Journal of Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Research

Arterial Hypertension In Ivorian University Community: Prevalence And Associated Risk Factors

Joseph Thierry Niamkey, Carine Boka, Jean Jacques n’djessan, Inès Angoran, Euloge Kramoh

Hypertension remains the major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases worldwide.1 Its overall prevalence is increasing and estimated at 30-45% in adults.2The number of people with hypertension is predicted to increase by 15-20% by 2025, to reach nearly 1.5 billion.3The prevalence of arterial hypertension gradually increases with age, exceeding 60% over 60 years old.2Studies also suggest a high prevalence of hypertension in children and teenagers around the world with overweight and obesity as important risk factor.4 Early detection and treatment may prevent the premature development of complications in adulthood.5, 6 

Fibrinogen as a Cardiovascular Risk Marker

Anita L. R. Saldanha, Ana Paula Pantoja Margeotto, André Luis Valera Gasparoto, Tania Leme da Roch, Martinez

International comparations show that the level of fibrinogen increases with the national risk of ischemic heart disease except in rural Africa and Eskimos who have high levels of fibrinogen despite the low risk of ischemic heart disease. Fibrinogen is a probable cofactor of multi factorial disease, atherosclerosis in cardiovascular disease. Epidemiological studies have shown that fibrinogen levels are a strong and consistent primary and secondary risk factor for coronary artery disease, cerebral and peripheral arterial disease, as well as is associated with prevalence of arterial disease in these three sites. Epidemiological studies also suggest that fibrinogen may be an important link between genetics (difference in nationality, family history, fibrinogen genotype) and environmental influences (fetal development, smoking, alcoholism, obesity, diabetes, infections, menopause, estrogen use) and the development of arterial disease.

Fibrinogen level is the major determinant of cardiovascular risk in people with hypercholesterolemia, hypertension or diabetes; should then be included in the cardiovascular risk profile and clinical management. Persistent fibrinogen greater than 3.0 g/L is associated with significant increase in cardiovascular risk and indicates the target population for intervention. Epidemiological and path physiological studies show that there are at least four possible mechanisms by which fibrinogen can promote arterial disease: atherogenesis, platelet aggregation and thrombus formation, fibrin thrombus formation, increased plasma and blood viscosity. Clinical studies have shown that reducing plasma fibrinogen increases blood flow, reduces platelet aggregability, reduces plasma and blood viscosity, and the risk of ischemic symptoms and events. The reduction of fibrinogen needs to be considered in people with ischemic symptoms and those at high risk of arterial disease, also by lifestyle (smoking) or drug therapy (fibrates). Further studies of fibrinogen reduction are desirable for prevention and symptomatic treatment of arterial disease

Successful surgical repair of berry syndrome with severe biventricular dysfunction

Anand Kumar Mishra MCh, Nirupam Sekhar Chakraborty MS, Apeksha Mittal MS, Dr Vidur Bansal MS, Dr. Arun Sharma DM, Dr. Shubrasis Guha Neogi MD

Background - Absence of the aortopulmonary septum with the presence of two separate semilunar valves, interrupted aortic arch, aortic origin of the right pulmonary artery, intact ventricular septum, and patent ductus arteriosus is a rarely reported association known as Berry syndrome. This abnormal right pulmonary arterial origin may lead to "steal" from the aortic flow during embryogenesis and cause hypoplasia of the aortic arch. Most patients present in infancy or earlier with symptoms of cardiac failure. Scattered reports in the literature confirm the possibility of surgical correction of this complex anomaly. 

How to HaltCancer

Andrew Hague

The rules for the procedure to stop cancer are the same as those for repairing a puncture of a bicycle tyre. To make it easy for everyone to understand, this article will take you step by step through repairing a puncture and reversing cancer. The procedures are entirely different but the rules are the same.