PXR polymorphisms have impact on the clinical efficacy of clopidogrel in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

Antiplatelet effect of ginkgo diterpene lactone meglumine injection in acute ischemic stroke: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial

This study was designed to evaluate antiplatelet effect and therapeutic effect of ginkgo diterpene lactone meglumine injection (GDLI) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we randomly assigned 70 inpatients within 48 hr after the onset of AIS to combination therapy with GDLI and aspirin (GDLI at a dose of 25 mg/d for 14 days plus aspirin at a dose of 100 mg/d for 90 days) or to placebo plus aspirin in a ratio of 1:1. Platelet function, the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) were evaluated. A good outcome was defined as NIHSS scores decrease ≥5 or mRS scores decrease ≥2. Results showed that arachidonic acid induced maximum platelet aggregation rate (AA-MAR) and mean platelet volume (MPV) of the GDLI-aspirin group were much lower than that of the aspirin group (p = 0.013 and p = 0.034, respectively) after the 14-day therapy. The combination of GDLI and aspirin was superior to aspirin alone, and had significant impact on the good outcome at day 90 (ORadj 7.21 [95%CI, 1.03-50.68], p = 0.047). In summary, GDLI has antiplatelet effect and can improve the prognosis of AIS patients.

A preliminary identification of PIN1 SNP linkage in patients with coronary heart disease from Handan, China

Our aim was to perform an initial assessment of the polymorphic patterns of the PIN1 gene in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). The PIN1-encoded protein (Pin1) suppresses eNOS-NO signaling and may impair cardiovascular function. Blood collection, DNA extraction, PCR amplification and gene sequencing were performed for thirty CHD participants living in central China, focusing on nine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Their genetic linkages were revealed and their allele frequencies were compared with SNP data from the NCBI. Three major linkage patterns were identified: [1.rs2287839-5.rs2233682], [3.rs2233679-4.rs1077220-8.rs2287838] and [6.rs889162-7.rs2010457], suggesting correlated involvement in CHD and possible simultaneous genetic origin in ancient times. The frequencies of six SNPs are consistent with the NCBI data, while the frequencies of three SNPs (2.rs2233678, 4.rs1077220 and 9.rs4804461) are not consistent with the NCBI. Especially, the 3.rs2233679-4.rs1077220 linkage is different from other populations worldwide and may be an interesting genetic characteristic of Chinese CHD patients. Predictably, 1.rs2287839, 2.rs2233678, 3.rs2233679 and 5.rs2233682 may be strongly associated with CHD risk, although this requires future verification. The PIN1 SNP linkages lay a new genetic foundation for discovering novel molecular mechanisms of CHD and for exploring PIN1-based targeted treatment of CHD with nitric oxide regulatory therapies in clinical practice.