Association between statin therapy and long-term clinical outcomes in patients with stable coronary disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

This longitudinal cohort study examined the long-term effect of statin therapy on clinical outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). A total of 1760 patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) were divided by receipt of statin therapy or not after index PCI. Baseline clinical characteristics, risk factors, angiographic findings, and medications after interventional procedure were assessed to compare long-term clinical outcomes between groups. Predictors for all-cause death and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including myocardial infarction (MI), cardiovascular death, and repeated PCI procedures, were also analyzed. The statin therapy group had higher average serum cholesterol and more elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) than the non-statin therapy group (189.0 ± 47.9 vs 169.3 ± 37.00 mg/dl, 117.2 ± 42.6 vs 98.7 ± 31.8 mg/dl, respectively, both P < 0.001). The non-statin group had higher rates of all-cause death and cardiovascular death compared to statin group (both P < 0.001). After adjustment for age, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease, Cox proportion hazard analysis revealed statin use significantly reduced all-cause death and repeated PCI procedure (hazard ratio: 0.53 and 0.69, respectively). Statin use seemed not reduce the hazard of cardiovascular death or MI in patients with stable CAD after PCI; however, statin therapy still was associated with reduced rates of all-cause death and repeat PCI procedure.

Effects of substrate and potassium on the betaine-synthesizing enzyme glycine sarcosine dimethylglycine N-methyltransferase from a halophilic methanoarchaeon Methanohalophilus portucalensis.

Methanohalophilus portucalensis FDF1 can synthesize the compatible solute betaine de novo through the methylation of glycine, sarcosine and dimethylglycine with the methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine. After separation by DEAE-Sephacel ion chromatography using a KCl step gradient, glycine, sarcosine and dimethylglycine methytransfer (GSDMT) activities were detected in a single peak. The estimated molecular weight of GSDMT was 240 kDa and 2-D gel analysis indicated it was separated into four subunits (52 kDa) with different pI. The PBE94 chromatofocusing column also separated GSDMT into four protein peaks A, B, C, D. Both peak B and D proteins possessed GSDMT activity, while the peak A protein only exhibited SDMT activity. The multiple methyltransferase activities of the large complex appear to be unique compared to other methyltransferases used in betaine synthesis. Further methyltransferase assays in response to different concentrations of KCl indicated that the peak D protein exhibited low GSDMT activity only when K(+) < or = 0.4 M. The peak B protein exhibited a higher GSDMT activity at 0.4 M K(+), while the peak A protein exhibited SDMT activity only at higher K(+) (0.8 M). These results suggest that the internal K(+) concentration regulates GSDMT activities and affects the net betaine accumulation in the cells.

Methanocalculus taiwanensis sp. nov., isolated from an estuarine environment.

Two novel hydrogenotrophic methanogens, designated strains P2F9704aT and P2F9705, were isolated from an estuary in Eriln Shi, Taiwan. The cells of strain P2F9704aT were non-motile, irregular cocci 0.9-1.4 microm in diameter. They stained gram-negative. The cells catabolized formate and H2+CO2 to produce methane, but did not utilize acetate, methanol, trimethylamine, ethanol or secondary alcohols as methanogenic substrates. The optimal growth parameters for strain P2F9704aT were pH 6.7, 37 degrees C and 0.5% NaCl. Acetate was required for cell growth even though it was not a substrate for methanogenesis. The trace element tungsten was not required but slightly stimulated the growth of strain P2F9704aT. However, tungsten extended the growth ranges relating to temperature, pH and salt. The sequences of the 16S rRNA genes of strains P2F9704aT and P2F9705 were nearly identical and possessed 99.1 and 98.5% similarity to the genes of Methanocalculus pumilus and Methanocalculus halotolerans, respectively. In addition, strain P2F9704aT possessed 14 and 12% DNA relatedness with respect to Methanocalculus pumilus and Methanocalculus halotolerans, respectively. In addition, the optimal salt concentrations, the cellular protein profiles and the molecular masses of surface-layer protein subunits of strain P2F9704aT were different from those of the other two known Methanocalculus species. On the basis of these observations, it is proposed that these two organisms should be placed in a new species, namely Methanocalculus taiwanensis. The type strain is P2F9704aT (= OCM 671T = CCRC 16182T = DSM 14663T).