Circulation
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Elevated LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in childhood predict cardiovascular disease (CVD) later in life. Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) represents the paradigm of this relation. ⋯ In FH families, LDL-C levels allow accurate diagnosis of FH in childhood. Moreover, increased LDL-C and lipoprotein(a) and decreased HDL-C levels in children identify FH kindreds with the highest CVD risk.
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Mitral annular calcification (MAC) has been associated with stroke in longitudinal, community-based cohorts and cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes in many small retrospective studies. Prospective data are limited on the relation of MAC with CVD morbidity and mortality. ⋯ The independent association of MAC with incident CVD and CVD death underscores that cardiac calcification is a marker of increased CVD risk.
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Bosentan for the prevention of overcirculation-induced experimental pulmonary arterial hypertension.
The dual endothelin-receptor antagonist bosentan has been reported to improve pulmonary arterial hypertension, but the role of endothelins in the pathogenesis of the condition remains uncertain. We investigated the roles of endothelin-1 (ET-1), nitric oxide (NO), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and tenascin in overcirculation-induced pulmonary hypertension in piglets, as a model of early pulmonary arterial hypertension, with or without bosentan therapy. ⋯ Experimental overcirculation-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension appears to be causally related to an activation of the pulmonary ET-1 system and as such is completely prevented by the dual endothelin receptor antagonist bosentan.