Dietary Guidance for Cardiovascular Health: Consensus and Controversies.

Healthy diet, regular exercise and smoking cessation comprise the 'golden triad' of primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) [...

Cardiovascular Aging and Longevity: JACC State-of-the-Art Review.

Cardiovascular aging and longevity are interrelated through many pathophysiological mechanisms. Many factors that promote atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease are also implicated in the aging process and vice versa. Indeed, cardiometabolic disorders such as hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and arterial hypertension share common pathophysiological mechanisms with aging and longevity.

Triglycerides are related to left ventricular mass in hypertensive patients independently of other cardiometabolic risk factors: the effect of gender.

Given the inconsistent results on the prognostic significance of triglycerides (TGs), the purpose of the present study was to investigate the association of plasma TGs with left ventricular mass (LVM) in hypertensive patients. We studied 760 never treated, non diabetic, hypertensive patients. Τransthoracic echocardiography was performed and LVMI was calculated according to the Devereux formula, adjusted to body surface area.

Effect of Ticagrelor Versus Clopidogrel on Aortic Stiffness in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease.

Background We compared the acute and midterm effect of ticagrelor versus clopidogrel on aortic stiffness. Methods and Results We studied 117 patients in a randomized, assessor-blinded, parallel-group trial. The acute effect of ticagrelor was studied in 58 patients randomized (1:1) to receive a loading dose of clopidogrel (600 mg) or ticagrelor (180 mg).

Pharmacotherapeutic strategies for atrial fibrillation in pregnancy.

: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is rare during pregnancy but its incidence is expected to rise in parallel to increasing age of women in pregnancy and fraction of pregnant women with structural heart disease. : The authors provide a review of the contemporary evidence on diagnostic work-up and optimal pharmacotherapeutic management of AF in pregnancy. The authors have performed a systematic search for relevant articles using MEDLINE, the COCHRANE LIBRARY, and ClinicalTrials.

Regression of organ damage following renal denervation in resistant hypertension: a meta-analysis.

Aims: Prospective observational studies have suggested that renal denervation (RDN) is associated with target organ damage (TOD) regression. Our aim is to review and meta-analyze the available evidence for the effect of RDN on TOD.

Methods: We searched literature for studies with eligible content and performed random-effect meta-analyses for the following outcomes: left ventricular mass index (LVMI), left atrial volume index (LAVI), E to A wave velocities of trans-mitral inflow (E/A) and E wave velocity to Em velocity from tissue Doppler imaging (E/Em), central augmentation index (AIx) and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV).

Inverse association of total testosterone with central haemodynamics and left ventricular mass in hypertensive men.

Background: There is evidence for inverse association between endogenous testosterone and blood pressure. Furthermore, low plasma testosterone is associated with increased risk of major cardiovascular events in middle-aged hypertensive men. Central (aortic) blood pressures determine left ventricular hypertrophy and predict cardiovascular mortality.

Office blood pressure is a predictor of aortic elastic properties and urinary protein excretion in subjects with white coat hypertension.

Background: White coat hypertension (WCH) is related to target organ damage and increased cardiovascular risk. Arterial elastic properties and urinary protein excretion are determinants of cardiovascular performance and predictors of outcomes. We investigated whether office blood pressure (BP) is a better determinant of arterial and renal function than the ambulatory BP in WCH patients.

Inflammation and Arterial Hypertension: From Pathophysiological Links to Risk Prediction.

Over the last years, ample data have demonstrated the pivotal role of low-grade inflammation in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. It is well established that inflammatory activation, serving either as a substrate, in the chronic phase of atherosclerotic disease, or as a trigger, in the acute phase, increases cardiovascular events. Considering hypertension, the inflammatory process is implicated in its pathophysiology through a bidirectional relationship since arterial hypertension may enhance inflammation and vice versa.

Beneficial effects of low-dose aspirin on aortic stiffness in hypertensive patients.

While treatment with low-dose aspirin has been established as a therapeutic tool for secondary prevention, the role of aspirin on primary prevention remains controversial. Aortic stiffness and wave reflections are independent predictors of cardiovascular events. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of low-dose aspirin on aortic stiffness and wave reflections in hypertensive patients.

Association between pneumococcal vaccination and cardiovascular outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies.

Aims: Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common cause of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and CAP-related mortality in adults. Pneumococcal vaccination (PV) could protect subjects from cardiovascular events by reducing pneumonia severity or even preventing it. We sought to determine the ability of PV to protect from the risk of cardiovascular events.

Testosterone deficiency: a determinant of aortic stiffness in men.

Objective: Low testosterone levels and increased aortic stiffness are predictors of cardiovascular events. The influence of androgen level on the age- and blood pressure-related increase in aortic stiffness is unknown.

Methods: From January 2007 to June 2011 we enrolled 455 consecutive men with no evidence of cardiovascular disease from a large cohort followed in our Department for arterial function studies.

Macro- and microvascular alterations in patients with metabolic syndrome: sugar makes the difference.

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is associated with adverse cardiovascular events, although its prognostic significance over and beyond the clustering risk factors is controversial. Moreover, there are no data on the possible differentiation of target organ damage among patients with MS according to the grade of its distinct components. We studied 500 hypertensive patients with MS and we assessed vascular damage according to glucose metabolic status (1, normal glucose metabolism (NG); 2, impaired fasting glucose (IFG); 3, impaired glucose tolerance (IGT); and 4, diabetes mellitus II (DM II)).

Sequential thromboembolic events after primary angioplasty in a patient with acute anterior myocardial infarction.

A 65 year old man was transferred to our cath lab for primary PCI about two hours after the onset of pain in the context of acute, anterior myocardial infarction. Thrombus aspiration of the proximal LAD and balloon angioplasty with a DES implantation were performed. After a few days, although the patient was under treatment with unfractioned heparin, he sustained a transient ischemic attack.

Chemical denervation of the renal artery with vincristine for the treatment of resistant arterial hypertension: first-in-man application.

Renal artery denervation has recently emerged as a novel therapy for patients with resistant hypertension. Clinical results from renal sympathetic denervation support the safety and efficacy of this method over a period of 18 months. However, several limitations have been reported.

Tomato paste supplementation improves endothelial dynamics and reduces plasma total oxidative status in healthy subjects.

Consumption of tomato products is linked to beneficial outcomes through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. The aim of this study was to determine whether a 14-day period of tomato paste supplementation would improve endothelial function. Nineteen volunteers (mean age, 39 ± 13 years; 8 men/11 women) were studied in a randomized (exposure sequence), single-blind (operator), crossover design.

Effect of transcatheter aortic valve implantation on the ascending aorta's elasticity.

Background: The elastic properties of the ascending aorta were studied before and 1 week after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Previous studies have shown that the distensibility of the ascending aorta was decreased in the early post-operative period after aortic valve replacement. Aortic stiffness is a major moderator of arterio-ventricular coupling and an independent predictor of cardiovascular risk and mortality.