This is the first randomized study to demonstrate the efficacy of endovascular BT for prophylaxis of restenosis after femoropopliteal PTA. The value of this approach should now be improved by modification of the BT procedure and by combination with stent implantation.

Lipid lowering has been shown to be effective in preventing primary and recurrent cardiovascular events and to save life. Statins almost exclusively used for this purpose meanwhile became one of the most widely prescribed families of drugs world-wide. Myopathies--mainly not well characterized--are the major group of side effects. We here review different types of clinical appearances, localizations, symptoms and the biochemical background. The data indicate that severe muscular side effects are rare. Patients and their doctors, however, easily overlook mild ones. Myopathic symptoms without any known biochemical correlate are not rare. No general guideline exists about exact diagnosis and differential diagnosis. Strict adherence to the measures of life-style change and performance of regular exercise can even further enhance significantly these side effects. Much more research should be directed onto the pathophysiological (genetic?) background to finally evaluate possible therapeutic consequences rather than simply to withdraw or change the respective statin.

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The role of oxidation injury as an important factor in the pathophysiology of cardiomyopathy (CMP) has recently gained increasing interest. Semiquantitative analysis for isoprostane, 8-epi-prostaglandin F 2a (8-epi-PGF 2a ), and oxidised low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) of coronary vascular tissue samples derived from CMP patients revealed an increased extent and intensity of uptake as compared to the respective controls. To evaluate oxidative stress in vivo, we examined plasma, serum, salivary, and urinary 8-epi-PGF 2a in patients with dilated CMP (n = 20) and ischemic CMP (n = 20) with decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) (n = 20) and 20 healthy, age-matched, and sex-matched controls were investigated in parallel. 8-Epi-PGF 2a levels were correlated with the functional severity of heart failure [New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification] and LVEF. 8-Epi-PGF 2a levels were matched according to risk factors (smoking and hypercholesterolemia) and were significantly higher in patients with CMP as compared to healthy controls and patients with CHD in all investigated compartments. A positive correlation between NYHA stages and 8-epi-PGF 2a , as well as a negative correlation to LVEF, could be demonstrated in a subgroup analysis.These findings reflect the enhanced oxidation injury in patients with CMP and, to a lesser extent, in CHD as compared to healthy controls, thus highly indicating the relevance of oxidative stress for the pathogenesis and progression of cardiovascular disease.

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Several in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that olive phenols exert potent biological activities including, but not limited to, antioxidant actions. These activities are shared by phenols found in olives, olive oil, and olive mill wastewater (OMWW). The aim of this study was to investigate whether a commercially available OMWW preparation could influence some parameters of oxidative status in healthy human volunteers. Ninety-eight healthy subjects with normal body weight were recruited, and 5 mL of blood was drawn from their antecubital vein after an overnight fast of at least 12 h. After this, subjects were asked to ingest 2 mL of a commercially available OMWW preparation. Another 5 mL of blood was drawn 1 h after ingestion of the preparation. Plasma antioxidant capacity and total and reduced glutathione were measured. No difference in plasma antioxidant capacity was observed between baseline and 1 h after the ingestion of the extract. Conversely, a significant increase in total plasma glutathione concentration was measured. This increase involved both the reduced and oxidized forms of glutathione; hence, their ratio was unaffected by the treatment. The observed effects of OMWW on glutathione levels might be governed by the antioxidant response element (ARE)-mediated increase in phase II enzyme expression, including that of gamma-glutamylcysteine ligase and glutathione synthetase. Future studies on groups of individuals who may benefit from an increase in their glutathione levels, for example, the elderly, will further elucidate the biological activities of this formulation.