Effect of olive oils on biomarkers of oxidative DNA stress in Northern and Southern Europeans.

High consumption of olive oil in the Mediterranean diet has been suggested to protect DNA against oxidative damage and to reduce cancer incidence. We investigated the impact of the phenolic compounds in olive oil, and the oil proper, on DNA and RNA oxidation in North, Central, and South European populations. In a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, controlled crossover intervention trial, the effect of olive oil phenolic content on urinary oxidation products of guanine (8-oxo-guanine, 8-oxo-guanosine and 8-oxo-deoxyguanosine) was investigated.

Myocardial infarction and alcohol consumption: a population-based case-control study.

Background And Aim: Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in industrialized societies. Identifying and characterizing modifiable variables associated with CHD is an important issue for health policy. The aim of the present study was to analyze the association of non-fatal myocardial infarction with total alcohol consumption and type of alcoholic beverage consumed.

Relationship of classical and non-classical risk factors with genetic variants relevant to coronary heart disease.

Background: In addition to the well established cardiovascular risk factors, evidence suggests a possible role of genetic and non-classical risk factors in the development and progression of atherothrombosis. We aimed to determine the relationship of classical and non-classical cardiovascular risk factors with candidate gene polymorphisms potentially involved in cardiovascular risk in the general Mediterranean population.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

The effect of polyphenols in olive oil on heart disease risk factors: a randomized trial.

Background: Virgin olive oils are richer in phenolic content than refined olive oil. Small, randomized, crossover, controlled trials on the antioxidant effect of phenolic compounds from real-life daily doses of olive oil in humans have yielded conflicting results. Little information is available on the effect of the phenolic compounds of olive oil on plasma lipid levels.

The second Euro Heart Survey on acute coronary syndromes: Characteristics, treatment, and outcome of patients with ACS in Europe and the Mediterranean Basin in 2004.

Aims: Our study aimed to examine the management of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in Europe and the Mediterranean basin, and to compare adherence to guidelines with that reported in the first Euro Heart Survey on ACS (EHS-ACS-I), 4 years earlier.

Methods And Results: In a prospective survey conducted in 2004 (EHS-ACS-II), data describing the characteristics, treatment, and outcome of 6385 patients diagnosed with ACS in 190 medical centres in 32 countries were collected. ACS with ST-elevation was the initial diagnosis in 47% of patients, no ST-elevation in 48%, and undetermined electrocardiographic pattern in 5% of patients.

Amount and intensity of physical activity, fitness, and serum lipids in pre-menopausal women.

The aim of the study was to determine the association between the amount and the intensity of physical activity (PA) and lipid profile and fitness in pre-menopausal women. A cross-sectional study was conducted, sampling was stratified according to two age groups and two levels of PA, as assessed by the Minnesota Leisure Time PA Questionnaire. Serum lipid profile and sex hormones were measured.

[Epidemiology of cardiovascular disease in women].

Both mortality due to cerebrovascular disease in individuals aged under 85 years and mortality due to acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are lower in women than men. In contrast, the age-adjusted 28-day case fatality rate after a first AMI is 20% higher in women, particularly in countries where the incidence of AMI is low. In Spain, the case fatality rate is elevated in women hospitalized for a first AMI, but not in those with other forms of coronary heart disease.

[Reduction in acute myocardial infarction mortality over a five-year period].

Introduction And Objectives: To assess recent changes in the management of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and their impact on mortality using data from the PRIAMHO I and II registries (1995 and 2000).

Patients And Method: Of the 168 public hospitals in Spain, 24 and 58 contributed to the 1995 and 2000 PRIAMHO registries, respectively.

Results: Patients in the PRIAMHO II registry (n=6221) were significantly older, more often female, and proportionally more likely to have coronary risk factors or a previous myocardial infarction, or to have undergone revascularization than those in PRIAMHO I (n=5242).

[Effect of combined beta-blocker and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor treatment on 1-year survival after acute myocardial infarction: findings of the PRIAMHO-II registry].

Introduction And Objectives: Clinical trials have shown that combining beta-blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors has an additive effect in reducing mortality in patients with left ventricular dysfunction following acute myocardial infarction. Whether this additive effect also occurs in unselected post-myocardial infarction patients is unknown.

Methods: In total, 5397 patients who were discharged from hospital after suffering an acute myocardial infarction were followed for 1 year.

Magnitude and consequences of undertreatment of high-risk patients with non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndromes: insights from the DESCARTES Registry.

Objective: To analyse intensity of treatment of high-risk patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTEACS) included in the DESCARTES (Descripción del Estado de los Sindromes Coronarios Agudos en un Registro Temporal Español) registry.

Patients And Setting: Patients with NSTEACS (n = 1877) admitted to 45 randomly selected Spanish hospitals in April and May 2002 were studied.

Design: Patients with ST segment depression and troponin rise were considered high risk (n = 478) and were compared with non-high risk patients (n = 1399).

Alcohol consumption is directly associated with circulating oxidized low-density lipoprotein.

Findings on the association of alcohol consumption and oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which is thought to play a crucial role in the generation of atherosclerotic lesion, are inconsistent. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of total alcohol consumption and type of alcoholic beverage with circulating plasma LDL oxidation. This cross-sectional study included data of circulating oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) from a subpopulation of 587 men and women enrolled in a population-based survey conducted in 2000 in Girona (Spain).

High monetary costs of dietary patterns associated with lower body mass index: a population-based study.

Introduction: Food choice is strongly influenced through economic constraints. The monetary costs for foods, especially those foods associated with a lower risk of obesity, have considerably increased during the last years. The purpose of this study was to determine the cost differences between low and high adherence to two dietary patterns which have been inversely associated with body mass index (BMI) and obesity.

Comparison between telephone and self-administration of Short Form Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36).

Objective: The characteristics of the 36 item Medical Outcome Short Form Health Study Survey (SF-36) questionnaire, designed as a generic indicator of health status for the general population, allow it to be self-administered or used in personal or telephone interviews. The main objective of the study was to compare the telephone and self-administered modes of SF-36 for a population from Girona (Spain).

Methods: A randomized crossover administration of the questionnaire design was used in a cardiovascular risk factor survey.

Circulating oxidized LDL is associated with increased waist circumference independent of body mass index in men and women.

Background: Obesity is associated with oxidative stress, and the oxidation of LDL is thought to play a crucial role in the generation of atherosclerotic lesions.

Objective: The objective was to describe the association of waist circumference (WC) and body mass index (BMI; in kg/m2) with plasma circulating oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) and C-reactive protein (CRP).

Design: This cross-sectional study included data for circulating ox-LDL and CRP from a subpopulation of 586 men and women enrolled in a population-based survey conducted in 2000 in Girona, Spain.

[Effect of reactions to symptoms onset on early mortality from myocardial infarction].

Introduction And Objectives: A patient's social circumstances at the time when acute myocardial infarction (AMI) symptoms first appear might influence survival. Our objectives were to study the living conditions, the location where symptoms started, the type of symptoms, and the delay before action was taken in patients with AMI who survived more than one hour, and to analyze the relationship between these variables and mortality in different time periods.

Patients And Method: Population-based observational cohort study carried out in 1997-1998.

Protective effect of the KCNMB1 E65K genetic polymorphism against diastolic hypertension in aging women and its relevance to cardiovascular risk.

The E65K polymorphism in the beta1-subunit of the large-conductance, Ca2+-dependent K+ (BK) channel, a key element in the control of arterial tone, has recently been associated with low prevalence of diastolic hypertension. We now report the modulatory effect of sex and age on the association of the E65K polymorphism with low prevalence of diastolic hypertension and the protective role of E65K polymorphism against cardiovascular disease. We analyzed the genotype frequency of the E65K polymorphism in 3924 participants selected randomly in two cross-sectional studies.

Analysis of inequalities in secondary prevention of coronary heart disease in a universal coverage health care system.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyse whether differences exist in social class or education level in coronary heart disease (CHD) secondary prevention and in cardiovascular risk factor control in a universal coverage health care system.

Design: Cross-sectional multi-centre study.

Participants And Setting: 1022 CHD patients recruited from residents in the catchment areas covered by 23 primary health care facilities in Catalonia, Spain.

Sport practice and the risk of lone atrial fibrillation: a case-control study.

Background: Lone atrial fibrillation (LAF) is characterized by the presence of atrial fibrillation in the absence of structural heart disease or other identifiable cause of arrhythmia. In a recent study, we reported sport practice to be more frequent in LAF patients than in the general population. The aim of the study was to determine the association between sport practice and the prevalence of LAF in men.

Antioxidant effect of virgin olive oil in patients with stable coronary heart disease: a randomized, crossover, controlled, clinical trial.

The Mediterranean diet, in which olive oil is the main source of fat, has been associated with a reduced incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) and low blood pressure levels. Virgin olive oil (VOO), besides containing monounsaturated fat, is rich in phenolic compounds (PC) with antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to examine the antioxidant and anti-hypertensive effect of two similar olive oils, but with differences in their PC (refined: 14.

Association of time elapsed since the last coronary event with health services utilization.

Background: Patients with chronic illness use health services more often but little is known about the use that coronary heart disease patients make of primary care.

Objective: To determine whether the time elapsed and the perceived quality of life following a major acute coronary event are associated with utilization rate of primary care services.

Design: Cross-sectional, multicentre study.

Cardiovascular risk profile and type of alcohol beverage consumption: a population-based study.

Aims: To determine the association between several cardiovascular risk factors with total alcohol and types of alcoholic beverage consumption.

Methods: The subjects were Spanish men (n = 2,383) and women (n = 2,535) aged 25-74 years who were examined in 1994-1995 and 1999-2000, in two population-based cross-sectional surveys in the north-east of Spain (Gerona). Information of total amount and type of alcohol consumption, educational level, smoking, leisure-time physical, antihypertensive and hyperlipidemic drug treatment was obtained through structured questionnaires.

[Management of non-ST-segment-elevation acute coronary syndromes in Spain. The DESCARTES (Descripción del Estado de los Síndromes Coronarios Agudos en un Registro Temporal ESpañol) study].

Introduction And Objectives: There is little information regarding the management of non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE ACS) in Spain from a population-based perspective. Our objective was to study the status of clinical care in patients with NSTE ACS in Spain from a representative perspective of the situation on a national level.

Patients And Method: A prospective registry was used for consecutive patients with NSTE ACS admitted to 52 Spanish hospitals with different cardiological facilities.

[Analysis with the propensity score of the association between likelihood of treatment and event of interest in observational studies. An example with myocardial reperfusion].

Introduction And Objectives: Analysis of the effect of treatment in observational studies is complex due to differences between treated and nontreated patients. Calculating the probability of receiving treatment conditioned on relevant covariates (propensity score [PS]) has been proposed as a method to control for these differences. We report an application of PS to assess the association between reperfusion treatment and 28-day case fatality in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Adherence to the traditional mediterranean diet is inversely associated with body mass index and obesity in a spanish population.

The Mediterranean diet is a healthy eating pattern with protective effects on chronic diseases. The purpose of this study was to assess the relation between BMI and obesity and the level of adherence to the traditional Mediterranean diet. The subjects were Spanish men (n = 1547) and women (n = 1615) aged 25-74 y who were examined in 1999-2000, in a population-based, cross-sectional survey in the northeast of Spain (Girona).