Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Saeed Aslani, Bahman Razi, Danyal Imani, Keyhan Mohammadi, Tannaz Jamialahmadi, Zeljko Reiner, Amirhossein Sahebkar
Summary: A systematic review and meta-analysis showed that statin therapy effectively lowered levels of total cholesterol, LDL-C, and TG, and increased levels of HDL-C in patients with different CVDs.
CURRENT MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Braulio Valdebenito-Maturana, Franco Valdebenito-Maturana, Monica Carrasco, Juan Carlos Tapia, Alejandro Maureira
Summary: High cholesterol levels are associated with a high risk of cardiovascular diseases, making it critical to lower cholesterol levels through pharmacological care. Statin therapy, while beneficial, can cause skeletal muscle disorders. The mechanisms behind these side effects are unknown.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Hematology
Chieko Hamada, Masumi Okuda, Yasuhiko Tomino
Summary: This study compares the effects of pitavastatin and standard therapy on mortality and cardiovascular events in chronic hemodialysis patients with dyslipidemia, and finds that pitavastatin is more effective than standard therapy.
BLOOD PURIFICATION
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Dan Zhou, Xiaocong Liu, Kenneth Lo, Yuqing Huang, Yingqing Feng
Summary: The TC/HDL-C ratio has a nonlinear association with all-cause mortality, with both too low and too high ratios being associated with increased risk. However, there is no significant association between TC/HDL-C ratio and cardiovascular mortality.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Substance Abuse
Augusto Di Castelnuovo, Simona Costanzo, Marialaura Bonaccio, Patrick McElduff, Allan Linneberg, Veikko Salomaa, Satu Mannisto, Marie Moitry, Jean Ferrieres, Jean Dallongeville, Barbara Thorand, Hermann Brenner, Marco Ferrario, Giovanni Veronesi, Emanuela Pettenuzzo, Abdonas Tamosiunas, Inger Njolstad, Wojciech Drygas, Yuri Nikitin, Stefan Soderberg, Frank Kee, Guido Grassi, Dirk Westermann, Benedikt Schrage, Salim Dabboura, Tanja Zeller, Kari Kuulasmaa, Stefan Blankenberg, Maria Benedetta Donati, Giovanni de Gaetano, Licia Iacoviello
Summary: The study found that individuals who consumed less than 10 g of alcohol per day had a decreased risk of total mortality compared to lifetime abstainers, while those who consumed more than 20 g per day had an increased risk of total mortality. The association of alcohol with fatal outcomes was similar between genders, varied between countries, and was more pronounced in individuals who preferred wine. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol explained part of the association between low alcohol intake and mortality.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Xianfeng Wu, Jiao Meng, Lei Zhou, Xiaojiang Zhan, Yueqiang Wen, Xiaoyang Wang, Xiaoran Feng, Niansong Wang, Fenfen Peng, Junnan Wu
Summary: This study found a U-shaped association between the serum albumin to total cholesterol ratio and mortality in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. A ratio between 0.77 and 0.82 was associated with a lower risk of death compared to higher or lower ratios.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Medical Laboratory Technology
Xin Su, Ye Cheng, Dong Chang
Summary: Dyslipidemia is associated with various health issues, and statins are highlighted as the cornerstone for lowering LDL-C. Other medications, like PCSK9 inhibitors, are being researched for their effectiveness in reducing circulating LDL-C. Guidelines emphasize individualized clinical precision medicine for dyslipidemia management, focusing on the importance of LDL-C reduction in preventing cardiovascular disease.
CLINICA CHIMICA ACTA
(2021)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Ciaran N. Kohli-Lynch, Brandon K. Bellows, Yiyi Zhang, Bonnie Spring, Dhruv S. Kazi, Mark J. Pletcher, Eric Vittinghoff, Norrina B. Allen, Andrew E. Moran
Summary: The study revealed that around 27% of ASCVD-free young adults in the United States have LDL-C levels >_130 mg/dL, and 9% have LDL-C >_160 mg/dL. Using statins or lifestyle interventions for lipid-lowering can prevent ASCVD events and increase QALYs compared to standard care.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Narges Hedayati, Zahra Oskouei, Jamshid Tabeshpour, Mehri Bemani Naeini
Summary: Nutraceuticals are mainly derived from natural products, showing potential benefits in preventing metabolic disorders. Compounds like lycopene and berberine have shown protective effects, but further research is needed to understand their impact, especially considering individual variations in bioavailability.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Guo-dong He, Xiao-cong Liu, Lin Liu, Yu-ling Yu, Chao-lei Chen, Jia-yi Huang, Kenneth Lo, Yu-qing Huang, Ying-qing Feng
Summary: A nonlinear association between TC levels and all-cause, cancer, and CVD mortality was observed in the American population, suggesting that too low or too high serum total cholesterol levels might correlate with adverse outcomes.
NUTRITION & METABOLISM
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Noorollah Tahery, Sahar Geravandi, Gholamreza Goudarzi, Habib Allah Shahriyari, Saeid Jalali, Mohammad Javad Mohammadi
Summary: This study investigated mortality and hospitalization rates among residents of Bishkek and Ahvaz, showing significant health impacts of dust storms. It suggests the need for environmental authorities to establish and enforce permissible PM10 levels/standards to reduce health risks.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Dea Haagensen Kofod, Nicholas Carlson, Ellen Freese Ballegaard, Thomas Peter Almdal, Christian Torp-Pedersen, Gunnar Gislason, Jesper Hastrup Svendsen, Bo Feldt-Rasmussen, Mads Hornum
Summary: This study investigated the risk of cardiovascular mortality in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD). The results showed that diabetes, albuminuria, and anemia were significant risk factors for cardiovascular mortality, while the predictive value of LDL-cholesterol for cardiovascular mortality in advanced CKD may be limited.
CARDIOVASCULAR DIABETOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Dahai Yu, Zheng Wang, Xiaoxue Zhang, Bingjie Qu, Yamei Cai, Shuang Ma, Zhanzheng Zhao, David Simmons
Summary: The study reveals that in patients with type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease stages 3 to 5, and incident DN, remnant-C is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular mortality, especially when interacting with LDL-C.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM
(2021)
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Takuhiro Moromizato, Kentaro Kohagura, Kiyoyuki Tokuyama, Yoshiki Shiohira, Shigeki Toma, Hajime Uehara, Hisatomi Arima, Shinichiro Ueda, Kunitoshi Iseki
Summary: In chronic hemodialysis patients, diabetes mellitus, history of coronary intervention, and hypoalbuminemia were significant risk factors for mortality during the entire follow-up period. Different risk factors were identified for mortality during early follow-up period (<= 3 years) compared to those who survived for longer than 3 years.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF NEPHROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Sang Heon Suh, Tae Ryom Oh, Hong Sang Choi, Chang Seong Kim, Eun Hui Bae, Seong Kwon Ma, Kook-Hwan Oh, Seung Hyeok Han, Soo Wan Kim
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the association between serum non-HDL-C levels and cardiovascular outcomes in non-dialysis chronic kidney disease patients. The study found that high serum non-HDL-C levels were associated with an increased risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes, and this association was not affected by clinical factors such as age, gender, body mass index, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and albuminuria.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Pawel Krzemien, Slawomir Kasperczyk, Maciej Banach, Aleksandra Kasperczyk, Michal Dobrakowski, Tomasz Tomasik, Adam Windak, Miroslaw Mastej, Alberico Catapano, Kausik K. Ray, Dimitri P. Mikhailidis, Peter P. Toth, George Howard, Gregory Y. H. Lip, Maciej Tomaszewski, Fadi J. Charchar, Naveed Sattar, Bryan Williams, Thomas M. MacDonald, Peter E. Penson, Jacek J. Jozwiak
Summary: The study found that oxidative stress may be associated with an increased probability of ANA formation in a sex-specific manner. In women, the presence of ANA was associated with lower physical activity, less frequent smoking and drinking, significant changes in the activity of SOD isoenzymes, and higher uric acid (UA) concentration. In ANA positive males, lower concentrations of PSH and increased concentrations of MDA were observed.
ARCHIVES OF MEDICAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Michael J. Murphy, Jon S. Dowell, Daniel T. Smith
Summary: This study aimed to examine factors associated with declaration of disability by medical students and doctors, as well as the association of declared disability with academic performance. The study found that specific learning disability was the most commonly declared disability, and the proportion of declared disabilities increased during the study period. Additionally, there was no significant negative association between declared disability and academic performance.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Victoria Palin, Tjeerd P. Van Staa, Stephanie Steels, Andrea B. Troxel, Rolf H. H. Groenwold, Tom M. MacDonald, David Torgerson, Douglas Faries, Pierre Mancini, Mario Ouwens, Lucy J. Frith, Kate Tsirtsonis, Graham MacLennan, Clementine Nordon
Summary: This study aimed to identify and address statistical challenges in pragmatic clinical trials (PCTs) through a modified Delphi method. A panel of 11 experts in clinical trials and statistics reached a consensus on a list of important issues, including attrition risk, heterogeneity of usual care, absence of blinding, subjective endpoint, and trial estimand alignment. The study provides recommendations for trial protocol design and data analysis approaches to anticipate and minimize these challenges.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Isla S. Mackenzie, Thomas M. MacDonald
EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Joanne Coyle, Amy Rogers, Rachel Copland, Giorgia De Paoli, Thomas M. MacDonald, Isla S. Mackenzie
Summary: Background: This qualitative analysis explored stakeholder views on decentralised clinical trials (DCTs) to inform strategies for participant recruitment, retention, and adherence. Results: Factors such as trust, values, and burden influenced recruitment, retention, and adherence in DCTs. Increasing patient and public involvement can address many of these factors. Conclusion: DCTs require greater emphasis on communication and contact to build trust between participants and researchers despite a relative lack of in-person interaction.
Review
Peripheral Vascular Disease
George Stergiou, Mattias Brunstrom, Thomas MacDonald, Konstantinos G. Kyriakoulis, Michael Bursztyn, Nadia Khan, George Bakris, Anastasios Kollias, Ariadni Menti, Paul Muntner, Marcelo Orias, Neil Poulter, Daichi Shimbo, Bryan Williams, Abiodun Moshood Adeoye, Albertino Damasceno, Lyudmila Korostovtseva, Yan Li, Elizabeth Muxfeldt, Yuqing Zhang, Giuseppe Mancia, Reinhold Kreutz, Maciej Tomaszewski
Summary: Antihypertensive drug therapy is effective for preventing disability and death globally, and complete 24-hour blood pressure control should be the primary goal. While bedtime administration of antihypertensive drugs has been proposed as potentially more effective, high-quality data from well-designed studies are needed to support this claim.
JOURNAL OF HYPERTENSION
(2022)
Editorial Material
Medical Laboratory Technology
Michael J. Murphy
ANNALS OF CLINICAL BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Huan Wang, Ruth L. M. Cordiner, Yu Huang, Louise Donnelly, Simona Hapca, Andrew Collier, John J. McKnight, Brian R. Kennon, Fraser R. Gibb, Paul McKeigue, Sarah Wild, Helen Colhoun, John Chalmers, John Petrie, Naveed Sattar, Thomas MacDonald, Rory McCrimmon, Daniel Morales, Ewan Pearson
Summary: This study developed a robust methodology for causal inference and assessed the real-world cardiovascular safety of sulfonylureas compared to dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors and thiazolidinediones. The findings suggest that second-line sulfonylureas are unlikely to increase cardiovascular risk or all-cause mortality.
Letter
Peripheral Vascular Disease
George Stergiou, Thomas MacDonald, Robin Young, Konstantinos G. Kyriakoulis, Anastasios Kollias, Bryan Williams, Maciej Tomaszewski
JOURNAL OF HYPERTENSION
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Kamila Osadnik, Tadeusz Osadnik, Marek Gierlotka, Adam Windak, Tomasz Tomasik, Miroslaw Mastej, Agnieszka Kuras, Kacper Jozwiak, Peter E. Penson, Gregory Y. H. Lip, Dimitri P. Mikhailidis, Peter P. Toth, Alberico L. Catapano, Kausik K. Ray, George Howard, Maciej Tomaszewski, Fadi J. Charchar, Naveed Sattar, Bryan Williams, Thomas M. MacDonald, Maciej Banach, Jacek Jozwiak
Summary: This study examined the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and long-term all-cause mortality. The findings showed that MetS was associated with increased mortality risk in both obese and non-obese individuals. The concept of metabolically healthy obesity should be reconsidered, and maintaining normal body weight is important for overall health.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PREVENTIVE CARDIOLOGY
(2023)
Biographical-Item
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Adrian J. B. Brady, Alan Jardine, Thomas M. Macdonald, Anthony M. Heagerty, Guido Grassi, Giuseppe Mancia
JOURNAL OF HYPERTENSION
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Anthony Chen, Chengsheng Ju, Isla S. Mackenzie, Thomas M. MacDonald, Allan D. Struthers, Li Wei, Kenneth K. C. Man
Summary: This study investigated the association between beta-blocker use and mortality or cardiovascular outcomes in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). The findings showed that beta-blocker treatment in OSA patients was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and a trend for an increased risk of mortality.
LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH-EUROPE
(2023)
Article
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Luca Faconti, Spoorthy Kulkarni, Christian Delles, Vikas Kapil, Philip Lewis, Mark Glover, Thomas M. Macdonald, Ian B. Wilkinson
Summary: There is a lack of uniformity among international guidelines and consensus documents on primary hyperaldosteronism, and the National UK guidelines on hypertension do not provide extensive recommendations on this condition. To provide support to clinicians, a document was prepared by the BIHS Guidelines and Information Service Standing Committee, incorporating feedback from members and results of a survey conducted in different regions of the UK. The final document was approved by the panel after considering existing literature and expert opinions, despite the limited data available from randomized controlled trials.
JOURNAL OF HUMAN HYPERTENSION
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Chris Hawkey, Anthony Avery, Carol A. C. Coupland, Colin Crooks, Jennifer Dumbleton, F. D. Richard Hobbs, Denise Kendrick, Michael Moore, Clive Morris, Gregory Rubin, Murray Smith, Diane Stevenson
Summary: This study aimed to investigate whether eradication of Helicobacter pylori would protect against aspirin-associated peptic ulcer bleeding. The results showed a significant reduction in bleeding risk during the first 2.5 years after H. pylori eradication, but this advantage diminished with longer follow-up.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Isla S. Mackenzie, Christopher J. Hawkey, Ian Ford, Nicola Greenlaw, Filippo Pigazzani, Amy Rogers, Allan D. Struthers, Alan G. Begg, Li Wei, Anthony J. Avery, Jaspal S. Taggar, Andrew Walker, Suzanne L. Duce, Rebecca J. Barr, Jennifer S. Dumbleton, Evelien D. Rooke, Jonathan N. Townend, Lewis D. Ritchie, Thomas M. MacDonald
Summary: The ALL-HEART study aimed to determine whether allopurinol therapy improves major cardiovascular outcomes in patients with ischaemic heart disease. The study found no difference in the primary outcome of non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, or cardiovascular death between participants receiving allopurinol therapy and those receiving usual care.