Safety and tolerability of injectable lipid-lowering drugs: a review of available clinical data.

Introduction: To answer the need of a better low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol control in statin-treated patients at high risk for cardiovascular disease, new injectable lipid-lowering drugs with innovative mechanisms of action are in advanced phase of development or have just been approved.

Areas Covered: Evolocumab and alirocumab are fully human monoclonal antibodies inhibiting the proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) that binds to hepatic LDL receptor and prevents it from normal recycling by targeting it for degradation. Mipomersen specifically binds to a segment of the human apolipoprotein B100 messenger RNA, blocking the translation of the gene product.

Efficacy and safety profile of evolocumab (AMG145), an injectable inhibitor of the proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9: the available clinical evidence.

Introduction: Despite the proven efficacy of statins, they are often reported to be inadequate to achieve low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goals (especially in high-risk patients). Moreover, a large number of subjects cannot tolerate statins or full doses of these drugs. Thus, there is a need for additional effective LDL-C reducing agents.

Nutraceuticals for metabolic syndrome management: from laboratory to benchside.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a world-wide epidemic disease associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Treatment strategies include pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic methods, with varying degrees of success rate all over the world. Pharmaceutical interest in this field is growing, together with patients' requests for supplementary (or "alternative") treatments.

Dietary determinants of oxidized-low-density lipoprotein antibodies in a sample of pharmacologically untreated non-smoker subjects: data from the Brisighella heart study.

Background: Oxidation makes LDL an immunogenic substrate, stimulating the production of specific autoantibodies against oxidized LDL (ox-LDL Ab). The demonstration of ox-LDL Ab presence in serum indicates the existence of a long-term lipid peroxidation in vivo.

Objectives: The aim of the study is to evaluate the influence of a large number of dietary variables on the dosage of ox-LDL Ab in pharmacologically untreated healthy subjects.

The older patient with hypertension: care and cure.

Hypertension is one of the most important clinical conditions affecting older people. Its prevalence in this group of subjects is above 60% and continues to grow. Isolated systolic hypertension accounts for the majority of cases as systolic blood pressure increases with advancing age, while diastolic blood pressure remains unchanged or even decreases.