‘Ins’ and ‘outs’ of triple therapy

Chronic oral anticoagulant treatment is obligatory in patients (class I) with mechanical heart valves and in patients with atrial fibrillation with CHADS2 score >1. When these patients undergo percutaneous coronary intervention with placement of a stent, there is also an indication for treatment with aspirin and clopidogrel. Unfortunately, triple therapy is known to increase the bleeding risk. For this group of patients, the bottom line is to find the ideal therapy in patients with indications for both chronic anticoagulation therapy and percutaneous intervention to prevent thromboembolic complications such as stent thrombosis without increasing the risk of bleeding. (Neth Heart J 2010;18:444-50.)     

Polymorphisms of the uridine-diphosphoglucuronosyltransferase 1A1 gene and coronary artery disease

Bilirubin, an antioxidant in the blood, plays a role in protection from atherosclerosis. The level of bilirubin is highly correlated to the incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD). Unconjugated bilirubin is conjugated with glucuronic acid through the reaction of uridine 5′-diphosphate-glucuronosyl transferase 1A1 (UGT1A1). The interactions of CAD and the variations in the coding regions of the UGT1A1 gene have never been evaluated. The purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of the UGT1A1 variant on the incidence of CAD. There were 135 participants in this study: 61 in the experimental group, who had CAD, and 74 in the control group, who did not have CAD. The blood samples from all 135 participants were collected and assayed to clarify the relationship between bilirubin and CAD. The assay of the polymerase chain reaction and the sequence of the UGT1A1 gene were examined to find the gene’s polymorphisms. The bilirubin levels for the participants in the control group were significantly higher than for the patients in the CAD group. Although the concentration of bilirubin in the UGT1A1 variant was higher than the wild type for the patients in the CAD group, there was no significant difference in the polymorphism of UGT1A1 between the patients in the CAD group and the participants in the control group.     

Occurrence, use and potential toxic effects of metals and metal compounds

Metals and metal compounds are constituents of our natural environment. Their distribution depends on the existence of natural sources (e.g. volcanoes or erosion) and their use in human’s activity. They are transformed naturally (e.g. by bacterial activity) with formation of organic species that influence their mobility and accumulation in abiotic as well as biotic systems. Up to date metal species are released into the environment questioning their influence on human health. Due to their widespread use in human activities such as industry, agriculture and even as medicine (e.g. As, Se, Pt), numerous health risks may be associated with exposure to these substances. Different reports on metal intoxication are documented and studies especially on neurotoxicity, genotoxicity, or carcinogenicity, are previously published in numerous articles. This mini-review gives an overview on the use and the actions of selected metal species of actual scientific concern, with a focus on neuronal cells.     

Decreased thiamine and magnesium levels in the potentiation of the neurotoxicity of lead in occupational lead exposure

The relationship between blood lead (Pb) and serum levels of calcium and of neural nutrients such as thiamine and magnesium (Mg) has been determined in a Nigerian population that is occupationally exposed to Pb. Forty-seven male Pb workers were recruited as test subjects and 25 males unexposed to Pb served as controls. The test subjects were classified into three groups, based on severity of exposure to Pb. Blood lead (BPb) and the serum levels of Mg, thiamine, and calcium were determined in both test subjects and controls. The mean blood Pb level was not significantly higher in Pb workers. In contrast, Mg and thiamine levels were significantly decreased (p<0.05; p<0.01, respectively). However, the calcium level was not significantly lower in test subjects than in controls. Also, there was a significant negative correlation between serum thiamine and blood Pb levels (r=-0.50; p<0.01). Furthermore, there was a significant negative correlation between serum calcium and BPb levels (r=-0.41; p<0.01). This study has shown that relatively low BPb levels can enhance Pb absorption and also potentiate Pb neurotoxicity in the presence of decreased serum thiamine and Mg levels.     

Biosorption of Lead from Industrial Wastewater Using Chrysophyllum albidum Seed Shell

The shell of the seed of Chrysophyllum albidum carbon was used to adsorb lead (Pb) from aqueous solution, the sorption process with respect to its equilibria and kinetics as well as the effects of pH, contact time, adsorbent mass, adsorbate concentration, and particle size on adsorption were also studied. The most effective pH range was found to be between 4.5 and 5 for the sorption of the metal ion. The first-order rate equation by Lagergren was tested on the kinetic data and the adsorption process followed first-order rate kinetics. Isotherm data were analyzed for possible agreement with the Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms; the Freundlich and Langmuir models for dynamics of metal ion uptake proposed in this work fitted the experimental data reasonably well. However, equilibrium sorption data were better represented by Langmuir model than Freundlich. The adsorption capacity calculated from Langmuir isotherm was 72.1 mg Pb (II) g^{- 1} at initial pH of 5.0 at 30°C for the particle size of 1.00 to 1.25 mm with the use of 2.0 g/100 ml adsorbent mass. The structural features of the adsorbent were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry; the presence of hydroxyl, carbonyl, amide, and phosphate groups confirms the potential mechanism adsorption of the adsorbent. This readily available adsorbent is efficient in the uptake of Pb (II) ion in aqueous solution, thus, it could be an excellent alternative for the removal of heavy metals and organic matter from water and wastewater.     

Effectiveness of pectin extracted from the eelgrass Zostera marina for alleviating lead-induced liver injury

The effects of pectin from the eelgrass Zostera marina on toxic liver injury induced by enteral administration of lead acetate are examined in experiments on rats. The results show that pectin helps to rapidly reduce lead concentration in liver, to decrease lipid peroxidation, and to normalize the levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides in blood serum and liver.     

结扎兔冠状动脉前降支与左室支的急性心肌梗塞比较

本文比较了结扎兔冠状动脉前降支（ＬＡＤ组）和左室支（ＬＶＡ组）两种方法建立的急性心肌梗塞模型。结果发现１：ＥＣＧ标测,三天内不同时间ＬＶＡ组∑△ＳＴ升高毫伏数均高于ＬＡＤ组（Ｐ＜０．０１或Ｐ＜０．０５）;２：Ｎ－ＢＴ染色,ＬＶＡ组心肌梗塞占心室重的百分率为１７．３％±０．５６％,而ＬＡＤ组为８．２％±２．４２％,两者相差非常显著（Ｐ＜０．０１）,证实了ＬＶＡ组心梗面积较ＬＡＤ组大且相对稳定。采用增强（Ｇｄ－ＤＴＰＡ）磁共振成像（ＭＲＩ）扫描发现ＬＶＡ组急性心梗范围在三天内基本稳定。作者认为,兔急性心梗模型采用结扎ＬＶＡ优于结扎ＬＡＤ。     

Associations of the uric acid related genetic variants in SLC2A9 and ABCG2 loci with coronary heart disease risk

Background

Multiple studies investigated the associations between serum uric acid and coronary heart disease (CHD) risk. However, further investigations still remain to be carried out to determine whether there exists a causal relationship between them. We aim to explore the associations between genetic variants in uric acid related loci of SLC2A9 and ABCG2 and CHD risk in a Chinese population.

Results

A case–control study including 1,146 CHD cases and 1,146 controls was conducted. Association analysis between two uric acid related variants (SNP rs11722228 in SLC2A9 and rs4148152 in ABCG2) and CHD risk was performed by logistic regression model. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Compared with subjects with A allele of rs4148152, those with G allele had a decreased CHD risk and the association remained significant in a multivariate model. However, it altered to null when BMI was added into the model. No significant association was observed between rs11722228 and CHD risk. The distribution of CHD risk factors was not significantly different among different genotypes of both SNPs. Among subjects who did not consume alcohol, the G allele of rs4148152 showed a moderate protective effect. However, no significant interactions were observed between SNP by CHD risk factors on CHD risk.

Conclusions

There might be no association between the two uric acid related SNPs with CHD risk. Further studies were warranted to validate these results.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12863-015-0162-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

醋酸铅对体外培养大鼠肾小管上皮细胞的毒性损伤

探讨醋酸铅对体外培养的大鼠肾小管上皮细胞系HBZY-1的细胞毒性效应.用不同浓度的醋酸铅(30、40、50 μmol/L)作用HBZY-1细胞24 h、48 h和72 h,采用CellTiter-Glo(R)萤光细胞活性检测盒测定细胞存活情况;用流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡率.结果显示经30、40、50μmol/L醋酸铅处理...     

Clinical value of plasma pentraxin 3 levels for predicting cardiac troponin elevation after percutaneous coronary intervention

Aims

Post-procedural myocardial necrosis manifested by elevated cardiac troponin T (cTnT) often complicates percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Plasma pentraxin 3 (PTX3) levels are increased in patients with arterial inflammation and especially unstable angina pectoris (UAP). This study tested whether plasma PTX3 levels can predict post-PCI cTnT elevation.

Main methods

We evaluated 94 consecutive patients with AP and normal pre-PCI cTnT levels who underwent PCI. Pre-PCI virtual histology-intravascular ultrasound was performed to assess culprit plaque composition. Plasma PTX3 and serum hs-CRP levels were measured pre-PCI. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to presence (Group I, n = 34) or absence (Group II, n = 60) of post-PCI cTnT elevation > 3 × the upper limit of normal at 24 h after PCI.

Key findings

Plasma PTX3 (4.06 ± 2.05 ng/ml vs 2.17 ± 1.02 ng/ml, p < 0.001), serum hs-CRP levels (0.25 ± 0.03 vs 0.16 ± 0.03 mg/dl, p = 0.048), plaque burden (80.9 ± 5.3 vs 75.4 ± 10.6%, p = 0.047), presence of positive remodeling (59 vs 25%, p = 0.034), and percent necrotic core area (19.0 ± 7.4 vs 14.0 ± 5.9%, p = 0.046) were significantly higher in Group I than in Group II. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis showed that with a best cut-off value of 2.83 ng/ml, plasma PTX3 level (AUC 0.823) predicted post-PCI cardiac TnT elevation better than did serum hs-CRP level (AUC 0.618). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that plasma PTX3 level was the most independent predictor of post-PCI cardiac cTnT elevation (OR: 2.65; 95% CI: 1.56–10.1; p = 0.003).

Significance

Plasma PTX3 level may be a useful marker for predicting post-PCI cardiac cTnT elevation, which is associated with inflammatory status of culprit lesions.