1,721,108 research outputs found
The year in nutrition medicine 2023
Full text linkAll over the world, dietary risk factors are associated with millions of deaths and hundred millions of disability-adjusted life-years each year. An energy-controlled Mediterranean diet is deemed to be the most scientifically tested eating pattern showing substantial health benefits for the general population. However, there is still a debate about what the best diet is for each person, especially with regard to the balance of macronutrient
Approccio mutraceutico alla ipertensione arteriosa
No full textRuolo della nutrizione, alimentazione funzionale ed integrazione alimentare sui valori della pressione arteriosa ed implicazioni cliniche
Reply - Seek methodological rigor & beware of imitations
No full textWe are a little surprised by the letter by Lo and Lo. In particular, we have the impression that they are looking for a pretext to publish their data, and we sincerely regret that, to pursue their purpose, they introduce biased considerations about our analysis
Evaluating pharmacokinetics of bempedoic acid in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia
Full text linkIntroduction: Bempedoic acid is a first-in-class low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) lowering agent which offers an important opportunity for further LDL-C lowering in statin-intolerant patients or in patients requiring further LDL-C reduction despite maximally tolerated statin therapy.Areas covered: In this review, we examined the pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, and safety of bempedoic acid, based on randomized clinical phase III clinical studies and their meta-analyses.Expert opinion: Unlike statins, bempedoic acid is administered as a prodrug and is converted to active form by a liver-specific enzyme. For the liver-specific mechanism of action, bempedoic acid has the potential to reduce the risk of muscle-related adverse events which can limit the utilization and effectiveness of statin therapy
Pharmacokinetic drug evaluation of ezetimibe + simvastatin for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia.
No full textIntroduction: Cholesterol lowering treatment is mainly based on statins eventually associated to adjunctive drugs of different class such as ezetimibe. In the present review, we analysed the pharmacokinetics, efficacy and safety of ezetimibe + simvastatin drug association. Areas covered: The bio-equivalence of ezetimibe and simvastatin when co-administrated in separate tablets or combined in a single pill is well documented. Ezetimibe is absorbed in small intestine, reaching peak plasma concentrations in 4–12 h, with a plasma half-life of 22 h. Simvastatin, ingested as a prodrug, is hydrolyzed in liver to its active beta-hydroxyacid metabolite, reaching peak plasma concentrations in 2–4 h, with a plasma half-life of approximately 5 h. The available evidence support the clinical efficacy of this drug combination, both in term of LDL-cholesterol reduction and cardiovascular risk decrease. Expert opinion: The synergistic action of these two drugs and the efficacy and safety extensively demonstrated of their association (in particular in the large IMProved Reduction of Outcomes: Vytorin Efficacy International Trial -IMPROVE-IT-) promote its clinical use, especially in subjects with high cardiovascular risk who need to optimize their LDL-Cholesterolemia, but also in patients who cannot tolerate high-dose of more powerful statins
Vitamin D Supplementation and COVID-19 Outcomes: Mounting Evidence and Fewer Doubts
Full text linkThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has already killed more than 6 million people around the world. A growing body of epidemiological evidence suggests that low 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OH-vitamin D) plasma levels are associated with an increased risk of developing COVID-19 and -most importantly-with a higher risk of developing more severe COVID-19 and dying. On the other hand, vitamin D supplementation during the early phases of COVID-19 has been related to a decreased length of hospital stay, less frequent need for oxygen, and a reduced mortality rate in inpatients. This seems to be particularly true when high dosages are used. In light of this evidence, further studies are needed to define the best timing for vitamin D supplementation and the most effective dosage schedule
Are we really sure about the pycnogenol antihypertensive effect?
No full textDear Editor,
We carefully read the meta-analysis by Malekahmadi et al. recently accepted for publication in Pharmacological Research with a little criticism [1].
Our concerns regard the fact that not every included study meets the inclusion criteria of the meta-analysis. As a matter of fact, the authors considered 9 non-randomized clinical studies (non-RCTs) (references 26, 28, 33, 34, 36, 38, 41, 44, 45 in the paper), and a clinical trial (reference 24 in the paper) testing the effect of Oligopin® supplementation, which is characterized by a higher content in low molecular weight oligomeric procyanidins than Pycnogenol® (∼20 % vs. 5 %)
Diets, Foods and Food Components' Effect on Dyslipidemia.
Full text linkHypercholesterolemia is a well-known independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and a recognized target of pharmacological therapeutic agents in both primary and secondary prevention [...]
New evidences on the association between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and cardiovascular risk: a never ending research story
No full textHigh-density lipoproteins (HDLs) are involved in delaying the formation of atherosclerotic lesions through several mechanisms,1 the most relevant is the removal of cholesterol from macrophages within the arterial wall and its transport to the liver for excretio
Portrait of the Countess Anastasia Spini (1842): acromegaly in art.
No full textTo the Editor,
Acromegaly is a systemic disease produced by excessive secretion
of growth hormone and consecutively increased levels
of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) [1].
Clear features of acromegaly are evident in the portrait of
the Countess Anastasia Spini by Giovanni Carnovali, also
known as “Il Piccio”.
Carnovali was born in 1804 in Varese, Northern Italy.
Initially trained in neoclassicism, he soon moved to realism.
Among his patrons were the Countess Spini, for whom he
painted many portraits and landscapes.
In this lesser-known painting, Countess Anastasia is
portrayed late in life: she was born in 1770 and would have
died in 1855, never having married. The painting of the
Countess (dated to about 1842) clearly depicts facial features
suggestive of acromegaly, such as prominent nose, enlarged
jaws and brows, upper eyelid ptosis, and furrowed forehead
due to coarse and thickened skin, with evident outgrowths of
tegumental tissue (skin tags) [2] (Fig. 1). Moreover, the
Countess’s fingers are short and stubby and her shoes appear
to be several sizes too small, enlarged hands and feet also
being symptomatic of acromegaly [3]. The golden snuff box
that the Countess is holding is indicative of her habit of
smoking.
Little is known about the life of the Countess, except that
she was interdicted on account of insanity and prodigality.
The Countess’s appearance, as portrayed in this painting,
was for long associated with a depressive disorder; however, it
is likely that the psychiatric disorder is, in fact, related to
acromegaly syndrome [4]. It is not known whether the
Countess herself linked her physical appearance to a morbid
condition
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