Atherosclerosis
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Efficacy and safety of rosuvastatin 40 mg versus atorvastatin 80 mg in high-risk patients with hypercholesterolemia: results of the POLARIS study.
POLARIS investigated the efficacy and safety of rosuvastatin 40 mg and atorvastatin 80 mg in high-risk patients with hypercholesterolemia. Patients (n=871) were randomized to rosuvastatin 40 mg/day or atorvastatin 80 mg/day for 26 weeks. The primary endpoint was percentage change in LDL-C levels at 8 weeks. ⋯ Based on a US analysis, rosuvastatin used fewer resources and delivered greater efficacy. Intensive lipid-lowering therapy with rosuvastatin 40 mg/day provided greater LDL-C-lowering efficacy than atorvastatin 80 mg/day, enabling more patients to achieve LDL-C goals. Rosuvastatin may therefore improve LDL-C goal achievement in high-risk patients with hypercholesterolemia.
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In type 1 diabetes, the ratios to cholesterol of serum absorption markers, e.g., cholestanol, are elevated and those of synthesis markers, e.g., lathosterol, are reduced suggesting perturbed cholesterol metabolism. We studied 17 subjects with type 1 diabetes in poor glycemic control at baseline to assess whether improvement of glycemic control affects lathosterol and cholestanol ratios to cholesterol and their distribution in lipoproteins. Cholesterol and the non-cholesterol sterols were assayed directly from serum, and free and ester fractions after thin-layer chromatographic separation of lipoprotein sterols with gas-liquid chromatography. ⋯ Glycemic control did not affect the distributions of lathosterol and cholestanol. In conclusion, improvement in glycemic control increased cholesterol synthesis, but had no effect on cholesterol absorption as measured by the serum or lipoprotein cholestanol to cholesterol ratio. From a clinical point of view, the better the glycemic control, the more antiatherogenic cholesterol metabolism may be in type 1 diabetes.
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Patterns of metabolic syndrome among populations in the Asia-Pacific region remain unknown. This study sought to establish the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Taiwan and the risk of cardiovascular disease imparted by this syndrome. ⋯ Metabolic syndrome was highly prevalent among the adult population and associated with an increased risk for coronary heart disease and stroke.
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Comparative Study
Mitral annular calcification predicts mortality and coronary artery disease in end stage renal disease.
We sought to determine whether mitral annular calcification (MAC) predicts mortality and cardiac disease in a group of renal transplant candidates. ⋯ MAC is associated with increased mortality and significant CAD in ESRD. These patients have increased LV cavity size, poorer LV systolic function, higher LV filling pressures compared to patients without MAC.
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Effects of potent free radical scavenger, edaravone, on oxidative stress-induced endothelial damage and early atherosclerosis were investigated using animal models and cultured cells. ⋯ These results suggest that edaravone may be a useful therapeutic tool for early atherosclerosis, pending the clinical efficacy.