Circulating endothelial cells in pathophysiology.

Purpose Of Review: The purpose of this review is to synthesize recent insights into the roles and importance of circulating endothelial cells (CECs) as indicators of the severity, progression, and prognosis of vascular-related diseases.

Recent Findings: Recent studies have identified elevated counts of CECs in pathological conditions, notably inflammatory or cardiovascular diseases such as acute myocardial infarction and heart failure, underscoring their potential as sensitive indicators of disease. Furthermore, the rise in CEC levels in cancer patients, particularly with disease advancement, points to their role in cancer-associated angiogenesis and response to treatment.

Gender differences in achieving optimal lipid goals in patients with coronary artery disease.

To investigate gender differences in lipid goal attainment, we conducted a retrospective analysis of outpatient electronic health records from a large cardiology practice from September 2008 to September 2009. The most recent lipid profile and lipid-lowering medications and doses were extracted from electronic medical record. We identified 9,950 patients with coronary artery disease of whom 3,366 (34%) were women.

Use of Lipid-Lowering Medications and the Likelihood of Achieving Optimal LDL-Cholesterol Goals in Coronary Artery Disease Patients.

Background. In clinical practice, most coronary artery disease patients are not achieving their recommend LDL-cholesterol goal of <70 mg/dL. Methods.

Diastolic heart failure versus diastolic dysfunction: difference in renal function.

Background: Despite the common finding of diastolic dysfunction with a preserved ejection fraction on routine echocardiography in elderly patients, it is unknown why some patients with isolated diastolic dysfunction are asymptomatic whereas others develop diastolic heart failure (ie, signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure).

Hypothesis: We hypothesized that renal insufficiency is more common in those patients with diastolic heart failure than those with diastolic dysfunction; it is intrinsic renal insufficiency that determines whether diastolic dysfunction becomes symptomatic.

Methods: We reviewed 686 consecutive transthoracic echocardiograms (TTEs).