This article has been retracted.% See Notice of Retraction and Related Letter. BACKGROUND Hypertension is a dominant characteristic in the prediction of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). We aimed to ...evaluate the association of blood pressure measurements with CVD mortality among different populations of the world. METHODS A total of 12 763 men, aged 40 to 59 years, from 7 countries (United States, Japan, Italy, Greece, former Yugoslavia, Finland, and the Netherlands) were surveyed from 1958 to 1964. Follow-up for vital status and causes of death was carried out over 25 years. RESULTS All baseline blood pressure measurements were the best predictors of CVD mortality, compared with age, physical activity, total serum cholesterol level, body mass index or height, and smoking. Moreover, pulse pressure and diastolic and systolic blood pressures were the best predictors for CVD death, followed by mean and mid blood pressures. The age-adjusted hazard ratio per 10–mm Hg increase in pulse pressure varied among cohorts from 1.19 in the United States (P = .04) to 1.29 in southern Europe (P = .01). Differences among cohorts were not significant. In the pooled cohorts, pulse pressure measurements were also a significant predictor for coronary heart disease (hazard ratio per 10–mm Hg increase, 1.15; P = .04) as well as stroke death (hazard ratio per 10–mm Hg increase, 1.32; P = .01). CONCLUSIONS Pulse pressure followed by diastolic and systolic blood pressures were the best predictors for CVD mortality among other blood pressures, as well as age, physical activity, total serum cholesterol level, anthropometric indexes, and smoking habits. No significant differences were observed among the different populations studied.Arch Intern Med. 2005;165:2142-2147-->
Abstract Aim The purpose of this prospective study was to investigate the effect of alcohol consumption on the 10-year diabetes incidence. Methods In 2001–2002, a random sample of 1514 men (18–89 ...years old) and 1528 women (18–87 years old) was selected to participate in the ATTICA study (Athens metropolitan area, Greece). Among various other characteristics, average daily alcohol intakes (abstention, low, moderate, high) and type of alcoholic drink were evaluated. Diabetes was defined according to American Diabetes Association criteria. During 2011–2012, the 10-year follow-up was performed. Results The 10-year incidence of diabetes was 13.4% in men and 12.4% in women. After making various adjustments, those who consumed up to 1 glass/day of alcohol had a 53% lower diabetes risk (RR = 0.47; 95% CI: 0.26, 0.83) compared with abstainers, while trend analysis revealed a significant U-shaped relationship between quantity of alcohol drunk and diabetes incidence ( P < 0.001 for trend). Specific types of drinks were not associated with diabetes incidence; however, a one-unit increase in ratio of wine/beer/vodka vs. other spirits was associated with an 89% lower risk of diabetes (RR = 0.11; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.67). The protective effect of low alcohol consumption on diabetes incidence was more prominent among individuals with stricter adherence to the Mediterranean diet (RR = 0.08; 95% CI: 0.011, 0.70) and without the metabolic syndrome (RR = 0.34; 95% CI: 0.16, 0.70). Conclusion This work revealed the protective effect of modest alcohol consumption of particularly wine and beer against the long-term incidence of diabetes, possibly due to their pleiotropic health effects.
Background Elevated circulating levels of galectin-3, a mediator of fibrogenesis, are associated with left ventricular remodeling and adverse outcome in heart failure (HF).
Conclusions High dose atorvastatin treatment exerts its beneficial effects on endothelial function and arterial stiffness through the modification of inflammatory process in HF patients.
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