High nampt and low ghrelin serum levels are significantly associated with advanced carotid atherosclerosis in patients with T2DM. Moreover these adipocytokines are independently associated with CIMT, implicating their role as novel atherosclerotic biomarkers and providing another important link between adiposity and atherosclerosis.

Neurotoxicity caused by intraarterial injection of low-dose low osmolar, iodinated contrast agents during radiologic studies is an extremely rare adverse event. Contrast medium induced disruption of the blood-brain barrier and a direct neurotoxic effect by contrast media have been proposed as a potential mechanism of neurotoxicity. This report describes an unusual case of transient neurotoxicity following diagnostic angiography mimicking clinically and radiologically subarachnoid hemorrhage. The patient recovered without any intervention after 4 days of conservative treatment.

In patients with carotid stenosis, intensive lipid-lowering therapy with statins attenuates serum OPN and OPG levels and enhances carotid plaque echogenicity, outlining their beneficial effects on plaque stability.

Among patients with moderate carotid stenosis, an aggressive atorvastatin regimen enhanced carotid plaque echogenicity and reduced serum OPN and OPG levels to a greater extent than respective moderate atorvastatin therapy. Most importantly, those atorvastatin-induced effects were associated with OPN and OPG suppression in a dose-dependent manner.

Increased fat-mass, low apelin and high visfatin serum levels seem to correlate with carotid plaque vulnerability in patients with carotid stenosis. The atorvastatin-induced modification of apelin and LDL-C may beneficially affect carotid plaque stability.