Systematic screening for cardiovascular risk at pharmacies.

Background: Early identification and treatment of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) is essential to prevent excess morbidity, mortality and healthcare-related costs. We sought to investigate whether an active screening programme at pharmacies could identify a significant proportion of patients with previously undetected CVRFs.

Methods And Results: Between April and July 2013, 184 pharmacies in Lower Austria enrolled a total of 6800 participants, in whom body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), total cholesterol and blood glucose were measured.

[Imaging of early carotid artery atherosclerotic lesions with 111In-labeled polyelonalhuman IgG (HIG)].

Aim: To assess the value of scintigraphy with 111In-HIG for diagnosis and evaluation of the stage and the clinical extent of carotid artery disease in humans a prospective clinical comparative trial of scintigraphy vs. sonography was performed.

Methods: 58 patients (38 male, 20 female; mean age 60 +/- 7 years) with hyperlipidemia and ultrasonographically detectable carotid artery lesions were studied.

Passive cigarette smoking increases isoprostane formation.

Passive smoking has been demonstrated to exert a variety of deleterious effects eventually resulting in vascular damage. Isoprostanes, a reliable marker of in vivo oxidation injury, have been shown to increase in active cigarette smoking. Data for passive smoking are lacking.

Atorvastatin reduces microalbuminuria in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia and normal glucose tolerance.

Background: Anecdotal evidence indicates that significant lowering of LDL-cholesterol by means of LDL apheresis may reduce the level of microalbuminuria in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. We therefore examined whether treatment with the most potent LDL-lowering drug available (atorvastatin) has a similar effect on the level of microalbuminuria.

Material/methods: In a case series, 100 patients with familial heterozygous hypercholesterolemia were started on 10 mg atorvastatin.

Effect of prickly pear (Opuntia robusta) on glucose- and lipid-metabolism in non-diabetics with hyperlipidemia--a pilot study.

Background: Besides others pectin, a soluble fibre, has been reported to be effective in lowering cholesterol levels in both animals and man with hyperlipidemia as well as being able to slow carbohydrate absorption and hence reduce the postprandial rise in blood glucose and serum insulin in patients with type-II diabetes. Aim of this pilot study was to assess the effect of prickly pear consumption on glucose- and lipid metabolism.

Design: In 24 non-diabetic, non-obese males (aged 37-55 years) suffering from primary isolated hypercholesterolemia (n = 12; group A) or combined hyperlipidemia (n = 12; group B) respectively, the influence of prickly pear pectin (Opuntia robusta)-intake on glucose- and lipid metabolism was examined.