Pathogenesis of the atherosclerotic process is deemed as multifactorial. To the most important risk factors, besides certain family predisposition, there belongs hypercholesterolemia, arterial hypertension, obesity, diabetes mellitus, smoking and others. In the last years there are more and more data about the role of inflammation and infection in the whole development of atherosclerosis. The witness for this hypothesis is the findings of high parameters of inflammation in involved vessels as well as in the blood of atherosclerosis suffering persons. Opinions about the inflammation theory appear from the 90th. Local sterile inflammation in the subendotelium of the middle and big arteries has been proved to consist of specific immune reaction (activation of the T-lymphocytes) as well as nonspecific characteristic by elevated monocytes in the artery wall during the whole process of atherogenesis. Inflammation in the plaque can trigger and hold several factors engaged in the atherosclerotic process, such as oxidized LDL cholesterol, elevated production of various superoxides, activated macrophages, activated T-lymphocytes, cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, interferon gamma) and lipoprotein Lp (a). In this inflammation process levels of CRP (acute phase protein), fibrinogen and erythrocyte sedimentation are elevated as a reaction of the organism to nonspecific chronic infections. Because of this it is thought that elevated fibrinogen and erythrocyte sedimentation are markers of the cardiovascular risk. Some papers deal with antiinflammatory effects of statins, because these lower CRP levels so they also lower atherosclerotic risk through not only lowering of cholesterol levels. Also asprine, as an antiinflammation agent, changing the CRP levels, would be of benefit for patients with vascular disease because its antiaggregation and antiinflammatory effects. ACE inhibitors are also antiinflamatory through blocking of tissue production of angiotensin II (artery wall and atherosclerotic plaque). Enzymatic inhibitors changing angiotensin can also have a partial antiinflammatory effect. The infection theory is supported also by tracing of some microorganisms in the atherosclerotic plaque or in the blood, as e.g. Helicobacter pylori or Chlamydia pneumoniae; to the autoimmune origin is indicated the presence of the specific immunity reaction against heat shock proteins (HSP) or oxidized LDL. This infection theory offers new therapy possibilities. Therefore eradication for example by antibiotics can lead to stabilization of the atherosclerotic plaque with positive consequences, as it was discovered by many studies.

• MeSH
• Arteriosclerosis complications   pathology   physiopathology   MeSH
• Bacterial Infections complications   MeSH
• Blood Vessels pathology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Inflammation MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• English Abstract MeSH
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH

In developed countries, calcific aortic stenosis (CAS) has become the most common acquired valvular disease and cause for valve replacement. The prevalence of the disease increases with age, reaching over 5 % in adults over 75 years of age. The cases of CAS are classified as either of a previously normal (tricuspid) aortic valve (senile, syn. age - related, "sclerotic" type), or based on a congenitally malformed, usually bicuspid aortic valve. This paper is a brief summary of our 5 previous publications from the years 2007 - 2021, devoted to histopathology of CAS, namely to vascularization, inflammatory infiltrate and metaplastic ossification of the valve, and also to topography of these lesions in individual valve cusps. We conclude that calcification of the aortic valve is not a passive degenerative lesion, but an active multifactorial inflammatory process driven by cells native to the aortic valve. Pathogenesis of CAS is similar to that of atherosclerosis.

• Keywords
• Aortic valve, Pathogenesis, aortic valve, calcific aortic stenosis, inflammation, pathogenesis, probiotics,
• MeSH
• Aortic Valve * pathology   abnormalities   MeSH
• Aortic Valve Stenosis * pathology   etiology   MeSH
• Calcinosis * pathology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Inflammation pathology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH

Cardiovascular diseases on an atherosclerotic basis are a serious health problem. Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial pathological process with complex pathogenesis. Its origin and development is conditioned by a set of several risk factors. Changes in the spectrum of lipoproteins are one of the well-known, serious risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The results of several authors showed, that the examination of the ratio of some lipoproteins can provide more accurate information about the cardiovascular risk in a given individual than the individual lipid parameters alone. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is currently the most common form of chronic hepatopathy. The aim of our study was to examine lipoprotein ratios - atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and butyrylcholinesterase/ HDL-cholesterol ratio - in patients with NAFLD and to evaluate their changes in relation to the severity of hepatic steatosis. The study group consisted of 64 patients with hepatic steatosis, 32 men and 32 women. Patients were examined for fatty liver index (FLI), with FLI values above 60.0 signaling the presence of steatosis. From the biochemical parameters, we examined the serum concentrations of total cholesterol, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol, triacylglycerols and butyrylcholinesterase activity in patients with fatty liver disease. As the results of our study showed, both basic lipid parameters - total cholesterol and triacylglycerols - were increased in patients with hepatic steatosis compared to the values in the control group (Chol: 3,59 ± 0,16 vs. 5,14 ± 0,14 mmol/l; TAG: 0,85 ± 0,06 vs. 1,86 ± 0,14 mmol/l). Both investigated lipoprotein ratios - AIP and the BChE / HDL-cholesterol ratio were also significantly increased in patients with liver steatosis (AIP: -0,191 ± 0,04 vs. 0,157 ± 0,04; BChE/HDL-C: 3171 ± 123 vs. 4602 ± 291). The value of the BChE/HDL-cholesterol ratio correlated well with the total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio (correl.coeff. 0,802) as well as with the atherogenic index of plasma (correl.coeff. 0,702). The findings of elevated AIP and BChE/HDL-C ratios confirmed the hypothesis of an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with fatty liver disease. The finding of a significant positive correlation between AIP and BChE/HDL-C on the one hand and fatty liver index (FLI) on the other hand suggests that cardiovascular risk increases with the severity of steatotic liver injury.

• Keywords
• Fatty liver, atherogenic index of plasma, butyrylcholinesterase, cardiovascular risk, coronary artery disease, ratio BChE/HDL-cholesterol, ratio total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol.,
• MeSH
• Atherosclerosis * MeSH
• Butyrylcholinesterase MeSH
• Cholesterol, HDL MeSH
• Cholesterol, LDL MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease * MeSH
• Triglycerides MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Butyrylcholinesterase MeSH
• Cholesterol, HDL MeSH
• Cholesterol, LDL MeSH
• Triglycerides MeSH

It is believed that atherogenesis is a multifactorial process, which could already start in utero. Development of atherosclerosis progresses over decades and leads to the cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in adulthood. At present, we have no exact explanation for all the risk factors acting in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. This review should provide an overview about the possible role of intrauterine undernutrition in the development of risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Intrauterine undernutrition leads to changes in fetal growth and metabolism and programs later development of some of these risk factors. A number of experimental and human studies indicates that hypertension as well as impaired cholesterol and glucose metabolism are affected by intrauterine growth. Intrauterine undernutrition plays an important role and acts synergistically with numerous genetic and environmental factors in the development of atherosclerosis. There is evidence that undernutrition of the fetus has permanent effects on the health status of human individuals.

• MeSH
• Arteriosclerosis epidemiology   etiology   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Cardiovascular Diseases epidemiology   etiology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Infant, Newborn MeSH
• Placental Insufficiency epidemiology   physiopathology   MeSH
• Birth Weight physiology   MeSH
• Risk Factors MeSH
• Pregnancy MeSH
• Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects * MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Infant, Newborn MeSH
• Pregnancy MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH