Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). DM can lead to multiple cardiovascular complications, including coronary artery disease (CAD), cardiac hypertrophy, and heart failure (HF). HF represents one of the most common causes of death in patients with DM and results from DM-induced CAD and diabetic cardiomyopathy. Oxidative stress is closely associated with the pathogenesis of DM and results from overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS overproduction is associated with hyperglycemia and metabolic disorders, such as impaired antioxidant function in conjunction with impaired antioxidant activity. Long-term exposure to oxidative stress in DM induces chronic inflammation and fibrosis in a range of tissues, leading to formation and progression of disease states in these tissues. Indeed, markers for oxidative stress are overexpressed in patients with DM, suggesting that increased ROS may be primarily responsible for the development of diabetic complications. Therefore, an understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms mediated by oxidative stress is crucial to the prevention and treatment of diabetes-induced CVD. The current review focuses on the relationship between diabetes-induced CVD and oxidative stress, while highlighting the latest insights into this relationship from findings on diabetic heart and vascular disease.

Enhanced β-adrenergic signaling and higher sensitivity to catecholamine-induced toxicity were identified as mechanisms associated with the TTS phenotype. (International Takotsubo Registry [InterTAK Registry] [InterTAK]; NCT01947621).

Background Stiffening of the aortic wall is a phenomenon consistently observed in age and in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). However, its role in AAA pathophysiology is largely undefined. Methods and Results Using an established murine elastase-induced AAA model, we demonstrate that segmental aortic stiffening (SAS) precedes aneurysm growth. Finite element analysis (FEA) reveals that early stiffening of the aneurysm-prone aortic segment leads to axial (longitudinal) wall stress generated by cyclic (systolic) tethering of adjacent, more compliant wall segments. Interventional stiffening of AAA-adjacent aortic segments (via external application of surgical adhesive) significantly reduces aneurysm growth. These changes correlate with reduced segmental stiffness of the AAA-prone aorta (due to equalized stiffness in adjacent segments), reduced axial wall stress, decreased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), attenuated elastin breakdown, and decreased expression of inflammatory cytokines and macrophage infiltration, as well as attenuated apoptosis within the aortic wall. Cyclic pressurization of segmentally stiffened aortic segments ex vivo increases the expression of genes related to inflammation and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. Finally, human ultrasound studies reveal that aging, a significant AAA risk factor, is accompanied by segmental infrarenal aortic stiffening. Conclusions The present study introduces the novel concept of segmental aortic stiffening (SAS) as an early pathomechanism generating aortic wall stress and triggering aneurysmal growth, thereby delineating potential underlying molecular mechanisms and therapeutic targets. In addition, monitoring SAS may aid the identification of patients at risk for AAA.

Stroke is the second most common cause of death 2 and major cause of disability worldwide, 2 with survivors often depending on lifelong care. Carotid stenosis is the second most common predecessor of ischemic stroke, 3 and carotid endarterectomy (CEA; and to a lesser extent carotid artery stenting) are accepted as secondary, but also primary preventive therapy. 2,4,5 With new imaging techniques, vulnerable plaques at risk of rupture can be identified with increasing accuracy, 6 but in the majority of cases, the perioperative surgical risk of ≈3% still outweighs the risk of plaque rupture in asymptomatic carotid stenosis carriers.7 As a result, CEA and carotid artery stenting are currently unfavorable for most of these individuals.8 Detection and stabilization of a vulnerable plaque by influencing the local disease process biologically would provide a sophisticated solution for asymptomatic plaque carriers at risk of stroke. Molecular Medicine© 2016 American Heart Association, Inc. Conclusions: An unstable carotid plaque at risk of stroke is characterized by low expression of miR-210. miR-210 contributes to stabilizing carotid plaques through inhibition of APC, ensuring smooth muscle cell survival. We present local delivery of miR-210 as a therapeutic approach for prevention of atherothrombotic vascular events.