Coronary artery calcification progression and renal involvement in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a longitudinal cohort study.

To investigate if progression of coronary artery calcification (CAC) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with renal and traditional cardiovascular risk factors as well as incidence of myocardial infarctions. CAC progression was evaluated by cardiac computed tomography (CT) at baseline and after 5 years. Multivariable Poisson regression was applied to investigate associations between CAC progression and baseline values for traditional cardiovascular risk factors, CAC, SLE disease duration, lupus nephritis, and renal function.

Association Between Myocardial Work and Coronary Artery Calcium Score in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease.

Background: Myocardial work is a novel measure of potential value for diagnosing coronary artery disease (CAD). It may therefore be useful in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), in whom the diagnostic work-up can be challenging.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of patients with CKD (G1-5, nondialysis-dependent).

[Not Available].

Patiens with psoriasis and mild to moderate skin disease can be treated with topical agents. This review finds that the most effective topical treatment is calcipotriol and betamethasone combination formulations. Pure topical corticosteroids continue to have a role in the treatment of psoriasis, as they are available in many strengths and formulations that facilitate ease of use.

Investigating the associations between uncarboxylated matrix gla protein as a proxy for vitamin K status and cardiovascular disease risk factors in a general adult population.

Purpose: Vitamin K is an activator of vitamin K dependent proteins, one of which is the potent inhibitor of vascular calcification, matrix Gla protein (MGP). The purpose of this study is to investigate the association between an inverse proxy of functional vitamin K status, plasma dephospho-uncarboxylated MGP (dp-ucMGP), and cardiovascular disease risk factors (CVDRFs).

Methods: In a cross-sectional population-based health examination study of 4,092 individuals aged 24-77 years, the vitamin K status was assessed using plasma dp-ucMGP.

Feasibility of redo-TAVI in the self-expanding ACURATE neo2 valve: a computed tomography study.

Background: Redo-transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) may be unfeasible because of the risk of compromising coronary flow or coronary access by the pinned back leaflets of the index transcatheter aortic valve.

Aims: We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of redo-TAVI using the balloon-expandable SAPIEN 3 (S3) implanted within the self-expanding ACURATE neo2 (ACn2) valve and to identify predictors associated with a high risk of compromising coronary flow.

Methods: A total of 153 post-ACn2 TAVI cardiac computed tomography scans were analysed.