Vascular Disease Prevention (Discontinued) - Volume 5, Issue 2, 2008

Background: The association between body mass index (BMI) and the development of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is well established. The determinants of the resolution of T2DM with weight reduction after bariatric surgery, however, are not fully understood. Objective: Examine the course of T2DM during weight loss after bariatric surgery. Methods: Through a retrospective chart review, 56 morbidly obese, diabetic patients who unde Read More

Fibrin-related markers, such as fibrin and fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) and D-dimer, are considered useful for the diagnosis of thrombosis. However, the evidence for making a diagnosis of thrombosis based on fibrinrelated markers is still not yet well established. The plasma concentrations of soluble fibrin and D-dimer were prospectively measured in 680 inpatients suspected of having thrombosis between Oc Read More

Inflammation is a key process linked to stroke both in terms of atherosclerosis, and in terms of cerebral ischaemia. Secondary to endothelial injury, innate and acquired immune mechanisms maintain a chronic low-grade inflammatory state, which initially contributes to formation of atherosclerotic plaques, and ultimately leads to detrimental complications, such as rupture and thrombosis. Experimental models of cer Read More

Calcium is integral to cardiac excitation and contraction. The main route for calcium influx into cardiac myocytes is the L-type Ca2+ channel. Once intracellular calcium levels are increased, a number of calcium-dependent signal pathways are activated that can lead to persistent changes in protein synthesis and function. This process is termed “pathological remodeling”. Pathological remodeling of the heart can progress to ir Read More

Atherosclerosis is the most common cause of death in the Western population. Apoptosis has now been recognized as a major event in a number of common and threatening vascular diseases, including in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis. Consistent with an increasing body of evidence from both, animal models and human specimens, modified low-density lipoprotein-induced apoptosis of vessel wall cells contributes to t Read More

Objective. Evaluate the effect of a multidisciplinary behavioral childhood/adolescent obesity treatment program on body mass index (BMI). Methods. Height and weight were measured and BMI was calculated at start and completion of a 12-session program in 74 consecutive children/adolescents. Results. Mean age was 12.2 ± 3.2 years and mean baseline BMI z score was 2.4 ± 0.3, corresponding to a BMI per Read More

Disturbances in homocysteine metabolism may lead to hyperhomocysteinemia. This condition has been associated with vascular atheromatosis leading to coronary artery disease (CAD) as well as myocardial infarction. One hundred patients with CAD who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) were enrolled. The study aimed to evaluate cardiac enzymes and electrocardiogram of each patient postoperatively so Read More

Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is known to have a contradictory role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. We assessed the relationship between TGF-β1, age and ultrasound parameters of the arterial wall in subjects with coronary artery disease (CAD) and a control group (C group). In both groups age was significantly related to the diameter of brachial artery (BA), diameter of common carotid artery (CCA) and intim Read More

Hypertension related decrements in cognitive functioning have been documented in those without clinical evidence of vascular disease and in individuals unaware of their hypertension. Impaired cognition in asymptomatic hypertensives may or may not be altered by antihypertensive therapy. We have examined the effect of three months of ramipril therapy on ambulatory blood pressure, cognitive function, lipid peroxi Read More