How Well Can We Control Dyslipidemias Through Lifestyle Modifications?

The role for lifestyle modifications to correct dyslipidemia(s) is reviewed. Dietary composition is crucial. Replacing saturated fat with MUFA or n-6 PUFA lowers plasma low-density lipoproteins (LDL) cholesterol and ameliorates the LDL/HDL ratio. Replacing saturated fat with carbohydrates has diverging effects due to the heterogeneity of carbohydrate foods. Diets rich in refined carbohydrates increase fasting and postprandial triglycerides, whereas the consumption of fiber-rich, low GI foods lowers LDL cholesterol with no detrimental effects on triglycerides. The role of polyphenols is debated: available evidence suggests a lowering effect of polyphenol-rich foods on postprandial triglycerides. As for functional foods, health claims on a cholesterol lowering effect of psyllium, beta-glucans and phytosterols are accepted by regulatory agencies. The importance of alcohol intake, weight reduction, and physical activity is discussed. In conclusion, there is evidence that lifestyle affects plasma lipid. A multifactorial approach including multiple changes with additive effects is the best option. This may also ensure feasibility and durability. The traditional Mediterranean way of life can represent a useful model.     

State of the Art of Combined Heart-Lung Transplantation for Advanced Cardiac and Pulmonary Dysfunction

Over the last several decades, significant advances and improvements in care of transplant patients have resulted in markedly improved outcomes. A number of options are available for patients with advanced cardiopulmonary dysfunction requiring transplantation. There is a debate about when isolated heart or isolated lung transplantation is no longer possible or advisable and combined heart-lung transplantation is justified. Organ availability and allocation severely limit the latter option to very few well-selected patients. We review practice patterns, trends, and outcomes after triple-organ heart-lung transplant (HLTx) worldwide, as well as our own experience with heart-lung transplant in the modern era.     

Clinical Perspectives and Pearls from the 2015 ESC NSTE-ACS Guidelines

Four years after the latest edition, the 2015 non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology have been published. Novel aspects include a new diagnostic algorithm for non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction using high-sensitivity cardiac troponins as well as guidance on cardiac rhythm monitoring duration. A large section is dedicated to antiplatelet therapy including initiation and duration of dual-antiplatelet therapy as well as the management of patients requiring, at the same time, long-term oral anticoagulation. New sections include the management of antiplatelet agent in patients requiring coronary artery bypass surgery and of acute bleeding events related to antiplatelet agents, vitamin K antagonist (VKA), and non-VKA oral anticoagulant drugs. Current evidence supports the radial access over the femoral one for coronary angiography and percutaneous revascularization.     

Who Benefits from Oncoplastic Surgical Techniques?

Breast-conserving therapy, which includes wide local excision of the tumor followed by irradiation, has become a standard treatment option for women with early-stage invasive breast cancer. The potential advantages of conservative breast surgery include the minor outpatient nature of the procedures, lower incidence of post-operative pain and complications, preservation of the breast and nipple areolar complex, and shorter delay to adjuvant therapy. However, not all patients are optimal candidates for breast-conserving procedures. Oncoplastic techniques combine the removal of breast cancer tumors in combination with either local volume replacement techniques to correct small defects, or by immediate reconstruction of larger defects using techniques of plastic surgery with or without contralateral breast procedures for symmetry. Therefore, oncoplastic techniques offer the potential to perform a wider excision of the tumor with an improved cosmetic result, thus potentially increasing the eligible pool for breast conservation.     

Left ventricular cardiac hemangioma in a patient with chronic heart failure

Cardiac hemangiomas are rare benign tumors. Here, we report the case of a man in his 30s who had a cardiac hemangioma with no symptoms. He was being treated with β-blockers for chronic heart failure with hypertensive heart disease at Osaka Minato Central Hospital. Routine echocardiography revealed a mobile spherical mass in the left ventricle that had not been detected on echocardiography performed 4 months previously. Subsequently, the tumor was excised to prevent potential embolic events and was pathologically diagnosed as a cardiac hemangioma. This case demonstrates the relatively rapid progress of a cardiac hemangioma regardless of β-blocker administration, which is occasionally used for the treatment of hemangiomas. The efficacy of β-blockers in treating cardiac hemangiomas may vary according to the type of β-blocker. Echocardiography is useful in screening and follow-up of cardiac hemangiomas; however, additional imaging modalities are needed for differential diagnosis.     

Synthesis of a New Nitrate-Fertilizer Form with a Controlled Release Behavior via an Incorporation Technique into a Clay Material

The current study shows an advanced synesthetic technique of a nitrate-fertilizer with a controlled release behavior into different soils (normal and acidic agriculture soils solutions) at different climate temperatures. The environmentally friendly and the biocompatible layered double hydroxide (LDH) clay material was used as a host to accommodate the nitrate anion into its interlayer gallery by applying a reconstruction-incorporation technique (the memory effect property of LDH that allows calcined LDH to memorize its original structure). The prepared materials were characterized by different spectroscopic techniques including; X-ray powder spectroscopy, IR, SEM, TEM, and TGA analyses. A remarkable loading ratio of the nitrate anion fertilizer was recorded into the LDH structure. Around 90 wt% of the intercalated nitrate anion was released in a sustained controlled behavior over around 24 days, while the same amount of nitrate was released over 10 days in the acidic soil. Accordingly, the present study offers a new passway for the formulation of controlled release fertilizers by using the hosting anionic clay LDH materials.