Multisite atherosclerosis in subjects with metabolic syndrome and diabetes and relation to cardiovascular events: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Background And Aims: The extent and relation of multisite atherosclerosis to cardiovascular disease (CVD) in metabolic syndrome (MetS) and diabetes (DM) are not well documented. We examined the extent of multisite atherosclerosis and its prognostic value for CVD events in MetS and DM.

Methods: In CVD-free subjects from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, multisite atherosclerosis was measured as: (1) the number of arterial beds involved (coronary calcium>0, abdominal aortic calcium>0, carotid intima-media thickness ≥1 mm and ankle brachial index<1 or ≥1.

Cancer-Incidence, prevalence and mortality in the oldest-old. A comprehensive review.

Chronic health conditions are commonplace in older populations. The process of aging impacts many of the world's top health concerns. With the average life expectancy continuing to climb, understanding patterns of morbidity in aging populations has become progressively more important.

Statin Effects on Aggression: Results from the UCSD Statin Study, a Randomized Control Trial.

Background: Low/ered cholesterol is linked to aggression in some study designs. Cases/series have reported reproducible aggression increases on statins, but statins also bear mechanisms that could reduce aggression. Usual statin effects on aggression have not been characterized.

The older the better: are elderly study participants more non-representative? A cross-sectional analysis of clinical trial and observational study samples.

Objective: Study participants can differ from the target population they are taken to represent. We sought to investigate whether older age magnifies such differences, examining age-trends, among study participants, in self-rated level of activity compared to others of the same age.

Design: Cross-sectional examination of the relation of participant age to reported 'relative activity' (ie, compared to others of the same age), a bidirectionally correlated proxy for relative vitality, in exemplars of randomised and observational studies.

Trans fat consumption and aggression.

Background: Dietary trans fatty acids (dTFA) are primarily synthetic compounds that have been introduced only recently; little is known about their behavioral effects. dTFA inhibit production of omega-3 fatty acids, which experimentally have been shown to reduce aggression. Potential behavioral effects of dTFA merit investigation.

Statin-associated muscle-related adverse effects: a case series of 354 patients.

Study Objective: To characterize the properties and natural history of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor (statin)-associated muscle-related adverse effects (MAEs).

Design: Patient-targeted postmarketing adverse-effect surveillance approach coupling survey design with an open-ended narrative.

Setting: University-affiliated health care system.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-like conditions in possible association with cholesterol-lowering drugs: an analysis of patient reports to the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Statin Effects Study.

Background: While cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or ALS-like conditions have arisen in apparent association with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors ('statins') and/or other lipid-lowering drugs (collectively termed 'statins' in this paper for brevity), additional information is needed to understand whether the connection may be causal. The University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Statin Effects Study is a patient-targeted adverse event surveillance project focused on lipid-lowering agents, whose aim is to capitalize on patient reporting to further define characteristics and natural history of statin adverse effects (AEs), and to ascertain whether a patient-targeted surveillance system might lead to presumptive identification of previously unrecognized AEs. ALS was a candidate 'new' AE identified through this process.

Statin-associated adverse cognitive effects: survey results from 171 patients.

Study Objective: To characterize the adverse cognitive effects of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins).

Design: Patient survey-based analysis.

Patients: One hundred seventy-one patients (age range 34-86 yrs) who self-reported memory or other cognitive problems associated with statin therapy while participating in a previous statin effects study.

Statin adverse effects : a review of the literature and evidence for a mitochondrial mechanism.

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) are a widely used class of drug, and like all medications, have potential for adverse effects (AEs). Here we review the statin AE literature, first focusing on muscle AEs as the most reported problem both in the literature and by patients. Evidence regarding the statin muscle AE mechanism, dose effect, drug interactions, and genetic predisposition is examined.

Physician response to patient reports of adverse drug effects: implications for patient-targeted adverse effect surveillance.

Objective: Using a patient targeted survey, we sought to assess patient representations of how physicians responded when patients presented with possible adverse drug reactions (ADRs). As a demonstration case, we took one widely prescribed drug class, the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors ('statins'). This information was used to assess whether a patient-targeted ADR surveillance approach may complement provider reporting, potentially fostering identification of additional patients with possible or probable ADRs.