Background: The role of aspirin (100 mg daily) and omega-3 fatty acids (FA) (1 g daily) for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in diabetes is being investigated in the 2x2 factorial design ASCEND trial. To support the interpretation of the trial's efficacy findings, it is important to compare self-reported compliance by participants with measures of the biochemical effects of each intervention. The previous data on the effect of supplementation with omega-3 FA on coronary heart disease is uncertain. Methods: The ASCEND trial randomly allocated 15480 people with diabetes (94% type 2 DM) who do not already have diagnosed occlusive arterial disease to receive aspirin or placebo and to omega-3 FA or placebo. Blood and urine samples were collected by mail at baseline and after 3 years follow-up. The effectiveness of aspirin to suppress urinary thromboxane B2 (UTxB2), a marker of platelet activity, and, of omega-3 FA supplements to increase red cell membrane omega-3 index were assessed. A systematic review of previous trials of omega-3 FA was conducted to summarize the prior evidence for the effects of omega-3 FA supplements on major vascular events (MVEs). Results: Aspirin reduced UTxB2 levels by 67% (63-70%) (p < 0.0001) compared with placebo, from 3453 pg/mg (95% CI 3061-3895) at baseline to 1190 pg/mg (1100-1287) on those allocated to aspirin during the trial. During follow-up, the omega-3 index increased by 33% (95% CI 26%-39%) in those allocated omega-3 FA compared to placebo (p < 0.0001). The meta-analysis of previous studies of omega-3 FA showed no effect on MVEs (HR 0.97; [0.93-1.01]) overall or in any pre-specified sub-groups. Conclusions: Low dose aspirin and omega-3 FA are biochemically effective at reducing UTxB2 and increasing the omega-3 index, respectively. Previous trials show that supplementation with omega-3 FA had no significant effect on MVEs. The results of the ASCEND trial, assessing the effects of both aspirin and omega-3 FA on MVEs, will be available in 2018.

No description available.

Background: Drug eluting stents (DES) are preferred over bare metal stents (BMS) for native coronary artery revascularization unless contraindicated. However, the preferred stent choice for saphenous venous graft (SVG) percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) is unclear due to conflicting results. Methods: PubMed, Clinical trials registry and the Cochrane Center Register of Controlled Trials were searched through June 2018. Seven studies (n = 1639) comparing DES versus BMS in SVG-PCI were included. Endpoints were major adverse cardiac events (MACE), cardiovascular mortality, all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), target vessel revascularization (TVR), target lesion revascularization (TLR), in-stent thrombosis, binary in-stent restenosis, and late lumen loss (LLL). Results: Overall, during a mean follow up of 32.1 months, there was no significant difference in the risk of MACE, cardiovascular mortality, all-cause mortality, MI, stent thrombosis, TVR and TLR between DES and BMS. However, short-term follow up (mean 11 months) showed lower rate of MACE (OR 0.66 [0.51, 0.85]; p = 0.002), TVR (OR 0.47 [0.23, 0.97]; p = 0.04) and binary in-stent restenosis (OR 0.14 [0.06, 0.37]; p < 0.0001) in DES as compared with BMS. This benefit was lost on long-term follow up with a mean follow up 35.5 months. Conclusion: In this meta-analysis of SVG-PCI, DES use was associated with similar MACE, cardiovascular mortality, all-cause mortality, MI, in-stent thrombosis, TVR and TLR compared with BMS during long-term follow up. There was high incidence of MACE noted in both DES and BMS suggesting a need for exploring novel strategies to treat SVG disease to improve clinical outcomes.

Methods Three hundred thirty-nine patients (230 men, 109 women) treated with lipoprotein apheresis in Saxony, Germany, in 2018 are described in terms of age, lipid pattern, risk factors, cardiovascular events, medication, and number of new admissions since 2014, and the data are compared with figures from 2010 to 2013. Results Patients were treated by 45.5 physicians in 16 lipoprotein apheresis centers. With about 10 patients per 100 000 inhabitants, the number of patients treated with lipoprotein apheresis in Saxony is twice as high as in Germany as a whole. The median treatment time was 3 years. Almost all patients had hypertension; type 2 diabetes mellitus was seen significantly more often in patients with low Lipoprotein(a). Cardiovascular events occurred in almost all patients before initiation of lipoprotein apheresis, under apheresis therapy the cardiovascular events rate was very low in this high-risk group. For some cardiovascular regions even no events could be observed. Conclusions The importance of lipoprotein apheresis in Saxony had been increasing from 2010 to 2018.

El elevado riesgo tromboembólico y hemorrágico en la fibrilación auricular (FA) es altamente heterogéneo y condiciona la morbi-mortalidad de la FA. La anticoagulación oral previene eventos trombóticos y mortalidad, pero conlleva ciertos riesgos. Por ello, los pacientes son estratificados según escalas de riesgo, que se intentan refinar adicionando otros marcadores. Para evaluar su utilidad pronóstica, puntuamos según las escalas CHA2DS2-VASc y HAS-BLED a pacientes consecutivos, anticoagulados de forma estable. Además determinamos los títulos de troponina T (hsTnT) e interleukina 6 ultrasensibles (hsIL6), y el índice tobillo brazo (ITB). La escala CHA2DS2-VASc predice eventos cardiovasculares y mortalidad; la escala HAS-BLED no solo es útil en la valoración del riesgo hemorrágico sino que también muestra valor predictivo de eventos cardiovasculares y mortalidad. Los valores de hsTnT y los de hsIL6 añaden información pronóstica, mejorando el índice de discriminación integrado de ambas escalas. El ITB resultó predictor de eventos trombóticos y hemorrágicos / The high thrombotic risk determines the atrial fibrillation morbi-mortality. Oral anticoagulation results in stroke and mortality prevention, at the expense of bleeding-related risk. These risks are highly heterogeneous, reason why patients are stratified according to risk scores, refined by specific biomarkers. In order to evaluate their prognostic value, we recruited consecutive patients, steady on oral anticoagulation, in whom CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED scores were calculated. In addition levels of high sensitivity troponin T and interleukin 6 (hsTnT and hsIL6 respectively) were determined, and the ankle brachial index (ABI) measured. The CHA2DS2-VASc score predicts cardiovascular events and mortality; HAS-BLED score is not only useful to assess bleeding risk but also shows predictive value for cardiovascular events and mortality. In addition levels of both hsTnT and hsIL6 provided prognostic information, improving the integrated discrimination index of both scores. Abnormal ABI was an independent predictor for all-cause mortality and major bleeding.

Objetivo: Se evaluó la utilidad de la razón TG/HDL-c como factor predictor de eventos cardiovasculares y mortalidad en pacientes adultos con enfermedad renal crónica (ERC) en hemodiálisis. Método: Se llevó a cabo una revisión sistemática en las bases Medline, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science y Pubmed para identificar los estudios tipo cohorte relevantes sobre eventos cardiovasculares y mortalidad en pacientes con ERC sometidos a hemodiálisis y el rol del TG/HDL-c como factor de riesgo. Resultado: Se evaluaron cuatro estudios tipo cohorte, con un total de 52 579 pacientes con ERC en hemodiálisis. De estos, tres estudios conducidos en poblaciones asiáticas asociaron la razón TG/HDL-c elevada como un factor de riesgo para eventos cardiovasculares y mortalidad y un estudio conducido en Estados Unidos de América que poseía el mayor porcentaje de la muestra (50 673 pacientes), asoció el marcador como un factor protector. La razón TG/HDL-c elevada se asocia a una mejor supervivencia en pacientes hemodializados y existe una consistente asociación inversa gradual entre TG/HDL-c y mortalidad en todos los subgrupos de análisis. Encontrándose, en la categorización por deciles de la variable de exposición, una disminución de 21% de riesgo de mortalidad cardiovascular y una disminución del 15% para mortalidad por todas las causas en el decil más alto en comparación con el grupo de referencia. (D10 aHR= 0.79: IC95% (0.69- 0.91) y D10 aHR= 0.85: IC95% (0.78- 0.92). Conclusiones: La razón TG/HDL-c se evidencia como un factor protector para desenlaces cardiovasculares y para mortalidad en la población americana y como un factor de riesgo para los mismos en la población proveniente de Asia. Por lo que, los resultados no son concluyentes para su aplicación en cualquier contexto. / Objective: The usefulness of the TG/HDL-c ratio as a predictor of cardiovascular events and mortality in adult patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on hemodialysis was evaluated. Method: A systematic review was carried out in the Medline, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science and Pubmed databases to identify the relevant cohort studies on cardiovascular events and mortality in CKD patients undergoing hemodialysis the role of TG/HDL-c as a risk factor. Result: Four cohort-type studies were evaluated, with a total of 52,579 CKD patients on hemodialysis. Of these, three studies conducted in Asian populations associated the elevated TG/HDL-c ratio as a risk factor for cardiovascular events and mortality, and one study conducted in the United States of America had the highest percentage of the sample (50 673 patients), associated the marker as a protective factor. The elevated TG/HDL-c ratio is associated with better survival in hemodialysis patients, and there is a consistent gradual inverse association between TG/HDL-c and mortality in all analysis subgroups. Finding, in the decile categorization of the exposure variable, a 21% decrease in the risk of cardiovascular mortality and a 15% decrease in all-cause mortality in the highest decile compared to the reference group. (D10 aHR=0.79; 95% CI:0.69-0.91 and D10 aHR=0.85; 95%CI:0.78-0.92. Conclusions: The TG/HDL-c ratio is a protective factor for cardiovascular outcomes and mortality in the American population and a risk factor for them in the population from Asia. Therefore, the results are not conclusive for their application in any context. / Tesis

Endotelio funkcijos sutrikimas (disfunkcija) - būklė, apibūdinama padidėjusia adhezijos molekulių ekspresija, padidėjusia prouždegiminių veiksnių ir protrombotinių faktorių sinteze bei sutrikusia kraujagyslių tono reguliacija - yra mirties dėl kardiovaskulinės patologijos, miokardo infarkto bei poreikio revaskuliarizacijos procedūroms išsivystymo rizikos veiksnys. Darbo tikslas buvo nustatyti endotelio pažeidimą atspindinčių žymenų, hs-CRP, sVCAM-1 ir sICAM-1 reikšmę, nuspėjant kardiovaskulines komplikacijas po aortos vainikinių jungčių suformavimo operacijos, atliktos dirbtinės kraujo apytakos sąlygomis. Nustatėme, kad didesnės priešoperacinės hs-CRP ir sVCAM-1 koncentracijos buvo nepriklausomi didesnės kardiovaskulinių komplikacijų po aortos vainikinių jungčių suformavimo operacijų rizikos žymenys. Po aortos vainikinių jungčių suformavimo operacijos nustatyta reikšmingai didesnė hs-CRP, sVCAM-1 ir sICAM-1 koncentracija, palyginus su priešoperaciniu koncentracijos lygiu. Patikimos žymenų koreliacijos su aortos užspaudimo, dirbtinės kraujo apytakos bei operacijos trukme neradome. Pacientams po aortos vainikinių jungčių suformavimo operacijos koreliacijos tarp pooperacinio sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 bei hs-CRP koncentracijos lygio ir kardiovaskulinių komplikacijų išsivystymo rizikos nebuvo nenustatyta. / The endothelial cell damage/dysfunction is associated with increased expression of adhesion molecules, synthesis of proinflammatory, prothrombotic factors and abnormal modulation of vascular tone. A growing body of evidence suggests that endothelial dysfunction is associated with future cardiovascular events including cardiac death, myocardial infarction and the need for revascularization procedures. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of markers of endothelial damage as predictors of cardiovascular events after on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. We found that higher concentrations preoperatively of hs-CRP and sVCAM-1 were independent markers for higher risk of cardiovascular events after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. Concentration of hs-CRP, sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1 increased significantly after on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting surgery compared to preoperative level. However correlation between the duration of aortic cross-clamp, cardiopulmonary bypass or surgery and markers of endothelial damage was not found. Correlation between postoperative concentration of hs-CRP, sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1 and risk for cardiovascular events after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery was not found.

Endotelio funkcijos sutrikimas (disfunkcija) - būklė, apibūdinama padidėjusia adhezijos molekulių ekspresija, padidėjusia prouždegiminių veiksnių ir protrombotinių faktorių sinteze bei sutrikusia kraujagyslių tono reguliacija - yra mirties dėl kardiovaskulinės patologijos, miokardo infarkto bei poreikio revaskuliarizacijos procedūroms išsivystymo rizikos veiksnys. Darbo tikslas buvo nustatyti endotelio pažeidimą atspindinčių žymenų, hs-CRP, sVCAM-1 ir sICAM-1 reikšmę, nuspėjant kardiovaskulines komplikacijas po aortos vainikinių jungčių suformavimo operacijos, atliktos dirbtinės kraujo apytakos sąlygomis. Nustatėme, kad didesnės priešoperacinės hs-CRP ir sVCAM-1 koncentracijos buvo nepriklausomi didesnės kardiovaskulinių komplikacijų po aortos vainikinių jungčių suformavimo operacijų rizikos žymenys. Po aortos vainikinių jungčių suformavimo operacijos nustatyta reikšmingai didesnė hs-CRP, sVCAM-1 ir sICAM-1 koncentracija, palyginus su priešoperaciniu koncentracijos lygiu. Patikimos žymenų koreliacijos su aortos užspaudimo, dirbtinės kraujo apytakos bei operacijos trukme neradome. Pacientams po aortos vainikinių jungčių suformavimo operacijos koreliacijos tarp pooperacinio sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 bei hs-CRP koncentracijos lygio ir kardiovaskulinių komplikacijų išsivystymo rizikos nebuvo nenustatyta. / The endothelial cell damage/dysfunction is associated with increased expression of adhesion molecules, synthesis of proinflammatory, prothrombotic factors and abnormal modulation of vascular tone. A growing body of evidence suggests that endothelial dysfunction is associated with future cardiovascular events including cardiac death, myocardial infarction and the need for revascularization procedures. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of markers of endothelial damage as predictors of cardiovascular events after on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. We found that higher concentrations preoperatively of hs-CRP and sVCAM-1 were independent markers for higher risk of cardiovascular events after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. Concentration of hs-CRP, sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1 increased significantly after on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting surgery compared to preoperative level. However correlation between the duration of aortic cross-clamp, cardiopulmonary bypass or surgery and markers of endothelial damage was not found. Correlation between postoperative concentration of hs-CRP, sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1 and risk for cardiovascular events after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery was not found.