Simulation of bempedoic acid and ezetimibe in the lipid-lowering treatment pathway in Austria using the contemporary SANTORINI cohort of high and very high risk patients.

Objective: The low-density lipoprotein cholesterol goals in the 2019 European Society of Cardiology/European Atherosclerosis Society dyslipidaemia guidelines necessitate greater use of combination therapies. We describe a real-world cohort of patients in Austria and simulate the addition of oral bempedoic acid and ezetimibe to estimate the proportion of patients reaching goals.

Methods: Patients at high or very high cardiovascular risk on lipid-lowering treatments (excluding proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors) from the Austrian cohort of the observational SANTORINI study were included using specific criteria.

Influence and interaction of diabetes and lipoprotein (a) serum levels on mortality of patients with peripheral artery disease.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a risk factor for early complications and mortality in patients with peripheral artery disease. Lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] is also suggested to be a marker of increased cardiovascular risk. We investigated the association and interaction between diabetes mellitus, lipoprotein(a) and mortality in high risk patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD).

Simvastatin reduces serum level of vascular endothelial growth factor in hypercholesterolemic patients.

Vascular endothelial growth factor plays a pivotal role in the progression of atherosclerotic lesions and causes instability of atherosclerotic plaques by inducing neoangiogenesis inside the current plaque. The pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL-) 6 induces vascular endothelial growth factor in smooth muscle cells (SMC). HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins), display beside their lipid-lowering potency various pleiotropic effects.

Insulin, C-peptide, and restenosis after femoral artery balloon angioplasty in type II diabetic and nondiabetic patients.

Purpose: Endogenous and exogenous insulin is suggested to stimulate hypertrophic wound-healing responses and therefore may promote neointimal hyperplasia and restenosis after balloon angioplasty. The ratio of C-peptide to insulin reflects endogenous insulin secretion. In diabetic patients with insulin substitution, lower ratios display a higher proportion of exogenous insulin.

Effect of nimodipine on ocular blood flow and colour contrast sensitivity in patients with normal tension glaucoma.

Aim: To investigate the effects of oral nimodipine on ocular haemodynamic parameters and colour contrast sensitivity in patients with normal tension glaucoma (NTG).

Design: The study was performed in a randomised, placebo controlled, double masked, crossover design.

Participants: Nimodipine (60 mg) or placebo was administered to 14 consecutive NTG patients.