The prognostic significance of statin therapy in acute myocardial infarction patients with left ventricular dysfunction / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Statins reduce mortality of patients with coronary artery disease. However, many trials have excluded patients with ischemic heart failure. Statins may have other beneficial effects besides cholesterol lowering, such as anti-inflammatory properties and improvement of endothelial function. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of statin therapy in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. METHODS: We studied 202 patients with AMI with LV dysfunction [ejection fraction (EF) below 40%] between January 2001 and June 2002. The patients were divided into two groups: Group I (n=106, 60.8 +/- 10.3 years, male 71.7%) who were treated with simvastatin and Group II (n=96, 60.9 +/- 10.4 years, male 78.1%) who were not treated with simvastatin. RESULTS: At six-month after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), LVEF was more improved in Group I than in Group II (30.8 +/- 10.0% to 42.4 +/- 10.7% vs 31.9% to 38.9%, p=0.042). The levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol were more decreased and the level of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol was more increased in Group I than in Group II. The levels of C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, white blood cell and monocyte count were more decreased in Group I than in Group II. During one-year clinical follow-up, statin therapy was associated with a significant reduction in mortality (1.9% vs 7.5%, p=0.048), restenosis rate (25.7% vs 43.1%, p=0.033) and repeat PCI rate (25.7% vs 43.1%, p=0.033). The event-free survival rate was higher in Group I than in Group II (79.8% vs 57.0%, p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Statin therapy improves LV systolic function and decreases mortality, restenosis and repeat PCI in the AMI with LV dysfunction.

A Comparison Study of Metaphase Analysis of Chromosomal Aberration and Flow Cytometric Assessment of Radiation- induced Apoptosis in Human Peripheral Lymphocytes / 대한핵의학회잡지

PURPOSE: Radiation-induced chromosomal damage and apoptosis were compared in human lymphocytes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Peripheral lymphocytes from 10 normal volunteers (6 males, 4 females, age range 23~41 years) were irradiated by gamma rays from a cell irradiator. Doses of irradiation were 0 (control), 0.18, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 25 Gy. Irradiated lymphocytes were examined by metaphase analysis for chromosomal aberrations and by flow cytometry for apoptosis. RESULTS of both studies were compared according to dose. RESULTS: Number of dicentric and ring chromosomes (D+R) was 0.5+/-0.53 at baseline, which was significantly increased after radiation according to the dose. The fraction of cells showing annexin V-fluore-scein isothiocyanate uptake was 0.55+/-0.39%, which increased to 3.58+/-1.85% by 2 Gy irradiation, and then decreased. The fraction of cells showing propidium iodide (PI) uptake was 0.52+/-0.12%, which significantly increased according to dose (upto 15.64+/-5.99% by 20 Gy irradiation). D+R and PI uptake were well correlated (r=0.84, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Radiation-induced chromosomal aberration was correlated to nuclear uptake of PI, a marker of late apoptosis.