RedScrubs
The Resource for Medical Professionals

C-Reactive Protein is a protein associated with inflammation and heart failure. In a study designed to look at the association with magnesium deficiency and elevated high sensitivity C – reactive protein (hsCRP), a community –based cross-sectional study involving 488 healthy children aged 10-13 from Durango, Mexico were randomly selected to participate in testing this hypothesis.

The results pointed to a relationship between magnesium deficiency and hsCRP. A total of 87.1% had both elevated hsCRP and low magnesium levels. Children with this profile tended to have the highest fasting glucose, the lowest HDL, highest insulin levels and highest triglyceride levels.

This study demonstrated that derangements of blood glucose control occur in patients with and without diabetes who undergo cardiac surgery. The study analyzed 8,727 adults placing them in a variety of blood glucose control categories (good= < 200 mg/dl), (moderate = 200-250 mg/dl)or (poor = >250 mg/dl). They determined that the percentage that fell in the inadequate blood glucose control categories were more likely to have heart failure, hypertension, renal dysfunction and ejection fraction < 50%. The study found that 52% of patients had poor control, 31% had moderate control and 8% with good control had diabetes as a diagnosis. Inadequate blood glucose control, but not diabetes, was associated with in-hospital mortality and morbidity. Inadequate control was also associated with post-operative heart attacks, and with pulmonary and renal complications in people without the diagnosis of diabetes.

Plant sterols are known to decrease cholesterol and LDL when consumed in sufficient quantities. Since one is not likely to get this quantity from food alone, food companies have begun fortifying foods with plant sterols in an effort at lowering risk for heart disease in those who consume such fortified foods.

However, a recent study just published in the Journal of Lipid Research brings up a question as to whether this fortification is, in the long run, a good thing. Since the pathogenesis of aortic valve stenosis (AS) is characterized by an accumulation of LDL-derived cholesterol in the diseased valves and LDL particles also contain plant sterols, a study was designed to see what the relationship was between the plant sterols and aortic valve lesions.

While many therapies have been suggested to reduce cardiovascular disease risk, the potential effects of a comprehensive set of prevention activities aimed at cardiovascular mortality, morbidity and costs have never been evaluated.

Study design used a person-specific data set from a representative sample of the U.S. to determine the number and characteristics of an adult cohort who were candidates for different prevention activities related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk reduction. The Archimedes model was used to create a simulated population and a series of clinical trials that examined the effects on cardiovascular disease over the next 30 years of applying each prevention activity one by one or altogether.

Despite progress in the detection and treatment of high blood pressure in recent years, the problem remains epidemic in proportion and is a major cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality worldwide. In a study that involved 4680 adults in a cross sectional epidemiological study using an average of 8 blood pressure readings, the associations of dietary iron (total, heme and non-heme), supplemental iron and red meat intake with blood pressure readings were evaluated.

The relationship between iron and blood pressure is largely unknown. Iron is a redox active transition metal that might contribute to the production of oxidative stress, reactive oxygen species and inflammation – all variables that might impact blood pressure. Of particular interest was whether there is an effect difference between heme iron (found in red meat), or non-heme iron (found in high iron plant-based foods).

This study demonstrated that derangements of blood glucose control occur in patients with and without diabetes who undergo cardiac surgery. The study analyzed 8,727 adults placing them in a variety of blood glucose control categories (good= < 200 mg/dl), (moderate = 200-250 mg/dl)or (poor = >250 mg/dl). They determined that the percentage that fell in the inadequate blood glucose control categories were more likely to have heart failure, hypertension, renal dysfunction and ejection fraction < 50%. The study found that 52% of patients had poor control, 31% had moderate control and 8% with good control had diabetes as a diagnosis. Inadequate blood glucose control, but not diabetes, was associated with in-hospital mortality and morbidity. Inadequate control was also associated with post-operative heart attacks, and with pulmonary and renal complications in people without the diagnosis of diabetes.

Should diabetes drugs face tougher standards? With nearly 24 million Americans with Type II Diabetes who are already at risk for heart disease, should we be medicating them with drugs that aggravate or increase the risk for heart disease?

In a Fox News report it was brought to our attention that advisors to the Food Drug Administration (FDA) had voted 14-2 on tougher studies to assure that diabetes drugs don’t increase the risk of heart disease. This comes on the heels of the news release that the FDA will be adding new information on heart disease risk to the existing boxed warning about the potential for increased risk for heart attacks with the use of Avandia, a popular anti-Diabetes drug.

The FDA stated that at this time there isn’t enough evidence to indicate that the risks of heart attacks or death are different between Avandia and some other type 2 diabetes treatments. Therefore, the FDA has requested the Glaxo—Smith Kline (GSK) conduct a new long-term study to evaluate these proposed cardiovascular risks with Avandia. GSK, who currently manufactures Advandia, has agreed to the study with FDA oversight authority.

Evaluation of the lipid profile has become routine practice to determine one’s risk for heart disease. Routinely, health professionals generally agree that low overall and LDL-cholesterol readings and high HDL readings along with low serum triglyceride levels reflect a low risk for disease.

Vitamin D has been in the news a lot lately – studies promoting the positive effects of the “sunshine vitamin” on the immune system, cancer, bone strength, depression. This study, published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology, calls vitamin D a heart tranquilizer.

In the study, cells from the cells treated with activated vitamin D did not grow bigger in the heart muscle. The treatments prevented hypertrophy in rats and protected heart muscles from overstimulation and the increased contractions that are commonly associated with the progression of heart failure.