[Is morphine indicated in patients with cardiac asthma? Indications for negative effects from the use of morphine].

According to current Dutch and European guidelines, morphine has a place in the treatment of patients with cardiac asthma. There are no studies showing an improvement in objective parameters with the use of morphine in patients with cardiac asthma. Recent large retrospective cohort studies indicate an increased mortality risk among patients given morphine in the treatment of cardiac asthma, even after correction for confounders.

The entirely subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator: initial clinical experience in a large Dutch cohort.

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the entirely subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD).

Background: A new entirely S-ICD has been introduced, that does not require lead placement in or on the heart. The authors report the largest multicenter experience to date with the S-ICD with a minimum of 1-year follow-up in the first 118 Dutch patients who were implanted with this device.

Daytime triglyceride variability in men and women with different levels of triglyceridemia.

Background: Triglyceride (TG) levels measured in either the fasting or non-fasting state predict the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Since CVD risk assessment is affected by variability in TG, the aim of the study was to investigate intra-individual variability of non-fasting TG.

Methods: Capillary triglyceride (cTG) levels were measured in 246 free-living individuals at six time-points during the day on three separate occasions.

Leukocyte activation by triglyceride-rich lipoproteins.

Objective: Postprandial lipemia has been linked to atherosclerosis and inflammation. Because leukocyte activation is obligatory for atherogenesis, leukocyte activation by triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRLs) was investigated.

Methods And Results: The expression of CD11b and CD66b after incubation with glucose and native and artificial TRLs (NTRL and ATRL) in vivo and in vitro was evaluated by flowcytometry.

Effects of a stanol-enriched diet on plasma cholesterol and triglycerides in patients treated with statins.

Background: Plant stanols have been recommended in combination with individualized dietary interventions to reduce plasma cholesterol concentrations. It is unclear whether plant stanols in combination with dietary guidance in patients already using optimal doses of statins will further reduce fasting and postprandial lipids compared with standard care.

Study Design: This single-blind, randomized study investigated the effect of plant stanols in margarines, combined with a lipid-lowering dietary intervention, in patients already on lipid-lowering medications at maximal doses not reaching their target lipid levels.

The metabolic syndrome in relation to complement component 3 and postprandial lipemia in patients from an outpatient lipid clinic and healthy volunteers.

We investigated the relationship between complement component 3 (C3), fasting and postprandial lipemia and the metabolic syndrome (MetabS). Herefore fasting and postprandial samples after an acute oral fat load were obtained in 40 MetabS+ (50+/-8 years) and 70 MetabS- (48+/-7 years) subjects. Fasting C3 was higher in MetabS+ (1.

Lipaemia, inflammation and atherosclerosis: novel opportunities in the understanding and treatment of atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is the major cause of death in the world. Fasting and postprandial hyperlipidaemia are important risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD). Recent developments have undoubtedly indicated that inflammation is pathophysiologically closely linked to atherogenesis and its clinical consequences.