European journal of clinical investigation
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Oct 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialEffect of weight loss on markers of triglyceride-rich lipoprotein metabolism in the metabolic syndrome.
Hypertriglyceridaemia, a consistent feature of dyslipidaemia in the metabolic syndrome (MetS), is related to the extent of abdominal fat mass and altered adipocytokine secretion. We determined the effect of weight loss by dietary restriction on markers of triglyceride-rich lipoprotein (TRL) metabolism and plasma adipocytokines. ⋯ In men with MetS, weight loss decreases the plasma concentrations of apoB-48, VLDL-apoB, RLP-cholesterol and triglycerides. This effect could partly relate to concomitant changes in plasma apoC-III and adiponectin concentrations that accelerate the catabolism of TRLs.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Mar 2008
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyImprovement of glycaemic control by nateglinide decreases systolic blood pressure in drug-naive patients with type 2 diabetes.
It has been speculated that oral hypoglycaemic agents that block K-ATP channels could potentially increase blood pressure by blocking such channels in vascular myocytes. No information about this issue exists regarding nateglinide. ⋯ In drug-naive patients with type 2 diabetes, the improvement in glycaemic control with nateglinide is associated with a decrease in systolic blood pressure.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Nov 2007
Randomized Controlled TrialLong-term prognostic value of B-type natriuretic peptide in cardiac and non-cardiac causes of acute dyspnoea.
B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels significantly predict increased risk of death in heart failure. The predictive role of BNP levels in patients with non-cardiac causes of acute dyspnoea presenting to the emergency department is not well characterized. ⋯ BNP levels are strong and independent predictors for long-term mortality in unselected dyspnoeic patients presenting to the emergency department independent from the cause of dyspnoea.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Sep 2006
Randomized Controlled TrialSurvival in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension treated with first-line bosentan.
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a devastating disease of the small pulmonary arteries and arterioles, characterized by intimal fibrosis, medial hypertrophy and plexiform lesions. When untreated both the idiopathic form (IPAH, formerly termed primary pulmonary hypertension, PPH) and PAH related to various other conditions such as scleroderma (SSc) often take a progressive course with high mortality. There is ongoing search for disease-specific treatments that are able to improve survival in these patients. The oral dual endothelin (ET(A)/ET(B)) antagonist bosentan has been shown to improve exercise capacity, time to clinical worsening, haemodynamics and quality of life in short-term studies. ⋯ The present analyses suggest that first-line bosentan therapy, followed by the addition of other disease-specific therapies as required, improves survival in patients with advanced PAH.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Aug 2006
Randomized Controlled TrialAnti-emetic prophylaxis with oral tropisetron and/or dexamethasone.
The corticosteroid dexamethasone and the serotonine3 -antagonist tropisetron are both effective drugs for the prophylaxis of post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) when given intravenously. The aim of this trial was to evaluate the oral use of both drugs as part of a routine oral premedication and to compare their single and combined effectiveness. ⋯ Oral tropisetron and dexamethasone were both equally effective in reducing the severity and incidence of post-operative nausea and vomiting. The latter could be reduced by approximately 35% in a population of moderate-high risk for PONV. Both drugs had an additive effect. However, even in the combination group there still remained an unacceptably high incidence of PONV of more than 20%. This highlighted the need for a multimodal anti-emetic approach in high-risk patients and the importance of treatment of PONV.