Effects of Chios Mastiha essential oil on cholesterol levels of healthy volunteers: A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study (MASTIHA-OIL).

INTRODUCTION: Chios Mastiha essential oil (CMO) is a natural product extracted from the resin of Mastiha, possessing antioxidant, anti-microbial, anti-ulcer, anti-neoplastic, and cholesterol-lowering capabilities in vitro, and its hypolipidemic effect was confirmed in animal studies. Yet, there are no randomized, placebo-controlled clinical studies in the literature regarding CMO's hypolipidemic effects in humans. A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study was designed to study the hypolipidemic effect of CMO capsules on healthy volunteers with elevated cholesterol. METHODS: 192 healthy volunteers were screened and 160 of them with total cholesterol> 200 mg/dl participated in the study. They were randomized with a 2:1 ratio of receiving CMO capsules (200 mg mastiha-oil/capsule) and placebo for 8 weeks respectively. 113 patients received CMO and 47 were randomized in the control group, and all of them completed the follow-up period. RESULTS: After 8 weeks of CMO administration, total and LDL cholesterol were significantly lower in the CMO compared to the placebo group 215.2 ± 27.5 vs 237.0 ± 27.9 mg/dl (p < 0.001) and 135.0 ± 26.1 vs 153.0 ± 23.3 mg/dl (p < 0.001) respectively. No gastrointestinal adverse events or liver or renal toxicity were reported. Additionally, in the CMO group total cholesterol was significantly decreased by 20.6 mg/dl (9%), LDL by 18.1 mg/dl (12%), triglycerides by 21.8 mg/dl (15%), and glucose by 4.6 mg/dl (5%) and HDL was increased by 2.4 mg/dl (5%), compared to their baseline values. CONCLUSION: The MASTIHA-OIL study showed the efficacy and safety of CMO in reduction of total and LDL cholesterol after 8 weeks of administration in healthy volunteers with elevated cholesterol levels.

Echocardiographic imaging of tricuspid and pulmonary valve abnormalities in primary ovarian carcinoid tumor.

Carcinoid is a rare malignancy originating from enterochromaffin cells and is clinically characterized by flushing, diarrhea and bronchospasm, due to secretion of vasoactive substances. A dreaded complication is carcinoid heart disease, which mainly affects right cardiac chambers, resulting in thickened, immobile and retracted tricuspid and pulmonary valves. In the current report, a case of a 60-year old female presenting with symptoms of right heart failure is described. Transthoracic two-dimensional and real-time three-dimensional echocardiography findings, as well as biochemical markers, including pro-BNP and NT-pro-BNP, were consistent with carcinoid syndrome. The histological diagnosis of carcinoid was confirmed after surgical resection of an ovarian mass.

The incidence of recurrent cardiovascular events among acute coronary syndrome patients treated with generic or original clopidogrel in relation to their sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. The Aegean study.

INTRODUCTION: The use of generic drugs is continuously growing; however, there are limited epidemiological data regarding the therapeutic equivalence of each original drug formulation with its generic counterparts. We evaluated the 12-month composite endpoint of recurrent acute myocardial infarction, ischaemic stroke, cardiac deaths, or hospitalisation due to a major bleeding in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients treated with original clopidogrel or a generic clopidogrel formulation, in relation to sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Consecutive Greek ACS patients (n = 1194) hospitalised in the Aegean islands and the Attica region were enrolled. Clopidogrel treatment was recorded either as original clopidogrel hydrogen sulphate (Plavix®/Iscover®) or as a generic clopidogrel besylate formulation (Clovelen®). The composite endpoint was recorded at 12-month follow-up. RESULTS: The 12-month composite endpoint was 3.9% (4.6% in the Aegean islands and 3.5% in the Attica area, p > 0.05). The respective incidence in men was 4.0% and in women 3.8% (p > 0.05). Overall, generic and original clopidogrel use was 87% and 13% of patients, respectively. No significant differences were observed between original and generic clopidogrel use and 12-month composite endpoint incidence. Subgroup analysis with gender, region of residence, and clinical and lifestyle factors as strata did not reveal any significant outcomes. Haemorrhage incidence did not exceed 1% in the total sample. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a generic clopidogrel besylate formulation was quite high in both urban and insular areas of Greece and had similar efficacy and safety profile with the original clopidogrel salt, supporting the routine use of this low-cost generic clopidogrel in the management of cardiovascular disease patients.

GUT Microbiome-GUT Dysbiosis-Arterial Hypertension: New Horizons.

Arterial hypertension is a progressive cardiovascular syndrome arising from complex and interrelated etiologies. The human microbiome refers to the community of microorganisms that live in or on the human body. They influence human physiology by interfering in several processes such as providing nutrients and vitamins in Phase I and Phase II drug metabolism. The human gut microbiota is represented mainly by Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes and to a lesser degree by Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria, with each individual harbouring at least 160 such species. Gut microbiota contributes to blood pressure homeostasis and the pathogenesis of arterial hypertension through production, modification, and degradation of a variety of microbial-derived bioactive metabolites. Animal studies and to a lesser degree human research has unmasked relative mechanisms, mainly through the effect of certain microbiome metabolites and their receptors, outlining this relationship. Interventions to utilize these pathways, with probiotics, prebiotics, antibiotics and fecal microbiome transplantation have shown promising results. Personalized microbiome-based disease prediction and treatment responsiveness seem futuristic. Undoubtedly, a long way of experimental and clinical research should be pursued to elucidate this novel, intriguing and very promising horizon.

Role of right-sided chest leads in the detection of multivessel coronary artery disease in patients with extended Q-wave anterior myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the improvement of diagnostic ability of exercise testing to detect multivessel coronary artery disease in patients with extended Q-wave anterior myocardial infarction, using additional right-sided chest leads. METHODS: Fifty-two consecutive patients with Q-wave anterior myocardial infarction underwent exercise testing, using the standard 12 and the additional right-sided (V3R, V4R, V5R) chest leads, thallium-201 scintigraphy and coronary arteriography. RESULTS: Twenty-one (40%) patients had one-vessel disease, 18 (35%) had two-vessel disease and 13 (25%) had three-vessel disease. The sensitivities of the standard 12-lead exercise testing and its combination with the additional right-sided chest leads were 24% (5/21) versus 28% (6/21) for the detection of one-vessel disease (P: NS), 33% (6/18) versus 83% (15/18) for the detection of two-vessel disease (P<0.05) and 38% (5/13) versus 92% (12/13) for the detection of three-vessel disease (P<0.05), respectively. In thallium-201 scintigraphy, 29 of the 31 (94%) patients with multivessel coronary artery disease demonstrated reversible ischemia. The usual 12-lead exercise testing could detect ischemia in 11 (35%) of these 31 patients, while the addition of the right-sided chest leads could detect ischemia in 27 (87%) of them (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The additional right-sided chest leads significantly improve the low sensitivity of the usual exercise testing to detect multivessel coronary artery disease in patients with previous extended Q-wave anterior myocardial infarction.

Effects of Chios mastic gum on cholesterol and glucose levels of healthy volunteers: A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, pilot study (CHIOS-MASTIHA).

BACKGROUND: Chios mastic gum (CMG) possesses anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-atheromatic, lipid- and glucose-lowering properties. We evaluated the effects of CMG on cholesterol and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels of healthy volunteers. DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, pilot study. METHODS: One hundred and seventy nine volunteers with total cholesterol levels >200 mg/dl were randomized to four groups. Finally, 156 volunteers completed the follow-up period and were analysed: (1) control group (C, n = 23), receiving placebo; (2) total mastic (TM, n = 72) receiving daily a total dose of 1 g of crude CMG (330 mg capsules, tid); (3) polymer-free mastic (PFM, n = 33), receiving daily a total dose of 1 g of polymer free mastic (330 mg caps, tid); and (4) powder mastic (PM, n = 28), receiving daily a total dose of 2 g of crude CMG. RESULTS: After eight weeks, the TM group reduced total cholesterol by 11.5 mg/dl (p < 0.05) and FPG by 4.5 mg/dl (p < 0.05) adjusted for age, gender, BMI and baseline characteristics. The effect was stronger in overweight and obese patients (BMI > 25), with an estimated mean reduction of total cholesterol by 13.5 mg/dl (p < 0.05) and FPG by 5.1 mg/dl (p < 0.05). Administration of PFM and PM resulted in no statistically significant alteration. No effect was observed on LDL, HDL, triglycerides, uric acid and CRP. No gastrointestinal, liver or renal adverse events were recorded. CONCLUSIONS: CMG has a significant lowering effect on total cholesterol and glucose levels of healthy volunteers, with excellent tolerance and no detectable side effects, especially in overweight and obese individuals.

Impact of income status on prognosis of acute coronary syndrome patients during Greek financial crisis.

BACKGROUND: The effect of income status on patient outcome merits investigation during periods of financial crisis. We evaluated the impact of income status on out-of-hospital prognosis in a cohort of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients, included in a countrywide study during a period of financial crisis. METHODS: The study is a secondary analysis of a prospective, multicenter, observational study-the PHAETHON study-enrolling consecutive ACS patients in 37 hospitals in Greece. Patients were classified as low or high income based on the reported net annual household income using as a cut-off point the relative poverty threshold for Greece of 12,000 Euros. The outcome measure was survival free of the primary composite endpoint (cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke/transient ischemic attack, urgent revascularization and urgent hospitalization due to cardiovascular causes). RESULTS: The study population included 794 patients. The administration rate of evidence-based medications was similar in the low- (n = 455) and high-income (n = 339) groups during hospitalization and upon discharge. In a median follow-up of 189 days (interquartile range: 180-212 days), low-income patients had 92 % higher risk of the combined endpoint as compared to high-income patients [Hazard ratio (HR):1.92, 95 % CI:1.25-2.94, p = 0.003]. The effect of low-income status on the combined outcome remained significant after adjustment for age, gender and depression (HR:1.59, 95 % CI:1.02-2.49; p = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS: In a period of financial crisis, low income is a significant and independent predictor of poor out-of-hospital outcome in ACS patients. This association has profound implications and should be taken into consideration by public health policy makers.

The prognostic value of a QRS score during exercise testing.

BACKGROUND: Values of a QRS score have been positively related to the number of narrowed coronary arteries and to the extent of myocardial ischemia in radionuclide imaging techniques. HYPOTHESIS: This study was conducted to evaluate the potential prognostic information of abnormal values of this QRS score during treadmill exercise testing in patients with established coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: In all, 309 patients (258 men, 51 women, mean age 56.1 +/- 10.0 years) with documented CAD, underwent a treadmill exercise test and coronary arteriography at baseline. Subsequently, they were prospectively followed to a maximum of 36 months (mean follow-up 23 +/- 13 months, median 25 months). RESULTS: During the follow-up period, 20 patients (6.5%) died from acute myocardial infarction. Abnormal QRS score values were found to be significantly and independently associated with cardiac mortality (QRS < or = -4: relative risk 11.7; 95% confidence interval = 2.5-55.4; p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Taking into consideration the importance of exercise testing in the management of ischemic heart disease, the use of this QRS score could be of clinical value in predicting the outcome of patients with documented CAD.