Association of chronic neutrophil activation with risk of mortality.

Background: Levels of free myeloperoxidase (MPO), a cardiovascular risk marker, have been reported to decline with standard care. Whether such declines signify decreased risk of mortality remains unknown.

Design: Cox proportional hazard models were generated using data from a retrospective cohort study of prospectively collected measures.

Multimarker approach for identifying and documenting mitigation of cardiovascular risk.

The widespread use of lipids to define risk has been a success based on the dramatic decrease in the incidence of transmural myocardial infarctions. This success and the fact that many patients with normal lipid levels go on to have acute coronary syndrome have led to investigations on the use of nonlipid-based inflammatory biomarkers to predict risk. Interestingly, as the physiology reflected by distinct biomarkers is better understood, there is increasing interest in multimarker approaches to determine risk and where a given patient may be on a spectrum of risk.

Assessment of the relationship between age and the effect of risedronate treatment in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis: a pooled analysis of four studies.

Objectives: To quantify the effect of age on the incidence of osteoporosis-related fractures and of risedronate treatment on fracture risk in different age groups in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Design: Data from four randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase III studies were pooled and analyzed.

Participants: The analysis population (N=3,229) consisted of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis as determined on the basis of prevalent vertebral fractures, low bone mineral density (BMD), or both.

Alternate options to hormone replacement therapy for osteoporosis.

This presentation, developed from a symposium lecture at the 40th Annual Convention of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians on March 22, 2003, in Nashville, Tenn, highlights three pivotal studies that have altered the preferred option for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis in post-menopausal women. The Heart Estrogen/progestin Replacement Study (HERS), the HERS II, and the Women's Health Initiative provide evidence that the benefits (fewer colorectal cancers and hip fractures) of using hormone replacement therapy--conjugated equine estrogens (0.625 mg/d) plus medroxyprogesterone acetate (2.