Posted on 10/24/2011 11:01:13 PM PDT by neverdem
THE HYPOTHESIS
Human papillomavirus may increase the chances of heart disease by suppressing an important gene.
THE INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Kenichi Fujise, University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, and colleagues.
A new study suggests that a common sexually transmitted virus already linked to cancer may also cause cardiovascular disease.
Women infected with the human papillomavirus, or HPV, are two to three times as likely as uninfected women to have had a heart attack or stroke, according to a report published on Monday in The Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
HPV is known to cause cancer of the cervix, vulva, penis, anus and throat, but the new study is the first to connect the virus to heart disease. The heart findings are not definitive: They show the virus may be associated with heart disease, but do not prove it caused the disease.
The senior author of the study, Dr. Kenichi Fujise, a cardiologist at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, said the research grew out of his quest to find out why some people have heart attacks even though they have none of the usual risk factors, like high cholesterol or high blood pressure. About 20 percent of patients with heart disease lack obvious risk factors, and researchers think those people must have other underlying problems that science has not yet figured out.
Dr. Fujise decided to study HPV because the virus can sabotage a gene called p53, which normally protects the body from cancer and may also help prevent artery disease. Inactivation of p53 occurs in a variety of cancers, and the gene is considered to be a sort of guardian of the genome. Disabling p53 may also lead to inflammation and thickening in the walls of arteries.
HPV is the most common sexually. . .
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between human papillomavirus (HPV) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) among U.S. women.
Background: Oncogenic proteins derived from tumor-associated HPV induce the degradation of tumor suppressor protein p53. Inactivation of p53 is associated with accelerated atherosclerotic process. However, the association between HPV infection with CVD remains unclear.
Methods: Data were from 2,450 women (age 20 to 59 years) in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2003 to 2006. Self-collected vaginal swab specimens were sent for HPV DNA analysis by L1 consensus polymerase chain reaction followed by type-specific hybridization. CVD was ascertained by self-reported diagnosis of myocardial infarction or stroke.
Results: A total of 60 females (39 women were HPV DNA positive, whereas 21 were negative) had coronary artery disease. Presence of vaginal HPV DNA was associated with CVD. Odds ratio (OR) of CVD comparing women with presence of vaginal HPV DNA to those without was 2.30 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.27 to 4.16) after controlling for demographics, health/sex behaviors, medical comorbidities, cardiovascular risk factors, and management. At the same level of adjustment, OR of CVD comparing women with cancer-associated HPV types to those with negative HPV was 2.86 (95% CI: 1.43 to 5.70).
Conclusions: HPV infection, especially cancer-associated oncogenic types, is associated with CVD among women.
I think we will learn that viruses are probably the #1 cause for many chronic and acute conditons we once thought were idiopathic.
Unfortunately HPV is a tough virus to attack. My colleagues in viral research say that the retroviruses (HIV) are relatively easy to confront. Bad news as, indeed, many diseases may have a virus as the primary etiological basis. Good news is that as these diseases are identified the priority of fighting HPV will increase and research funding will rise accordingly.
Research funding may rise and one might hope that certain behaviors might decline in numbers accordingly (if not irrespectively, knowing the dangers) but somehow, doubt that will happen; at least significantly.
If there are any doubts as to what motivations lie beyond the 'sex ed' curriculum; one has only to read (Drudge Report today and easily enough) and the latest sex indoctrination MO in New York and it's controversy and notice how younger and younger the age stats are for indiscriminate sexual behaviors. And of course, the 'Lewinski effect' per younger teens still having impact.
. It is not allowed to bring moral reason into the classroom - but the Left's lack thereof is clearly allowed and invited; if not mandated.
hate to but in, but are eggs and salt safe to eat again?
2 penny cure....don’t get it, and if you got it, don’t spread
it.
“Results: A total of 60 females (39 women were HPV DNA positive, whereas 21 were negative) had coronary artery disease. Presence of vaginal HPV DNA was associated with CVD. Odds ratio (OR) of CVD comparing women with presence of vaginal HPV DNA to those without was 2.30 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.27 to 4.16) after controlling for demographics, health/sex behaviors, medical comorbidities, cardiovascular risk factors, and management. At the same level of adjustment, OR of CVD comparing women with cancer-associated HPV types to those with negative HPV was 2.86 (95% CI: 1.43 to 5.70).”
Interesting, but I’ll need a mathematician for statistical analysis.
What is the percentage of women out of 2450 who would have CVD anyway? Twenty-one out of the 60 weren’t HPV positive. My 2 cents.
I thought this was old news: isn’t that how Keynes died?
(Heart disease caused by his homosexual activities in youth.)
I thought this was old news: isn’t that how Keynes died?
(Heart disease caused by his homosexual activities in youth.)
Some 90% of women are infected with one or more of the 200 strains of HPV at some point in her lifetime. Some cause warts, some cause cancers. Few strains require sexual contact, HPV is generally transmissible by touch.
Use of hormonal contraceptives increases the risk of heart attack, blood clots, and stroke. Use of hormonal contraceptives also correlates strongly with STD infection. Did the researchers “control” that factor out?
And the moral of the story, ladies, is: keep your panties on.
It will be interesting to see if HPV vaccination affects CVD rates in the future.
The range does not cross one so they are statistically valid at the 95% confidence level.
Vascular disease prevalence in women varies with age, relatively low pre menopause, becoming very common after menopause becoming the most common cause of death in senior women.
The fact that all weren't HPV positive is not surprising. Even if HPV doubled risk, you would still expect a significant portion to be HPV negative.
It’s not quite that simple. Even a monogomous woman is exposed to every sexual partner her husband has had.
Men need to keep their pants zipped too.
Oral contraceptives increase blood coagulability which leads to the effects you list. Vascular disease is a different end point and oral contraceptives do not appear to speed development of it. In fact if hormonal supplementation is begun at menopause, it may delay the development of vascular disease. Of course that is still being argued about.
Well thank you very much.
I find the timing of this finding interesting with all the Gardasil spin and hoopla. I am quite sure they will find many other viruses responsible for our ailments. Me, I just want to see my kid through college and maybe peek at a grandchild or two. After that, let the cards fall where they may!
Nice screen name Doc!
This study examined only results - a heart attack or stroke - not whether the patient had vascular disease. The heart attack or stroke could have been caused by increased blood coagulability, if the subjects were using hormonal contraceptives.
I can’t find a link back to the original article.
He does state that the end point is heart disease not heart attack or stroke. He also says that the results were stratified for other common causes of heart disease. What those statements mean remains a mystery.
From the article. Of course, the writer on this article could just plain have it wrong.
Anyhow, infections are bad ;-).
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