PCSK9 inhibitors on the management of primary and secondary cardiovascular prevention.

Background: Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors (PCSK9i) have represented an important change in the management of hypercholesterolemia, although, until now, they have barely been used. Without PCSK9i, many patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) or those at very high risk do not reach their therapeutic LDLc objectives.

Objective: The analysis aimed to examine the clinical and biochemical characteristics of subjects receiving PCSK9i treatment in the Dyslipidemia Registry of the Spanish Atherosclerosis Society.

Detection of subclinical atherosclerosis using vascular ultrasound as a vascular risk assessment method. Simplified protocol.

Cardiovascular disease secondary to atherosclerosis is the main cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. Cardiovascular risk stratification has proven to be an insufficient approach to detect those subjects who are going to suffer a cardiovascular event, which is why for years other markers have been sought to help stratify each individual with greater precision. Two-dimensional vascular ultrasound is a excellent method for vascular risk assessment.

Effect of Aromatic Herbs and Spices Present in the Mediterranean Diet on the Glycemic Profile in Type 2 Diabetes Subjects: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: The Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) is the dietary pattern par excellence for managing and preventing metabolic diseases, such as Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM). The MedDiet incorporates spices and aromatic herbs, which are abundant sources of bioactive compounds. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of all aromatic herbs and spices included in the MedDiet, such as black cumin, clove, parsley, saffron, thyme, ginger, black pepper, rosemary, turmeric, basil, oregano, and cinnamon, on the glycemic profile in T2DM subjects.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in diabetes and dyslipidemia management in a Spanish region: a retrospective study of the Aragon population.

Introduction: Previous research has indicated that the COVID-19 outbreak had a negative impact on the diagnosis and management of cardiometabolic diseases. Our aim was to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the management of dyslipidemia and type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the Aragon region of Spain.

Methods: We conducted an observational retrospective study, which included data from all patients diagnosed with active T2D or dyslipidemia in Aragon during 2019-2021.

Association of beverage consumption with subclinical atherosclerosis in a Spanish working population.

Beverages play a substantial role meeting water, calorie, and nutrient requirements; however, they are presented as being major contributors to the current obesity epidemic. Although, the relationship between beverage consumption and metabolic risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adults has been frequently studied, its association with subclinical atherosclerosis is of increased interest. We studied the association of beverage consumption with the presence of peripheral subclinical atherosclerosis among Spanish workers.

Toxic Metals and Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Carotid, Femoral, and Coronary Vascular Territories: The Aragon Workers Health Study.

Objective: Studies evaluating the association of metals with subclinical atherosclerosis are mostly limited to carotid arteries. We assessed individual and joint associations of nonessential metals exposure with subclinical atherosclerosis in 3 vascular territories. Approach and Results: One thousand eight hundred seventy-three Aragon Workers Health Study participants had urinary determinations of inorganic arsenic species, barium, cadmium, chromium, antimony, titanium, uranium, vanadium, and tungsten.

Lipoprotein(a) in hereditary hypercholesterolemia: Influence of the genetic cause, defective gene and type of mutation.

Background And Aims: Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] concentration in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (heFH) is not well established. Whether the genetic defect responsible for heFH plays a role in Lp(a) concentration is unknown. We aimed to compare Lp(a) in controls from a healthy population, in genetically diagnosed heFH and mutation-negative hypercholesterolemia subjects, and to assess the influence on Lp(a) of the genetic defect responsible for heFH.

Work Shift, Lifestyle Factors, and Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Spanish Male Workers: A Mediation Analysis.

(1) Background: Working night shifts has been associated with altered circadian rhythms, lifestyle habits, and cardiometabolic risks. No information on the potential association of working shift and the presence of atherosclerosis is available. The aim of this study was to quantify the association between different work shifts and the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis objectively measured by imaging.

Daily Sitting for Long Periods Increases the Odds for Subclinical Atheroma Plaques.

Sedentarism is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), but currently it is not clear how a sedentary behavior such as long sitting time can affect atherosclerosis development. This study examined the relationship between sitting time and the prevalence of carotid and femoral subclinical atherosclerosis. A cross-sectional analysis based on a subsample of 2082 participants belonging to the Aragon Workers' Health Study was carried out.

Pharmacological Primary Cardiovascular Prevention and Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Men: Evidence from the Aragon Workers' Health Study.

The objective of this study is to describe the profile of primary preventive treatment for cardiovascular disease in adult males and to analyze the association between treatment profile and subclinical atherosclerosis. We selected male workers who had undergone ultrasound imaging and had no previous history of cardiovascular disease ( = 2138). Data on the consumption of primary cardiovascular drugs from the previous year were obtained.

Genetics of Hypercholesterolemia: Comparison Between Familial Hypercholesterolemia and Hypercholesterolemia Nonrelated to LDL Receptor.

Severe hypercholesterolemia (HC) is defined as an elevation of total cholesterol (TC) due to the increase in LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) >95th percentile or 190 mg/dl. The high values of LDL-C, especially when it is maintained over time, is considered a risk factor for the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), mostly expressed as ischemic heart disease (IHD). One of the best characterized forms of severe HC, familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), is caused by the presence of a major variant in one gene (, or ), with an autosomal codominant pattern of inheritance, causing an extreme elevation of LDL-C and early IHD.

Glycerol kinase deficiency in adults: Description of 4 novel cases, systematic review and development of a clinical diagnostic score.

Background And Aims: Glycerol kinase deficiency (GKD) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by hyperglycerolemia and glyceroluria, which could be misdiagnosed as a moderate to severe hypertriglyceridemia (HTG). We aimed to describe four novel cases of GKD, to complete a systematic review of all cases of isolated GKD published so far, and to develop a suspicion clinical diagnostic score for GKD.

Methods: We reported four cases with suspicion of GKD and compared their phenotype with 584 males with triglycerides (TG) > 300 mg/dL, selected as control group (HTG non-GKD).

Association between alcohol consumption and subclinical femoral atherosclerosis in smoking and non-smoking men: the AWHS study.

Background And Aims: Many addictive substances, such as tobacco and alcohol, influence atherosclerosis development. Whether or not tobacco's pro-atherosclerotic effect is influenced by alcohol consumption is unknown. We aimed to estimate the impact of alcohol intake on the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis in femoral arteries in smoking and non-smoking middle-aged men.

Exposure to dietary polychlorinated biphenyls and dioxins, and its relationship with subclinical coronary atherosclerosis: The Aragon Workers' Health Study.

Background: Experimental evidence has revealed that exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxins directly impairs endothelial function and induces atherosclerosis progression. In the general population, despite a small number of recent studies finding a link between PCBs, and stroke and myocardial infraction, the association with early coronary atherosclerosis has not been examined yet.

Objective: To examine whether dietary exposure to PCBs and dioxins is associated with subclinical coronary atherosclerosis in a middle-aged men.

Three Dimensional Carotid and Femoral Ultrasound is not Superior to Two Dimensional Ultrasound as a Predictor of Coronary Atherosclerosis Among Men With Intermediate Cardiovascular Risk.

Background: Current cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk stratification scales, drawn up from traditional risk factors, have important limitations. The detection of subclinical atherosclerosis, by a non-invasive technique such as peripheral arteries ultrasound (US) may improve cardiovascular risk (CVR) stratification, especially in intermediate risk population. Our aim was to compare the predictive power of atherosclerotic plaques detected in carotid and femoral arteries by 2-dimensional (2D) vs.

Effect of bergamot on lipid profile in humans: A systematic review.

Dyslipidemia is a well-established modifiable cardiovascular risk. Although statins can reduce LDLc by 50-60%, less than 20% of patients with high risk of CVD achieve LDL targets. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate the effect of the nutraceutical, bergamot (), on lipid parameters in humans.

Treatment of a high cardiovascular risk patient with McArdle's disease with PCSK9 inhibitors.

A 60-year-old male with familial combined hyperlipidemia, ischemic heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Since childhood, intolerance to intense exercise. The patient was diagnosed of McArdle's disease after an episode of rhabdomyolysis associated with statins as treatment after a myocardial infarction.

Lipid-lowering response in subjects with the p.(Leu167del) mutation in the APOE gene.

Background And Aims: The aim of this work was to compared the effect of lipid lowering drugs among familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) subjects with a functional mutation in LDLR (LDLR FH) and FH with the p.(Leu167del) mutation in APOE.

Methods: We retrospectively selected all adults with the p.

Efficacy of repeated phlebotomies in hypertriglyceridemia and iron overload: A prospective, randomized, controlled trial.

Background: High ferritin concentration is associated with hypertriglyceridemia, although it is not elucidated if iron overload has a causal role.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of repeated phlebotomies in patients with iron overload and hypertriglyceridemia.

Methods: Twelve weeks, 1:1 randomized, parallel-groups trial conducted at a University Hospital Lipid Clinic, including 86 subjects aged 18-70 years with serum ferritin >300 ng/mL in men or >200 ng/mL in women and triglycerides >200 mg/dL.

Factors associated with discontinuing or not starting oral anticoagulant therapy in older hospitalized patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

Aim: To determine the factors associated with discontinuing or not starting oral anticoagulation (OA) therapy in older patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF).

Methods: A prospective, multicenter cohort study was carried out of patients aged >75 years with NVAF hospitalized in internal medicine departments in Spain. For each patient, we recorded creatinine, hemoglobin and platelets levels, as well as CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED scores and the Charlson Comorbidity Index.

Sleep duration and subclinical atherosclerosis: The Aragon Workers' Health Study.

Background And Aims: Few studies have evaluated the association of sleep duration with subclinical atherosclerosis, and with heterogeneous findings. We evaluated the association of sleep duration with the presence of coronary, carotid, and femoral subclinical atherosclerosis in healthy middle-age men with low prevalence of clinical comorbidities.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 1968 men, 40-60 years of age, participating in the Aragon Workers' Health Study (AWHS).

Association between non-cholesterol sterol concentrations and Achilles tendon thickness in patients with genetic familial hypercholesterolemia.

Background: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic disorder that result in abnormally high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, markedly increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and tendon xanthomas (TX). However, the clinical expression is highly variable. TX are present in other metabolic diseases that associate increased sterol concentration.