Glycerol intoxication syndrome in young children, following the consumption of slush ice drinks.

Introduction: Slush ice drinks are commonly available refreshments, aimed at children and young people. Glycerol is used to maintain the slush effect in the absence of a high sugar content.

Objective: To describe a series of children who became acutely unwell shortly after consuming a slush ice drink; their presentation mimics specific inherited metabolic diseases (IMDs).

Phytosterols and phytostanols in context: From physiology and pathophysiology to food supplementation and clinical practice.

Phytosterols and phytostanols are two classes of sterol derivatives naturally synthesised in plants, but not in humans. Structurally, phytosterols and phytostanols have a sterane ring in common, but phytostanols do not have a double bond between carbons 5 and 6. The therapeutic potential of phytosterols and phytostanols supplementation in cholesterol reduction is the main reason for its wide usage in an expansive food matrix, including milk, yoghurt, margarine, mayonnaise, chocolate, tartare, chips, esterification with omega-3, and recently, as a successful nutraceutical among athletes is its fortification with whey protein.

Effects of Combining Coronary Calcium Score With Treatment on Plaque Progression in Familial Coronary Artery Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring provides prognostic information, especially in patients at intermediate risk for coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the benefit of combining CAC score with a primary prevention strategy has not been tested in a randomized trial.

Objective: To assess whether combining the CAC score with a prevention strategy can be used to limit plaque progression in intermediate-risk patients with a family history of premature CAD.

Family planning, pregnancy, and breastfeeding care in familial hypercholesterolaemia: a study protocol for a mixed-methods study in the Netherlands, Norway and Australia (Taking ACTion to Improve Care of coupleS in FH (TACTICS)).

Introduction: Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is a common genetic condition causing elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, which increases the risk of premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Little is currently known about how persons with FH are counselled by their healthcare professionals regarding pregnancy and breastfeeding, and how FH impacts the partner relationship and family planning. Current guidelines advise interrupting most cholesterol-lowering medication during conception, pregnancy, and breastfeeding.