Congress Reports

Education substantially alters lipid levels in Turkish women
Scientists have discovered that education level significantly alters high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level in Turkish women, and that university-level studies may confer a reduction in cardiovascular disease risk of up to 30%.

Children using community health centers at high-risk of weight problems
Children who live in areas with less than comprehensive medical care, and who use community health care centers have a raised risk of obesity that may be even stronger than obesity-influencing factors such as ethnicity.

SREBP, SCAP interaction alters lipid levels in women
A study of individuals with familial hypercholesterolemia has revealed an interaction between genes for the sterol regulatory element-binding protein and the SREBP cleavage-activating protein that modulates lipid levels.

Enoxaparin bleeding benefits for PCI revealed
The results of the STEEPLE trial, which indicate a reduced risk of major bleeding with the low molecular weight heparin enoxaparin, support its use over unfractionated heparin for patients in the catheterization laboratory.

Anticoagulation 'unwarranted' for asymptomatic FV Leiden pregnancies
Asymptomatic carriers of the factor V Leiden mutation do not have an increased risk of developing venous thromboembolism during pregnancy, US clinicians have found.

Bombay phenotype linked to reduced plasma-VWF levels
Research published in the journal Blood indicates that individuals with the rare Bombay blood group have significantly reduced plasma von Willebrand factor antigen levels compared with individuals with other ABO blood types.

APOE–stroke mortality link independent of cholesterol
Although the apolipoprotin E e3/e4 genotype is linked to increased 30-day stroke mortality in men, and the APOE e2/e3 genotype has the same effect in women, the association is independent of serum cholesterol levels, a team of Polish researchers has discovered.

No specific factors linked to monoparesis
There is a wide range of stroke localization and etiology in monoparesis, without any particular subgroups, say Swiss researchers in findings that suggest that no specific plan of investigation can be recommended.

Local blood pressure elevations 'have little effect on aneurysms'
Blood pressure elevation at the area of flow impact and at the site of cerebral aneurysm accounts for only 1%–2% of peak intravascular pressure and may have less effect on the rupture of aneurysms than previously thought, Japanese study findings indicate.

RITA 3 favors routine ACS intervention in long term
Extended findings from the British Heart Foundation RITA 3 trial suggest that a routine invasive strategy for patients with a non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome provides greater benefits than a conservative strategy after 5 years.

Perindopril prevents MI cardiac remodeling in PREAMI
Findings from the PREAMI trial reveal that treatment with the ACE inhibitor perindopril can prevent remodeling in elderly patients who have recently experienced acute myocardial infarction but retain normal left ventricular function.

ACTIVE W trial halted
The ACTIVE W trial in patients with atrial fibrillation has been halted, after fewer vascular events were seen in patients treated with warfarin than a combination of clopidogrel and aspirin.

Crystallizing cholesterol 'cuts and tears plaque caps'
In vitro research suggests that the crystallization of cholesterol particles within atherosclerotic plaques promotes the erosion and rupture of plaque caps.

Exercise lipid benefits elucidated
Scientists reporting at the European Society of Cardiology 2005 Annual Congress believe they have found one of the ways by which exercise improves the lipid profile.

Rimonabant preserves large HDL cholesterol particles
The decrease in abdominal obesity induced by treatment with the cannabinoid receptor 1 antagonist rimonabant is accompanied by a maintenance of large high-density lipoprotein 2 cholesterol-like particles, analysis of results from the RIO-Lipids trial reveal.

Hypertension main stroke risk factor in sub-Saharan Africa
Hypertension is the primary risk factor for both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes in developing countries, a study in sub-Saharan Africa has revealed.

Imaging patterns reveal early stroke prognosis
Diffusion-weight imaging lesion patterns may allow the prediction of early prognosis in patients with ischemic stroke, and may help to guide targeted therapy to improve outcomes, say South Korean scientists.

CVT presentation different in elderly patients
Isolated intracranial hypertension is uncommon in elderly patients with cerebral vein and dural sinus thrombosis, while disturbances to mental status and alertness are frequent, an international team of researchers has discovered.

Dye method reveals pulmonary hypertension etiology
A novel dye technique may aid physicians in the diagnosis of patients suspected of having chronic thromboembolic or idiopathic pulmonary hypertension, study findings from the Czech Republic suggest.

NTproBNP levels highlight ongoing PE sequelae
Preliminary research from Poland indicates that monitoring levels of a marker of heart strain could help detect patients with persistent pulmonary hypertension after pulmonary embolism.

Diesel exhaust does not induce hypercoagulability in high-risk group
Exposure to diesel exhaust nanoparticles is not associated with the induction of a hypercoagulable state among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Swedish study findings suggest.

Newborn ECGs could prevent SIDS
A study of over 30,000 infants suggests that an electrocardiogram within the first month of life could identify cardiac abnormalities and help prevent sudden infant death syndrome.

BASKET: drug-eluting stents only cost-effective for some
Drug-eluting stents are less cost effective in a real-world setting than in studies of selected patients, BASKET investigators report, and their use should be restricted to high-risk groups.

High-dose vitamin B may present CV risk
High doses of vitamin B do not prevent cardiovascular disease in patients with myocardial infarction, Norwegian Vitamin Trial findings suggest, and may conversely even increase this risk.

Novel anti-thrombotic agent effective after ACS events
Results from the OASIS-5/MICHELANGELO study support the use of fondaparinux for the prevention of myocardial infarction, refractory ischemia and death in patients with acute coronary syndromes.

ASCOT-BPLA: CCB- beats beta blocker-based antihypertensive regimen
Newer antihypertensive treatment based around a calcium channel blocker cuts the risk of major cardiovascular events and results in less diabetes than an older regimen based on a beta blocker, results from the Anglo-Scandinavian Cardiac Outcomes Trial - Blood Pressure Lowering Arm suggest.

CIBIS III: beta blockers effective as initial HF therapy
Challenging the view that ACE inhibitors should be the first choice treatment for chronic heart failure, results from the CIBIS III trial indicate that a beta blocker is as effective when used as initial therapy.

PCI-CLARITY: clopidogrel beneficial before PCI
Results from the PCI-CLARITY trial suggest that clopidogrel pretreatment before percutaneous coronary intervention can reduce the risk of cardiovascular death or ischemic complications compared with placebo.

Olive oil bite betrays NSAID properties
A chance observation that olive oil and ibuprofen sting the throat in the same way has led scientists to discover a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory compound within olive oil.

Statins rapidly restore endothelial function in childhood hypercholesterolemia
Besides its expected beneficial lipid effects, a month of statin treatment can also significantly improve endothelial function in children and adolescents with hypercholesterolemia, scientists say.

HDL improves survival in STEMI, NSTEMI independently of LDL
Raised levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol improve short- and long-term survival in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction, regardless of concentrations of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, clinicians report.

Scottish stroke rates 'not unusually high'
Although the crude rate of stroke in Scotland is among the highest in the world, adjusted rates are similar to those seen in other populations and do not reflect the country's high rates of cardiovascular disease, say UK researchers.

Stroke units offer greatest community benefit
Management of stroke patients in a dedicated unit has a greater population benefit than tissue plasminogen activator in terms of preventing death or dependency, despite the drug being the most potent intervention, Australian study results indicate.

Evidence growing for PDE4-stroke association
Common genetic variants in the phosphodiesterase 4D gene may play a role in the risk of developing ischemic stroke in several populations, claim US scientists.

TNF-alpha linked to HF thromboembolism risk
A study of platelet activation suggests that tumor necrosis factor-alpha may play a role in the development of thromboembolism in patients with heart failure.

D-dimer levels predict prosthetic heart value thrombosis
Monitoring D-dimer levels can help determine the risk of prosthetic heart value thrombosis, research from the Kosuyolu Heart and Education Hospital in Istanbul, Turkey, indicates.

Subarachnoid aneurysm coiling shows benefits over clipping
UK researchers report in The Lancet that endovascular coiling may have significant benefits over surgical clipping in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Over-eighties may benefit from stroke thrombolysis
Contrary to standard practice, thrombolysis may have significant benefits even for stroke patients in their eighties, say investigators.

Inflammatory gene variant linked to small vessel disease
A pro-inflammatory gene variant appears to affect the risk of stroke caused by small vessel disease, but not other stroke subtypes, study findings show.

Adipose tissue metabolism disturbed in FCH
Dutch clinicians believe adipose tissue metabolism plays a part in the pathophysiology of familial combined hyperlipidemia, after showing that low levels of adiponectin contribute to the atherogenic lipid profile in patients with the condition.

Lipid-lowering drugs cut death risk in elderly post revascularization
Elderly patients who take cholesterol-lowering drugs after coronary revascularization enjoy a reduced risk of death and myocardial infarction, but are no less likely to require repeat revascularization procedures than those not taking these agents, results of a population-based study show.

OxLDL activates NFkB in angina patients
In patients with unstable angina, the activation of nuclear factor κB in monocytes is, at least partly, caused by molecules such as oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Respiratory virus infection induces platelet aggregation
US study findings add to evidence indicating that viral respiratory tract infections may play a role in thrombotic events, demonstrating that platelet aggregation is increased in people suffering from the "common cold."

Guide wire diameter alters vena cava filter adverse event rate
Use of a smaller diameter J-tipped guide wire may reduce the risk of complications in patients with inferior vena cava filters, research published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons suggests.

Exercise-induced DVT linked with protein C anticoagulation defects
A study published in the journal Thrombosis and Haemostasis describes the cases of four athletes with hereditary defects of the protein C system who suffered venous thrombotic events following prolonged bouts of exercise.

Practice-based self BP measurement effective
Patients with hypertension who monitor their own blood pressure at a general practice can experience a reduction in systolic readings similar to that seen among those looked after by doctors and nurses, a UK trial suggests.

Intracranial aneurysm coiling has extended benefits
Further findings from the International Subarachnoid Aneurysm Trial suggest that endovascular coiling of ruptured intracranial aneurysms may improve survival in patients compared with neurosurgical clipping, with benefits potentially continuing for at least 7 years.

Better women's CHD care 'desperately needed'
A consultant cardiologist in the UK has urgently called for more treatment and research into coronary heart disease in women.