The efficacy and safety of pitavastatin

In short-term, phase III or IV studies in Asian and European patients, pitavastatin 1, 2 and 4 mg once daily reduced LDL-Cholesterol (LDL-C) 34%, 42% and 47%, respectively. Pitavastatin provided sustained LDL-C-lowering efficacy over up to 60 weeks' therapy in extension studies. In comparative studies pitavastatin 4 mg and simvastatin 40 mg reduced LDL-C similarly, reduction in triglycerides and increase in HDL-Cholesterol (HDL-C) was more prominent with pitavastatin. In comparative studies with atorvastatin, pitavastatin 4mg was found to be more effective than 20 mg of atorvastatin, and a little less effective than 40 mg of atorvastatin. The increase in HDL-C demonstrated in short term studies sustained in long term, whereas with atorvastatin the increase in HDL-C was less prominent. Pitavastatin was generally well tolerated in these studies and most treatment emergent adverse events were mild or moderate and their frequency was not different from other statins. Pitavastatin did not appear to adversely affect glucose metabolism parameters (e.g. fasting blood glucose, fasting plasma insulin, glycated hemoglobin) in short-and longer-term prospective and post-marketing surveillance studies in adults. In conclusion, pitavastatin is an effective treatment option in adults with primary hypercholesterolemia and combined (mixed) dyslipidemia, including those at risk of developing type 2 diabetes

Glomerular filtration rate calculated by modification of diet in renal disease formula can be an indicator of impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes in coronary artery disease

Background: There is an increased risk for coronary artery disease (CAD) at modestly elevated levels of blood glucose which is still below the present threshold for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In the present study, we aimed to define impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and T2DM in patients with stable CAD and observe the relationship between clinical and laboratory findings. Materials and Methods: A total of 132 patients who had stable CAD and who had not been diagnosed as glucose intolerance or diabetes were enrolled. In one of the groups, there were patients with IGT or T2DM results and the other one consisted of patients with normal oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) results. The Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) was investigated in patients with fasting plasma glucose (FPG) <100 mg/dl. Results: The prevalance of IGT and T2DM was 30.3%. In IGT + T2DM group, waist/hip ratio and creatinin level were significantly higher and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was low. Only eGFR calculated by Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula was a reliable parameter. MDRD eGFR ≤70 ml/dk/m2 independently predicted IGT + T2DM diagnosis with 50% sensitivity but with 82% specificity. Although it is insufficient to use it as an optimal screening test because of lower sensitivity, it can be a reliable indicator of IGT + DM in patients who had eGFR ≤70. Insulin resistance was diagnosed in 29% of patients whose pretest values were FPG <100 mg/dl. Conclusion: MDRD eGFR can be an indicator for IGT + T2DM. OGTT irrespective of FPG level should be used to determine the presence of IGT + T2DM in stable CAD

Türk Yetişkinlerinde Dislipidemik Hipertansiyon: Yaygınlığı ve Koroner Riske Bindirdiği Yük.

Onat A, Toprak S, Ceyhan K, Sansoy V. Türk Yetişkinlerinde Dislipidemik Hipertansiyon: Yaygınlığı ve Koroner Riske Bindirdiği Yük. Turk Kardiyoloji Dergisi Ars. 2002; 30: 402-40

Knowledge and experience of cardiopulmonary resuscitation among cardiologists in clinical practice: A multicenter cross-sectional study

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the theoretical knowledge and clinical experience of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) among Turkish cardiologists according to the recommendations of the 2015 European Resuscitation Council (ERC) guidelines

A descriptive analysis of abstracts presented at the Turkish National Cardiology Congresses between 2011 and 2015

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the scientific publication performance of the abstracts presented at the annual Turkish National Cardiology Congress (TNCC) between 2011 and 2015 and to analyze the variables associated with publication