLR. <b><i>Methods and Results:</i></b> This cross-sectional study was conducted in a cohort of 8,237 Japanese subjects who had no history of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease registered at the Health Planning Center of Nihon University Hospital between April 2018 and March 2019. The average weekly frequency of fish intake was 2.32 ± 1.31 days. The NLR decreased significantly as the weekly frequency of fish intake (0 day, 1–2 days, 3–4 days, or 5–7 days) increased (<i>p</i> = 0.001). A multiple stepwise regression analysis identified the weekly frequency of fish intake (β = −0.045, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.0001) and habitual alcohol intake (β = −0.051, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.0001) as significant but weak, negative, and independent determinants of the NLR. Conversely, the presence of metabolic syndrome (β = 0.046, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.0001), the presence of treatment for diabetes mellitus (β = 0.054, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.0001), and the presence of treatment for hypertension (β = 0.043, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.0001) were significant positive and independent determinants of the NLR. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> The present results suggest that a higher frequency of fish intake appears to be associated with a lower NLR, suggesting an anti-systemic inflammation effect. This association may partially explain the preventive effects of a higher fish intake on CAD events.