Lipoprotein (A) biomarkers for clinical practice / Монголын Анагаах Ухаан

@#A lot of factors can cause coronary heart disease and ischemic stroke including external risk factors such as tobacco, alcohol consumption, decreased physical activity, obesity while arterial maintenance, high blood sugar, increased LDL are internal risk factors. We can reduce our external risk factors by changing our lifestyle. Recent studies have shown increased blood Lp(a) levels are independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. After 1987, the number of publications has increased since the cDNA homology sequence of Lp(a) and plasminogen 2 was identified. Lp(a) is protein complex consisting from apolipoprotein, phospholipid, free cholesterol, cholesterol esters and tryglyceride. Apoliprotein is a lipid that binds with lipoprotein. Lipoproteins have water-soluble and fat-soluble parts, and those parts bind to lipids and are transported in the bloodstream.How is elevated Lp(a) a risk factor for cardiovascular disease? How much does lowering Lp(a) reduce CVD risk factors? If high Lp(a) concentrations are present, mitigation measures are outlined below.

Cuantificación imaginológica no invasiva de la carga aterosclerótica en la evaluación avanzada del riesgo cardiovascular / Noninvasive imaging of the atherosclerotic burden in the advanced assessment of cardiovascular risk

Introducción: La detección y la cuantificación de la carga aterosclerótica por técnicas de imagen no invasiva es un marcador cada vez más usado en la evaluación y reestratificación del riesgo cardiovascular. La cuantificación de la carga de aterosclerosis para la evaluación del riesgo cardiovascular requiere por tanto una herramienta precisa, ya que el riesgo aumenta de manera proporcional a la carga de enfermedad subclínica. Objetivo: Profundizar en las técnicas de imagen no invasivas que permiten la cuantificación imaginológica de la carga aterosclerótica global en su fase subclínica y su importancia en la reevaluación precoz del riesgo cardiovascular. Desarrollo: Entre todas las modalidades de imagen, la puntuación de calcio coronario por tomografía axial computarizada y la cuantificación de la carga de aterosclerosis por ecografía vascular tridimensional han demostrado mejorar la valoración del riesgo cardiovascular individual por encima de las escalas de riesgo convencionales basadas en la presencia de factores de riesgo tradicionales, pues identifica directamente la enfermedad y reclasifica a los individuos de riesgo bajo e intermedio de manera más efectiva. Conclusiones: La cuantificación imaginológica no invasiva de la carga aterosclerótica mejora de manera significativa la exactitud y precisión en la predicción de las escalas de estimación del riesgo cardiovascular global universalmente validadas, pues incrementa su capacidad de discriminación y reclasificación de la población con riesgo de enfermedad cardiovascular(AU)

Introduction: The detection and quantification of the atherosclerotic burden by non-invasive imaging techniques is a marker increasingly used in the evaluation and re-stratification of cardiovascular risk. The quantification of the atherosclerosis burden for the assessment of cardiovascular risk therefore requires a precise tool, since the risk increases proportionally to the burden of subclinical disease. Objective: To deepen the non-invasive imaging techniques that allow the imaginological quantification of the global atherosclerotic burden in its subclinical phase and its importance in the early reassessment of cardiovascular risk. Development: Among all imaging modalities, the coronary calcium score by computed tomography and the quantification of the atherosclerosis burden by three-dimensional vascular ultrasound have been shown to improve the assessment of individual cardiovascular risk above conventional risk scales based on presence of traditional risk factors, since it directly identifies the disease and reclassifies individuals at low and intermediate risk more effectively. Conclusions: The non-invasive imaginological quantification of the atherosclerotic burden significantly improves the accuracy and precision in the prediction of the globally validated global cardiovascular risk estimation scales, as it increases their discrimination and reclassification capacity of the population at risk of cardiovascular disease(AU)

The impact of intravenous thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke in National Medical College, Kolkata: initial experience

Background: Acute ischemic stroke is a potentially treatable condition, if left untreated, lead to mortality and morbidity. This study was conducted to study clinical profile of patients with acute ischemic stroke receiving intravenous thrombolysis (r-TPA-alteplase) and to measure the outcome of thrombolysis.Methods: Retrospective observational study of 54 patients who underwent thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke at National Medical College, Kolkata over a period of one year.Results: There was statistically significant improvement in NIHSS (p value-0.000) after intravenous thrombolysis.Conclusions: IV thrombolysis is feasible for AIS in governmental hospital in India.

Palliative treatment of coronary “atherosclerotic cancer” by drug-eluting or bare-metal stents: From oculo-stenotic reflex period to age of precision medicine

Medications and treatments are said to have a palliative effect if they relieve symptoms without having a curative effect on the underlying disease such as atherosclerosis or cancer. Some authors speculated that atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD) could be considered a “cancer of the coronary arterial wall”. Although the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has proven to be effective in decreasing mortality rates among patients with acute coronary syndromes, the previous meta-analyses of PCI versus optimal medical therapy for stable CAD have not been able to demonstrate a reduction in major adverse cardiac outcomes. However, few cardiologists discussed the evidence-based benefits of angiogram and PCI for stable CAD, and some implicitly or explicitly overstated the benefits. Recently, the precision medicine is defined as an evidence-based approach that uses innovative tools and biological and data science to customize disease prevention, detection, and treatment, and improve the effectiveness and quality of patient care. Providing patients with accurate and complete information appears to be an effective way to combat the reliance on the oculostenotic reflex. The foundation of precision medicine is the ability to tailor therapy based upon the expected risks and benefits of treatment for each individual patient. As said by Doctor William Osler, “The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease.”

Atherothrombosis risk factors in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on oxygen therapy / Fatores de risco para aterotrombose em pacientes com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica em oxigenoterapia

The objective of the study was to identify risk factors for atherothrombosis in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on oxygen therapy. 62 patients of the UFU-HC Home Care program were included. COPD was diagnosed through clinical aspects added with an altered spirometry (FEV1/FVC ≤ 0.7 post BD). The following risk factors for atherothrombosis were evaluated: body composition (body weight, BMI, WCI), fasting glucose, plasmatic lipid profile (TC, LDL-C, HDL-C and triglycerides), tobacco use disorder, sedentarism, rest blood pressure, 6-minute walk test, CRP, FEV1, rest HR, hypoxemia and Framingham score. The mean weight (kg) was 59.3 ± 15.3 with a BMI of 24.4 ± 5.5 and WHR of 1.0 ± 0.1. The risk factors: TC, LDL-C, triglycerides, fasting glucose, systemic BP and tobacco use disorder were equally distributed between the groups and only HDL-C was significantly lower in men. The Framingham score was higher and with statistically significant variation in men. The other variables were also equally distributed between men and women, except the FEV1, which was lower in men. It was concluded that men with COPD on oxygen therapy have a higher Framingham score than women. The lower HDL-C and FEV1 in men represents an elevated risk for atherothrombosis. Lower FEV1, higher CRP and hypoxemia were found in the studied population and represent risk factors for atherothrombosis.

O objetivo do estudo foi identificar fatores de risco para aterotrombose em pacientes com DPOC em oxigenoterapia. Foram incluídos 62 pacientes do programa de Assistência Domiciliar HC - UFU. A DPOC foi diagnosticada através da clínica com alteração na espirometria (VEF1/CVF ≤ 0.7 pós BD). Foram avaliados os fatores de risco para aterotrombose: composição corporal (peso corporal, IMC e ICQ), glicemia de jejum, perfil lipídico plasmático (CT, LDL-C, HDL-C e triglicérides), tabagismo e carga tabágica, sedentarismo, pressão arterial sistêmica de repouso, teste de caminhada de 6 minutos, PCR, VEF1, FC repouso, hipoxemia e escore de Framingham. A média de peso (kg) foi 59,3 ± 15,3 com IMC de 24,4 ± 5,5 e ICQ de 1,0 ± 0,1. Os fatores de risco: elevação de TG, CT, LDL-C, glicemia de jejum, pressão arterial sistêmica e o tabagismo estavam, igualmente, distribuídos entre os grupos, sendo que, apenas o HDL-C foi significativamente mais baixo no homem. O escore de Framingham foi maior e com diferença estatisticamente significante no sexo masculino. As demais variáveis estudadas também estavam distribuídas entre homens e mulheres, igualmente, exceto quanto ao VEF1, que foi mais baixo no homem. Concluiu-se que homens com DPOC e em oxigenioterapia apresentam escore de Framingham mais elevado do que as mulheres. A redução de HDL-C e VEF1 em homens representa um acréscimo no risco para aterotrombose. O VEF1 reduzido, PCR aumentada e hipoxemia foram características encontradas em toda a população estudada e, também, representam fatores de risco para aterotrombose.

Eriptosis: mecanismos moleculares y su implicación en la enfermedad aterotrombótica / Eryptosis: molecular mechanisms and their implications in atherothrombotic disease

Introducción: La eriptosis se ha descrito como el proceso de muerte celular programada en el eritrocito antes de la senectud. Puede desencadenarse en situaciones como: el estrés osmótico, el estrés oxidativo, la exposición a metales pesados, entre otros factores. Diversos estudios sugieren que los eritrocitos pueden desempeñar un papel activo en la hemostasia normal o anormal en ciertas condiciones en las que se produce perturbación de la membrana de estas células. Objetivo: Describir los mecanismos involucrados en la eriptosis y su estrecha relación con los procesos de adhesión a la pared vascular que conllevan a la enfermedad trombótica. Método: Se hizo una revisión narrativa a partir de la literatura encontrada en las bases de datos PubMed y Science Direct utilizando las palabras claves. Se seleccionaron 51 artículos originales, 20 revisiones de la literatura y un estudio de casos, que se ajustaban a las exigencias del objetivo. Se revisaron los resúmenes de forma separada e independiente. Seguidamente se buscaron las publicaciones en el texto completo para la revisión. Conclusiones: La eriptosis se caracteriza por la disminución del volumen celular, la vesiculación y la translocación del fosfatidil serina hacia la superficie externa de la membrana plasmática. Las alteraciones en la distribución de los fosfolípidos favorecen los procesos de adhesión celular a la pared vascular, conllevando al deterioro de la microcirculación, lo cual puede ocasionar importantes trastornos a nivel cardiovascular. La comprensión y el esclarecimiento de la eriptosis pueden ser esenciales para la búsqueda de nuevas dianas terapéuticas, encaminadas a ofrecer otras alternativas farmacológicas en el tratamiento de la enfermedad cardiovascular.

Introduction: Eryptosis has been described as programmed process of cellular death in erythrocytes before old age. It can be triggered, among other factors, by situations such as osmotic stress, oxidative stress or exposure to heavy metals. Several studies suggest that erythrocytes can play an active role in normal or abnormal haemostasis in certain conditions where the membrane of these cells is perturbed. Objetive: To describe the mechanisms involved in eryptosis and their close relationship with the processes of adhesion to the vascular wall that entail the thrombotic disease. Methods: A narrative review was carried out from the literature found in data base PubMed and Science Direct by using the key words. 51 original articles, 20 literature reviews and one case study complying with the requirements were selected. Abstracts were reviewed separately and independently. Complete publications were then located for review. Conclusions: Eryptosis is characterised by the decrease in cell volume, the vesiculation and the translocation of phosphatidylserine towards the outer surface of the plasma membrane. Disorders in the distribution of the phospholipids favour processes of cell adhesion to the vascular wall, causing impairment of microcirculation, which can result in important cardiovascular diseases. Understanding and clarifying eryptosis could be essential for finding new therapeutic targets, aimed at offering other pharmacological alternatives for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Study on correlation between genetic polymorphisms of ADIPOR 2 with atherothrombosis cerebral infarction / 重庆医学

Objective To explore the relationship between genetic polymorphisms of ADIPOR2 with serum APN level ,inti‐ma‐media thickness(IMT)and atherothrombosis cerebral infarction risk .Methods The case control study was adopted ,300 patients with atherothrombosis cerebral infarction in our hospital from September 2009 to September 2014 were selected as the observation group ,meanwhile contemporaneous 300 individuals undergoing the physical examination were selected as the control group .The clinical data in all the subjects were collected and performed the carotid arterial examination ,the serum APN level was detected ,the rs12342 polymorphism of ADIPOR2 gene was detected .The genetic polymorphisms of ADIPOR2 were compared between the two groups and its relationship with serum APN and IMT was analyzed .Results The probability for suffering from atherothrombosis cerebral infarction in the AA genotype was increased compared with the GG genotype ,the difference was statistically significant (OR=1 .903 ,95% CI:1 .092-2 .703 ,P=0 .011) .Compared with the control group ,the IM T values in various subgenotype groups of the observation group were elevated ,while the APN levels were decreased ,the differences were statistically significant ( P<0 .01) .Compared with the genotype GG ,the IM T values in the genotype AA and AG were increased and APN levels were de‐creased ,the differences were statistically significant (P<0 .01) .Conclusion Genetic polymorphisms of ADIPOR2 maybe a genetic locus for the pathogenesis of Chinese Han people of atherothrombosis cerebral infarction .

Plants considered useful for hypoglycemic, antihypertensive or hypolipidemic treatments by patients with peripheral vascular diseases / Plantas consideradas útiles como hipoglicemiantes, antihipertensivas o hipolipemiantes por pacientes con enfermedades vasculares periféricas

INTRODUCTION: knowing patients 'believes about the medicinal utility of plants may provide a basis for educating them for a rational use of herb preparations. OBJECTIVE: to characterize the plants that are considered useful for antidiabetic, antihypertensive or hypolipidemic treatment among patients with peripheral vascular diseases. METHODS: a survey was performed among patients of the National Institute of Angiology and Vascular Surgery from February through April 2007. The characteristics of the use of plants as medicinal remedies and the names of species considered useful for the treatment of diabetes, arterial hypertension and dyslipidemia were recorded. RESULTS: two hundred and forty five both sex adult volunteers (142 female/103 male), aged 44 to 72 years) were included in the study. More than 80 % of them used medicinal plants at least occasionally and confided on their efficacy to treat different illnesses Fifteen species, mainly Allium sativum L., Citrus aurantifolia Ch., Justicia pectoralis Jacq.., Morinda citrifolia L., Ocinum sanctum L and Salvia officinalis L, from 11 botanical families, were mentioned by participants. Most patients' claims about plants´ properties have been scientifically supported in some extent, nevertheless, the majority of the pharmacological evidence relays on pre-clinical studies and results of clinical trials are not conclusive. The lack of standardized plant preparations with identified active principles and demonstrated clinical effectiveness are limitations for recommending their therapeutic use. CONCLUSION: this study has provided the first characterization of the use of plant products by patients with peripheral vascular diseases for medicinal purposes and confirmed that physicians should be aware about the possibility of herb-drug interactions that should be diagnosed. This information would aid the scientifically supported integration of Phytotherapy to the clinical practice.

INTRODUCCIÓN: el conocimiento tradicional de los pacientes sobre la utilidad de las plantas medicinales puede servir de base para su educación en el uso racional de las preparaciones herbarias. OBJETIVO: caracterizar las plantas que los pacientes con enfermedades vasculares consideran útiles para el tratamiento de la diabetes, la hipertensión y como hipolipemiante. MÉTODOS: se realizó una encuesta a los pacientes del Instituto Nacional de Angiología y Cirugía Vascular entre febrero y abril de 2007. Las características del empleo de las plantas con fines medicinales y los nombres de las especies consideradas útiles para tratar la diabetes, la hipertensión arterial y la dislipidemia fueron tabulados. RESULTADOS: doscientos cuarenta y cinco adultos voluntarios de ambos sexos (142 femeninos/103 masculinos, edad 44 a 72 años) fueron incluidos en el estudio. Más del 80 % de ellos utilizaban las plantas medicinales al menos ocasionalmente y confiaban en su eficacia para tratar diferentes enfermedades. Quince especies, fundamentalmente Allium sativum L., Citrus aurantifolia Ch., Justicia pectoralis Jacq., Morinda citrifolia L., Ocinum sanctum L. y Salvia officinalis L., pertenecientes a 11 familias botánicas, fueron mencionadas por los participantes en la encuesta. La mayoría de los planteamientos de los pacientes sobre las propiedades de estas plantas tienen algún fundamento científico, sin embargo, las evidencias farmacológicas disponibles son fundamentalmente de tipo pre-clínico y los resultados de los ensayos clínicos efectuados no son concluyentes. La carencia de preparaciones derivadas de plantas estandarizadas, con principios activos identificados y efectividad clínica demostrada, son limitaciones para recomendar su utilización terapéutica. CONCLUSIONES: esta es la primera caracterización del uso de productos de plantas con fines medicinales por pacientes con enfermedades vasculares periféricas, y confirma que los facultativos deben conocer sobre la posibilidad de interacciones planta-medicamento que deben ser diagnosticadas. Esta información ayudaría a la integración de la Fitoterapia a la práctica clínica sustentada científicamente.

Current Antiplatelet Treatment Strategy in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) have accelerated atherosclerosis with an increased risk for atherothrombotic cardiovascular complications. A state of high platelet reactivity and activation, hypercoagulability (prothrombotic state) and a subdued response to standard antiplatelet agents may explain high rate of adverse cardiovascular events in patients with DM. Several antithrombotic treatment strategies have been developed to control the prothrombotic state in patients with DM: dose modification of commonly used agents; use of potent agents; and addition of a third antithrombotic drug (triple therapy) to commonly prescribed dual antiplatelet therapy of aspirin and a P2Y12 inhibitor. The present review aims to provide an overview of the current knowledge on platelet abnormalities in patients with DM, focusing on the challenges and perspectives of antiplatelet treatment strategies in this population.

Pharmacological Activities of Blumea lacera (Burm. f) DC: A Medicinal Plant of Bangladesh.

Aims: The crude methanol extract of whole plant of Blumea lacera (Burn.f.) DC. has been investigated for anti-diarrheal, antimicrobial, anxiolytic, anti-atherothrombosis, membrane stabilizing and alpha-amylase inhibitory activities. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in 2013 in the Department of Pharmacy, Southern University Bangladesh, Chittagong, Bangladesh. Methodology: Test for anti-diarrheal activity was carried out by castor oil-induced diarrhea in mice. The preliminary antimicrobial activity was determined by the agar disc diffusion method. The anxiolytic activity was examined in mice by using the hole board test and open field test (OFT). The anti-atherothrombosis activity was evaluated using standard streptokinase. The membrane stabilizing activity was assessed by using hypotonic solution induced hemolysis of human erythrocyte. The plant extract was also assessed for anti-diabetic ability using In vitro α-amylase inhibitory potential. The α- amylase inhibitory activity of B. lacera was measured using the starch-iodine method. Results: The crude extract of B. lacera showed anti-diarrheal activity in dose-dependent manner. In antimicrobial assay, this extract showed better activity against the tested fungi compared to the bacteria used in the screening. Significant anxiolytic activity was found for this plant extract. In the In vitro anti-atherothrombosis test, the extract exhibited 46.17% clot lysis as compared to the standard, streptokinase (81.53%). In membrane stabilizing activity test, the plant extract at 1.0mg/ml inhibited the heat-induced hemolysis of RBCs by 52.27% whereas the standard acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) demonstrated 81.72% inhibition of hemolysis. Our results revealed that the extract had dose dependent prevention of digestion of carbohydrates by inhibiting α-amylase. The ability of B. lacera to inhibit thermal-and hypotonic-enzyme activity was found to be statistically significant (p=0.05). Conclusion: These results demonstrated that B. lacera may be used in pharmaceutical applications because of its effective pharmacological properties.

Aterotrombose e antiagregantes plaquetários / Atherothrombosis and antiplatelet drugs

A aterotrombose é uma doença do sistema circulatório cujas manifestações clínicas mais significativas (infarto do miocárdio e acidente vascular encefálico) representam atualmente as principais causas de mortalidade, com expectativa de que sua incidência aumente nos próximos anos. O uso clínico de antiagregantes plaquetários encontra-se firmemente consolidado como terapia de escolha na prevenção primária e secundária de eventos clínicos relacionados à aterotrombose. A presente revisão tem como objetivo realizar uma descrição dos aspectos gerais da aterotrombose e dos principais fármacos antiagregantes plaquetários, com uma descrição breve de seus aspectos farmacodinâmicos e farmacocinéticos.

Atherothrombosis is a circulatory system disease whose most significant clinical manifestations (myocardial infarction and stroke) are today the leading causes of death worldwide, expected to increase over the coming years. The clinical use of antiplatelet agents is firmly established as the therapy of choice in primary and secondary prevention of clinical events related to atherothrombosis. This review offers a description of the general aspects of atherothrombosis and the main antiplatelet drugs,with a brief outline of their pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic aspects.

Nanoparticles-A Thoracic Toxicology Perspective

A substantial literature demonstrates that the main ultrafine particles found in ambient urban air are combustion-derived nanoparticles (CDNP) which originate from a number of sources and pose a hazard to the lungs. For CDNP, three properties appear important-surface area, organics and metals. All of these can generate free radicals and so induce oxidative stress and inflammation. Inflammation is a process involved in the diseases exhibited by the individuals susceptible to the effects of PM- development and exacerbations of airways disease and cardiovascular disease. It is therefore possible to implicate CDNP in the common adverse effects of increased PM. The adverse effects of increases in PM on the cardiovascular system are well-documented in the epidemiological literature and, as argued above, these effects are likely to be driven by the combustion-derived NP. The epidemiological findings can be explained in a number of hypotheses regarding the action of NP:-1) Inflammation in the lungs caused by NP causes atheromatous plaque development and destabilization; 2) The inflammation in the lungs causes alteration in the clotting status or fibrinolytic balance favouring thrombogenesis; 3) The NP themselves or metals/organics released by the particles enter the circulation and have direct effects on the endothelium, plaques, the clotting system or the autonomic nervous system/ heart rhythm. Environmental nanoparticles are accidentally produced but they provide a toxicological model for a new class of purposely 'engineered' NP arising from the nanotechnology industry, whose effects are much less understood. Bridging our toxicological knowledge between the environmental nanoparticles and the new engineered nanoparticles is a considerable challenge.

Need for surveillance of concomitant peripheral artery disease in patients with coronary disease: results of the AGATHA survey in Malaysia / 老年心脏病学杂志（英文版）

Background For patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD), co-existence of peripheral artery disease (PAD) predicts increased mortality, and such patients are also more likely to benefit from aggressive therapy. Surveillance of PAD is often neglected at health clinics. Our aim is to highlight the importance and ease of surveillance of PAD in patients with CVD. Objective To determine the prevalence of symptomatic and asymptomatic PAD in a Malaysian patient population with documented CVD. Methods and Results A total of 393 subjects with established CVD were recruited from three centres (85 women and 308 men), as part of a larger international (AGATHA) survey. PAD, determined by presence of claudicant symptoms on interview and/or abnormal ankle-brachial index (ABI)score of less than 0.9, was present in 21.4% of patients - of whom 64% were asymptomatic. Abnormal ABI is associated with higher systolic blood pressure and number of arterial beds affected. Conclusions Concomitant PAD is prevalent among CVD patients in Malaysia. ABI screening is simple and yields a high proportion of patients with extensive atherosclerosis who may require more aggressive atherosclerotic risk management.