Effect of pravastatin and atorvastatin on glucose metabolism in nondiabetic patients with hypercholesterolemia.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of hydrophilic pravastatin and lipophilic atorvastatin on glucose metabolism and lipid metabolism in non-diabetic patients with hypercholesterolemia.

Methods: Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), hemoglobin A(1c) (HbA(1c)), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC), and triglyceride (TG) levels were determined before and after statin treatment.

Patients: A total of 44 nondiabetic patients (FPG < or =125 mg/mL; HbA(1c) <5.

Concentrations of hepatocyte growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, and vascular endothelial growth factor in pericardial fluid and plasma.

Some angiogenic factors, including hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), have been reported to promote angiogenesis and improve myocardial perfusion in experimental models of ischemic heart disease. These factors are produced in various tissues, including myocardium. We measured the concentrations of HGF, bFGF, and VEGF by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in plasma and in pericardial fluid sampled during open heart surgery (12 patients with ischemic heart disease and 17 with nonischemic heart disease).

Angiographical severity of coronary atherosclerosis predicts death in the first year of hemodialysis.

Background: Cardiac deaths and events tend to cluster within the early-phase after starting dialysis. Our goal is to clarify the influence of severity of coronary atherosclerosis on early-phase death after starting hemodialysis (HD) therapy.

Patients And Methods: Eighty-three consecutive patients [mean age 62 years; male/female 64/19; diabetic nephropathy in 50 (54%)] with end-stage renal disease who admitted to our hospital to initiate regular HD treatment, and then received coronary angiography within 3 months after first dialysis therapy, were eligible for this study.

Endothelin-1 concentrations in pericardial fluid are more elevated in patients with ischemic heart disease than in patients with nonischemic heart disease.

There is epidemiologic evidence that the prognosis of patients with nonischemic heart failure is better than that for patients with ischemic heart failure. In addition, studies have revealed that patients with ischemic heart failure show a poorer response to medical therapy. However, the pathophysiologic difference between ischemic and nonischemic heart disease is unclear.

Combined assessment of cardiac systolic dysfunction and coronary atherosclerosis used to predict future cardiac deaths after starting hemodialysis.

Background/aims: Identification of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients at high risk for cardiac events is important for clinical dialysis management. The present study determined whether the combination of cardiac function and coronary atherosclerosis could predict future cardiac events after starting renal replacement therapy (RRT).

Methods: We prospectively assessed left ventricle ejection fraction (EF) and Gensini score (GS) using angiographic severity of coronary atherosclerosis in 88 consecutive ESRD patients [mean age 62 years; 69 males (78%); 55 patients (64%) with diabetic nephropathy] at the initiation of RRT.

Favourable long-term outcome by repeated percutaneous coronary revascularization in diabetic haemodialysis patients.

Background: Diabetic haemodialysis patients have a high prevalence of coronary events and very high mortality rates. Percutaneous coronary intervention has become a well-established and routine procedure for coronary revascularization. This study investigated the long-term outcome of multiple repeated interventions in diabetic haemodialysis patients with coronary artery disease.