mCRP triggers angiogenesis by inducing F3 transcription and TF signalling in microvascular endothelial cells.

Inflammation contributes to vascular disease progression. However, the role of circulating inflammatory molecules on microvascular endothelial cell (mECs) is not fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the short pentraxin CRP on microvascular endothelial cell angiogenic function.

Protective Effects of Ticagrelor on Myocardial Injury After Infarction.

Background: The P2Y receptor antagonist ticagrelor has been shown to be clinically superior to clopidogrel. Although the underlying mechanisms remain elusive, ticagrelor may exert off-target effects through adenosine-related mechanisms. We aimed to investigate whether ticagrelor reduces myocardial injury to a greater extent than clopidogrel after myocardial infarction (MI) at a similar level of platelet inhibition and to determine the underlying mechanisms.

LRP5/canonical Wnt signalling and healing of ischemic myocardium.

LRP5 (low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5) activates canonical Wnt signalling. LRP5 plays multiple roles including regulation of lipoprotein and cholesterol homeostasis as well as innate immunity cell function. However, it is not known whether LRP5 has a role in the myocardium.

Macrophages of genetically characterized familial hypercholesterolaemia patients show up-regulation of LDL-receptor-related proteins.

Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is a major risk for premature coronary heart disease due to severe long-life exposure to high LDL levels. Accumulation of LDL in the vascular wall triggers atherosclerosis with activation of the innate immunity system. Here, we have investigated (i) gene expression of LDLR and LRPs in peripheral blood cells (PBLs) and in differentiated macrophages of young FH-patients; and (ii) whether macrophage from FH patients have a differential response when exposed to high levels of atherogenic LDL.

Role of Platelet-Derived Microvesicles As Crosstalk Mediators in Atherothrombosis and Future Pharmacology Targets: A Link between Inflammation, Atherosclerosis, and Thrombosis.

Reports in the last decade have suggested that the role of platelets in atherosclerosis and its thrombotic complications may be mediated, in part, by local secretion of platelet-derived microvesicles (pMVs), small cell blebs released during the platelet activation process. MVs are the most abundant cell-derived microvesicle subtype in the circulation. High concentrations of circulating MVs have been reported in patients with atherosclerosis, acute vascular syndromes, and/or diabetes mellitus, suggesting a potential correlation between the quantity of microvesicles and the clinical severity of the atherosclerotic disease.

Is the ORBIT Bleeding Risk Score Superior to the HAS-BLED Score in Anticoagulated Atrial Fibrillation Patients?

Background: Several bleeding risk scores have been validated in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The ORBIT score has been recently proposed as a simple score with the best ability to predict major bleeding. The present study aimed to test the hypothesis that the ORBIT score was superior to the HAS-BLED score for predicting major bleeding and death in "real world" anticoagulated AF patients.

Invasive versus conservative strategy in acute coronary syndromes: The paradox in women's outcomes.

Background: We explored benefits and risks of an early invasive compared with a conservative strategy in women versus men after non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS) using the ISACS-TC database.

Methods: From October 2010 to May 2014, 4145 patients were diagnosed as having a NSTE-ACS. We excluded 258 patients managed with coronary bypass surgery.

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention in octogenarians.

Background: Limited data are available on the outcome of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in octogenarian patients, as the elderly are under-represented in randomized trials. This study aims to provide insights on clinical characteristics, management and outcome of the elderly and very elderly presenting with STEMI.

Methods: 2225 STEMI patients ≥70years old (mean age 76.

Pathophysiology of acute coronary syndromes in the elderly.

Elderly patients represent an important proportion of the acute coronary syndrome (ACS) population. Furthermore, this group of ACS patients is continuously growing because of the progressive ageing of the population. The ageing process implies marked changes in patient physiology that directly impact in their risk.

Bone Marrow Cell Transplant From Donors With Cardiovascular Risk Factors Increases the Pro-atherosclerotic Phenotype in the Recipients.

Improvement of long-term survival after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has revealed that these patients have an increased appearance of de novo cardiovascular risk factors. Even though in these clinical studies no relation to transplant-related factors has been found, no attention has been paid to the influence of cardiovascular risk factors affecting the bone marrow donors on the cardiovascular risk of the recipients. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze, using an animal model, whether transplantation of bone marrow from donors with cardiovascular risk factors increases cardiovascular risk in healthy recipients.

Association of alcohol consumption with coronary artery disease severity.

Background & Aims: The ingestion of small to moderate alcohol consumption amounts has been associated to cardiovascular protection. This study aimed to evaluate the association between alcohol consumption and coronary artery disease severity.

Material And Methods: Cross-sectional Study with patients undergoing coronary angiography.

The International Survey of Acute Coronary Syndromes in Transitional Countries (ISACS-TC): 2010-2015.

Background: Central and East European (CEE) patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) have worse outcomes than US and West European patients, including higher mortality rates. The aim of the International Survey of Acute Coronary Syndrome in Transitional Countries (ISACS-TC) was to define patient and treatment characteristics in order to examine whether differences in clinical and ethnic factors or healthcare organization may mediate the observed disparities in outcomes.

Methods And Results: Between October 2010 and December 2015, 14,326 patients with ACS were prospectively enrolled.

Factors associated with use of percutaneous coronary intervention among elderly patients presenting with ST segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI): Results from the ISACS-TC registry.

Background: A substantial proportion of elderly with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) do not undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We sought to investigate factors associated with the decision not to perform coronary angiography at admission in these patients.

Methods: We evaluated 1315 STEMI patients aged ≥75years old enrolled in the International Survey of Acute Coronary Syndromes in Transitional Countries (ISACS TC) registry between October 2010 and February 2015.

Association between comorbidities and absence of chest pain in acute coronary syndrome with in-hospital outcome.

Background: To evaluate the impact of comorbidities on the management and outcomes of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients without chest pain/discomfort (i.e. ACS without typical presentation).

Inhibition of Notch rescues the angiogenic potential impaired by cardiovascular risk factors in epicardial adipose stem cells.

The epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is a reservoir of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs), with as yet unknown effects on myocardial and coronary arteries homeostasis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the angiogenic function of epicardial ASCs and their regulation by the common cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) affecting heart disease. Epicardial fat was obtained from a rodent model with clustering of CVRFs [Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF)-Lepr(fa)] rats and from their lean control (ZDF-Crl) littermates without CVRFs, ASCs were isolated, and their function was assessed by proliferation and differentiation assays, flow cytometry, gene expression, and in vivo Matrigel angiogenesis analysis.

Targeting the molecular mechanisms of ischemic damage: Protective effects of alpha-crystallin-B.

Aims: Molecular chaperones constitute protectors of intracellular protein integrity and seem to confer short-term defence against various cell insults. Myocardial damage is associated to a loss of protective chaperones. Ischemic post-conditioning (IPost-Co) is a procedure that seems to protect against reperfusion injury.

Effects of moderate beer consumption on health and disease: A consensus document.

A large evidence-based review on the effects of a moderate consumption of beer on human health has been conducted by an international panel of experts who reached a full consensus on the present document. Low-moderate (up to 1 drink per day in women, up to 2 in men), non-bingeing beer consumption, reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. This effect is similar to that of wine, at comparable alcohol amounts.

ApoL1 levels in high density lipoprotein and cardiovascular event presentation in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia.

HDL composition rather than HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels seems to be a key determinant of HDL-induced atheroprotection. Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) patients, with lifelong exposure to high LDL levels, show a high prevalence of premature coronary artery disease. We hypothesized that HDL of FH patients might have a modified protein composition and investigated the proteomic signature of HDL obtained from FH patients and their unaffected relatives.