Ezetimibe/Simvastatin 10/20 mg versus Rosuvastatin 10 mg in high-risk hypercholesterolemic patients stratified by prior statin treatment potency

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>This <it>post-hoc </it>analysis compared the lipid-altering efficacy of Ezetimibe/Simvastatin 10/20 mg (EZ/Simva) versus Rosuvastatin 10 mg (Rosuva) in patients stratified by statin potency/dose prior to randomization.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Patients with elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) despite prior statin treatment (n = 618) were randomized 1:1 to EZ/Simva 10/20 mg or Rosuva 10 mg for 6 weeks. Percent change from baseline in lipids and attainment of lipid targets were assessed within each subgroup (low potency n = 369, high potency n = 249). Consistency of the treatment effect across subgroups was evaluated by testing for treatment-by-subgroup interaction. No multiplicity adjustments were made.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Significant treatment-by-subgroup interaction occurred for LDL-C (p = 0.013), total cholesterol (p = 0.025), non-HDL-C (p = 0.032), and apolipoprotein B (p = 0.016) with greater between-treatment differences in favor of EZ/Simva observed in patients from the high potency stratum vs low potency stratum. Individual and triple target attainment was higher for Eze/Simva compared with Rosuva in both strata.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Compared with Rosuva, switching to EZ/Simva provided greater reductions in LDL-C, total cholesterol, non-HDL-C and apolipoprotein B and higher target attainment in patients on prior statin treatment, regardless of potency, although patients treated with higher potency statins prior to randomization experienced greater between treatment differences in favor of EZ/Simva.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00479713</p

Combined transcriptomic-(1)H NMR metabonomic study reveals yhat monoethylhexyl phthalate stimulates adipogenesis and glyceroneogenesis in human adipocytes

Adipose tissue is a major storage site for lipophilic environmental contaminants. The environmental metabolic disruptor hypothesis postulates that some pollutants can promote obesity or metabolic disorders by activating nuclear receptors involved in the control of energetic homeostasis. In this context, monoethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP) is of particular concern since it was shown to activate the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) in 3T3-L1 murine preadipocytes. In the present work, we used an untargeted, combined transcriptomic-(1)H NMR-based metabonomic approach to describe the overall effect of MEHP on primary cultures of human subcutaneous adipocytes differentiated in vitro. MEHP stimulated rapidly and selectively the expression of genes involved in glyceroneogenesis, enhanced the expression of the cytosolic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, and reduced fatty acid release. These results demonstrate that MEHP increased glyceroneogenesis and fatty acid reesterification in human adipocytes. A longer treatment with MEHP induced the expression of genes involved in triglycerides uptake, synthesis, and storage; decreased intracellular lactate, glutamine, and other amino acids; increased aspartate and NAD, and resulted in a global increase in triglycerides. Altogether, these results indicate that MEHP promoted the differentiation of human preadipocytes to adipocytes. These mechanisms might contribute to the suspected obesogenic effect of MEHP

The genetic consequences of dog breed formation-Accumulation of deleterious genetic variation and fixation of mutations associated with myxomatous mitral valve disease in cavalier King Charles spaniels

Selective breeding for desirable traits in strictly controlled populations has generated an extraordinary diversity in canine morphology and behaviour, but has also led to loss of genetic variation and random entrapment of disease alleles. As a consequence, specific diseases are now prevalent in certain breeds, but whether the recent breeding practice led to an overall increase in genetic load remains unclear. Here we generate whole genome sequencing (WGS) data from 20 dogs per breed from eight breeds and document a similar to 10% rise in the number of derived alleles per genome at evolutionarily conserved sites in the heavily bottlenecked cavalier King Charles spaniel breed (cKCs) relative to in most breeds studied here. Our finding represents the first clear indication of a relative increase in levels of deleterious genetic variation in a specific breed, arguing that recent breeding practices probably were associated with an accumulation of genetic load in dogs. We then use the WGS data to identify candidate risk alleles for the most common cause for veterinary care in cKCs-the heart disease myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). We verify a potential link to MMVD for candidate variants near the heart specific NEBL gene in a dachshund population and show that two of the NEBL candidate variants have regulatory potential in heartderived cell lines and are associated with reduced NEBL isoform nebulette expression in papillary muscle (but not in mitral valve, nor in left ventricular wall). Alleles linked to reduced nebulette expression may hence predispose cKCs and other breeds to MMVD via loss of papillary muscle integrity

Evaluating the association of common APOA2 variants with type 2 diabetes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>APOA2 </it>is a positional and biological candidate gene for type 2 diabetes at the chromosome 1q21-q24 susceptibility locus. The aim of this study was to examine if HapMap phase II tag SNPs in <it>APOA2 </it>are associated with type 2 diabetes and quantitative traits in French Caucasian subjects.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We genotyped the three HapMap phase II tagging SNPs (rs6413453, rs5085 and rs5082) required to capture the common variation spanning the <it>APOA2 </it>locus in our type 2 diabetes case-control cohort comprising 3,093 French Caucasian subjects. The association between these variants and quantitative traits was also examined in the normoglycaemic adults of the control cohort. In addition, meta-analysis of publicly available whole genome association data was performed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>None of the <it>APOA2 </it>tag SNPs were associated with type 2 diabetes in the French Caucasian case-control cohort (rs6413453, <it>P </it>= 0.619; rs5085, <it>P </it>= 0.245; rs5082, <it>P </it>= 0.591). However, rs5082 was marginally associated with total cholesterol levels (<it>P </it>= 0.026) and waist-to-hip ratio (<it>P </it>= 0.029). The meta-analysis of data from 12,387 subjects confirmed our finding that common variation at the <it>APOA2 </it>locus is not associated with type 2 diabetes.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The available data does not support a role for common variants in <it>APOA2 </it>on type 2 diabetes susceptibility or related quantitative traits in Northern Europeans.</p

A look into the future of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe: an expert consultation.

How will the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic develop in the coming months and years? Based on an expert survey, we examine key aspects that are likely to influence the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe. The challenges and developments will strongly depend on the progress of national and global vaccination programs, the emergence and spread of variants of concern (VOCs), and public responses to non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). In the short term, many people remain unvaccinated, VOCs continue to emerge and spread, and mobility and population mixing are expected to increase. Therefore, lifting restrictions too much and too early risk another damaging wave. This challenge remains despite the reduced opportunities for transmission given vaccination progress and reduced indoor mixing in summer 2021. In autumn 2021, increased indoor activity might accelerate the spread again, whilst a necessary reintroduction of NPIs might be too slow. The incidence may strongly rise again, possibly filling intensive care units, if vaccination levels are not high enough. A moderate, adaptive level of NPIs will thus remain necessary. These epidemiological aspects combined with economic, social, and health-related consequences provide a more holistic perspective on the future of the COVID-19 pandemic

Pharmacological Characterization of N-tert-Butyl-NЈ-[2-(4Ј- methylphenylamino)-5-nitrobenzenesulfonyl]urea (BM-573), a Novel Thromboxane A 2 Receptor Antagonist and Thromboxane Synthase Inhibitor in a Rat Model of Arterial Thrombosis and Its Effects on Bl

ABSTRACT The present study was undertaken to characterize the antiplatelet and antithrombotic effects of BM-573 [N-tert-butyl-NЈ-[2-(4Ј-methylphenylamino)-5-nitrobenzenesulfonyl]urea], an original combined thromboxane receptor antagonist and thromboxane synthase inhibitor in rats, and to determine its effects on mice bleeding time. Intraperitoneal injection of a single dose of 5 mg/kg BM-573 to rats inhibited U-46619 (9,11-dideoxy-9,11-methanoepoxy-prostaglandin F 2 )-induced washed platelet aggregation 30 min and 1, 2, and 4 h after drug administration with a maximum antiplatelet effect observed after 1 and 2 h. In a rat model of thrombosis induced by ferric chloride application on the abdominal aorta, BM-573 significantly reduced the thrombus weight by 92.53, 80.20, 64.75, and 18.21% at doses of 5, 2, 0.5, and 0.2 mg/kg, respectively. Time to occlusion of abdominal aorta in the BM-573-treated group (41.50 Ϯ 5.21 min) was significantly prolonged compared with the vehicle-treated rats (16.16 Ϯ 0.79 min). Like furegrelate, seratrodast, and acetylsalicylic acid, BM-573 did not affect the tail bleeding time induced by tail transection in mice compared with vehicle-treated mice. Moreover, BM-573, a close derivative of the loop diuretic torasemide, failed to induce a significant increase in diuresis in rat and did not produce a decrease in blood glucose concentration as observed with the sulfonylurea glibenclamide. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that the nitrobenzenic sulfonylurea BM-573, an original combined thromboxane receptor antagonist and thromboxane synthase inhibitor, is a potent antithrombotic agent that does not affect bleeding time. Moreover, BM-573 lost the diuretic property of torasemide and has no impact on glycemia. The isozymes cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and -2 catalyze the conversion of arachidonic acid into thromboxane A 2 (TXA 2 ) and prostaglandins (PGs). The eicosanoid TXA 2 is the major COX-1 product of arachidonic acid metabolism in platelets