Monitoring of up to 15 years effects of lipoprotein apheresis on lipids, biomarkers of inflammation, and soluble endoglin in familial hypercholesterolemia patients.

BACKGROUND: Lipoprotein apheresis (LA) is considered as an add-on therapy for patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). We aimed to analyze the data collected in the last 15 years from FH patients treated with LA, to elucidate the benefit of this procedure with respect to plasma lipids, biomarkers of inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction and soluble endoglin. RESULTS: 14 patients (10 heterozygous FH patients (HeFH), 4 homozygous FH patients (HoFH)) were treated by long-term lipoprotein apheresis. Lipid levels were examined, and ELISA detected biomarkers of inflammation and soluble endoglin. Paired tests were used for intergroup comparisons, and a linear regression model served to estimate the influence of the number of days patients were treated with LA on the studied parameters. LA treatment was associated with a significant decrease of total cholesterol (TC), LDL-C, HDL-C, and apoB, in both HeFH and HoFH patients, after single apheresis and in a long-term period during the monitored interval of 15 years. Biomarkers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction were reduced for soluble endoglin, hsCRP, and MCP-1, and sP-selectin after each procedure in some HeFH and HoFH patients. CONCLUSIONS: LA treatment up to 15 years, reduced cholesterol levels, levels of biomarkers related to endothelial dysfunction, and inflammation not only after each procedure but also in the long-term evaluation in FH patients. We propose that long-term LA treatment improves lipid profile and endothelial dysfunction in familial hypercholesterolemia patients, suggesting a promising improvement in cardiovascular prognosis in most FH patients.

La Ciudad de las Niñas y los Niños de Huesca, una oportunidad en el diseño de entornos y políticas públicas saludables / The City of Girls and Boys of Huesca (Spain), an opportunity for designing healthy environment and public policies

La Ciudad de las Niñas y los Niños es un proyecto internacional que pretende fomentar la autonomía y la participación infantil plena en la construcción de la ciudad. Tras aprobarse en 2011 en el pleno del Ayuntamiento de Huesca, se crearon el Consejo de las Niñas y los Niños y el Laboratorio de la Ciudad, órganos en los que hay representación de todos los colegios de Huesca. Para hacer explícito el trabajo sobre la salud se han incorporado actividades como «Caminos saludables», en la que se utiliza la técnica del mapeo de activos. Además del trabajo interdisciplinario entre distintas áreas del ayuntamiento, profesionales de los sectores educativo (colegios y universidad), sanitario y social, se observan impactos en el entorno físico urbano, con la remodelación de un parque, una calle y una plaza; y en los estilos de vida de los escolares, al aumentar el número de aquellos que van andando solos al colegio

The City of Girls and Boys of Huesca (Spain) is an international project that seeks to foster children's autonomy and full participation in the construction of the city. Following its formal approval at the City Council of Huesca, the Girls and Boys Board and the City Laboratory were created, both of which include children from all the schools of Huesca. To highlightthe work on health, activities such as "Healthy School Paths", in which the asset mapping technique is used, were incorporated. Besides the interdisciplinary work among different areas of the city council, professionals from education (schools and university), health and social services, effects on the urban physical environment, with one street, park and square remodelled; and on the children's lifestyles, with more children walking to school alone, have been observed

[The City of Girls and Boys of Huesca (Spain), an opportunity for designing healthy environment and public policies]. / La Ciudad de las Niñas y los Niños de Huesca, una oportunidad en el diseño de entornos y políticas públicas saludables.

The City of Girls and Boys of Huesca (Spain) is an international project that seeks to foster children's autonomy and full participation in the construction of the city. Following its formal approval at the City Council of Huesca, the Girls and Boys Board and the City Laboratory were created, both of which include children from all the schools of Huesca. To highlightthe work on health, activities such as "Healthy School Paths", in which the asset mapping technique is used, were incorporated. Besides the interdisciplinary work among different areas of the city council, professionals from education (schools and university), health and social services, effects on the urban physical environment, with one street, park and square remodelled; and on the children's lifestyles, with more children walking to school alone, have been observed.