Effect of 40 mg versus 10 mg of atorvastatin on oxidized low-density lipoprotein, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, circulating endothelial-derived microparticles, and endothelial progenitor cells in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy

Background:

There are few recent data to delineate the beyond lipids‐decreased effect of statins and the effect of different doses of statins on endothelial‐derived microparticles (EMPs) and circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM).

Hypothesis:

Statins might have the beyond lipids‐decreased effect and there were different effects between different doses of statins on EMPs and circulating EPCs in patients with ICM.

Methods:

One hundred patients with ICM and 100 healthy examined people, who served as the normal control group, were recruited to this study. Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: 10‐mg atorvastatin group (n = 50) and 40‐mg atorvastatin group (n = 50). All subjects were followed for 1 year. The levels of serum lipids, oxidized low‐density lipoprotein (oxLDL), high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP), circulating EPCs, and EMPs were examined in all subjects. The incidences of adverse reactions in the 2 study groups were determined.

Results:

At the beginning of this study, there were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the 2 study groups. At the end of this study, the levels of total cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein, serum hsCRP, oxLDL, and circulating EMPs were significantly decreased; circulating EPCs were significantly increased in the 40‐mg atorvastatin group compared to the 10‐mg atorvastatin group, P < 0.05. The multivariate linear regression analysis indicated that receiving only 40 mg of atorvastatin had a significant effect on the levels of circulating EPCs (β = 0.252,P = 0.014). There were no significant differences in the adverse reactions between the 2 groups.

Conclusions:

Use of 40 mg of atorvastatin might decrease the levels of circulating EMPs and increase the number of circulating EPCs in patients with ICM in comparison with 10 mg of atorvastatin, and the effect might be independent of the decrease of lipids, oxLDL, and hsCRP. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. This study was supported by the Bureau of Health of Guangzhou city (2009‐YB‐186). The authors have no other funding, financial relationships, or conflicts of interest to disclose.     

Usefulness of intravenous adenosine in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension as a screening agent for identifying long-term responders to calcium channel blockers

Although intravenous adenosine is recommended for acute vasodilator testing in patients with pulmonary hypertension, long-term outcomes in acute responders treated with calcium channel blockers (CCBs) who are identified by adenosine remain unknown. In this study, the value of adenosine for identifying long-term responders to CCBs was investigated in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH). All acute responders were subsequently treated with high-dose CCB monotherapy, and 6-minute walk distances, hemodynamic data, and World Health Organization functional classifications were followed. Nine of 104 patients exhibited an acute response with intravenous adenosine (8.7%, 95% confidence interval 3.2 to 14.2). After 12 months of follow-up, all acute responders were still alive; however, only 6 patients showed sustained hemodynamic improvement (5.8%, 95% confidence interval 2 to 13). Three patients had failed CCB monotherapy and bosentan was added to their treatment. Mean tolerated dose of intravenous adenosine was 142 ± 49 μg/kg/min. No life-threatening adverse events were observed and only 2 patients of the nonresponders exhibited a 20% decrease in mean systemic arterial pressure. In nonresponders, 1- and 3-year survival rates were 89% and 75%, respectively. In conclusion, acute vasodilator testing with intravenous adenosine was safe and able to screen responders to CCB therapy in patients with IPAH. Long-term CCB responders accounted for about 5.8% of patients with IPAH.     

种植磁性覆盖义齿的临床效果观察

目的探讨种植磁附着体全口义齿对下颌牙槽嵴重度吸收的无牙颌患者的修复效果。方法采用C D I C牙种植体及配套磁性附着体,为15例下颌牙槽嵴重度吸收的无牙颌患者在下颌两侧第一前磨牙区各植入1枚种植体,4～6个月后制作下颌全口义齿并在组织面粘固磁体。进行咀嚼效率和患者满意度测定。结果种植磁附着体全口义齿在粘固磁体后及粘固后2周的固位力和咀嚼效率均较放置磁体前明显提高,且患者满意度提高。结论磁性固位种植体覆盖义齿用于牙槽骨严重吸收的无牙颌患者修复治疗的临床效果好。     

老年人牙列缺损可摘局部义齿修复设计回顾性研究

目的:总结老年人多数牙列缺损的临床修复体会,探讨老年患者可摘局部义齿的设计。方法:对276例老年多数牙列缺损患者分别设计牙合垫式、连续卡环式、连续卡环加牙合垫式可摘局部义齿,其中179例余留牙有残根、残冠患者,先作根管治疗,然后按以上形式设计覆盖式可摘义齿。对修复效果作戴修复体时及戴后3月、3年随访,标准分为好、差两个等级。结果:276例复查结果:满意度调查,好均为100%,(P>0.05)。咀嚼功能检查,戴后3月,好为100%,3年好为99.3%,(P>0.05)。基牙牙周情况检查,戴后3月,好为100%,3年好为97.1%,(P>0.05)。结论:对老年人多数牙列缺损患者,应根据患者口腔情况设计最佳个体修复方案,制作适合老年人生理特点的可摘局部义齿。