A causal roadmap for generating high-quality real-world evidence.

Increasing emphasis on the use of real-world evidence (RWE) to support clinical policy and regulatory decision-making has led to a proliferation of guidance, advice, and frameworks from regulatory agencies, academia, professional societies, and industry. A broad spectrum of studies use real-world data (RWD) to produce RWE, ranging from randomized trials with outcomes assessed using RWD to fully observational studies. Yet, many proposals for generating RWE lack sufficient detail, and many analyses of RWD suffer from implausible assumptions, other methodological flaws, or inappropriate interpretations. The Causal Roadmap is an explicit, itemized, iterative process that guides investigators to prespecify study design and analysis plans; it addresses a wide range of guidance within a single framework. By supporting the transparent evaluation of causal assumptions and facilitating objective comparisons of design and analysis choices based on prespecified criteria, the Roadmap can help investigators to evaluate the quality of evidence that a given study is likely to produce, specify a study to generate high-quality RWE, and communicate effectively with regulatory agencies and other stakeholders. This paper aims to disseminate and extend the Causal Roadmap framework for use by clinical and translational researchers; three companion papers demonstrate applications of the Causal Roadmap for specific use cases.

Varying Willingness to Pay Based on Severity of Illness: Impact on Health Technology Assessment Outcomes of Inpatient and Outpatient Drug Therapies in The Netherlands.

OBJECTIVES: Since 2015, Zorginstituut Nederland (ZIN) has linked disease severity ranges of 0.10 to 0.40, 0.41 to 0.70, and 0.71 to 1.00 with willingness-to-pay (WTP) reference values of €20 000, €50 000, and €80 000 per quality-adjusted life year gained, respectively. We sought to review whether these changes have affected ZIN health technology assessment (HTA) outcomes for specialist and outpatient drugs. METHODS: ZIN recommendations for specialist and outpatient drugs published between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2020, that included a pharmacoeconomic report were reviewed. Data were extracted on disease severity, proportional shortfall calculation, reported WTP reference value, outcomes related to the cost-effectiveness of the product, budget impact, and ZIN's recommendation including rationale for their advice. RESULTS: A total of 51 HTAs were included. Of the 20 HTAs published before June 2015, a total of 9 received positive recommendations, 7 were conditionally reimbursed, and 4 received negative recommendations. None reported WTP reference values. Of the 31 evaluations published after June 2015, a total of 4 products received positive recommendations, 1 was conditionally approved, and 26 received negative recommendations initially. Most products (65%) reported disease severity to be >0.70. CONCLUSIONS: Since 2015, most products have fallen within the highest category of disease severity. Although pre-2015 outcomes were varied, post-2015 products overwhelmingly received negative recommendations, and the proportion of products for which price negotiations were recommended has increased. These differences in outcomes may result from the introduction of an explicit WTP reference value, whether or not in combination with the severity-adjusted ranges, but may also reflect other national policy changes in 2015.

Identification of coagulation gene 3'UTR variants that are potentially regulated by microRNAs.

MicroRNAs have been recognized as critical regulators of gene expression and might affect the risk of venous thrombosis. We aimed to identify 3' untranslated region (UTR) variants in coagulation genes that influence coagulation factor levels and venous thrombosis risk. The 3'UTR of coagulation genes were sequenced in subjects with extremely high or low plasma levels of these factors in two case-control studies. In total, 28 variants were identified. Five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were predominantly present in one extreme level group (F2 rs1799963, F8 rs1050705 and F11 rs4253429, rs4253430 and rs1062547). Additional to F2 rs1799963, F8 rs1050705 (in men) and F11 rs4253430 were associated with an increased risk of venous thrombosis albeit confidence intervals were wide. The three F11 SNPs were in high linkage disequilibrium with functional variants rs2289252 and rs2036914. Rs1062547 and rs4253430 were associated with a significant increase of plasma FXI activity in heterozygotes and homozygotes in wild-type controls. In silico prediction revealed that these SNPs might disturb the binding sites of miR-544 and miR-513a-3p. Only miR-544 provoked a significant decrease of the luciferase activity that was not observed with a rs4253430 mutated vector. In conclusion, these results reinforce that microRNAs are candidates to play a role in haemostasis and complex disorders, such as thrombosis.

Comparative efficacy and tolerability of pharmacological and somatic interventions in adult patients with treatment-resistant depression: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Major depressive disorder (MDD) affects about 10-15% of the general population in a lifetime. A considerable number of patients fail to achieve full symptom remission despite adequate treatment and are considered treatment resistant (TRD). The current study compared the relative efficacy and tolerability of pharmacological and somatic TRD interventions by means of a Bayesian network meta-analysis. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: An electronic literature search of MEDLINE, MEDLINE In-Process, EMBASE, PsycInfo, EconLit and Cochrane Library databases for trials published between September 2003 and September 2014 was conducted. Key outcomes extracted were disease severity change from baseline, response and remission rates at various timepoints and discontinuation due to adverse events. RESULTS: Of the 3876 abstracts identified, 31 publications/randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were included in the analysis; 19 RCTs investigating 13 pharmacological interventions and 12 RCTs investigating electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). The evidence synthesis investigating efficacy outcomes of TRD treatments demonstrated superior efficacy for ketamine compared to pharmacological and somatic interventions at 2 weeks after treatment initiation. At 4, 6 and 8 weeks, quetiapine augmentation (800 mg/day) and risperidone augmentation were found to be the first and second best treatments, respectively. Networks were small for response rate and remission rate outcomes at most timepoints. The most tolerable treatment was lamotrigine augmentation showing a comparable profile to placebo/sham. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis revealed scarcity of long-term data on sustained remission that would allow a comparative long-term efficacy assessment. Key limitations of the analysis can be considered the search timeframe and the use of mapping formula for the depression scores.

Genetic variants in Cell Adhesion Molecule 1 (CADM1): a validation study of a novel endothelial cell venous thrombosis risk factor.

INTRODUCTION: In a protein C deficient family, we recently identified a candidate gene, CADM1, which interacted with protein C deficiency in increasing the risk of venous thrombosis (VT). This study aimed to determine whether CADM1 variants also interact with protein C pathway abnormalities in increasing VT risk outside this family. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We genotyped over 300 CADM1 variants in the population-based MEGA case-control study. We compared VT risks between cases with low protein C activity (n=194), low protein S levels (n=23), high factor VIII activity (n=165) or factor V Leiden carriers (n=580), and all 4004 controls. Positive associations were repeated in all 3496 cases and 4004 controls. RESULTS: We found 22 variants which were associated with VT in one of the protein C pathway risk groups. After mutual adjustment, six variants remained associated with VT. The strongest evidence was found for rs220842 and rs11608105. For rs220842, the odds ratio (OR) for VT was 3.2 (95% CI 1.2-9.0) for cases with high factor VIII activity compared with controls. In addition, this variant was associated with an increased risk of VT in the overall study population (OR: 1.5, 95% CI 1.0-2.2). The other variant, rs11608105, was not associated with VT in the overall study population (OR: 1.0, 95% CI 0.8-1.1), but showed a strong effect on VT risk (OR: 21, 95% CI 5.1-88) when combined with low protein C or S levels. CONCLUSIONS: In a population-based association study, we confirm a role for CADM1 variants in increasing the risk of VT by interaction with protein C pathway abnormalities.

Single nucleotide variants in the protein C pathway and mortality in dialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: The protein C pathway plays an important role in the maintenance of endothelial barrier function and in the inflammatory and coagulant processes that are characteristic of patients on dialysis. We investigated whether common single nucleotide variants (SNV) in genes encoding protein C pathway components were associated with all-cause 5 years mortality risk in dialysis patients. METHODS: Single nucleotides variants in the factor V gene (F5 rs6025; factor V Leiden), the thrombomodulin gene (THBD rs1042580), the protein C gene (PROC rs1799808 and 1799809) and the endothelial protein C receptor gene (PROCR rs867186, rs2069951, and rs2069952) were genotyped in 1070 dialysis patients from the NEtherlands COoperative Study on the Adequacy of Dialysis (NECOSAD) cohort) and in 1243 dialysis patients from the German 4D cohort. RESULTS: Factor V Leiden was associated with a 1.5-fold (95% CI 1.1-1.9) increased 5-year all-cause mortality risk and carriers of the AG/GG genotypes of the PROC rs1799809 had a 1.2-fold (95% CI 1.0-1.4) increased 5-year all-cause mortality risk. The other SNVs in THBD, PROC, and PROCR were not associated with 5-years mortality. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that factor V Leiden and PROC rs1799809 contributes to an increased mortality risk in dialysis patients.

Role of hemostatic factors on the risk of venous thrombosis in people with impaired kidney function.

BACKGROUND: Factors explaining the association between impaired kidney function and venous thrombosis have not been identified so far. The aim of our study was to determine whether the association between impaired kidney function and venous thrombosis can be explained by the concurrent presence of genetic or acquired venous thrombosis risk factors. METHODS AND RESULTS: The glomerular filtration rate was estimated (eGFR) in 2473 venous thrombosis patients and 2936 controls from a population-based case-control study. Kidney function was grouped into 6 categories based on percentiles of the eGFR in the controls (>50th [reference], 10th-50th, 5th-10th, 2.5th-5th, 1st-2.5th, and <1st percentile). Several hemostatic factors showed a procoagulant shift with decreasing kidney function in controls, most notably factor VIII and von Willebrand factor. Compared with eGFR >50th percentile, factor VIII levels (adjusted mean difference, 60 IU/dL for the <1st eGFR percentile category) and von Willebrand factor levels (adjusted mean difference, 60 IU/dL for the <1st eGFR percentile category) increased with each percentile category. The odds ratios for venous thrombosis similarly increased across the categories from 1.1 (95% confidence interval, 0.9-1.3) for the 10th to 50th percentile to 3.7 (95% confidence interval, 2.4-5.7) for the <1st percentile category. Adjustment for factor VIII or von Willebrand factor attenuated these odds ratios, indicating an effect of eGFR on thrombosis through these factors. Adjustments for other risk factors for venous thrombosis did not affect the odds ratios. CONCLUSION: Impaired kidney function affects venous thrombosis risk via concurrently raised factor VIII and von Willebrand factor levels.

Type of arteriovenous vascular access and association with patency and mortality.

BACKGROUND: There are only a few risk factors known for primary patency loss in patients with an arteriovenous graft or fistula. Furthermore, a limited number of studies have investigated the association between arteriovenous access modality and primary patency loss and mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate risk factors for patency loss and to investigate the association between graft versus fistula use and outcomes (patency loss and mortality). METHODS: We prospectively followed 919 incident hemodialysis patients and calculated hazard ratios (HRs) for putative risk factors of primary patency loss using Cox regression. Furthermore, HRs were calculated to study the association between graft versus fistula use and two-year primary patency loss and two-year mortality. RESULTS: Cardiovascular disease, prior catheter use, lowest tertile of albumin, highest tertile of hsCRP, and lowest tertile of fetuin-A were associated with primary patency loss in both patients with grafts and fistulas. Increased age, female sex, and diabetes mellitus were only associated with primary patency loss in patients with a fistula. We did not observe an association between primary patency loss and BMI, residual GFR, levels of calcium, phosphorus, and total cholesterol. Furthermore, graft use as compared with fistula use was associated with an 1.4-fold (95% CI 1.0-1.9) increased risk of primary patency loss and with an 1.5-fold(95% CI 1.0-2.2) increased mortality risk. CONCLUSION: Cardiovascular disease, prior catheter use, albumin, hsCRP, and fetuin-A are risk factors for patency loss. Graft use as compared with fistula use was associated with an increased risk of patency loss and mortality.

Asymmetric and symmetric dimethylarginine and risk of secondary cardiovascular disease events and mortality in patients with stable coronary heart disease: the KAROLA follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, which has been associated with total and cardiovascular mortality in various clinical settings. Studies on its structural isomer, symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), are scarce. This study aimed to determine the associations of both ADMA and SDMA levels with secondary cardiovascular disease events and all-cause mortality in patients with stable coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS: In the observational prospective cohort study KAROLA, 1,148 CHD patients were followed for a median of 8.1 years. ADMA and SDMA were determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Baseline ADMA and SDMA levels were categorized in quartiles or standardized by their respective standard deviation, and appropriate hazard ratios and 95 % confidence intervals (HR [95 % CI]) were estimated in Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: 150 patients experienced secondary cardiovascular disease events (CVD) and 121 patients died. After adjustment for confounders, ADMA was not associated with the risk of secondary CVD events (HR per standard deviation increase: 1.02 [95 %CI: 0.86-1.21]), whereas an association was suggested for SDMA (HR 1.17 [1.00-1.37]). Higher hazard ratios were observed in all-cause mortality models (ADMA: HR 1.15 [0.95-1.37]; SDMA: HR 1.29 [1.09-1.52]). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that especially SDMA might possibly have potential as a risk marker for all-cause mortality and to a lesser extent for secondary cardiovascular events. Future studies are needed to quantify these associations more precisely and should, in particular, further address the possibility of residual confounding by impaired kidney function.

Flow-simulated thrombin generation profiles as a predictor of thrombotic risk among pre-menopausal women.

A large number of individuals are at risk for deep venous thrombosis (DVT) due to alterations in multiple coagulation factors and inhibitors secondary to malignancy, drug interactions, or other general medical conditions. Traditional metrics of haemostasis such as prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, and bleeding time, generally estimate anticoagulation status and bleeding risk rather than thrombosis risk. The objective of this study was to correlate a novel, systems-based metric of clotting potential to risk of DVT from a database derived from the Leiden Thrombophilia Study (LETS). We utilised a computational model of blood coagulation, which addresses the interplay between biochemical factors, blood flow, and physiologic surface initiation of coagulation, to calculate an individualised, systems-based metric of clotting potential, termed the flow-simulated thrombin generation (FSTG), for 210 pre-menopausal women in LETS. Both DVT and oral contraceptive (OC) use were associated with higher values of FSTG. We demonstrated a nearly three-fold increased risk of DVT for each standard deviation increase above the mean in FSTG determined under venous flow conditions, which remained highly predictive after adjustment for age and OC status (adjusted odds ratio 2.66; 95% confidence interval 1.69-4.19; p<0.0001). In conclusion, a systems-based screening approach that integrates biochemical factors and flow haemodynamics identifies small subgroups of patients at risk of thrombosis that may benefit from oral anticoagulants.

Multiple SNP testing improves risk prediction of first venous thrombosis.

There are no risk models available yet that accurately predict a person's risk for developing venous thrombosis. Our aim was therefore to explore whether inclusion of established thrombosis-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a venous thrombosis risk model improves the risk prediction. We calculated genetic risk scores by counting risk-increasing alleles from 31 venous thrombosis-associated SNPs for subjects of a large case-control study, including 2712 patients and 4634 controls (Multiple Environmental and Genetic Assessment). Genetic risk scores based on all 31 SNPs or on the 5 most strongly associated SNPs performed similarly (areas under receiver-operating characteristic curves [AUCs] of 0.70 and 0.69, respectively). For the 5-SNP risk score, the odds ratios for venous thrombosis ranged from 0.37 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.25-0.53) for persons with 0 risk alleles to 7.48 (95% CI, 4.49-12.46) for persons with more than or equal to 6 risk alleles. The AUC of a risk model based on known nongenetic risk factors was 0.77 (95% CI, 0.76-0.78). Combining the nongenetic and genetic risk models improved the AUC to 0.82 (95% CI, 0.81-0.83), indicating good diagnostic accuracy. To become clinically useful, subgroups of high-risk persons must be identified in whom genetic profiling will also be cost-effective.

Patterns of care in the management of seminoma stage I: results from a European survey.

UNLABELLED: Study Type - Therapy (practise pattern survey). Level of Evidence 3b. What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? The uncertainties about differences in relapse and rates of other late events such as second malignancy and cardiovascular events for the three post-orchidectomy strategies in seminoma stage I patients has led to debates about whether the three strategies are equally effective and safe. The differences in interpretation of the data as well as the debates are likely to result in differences in treatment after orchidectomy in seminoma stage I patient management. Current care patterns after orchidectomy are, however, unknown. We assessed patterns of care for seminoma stage I patients after orchidectomy by distributing a survey among doctors treating such patients across Europe. The 969 respondents showed large differences in care strategies between specialties and countries that indicate the need for research into long-term relapse rates and long-term adverse effects to standardize and optimize care for seminoma stage I patients. OBJECTIVE: • To assess precise patterns of care after orchidectomy in Europe for stage I seminoma patients, we aimed to perform a survey among doctors in the various European countries. PATIENTS AND METHODS: • We distributed a survey in 2009 and 2010 among American Society of Clinical Oncology and European Association of Urology members. RESULTS: • In total, 969 questionnaires were included in the analysis. More than half of the 969 physicians (58%) currently offer only one post-surgical treatment: 18% only surveillance, 19% only radiotherapy and 21% only chemotherapy. Thirteen percent of the 969 physicians currently offer all three strategies, 25% offer surveillance and adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy, and 5% offer either adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy without surveillance. • We found large differences in care patterns between specialties and countries. Even within countries, care after orchidectomy was not standardized. • Before 2005, 73% of the physicians offered only one treatment and of those 51% gave adjuvant radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: • Large differences in pattern of care after orchidectomy for stage I seminoma patients exist between specialties and countries within Europe. • More information on long-term relapse rates and long-term adverse effects of the three strategies is needed to standardize and optimize care after orchidectomy.

Venous and arterial thrombosis in dialysis patients.

Whether the risk of both venous and arterial thrombosis is increased in dialysis patients as compared to the general population is unknown. In addition, it is unknown which subgroups are at highest risk. Furthermore, it is unknown whether having a history of venous thrombosis or arterial thrombosis prior to dialysis treatment increases mortality risk. A total of 455 dialysis patients were followed for objectively verified symptomatic thrombotic events between January 1997 and June 2009. The incidence rates in dialysis patients as compared to the general population was 5.6-fold (95% CI 3.1-8.9) increased for venous thrombosis, 11.9-fold (95% CI 9.3-14.9) increased for myocardial infarction, and 8.4-fold (95% CI 5.7-11.5) increased for ischaemic stroke. The combination of haemodialysis, lowest tertile of albumin, history of venous thrombosis, and malignancy was associated with subsequent venous thrombosis. Increased age, renal vascular disease, diabetes, high cholesterol levels, history of venous thrombosis, and history of arterial thrombosis were associated with subsequent arterial thrombosis. The all-cause mortality risk was 1.9-fold (95% CI 1.1-3.3) increased for patients with a history of venous thrombosis and 1.9-fold (95% CI 1.4-2.6) increased for patients with a history of arterial thrombosis. A potential limitation of this study was that in some risk categories associations with venous thrombosis did not reach statistical significance due to small numbers. In conclusion, dialysis patients have clearly elevated risks of venous thrombosis and arterial thrombosis and occurrence of venous thrombosis or arterial thrombosis prior to the start of dialysis is associated with an increased mortality risk.

Clotting factor gene polymorphisms and colorectal cancer risk.

PURPOSE: Increased coagulation has been associated with cancer onset and progression. Mainly small studies have addressed the association between clotting factor gene polymorphisms and the onset of colorectal cancer. We examined the association between six well-known clotting factor gene polymorphisms and colorectal cancer risk in a large case-control study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Factor V Leiden (rs6025), prothrombin G20210A (rs1799963), PAI-1 4G/5G (rs1799889), MTHFR 677C>T (rs1801133), fibrinogen gamma 10034C>T (rs2066865), and factor XIII Val34Leu (rs5985) were genotyped in 1,801 patients with colorectal cancer and 1,853 healthy controls from a large German population-based study. The risk of colorectal cancer associated with gene variants was determined by calculating odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% CIs using logistic regression. RESULTS: Homozygous carriers of the prothrombotic factor V Leiden polymorphism showed a 5.8-fold increased risk (95% CI, 1.69 to 19.72) for colorectal cancer compared with noncarriers. A 30% reduced risk was found for heterozygous carriers of factor V Leiden (OR = 0.68; 95% CI, 0.52 to 0.90) and prothrombin G20210A (OR = 0.69; 95% CI, 0.49 to 0.96), implying an advantage for slightly increased thrombin generation. Carriers of the antithrombotic factor XIII Val34Leu polymorphism showed a 15% reduced risk of developing colorectal cancer (OR = 0.85; 95% CI, 0.74 to 0.97) compared with noncarriers. Our results did not support an effect of PAI-1 4G/5G, MTHFR 677C>T, and fibrinogen gamma 10034C>T on colorectal cancer risk. CONCLUSION: Our results support a role of clotting factor polymorphisms and thereby the coagulation system in the risk of colorectal cancer.

Serum vitamin D and risk of secondary cardiovascular disease events in patients with stable coronary heart disease.

BACKGROUND: Recent longitudinal analyses suggested that low levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-D) predict incident cardiovascular disease in initially healthy populations. Because the prognostic value of vitamin D for the occurrence of secondary cardiovascular events remains unclear, we examined the association of baseline 25-OH-D levels with prognosis in patients with stable coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS: Serum 25-OH-D levels from 1,125 CHD patients of 2 German clinics undergoing a 3-week rehabilitation program after an acute cardiovascular event were measured, and participants were followed for up to 8 years. We used multivariate Cox regression analysis to model cardiovascular event incidence (fatal and nonfatal, including myocardial infarction, stroke, and death due to cardiovascular diseases) and all-cause mortality according to 25-OH-D quartiles, categories based on cut points of 15 and 30 ng/mL, or continuous vitamin D concentrations. RESULTS: During follow-up, 148 cardiovascular events and 121 deaths were recorded. Elevation of risk for the lowest quartile or category in comparison to the highest category was weak and nonsignificant for both incidence (hazard ratio [HR](quartile1) = 1.15 [0.72-1.84], HR(<15 ng/mL) = 1.17 [0.61-2.23]) and mortality (HR(quartile1) = 1.29 [0.77-2.14], HR(<15 ng/mL) = 1.87 [0.91-3.82]) in unadjusted Cox regression analysis and disappeared entirely after adjustment for potential confounders (cardiovascular events: HR(quartile1) = 0.84 [0.47-1.50], HR(<15 ng/mL) = 0.90 [0.41-1.96]; mortality: HR(quartile1) = 0.63 [0.33-1.21], HR(<15 ng/mL) = 0.93 [0.39-2.21]). Models treating vitamin D as a continuous variable likewise suggested no significant associations. CONCLUSIONS: Unlike previous population-based studies, our analysis in high-risk patients with stable CHD does not support a prognostic value of baseline-25-OH-D levels for secondary cardiovascular event incidence or all-cause mortality.

Cell adhesion molecule 1: a novel risk factor for venous thrombosis.

Protein C (PC) deficiency increases the risk of venous thrombosis (VT) among members of Kindred Vermont II but fails to fully account for the inheritance pattern. A genome scan of the pedigree supported the presence of a prothrombotic gene on chromosome 11q23 (nominal P < .0001), with weaker support on chromosomes 10p12 (P < .0003) and 18p11.2-q11 (P < .0007). Resequencing of 109 genes in the linkage regions identified 5030 variants in a sample of 20 kindred members. Of 16 single nucleotide polymorphisms in 6 genes tested in the larger family set, only single nucleotide polymorphisms in cell adhesion molecule 1 (CADM1) associated with VT. Among the 8 CADM1 single nucleotide polymorphisms genotyped in the complete sample, rs6589488 was most strongly supported (P < .000007), but the association was limited to the PC-deficient subset of the sample (P < .000001). Haplotype analysis narrowed the region containing the causative variant to the coding region of the CADM1 gene. CADM1 gene expression analyzed in blood outgrowth endothelial cells cultured from family members was decreased compared with control subjects, lending phenotypic support to this conclusion. Finally, we have for the first time demonstrated CADM1 in endothelial cells, where it appears to be selectively involved in endothelial cell migration, suggesting a role in endothelial barrier repair.

Association between type II secretory phospholipase A2 plasma concentrations and activity and cardiovascular events in patients with coronary heart disease.

AIMS: Type II secretory phospholipase A(2) (sPLA(2)-IIA) is widely expressed in various cell types and may trigger local inflammatory responses. We sought to evaluate whether systemic sPLA(2) is associated with prognosis in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS AND RESULTS: Plasma concentrations of sPLA(2) (ELISA) and sPLA(2) activity (selective fluorometric assay) were measured at baseline in a cohort of 1024 patients aged 30-70 years with CHD. The Cox-proportional hazards model was used to determine the prognostic value of sPLA(2) on a combined cardiovascular disease (CVD) endpoint after adjustment for covariates. During a mean follow-up of 4.1 years, 93 patients (9.1%) experienced a secondary CVD event. In a multivariable model, sPLA(2) mass and activity were associated with hazard ratios of secondary CVD events of 2.07 (95% CI, 1.17-3.66) and 1.65 (95% CI 0.96-2.84) for mass and activity, respectively, when extreme tertiles were compared. Further adjustment for cystatin C, N-terminal-probrain natriuretic peptide, C-reactive protein, and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A(2) attenuated the associations, still showing a positive trend for mass but a less clear pattern for activity. However, when sPLA(2) mass and activity were analysed as continuous variables both still showed a statistically significant increase in risk in all models. CONCLUSION: Secretory phospholipase A(2) mass and activity appear to be predictive of secondary CVD events in patients with CHD.

Using the common-sense model to predict risk perception and disease-related worry in individuals at increased risk for venous thrombosis.

OBJECTIVE: This study applied the Common-Sense Model (CSM) to predict risk perception and disease-related worry in 174 individuals with a genetic predisposition to venous thrombosis (thrombophilia). DESIGN: Participants completed an adapted version of the Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised (IPQ-R) and measures assessing risk perception and worry. RESULTS: Regression analyses revealed that illness perceptions were predictors of risk perception and thrombosis worry. The hypothesis that illness perceptions mediate the relationship between a person's experience of venous thrombosis and perceived risk and thrombosis worry could not be confirmed. CONCLUSIONS: Further research should refine the IPQ-R for populations at risk of a disease and examine the value of the CSM in explaining the relationship between risk perception, worry, and health behavior.