Mean platelet volume and coronary artery disease.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To critically review the literature describing links between mean platelet volume (MPV) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). We will focus on coronary artery disease (CAD). The MPV is measured routinely as part of a routine blood count. RECENT FINDINGS: There is accumulating evidence showing that the MPV may predict CVD, as well as outcomes in patients with CAD. There is also evidence linking MPV and comorbidities (e.g. diabetes mellitus and impaired glycaemic control) that are expected in patients with CAD. The effect on MPV of drugs commonly used to treat CAD has not been clarified, but there is some evidence that they may exert a beneficial effect on the MPV. More specifically, the MPV may predict the effect of antiplatelet drugs (e.g. clopidogrel). There is also evidence relating MPV to stroke, atrial fibrillation, coronary artery ectasia and periprocedural outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). SUMMARY: Measuring the MPV may prove useful in CVD risk assessment in patients with established CAD or at risk of developing CAD. Overall, there is evidence pointing to the role of MPV as a contributor rather than simple marker of CVD.

COVID-19 and Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors: No Fear to Attempt?

Novel coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19) has been recognised as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) 1. Mortality and morbidity are higher in elderly individuals and those with comorbidities, such as diabetes mellitus (DM), obesity, hypertension, respiratory tract diseases, coronary heart disease or cancer 1. Indeed, two thirds of individuals who died from COVID-19 had DM in Italy 2.

Diabetes, Vascular Aging and Stroke: Old Dogs, New Tricks?

BACKGROUND: Stroke remains a leading cause of death and disability throughout the world. It is well established that Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a risk factor for stroke, while other risk factors include dyslipidaemia and hypertension. Given that the global prevalence of diabetes steadily increases, the need for adequate glycaemic control and prevention of DM-related cardiovascular events remains a challenge for the medical community. Therefore, a re-examination of the latest data related to this issue is of particular importance. OBJECTIVE: This review aims to summarise the latest data on the relationship between DM and stroke, including epidemiology, risk factors, pathogenesis, prevention and biomarkers. METHODS: For this purpose, comprehensive research was performed on the platforms PubMed, Google Scholar and EMBASE with a combination of the following keywords: diabetes mellitus, stroke, macrovascular complications, diabetic stroke, cardiovascular disease. CONCLUSIONS: Much progress has been made in stroke in people with DM in terms of prevention and early diagnosis. In the field of prevention, the adaptation of the daily habits and the regulation of co-morbidity of individuals play a particularly important role. Simultaneously, the most significant revolution has been brought by the relatively new treatment options that offer protection to the cardiovascular system. Moreover, many prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers have been identified, paving the way for early and accurate diagnoses. However, to date, there are crucial points that remain controversial and need further clarification.

The contribution of dietary glycemic index and glycemic load to the development of microvascular complications of diabetes.

Lifestyle modification, including a healthy diet, is of paramount importance in the management of diabetes mellitus. To this end, diets have been proposed with low glycemic index (an index of carbohydrate food expressing how quickly this nutrient can increase blood glucose) and glycemic load (an index obtained by multiplying the glycemic index by the grams of carbohydrate, then dividing by 100). The aim of this review was to discuss the potential contribution of diets with low glycemic index and glycemic load in diabetic microvascular complications. Currently, their role to the prevention and delay of microvascular complications in diabetes mellitus remains unclear, and further knowledge is desirable.

Lopinavir/ritonavir as a third agent in the antiviral regimen for SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Corona Virus Disease (CoVID-19) is an emerging public health problem rapidly spread globally. New treatment options for patients with severe symptoms and ways of reducing transmission in the community are taken into consideration. A retrospective study was conducted in the Department of Infectious Diseases of Alexandroupolis (Greece) including 16 patients with CoVID-19. They were classified into two groups, A and B. Group A received lopinavir/ritonavir as a third agent in the antiviral regimen, while group B did not. Lymphocytes were more significantly increased in patients of group A. Ferritin serum levels were also decreased significantly in these patients. Number of days needed for a first negative result of Real Time- Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) was lower for Group A. The present study suggests that lopinavir/ritonavir may reduce the viral carriage in a shorter period of time compared with other antiviral regimens. Further studies are needed in order to evaluate the effectiveness of lopinavir/ritonavir in the treatment of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

COVID-19 and Diabetes Mellitus: May Old Anti-diabetic Agents Become the New Philosopher's Stone?

Corona virus infectious disease (COVID-19) is a new pandemic. In subjects with diabetes mellitus, infection may be more frequent and severe. We discuss the potential contribution of two traditional oral antidiabetic agents, metformin and pioglitazone, to the improvement of liver injury in COVID-19. Clearly, further experience is needed to shed light on these hypotheses.