Aspirin for Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases: "WALTZ" with the Evidence

Optimizing Cardiovascular Health: A Comprehensive Review of Risk Assessment Strategies for Primary Prevention

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading global health concern, and effective primary prevention strategies are essential to mitigate its impact. This comprehensive review examines current risk assessment strategies for primary prevention of CVD, emphasizing the importance of early identification and intervention to reduce disease incidence. Traditional risk factors such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, smoking, and lifestyle choices are discussed alongside emerging factors, including genetic predispositions and biomarkers. The review evaluates various risk assessment tools and models, such as the Framingham risk score, atherosclerotic CVD risk calculator, QRISK, and Reynolds risk score, highlighting their methodologies, strengths, and limitations. Additionally, the review explores lifestyle modifications, including dietary changes, physical activity, weight management, smoking cessation, and pharmacological interventions like statins and antihypertensives. Special considerations for different populations, including the elderly, women, and those with a family history of CVD, are addressed. Future directions in cardiovascular risk assessment are also discussed, focusing on technological advancements and personalized medicine. This review aims to enhance the implementation of effective primary prevention measures and improve cardiovascular health outcomes by providing a thorough analysis of risk assessment strategies.

Current trends and future prospects of drug repositioning in gastrointestinal oncology

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers comprise a significant number of cancer cases worldwide and contribute to a high percentage of cancer-related deaths. To improve survival rates of GI cancer patients, it is important to find and implement more effective therapeutic strategies with better prognoses and fewer side effects. The development of new drugs can be a lengthy and expensive process, often involving clinical trials that may fail in the early stages. One strategy to address these challenges is drug repurposing (DR). Drug repurposing is a developmental strategy that involves using existing drugs approved for other diseases and leveraging their safety and pharmacological data to explore their potential use in treating different diseases. In this paper, we outline the existing therapeutic strategies and challenges associated with GI cancers and explore DR as a promising alternative approach. We have presented an extensive review of different DR methodologies, research efforts and examples of repurposed drugs within various GI cancer types, such as colorectal, pancreatic and liver cancers. Our aim is to provide a comprehensive overview of employing the DR approach in GI cancers to inform future research endeavors and clinical trials in this field.