Hypocomplementemic Urticarial Vasculitis in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Urticarial vasculitis is characterized clinically by urticarial skin lesions and histologically by leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis is associated with connective tissue diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We report a case of urticarial vasculitis that preceded manifestations of SLE

Monotherapy versus combination therapy of statin and renin–angiotensin system inhibitor in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

Background: The beneficial effects of statin and renin–angiotensin system inhibitor (RASI) are well-known. In this retrospective cohort study,  2-year clinical outcomes were compared between monotherapy and combination therapy with statin and RASI in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients after stent implantation. Methods: A total of 17,414 STEMI patients were enrolled and divided into the three groups (group A: 2448 patients, statin alone; group B: 2431 patients, RASI alone; and group C: 12,535 patients, both statin and RASI). The principal clinical endpoint was the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) defined as all-cause death, recurrent myocardial infarction, and any repeat revascularization. Results: After adjustment, the cumulative incidences of MACEs in group A (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.337; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.064–1.679; p = 0.013) and in group B (aHR 1.375; 95% CI 1.149–1.646; p = 0.001) were significantly higher than in group C. The cumulative incidence of all-cause death in group A was significantly higher than that in group C (aHR 1.539; 95% CI 1.014–2.336; p = 0.043). The cumulative incidences of any repeat revascularization (aHR 1.317; 95% CI 1.031–1.681; p = 0.028), target lesion vascularization, and target vessel vascularization in group B were significantly higher than in group C. Conclusions: A Statin and RASI combination therapy significantly reduced the cumulative incidence of MACEs compared with a monotherapy of these drugs. Moreover, the combination therapy showed a reduced all-cause death rate compared with statin monotherapy, and a decreased repeat revascularization rate compared with RASI monotherapy

Sex difference after acute myocardial infarction patients with a history of current smoking and long-term clinical outcomes: Results of KAMIR Registry

Background: The contribution of sex as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease still remains controversial. The present study investigated the impact of sex on long-term clinical outcomes in Korean acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients with a history of current smoking on admission after drug-eluting stents (DESs). Methods: A total of 12,565 AMI patients (male: n = 11767 vs. female: n = 798) were enrolled. Major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) comprising all-cause death, recurrent myocardial infarction (Re-MI), and any repeat revascularization were the primary outcomes that were compared between the two groups. Probable or definite stent thrombosis (ST) was the secondary outcome. Results: After adjustment, the early (30 days) cumulative incidences of MACEs (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 1.457; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.021–2.216; p = 0.035) and all-cause death (aHR: 1.699; 95% CI: 1.074–2.687; p = 0.023) were significantly higher in the female group than in the male group. At 2 years, the cumulative incidences of all-cause death (aHR: 1.561; 95% CI: 1.103–2.210; p = 0.012) and Re-MI (aHR: 1.880; 95% CI: 1.089–2.974; p = 0.022) were significantly higher in the female group than in the male group. However, the cumulative incidences of ST were similar between the two groups (aHR: 1.207; 95% CI: 0.583–2.497; p = 0.613). Conclusions: The female group showed worse short-term and long-term clinical outcomes compared with the male group comprised of Korean AMI patients with a history of current smoking after successful DES implantation. However, further studies are required to confirm these results

ST-elevation versus non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction after combined use of statin with renin–angiotensin system inhibitor: Data from the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry

Background: Limited data are available comparing the combined effects of statins and renin–angiotensin system inhibitor (RASI) between patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and those with non-STEMI (NSTEMI). We compared the effects of statins combined with RASI in STEMI and NSTEMI patients after stent implantation during a long-term follow-up period. Methods: A total of 21,890 acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients who underwent successful stent implantation and who received statins with RASI were enrolled. They were separated into the STEMI group (n = 12,490) and the NSTEMI group (n = 9400). The major clinical endpoint was the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) defined as all-cause death, recurrent myocardial infarction (Re-MI), and any repeat revascularization. Results: Two propensity score-matched (PSM) groups (5891 pairs, n = 11782, C-statistic = 0.821) were generated. Even though the cumulative incidences of MACE, re-MI, total repeat revascularization were similar between the two groups, the cumulative incidences of all-cause death (hazard ratio [HR] 1.407; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.106–1.790; p = 0.005) and cardiac death (HR 1.311; 95% CI 1.983–1.749; p = 0.046) were significantly higher in the NSTEMI group. Conclusions: In this study, statin with RASI combination therapy was more beneficial to the STEMI patients than to the NSTEMI patients in reducing all-cause death and cardiac death

Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors versus angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers in patients with acute myocardial infarction and prediabetes after successful implantation of newer-generation drug-eluting stents

Background: Because limited data are available, the present study investigated 2-year major clinical outcomes after angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers (ARBs) therapy in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and prediabetes after successful implantation of newer-generation drug-eluting stents (DESs). Methods: Overall, 2932 patients with AMI and prediabetes were classified into two groups — the ACEIs group (n = 2059) and the ARBs group (n = 873). The primary endpoint was the occurrence of patient-oriented composite outcome (POCO), defined as all-cause death, recurrent myocardial infarction (Re-MI), or any repeat revascularization. The secondary endpoint was definite or probable stent thrombosis (ST). Results: The cumulative incidences of POCO (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 1.020; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.740–1.404; p = 0.906), all-cause death (aHR: 1.394; 95% CI: 0.803–2.419; p = 0.238), Re-MI (aHR: 1.210; 95% CI: 0.626–2.340; p = 0.570), any repeat revascularization (aHR: 1.150; 95% CI: 0.713–1.855; p = 0.568), and ST (aHR: 1.736; 95% CI: 0.445–6.766; p = 0.427) were similar between the groups. These results were confirmed after propensity score-adjusted analysis. Conclusions: In this study, patients with AMI and prediabetes who received ACEIs or ARBs showed comparable clinical outcomes during the 2-year follow-up period

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus (H5N1) in Domestic Poultry and Relationship with Migratory Birds, South Korea

During the 2006–2007 winter season in South Korea, several outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1) were confirmed among domestic poultry and in migratory bird habitats. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all isolates were closely related and that all belong to the A/bar-headed goose/Qinghai/5/2005–like lineage rather than the A/chicken/Korea/ES/2003–like lineage

Efficacy of two different self-expanding nitinol stents for atherosclerotic femoropopliteal arterial disease (SENS-FP trial): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: There have been few randomized control trials comparing the incidence of stent fracture and primary patency among different self-expanding nitinol stents to date. The SMART™ CONTROL stent (Cordis Corp, Miami Lakes, Florida, United States) has a peak-to-valley bridge and inline interconnection, whereas the COMPLETE™-SE stent (Medtronic Vascular, Santa Rosa, California, United States) crowns have been configured to minimize crown-to-crown interaction, increasing the stent's flexibility without compromising radial strength. Further, the 2011 ESC (European society of cardiology) guidelines recommend that dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and a thienopyridine such as clopidogrel should be administered for at least one month after infrainguinal bare metal stent implantation. Cilostazol has been reported to reduce intimal hyperplasia and subsequent repeat revascularization. To date, there has been no randomized study comparing the safety and efficacy of two different antiplatelet regimens, clopidogrel and cilostazol, following successful femoropopliteal stenting. METHODS/DESIGN: The primary purpose of our study is to examine the incidence of stent fracture and primary patency between two different major representative self-expanding nitinol stents (SMART™ CONTROL versus COMPLETE™-SE) in stenotic or occlusive femoropopliteal arterial lesion. The secondary purpose is to examine whether there is any difference in efficacy and safety between aspirin plus clopidogrel versus aspirin plus cilostazol for one month following stent implantation in femoropopliteal lesions. This is a prospective, randomized, multicenter trial to assess the efficacy of the COMPLETE™-SE versus SMART™ CONTROL stent for provisional stenting after balloon angioplasty in femoropopliteal arterial lesions. The study design is a 2x2 randomization design and a total of 346 patients will be enrolled. The primary endpoint of this study is the rate of binary restenosis in the treated segment at 12 months after intervention as determined by catheter angiography or duplex ultrasound. DISCUSSION: This trial will provide powerful insight into whether the design of the COMPLETE™-SE stent is more fracture-resistant or effective in preventing restenosis compared with the SMART™ CONTROL stent. Also, it will determine the efficacy and safety of aspirin plus clopidogrel versus aspirin plus cilostazol in patients undergoing stent implantation in femoropopliteal lesions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registered on 2 April 2012 with the National Institutes of Health Clinical Trials Registry (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier# NCT01570803)

Transcriptional regulatory networks of tumor-associated macrophages that drive malignancy in mesenchymal glioblastoma.

BACKGROUND: Glioblastoma (GBM) is a complex disease with extensive molecular and transcriptional heterogeneity. GBM can be subcategorized into four distinct subtypes; tumors that shift towards the mesenchymal phenotype upon recurrence are generally associated with treatment resistance, unfavorable prognosis, and the infiltration of pro-tumorigenic macrophages. RESULTS: We explore the transcriptional regulatory networks of mesenchymal-associated tumor-associated macrophages (MA-TAMs), which drive the malignant phenotypic state of GBM, and identify macrophage receptor with collagenous structure (MARCO) as the most highly differentially expressed gene. MARCO CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, our study characterizes the global transcriptional profile of TAMs driving mesenchymal GBM pathogenesis, providing potential therapeutic targets for improving the effectiveness of GBM immunotherapy

Women with endometriosis have higher comorbidities: Analysis of domestic data in Taiwan

AbstractEndometriosis, defined by the presence of viable extrauterine endometrial glands and stroma, can grow or bleed cyclically, and possesses characteristics including a destructive, invasive, and metastatic nature. Since endometriosis may result in pelvic inflammation, adhesion, chronic pain, and infertility, and can progress to biologically malignant tumors, it is a long-term major health issue in women of reproductive age. In this review, we analyze the Taiwan domestic research addressing associations between endometriosis and other diseases. Concerning malignant tumors, we identified four studies on the links between endometriosis and ovarian cancer, one on breast cancer, two on endometrial cancer, one on colorectal cancer, and one on other malignancies, as well as one on associations between endometriosis and irritable bowel syndrome, one on links with migraine headache, three on links with pelvic inflammatory diseases, four on links with infertility, four on links with obesity, four on links with chronic liver disease, four on links with rheumatoid arthritis, four on links with chronic renal disease, five on links with diabetes mellitus, and five on links with cardiovascular diseases (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, etc.). The data available to date support that women with endometriosis might be at risk of some chronic illnesses and certain malignancies, although we consider the evidence for some comorbidities to be of low quality, for example, the association between colon cancer and adenomyosis/endometriosis. We still believe that the risk of comorbidity might be higher in women with endometriosis than that we supposed before. More research is needed to determine whether women with endometriosis are really at risk of these comorbidities