Search

This chapter provides an overview of the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, and integrates the latest clinical guidelines and trials into a concise and practical guide to cardiovascular risk reduction and the management of dyslipidemia. These measures form the basis for a management strategy aimed at halting the progression of atherosclerosis, stabilizing rupture-prone plaques, preventing arterial thrombosis, and improving cardiovascular prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wnts are a family of signaling glycoproteins which play essential roles in many developmental processes and adult homeostasis. Misregulated Wnt signaling has been implicated in a variety of human diseases including cancers. The tight regulation of Wnt signaling is not only reflected by the diverse responses triggered in the Wnt-receiving cells, but also, as more recent work suggested, by the complex control on Wnt processing, secretion, and subsequent distribution. The characterization of the nature and roles of posttranslational modifications of Wnt molecules and the discovery of Wntless (Wls) and the retromer complex as novel and indispensable players in Wnt release have led to closer inspection of the Wnt secretory routes. Moreover, dissection of the functions of lipoproteins and heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) in Wnt diffusion shed new light on the mechanism of morphogen distribution. In this chapter, we will summarize the recent advances in the studies of Wnt processing, secretion, and spreading and discuss how these components are integrated into the regulating network of Wnt pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipid abnormalities are common in overweight and obese children and adolescents. The underlying pathogenesis is complex, most closely related to visceral adiposity, and driven by insulin resistance and high levels of circulating free fatty acids. Clinically, dyslipidemia is characterized by a triad of abnormalities including elevated triglycerides, decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, and qualitative changes in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles, which become smaller, denser, and more atherogenic. These lipid abnormalities cluster with other metabolic risk factors and contribute to the definition of metabolic syndrome in adults and emerging definitions of metabolic syndrome in children. The evaluation of overweight and obese children and adolescents should include a fasting lipid profile and a detailed family history for risk factors and cardiovascular disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]