Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death worldwide. Since the establishment of the “lipid hypothesis”, according to which, cholesterol level is directly correlated to the risk of CVD, many different lipid-lowering agents have been introduced in clinical practice. A majority of these drugs, in addition to their lipid-lowering properties, may also exhibit some anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities. This hypothesis was based on the observation that a decrease in lipid levels occurs along with a decrease in inflammation. Insufficient reduction in the inflammation during treatment with lipid-lowering drugs could be one of the explanations for treatment failure and recurrent CVD events. Thus, the aim of this narrative review was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory properties of currently available lipid-lowering medications including statins, ezetimibe, bile acid sequestrants (BAS), proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors, fibrates, omega-3 fatty acids, and niacin, as well as dietary supplements and novel drugs used in modern times.
Dietary supplementation with sugar cane derivates may modulate low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) levels. The purpose of this study was to determine if dietary supplement (DS), containing Octacosanol (20 mg) and vitamin K2 (45 µg), could restore the disrupted physiologic relation between LDL-C and serum PCSK9. Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, single-center study including 87 patients on chronic atorvastatin therapy was conducted. Eighty-seven patients were randomized to receive DS (n = 42) or placebo (n = 45), and followed for 13 weeks. Serum PCSK9 levels, lipid parameters and their relationship were the main efficacy endpoints. The absolute levels of PCSK9 and LDL-C were not significantly different from baseline to 13 weeks. However, physiologic correlation between % change of PCSK9 and % change of LDL-C levels was normalized only in the group of patients treated with DS (r = 0.409, p = 0.012). This study shows that DS can restore statin disrupted physiologic positive correlation between PCSK9 and LDL-C. Elevated PCSK9 level is an independent risk factor so controlling its rise by statins may be important in prevention of cardiovascular events.
The body surface of homeothermic organisms produces constant microvibrations. In the past, many studies were conducted on this topic, and the amplitude of the microvibrations was described as a sensitive marker of muscle tension and body activity. Subsequent studies indicated that the frequency of the microvibrations is an important variable affecting the body. The aim of this research was to examine the effects of the vibroacoustic microvibrations on the rate, rhythm and structure of the rat heart during physiological conditions. Microvibrations of specific frequency and amplitude were induced by a Vitafon-T, four different modes were used, and the effects of the microvibrations on ECG characteristics and the wall structure of the rat heart were examined. After the application of microvibrations (lasting 10-60 min), no statistically significant changes occurred in the heart rate, but the amplitudes significantly increased after 10, 20 and 30 minutes, and increased even more after 60 minutes. No changes in the heart wall structure were found. Acute in vivo application of vibroacoustic microvibrations in the rats did not produce significant effects on the heart rate and rhythm; however, it increased the amplitude of the R wave by 25-32% in the second standard ECG lead but did not lead to structural changes in the rat heart wall.
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