Real-World Data from the Use of Ranolazine in Patients with Stable Angina Pectoris: The RANGER Study.

: Although ranolazine has been available for years as a second-line treatment to reduce angina attacks in patients with stable angina pectoris, real-world data on the effectiveness, tolerability, and safety of ranolazine are limited. : A non-interventional, prospective study was conducted to assess the effectiveness and safety of ranolazine. Patients eligible for enrolment had a baseline assessment between one and fourteen days after initiating ranolazine for the first time and a follow-up visit three months later.

Plasma nesfatin-1 and DDP-4 levels in patients with coronary artery disease: Kozani study.

Background: Nesfatin-1, a novel adipokine and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4), a mam malian serine protease, are potent factors of atherosclerosis. In the present cross-sectional study, we investigated whether the plasma nesfatin-1 and DPP4 is associated with the prevalence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) with and without diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods: We consecutively enrolled a total of 240 patients with significant CAD (previous revascularization or angiographically-proven coronary artery stenosis > 50%) presented with either unstable angina (UA, N = 76) or stable chronic CAD (SCAD, N = 165).

Report of two cases of acute cardiac adverse events in patients with colorectal carcinoma receiving oral capecitabine.

Capecitabine is an oral fluoropyrimidine chemotherapeutic agent, which, after oral administration, is metabolized to its active cytotoxic compound: 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Cardiotoxicity is a recognized side effect of 5-FU, a closely related fluorinated pyrimidine antagonist. In the present report, we report on two patients who were admitted to our department after being treated with oral capecitabine for colorectal carcinoma and developed symptoms and signs of acute myocardial infarction that resolved after appropriate treatment and monitoring.

Impact of income status on prognosis of acute coronary syndrome patients during Greek financial crisis.

Background: The effect of income status on patient outcome merits investigation during periods of financial crisis. We evaluated the impact of income status on out-of-hospital prognosis in a cohort of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients, included in a countrywide study during a period of financial crisis.

Methods: The study is a secondary analysis of a prospective, multicenter, observational study-the PHAETHON study-enrolling consecutive ACS patients in 37 hospitals in Greece.

Serum levels of novel adipokines, omentin-1 and chemerin, in patients with acute myocardial infarction: KOZANI STUDY.

Objectives: The role of the novel adipokines, omentin-1 and chemerin, in coronary artery disease is still obscure. The present study analyzed the serum levels of omentin-1 and chemerin in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) as well as prospectively 6 months post-AMI.

Methods: Seventy-eight patients (63 men and 15 women) with first AMI were enrolled.

Serum levels of fetuin-A, osteoprotegerin and osteopontin in patients with coronary artery disease: effects of statin (HMGCoA-reductase inhibitor) therapy.

Background And Objectives: Statins (HMGCoA-reductase inhibitors) produce numerous non-lipid related, 'pleiotropic' effects. Our aim was to investigate whether simvastatin treatment affects serum levels of vascular calcification inhibitors, such as fetuin-A, osteoprotegerin (OPG) and osteopontin (OPN), in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: A total of 98 statin-free patients with angiographically proven, newly diagnosed CAD were treated with simvastatin (20-40 mg daily) for 6 months to target a low-density lipoprotein (LDL) level <100 mg/dL (the statin group [SG]).

Arterial stiffness and novel biomarkers in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Objectives: Pulse wave velocity (PWV) constitutes a valid index of arterial stiffness osteoprotegerin (OPG) and osteopontin (OPN) which are well-established vascular calcification inhibitors, highly correlated with inflammation, and cardiovascular events incidence. We investigated the association of PWV with the aforementioned novel biomarkers in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).

Methods: We enrolled 108 men with AAA (AAA group) candidates for endovascular repair.

The effects of resistance training on ApoB/ApoA-I ratio, Lp(a) and inflammatory markers in patients with type 2 diabetes.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of resistance training (RT) on novel cardiovascular risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We enrolled 52 overweight/obese, type 2 diabetic patients, with inadequate glycemic control (HbA1c > 6.5 %), but without overt diabetic vascular complications.

Epidemiological characteristics and in-hospital management of acute coronary syndrome patients in Greece: results from the TARGET study.

Introduction: Conduction of national surveys is needed to depict temporal trends in the risk profile, type of implemented treatment strategy and outcome of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). The TARGET study is a multicenter, observational study that aimed to evaluate the epidemiological characteristics, management pattern and outcome of ACS patients in Greece.

Methods: A total of 418 consecutive patients with ACS (44.

The pathophysiology of HIV-/HAART-related metabolic syndrome leading to cardiovascular disorders: the emerging role of adipokines.

Individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) frequently demonstrate metabolic syndrome (MS) associated with increased incidence of cardiovascular disorders. Characteristics of HIV infection, such as immunodeficiency, viral load, and duration of the disease, in addition to the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) have been suggested to induce MS in these patients. It is well documented that MS involves a number of traditional cardiovascular risk factors, like glucose, lipids, and arterial blood pressure abnormalities, leading to extensive atherogenic arterial wall changes.

Effects of atorvastatin on apelin, visfatin (nampt), ghrelin and early carotid atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes.

To investigate the influence of atrovastatin treatment on carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and serum levels of novel adipokines, like apelin, visfatin (nampt), and ghrelin, in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). 87 statin-free patients (50 males) with T2DM, aged 55-70, but without carotid atherosclerotic plaques were initially enrolled. CIMT was assayed in all participants by ultrasound.

Impact of atorvastatin on serum vaspin levels in hypercholesterolemic patients with moderate cardiovascular risk.

Aim: Vaspin and visfatin have emerged as novel adipokines, involved in atherosclerosis progression. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of atorvastatin and lifestyle modification on the above adipokines in hypercholesterolemic patients.

Methods: One hundred four statin-free subjects with moderate cardiovascular risk (Framingham risk score of 10-20%) were randomly assigned to receive either atorvastatin 20mg per day (AT group, n=52) or lifestyle modification (LM, group, n=52).

The impact of hypertension on systolic and diastolic left ventricular function. A tissue Doppler echocardiographic study.

Background: The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of hypertension on systolic function and diastolic function using 2-dimensional echocardiography, conventional Doppler imaging of the transmitral inflow, and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) of the mitral annulus.

Methods: From an outpatient clinic population, 414 consecutive patients underwent 2-dimensional echocardiography, conventional Doppler imaging of the transmitral inflow, and TDI of the septal, lateral, inferior, and posterior walls near the mitral annulus. Parameters of systolic left ventricular (LV) function and diastolic LV function were assessed.