A red wine intervention does not modify plasma trimethylamine N-oxide but is associated with broad shifts in the plasma metabolome and gut microbiota composition.

Background: Gut microbiota profiles are closely related to cardiovascular diseases through mechanisms that include the reported deleterious effects of metabolites, such as trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), which have been studied as diagnostic and therapeutic targets. Moderate red wine (RW) consumption is reportedly cardioprotective, possibly by affecting the gut microbiota.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of RW consumption on the gut microbiota, plasma TMAO, and the plasma metabolome in men with documented coronary artery disease (CAD) using a multiomics assessment in a crossover trial.

Long term effects of red wine consumption in brain: an MRI, fMRI and neuropsychological evaluation study.

Red wine (RW) consumption has been proposed to have a potential health benefit. However, the effect of RW consumption on the brain is not entirely known, mainly when associated with aging. Regular red wine consumers (n = 30) and abstainers (ABST; n = 27) without cognitive impairment were evaluated for brain structural characteristics (Fazekas score and voxel-based morphometry) and for functional adaptations assessed by fMRI (using the Word Tasks Color Stroop (WCST) and Two-Back (TBT)), as well as by neuropsychological tests in different domains.

The effects of macronutrients composition on hormones and substrates during a meal tolerance test in drugnaive and sitagliptin-treated individuals with type 2 diabetes: a randomized crossover study.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of sitagliptin treatment in early type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the impact of different macronutrient compositions on hormones and substrates during meal tolerance tests (MTT).

Methods: Half of the drug-naive patients with T2DM were randomly assigned for treatment with 100 mg of sitagliptin, q.d.

Association between hypertriglyceridemia and protein oxidation and proinflammatory markers in normocholesterolemic and hypercholesterolemic individuals.

Background: Although hypercholesterolemia is a well-established risk factor for coronary heart disease, evidence suggests that increased triglyceride (TG) concentrations are also an independent risk factor. TG concentrations >150mg/dl are observed nearly twice as often in subjects with atherosclerosis. We assessed the association between hypertriglyceridemia and protein oxidation and proinflammatory markers in normocholesterolemic and hypercholesterolemic individuals.

Synergistic anti-inflammatory effect: simvastatin and pioglitazone reduce inflammatory markers of plasma and epicardial adipose tissue of coronary patients with metabolic syndrome.

Background: The inappropriate secretion of adipocytokines plays a critical role in chronic inflammatory states associated with obesity-linked type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis. The pleiotropic actions of simvastatin and pioglitazone on epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) are unknown. This study assessed the anti-inflammatory actions of simvastatin and pioglitazone on EAT in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and metabolic syndrome (MS).

Red wine and equivalent oral pharmacological doses of resveratrol delay vascular aging but do not extend life span in rats.

Objective: To investigate, in male Wistar rats, the effects of long-term moderate red wine (RW) consumption (equivalent to ∼0.15 mg% resveratrol RS), or RS in low (L, 0.15 mg%) or high (H, 400 mg%) doses in chow.

Effects of high adherence to mediterranean or low-fat diets in medicated secondary prevention patients.

Although the Mediterranean diet (MD) and the low-fat Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes Diet (TLCD) promote equivalent increases in event-free survival in secondary coronary prevention, possible mechanisms of such complete dietary patterns in these patients, usually medicated, are unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the MD versus the TLCD in markers of endothelial function, oxidative stress, and inflammation after acute coronary syndromes. Comparison was made between 3 months of the MD (n = 21; rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and olive oil, plus red wine) and the TLCD (n = 19; plus phytosterols 2 g/day) in a highly homogenous population of stable patients who experienced coronary events in the previous 2 years (aged 45 to 65 years, all men) allocated to each diet under a strategy designed to optimize adherence, documented as >90%.

The relationship between body mass index and the variation in plasma levels of triglycerides after short-term red wine consumption.

Background: Alcoholic beverages may have protective cardiovascular effects but are known to increase the plasma levels of triglycerides (TG). Both TG and the ratio of TG to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-cholesterol) are associated with increased cardiovascular risk.

Objectives: To determine the predictive factors for variations in plasma levels of TG and the TG/HDL-cholesterol ratio in patients after they had consumed red wine for 14 days.

Effect of exercise training on plasma levels and functional properties of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in the metabolic syndrome.

Intense lifestyle modifications can change the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentration. The aim of the present study was to analyze the early effects of short-term exercise training, without any specific diet, on the HDL cholesterol plasma levels and HDL functional characteristics in patients with the metabolic syndrome (MS). We studied 30 sedentary subjects, 20 with and 10 without the MS.

[Lack of knowledge of Guidelines for Prevention of Atherosclerosis in Childhood and Adolescence by pediatricians in the city of São Paulo].

Objective: To report the extent of knowledge of pediatricians in São Paulo concerning the Guidelines.

Methods: At pediatric events or hospitals, pediatricians were given a questionnaire about the time of training, work, dedication in the area of pediatrics, and academic performance for reply to multiple choice questions with information drawn from the Guidelines. The Chi -square and the Chi -square of linear trend tests were chosen for statistical calculations.

Comparison of non-invasive methods for the detection of coronary atherosclerosis.

Background: Non-invasive detection of atherosclerosis is critical for its prevention.

Objective: To correlate non-invasively detectable indicators of coronary atherosclerosis, or Coronary Artery Disease (i.e.

Evidence that the degree of obstructive sleep apnea may not increase myocardial ischemia and arrhythmias in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

Unlabelled: There is controversy regarding whether obstructive sleep apnea is responsible for triggering myocardial ischemia, arrhythmias and heart rate variability in patients with coronary artery disease.

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify relationships between sleep apnea, myocardial ischemia and cardiac arrhythmia in patients with coronary artery disease.

Methods: Fifty-three patients with stable coronary disease underwent simultaneous polysomnography and electrocardiographic Holter recording.

Prognostic value of left atrial volume in patients who underwent dobutamine stress echocardiography for known or suspected coronary artery disease.

Background: Left atrial volume indexed (LAVI) has been reported as a predictor of cardiovascular events. We sought to determine the prognostic value of LAVI for predicting the outcome of patients who underwent dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) for known or suspected coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: From January 2000 to July 2005, we studied 981 patients who underwent DSE and off-line measurements of LAVI.

Vascular and metabolic response to statin in the mildly hypertensive hypercholesterolemic elderly.

Introduction: Much evidence indicates the importance of the endothelium and hypercholesterolemia in atherosclerosis, as well as the decline in endothelial function with aging. However, it is unclear if treating dyslipidemia in elderly patients improves endothelial function and reduces C-reactive protein levels.

Objectives: To evaluate vasomotor function, lipids and C-reactive protein in mildly hypertensive and hypercholesterolemic elderly patients treated with atorvastatin.

High ratio of triglycerides to HDL-cholesterol predicts extensive coronary disease.

Unlabelled: An abnormal ratio of triglycerides to HDL-cholesterol (TG/HDL-c) indicates an atherogenic lipid profile and a risk for the development of coronary disease.

Objective: To investigate the association between lipid levels, specifically TG/HDL-c, and the extent of coronary disease.

Methods: High-risk patients (n=374) submitted for coronary angiography had their lipid variables measured and coronary disease extent scored by the Friesinger index.

Characterization of high density lipoprotein particles in familial apolipoprotein A-I deficiency.

Our aim was to characterize HDL subspecies and fat-soluble vitamin levels in a kindred with familial apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) deficiency. Sequencing of the APOA1 gene revealed a nonsense mutation at codon -2, Q[-2]X, with two documented homozygotes, eight heterozygotes, and two normal subjects in the kindred. Homozygotes presented markedly decreased HDL cholesterol levels, undetectable plasma apoA-1, tuboeruptive and planar xanthomas, mild corneal arcus and opacification, and severe premature coronary artery disease.

Enhanced inflammatory response to coronary stenting marks the development of clinically relevant restenosis.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to investigate the effect of coronary stenting on the release of cytokines and cell-mediated immunity factors and to evaluate the association between inflammation and clinical outcomes at 6 months.

Background: Circulating levels of inflammatory markers and cytokines are elevated in patients with acute coronary syndromes and are related to an unfavorable outcome. The aims of this study were to investigate the effect of coronary stenting on the release of cytokines and cell-mediated immunity factors and to evaluate the association between inflammation and clinical outcomes at 6 months.

Accumulation of chylomicron remnants and impaired vascular reactivity occur in subjects with isolated low HDL cholesterol: effects of niacin treatment.

Fasting hypertriglyceridemia relates with high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, but it is not known whether low HDL cholesterol is associated with disturbances of chylomicron metabolism. To clarify this issue this metabolism was studied in subjects with low HDL cholesterol together with vascular reactivity and evaluation of no-flush niacin treatment. Thirty men with HDL < 1.

[Hypolipidemic therapy in special situations: hypothyroidism and liver disease].

Hypothyroidism is common in the elderly, especially among women. It should be suspected in the presence of classic signals and symptoms, and can be detected by an elevation of serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). Lipid abnormalities in the presence of subclinical hypothyroidism are of minor importance.

Comparison of serum lipid values in patients with coronary artery disease at <50, 50 to 59, 60 to 69, and >70 years of age.

We evaluated the relation between lipids and precocity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in the real world as characterized by increasing statin use. The highest mean values of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, non-high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and ratio of triglycerides to HDL cholesterol were found when CAD was detected in patients who were <50 years of age (p <0.01 for all); the opposite occurred for HDL cholesterol (p <0.

Noninvasive detection of coronary artery disease -- challenges for prevention of disease and clinical events.

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects essentially all arterial beds including the aorta, coronaries, carotids, and peripheral arteries. It is the main cause of death in the western hemisphere, due to cardiovascular syndromes such as myocardial infarction, heart failure, and cerebrovascular accidents. Very substantial economic and human resources have been used on treatments of its complications, including imaging studies, coronary bypass surgery, catheter interventions, pacemakers, and medical treatments.