Association of TLL1 gene polymorphism (rs1503298, T > C) with coronary heart disease in PREDICT, UDACS and ED cohorts.

Objective: To determine the sequence variant of TLL1 gene (rs1503298, T > C) in three British cohorts (PREDICT, UDACS and ED) of patients with type-2 Diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in order to assess its association with coronary heart disease (CHD).

Study Design: Analytical study.

Place And Duration Of Study: UCL, London, UK.

Paraoxonase-1 is not associated with coronary artery calcification in type 2 diabetes: results from the PREDICT study.

Objectives: To determine any association between serum paraoxonase-1 (PON1) activity, protein and coding region genetic polymorphisms and coronary artery calcification (CACS) and to determine factors which modulate serum PON1 in type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

Methods And Results: 589 patients (419 Caucasian, 120 South Asian, 50 other) from the PREDICT Study were investigated. All patients were asymptomatic for coronary disease and had established T2DM.

Changes in lipoprotein profile and urinary albumin excretion in familial LCAT deficiency with lipid lowering therapy.

Familial lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase deficiency (FLD) is a monogenic autosomal recessive condition, affecting cholesterol esterification and leads to progressive renal impairment and end-stage renal failure, probably due to the abnormal lipoprotein (X) (Lp(X)). We report a case of FLD, whom we treated with a combination of nicotinic acid 1.5g nocte and fenofibrate M/R 160mg od and report changes in lipid profile and Lp(X), after six weeks and serum creatinine and urine albumin/creatinine ratio after 12 months.

Coronary calcium measurement improves prediction of cardiovascular events in asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes: the PREDICT study.

Aims: The PREDICT Study is a prospective cohort study designed to evaluate coronary artery calcification score (CACS) as a predictor of cardiovascular events in type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

Methods And Results: A total of 589 patients with no history of cardiovascular disease and with established T2DM had CACS measured, as well as risk factors, including plasma lipoprotein, apolipoprotein, homocysteine and C-reactive protein concentrations, homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and urine albumin creatinine ratio. Participants were followed for a median of 4 years and first coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke events were identified as primary endpoints.

The progress of coronary heart disease in Type 2 diabetes as measured by coronary calcium score from electron beam computed tomography (EBCT): the PREDICT study.

Coronary calcification score (CACS) measured by electron beam tomography is well established in the evaluation of cardiovascular risk in general populations. The PREDICT study aims to evaluate prediction of cardiovascular events by CACS in Type 2 diabetic subjects without previous clinical cardiovascular disease. In the present PREDICT sub-study, the rate of progression of CACS and factors influencing this rate were assessed.

Coronary calcification and predicted risk of coronary heart disease in asymptomatic men with hypercholesterolaemia.

Objective: To document the relationship between coronary calcification and coronary risk assessed clinically in asymptomatic patients with hypercholesterolaemia.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Setting: Health screening clinic.

Non-invasive measurement of coronary heart disease using electron beam computed tomography.

Purpose Of Review: Electron beam computed tomography is a non-invasive investigation that can quantify calcification within the walls of coronary arteries. Coronary arteries remodel to maintain luminal integrity, so that significant plaque may be present before the development of luminal stenoses. This has led to interest in techniques that assess the coronary artery wall, rather than the lumen.

Debate: Are surrogate end-point studies worth the effort?

Surrogate end-points of cardiovascular disease can provide useful information in cross-sectional, prospective and interventional studies. They provide information on association with risk factors, natural history and factors associated with disease progression. Because every participant can reach an end-point, sufficient power can be attained with much smaller numbers of subjects in surrogate end-point studies than in studies that use clinical endpoints, so that the costs are likely to be substantially less.