Overweight, obesity, and cardiovascular disease in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia: the EAS FH Studies Collaboration registry.

Background And Aims: Overweight and obesity are modifiable risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in the general population, but their prevalence in individuals with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (HeFH) and whether they confer additional risk of ASCVD independent of LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) remains unclear.

Methods: Cross-sectional analysis was conducted in 35 540 patients with HeFH across 50 countries, in the EAS FH Studies Collaboration registry. Prevalence of World Health Organization-defined body mass index categories was investigated in adults (n = 29 265) and children/adolescents (n = 6275); and their association with prevalent ASCVD.

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk based on SCORE algorithms and reclassification based on preclinical atherosclerotic plaques.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of the number of carotid and common femoral bifurcations with plaque (NBP) detected by ultrasound in reclassifying atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk obtained from SCORE algorithms. Data from the cohort of 1000 individuals free from ASCVD in the Cyprus Epidemiological Study on Atherosclerosis was used.

Methods: In each predicted ASCVD risk class (low, moderate, high) based on SCORE algorithms and baseline data, the observed 10-year risk of subgroups according to the NBP was used to reclassify participants.

Medical device regulation in vascular ageing assessment: a VascAgeNet survey exploring knowledge and perception.

Background: Regulation has a key role for medical devices throughout their lifecycle aiming to guarantee effectiveness and safety for users. Requirements of Regulation (EU) 2017/745 (MDR) have an impact on novel and previously approved systems. Identification of key stakeholders' needs can support effective implementation of MDR improving the translation to clinical practice of vascular ageing assessment.

The impact of COVID-19 lockdown measures on symptoms control in children with asthma: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational cohort studies.

Objectives: Reported reductions in emergency department visits and hospitalizations for asthma in previous studies have suggested a beneficial effect of the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown measures on asthma morbidity. Nevertheless, studies relying on administrative data may overestimate the true impact of lockdowns due to changes in health-seeking behavior and reduced availability of pediatric asthma services during the pandemic. In this study, we systematically reviewed the literature and identified observational cohort studies that focused on nonadministrative data to assess the true impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on symptom control in children with asthma.

The Consequentialist Scale: Translation and empirical investigation in a Greek sample.

The Consequentialist Scale (Robinson, 2012) [89] assesses the endorsement of consequentialist and deontological moral beliefs. This study empirically investigated the application of the Greek translation of the Consequentialist Scale in a sample of native Greek speakers. Specifically, 415 native Greek speakers completed the questionnaire.

Developing a Questionnaire on Knowledge, Perceptions and Application of Vascular-Aging Measurements.

Background: Vascular age (VA) is independent and chronological age for assessing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. However, tools for the implementation of VA are currently lacking. We aimed to develop a questionnaire to assess the current knowledge gaps related to VA and barriers to its implementation in routine practice.

Improved indoor air quality during desert dust storms: The impact of the MEDEA exposure-reduction strategies.

Desert dust storms (DDS) are natural events that impact not only populations close to the emission sources but also populations many kilometers away. Countries located across the main dust sources, including countries in the Eastern Mediterranean, are highly affected by DDS. In addition, climate change is expanding arid areas exacerbating DDS events.

Performance of SCORE2 and SCORE2-OP risk algorithms in a Cypriot cohort.

Background: SCORE2 and SCORE2-OP algorithms and associated online calculators provide a new and easy method of estimating the 10-year cardiovascular risk in apparently healthy Europeans. The aim of the study was to determine the performance of these algorithms in terms of discrimination and calibration in the cohort of the Cyprus Epidemiological Study on Atherosclerosis (CESA), not only for the 10-year risk for myocardial infarction (MI), stroke and cardiovascular death, but also for all types of atherosclerotic cardiovascular events (ASCVE).

Methods: SCORE2 and SCORE2-OP for low-risk regions were calculated in a non-diabetic subset of CESA consisting of 908 people (mean age±SD: 57.

Arterial Ultrasound Testing to Predict Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Events.

Background: Studies have indicated that the presence and size of subclinical atherosclerotic plaques improve the prediction of atherosclerotic cardiovascular events (ASCVE) over and above that provided by conventional risk factors alone. However, the relative contribution of different ultrasonographic measurements and sites of measurements on the 10-year ASCVD risk is largely unknown.

Objectives: Our aims were to determine the relative performance of carotid intima-media thickness, plaque thickness, and plaque area in 10-year ASCVD prediction when added to conventional risk factors as well as whether the vascular territory of these measurements, carotid or common femoral bifurcation, and the number of bifurcations with plaque (NBP) influence prediction.

Carotid Ultrasound Boundary Study (CUBS): Technical considerations on an open multi-center analysis of computerized measurement systems for intima-media thickness measurement on common carotid artery longitudinal B-mode ultrasound scans.

After publishing an in-depth study that analyzed the ability of computerized methods to assist or replace human experts in obtaining carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) measurements leading to correct therapeutic decisions, here the same consortium joined to present technical outlooks on computerized CIMT measurement systems and provide considerations for the community regarding the development and comparison of these methods, including considerations to encourage the standardization of computerized CIMT measurements and results presentation. A multi-center database of 500 images was collected, upon which three manual segmentations and seven computerized methods were employed to measure the CIMT, including traditional methods based on dynamic programming, deformable models, the first order absolute moment, anisotropic Gaussian derivative filters and deep learning-based image processing approaches based on U-Net convolutional neural networks. An inter- and intra-analyst variability analysis was conducted and segmentation results were analyzed by dividing the database based on carotid morphology, image signal-to-noise ratio, and research center.

The Effect of Fibrates on Kidney Function and Chronic Kidney Disease Progression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Studies.

Aim: Fibrates have proven efficacy in cardiovascular risk reduction and are commonly used, in addition to statins, to control hypertriglyceridaemia. Their use is often limited due to reduction in glomerular filtration rate at treatment initiation. However, recent studies suggest benign changes in kidney function and improvement of proteinuria, an established early marker of microvascular disease and kidney disease progression.

Profiling the variability and inequity in the residential environment in Cyprus according to citizens' ratings: a cross-sectional internet-based "Place Standard" survey.

Background: The "Place Standard Tool" (PST) offers a practical framework for structuring conversations about physical and social dimensions of Place which impact on health and well-being. The aim of this study was to survey citizens' perceptions of Place across diverse settings in Cyprus. While the PST has been extensively used in the context of community engagement, its properties as a measurement tool haven't been explored.

Cardiovascular Risk Assessment Using Ultrasonographic Surrogate Markers of Atherosclerosis and Arterial Stiffness in Patients With Chronic Renal Impairment: A Narrative Review of the Evidence and a Critical View of Their Utility in Clinical Practice.

Purpose Of The Review: Validated tools to improve cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessment and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are lacking. Noninvasive measures of arteriosclerosis and subclinical atherosclerosis such as pulse wave velocity (PWV) and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), respectively, have emerged as promising risk stratification tools and potential modifiable biomarkers. Their wide use as surrogate markers in clinical research studies is based on the strong pathophysiological links with CVD.

Spatio-temporal variability of desert dust storms in Eastern Mediterranean (Crete, Cyprus, Israel) between 2006 and 2017 using a uniform methodology.

The characteristics of desert dust storms (DDS) have been shown to change in response to climate change and land use. There is limited information on the frequency and intensity of DDS over the last decade at a regional scale in the Eastern Mediterranean. An algorithm based on daily ground measurements (PM, particulate matter ≤10 μm), satellite products (dust aerosol optical depth) and meteorological parameters, was used to identify dust intrusions for three Eastern Mediterranean locations (Crete-Greece, Cyprus, and Israel) between 2006 and 2017.

Phenome-wide association analysis of LDL-cholesterol lowering genetic variants in PCSK9.

Background: We characterised the phenotypic consequence of genetic variation at the PCSK9 locus and compared findings with recent trials of pharmacological inhibitors of PCSK9.

Methods: Published and individual participant level data (300,000+ participants) were combined to construct a weighted PCSK9 gene-centric score (GS). Seventeen randomized placebo controlled PCSK9 inhibitor trials were included, providing data on 79,578 participants.

Association of non-invasive measures of subclinical atherosclerosis and arterial stiffness with mortality and major cardiovascular events in chronic kidney disease: systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies.

Background: Non-invasive cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk prediction, in subclinical stages, aiming to stratify patients and tailor interventions remains an unmet need in chronic kidney disease (CKD). In this meta-analysis, we summarize the association of carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), coronary artery calcium score (CACS) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) with all-cause mortality, cardiovascular (CV) mortality and CV events in non-dialysis CKD and patients on haemodialysis.

Methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies.

Kidney function is associated with short-term, mid-term and long-term clinical outcome after coronary angiography and intervention.

Background: Patients with kidney dysfunction are at risk of developing ischaemic heart disease. We investigated the association between eGFR and early-, mid- and long-term clinical outcome in patients undergoing coronary angiography and intervention.

Methods: Retrospective study on 4968 patients with complete data on eGFR, 65% male and aged 32-80 years, admitted to Danderyd University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden for coronary angiography and intervention from 2006 to 2008.

PCSK9 genetic variants and risk of type 2 diabetes: a mendelian randomisation study.

Background: Statin treatment and variants in the gene encoding HMG-CoA reductase are associated with reductions in both the concentration of LDL cholesterol and the risk of coronary heart disease, but also with modest hyperglycaemia, increased bodyweight, and modestly increased risk of type 2 diabetes, which in no way offsets their substantial benefits. We sought to investigate the associations of LDL cholesterol-lowering PCSK9 variants with type 2 diabetes and related biomarkers to gauge the likely effects of PCSK9 inhibitors on diabetes risk.

Methods: In this mendelian randomisation study, we used data from cohort studies, randomised controlled trials, case control studies, and genetic consortia to estimate associations of PCSK9 genetic variants with LDL cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, HbA, fasting insulin, bodyweight, waist-to-hip ratio, BMI, and risk of type 2 diabetes, using a standardised analysis plan, meta-analyses, and weighted gene-centric scores.

Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Lifestyle Characteristics of University Students in Cyprus: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Objective. To assess dietary-related habits among young adults. Design and Setting.

Smoking prevalence and associated risk factors among healthcare professionals in Nicosia general hospital, Cyprus: a cross-sectional study.

Background: In recent years, a significant progress has been achieved globally in reduction of smoking among physicians and nurses, however, in some countries the smoking prevalence of health professionals is maintained at very high levels, without significant difference from the general population. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of smoking among physicians and nurses working at Nicosia General Hospital, as well as their knowledge and attitudes towards smoking cessation strategies.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study.

Matrix Metalloproteinases and Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review.

Background. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a significant problem in Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Subclinical atherosclerosis identified by noninvasive methods could improve CVD risk prediction in CKD but these methods are often unavailable.