Issue 41 – January – Febuary – March – April 2020 Issue 42 – May – June – July – August 2020
Author Profile
Anastasios Tsarouchas
Recent Posts
Purpose: The detection of the association of serum magnesium on mortality and morbidity in Heart Failure patients.
Methods: The selection of the studies was based on searching in the databases, Pubmed and Scopus. The assessment of the quality of the selected studies was accomplished according to validated quality criteria in prognostic studies (QUIPS tool).
Results: Eight studies were considered appropriate for participating in the systematic review, which include 8651 Heart Failure patients with low LVEF (left ventricular ejection fraction). In half of studies, hypomagnesemia is considered to be independent prognostic factor for cardiovascular mortality, including sudden death. Only in one study did magnesium levels >2.4 mg/dl constitute independent prognostic factor for all-cause mortality, whilst there was no statistical association between serum magnesium and morbidity outcomes in Heart Failure patients.
Conclusion: Heart failure patients who develop hypomagnesemia at heightened risk of increased cardiovascular mortality, including sudden death.
Keywords:
Heart failure, Magnesium, Mortality, Morbidity
PCSK9 is a protein with proven deleterious effects on lipid metabolism. PCSK9 facilitates the degradation of the LDL receptors on the surface of hepatocytes. As a result, LDL concentrations in the serum increase. Statin therapy stimulates a positive feedback circle which causes PCSK9 levels to increase, attenuating statin’s efficiency. PCSK9 inhibitors have proven themselves in several clinical trials as safe drugs that cause significant improvements in lipid profiles. The purpose of this review is to fully delineate the link between PCSK9 and atherosclerosis, as well as the future of PCSK9 inhibition.
Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is considered a non-traumatic, non-iatrogenic rupture of the coronary artery wall with a consequential formation of a false lumen and an intramural hematoma (IMH), capable under certain circumstances of compressing the true lumen causing acute coronary syndrome. We report our recent experience in the field, by presenting 9 different cases of SCAD, first admitted with an initial diagnosis of non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). We additionally provide a brief review of the literature.
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a highly prevalent disease that affects the quality of life of mainly older men. Among the complex etiology of ED, atherosclerosis is the predominant of the arteriogenic causes. It has been reported that ED and cardiovascular disease share common risk factors and common pathophysiological mechanisms (endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and low testosterone levels). Moreover, increasing evidence suggests that clinical manifestations of ED precede cardiovascular events by about three years and thus, its diagnosis offers a window for early cardiologic assessment and intervention. In patients with suspected arteriogenic ED, data ha sshown that percutaneous revascularization of penile arteries may be considered an effective treatmentstrategy in patients with macroangiopathic disease who have not responded to oral conservative therapy. All in all, a complex and yet-to-be understood interplay between ED and cardiovascular disease has been revealed in recent years.
Keywords: erectile dysfunction, penis pumps,sildenafil