A biomarker can be a substance or structure measured in body parts, fluids or products that can affect or predict disease incidence. As age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the developed world, much research and effort has been invested in the identification of different biomarkers to predict disease incidence, identify at risk individuals, elucidate causative pathophysiological etiologies, guide screening, monitoring and treatment parameters, and predict disease outcomes. To date, a host of genetic, environmental, proteomic, and cellular targets have been identified as both risk factors and potential biomarkers for AMD. Despite this, their use has been confined to research settings and has not yet crossed into the clinical arena. A greater understanding of these factors and their use as potential biomarkers for AMD can guide future research and clinical practice. This article will discuss known risk factors and novel, potential biomarkers of AMD in addition to their application in both academic and clinical settings.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with obesity, metabolic syndrome, and dyslipidemia, which may be related to decrease androgen levels found in OSA patients. Dyslipidemia may contribute to atherosclerosis leading to increasing risk of heart disease. Methods: Systematic review was conducted using PubMed and Cochrane library by utilizing different combinations of key words; sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea, serum lipids, dyslipidemia, cholesterol, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), and triglyceride (TG). Inclusion criteria were: English articles, and studies with adult population in 2 groups of patients (patients with OSA and without OSA). A total 96 studies were reviewed for inclusion, with 25 studies pooled for analysis. Results: Sixty-four studies were pooled for analysis; since some studies have more than one dataset, there were 107 datasets with 18,116 patients pooled for meta-analysis. All studies measured serum lipids. Total cholesterol pooled standardized difference in means was 0.267 (p = 0.001). LDL cholesterol pooled standardized difference in means was 0.296 (p = 0.001). HDL cholesterol pooled standardized difference in means was -0.433 (p = 0.001). Triglyceride pooled standardized difference in means was 0.603 (p = 0.001). Meta-regression for age, BMI, and AHI showed that age has signifi cant effect for TC, LDL, and HDL. BMI had signifi cant effect for LDL and HDL, while AHI had signifi cant effect for LDL and TG. S C I E N T I F I C I N V E S T I G A T I O N SO bstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disorder affecting about 4% of middle-aged males and 2% of middle-aged women in the developed world and is a significant source of morbidity and mortality. 1,2 OSA is characterized by recurrent episodes of upper airway collapses during sleep. These recurrent episodes of upper airway collapse usually are accompanied by oxyhemoglobin desaturation and terminated by brief arousals which result in marked sleep fragmentation and chronic excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). 1,2 OSA has been increasingly linked to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, and many studies have shown that OSA is associated with increased cardiovascular and cerebrovascular morbidity. 3-9 OSA is associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome. 10 Multiple studies addressing this interesting and complex issue are available where lipid profi le was measured in subjects with OSA. We performed metaanalysis (MA) and meta-regression (MR) to specifi cally detect if OSA adversely affects degree of dyslipidemia; elevation of total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), triglyceride (TG), and reduces level of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL). Effect of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypopnea Syndrome on METHODS Data Source and Study SelectionStudies for review were found searching the PubMed, Cochrane, and EMBASE databases from January 01, 196801, , to November 30th, 2013. Unpublished data from scientifi c meetings were not searched, since...

No abstract

No abstract

CPAP treatment for OSA seems to improve dyslipidemia (decrease in total cholesterol and LDL, and increase in HDL). It does not appear to affect TG levels.

The present meta-analysis suggests that patients with high-risk AMI without cardiogenic shock do not seem to benefit from the use of IABP as measured by in-hospital mortality, rate of reinfarction, and recurrent angina. However, in patients with AMI with cardiogenic shock (systolic blood pressure [SBP] < 90), there was significant reduction in mortality using IABP. The use of IABP is associated with increase in the rate of both moderate and severe bleeding.

Statins therapy slows down the progression of carotid atherosclerosis as measured by CIMT, indicating benefits at subclinical stage of the disease process.

No abstract