According to this meta-analysis, troponin elevation after elective PCI provides important prognostic information.

The mechanisms responsible for the atherogenic lipoprotein changes associated with cigarette smoking are largely unknown. Lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) and cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) are key factors in the esterification of plasma cholesterol and the transfer of cholesteryl ester from high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) toward very-low-and low-density lipoproteins (VLDLs+LDLs). Another transfer factor, phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP), recently has been shown to be involved in the interconversion of HDL particles in vitro, but its physiological function is not yet clear. We measured the activities of LCAT, CETP (as cholesteryl ester exchange activity), and PLTP using exogenous substrate assays as well as lipoprotein profiles in the plasma of 21 nonnolipidemic cigarette-smoking men (total plasma cholesterol below 6.5 mmol/L and trigh/ceride below 2.5 mmol/L) and 21 individually matched nonsmoking control subjects. HDL cholesterol, HDL cholesteryl ester, and plasma apolipoprotein A-I levels were lower in the smokers than in the control subjects (Ps.05 for all parameters). Median plasma CETP activity was 18% higher (P<.02) and median plasma PLTP activity was 8% higher (P<.05) in the smokers C igarette smoking is associated with higher levels of very-low-and low-density lipoprotein (VLDL+ LDL) cholesterol and lower levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. 1 Such unfavorable lipoprotein alterations can explain in part the increased risk of cardiovascular disease among smokers. 2 Of other factors involved in lipoprotein metabolism, lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT, EC 23.1.43) and cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) play key roles in the esterification of cholesterol in plasma and the subsequent transfer of cholesteryl ester (CE) toward apolipoprotein (apo) B-containing lipoproteins. 3 -6 High levels of CETP activity have been previously documented in primary and secondary hyperlipidemia. 711 Furthermore, HDL cholesterol is extremely elevated in cases of familial CETP deficiency. 12 Apart from CETP, another lipid transfer factor, phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP), specifically catalyzes the transfer of phospholipids in plasma. 46 though its physiological function is not well defined, PLTP is involved in regulating HDL particle size in vitro. 14 The mechanisms responsible for the unfavorable lipoprotein levels in smokers still are not precisely understood. Previous studies did not demonstrate significant alterations in the plasma cholesterol esterification rate in smokers. 1516 CETP activity was found to be elevated in cigarette-smoking men with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, 17 but it is unknown whether such abnormalities are present in smoking subjects without other cardiovascular risk factors.We hypothesized that alterations in plasma lipid transfer protein activities could play a role in the development of unfavorable lipoprotein changes in smokers. In this case-control study we measured plasma CETP, PLTP, and LCAT activity in carefully...

Mature human milk can be stored safely in a freezer and heated in a microwave oven without loss of fat or carotenoids. The clinically important loss of fat during tube feeding is probably the most important contributing factor to the decrease in lutein and beta-carotene in tube feeding, with only a small role for peroxidation during light-exposure.

The new CoaguChek XS system is designed for use in patient selftesting. It is the successor of the current CoaguChek S system. The detection principle is based on the amperometric measurement of the thrombin activity initiated by starting the coagulation cascade using a human recombinant thromboplastin. This study was performed to assign the International SEnsitivity Index (ISI) to the new test according to the WHO guidelines for thromboplastins and plasmas used to control anticoagulant therapy, and to establish the measuring range of the new system. At four study sites a total of 90 samples of normal donors and 291 samples of warfarin-, phenprocoumon- or acenocoumarol-treated patients were included in the study. The ISI value of the new test was assigned against the human recombinant reference thromboplastin rTF/95 at each site using the samples from stabilized patients in the International Normalized Ratio (INR) range between 1.5 and 4.5 only. The new point-of-care system's measuring range between 0.8 and 8 INR was calibrated against the mean INR of rTF/95 and AD149 using polynomial regression. ISIs were (CV of the slope): Site 1: ISI 0.99 (1.1%); Site 2: ISI 1.02 (2.0%); Site 3: ISI 1.03 (1.1%); Site 4: ISI 1.00 (1.4%). All regression lines calculated from patient-only data pass through the normal donor data points. All CVs of the slopes of the orthogonal regression lines are well below 3%, thus fulfilling the requirements of the WHO guidelines. The mean ISI for the new CoaguChek XS PT Test is 1.01.

We conclude that perfusion studies with patient blood are of added value in the diagnostic process, which resulted in identification of a novel molecular defect in the P2Y(12) gene of a patient with haemorrhagic diathesis.