Prevalence and Risk Factors for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in 7704 Individuals: An Analysis from the Greek Registry for the Prevalence of Familial Hypercholesterolemia (GRegistry-FH).

The intention of this study was to profile the cohort from the Greek Registry for the prevalence of Familial Hypercholesterolemia (GRegistry-FH) by estimating the prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD), myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, dyslipidemia, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM), pre-DM, smoking, abnormal thyroid function (ATF), and lipid values. The GRegistry-FH is a prospective study involving door-to-door interviews conducted by trained interviewers. Overall, 7704 individuals aged ≥18 years, randomly selected from all the regions of Greece, participated.

The Healthy and Active Fund: Lessons From the Evaluation Experiences of Community-Based Physical Activity Projects in Wales.

Background: The "Healthy and Active Fund" involved 17 community-based projects focused on the delivery of physical activity interventions, led by a variety of public and third sector organizations. As a novel, direct approach to capturing impact at this level, these organizations were encouraged to robustly evaluate and monitor their own project's outcomes, with core funds allocated to this process. This study aimed to explore project experiences of planning and completing evaluation activities, to better understand how to support community-based practice improvement.

The effect of lipid-lowering treatment on indices of MASLD in familial hypercholesterolemia patients.

Background & Aims: The effect of lipid-lowering treatment (LLT) on metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is unclear. This is relevant for patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) who are on lifelong LLT. We aimed to evaluate the effect of LLT on MASLD indices in this population.

Physical signs and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in familial hypercholesterolemia: the HELLAS-FH Registry.

Aims: Three physical signs, namely tendon xanthomas, corneal arcus and xanthelasma, have been associated with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (heFH). The prevalence and clinical significance of these signs are not well established among contemporary heFH individuals. This study explored the frequency as well as the association of these physical signs with prevalent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in heFH individuals.

Obesity and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in adults with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia: An analysis from HELLAS-FH registry.

Background: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and obesity are well-established risk factors of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Despite high prevalence, their joint association with ASCVD remains largely unknown.

Objective: To investigate the association of obesity with prevalent ASCVD in individuals with heterozygous FH (HeFH) enrolled in the Hellenic Familial Hypercholesterolemia Registry (HELLAS-FH).

Systematic review of the barriers and facilitators to cross-sector partnerships in promoting physical activity.

Aims: To review the barriers and facilitators that cross-sector partners face in promoting physical activity.

Methods: We searched Medline, Embase, PsychINFO, ProQuest Central, SCOPUS and SPORTDiscus to identify published records dating from 1986 to August 2021. We searched for public health interventions drawn from partnerships, where the partners worked across sectors and their shared goal was to promote or increase physical activity through partnership approaches.

Challenges for health systems seeking to embrace virtual health care for population health.

A gradual move to proactive illness prevention requires a strategic shift towards population health management by health care systems. Such a shift becomes necessary to improve outcomes, reduce inequalities and manage costs better, as life expectancy increases and chronic illness becomes more prevalent. Health system digitisation and greater focus on virtual health care (VHC) can contribute to active population health management.

Volanesorsen: A New Era in the Treatment of Severe Hypertriglyceridemia.

Familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS) is a rare inherited disease, mainly due to lipoprotein lipase () gene mutations, leading to lipid abnormalities. Volanesorsen, a second-generation 2'--methoxyethyl (2'-MOE) chimeric antisense therapeutic oligonucleotide, can decrease plasma apolipoprotein C3 and triglycerides (TG) levels through LPL-independent pathways. The European Medicines Agency has approved volanesorsen as an adjunct to diet in adult FCS patients with an inadequate response to TG-lowering therapy.

Randomised controlled trial and economic evaluation of a targeted cancer awareness intervention for adults living in deprived areas of the UK.

Background: Cancer outcomes are poor in socioeconomically deprived communities, with low symptom awareness contributing to prolonged help-seeking and advanced disease. Targeted cancer awareness interventions require evaluation.

Methods: This is a randomised controlled trial involving adults aged 40+ years recruited in community and healthcare settings in deprived areas of South Yorkshire and South-East Wales.

Recruitment and retention of participants from socioeconomically deprived communities: lessons from the Awareness and Beliefs About Cancer (ABACus3) Randomised Controlled Trial.

Background: Recruitment of research participants poses challenges in socioeconomically deprived areas. The Awareness and Beliefs About Cancer (ABACus) phase 3 Randomised Control Trial recruited adult participants from socioeconomically deprived areas using a combined healthcare/community engagement model. We report the strategies used to successfully recruit and retain our trial participant sample.

Lipoprotein Apheresis and Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 Inhibitors in Patients With Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia: A One Center Study.

Aim: We evaluated the lipid-lowering (LL) effect of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors (PCSK9i) in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) treated with LL-drugs and lipoprotein apheresis (LA).

Patients And Methods: The PCSK9i treatment (evolocumab 420 mg/4 weeks, alirocumab 150 mg/2 weeks, or alirocumab 75 mg/2 weeks: 9, 6, and 2 patients, respectively) was initiated in patients with HeFH (n = 17; aged 35-69 years, 10 men, previously treated with statins + ezetimibe ± colesevelam and LA sessions for 2-12 years). A lipid profile was obtained before and immediately after the LA session and before, 1 and 2 months after switching to PCSK9i treatment.

Non-traumatic and non-drug-induced rhabdomyolysis.

Rhabdomyolysis (RM), a fortunately rare disease of the striated muscle cells, is a complication of non-traumatic (congenital (glycogen storage disease, discrete mitochondrial myopathies and various muscular dystrophies) or acquired (alcoholic myopathy, systemic diseases, arterial occlusion, viral illness or bacterial sepsis)) and traumatic conditions. Additionally, RM can occur in some individuals under specific circumstances such as toxic substance use and illicit drug abuse. Lipid-lowering drugs in particular are capable of causing RM.

The influence of gene polymorphisms on postprandial triglyceride response after oral fat tolerance test meal in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Aims: We evaluated the influence of CETP (rs5882 and rs708272), APOE (rs7412, rs429358) and LPL (rs328) gene polymorphisms on triglyceride (TG) response to oral fat tolerance test (OFTT) meal in patients with well-controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: Fifty-one men underwent OFTT and according to postprandial TG response patients were divided into two subgroups (positive [TG ≥ 220 mg/dL, 31 patients] and negative [TG < 220 mg/dL, 20 patients]). All patients were genotyped, and study variants were detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restricted fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis.

Microsomal triglyceride transfer protein inhibitor (lomitapide) efficacy in the treatment of patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia.

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein inhibitor (lomitapide) in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia.

Methods And Results: In 12 homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia patients treated with lipid-lowering drugs ± biweekly lipoprotein apheresis sessions (nine patients), daily lomitapide was added. The lipid profile (total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) before and after lomitapide treatment was evaluated.

Hellenic Postprandial Lipemia Study (HPLS): Rationale and design of a prospective, open-label trial to determinate the prevalence of abnormal postprandial lipemia as well as its interaction with statins in patients at high- and very high-risk for cardiovascular disease.

Fasting and postprandial hypertriglyceridemia have been related to cardiovascular (CV) disease. We describe the design and methods of the Hellenic Postprandial Lipemia Study (HPLS, NCT02163044), a prospective, open-label, randomized, multicentre trial. The study will recruit 900 participants from 8 centers, and aims to determinate the prevalence of abnormal postprandial lipemia in patients at high- and very high-risk for CV disease, the efficacy of statin treatment and other medications on postprandial lipemia, and the interaction between postprandial lipemia and CV risk during a treatment period of 3 years.

Improving cancer symptom awareness and help-seeking among adults living in socioeconomically deprived communities in the UK using a facilitated health check: A protocol for the Awareness and Beliefs About Cancer (ABACus) Randomised Control Trial.

Background: Cancer survival is lower in socioeconomically deprived communities, partly due to low awareness of symptoms, negative beliefs and delayed help-seeking. We developed an interactive health check questionnaire facilitated by trained lay advisors. It entails 29 questions about background, lifestyle and health with tailored behaviour change advice.

Biomarkers and Gene Polymorphisms in Members of Long- and Short-lived Families: A Longevity Study.

Background: The influence of biomarkers in human lifespan has been investigated but with no clear results yet.

Materials And Methods: Lipids, Uric Acid (UA), Adiponectin (ADIPOQ), Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF-1), cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) proteins, as well as , , () and -gene polymorphisms were evaluated in 149 Greek individuals. The Long-Lived Families (LON) (n=84) comprised of 3 generations: long-lived aged ≥90 years (P), offspring (FL1) and their grandchildren (FL2), while the Short-Lived Families (EAD) (n=65) where both parents died <75 years, comprised of 2 generations: middle-aged (FD1) and children (FD2).

Tumor Protein p53 (TP53) Gene and Left Main Coronary Artery Disease.

Patients with left main (LM) coronary artery disease (CAD) are at the highest risk of cardiovascular events. We evaluated possible gene polymorphisms of tumor protein 53 ( TP53, rs1042522, p.Arg72Pro) that can differentiate LM-CAD from patients with more peripheral CAD (MP-CAD) and healthy participants (control group) in 520 individuals (LM-CAD, n = 175; MP-CAD, n = 185; and control group, n = 160).

Role of CYP4F2, CYP2C19, and CYP1A2 polymorphisms on acenocoumarol pharmacogenomic algorithm accuracy improvement in the Greek population: need for sub-phenotype analysis.

Background: We have earlier developed a pharmacogenomic algorithm for acenocoumarol dose prediction in Greek patients that included CYP2C9/VKORC1 genetic information. This study aims at analyzing the potential effect of CYP4F2, CYP2C19, and CYP1A2 gene polymorphisms on acenocoumarol dose requirements and at further improving the Greek-specific pharmacogenomic algorithm.

Methods: A total of 205 Greek patients taking acenocoumarol (140 who reached and 65 who did not reach stable dose), participants of acenocoumarol EU-PACT trial, were included in the study.