Serum Magnesium Is Associated with Long-Term Survival of Non-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients.

Background: Low serum magnesium (sMg) is associated with cardiovascular risk factors and atherosclerotic disease.

Objective: To evaluate the association between sMg levels on admission and clinical outcomes in hospitalized non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of all patients admitted to a single tertiary center with a primary diagnosis of NSTEMI.

Are Chronic Pain Syndromes the Reason for Statin-associated Muscle Symptoms?

Background: Statin-induced myalgia is defined as muscle pain without elevation of serum creatine phosphokinase levels and is a well-known complaint among statin users. Chronic pain syndromes affect a high percentage of the population. These pain syndromes may confound the reports of statin-induced myalgia.

Risk Assessment and Clinical Management of Children and Adolescents with Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolaemia. A Position Paper of the Associations of Preventive Pediatrics of Serbia, Mighty Medic and International Lipid Expert Panel.

Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is among the most common genetic metabolic lipid disorders characterised by elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels from birth and a significantly higher risk of developing premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The majority of the current pediatric guidelines for clinical management of children and adolescents with FH does not consider the impact of genetic variations as well as characteristics of vascular phenotype as assessed by recently developed non-invasive imaging techniques. We propose a combined integrated approach of cardiovascular (CV) risk assessment and clinical management of children with FH incorporating current risk assessment profile (LDL-C levels, traditional CV risk factors and familial history) with genetic and non-invasive vascular phenotyping.

Blood fatty acid analysis reveals similar n-3 fatty acid composition in non-pregnant and pregnant women and their neonates in an Israeli pilot study.

Maternal docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is required during pregnancy to supply for normal fetal growth and development. This pilot study aimed to assess the unknown fatty acid (FA) composition in a cohort of non-pregnant and pregnant Israeli women at term and their offspring on a normal diet without n-3 FA supplementation. The fatty acid profile, analyzed using gas chromatography, showed significantly higher plasma monounsaturated (MUFA) and lower n-6 FA percent distribution with similar n-3 index, in pregnant compared to non-pregnant women.

Current Approach to the Diagnosis and Treatment of Heterozygote and Homozygous FH Children and Adolescents.

Purpose Of Review: To elucidate the current approach of care in pediatric patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). We sought an answer to the question whether the advances and major changes in lipid management are relevant and apply to children and adolescents.

Recent Findings: Latest research findings clearly demonstrate that lowering cholesterol levels at a young age prevents vascular atherosclerotic changes and decreases cardiovascular events in adulthood and emphasizes the importance of early detection and intervention in the pediatric FH patients group.

[TREATMENT OF HOMOZYGOTES OF FAMILIAL HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA: RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ISRAELI SOCIETY OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS].

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder caused by mutations affecting the function of the LDL receptor. In the Israeli population, the carrier heterozygote state is quite common, with the prevalence of 1:250, and the estimated prevalence of homozygote (hoFH) patients is 1:500,000. The life span of untreated hoFH patients is significantly shortened due to premature atherosclerosis and cardiovascular mortality.

Dietary alpha linolenic acid in pregnant mice and during weaning increases brain docosahexaenoic acid and improves recognition memory in the offspring.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is critical for normal brain development and function. DHA is in danger of being significantly reduced in the human food supply, and the question of whether its metabolic precursor, the essential n-3 alpha linolenic acid (ALA) during pregnancy, can support fetal brain DHA levels for optimal neurodevelopment, is fundamental. Female mice were fed either ALA-enriched or Control diet during pregnancy and lactation.

[UPDATED ISRAELI GUIDELINES FOR THE TREATMENT OF DYSLIPIDEMIA 2020].

Despite the impressive decline in mortality from atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD), these diseases still account for a large proportion of the overall morbidity and mortality worldwide. A vast amount of research has demonstrated the key role played by circulating lipoproteins, and especially low-density lipoprotein (LDL), in the etiology of atherosclerosis, and numerous studies have proven the efficacy of interventions that lower the atherogenic lipoproteins in reducing morbidity and mortality from ASCVD. While previous guidelines placed an emphasis on the use HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) for the treatment of dyslipidemia, recent studies have shown that other LDL cholesterol lowering drugs, including ezetimibe and the PCSK9 inhibitors, can provide additional benefit when used in combination with (and in certain cases instead of) statins.

Dietary β-Carotene Rescues Vitamin A Deficiency and Inhibits Atherogenesis in Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Mice.

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a major health problem, especially in developing countries. In this study, we investigated the effect of VAD from weaning to adulthood in apoE-/- mice. Three-week-old male mice were allocated into four diet groups: I.

Addition of fish oil to atherogenic high fat diet inhibited atherogenesis while olive oil did not, in LDL receptor KO mice.

Background And Aims: Mediterranean diet has been associated with decreased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Both fish and olive oil are key components of this diet. Therefore, we compared their effects on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and atherogenesis in a mouse model, fed a high fat diet.

[Phytosterols: another way to reduce LDL cholesterol levels].

Phytosterols are sterols found naturally in various oils from plants. Phytosterols compete with cholesterol for a place in the mixed micelles, needed for cholesterol absorption by the small intestine. As a result, cholesterol absorption, either from food or from bile salts is lowered by about 50%, leading to a towering of about 10% of blood cholesterol level, despite an increase in hepatic cholesterol synthesis.

Neurological outcome in cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis treated with chenodeoxycholic acid: early versus late diagnosis.

Objective: To present the long-term neurological outcome of Jewish Israeli patients with cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) after several years of chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) treatment.

Methods: A cross sectional observational study of all patients with a diagnosis of CTX followed in a referral outpatient clinic during the years 2003-2012.

Results: Eighteen patients (10 men) from 11 families were enrolled.

The metabolic effects of omega-3 plant sterol esters in mixed hyperlipidemic subjects.

Purpose: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of omega-3 plant sterol esters (n-3-PSE) on lipid profile and other coronary heart disease risk factors in subjects with mixed hyperlipidemia.

Methods: Ninety-one patients with mixed hyperlipidemia were randomized in a double blind fashion to receive either placebo (corn oil) or n-3-PSE. Twenty four patients dropped out or were excluded from the efficacy analysis due to protocol violation.

Conservative treatment of L-asparaginase-associated lipid abnormalities in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Objective: To determine the incidence and clinical consequences of asparaginase-associated lipid abnormalities in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Methods: Sixty-five newly diagnosed children and adolescents aged 0.4-21 years with ALL or lymphoblastic lymphoma were retrospectively evaluated for lipid abnormalities.

A 9-cis beta-carotene-enriched diet inhibits atherogenesis and fatty liver formation in LDL receptor knockout mice.

Our aim was to study the effect of 9-cis beta-carotene-rich powder of the alga Dunaliella bardawil on lipid profile, atherogenesis, and liver steatosis in high-fat diet-fed LDL receptor knockout mice. In 4 sets of experiments, mice were distributed into the following groups: control, fed an unfortified diet; Dunaliella 50, fed a diet composed of 50% 9-cis and 50% all-trans beta-carotene; Dunaliella 25, fed a diet containing 25% 9-cis and 75% all-trans beta-carotene; beta-carotene-deficient Dunaliella, fed beta-carotene-deficient Dunaliella powder; and all-trans beta-carotene, fed a synthetic all-trans beta-carotene. All fortified diets contained 0.

Characterisation of atherosclerotic lesions with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of wet tissue.

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the universal leading cause of mortality and a major cause of morbidity. Additionally, the global epidemic of diabetes is associated with considerable cardiovascular mortality risk due to accelerated premature atherosclerosis. Development of effective therapies for atherosclerosis is dependent upon improved tools to assess atherosclerotic lesion progression in animal models.

[Cholesterol absorption as a target for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia].

Hypercholesterolemia is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis. HMG-CoA Reductase inhibitors (statins), which block hepatic synthesis of cholesterol, are the mainstay of therapy of hypercholesterolemia. Recent trials have demonstrated the importance of maintaining very low LDL-cholesterol levels in high-risk patients.

Endothelin B receptor antagonist increases preproendothelin-1 transcription in bovine aortic endothelial cells and in vivo.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) receptor antagonists increase plasma immunoreactive ET-1 levels. However, their effect on preproendothelin-1 (PPE-1) mRNA levels is still controversial. Few studies have found a decrease in PPE-1 mRNA levels in endothelial cells treated with the nonselective ETA/B receptor antagonist, and others demonstrated that an ETB blockade by the selective antagonist BQ788 increases PPE-1 mRNA levels.

9-cis beta-carotene-rich powder of the alga Dunaliella bardawil increases plasma HDL-cholesterol in fibrate-treated patients.

The effect of fibrates on high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol levels is suggested to be mediated by its binding to peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPARalpha). Upon ligand binding, PPARalpha heterodimerizes with the 9-cis retinoic acid receptor (RXR) and it is this heterodimer which regulates gene expression. We assessed the hypothesis that a combined treatment with fibrate plus 9-cis beta-carotene-rich powder of the alga Dunaliella bardawil, as a source of 9-cis retinoic acid, would improve the drug's effect on HDL-cholesterol levels.