Arch Med Sci
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Hypercholesterolemia is one of the main risk factors for coronary heart disease and significantly contributes to the high mortality associated with cardiovascular diseases. Statin therapy represents the gold standard in the reduction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration. ⋯ After confirmation of their efficacy and safety in clinical trials, evolocumab and alirocumab received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) for introduction into clinical practice. In this review, we present a history of the development and mechanisms of action, as well as the results of the most important studies concerning PCSK9 inhibitors.
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Atorvastatin and sitagliptin are able to exert cardio-protective effects. However, whether atorvastatin plus sitagliptin could confer additive benefits for rats with myocardial infarction (MI) is unknown. ⋯ In rats with MI, atorvastatin plus sitagliptin therapy provides additive effects for cardio-protection, and mechanisms operating in these processes may be due to ROCK2 diminishment.
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The interrelation between metabolic syndrome (MetS) (the revised National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III) and International Diabetes Federation (IDF)) and obesity indices in predicting clinical severity and prognosis of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is insufficiently known. ⋯ MetS (NCEP-ATP III) and several central obesity indices are superior to BMI in predicting acute STEMI severity (clinical presentation, in-hospital complications, severity of coronary disease), while WC and MetS (IDF) have no influence on it. They all have no influence on prognosis.
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Paravalvular leak (PVL) related to a surgical prosthetic valve may be associated with clinically significant hemolysis. The influence of transcatheter PVL closure (TPVLC) on hemolysis remains uncertain. ⋯ Risk factors for PVL-related hemolysis were the presence of calcifications in the defect and mitral location of PVL. The TPVLC effectively reduced hemolysis if at least 90% reduction of PVL cross sectional area was achieved. The effect was sustained in 6-month follow-up. Incomplete closure of PVL may increase the magnitude of hemolysis after TPVLC, but it occurred rarely.
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This study was designed to test the hypothesis that high-dose ascorbate prior to reperfusion followed by low chronic oral doses ameliorate myocardial reperfusion injury (MRI) in acute myocardial infarction patients subjected to primary percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PCA). ⋯ Ascorbate given prior to reperfusion did not show a significant difference in infarct size or ejection fraction. However, it improved the change in ejection fraction determined between 7-15 days and 2-3 months. This result hints at a possible functional effect of ascorbate to ameliorate MRI.