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Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology Annual Conference 2008

Omni Hotel at CNN Center - Atlanta, Ga.
April 16-18, 2008

Highlighted Presentations | Award Winners | Top 10 Things You Missed | News Releases | Highlighted Posters


Highlighted Presentations

Award Winners

2008 Irvine H. Page Young Investigator Research Award Competition Winner Brian R. Wamhoff, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va., for his presentation, “Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Receptor  Subtypes Differentially Regulate Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotype” Presentation Slides

2008 Kenneth M. Brinkhous Young Investigator Prize in Thrombosis Winner Craig Morrell, Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, Md., for his presentation, “In Vivo Platelet-Endothelial Cell Interactions in Response to MHC Alloantibody” Presentation Slides

2008 Junior Investigator Award for Women Winner Katey Rayner, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, for her poster presentation,  “Understanding the Atheroprotective Role of HSP27”

1. Jeffrey M. Hoeg Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology Award for Basic Science and Clinical Research
2. Mentor of Women Luncheon and Mentor of Women Award.
3. Kenneth M. Brinkhous Young Investigator Prize in Thrombosis
4. Irvine H. Page Young Investigator Research Award
5. Dinner of the Council on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology
6. Genetics of Vascular Disease: This rapidly advancing discipline is moving us forever closer to a better understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of CVD
7. Two Two-Hour Poster Sessions on Wednesday and Thursday evening
8. Concurrent Session Highlighting Relationships Between Obesity, Diabetes, Metabolism and Nutrition, and Aspects of CVD
9. Emerging Mechanisms in Atherosclerosis: A Number of Novel Studies Describing the Potential Cellular Basis for Vascular Plaque Formation
10. Networking Opportunities with Established Investigators in ATVB Research

Highlighted Posters

Abstract P353 - Measuring skin sterol could help identify higher cardiovascular disease risk

Measuring skin sterol — fatty molecules taken from the palm of the hand — may help identify higher cardiovascular risk, scientists said.  In a study of 9,055 young (average age 36), low-risk (average Framingham global risk score 1.0 percent) subjects (half female), researchers measured cholesterol ratios (total cholesterol /HDL ratios) and levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), a sign of inflammation that can be associated with increased coronary disease risk.  Researchers calculated odds ratios (OR) according to skin sterol quartiles to predict risk parameters for total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol (TC:HDL-c) ratios and high hsCRP.  Researchers found that subjects in the highest quartile of skin sterol distribution, after adjustment for age and gender, had a “significantly increased risk” of high TC:HDL-c (OR 1.43), with marginal associations with either TC or HDL-c alone.  High skin sterol also predicted high hsCRP (OR 1.35) vs. the bottom quartile.  In previous studies, skin sterol levels have been associated with findings of coronary and carotid artery narrowing as well as arterial calcification. 

Abstract P137- Raising good, lowering bad cholesterol puts brakes on artery disease
A double-barreled assault of lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and raising high-density lipoprotein (HDL) can further reduce coronary artery disease (CAD) progression by quantitative coronary angiography and cardiovascular events (heart attack, stroke, CAD death and artery reopening procedures) in metabolic syndrome patients, a new study suggests.  Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of cardiovascular disease and diabetes risk factors including elevated waist circumference, high blood pressure, elevated triglycerides, low levels of HDL (“good”) cholesterol and high fasting glucose levels.  Metabolic syndrome is defined by the presence of three or more of the factors, and increases a person’s risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease.  Researchers conducted a “meta-analysis” of data from three trials that included 233 patients with metabolic syndrome.  The researchers compared two lipid-lowering approaches, one focusing only on lowering LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and the other that lowered LDL and raised HDL.  They found measurable benefits from the combination therapy.  For every 10 percent of LDL-lowering, they found a 0.3 percent reduction in artery narrowing and a 13 percent event reduction.  For every 10 percent of HDL-raising, they observed a 0.2 percent reduction in vessel narrowing and a 22 percent event reduction.  The trials compared intensive blood-fat lowering therapy to placebos on CAD progression, with angiography assessing artery status and major cardiovascular events recorded over 2.5 to 3 years.  Untreated metabolic syndrome patients had significantly more rapid CAD progression and more cardiovascular events.  However, lipid-lowering therapy decreased CAD progression in metabolic syndrome patients by 86 percent and reduced the event rate by 54 percent.