Evaluation of lipoprotein(a) in the prevention and management of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: A survey among the Lipid Clinics Network.

Background And Aims: The European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) Lipid Clinics Network promoted a survey in order to identify and understand how and when lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is tested and clinically evaluated in lipid clinics throughout Europe, and the challenges that may prevent evaluation from being carried out.

Methods: This survey was divided into three areas of inquiry: background and clinical setting information of clinicians, questions for doctors who claimed not to measure Lp(a), in order to understand what were the reasons for not ordering the test, and questions for doctors who measure Lp(a), to investigate the use of this value in the management of patients.

Results: A total of 151 centres clinicians filled in the survey, out of 226 invited.

CORRELATION OF BLOOD BIOCHEMICAL INDICATORS WITH THE LEVEL OF KNEE JOINT DAMAGE IN THE MODEL OF THE POSTTRAUMATIC OSTEOARTHRITIS.

The aim of the study was to assess the dependence of blood biochemical parameters with the degree of osteoarthritis of the knee joint and therapy. In experiments, osteoarthritis was simulated in rabbits (n=25) and after 75 days changes in the level of peroxidation products, activity of leukocyte enzymes were studied and the results were compared with the degree of knee joint injury, as well as taking into account the application of a concentrate of bone marrow aspirate, mechanically homogenized adipose tissue and platelet rich plasma. Analysis of the results confirmed the assumption of a direct relationship between the level of peroxidation products (diene conjugates, TBA-reactive products, products of oxidative modification of proteins), ceruloplasmin, and proinflammatory activity of leukocytes (by the activity of elastase and myeloperoxidase) with the level of morphological changes in the articular cartilage, capsule and meniscus of the knee joint.

Apixaban or Vitamin K Antagonists and Aspirin or Placebo According to Kidney Function in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation After Acute Coronary Syndrome or Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Insights From the AUGUSTUS Trial.

Background: In the AUGUSTUS trial (An Open-Label, 2×2 Factorial, Randomized Controlled, Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Safety of Apixaban Versus Vitamin K Antagonist and Aspirin Versus Aspirin Placebo in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and Acute Coronary Syndrome or Percutaneous Coronary Intervention), apixaban resulted in less bleeding and fewer hospitalizations than vitamin K antagonists, and aspirin caused more bleeding than placebo in patients with atrial fibrillation and acute coronary syndrome or percutaneous coronary intervention treated with a P2Y inhibitor. We evaluated the risk-benefit balance of antithrombotic therapy according to kidney function.

Methods: In 4456 patients, the CKD-EPI (Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration) formula was used to calculate baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

Application of the 2010 ACR/EULAR classification criteria in patients with very early inflammatory arthritis: analysis of sensitivity, specificity and predictive values in the SAVE study cohort.

Objective: Performance of the 2010 American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) rheumatoid arthritis (RA) criteria was analysed in an internationally recruited early arthritis cohort (≤16 weeks symptom duration) enrolled in the 'Stop-Arthritis-Very-Early' trial. This sample includes patients with a variety of diseases diagnosed during follow-up.

Methods: Two endpoints were defined: Investigators' diagnosis and disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) treatment start during the 12-month follow-up.