Characteristics and Long-Term Prognosis of Patients ≤35 Years of Age with ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction and "Normal or Near Normal" Coronary Arteries.

There are scarce data regarding risk factors and prognosis of patients with premature ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and "normal or near normal" coronary arteries (N/NNCAs). We compared the characteristics and long-term prognosis of patients with premature STEMI and N/NNCAs with their counterparts with significant coronary artery disease (CAD). We recruited 330 patients who had STEMI ≤35 years of age and 167 age- and gender-matched controls.

Circadian pattern of symptoms onset in patients ≤35 years presenting with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction.

Background: There are scarce data regarding the circadian pattern of symptoms onset in young patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We explored whether young patients with ST-segment elevation AMI exhibit a circadian variation in symptoms onset.

Methods: We recruited prospectively 256 consecutive patients who had survived their first ST-segment elevation AMI ≤35 years of age.

Inflammatory markers and plaque morphology: an optical coherence tomography study.

Background: OCT with its unique image resolution is the ideal method to detect culprit lesion characteristics in different clinical presentations. The identification of inflammatory markers related to plaque characteristics may be of clinical importance.

Methods: Thirty-two patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and fourteen patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP) were enrolled in this study.

Inverse relation of C-reactive protein levels to heart rate variability in patients after acute myocardial infarction.

Introduction: Inflammation has a major role in atherosclerosis and the acute phase C-reactive protein (CRP) is elevated after acute myocardial infarction. Inflammation is also implicated in autonomic nervous system control. Heart rate variability (HRV) has been used as a marker of abnormal autonomic activity after myocardial infarction.

Background diet influences the anti-inflammatory effect of alpha-linolenic acid in dyslipidaemic subjects.

Long-chain n-3 PUFA from fish oils are known to have anti-inflammatory effects. We evaluated the effect of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), precursor of n-3 fatty acids, on serum inflammatory markers and soluble cellular adhesion molecules (sCAM) of dyslipidaemic males, relative to their background diet. Participants were assigned to two groups, based upon food intake patterns: (a) twenty-one dyslipidaemic subjects who habitually ate a Mediterranean-Cretan-type diet; (b) nineteen dyslipidaemic subjects who normally ate a Westernised Greek diet.

The effect of diet enriched with alpha-linolenic acid on soluble cellular adhesion molecules in dyslipidaemic patients.

Background: Leukocyte adhesion and transendothelial migration, the critical pathogenic components in the development of atherosclerotic lesions, are largely mediated by cellular adhesion molecules (CAMs). We examined whether dietary supplementation with alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3n-3) affects the levels of soluble forms of CAMs in dyslipidaemic patients.

Methods: We recruited 90 male dyslipidaemic patients (mean age=51+/-8 years) following a typical Greek diet.

Preinfarction angina does not alter infarct size and in hospital outcome after acute myocardial infarction with ST elevation.

Background: Preinfarction angina has been reported to limit infarct size, in a manner analogous to experimental preconditioning. However, other studies have reported inconsistent results. We aimed to investigate prospectively the role of preinfarction angina on infarct size and in hospital outcome.

Dietary alpha-linolenic acid decreases C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A and interleukin-6 in dyslipidaemic patients.

Background: Inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease. We examined whether dietary supplementation with alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3n-3) affects the levels of inflammatory markers in dyslipidaemic patients.

Methods: We recruited 76 male dyslipidaemic patients (mean age=51+/-8 years) following a typical Greek diet.