[Intraoperative events unexpected and conversion in patients laparoscopic cholecystectomy: male and independent risk factor].

Background: Studies have been done trying to confirm the impression that laparascopic cholecystecotmy tends to be more complicacted and takes longer in men than in women. The analysis of sex as an independent risk factor has been done in various studies with mixed results.

Aims: To assess if male gender is an independent risk factor for unexpected intraoperative events, conversion and longer operating time in a restrospective cohort based on a population of 1029 patients from one surgeon in a national hospital in Lima, from 1996 to 2010.

Primary hyperlipidemias in children: effect of plant sterol supplementation on plasma lipids and markers of cholesterol synthesis and absorption.

Plant sterols lower serum cholesterol concentration. Available data have confirmed the lipid-lowering efficacy in adults, while there is a relative dearth of data in children and almost exclusively restricted to subjects with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). Aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy, tolerability and safety of plant sterol supplementation in children with different forms of primary hyperlipidemias.

The treatment of hypercholesterolemic children: efficacy and safety of a combination of red yeast rice extract and policosanols.

Background And Aims: The prevention of cardiovascular risk, as occurs in lipoprotein disorders, is required since childhood. Aim of the study was to evaluate, in a group of children affected by primary dyslipidemia, the efficacy, tolerability and safety of a short-term treatment with a dietary supplement containing red yeast rice extract and policosanols.

Methods And Results: 40 children affected by heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) (n=24) and Familial Combined Hyperlipidemia (FCH) (n=16), aged 8-16 years, were enrolled in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial.

Identification and management of dyslipidemic children.

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of morbidity and premature mortality in Western countries and dyslipidemia is a recognized major cardiovascular risk factor. Evidences demonstrate that the atherosclerotic process begins early in childhood. Children showing dyslipidemia, as well as other cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension, overweight/obesity and diabetes mellitus, are defined at high risk.

Endothelial activation, inflammation and premature atherosclerosis in children with familial dyslipidemia.

Objectives: Prospective studies demonstrated an increased cardiovascular risk in subjects with high levels of either the endothelial-platelet activation marker P-selectin or high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). Both children with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and those with familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCHL) are prone to premature atherosclerosis. Our objective was to investigate in children with either FH or FCHL whether P-selectin and hs-CRP contribute to carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), along with increased plasma lipid levels.

The type of LDLR gene mutation predicts cardiovascular risk in children with familial hypercholesterolemia.

Objective: To ascertain whether the molecular characterization of a defect in the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor gene (LDLR) in children with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (heFH) identifies subjects at greater risk of developing premature coronary artery disease (pCAD) later in life.

Study Design: We investigated 264 children with heFH from 201 families, along with 148 affected parents and 100 unaffected siblings. The lipid profile was assessed before any treatment was provided, and genotype analysis was performed to characterize LDLR defects.