0000000000088940

AUTHOR

Ulrich Laufs

Systematic monitoring for detection of atrial fibrillation in patients with acute ischaemic stroke (MonDAFIS): a randomised, open-label, multicentre study.

Summary Background Systematic electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring improves detection of covert atrial fibrillation in stroke survivors but the effect on secondary prevention is unknown. We aimed to assess the effect of systematic ECG monitoring of patients in hospital on the rate of oral anticoagulant use after 12 months. Methods In this investigator-initiated, randomised, open-label, parallel-group multicentre study with masked endpoint adjudication, we recruited patients aged at least 18 years with acute ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack without known atrial fibrillation in 38 certified stroke units in Germany. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to usual diagnostic procedur…

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Overview of the current status of familial hypercholesterolaemia care in over 60 countries - The EAS Familial Hypercholesterolaemia Studies Collaboration (FHSC)

PubMed: 30270054

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Pooling and expanding registries of familial hypercholesterolaemia to assess gaps in care and improve disease management and outcomes: Rationale and design of the global EAS Familial Hypercholesterolaemia Studies Collaboration

WOS: 000393031600001

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Systolic Blood Pressure Variation and Mean Heart Rate Is Associated With Cognitive Dysfunction in Patients With High Cardiovascular Risk

Abstract— Elevated systolic blood pressure (SBP) correlates to cognitive decline and incident dementia. The effects of heart rate (HR), visit to visit HR variation, and visit to visit SBP variation are less well established. Patients without preexisting cognitive dysfunction (N=24 593) were evaluated according to mean SBP, SBP visit to visit variation (coefficient of variation [standard deviation/mean×100%], CV), mean HR, and visit to visit HR variation (HR-CV) in the Ongoing Telmisartan Alone and in Combination with Ramipril Global Endpoint Trial and the Telmisartan Randomized Assessment Study in ACE Intolerant Subjects with Cardiovascular Disease. Cognitive function was assessed with min…

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Global perspective of familial hypercholesterolaemia: a cross-sectional study from the EAS Familial Hypercholesterolaemia Studies Collaboration (FHSC)

Background The European Atherosclerosis Society Familial Hypercholesterolaemia Studies Collaboration (FHSC) global registry provides a platform for the global surveillance of familial hypercholesterolaemia through harmonisation and pooling of multinational data. In this study, we aimed to characterise the adult population with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia and described how it is detected and managed globally. Methods Using FHSC global registry data, we did a cross-sectional assessment of adults (aged 18 years or older) with a clinical or genetic diagnosis of probable or definite heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia at the time they were entered into the registries. Dat…

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Familial hypercholesterolaemia: A global call to arms

Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is the commonest autosomal co-dominantly inherited condition affecting man. It is caused by mutation in one of three genes, encoding the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor, or the gene for apolipoprotein B (which is the major protein component of the LDL particle), or in the gene coding for PCSK9 (which is involved in the degradation of the LDL-receptor during its cellular recycling). These mutations result in impaired LDL metabolism, leading to life-long elevations in LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) and development of premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) [1], [2] and [3]. If left untreated, the relative risk of premature coronary artery d…

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Inhibition of Rac1 GTPase Decreases Vascular Oxidative Stress, Improves Endothelial Function, and Attenuates Atherosclerosis Development in Mice

Aims: Oxidative stress and inflammation contribute to atherogenesis. Rac1 GTPase regulates pro-oxidant NADPH oxidase activity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, actin cytoskeleton organization and monocyte adhesion. We investigated the vascular effects of pharmacological inhibition of Rac1 GTPase in mice.Methods and Results: We treated wild-type and apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE−/−) mice with Clostridium sordellii lethal toxin (LT), a Rac1 inhibitor, and assessed vascular oxidative stress, expression and activity of involved proteins, endothelial function, macrophage infiltration, and atherosclerosis development. LT-treated wild-type mice displayed decreased vascular NADPH oxidase…

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Vascular effects of diet supplementation with plant sterols.

Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate vascular effects of diet supplementation with plant sterol esters (PSE). Background Plant sterol esters are used as food supplements to reduce cholesterol levels. Their effects on endothelial function, stroke, or atherogenesis are not known. Methods In mice, plasma sterol concentrations were correlated with endothelial function, cerebral lesion size, and atherosclerosis. Plasma and tissue sterol concentrations were measured by gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in 82 consecutive patients with aortic stenosis. Results Compared with those fed with normal chow (NC), wild-type mice fed with NC supplemented with 2% PSE showed increase…

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Effects of alirocumab on types of myocardial infarction : insights from the ODYSSEY OUTCOMES trial

Gislason, Gunnar H/0000-0002-0548-402X; Malynovsky, Yaroslav V/0000-0002-9118-1104; Bhatt, Deepak L./0000-0002-1278-6245; Nikolaev, Konstantin/0000-0003-4601-6203; Sherwood, Matthew/0000-0002-4305-5883; Chumakova, Galina A/0000-0002-2810-6531; Raffel, Owen C/0000-0001-5470-7050; Leonardi, Sergio/0000-0002-4800-6132; Tse, Hung Fat/0000-0002-9578-7808; Reshetko, Olga/0000-0003-3107-7636; Pereira, Helder/0000-0001-8656-4883; Racca, Vittorio/0000-0002-4465-3789; Podoleanu, Cristian/0000-0001-9987-2519; Ersanli, Murat/0000-0003-1847-3087; Muenzel, Thomas/0000-0001-5503-4150; Sandhu, Manjinder/0000-0003-2538-2079; Taskinen, Marja-Riitta/0000-0002-6229-3588; bastos, jose/0000-0002-9526-3123; Manak…

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Lipid-lowering therapy and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol goal achievement in patients with acute coronary syndromes: The ACS patient pathway project

Background and aims: Post-acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients are at very high risk for recurrent events and mortality, despite the availability of effective pharmacological approaches. Aim of this survey was to evaluate the compliance to ESC/EAS guidelines during the management of ACS patients and the effectiveness of secondary prevention in seven European countries.Methods: By means of an online questionnaire, data on 2775 ACS patients (either acute case or follow-up patients) were collected, including data on lipid profile, medications, follow-up visit planning, screening for familial hypercholesterolemia.Results: Lipid profiles were obtained for 91% of ACS patients in the acute phase…

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Hepatocyte pyroptosis and release of inflammasome particles induce stellate cell activation and liver fibrosis.

Background & Aims Increased hepatocyte death contributes to the pathology of acute and chronic liver diseases. However, the role of hepatocyte pyroptosis and extracellular inflammasome release in liver disease is unknown. Methods We used primary mouse and human hepatocytes, hepatocyte-specific leucine 351 to proline Nlrp3KICreA mice, and GsdmdKO mice to investigate pyroptotic cell death in hepatocytes and its impact on liver inflammation and damage. Extracellular NOD-, LRR-, and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasomes were isolated from mutant NLRP3-YFP HEK cells and internalisation was studied in LX2 and primary human hepatic stellate cells. We also examined a cohort of 154…

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Physical inactivity increases oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and atherosclerosis.

Objective— Sedentary lifestyle is associated with increased cardiovascular events. The underlying molecular mechanisms are incompletely understood. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) contribute to endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. An important source of vascular ROS is the NADPH oxidase. Methods and Results— C57BL6 mice were subjected to regular housing (physical inactivity) or voluntary training on running wheels (6 weeks). Inactivity increased vascular lipid peroxidation to 148±9% and upregulated superoxide release to 176±17% (L-012 chemiluminescence) and 188±29% (cytochrome C reduction assay), respectively. ROS production was predominantly increased in the endothelium and the medi…

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