Statin Therapy for Primary Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation: Guided by CHADS2/CHA2DS2VASc Score

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia and is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The anti-arrhythmic effect of statins on AF prevention appears to be highly significant in most clinical studies. However, some discrepancies do exist among different clinical studies. Different clinical settings and types of stains used may explain these differences between trials. The CHADS2 and CHA2DS2VASc scoring systems have been used for stroke risk stratification in AF patients. The recent study suggested that these scores can also be used to guide statin therapy for AF prevention. Patients with higher scores had a higher risk of developing AF and gained more benefits from statins therapy than those with lower scores. This review article focused on the ability of these scores to predict AF prevention by statins.

Multi-Detector Row Computed Tomographic Evaluation of a Rare Type of Complete Vascular Ring: Double Aortic Arch with Atretic Left Arch Distal to the Origin of Left Subclavian Artery

Double aortic arch with an atretic left arch distal to the origin of left subclavian artery was diagnosed with multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT) in two children with dysphagia. This rare type of complete vascular ring is clinically important because it may be confused with right aortic arch in mirror imaging. Anatomic details of this rare type of complete vascular ring demonstrated on MDCT facilitated appropriate surgical treatment.

Association of ankle-brachial index and pulse wave velocity with stroke in Han, Uighur, and Kazakh population of Xinjiang / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To investigate the relationship between stroke and ankle-brachial index (ABI), pulse wave velocity (PWV) in Han, Uighur, and Kazakh populations of Xinjiang. Methods Data was from the investigation of cardiovascular risk survey (CRS) program among different nationalities in Xinjiang from October 2007 to March 2010. A total of 14 618 samples aged over 35 with complete data dimension were surveyed. Results ( 1 ) There were 633 patients with stroke, including 258 Hans (4.48%), 247 Uighurs (5.18%), and 128 Kazakhs (3.13%). The incidence of stroke was significant different in the three ethnic groups (P＜0.001). (2)Compared to the Han population, the incidence of stroke was higher ( OR= 1.304) in Uighur but lower (OR=0.794) in Kazakh. (3) PWV was significant different between stroke and non-stroke patients. After adjustment for age, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, triglyceride, total cholesterol and other risk factors, the difference remained significant, indicating that PWV (OR=1.001, P＜0.001) might associate with the occurrence of stroke. Conclusion The results of this study showed that the incidence of stroke was significantly different in the three ethnic groups. PWV might associate with the occurrence of stroke.

Uniform deletion junctions of complete azoospermia factor region c deletion in infertile men in Taiwan / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>AIM</b>To determine the deletion junctions of infertile men in Taiwan with azoospermia factor region c (AZFc) deletions and to evaluate the genotype/phenotype correlation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Genomic DNAs from 460 infertile men were examined. Bacterial artificial chromosome clones were used to verify the accuracy of polymerase chain reaction. Deletion junctions of the AZFc region were determined by analysis of sequence-tagged sites and gene-specific markers.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Complete AZFc deletions, including BPY2, CDY1 and DAZ genes, were identified in 24 men. The proximal breakpoints were clustered between sY1197 and sY1192, and the distal breakpoints were clustered between sY1054 and sY1125 in all but one of the 24 men. The testicular phenotypes of men with complete AZFc deletion varied from oligozoospermia, to hypospermatogenesis, to maturation arrest.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>We identified a group of infertile men with uniform deletion junctions of AZFc in the Taiwan population. Despite this homogeneous genetic defect in the AZFc region, no clear genotype/phenotype correlation could be demonstrated.</p>