Research articles

Many coronary heart disease patients fail to reach recommended LDL levels, either due to intolerance or inadequate response to available lipid-lowering therapy. Microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) inhibitors may provide a novel alternative pathway for LDL lowering. In this paper the authors tested the safety and LDL lowering efficacy of the MTP inhibitor, AEGR-733, alone and in combination with ezetimibe.

Leptin may be a key regulator of C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, which in turn, is a marker of systemic inflammation. Both leptin and CRP are predictors of cardiovascular disease (CVD). High leptin levels are independently associated with CVD even after adjustment for CRP; elevated CRP levels are not associated with CVD after adjustment for leptin. However, subjects with increased leptin and CRP are at the highest risk for CVD.

The custom microenvironment “vascular niche” is a potential therapeutic target for several pathophysiological conditions. Osteoblasts act as regulators of the hematopoietic stem cell niche, and activation of the parathyroid hormone (PTH) receptor may increase the number of cells mobilized into the bloodstream. The authors demonstrate that PTH may enhance the efficiency of hematopoietic stem cell-based therapy in a recognized model of peripheral ischemia.

Rheumatic heart disease is an important problem in developing countries but many cases are detected only when the disease has progressed to cardiac failure. Screening can detect cases earlier, but there are no screening guidelines. In this paper the authors describe a novel screening protocol and report a high echocardiographically confirmed prevalence of rheumatic heart disease among Tongan schoolchildren.