Homocysteine is an independent predictor of long-term cardiac mortality in patients with stable coronary artery disease in the era of statins.

Background: Homocysteine (Hcy) is considered a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Objective: To explore the long-term prognostic value of Hcy in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) in the era of statins.

Methods: A total of 876 consecutive patients with stable CAD were recruited and followed up for a median of 6.

High levels of lipoprotein (a) and premature acute coronary syndrome.

Background And Aims: High levels of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] are associated with increased risk of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We explored whether Lp(a) exhibits a stronger association with premature ACS.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted; 1457 patients with a history of ACS (54.

Short-term effects of Mediterranean-type diet intervention on soluble cellular adhesion molecules in subjects with abdominal obesity.

Background & Aims: Abdominal obesity (AO) is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease and with increased production of adhesion molecules. The present work examined the effect of a Mediterranean-style diet on soluble cellular adhesion molecules in individuals with AO.

Methods: Ninety subjects with AO without cardiovascular disease or diabetes mellitus were randomly allocated to the intervention or control group and were instructed to follow a Mediterranean-style diet for two months.

The impact of smoking on long-term outcome of patients with premature (≤35years) ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction.

Background: There are few data regarding the long-term prognosis of young survivors of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We explored the long-term outcome in individuals who had sustained a premature ST-segment elevation AMI.

Methods: We recruited 257 consecutive patients who had survived their first AMI ≤35years of age.

Visceral adipose tissue is a better predictor of subclinical carotid atherosclerosis compared with waist circumference.

We investigated whether visceral adipose tissue (VAT) measured by ultrasonography is better than waist circumference (WC) in predicting the presence of subclinical carotid atherosclerosis. We recruited 100 individuals without a history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes mellitus. VAT volume was measured by ultrasonography and common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT) by B-mode ultrasonography.

Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A(2) bound on high-density lipoprotein is associated with lower risk for cardiac death in stable coronary artery disease patients: a 3-year follow-up.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the prognostic value of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A(2) (Lp-PLA(2)) associated with high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (HDL-Lp-PLA(2)) in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD).

Background: Lp-PLA(2) is a novel risk factor for cardiovascular disease. It has been postulated that the role of Lp-PLA(2) in atherosclerosis may depend on the type of lipoprotein with which it is associated.

Attainment of optional low-density lipoprotein cholesterol goal of less than 70 mg/dl and impact on prognosis of very high risk stable coronary patients: a 3-year follow-up.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the proportion of very high-risk patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) who achieve the optional low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) target of <70 mg/dl (1.8 mmol/liter), the factors that influence the success rate and the impact on their prognosis.

Research Design And Methods: We enrolled 1337 consecutive patients with stable CHD.

Elevated soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 levels are associated with poor short-term prognosis in middle-aged patients with acute ischaemic stroke.

Background: There is increasing evidence that cellular adhesion molecules (CAMs) play an important role in the pathophysiology of acute ischaemic stroke. We examined the prognostic value of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) on in-hospital mortality in patients with ischaemic stroke.

Methods: We recruited 241 consecutive patients View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Simvastatin exerts its anti-inflammatory effect in hypercholesterolaemic patients by decreasing the serum levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1.

Aim: To assess the effect of simvastatin on serum levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, macrophage colony stimulating factor, C-reactive protein and serum amyloid A in hypercholesterolaemic patients without coronary heart disease.

Methods: Sixty consecutive hypercholesterolaemic patients were randomly assigned in a 2:1 process to 40 mg of simvastatin daily (n=40) and to hypolipidaemic only diet (n=20) for 3 months. Blood was taken at baseline and at the end of the study and analysed for lipids and inflammatory markers.

Inflammatory markers and in-hospital mortality in acute ischaemic stroke.

Background: There is substantial evidence that cerebral ischaemia triggers an inflammatory response. We examined the short-term prognostic value on mortality of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and serum amyloid A (SAA) in patients with ischaemic stroke.

Methods: We recruited 203 consecutive patients, under the age of 66 years (mean age=54.

Usefulness of elevated levels of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in predicting in-hospital prognosis in patients with unstable angina pectoris.

To assess the in-hospital prognostic value of cellular adhesion molecules (CAMs), the levels of soluble CAMs were measured at admission in 114 patients with severe unstable angina. Patients with an eventful in-hospital course (death, nonfatal acute myocardial infarction, and recurrence of angina) had higher levels of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 than those without events (p = 0.01); this association was independent of classic risk factors and C-reactive protein.

Prognostic value of C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, interleukin-6, and macrophage colony stimulating factor in severe unstable angina.

Background: Inflammatory process plays an important role in the pathogenesis of acute coronary syndromes.

Hypothesis: The study was undertaken to evaluate whether admission levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, interleukin-6 (IL-6). and macrophage colony stimulating factor (MCSF) can predict short-term prognosis in patients with unstable angina.