Association between miRNA-499 gene polymorphism and autoimmune diseases: A meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The association between miRNA-499 rs3746444 and a variety of autoimmune diseases has been reported. However, these results were contradictory and just focused on one or two autoimmune diseases. The present study aims to examine the possible association between rs3746444 polymorphism and the risk of autoimmune diseases. METHODS: The studies that evaluated the association between miRNA-499 gene polymorphism and autoimmune diseases were retrieved. Five different genetic models were used to evaluate the association. The random-effects model was used to pool the effect sizes. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to estimate the associations. Stratification analyses were performed by ethnicity and type of autoimmune diseases. False-positive report probability (FPRP) was performed for determining noteworthy associations. RESULTS: Seventeen articles (twenty studies) involving 4,376 cases and 4,991 controls were identified and included in our meta-analysis. The pooled ORs of all eligible case-control studies indicated a significant association between miRNA-499 gene polymorphism and autoimmune diseases: (T vs. C: OR = 0.877; 95% CI: 0.774, 0.993; P = 0.039). Stratified analysis indicated a significant association across both Caucasian (TT vs. TC+CC: OR = 0.779; 95% CI: 0.622, 0.976; P = 0.030) and Asian (T vs. C: OR = 0.895; 95% CI: 0.808, 0.992; P = 0.035) populations. There was also a significant association in Behcet's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and ulcerative colitis populations. CONCLUSIONS: Our meta-analysis suggested that the miRNA-499 rs3746444 polymorphism was associated with an elevated risk of autoimmune diseases in the overall analysis as well as Caucasian and Asian populations.

Atypical de Winter ECG pattern may be the mirror image of ST elevation.

BACKGROUND: The de Winter ECG pattern of ST-segment depression and tall symmetrical T waves, known as an ST elevation equivalent, accounts for approximately 2% of patients with occlusion of the proximal left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. The classic de Winter pattern is restricted to cases without ST elevation. However, mixed cases with different types of ST deviation have been described. Here, we describe an interesting case as an example of an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) equivalent, showing transient transmural ischemia of the inferolateral myocardium, with ECG changes that mimic the de Winter pattern.

Dynamic evolvement of the de Winter ECG pattern.

The de Winter electrocardiograph (ECG) pattern in patients with chest pain is associated with occlusion of the proximal left anterior descending (LAD) artery. These patterns were once considered stable conditions, without dynamic evolution of ECG. Recently, several case reports have indicated that this ECG pattern may evolve into ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) or may follow the ECG manifestations of STEMI. However, our case report reveals a dynamic evolution from the de Winter pattern to STEMI and then to a normal ECG pattern.

Effects of perioperative statins on patient outcomes after noncardiac surgery: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular complications are strongly correlated with a higher risk of mortality during follow-up after noncardiac surgery. However, controversy remains regarding whether perioperative administration of hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) has a beneficial effect on patient outcomes. OBJECTIVE: We performed a meta-analysis to validate the hypothesis that perioperative statins improve patient outcomes after noncardiac surgery. METHODS: Electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library) were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published up to 10 November 2017. RCTs were eligible for inclusion if they compared perioperative statin treatment with control treatment in patients scheduled for noncardiac surgery and reported data pertaining to clinical outcomes. RESULTS: Twelve RCTs involving 4707 patients (2371 in the perioperative statin group and 2336 in the control group) were ultimately included in this meta-analysis. The incidences of postoperative myocardial infarction, composite of death/myocardial infarction/stroke and new cases of atrial fibrillation were all lower in patients treated with statins than in control group patients, as shown by the fixed-effects model (odds ratio (OR) = 0.460, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.324-0.653, p = 0 for myocardial infarction; OR = 0.617, 95% CI = 0.476-0.801, p = 0 for composite of death/myocardial infarction/stroke; OR = 0.406, 95% CI = 0.247-0.666, p = 0 for new atrial fibrillation). No significant differences in the incidences of stroke or transient ischemic attack, all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality were observed between the statin and control arms. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis supports the hypothesis that perioperative statins effectively reduce the incidences of postoperative myocardial infarction, composite of death/myocardial infarction/stroke and new cases of atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. Key Messages Cardiovascular complications are strongly correlated with a higher risk of mortality during follow-up after noncardiac surgery. We performed a meta-analysis to confirm the hypothesis that perioperative statins improve patient outcomes after noncardiac surgery.

Influence of crocetin on high-cholesterol diet induced atherosclerosis in rats via anti-oxidant activity together with inhibition of inflammatory response and p38 MAPK signaling pathway.

The present study aimed to investigate the effect and possible mechanism of action of crocetin on the high cholesterol diet (HCD) induced atherosclerosis rat. The Wistar rats were used in the current investigation. The rats were divided into following group, Group I: control, Group II: HCD induced AS, Group III: AS + crocetin (25 mg/kg), Group IV: AS + crocetin (50 mg/kg) and Group V: AS + Simvastatin, respectively. AS was induced in the rats using the vitamin D3 and HCD. The rats received the pre-determined treatment for the 10 weeks. After the study period, the level of lipid profile, malonaldehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were also estimated. The proinflammatory cytokines viz., tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 were scrutinized using the ELISA kits. We also estimated the expression of phosphorylated p38 (p-p38) MAPK using the Western blot techniques. The results revealed that the AS was successfully induced in the rats. The AS control group rats showed the modulated level of lipid profile, and decreased the level of the SOD and boost the level of the MDA as compared with the normal control. However, crocetin thrived in enhancing the lipid profile toward the standard value in the normal control group rats. The crocetin and simvastatin group rats significantly inhibited the expression of the p-p38 MAPK as compared to the AS group rats. In conclusion, the current investigation revealed that the crocetin reduced the HCD induced dyslipidemia in the Wistar rats, the possible mechanism of action may be connected to the antioxidative, down regulating of p-p38 MAPK and antiinflammatory effect by crocetin.

An updated meta-analysis of 23 case-control studies on the association between miR-34b/c polymorphism and cancer risk.

The association between in microRNA-34b/c gene rs4938723 polymorphisms and cancer risk remains inconclusive. This meta-analysis was performed to analyze the association between microRNA-34b/c rs4938723 polymorphism and risk for cancer development. In total, 304 studies from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Wanfang, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure databases were examined, and 23 studies were included in this meta-analysis. The 23 selected studies involved 10,812 cancer cases and 11,719 controls. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to measure the strength of the association. Our results indicate a significant association between the rs4938723 polymorphism and cancer risk in the overdominant model (P heterogeneity = 0.018, OR = 1.093, and 95% CI = 1.015-1.177 for CT vs. CC/TT). Using a stratified subgroup analysis, rs4938723 polymorphisms were associated with an increased risk for hepatocellular carcinoma, but decreased risk for colorectal, gastric, and esophageal squamous cell cancer. These findings indicate that the rs4938723 gene is a susceptible locus for cancer.

Associations of MMP-2, BAX, and Bcl-2 mRNA and Protein Expressions with Development of Atrial Fibrillation.

BACKGROUND To examine changes of mRNA and protein expressions of MMP-2, Bcl-2, and BAX in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients, and investigate the correlations among these 3 biomarkers. MATERIAL AND METHODS Rheumatic heart disease patients (n=158) undergoing cardiac surgical procedures for mitral valve repair or replacement were included as the AF group (n=123), containing paroxysmal AF (n=42), persistent AF (n=36), and permanent AF (n=45). Rheumatic heart disease patients with sinus rhythm (SR) (n=35) were enrolled as the SR group (control group). Immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were applied to detect the protein and mRNA expression levels of MMP-2, Bcl-2, and BAX. Apoptosis was observed with light and electron microscopes and detected by TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL). RESULTS Compared with the SR group, the left atrial diameters (LADs), protein and mRNA expression levels of MMP-2 and BAX, apoptotic index (AI), and Bcl-2/BAX ratio were evidently increased in the 3 AF groups, but protein and mRNA expression levels of Bcl-2 decreased in the AF groups (all P<0.05). Correlation analysis found that MMP-2 protein expression levels was positively correlated with BAX expression, but negatively correlated with Bcl-2 expression levels. CONCLUSIONS Our study results suggest that elevated MMP-2 expression and disturbance balance of Bcl-2/BAX expressions may be associated with the development and maintenance of AF. MMP-2 may be involved in the development of AF through promoting BAX expressions and inhibiting Bcl-2.

Does short preoperative statin therapy prevent infectious complications in adults undergoing cardiac or non-cardiac surgery? A meta-analysis of 5 randomized placebo-controlled trials.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of preoperative statin therapy on the incidence of postoperative infection.  METHODS: This systematic review of the literature was carried out in August 2015. Studies were retrieved via PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library (1980 to 2015), and the reference files were limited to English-language articles. We used a standardized protocol, and a meta-analysis was performed for data abstraction.  RESULTS: Five studies comprising 1,362 patients qualified for the analysis. The incidence of postoperative infections in the statin group (1.1%) was not significantly lower than that in the placebo group (2.4%), with a risk ratio (RR) of 0.56 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.24-1.33, p=0.19). Patients of 3 studies underwent cardiac surgery. The aggregated results of these studies failed to show significant differences in postoperative infection when a fixed effects model was used (RR: 0.39; 95% CI: 0.08-1.97, p=0.26].   CONCLUSIONS: We failed to find sufficient evidence to support the association between statin use and postoperative infectious complications. The absence of any evidence for a beneficial effect in available randomized trials reduces the likelihood of a causal effect as reported in observational studies.