The obesity paradox: impact of obesity on the prevalence and prognosis of cardiovascular diseases.

Obesity has reached global epidemic proportions and is associated with numerous comorbidities such as hypertension (HTN), type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, certain cancers, and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Obesity, via its direct maladaptive effects on cardiac structure and through its impact on conventional risk factors, is strongly associated with cardiovascular (CV) diseases such as heart failure (HF) and coronary heart disease (CHD). Despite these adverse associations, numerous studies indicate an "obesity paradox" in that being overweight or obese is associated with a favorable prognosis in many patients with established CV disease, particularly in patients with HTN, HF, and CHD.

Fish oil in primary and secondary cardiovascular prevention.

Omega-3 fatty acid therapy shows great promise in both primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular (CV) diseases, especially coronary heart disease (CHD). In this review, we discuss the evidence available from prospective and retrospective observational epidemiologic studies and controlled clinical trials demonstrating the effects of omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) in primary and especially secondary prevention of major CV events, including CV mortality, fatal and nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), and sudden cardiac death (SCD). Significant reductions in total mortality and SCD to the extent of 20% to 50% have been found in studies using doses ranging from 0.

Device therapy for heart failure: when and for whom?

Surgical approaches to heart failure (HF) management have become a necessary strategy in response to a waiting list that is expanding in the face of a limited supply of organ donors. Multiple studies have supported the safety and efficacy of device-based therapy. Among the device-based therapy options, ventricular assist devices (VADs) represent an alternative to heart transplantation with the capability to function as short-term support, bridge-to-transplantation or recovery and as long-term support.

Untangling the heavy cardiovascular burden of obesity.

This article sets out the clinical context of the research presented by Romero-Corral et al. in an accompanying article in this journal. Obesity is an important risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease.

Impact of left ventricular geometry on prognosis-a review of ochsner studies.

We review data from epidemiologic and population-based studies that demonstrate the impact of abnormal left ventricular geometric patterns, including both concentric remodeling and left ventricular hypertrophy, on major cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. We also review studies from Ochsner Clinic Foundation that assessed the impact of various left ventricular geometric patterns on overall cardiovascular prognosis, especially all-cause mortality.

[Diagnostic performance of anti-cyclic citrullinated antibodies and IgM rheumatoid factor in rheumatoid arthritis].

Unlabelled: The presence of IgM class rheumatoid factor RF-M in the serum is one of the ACR criteria for the classification of rheumatoid arthritis RA .

Objectives: To compare the sensitivity and specificity of two diagnostic markers for RA in Portuguese patients the 2nd generation anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies anti-CCP2 and the RF-M.

Methods: Serum samples from 56 patients with established RA 44 women and 12 men mean disease duration 9 5 -8 5 years were evaluated for the presence of anti-CCP2 and RF-M.

Death messengers.

and colleagues dissect doctors’ attitudes to dying

Is heart failure more prevalent in patients with peripheral arterial disease? A meta-analysis.

Because risk factors for heart failure (HF) cluster in persons with peripheral artery disease (PAD), the authors conducted a meta-analysis to examine the prevalence of HF in individuals with PAD. MEDLINE searches were performed to review all PAD clinical trials (1966-2003). Expected control population prevalence rates for HF were derived from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database.

Disparate effects of left ventricular geometry and obesity on mortality in patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction.

Left ventricular (LV) geometry predicts cardiovascular events. Although obesity is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, studies have noted a paradox regarding obesity and prognosis. To our knowledge no studies have determined the impact of obesity on LV geometry as well as mortality in patients with preserved ejection fraction.

The obesity paradox and discrepancy between peak oxygen consumption and heart failure prognosis--it's all in the fat.

The authors present the case of an obese patient with advanced heart failure that demonstrates the paradox between obesity and heart failure prognosis. In addition, the authors discuss the rationale for the correction of cardiopulmonary stress data (used as predictors of survival and listing for cardiac transplantation) for lean weight (as opposed to total body weight), a consideration that may be particularly important in obese patients with a high percentage of body fat.

Pathophysiology of pulmonary arterial hypertension.

The mechanisms leading to elevations in precapillary pulmonary vascular resistance are complex and likely involve multiple pathways, but the histopathologic sequelae of these processes are restricted to a few findings, primarily neoangiogenesis, intimal and smooth muscle proliferation, vasoconstriction, and/or in situ thrombosis. Regardless of the etiology of pulmonary hypertension, abnormalities in endothelial function are often observed and likely play a central role in mediating structural changes.

Osborn waves in sepsis.

A patient with severe sepsis, who presented with moderate hypothermia and the classical electrocardiographic findings that have been described in patients with accidental hypothermia is presented. Rewarming was associated with proportional improvement of the initial electrocardiographic abnormalities. A brief discussion is included about the electrophysiologic mechanisms of Osborn waves, the differential diagnosis of this electrocardiographic finding as well as other findings described in patients with hypothermia.