Effects of statins beyond lipid lowering: Potential for clinical benefits

Lipid-core nanocapsules containing simvastatin do not affect the biochemical and hematological indicators of toxicity in rats

Our research group previously studied the effectiveness of lipid-core nanocapsules (LNC) containing simvastatin (SV-LNC) in treating cognitive impairment in rats. While our results were promising, we needed to evaluate the potential toxicity of the nanoparticles themselves. This study aimed to compare the biochemical and hematological parameters of adult Wistar rats receiving LNC or SV-LNC to those receiving low doses of simvastatin crystals dispersed in a saline solution over 45 days. We discovered that LNC and SV-LNC, which are both nanometers in size with low polydispersity index, negative zeta potential, and high SV encapsulation efficacy, were not more toxic than SV crystals based on various biochemical markers of hepatic, pancreatic, renal, mineral, bony, alkaline phosphatase, glucose, and uric acid damage. Furthermore, LNC exhibited no toxicity for hematological parameters, including red and white blood cell counts. Based on this animal model of toxicological study, our findings suggest that long-term administration of LNC is a safe and promising nanocarrier.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Lipid-Lowering Drugs and Supplements-A Narrative Review

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death worldwide. Since the establishment of the "lipid hypothesis", according to which, cholesterol level is directly correlated to the risk of CVD, many different lipid-lowering agents have been introduced in clinical practice. A majority of these drugs, in addition to their lipid-lowering properties, may also exhibit some anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities. This hypothesis was based on the observation that a decrease in lipid levels occurs along with a decrease in inflammation. Insufficient reduction in the inflammation during treatment with lipid-lowering drugs could be one of the explanations for treatment failure and recurrent CVD events. Thus, the aim of this narrative review was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory properties of currently available lipid-lowering medications including statins, ezetimibe, bile acid sequestrants (BAS), proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors, fibrates, omega-3 fatty acids, and niacin, as well as dietary supplements and novel drugs used in modern times.

Antioxidant Effects of Statins by Modulating Nrf2 and Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling in Different Diseases

Statins are competitive inhibitors of hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase and have been used to treat elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) for almost four decades. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which are independent of the lipid-lowering effects of statins, i.e., their pleiotropic effects, might be beneficial in the prevention or treatment of many diseases. This review discusses the antioxidant effects of statins achieved by modulating the nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2/ heme oxygenase-1 (Nrf2/HO-1) pathway in different organs and diseases. Nrf2 and other proteins involved in the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway have a crucial role in cellular responses to oxidative stress, which is a risk factor for ASCVD. Statins can significantly increase the DNA-binding activity of Nrf2 and induce the expression of its target genes, such as HO-1 and glutathione peroxidase) GPx, (thus protecting the cells against oxidative stress. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of statins, which are independent of their lipid-lowering effects, could be partly explained by the modulation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

Lipid-lowering drug adherence and combination therapy effects on gastrointestinal cancer in patients with dyslipidemia without diabetes: a retrospective cohort study in South Korea

BACKGROUND

In aging populations, the number of people with high cholesterol levels is increasing. Appropriate management of high cholesterol levels with drugs such as statins may prevent secondary diseases. Despite many studies on the effects of statins on various types of cancer, the effectiveness of lipid-lowering therapy in preventing cancer remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate its long-term effect on developing gastrointestinal (GI) cancer in patients with dyslipidemia.

METHODS

This study used the National Health Insurance Sampling (NHIS) cohort data (2002-2015), which included patients with dyslipidemia without diabetes, and measured patients' adherence to lipid-lowering therapy using the medication possession ratio. We used the Cox proportional hazard ratio (HR) to identify the association between the continuity of lipid-lowering therapy and the risk of GI cancer. We also evaluated the association between a combination of lipid-lowering drugs and a reduced risk of GI cancer.

RESULTS

A total of 49,351 patients were diagnosed with dyslipidemia, of which 579 were diagnosed with GI cancer. Patients with higher adherence to lipid-lowering therapy had a significantly reduced risk of GI cancer compared to patients without drugs, and high adherence was associated with a reduced incidence of all types of GI cancer. Specifically, the combination of statins and ezetimibe or fibrates appears to reduce GI cancer risk effectively. Overall, the continuity of lipid-lowering therapy had a protective effect on GI cancer in middle-aged and elderly patients with dyslipidemia compared to non-users.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that the continuity of lipid-lowering therapy is vital in patients with dyslipidemia. In addition, for individuals vulnerable to GI cancer, combination therapy may be associated with more effective protection against GI cancer. Healthcare providers need patient education and monitoring to improve drug adherence in patients with dyslipidemia.

Effect of Statins on Serum level of hs-CRP and CRP in Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Background. Several studies have reported that statins have anti-inflammatory effects. Nevertheless, results of clinical trials concerning the effect of statins on the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) have been inconsistent. Therefore, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) evaluating the effect of statins on CRP and hs-CRP levels in patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Methods. Literature search of the major databases was performed to find eligible RCTs assessing the effect of statins on serum levels of CRP and hs-CRP from the inception until the last week of April 2021. The effect sizes were determined for weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results. 26 studies were identified (3010 patients and 2968 controls) for hs-CRP and 20 studies (3026 patients and 2968 controls) for CRP. Statins reduced the serum levels of hs-CRP ( $\text{WMD}=-0.97\text{mg}/\text{L}$ ; 95% CI: -1.26 to -0.68 mg/L; $P<0.001$ ) and CRP ( $\text{WMD}=-3.05\text{mg}/\text{L}$ ; 95% CI: -4.86 to -1.25 mg/L; $P<0.001$ ) in patients with CVDs. Statins decreased the serum levels of hs-CRP in patients receiving both high-intensity and moderate/low-intensity treatments with these drugs. In addition, the duration of treatment longer than 10 weeks decreased hs-CRP levels. Only high-intensity statin treatment could marginally decrease serum levels of CRP in CVDs patients. Conclusions. This meta-analysis showed the efficacy of statins to reduce the concentrations of CRP and hs-CRP in patients with different types of CVDs.

Post-Diagnostic Statin Use Reduces Mortality in South Korean Patients with Dyslipidemia and Gastrointestinal Cancer

Background: Statins play a role in lowering serum cholesterol and are known to have pleiotropic effects in a variety of diseases, including cancer. Despite the beneficial effects of statins in dyslipidemia patients, the treatment rate for dyslipidemia in Korea remains low, and evidence supporting the continued use of statins is lacking. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of continued statin use and dosage on patient mortality after diagnosis of dyslipidemia and gastrointestinal (GI) cancer. Methods: We used data from the National Health Insurance Sampling (NHIS) cohort to evaluate patients diagnosed with dyslipidemia from 2002 to 2015. A total of 901 GI cancer patients with dyslipidemia and 62,727 non-cancer dyslipidemia patients were included in the study. During the study period, each patient’s medication possession ratio (MPR) after diagnosis was evaluated as a measure of continued statin use. Statin dosage was measured based on a defined daily dose (DDD). Finally, we used Cox-proportional hazard ratios to identify associations between the continual use of statins and mortality in patients with dyslipidemia and GI cancer. Results: In our study, mortality decreased with increasing MPR and reached significance in MPRs exceeding 50% for GI cancer patients and 75% for dyslipidemia patients compared to patients that did not use statins. Moreover, patients with high MPRs had significantly reduced 5-year mortality compared to non-users, and cause-specific mortality analyses revealed that high MPR was associated with decreased colorectal cancer death. We did not find a significant dose–response relationship between statins and mortality. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that continued statin use after diagnosis is associated with reduced patient mortality. Altogether, these results support the continued use of statins in dyslipidemia patients with and without GI cancer and highlight the importance of patient education by healthcare providers.

Grape seed extract improved the fertility-enhancing effect of atorvastatin in high-fat diet-induced testicular injury in rats: involvement of antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects

Objectives

Reduced male fertility is highly prevalent with hypercholesterolaemia. Though statins are drugs of choice for hypercholesterolaemia, their effect on male fertility is still controversial and dose-dependent. Grape seed extract (GSE) possess hypocholesterolemic and testicular protective effects. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effects of low-dose atorvastatin (ATV) on male infertility in hypercholesterolaemic rats and assess the additional value of combining ATV with GSE.

Methods

Male rats were randomized into four groups. The normal group was fed a standard diet. The remaining groups were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 1 month to induce hypercholesterolaemia. Two HFD groups were administered either ATV (1 mg/kg) alone or combined with GSE (200 mg/kg) orally for 65 days, while the third group served as HFD control.

Key findings

Treatment with ATV or ATV/GSE attenuated dyslipidemia-induced alteration in serum HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and total cholesterol. ATV enhanced serum testosterone, sperm count and motility and fertility index. The effect on testosterone and sperm count was more pronounced by ATV/GSE. Moreover, ATV reduced testicular malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, caspase-9 and caspase-3 while elevated reduced glutathione and superoxide dismutase along with catalase activity. Noteworthy, GSE/ATV induced more powerful antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects.

Conclusion

GSE enhanced ATV’s protective effect against hypercholesterolaemia-induced infertility via antioxidant and anti-apoptotic mechanisms.

Association between statin use and second cancer risk in breast cancer patients: a nationwide population-based cohort study

PURPOSE

Many studies have revealed that statin therapy reduced mortality in cancer patients, especially in breast cancer, but the effect for second cancer was unclear. We, therefore, performed a comparable cohort study to determine the risk of second cancer in breast cancer patients with statin therapy.

METHODS

Using claims data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Program, this study enrolled newly diagnosed breast cancer patients from 2000 to 2007 with and without statin therapy as the statin (n = 1222) and nonstatin (n = 4888) cohorts, respectively. The nonstatin cohort was propensity score matched by cohort entry year, age, and randomly selected comorbidities. These two cohorts were followed up until the diagnosis of second cancer, death, or the end of 2011. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the hazard ratios.

RESULTS

The statin cohort had a lower incidence rate than the nonstatin cohort for second cancer (7.37 vs. 8.36 per 1000 person-years), although the difference was not significant (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.90, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.65-1.26). Compared with the nonstatin cohort, the second cancer risk was significantly higher for patients taking pravastatin (aHR 2.71, 95% CI 1.19-6.19) but lower for those receiving multiple statin treatment (aHR 0.45, 95% CI 0.25-0.81) and combined lipophilic and hydrophilic type of statin (aHR 0.42, 95% CI 0.20-0.89). The risk was lower for patients receiving a cumulative defined daily dose (cDDD) of > 430 (aHR 0.41, 95% CI 0.19-0.86).

CONCLUSION

This study showed that there is little association between statin use and second cancer risk in breast cancer patients.

Postoperative statin treatment may be associated with improved mortality in patients with myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery

Myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery (MINS) is recently accepted as a strong predictor of mortality, regardless of symptoms. However, anticoagulation is the only established treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the association between statin treatment and mortality after MINS. From January 2010 to June 2019, a total of 5,267 adult patients who were discharged after the occurrence of MINS were enrolled. The patients were divided into two groups according to statin prescription at discharge. The outcomes were 1-year and overall mortalities. Of the total 5,109 patients, 1,331 (26.1%) patients were in the statin group and 3,778 (73.9%) patients were in the no statin group. The 1-year and overall mortalities were significantly lower in the statin group compared with the no statin group (6.1% vs. 13.3%; hazard ratio [HR], 0.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.41–0.74; p < 0.001 for 1-year mortality and 15.0% vs. 25.0%; HR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.51–0.76; p < 0.001 for overall mortality). Analyses after inverse probability treatment weighting showed similar results (HR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.50–0.74; p < 0.001 for 1-year mortality and HR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.54–0.90; p = 0.006 for overall mortality), and the mortalities did not differ according to the dose of statin. Our results suggest that statin treatment may be associated with improved survival after MINS. A trial is needed to confirm this finding and establish causality.

Application of Peripheral Near Infrared Spectroscopy to Assess Risk Factors in Patient with Coronary Artery Disease: Part 2

Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is associated with visceral fat and various cardiac disorders, such as atrial fibrillation and adverse cardiovascular events. Therefore, it is important to develop a simple and non-invasive inspection method to assess EAT, to prevent unfavorable cardiac events. This study assessed correlations between near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) changes induced by a vascular occlusion test (VOT) and EAT volume measured by cardiac computed tomography (CCT) in patients with suspected coronary artery disease. We also assessed correlations between body mass index (BMI) and EAT volume in the same population. In addition, these correlations were compared in patients treated with statin therapy and in those without statin therapy. A NIRS probe was set on the right thenar eminence, and brachial artery blood flow was blocked for 3 min before being released. A negative correlation was found between oxyhemoglobin (ΔO₂Hb) and EAT volume in the overall study population (r = -0.236, p = 0.03). Interestingly, although a strong correlation was observed in patients without statin therapy (r = -0.488, p < 0.001), this correlation was not observed in patients with statin therapy (r = 0.157, p = 0.34). These findings suggest that NIRS measurements with VOT may be a useful method to identify patients with high EAT volume and high cardiovascular risks.

Application of Peripheral Near Infrared Spectroscopy to Assess Risk Factors in Patient with Coronary Artery Disease: Part 1

Obesity, a risk factor of coronary artery disease, is known to cause peripheral microcirculatory disturbances. This study evaluated the relationship between the degree of obesity and peripheral microcirculatory disturbances, using peripheral near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) with a vascular occlusion test (VOT). We compared correlations between the NIRS parameter changes induced by VOT and body mass index (BMI) in patients with and without statin therapy. A NIRS probe was set on the right thenar eminence, brachial artery blood flow was blocked for 3 min, and then released. Although total hemoglobin (ΔcHb), deoxyhemoglobin (ΔHHb) and tissue oxygenation index (ΔTOI) were not correlated with BMI, a significant negative correlation was found between oxyhemoglobin (ΔO₂Hb) and BMI in the overall study population (r = -0.255, p-value 0.02). In addition, a significant negative correlation was found between ΔO₂Hb and BMI in patients without statin therapy (r = -0.353, p-value 0.02) but not in patients with statin therapy (r = -0.181, p-value 0.27). These findings suggest that ΔO₂Hb may be a useful indicator to assess peripheral microcirculation.

Comparative effects of atorvastatin 80 mg and rosuvastatin 40 mg on the levels of serum endocan, chemerin, and galectin-3 in patients with acute myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVE

Endocan, chemerin, and galectin-3 are discrete biomarkers associated with cardiovascular diseases and acting through different pathophysiological pathways. The aim of this study is to investigate and compare the effects of high doses of atorvastatin and rosuvastatin on serum endocan, chemerin, and galectin-3 levels in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

METHODS

Sixty-three patients with AMI were randomized to receive atorvastatin (80 mg/day) or rosuvastatin (40 mg/day) after percutaneous revascularization. Serum levels of endocan, chemerin, and galectin-3 were evaluated at baseline and after 4-week therapy.

RESULTS

Endocan levels were not decreased statistically significantly with atorvastatin 80 mg, but rosuvastatin 40 mg markedly decreased the levels of endocan according to baseline [from 110.27 (86.03-143.69) pg/mL to 99.22 (78.30-122.87) pg/mL with atorvastatin 80 mg and from 110.73 (77.28-165.22) pg/mL to 93.40 (70.48-115.13) pg/mL with rosuvastatin 40 mg, p=0.242 for atorvastatin 80 mg and p=0.014 for rosuvastatin 40 mg]. Chemerin levels significantly decreased in both groups according to baseline [from 264.90 (196.00-525.95) ng/mL to 135.00 (105.95-225.65) ng/mL with atorvastatin 80 mg and from 309.95 (168.87-701.27) ng/mL to 121.25 (86.60-212.65) ng/mL with rosuvastatin 40 mg, p<0.001, respectively, for both groups]. Galectin-3 levels did not change markedly with atorvastatin 80 mg, but they decreased with rosuvastatin 40 mg [from 17.00 (13.10-22.25) ng/mL to 19.30 (15.25-23.45) ng/mL with atorvastatin 80 mg, p=0.721, and from 18.25 (12.82-23.82) ng/mL to 16.60 (10.60-20.15) ng/mL with rosuvastatin 40 mg, p=0.074]. There were no significant between-group differences in terms of absolute and percentage changes of endocan, chemerin, and galectin-3 at 4 weeks.

CONCLUSION

We reported that both statins similarly decreased the endocan levels, whereas rosuvastatin seems to have more prominent effects on the reduction of the chemerin and galectin-3 levels in patients with AMI.

Statin use is associated with less postoperative cardiac arrhythmia after total hip arthroplasty

INTRODUCTION

While statins have been found to reduce postoperative atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery, little is known about their use in total hip arthroplasty (THA). This study investigated if statins would similarly reduce postoperative arrhythmias in patients undergoing THA.

METHODS

We queried a large Medicare and private-payer database from 2005 to 2012 and identified 12,075 patients who were on a statin prior to THA. We then age and sex matched 34,446 non-statin users who underwent THA. Baseline comorbidities and postoperative complications were obtained and assessed via standard descriptive statistics.

RESULTS

The statin users had more preoperative comorbidities including congestive heart failure, valvular heart disease, pulmonary and renal disease, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and anaemia (all p values < 0.001). Postoperatively, the statin users had a statistically higher 90-day incidence of transfusion, acute renal failure, heart failure, pneumonia, and sepsis/shock. All new-onset cardiac arrhythmia was significantly less frequent in the statin group at 2 weeks (3.88% vs. 4.72%, p < 0.001), 30 days (4.47% vs. 5.29%, p < 0.001), and 90 days (5.44% vs. 6.31%, p = 0.001) postoperative. There was no difference in the frequency of venous thromboembolism, myocardial infarction, postoperative anaemia, or bleeding at 90 days postoperative.

DISCUSSION

Despite being medically sicker at baseline with multiple risk factors for atrial fibrillation compared to the non-statin users, the statin users displayed a consistently lower occurrence of postoperative cardiac arrhythmia in this retrospective cohort study. Statins may therefore be beneficial in the preoperative optimisation of medically complex patients undergoing THA.

Renal impact of high-loading-dose statin pre-cardiac catheterization in patients with chronic kidney disease and long-term statin use

Previous studies have reported that short-term statin loading effectively protects statin-naive patients with mild renal insufficiency from contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI). The aim of the present study was to determine whether patients with more advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) and long-term statin therapy also benefit from high-loading statin pretreatment. A total of 256 consecutive patients with moderate-to-severe CKD receiving long-term statin therapy and undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery angiography (CAG) were divided into the statin-loading group (n=34) and the no statin-loading group (n=222), depending on whether the respective patient received high-dose statin within 24 h prior to the intervention. The primary endpoint was the percent change in serum creatinine (SCr) levels. Additional endpoints included absolute change in SCr levels, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at 48–72 h after contrast exposure, incidence rate of CI-AKI and composite in-hospital adverse events. The mean SCr decreased from baseline in either of the two groups, and the differences in the percent (P=0.930) and absolute change (P=0.990) in SCr levels were not significant between the two groups. Furthermore, no significant difference in the post-procedural eGFR was observed between the two groups. The incidence rates of CI-AKI (2.9 vs. 4.1%, P>0.999) and in-hospital adverse events (0.0 vs. 3.6%, P=0.602) were also similar between the two groups. Stratified analyses were then performed, which yielded results consistent with the above. Multiple linear regression indicated that the baseline eGFR value and current smoking status were independent factors affecting the post-procedural eGFR value, while high-dose statin loading was not. Therefore, statin reloading prior to intervention may not provide any further renal protection or decrease the occurrence of in-hospital adverse events in patients with moderate-to-severe CKD receiving long-term statin therapy, which warrants validation in prospective trials.

A possible association between statin use and improved Clostridioides difficile infection mortality in veterans

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is the most common cause of nosocomial diarrhea and places a significant burden on patients and the health care system. Statins could lead to improvements in CDI clinical response due their pleiotropic effects, including immunomodulatory and lipid-lowering effects; however, few studies have assessed this association. The primary objective of this study was to compare CDI health outcomes in statin users and non-users in a national cohort of patients. This was a retrospective cohort study of all adult CDI patients receiving care from the Veterans Health Administration from 2002 to 2014. Patients were divided into two groups based on statin exposure 90 days prior to and during their first CDI encounter. CDI health outcomes, including mortality and CDI recurrence, were compared using a propensity-score matched cohort of statin users and non-users and multivariable logistic regression. A total of 26,149 patients met study inclusion criteria, of which 173 statins-users and 173 non-users were propensity score matched. Thirty-day mortality was significantly lower among statins users with CDI (12.7%) compared to non-users (20.2%) (aOR 0.34; 95% CI 0.16-0.72). Sixty-day CDI recurrence was non-significantly lower among statin-users (9.0%) compared to non-users (16.6%) (aOR 0.68; 95% CI 0.29-1.59). In this nationally-representative study of veterans with CDI, statin use was associated with lower 30-day mortality compared to non-use. Statin use was not associated with 60-day CDI recurrence.

Effects of Preoperative Statin on Acute Kidney Injury After Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Background Although many patients with coronary artery disease are using statins before off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting ( OPCAB ) following current guidelines, recent studies have raised concerns regarding adverse effects of preoperative statins on postoperative kidney function. We evaluated the effects of preoperative statins on acute kidney injury ( AKI ) after OPCAB . Methods and Results We enrolled 1783 consecutive OPCAB patients in either a statin or nonstatin group based on preoperative use of statins. Propensity scores were used to adjust the differences between the groups. The primary outcome was incidence of postoperative AKI according to Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes criteria. To evaluate the dose-related renal effects of statins, the statin group was divided into low- and moderate- or higher dose groups based on preoperative statin dose. The incidence of postoperative AKI was 15.7% and 13.5% in the nonstatin and statin groups, respectively, and preoperative statins did not increase the incidence of postoperative AKI (odds ratio: 0.84; 95% CI, 0.61-1.15; P=0.27). In dose-related analysis, the moderate- or higher dose group showed lower incidence of postoperative AKI in comparison with the nonstatin group (odds ratio: 0.61; 95% CI, 0.39-0.95; P=0.03). However, no difference was found between low-dose and nonstatin groups (odds ratio: 1.17; 95% CI, 0.75-1.84; P=0.49) or between moderate- or higher dose and low-dose statin groups (odds ratio: 0.84; 95% CI, 0.5-1.41; P=0.51) in the incidence of postoperative AKI . Conclusions Neither preoperative statin use nor statin dose increased the risk of AKI after OPCAB . Preoperative statin therapy is not harmful in patients receiving OPCAB .

Perioperative statin therapy in cardiac and non-cardiac surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background

The effects of perioperative statin therapy on clinical outcome after cardiac or non-cardiac surgery are controversial. We aimed to assess the association between perioperative statin therapy and postoperative outcome.

Methods

Electronic databases were searched up to May 1, 2018, for randomized controlled trials of perioperative statin therapy versus placebo or no treatment in adult cardiac or non-cardiac surgery. Postoperative outcomes were: myocardial infarction, stroke, acute kidney injury (AKI), and mortality. We calculated risk ratio (RR) or odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) using fixed-effects meta-analyses. We performed meta-regression and subgroup analyses to assess the possible influence of statin therapy regimen on clinical outcomes and trial sequential analysis to evaluate the risk of random errors and futility.

Results

We included data from 35 RCTs involving 8200 patients. Perioperative statin therapy was associated with lower incidence of postoperative myocardial infarction in non-cardiac surgery (OR = 0.44 [95% CI 0.30–0.64], p < 0.0001), but not in cardiac surgery (OR = 0.93 [95% CI 0.70–1.24], p = 0.61) (p_subgroup = 0.002). Higher incidence of AKI was present in cardiac surgery patients receiving perioperative statins (RR = 1.15 [95% CI 1.00–1.31], p = 0.05), nonetheless not in non-cardiac surgery (RR = 1.52 [95% CI 0.71–3.26], p = 0.28) (p_subgroup = 0.47). No difference in postoperative stroke and mortality was present in either cardiac or non-cardiac surgery. However, low risk of bias trials performed in cardiac surgery showed a higher mortality with statins versus placebo (OR = 3.71 [95% CI 1.03–13.34], p = 0.04). Subgroup and meta-regression analyses failed to find possible relationships between length of statin regimens and clinical outcomes. Trial sequential analysis suggested no firm conclusions on the topic.

Conclusions

Perioperative statins appear to be protective against postoperative myocardial infarction in non-cardiac surgery and associated with higher AKI in cardiac surgery. Possible positive or even negative effects on mortality could not be excluded and merits further investigations. Currently, no randomized evidence supports the systematic administration of statins in surgical patients.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13613-018-0441-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Comparative Efficacy of Statins for Prevention of Contrast-Induced Acute Kidney Injury in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Network Meta-Analysis

Contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) is a common complication of iodinated contrast medium administration during cardiac catheterization. Statin treatment has been shown to be associated with reduced risk of CI-AKI; however, the results are inconsistent, especially for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Thus, we conducted a network meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of statins in the prevention of CI-AKI. We systematically searched several databases (including, Embase, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov ) from inception to January 31, 2018. The primary outcome was occurrence of CI-AKI in patients with CKD undergoing cardiac catheterization. Both pairwise and network meta-analysis were performed. Finally, 21 randomized controlled trials with a total of 6385 patients were included. Results showed that statin loading before contrast administration was associated with a significantly reduced risk of CI-AKI in patients with CKD undergoing cardiac catheterization (odds ratio: 0.46; P < .05). Atorvastatin and rosuvastatin administered at high dose may be the most effective treatments to reduce incidence of CI-AKI, with no difference between these 2 agents.

Statins and secondary prevention of venous thromboembolism: pooled analysis of published observational cohort studies

AIMS

There have been suggestions that statins may have a potential role in secondary prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) [which includes deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE)], but the evidence is inconsistent. We aimed to evaluate the association between statin use and risk of recurrent VTE.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational cohort studies. All relevant studies which reported associations between statin use and recurrent VTE outcomes were identified from MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and manual search of bibliographies from inception to January 2017. Study specific relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals were aggregated using random effects models. Eight eligible studies comprising of 103 576 participants and 13 168 recurrent VTE outcomes were included in the pooled analysis. In pooled analysis of 7 studies, the RR for recurrent VTE was 0.73 (0.68-0.79) when comparing statin use with no use. There was no evidence of heterogeneity between contributing studies (I2=0%, 0-71%; P = 0.93). The RRs for recurrent PE (three studies) and DVT (two studies) comparing statin use with no statin use were 0.75 (95% CI: 0.58-0.96) and 0.66 (95% CI: 0.60-0.71) respectively.

CONCLUSION

Available evidence from observational cohort studies suggests a beneficial effect of statin use on VTE recurrence. Well-designed intervention studies are needed to corroborate these findings.

Defining the role of perioperative statin treatment in patients after cardiac surgery: A meta-analysis and systematic review of 20 randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Although statin use has been indicated to prevent atrial fibrillation in previous observational and experimental trials, the issue remains inadequately and insufficiently explored. We therefore performed this meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of perioperative statin therapy on complications and short-term prognosis following cardiac surgery.

METHODS

A search of the PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane database of controlled trials was performed from inception to June 2016 to identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The primary endpoints included postoperative atrial fibrillation, acute kidney injury and all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

Twenty studies involving 4338 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Among the patients who underwent cardiac surgery, perioperative statin therapy was significantly associated with a decreased risk of postoperative atrial fibrillation (OR: 0.50; P=0.0004), particularly in the subgroup of patients who used atorvastatin and those who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. Moreover, perioperative statin use significantly decreased the length of hospital stay (weighted mean difference (WMD): -0.43; P=0.002). However, no reductions were observed in acute kidney injury, myocardial infarction, postoperative serum creatinine concentration or the length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay.

CONCLUSIONS

Perioperative statin therapy might be promising for the prevention of postoperative atrial fibrillation following cardiac surgery, especially for patients undergoing isolated CABG surgery or atorvastatin administration. Additionally, statin use can decrease the length of the hospital stay.

Efficacy of Different Perioperative Statin Regimens on Protection Against Post-Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Major Adverse Cardiac and Cerebral Events

OBJECTIVES

Comparing different perioperative statin regimens for the prevention of post-coronary artery bypass grafting adverse events.

DESIGN

A randomized, prospective study.

SETTING

Cardiothoracic surgical units in a government hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

The study comprised 94 patients scheduled for elective, isolated on- or off- pump coronary artery bypass grafting.

INTERVENTIONS

Patients were assigned randomly to 1 of the following 3 treatment groups: group I (80 mg of atorvastatin/day for 2 days preoperatively), group II (40 mg of atorvastatin/day for 5-9 days preoperatively), or group III (80 mg of atorvastatin/day for 5-9 days preoperatively). The same preoperative doses were restarted postoperatively and continued for 1 month.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Cardiac troponin I, creatine kinase, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were assayed preoperatively; at 8, 24, and 48 hours postoperatively; and at discharge. CRP levels at 24 hours (p = 0.045) and 48 hours (p = 0.009) were significantly lower in group III compared with the other 2 groups. However, troponin I levels at 8 hours (p = 0.011) and 48 hours (p = 0.025) after surgery were significantly lower in group II compared with group III. The incidence of postoperative major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events was assessed, and there was no significant difference among the 3 groups.

CONCLUSION

The 3 regimens did not result in any significant difference in outcomes, but only simple trends. The higher-dose regimen resulted in a significant reduction in the CRP level. Thus, more studies are needed to confirm the benefit of higher-dose statins for the protection from post-coronary artery bypass grafting adverse events.

Perioperative Statin Therapy for Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Coronary artery bypass grafting is associated with an intense systemic inflammatory response, which is linked to postoperative complications. Beyond lipid lowering, statins exert a constellation of beneficial actions, including an antiinflammatory role, known as pleiotropic effects. There is increasing evidence that perioperative statin therapy improves outcomes in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. Statins are underused in the coronary artery bypass grafting population, because perioperative discontinuation remains a common practice. This article provides an extensive review of the available literature on the effect of perioperative statin therapy on post–coronary artery bypass grafting outcomes and weighs the evidence for the concerns about increased incidence of statin-related adverse effects in this setting.

Duration of Antimicrobial Treatment for Bacteremia in Canadian Critically Ill Patients

OBJECTIVES

The optimum duration of antimicrobial treatment for patients with bacteremia is unknown. Our objectives were to determine duration of antimicrobial treatment provided to patients who have bacteremia in ICUs, to assess pathogen/patient factors related to treatment duration, and to assess the relationship between treatment duration and survival.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTINGS

Fourteen ICUs across Canada.

PATIENTS

Patients with bacteremia and were present in the ICU at the time culture reported positive.

INTERVENTIONS

Duration of antimicrobial treatment for patients who had bacteremia in ICU.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Among 1,202 ICU patients with bacteremia, the median duration of treatment was 14 days, but with wide variability (interquartile range, 9-17.5). Most patient characteristics were not associated with treatment duration. Coagulase-negative staphylococci were the only pathogens associated with shorter treatment (odds ratio, 2.82; 95% CI, 1.51-5.26). The urinary tract was the only source of infection associated with a trend toward lower likelihood of shorter treatment (odds ratio, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.42-1.08); an unknown source of infection was associated with a greater likelihood of shorter treatment (odds ratio, 2.14; 95% CI, 1.17-3.91). The association of treatment duration and survival was unstable when analyzed based on timing of death.

CONCLUSIONS

Critically ill patients who have bacteremia typically receive long courses of antimicrobials. Most patient/pathogen characteristics are not associated with treatment duration; survivor bias precludes a valid assessment of the association between treatment duration and survival. A definitive randomized controlled trial is needed to compare shorter versus longer antimicrobial treatment in patients who have bacteremia.

Simvastatin and a Plant Galactolipid Protect Animals from Septic Shock by Regulating Oxylipin Mediator Dynamics through the MAPK-cPLA2 Signaling Pathway

Sepsis remains a major medical issue despite decades of research. Identification of important inflammatory cascades and key molecular mediators are crucial for developing intervention and prevention strategies. In this study, we conducted a comparative oxylipin metabolomics study to gain a comprehensive picture of lipid mediator dynamics during the initial hyperinflammatory phase of sepsis, and demonstrated, in parallel, the efficacy of simvastatin and plant galactolipid, 1,2-di-O-α-linolenoyl-3-O-β-galactopyranosyl-sn-glycerol (dLGG) in the homeostatic regulation of the oxylipin metabolome using a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sepsis C57BL/6J mouse model. LPS increased the systemic and organ levels of proinflammatory metabolites of linoleic acid including leukotoxin diols (9-,10-DHOME, 12-,13-DHOME) and octadecadienoic acids (9-HODE and 13-HODE) and arachidonic acid-derived prostanoid, PGE2, and hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (8-, 12- and 15-HETE). Treatment with either compound decreased the levels of proinflammatory metabolites and elevated proresolution lipoxin A₄, 5(6)-EET, 11(12)-EET and 15-deoxy-PGJ₂. dLGG and simvastatin ameliorated the effects of LPS-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-dependent activation of cPLA₂, cyclooxygenase-2, lipoxygenase, cytochrome P450 and/or epoxide hydrolase lowered systemic TNF-α and IL-6 levels and aminotransferase activities and decreased organ-specific infiltration of inflammatory leukocytes and macrophages, and septic shock-induced multiple organ damage. Furthermore, both dLGG and simvastatin increased the survival rates in the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) sepsis model. This study provides new insights into the role of oxylipins in sepsis pathogenesis and highlights the potential of simvastatin and dLGG in sepsis therapy and prevention.

Statin modulation of monocyte phenotype and function: implications for HIV-1-associated neurocognitive disorders

HIV-1-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) remains a persistent problem despite antiretroviral therapy (ART), largely a result of continued inflammation in the periphery and the brain and neurotoxin release from activated myeloid cells in the CNS. CD14+CD16+ inflammatory monocytes, expanded in HIV infection, play a central role in the pathogenesis of HAND and have parallels with monocyte-dependent inflammatory mechanisms in atherosclerosis. Statins, through their HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor activity, have pleiotropic immunomodulatory properties that contribute to their benefit in atherosclerosis beyond lipid lowering. Here, we investigated whether statins would modulate the monocyte phenotype and function associated with HIV-1 neuropathogenesis. Treatment ex vivo with simvastatin and atorvastatin reduced the proportion of CD16+ monocytes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, as well as in purified monocytes, especially CD14++CD16+ "intermediate" monocytes most closely associated with neurocognitive disease. Statin treatment also markedly reduced expression of CD163, which is also linked to HAND pathogenesis. Finally, simvastatin inhibited production of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and other inflammatory cytokines following LPS stimulation and reduced monocyte chemotaxis in response to MCP-1, a major driver of myeloid cell accumulation in the CNS in HAND. Together, these findings suggest that statin drugs may be useful to prevent or reduce HAND in HIV-1-infected subjects on ART with persistent monocyte activation and inflammation.

Meta-analysis of 12 trials evaluating the effects of statins on decreasing atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia encountered after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) and is associated with poor outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine whether initiation of statins before CABG reduces the risk of postoperative AF. We searched for clinical trials that randomized patients who underwent CABG to preoperative statin therapy versus placebo. We required that the trial reported the incidence of postoperative AF. Random-effects summary odds ratio (OR) were constructed. Sensitivity analysis for the trials that reported AF as a primary outcome along with subgroup analyses according to the different statins used was also conducted. Twelve trials with 2,980 patients met our inclusion criteria. Atorvastatin was tested in 8 trials, whereas rosuvastatin was studied in 2 studies. Statins were associated with a lower risk of postoperative AF (OR 0.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.27 to 0.66, p <0.0001). There was benefit with atorvastatin (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.25 to 0.50, p <0.0001) but not rosuvastatin (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.28 to 1.71, p = 0.42). On sensitivity analysis limited to trials that reported AF as a primary outcome, the risk of postoperative AF was still reduced with statins (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.25 to 0.90, p = 0.02). The mean duration of the hospital stay was significantly lower in the statin group: 8.5 ± 1.8 days versus 9.1 ± 2.2 days (p <0.0001). Statin therapy, particularly atorvastatin, before CABG was associated with a reduction in the risk of postoperative AF.

Pharmacists role in cholesterol management: addressing challenges and barriers

Cholesterol management is an important factor in the modification of primary and secondary cardiovascular events. Guidelines emphasize incorporation of appropriate medication therapy and lifestyle adjustments to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk reduction. Of note, studies and nation-wide statistics indicate many patients do not achieve their LDL-C goals. Eliminating barriers and challenges associated with cholesterol management will allow patients to reach prespecified goals for CVD risk reduction. As the nation transitions to covering more individuals, the need for additional health care providers is evident. Pharmacists are accessible and knowledgeable health care contributors who can assist in optimizing patient outcomes. This article discusses the pharmacist's role in addressing challenges and barriers in cholesterol management.

Comparison of the efficacy of rosuvastatin versus atorvastatin in preventing contrast induced nephropathy in patient with chronic kidney disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

Objectives

We prospectively compared the preventive effects of rosuvastatin and atorvastatin on contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods

We enrolled 1078 consecutive patients with CKD undergoing elective PCI. Patients in Group 1 (n = 273) received rosuvastatin (10 mg), and those in group 2 (n = 805) received atorvastatin (20 mg). The primary end-point was the development of CIN, defined as an absolute increase in serum creatinine ≥0.5 mg/dL, or an increase ≥25% from baseline within 48–72 h after contrast medium exposure.

Results

CIN was observed in 58 (5.4%) patients. The incidence of CIN was similar in patients pretreated with either rosuvastatin or atorvastatin (5.9% vs. 5.2%, p = 0.684). The same results were also observed when using other definitions of CIN. Clinical and procedural characteristics did not show significant differences between the two groups (p>0.05). Additionally, there were no significant inter-group differences with respect to in-hospital mortality rates (0.4% vs. 1.5%, p = 0.141), or other in-hospital complications. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that rosuvastatin and atorvastatin demonstrated similar efficacies for preventing CIN, after adjusting for potential confounding risk factors (odds ratio = 1.17, 95% confidence interval, 0.62–2.20, p = 0.623). A Kaplan–Meier survival analysis showed that patients taking either rosuvastatin or atorvastatin had similar incidences of all-cause mortality (9.4% vs. 7.1%, respectively; p = 0.290) and major adverse cardiovascular events (29.32% vs. 23.14%, respectively; p = 0.135) during follow-up.

Conclusions

Rosuvastatin and atorvastatin have similar efficacies for preventing CIN in patients with CKD undergoing PCI.

Antioxidant protection of statins in acute kidney injury induced by sepsis

Objective Evaluating the effect of preconditioning with simvastatin in acute kidney injury induced by sepsis. Method Male adult Wistar rats were divided into the following groups: SHAM (control); SHAM+Statin (0.5 mg/kg simvastatin, orally); Sepsis (cecal puncture ligation – CPL); Sepsis+Statin. Physiological parameters, peritoneal fluid culture, renal function, oxidative metabolites, severity of acute kidney injury and animal survival were evaluated. Results The treatment with simvastatin in induced sepsis showed elevation of creatinine clearance with attenuation of generation of oxidative metabolites, lower severity of acute kidney injury and reduced mortality. Conclusion This investigation confirmed the renoprotection with antioxidant principle of the simvastatin in acute kidney injury induced by sepsis in an experimental model.

Statins for the Prevention of Contrast-Induced Nephropathy After Coronary Angiography/Percutaneous Interventions: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

BACKGROUND

Statins have been demonstrated to prevent the development of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN). Nevertheless, clinical research has indicated conflicting results. We performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the protective effects of statins on CIN and the requirement of renal replacement therapy (RRT) in patients undergoing coronary angiography/percutaneous interventions.

METHODS

PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, EMBASE, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the Cochrane Central RCTs were searched for RCTs from inception to February 2014 to compare statins with placebo treatment for preventing CIN in patients undergoing coronary angiography/percutaneous interventions.

RESULTS

Nine RCTs were identified and analyzed in a total of 5143 patients involving 2560 patients with statin pretreatment and 2583 patients as control. Patients who received statin therapy had a 53% lower risk of CIN with different definitions (within 48 or 72 hours) compared to the control group based on a fixed effect model (risk ratio = 0.47, 95% confidence interval = 0.37-0.60, P < .0001) and were less likely to require RRT based on Peto fixed effect. Subgroup analysis showed that statin pretreatment could decrease the incidence of CIN in patients with preexisting renal dysfunction or diabetes mellitus. In addition, patients on rosuvastatin had a similar reduced incidence of CIN compared to patients on atorvastatin.

CONCLUSION

This updated meta-analysis demonstrated that preprocedural statin treatment could reduce the risk of CIN and the need for RRT in patients undergoing coronary angiography/percutaneous interventions. Moreover, statin therapy would be helpful in reducing the incidence of CIN in high-risk patients with preexisting renal dysfunction or diabetes mellitus. Additionally, rosuvastatin and atorvastatin had similar efficacies in preventing CIN development.

Incident user cohorts for assessing medication cost-offsets

OBJECTIVE

To develop and test incident drug user designs for assessing cost savings from statin use in diabetics.

DATA SOURCE

Random 5 percent sample of Medicare beneficiaries, 2006-2008.

STUDY DESIGN

Seven-step incident user design to assess impact of statin initiation on subsequent Medicare spending: (1) unadjusted pre/post initiation test; (2) unadjusted difference-in-difference (DID) with comparison series; (3) adjusted DID; (4) propensity score (PS)-matched DID with static and dynamic baseline covariates; (5) PS-matched DID by drug adherence strata; (6) PS-matched DID for high adherers controlling for healthy adherer bias; and (7) replication for ACE-inhibitor/ARB initiators.

DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS

Subjects with prevalent diabetes and no statin use (January-June 2006) and statin initiation (July 2006-January 2008) compared to nonusers with a random "potential-initiation" month. Monthly Medicare spending tracked 24 months pre- and post-initiation.

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

Statistically significant savings in Medicare spending were observed beginning 7 months post-initiation for statins and 13 months post-initiation for ACEIs/ARBs. However, these savings were only observed for adherent patients in steps 5 and 6.

CONCLUSIONS

Drug initiator designs are more robust to confounding than prevalent user designs in assessing cost-offsets from drug use but still require other adjustments and sensitivity analysis to ensure proper inference.

Effect of statins on endothelial function in patients with acute coronary syndrome: a prospective study using adhesion molecules and flow-mediated dilatation

Background

Accumulating evidence suggests that inflammatory mechanisms play a central role in the development, progression and outcome of atherosclerosis. Recent evidence suggests that statins improve anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombotic and endothelial functions, along with their lipid-decreasing effects. We examined the effect of statins on endothelial function using biochemical markers of endothelial dysfunction and brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD).

Methods

Thirty male patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and 26 age-matched healthy control subjects aged 40 - 60 years who were not on any medication were enrolled in the study. The patient group was started on atorvastatin (40 mg/day) without consideration of their low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol levels. Endothelin, sICAM and E-selectin from stored serum samples were measured using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbant assays (ELISAs). Endothelial function was assessed using brachial artery FMD.

Results

Prior to statin treatment, E-selectin, sICAM and endothelin levels, endothelial dysfunction markers, were 99.74 ± 34.67 ng/mL, 568.8 ± 149.0 ng/mL and 0.62 ± 0.33 fmol/mL, respectively in the patient group. E-selectin and sICAM levels were significantly higher in the patients than in the control subjects (P < 0.001); however, endothelin levels were not significantly different between groups. Statin treatment significantly reduced E-selectin and sICAM levels (P < 0.001); however, the decrease in endothelin levels was not statistically significant. %FMD values were significantly increased after statin treatment (P = 0.005), and levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), an inflammation marker, were significantly reduced.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that statins play an important role in treatment endothelial dysfunction by reducing adhesion of inflammatory cells.

Chemical and genetic validation of the statin drug target to treat the helminth disease, schistosomiasis

The mevalonate pathway is essential in eukaryotes and responsible for a diversity of fundamental synthetic activities. 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the pathway and is targeted by the ubiquitous statin drugs to treat hypercholesterolemia. Independent reports have indicated the cidal effects of statins against the flatworm parasite, S. mansoni, and the possibility that SmHMGR is a useful drug target to develop new statin-based anti-schistosome therapies. For six commercially available statins, we demonstrate concentration- and time-dependent killing of immature (somule) and adult S. mansoni in vitro at sub-micromolar and micromolar concentrations, respectively. Cidal activity trends with statin lipophilicity whereby simvastatin and pravastatin are the most and least active, respectively. Worm death is preventable by excess mevalonate, the product of HMGR. Statin activity against somules was quantified both manually and automatically using a new, machine learning-based automated algorithm with congruent results. In addition, to chemical targeting, RNA interference (RNAi) of HMGR also kills somules in vitro and, again, lethality is blocked by excess mevalonate. Further, RNAi of HMGR of somules in vitro subsequently limits parasite survival in a mouse model of infection by up to 80%. Parasite death, either via statins or specific RNAi of HMGR, is associated with activation of apoptotic caspase activity. Together, our genetic and chemical data confirm that S. mansoni HMGR is an essential gene and the relevant target of statin drugs. We discuss our findings in context of a potential drug development program and the desired product profile for a new schistosomiasis drug.

Influence of combined treatment with mianserin and simvastatin on selected biochemical serum parameters of liver and kidney function in rats

The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of combined 14-day treatment with mianserin (10 mg/kg) and simvastatin (1 or 10 mg/kg) on selected biochemical liver and kidney parameters in rats (AST and ALT activities and the concentrations of AFP, total protein, urea, creatinine and ß2-M). The results showed the increase in both transaminases activities, creatinine concentration and the decrease of AFP, total protein and ß2-M concentrations. The results indicate that 14-day combined administration of mianserin with simvastatin negatively affects the liver functioning. The observed changes in kidney biochemical parameters may suggest a risk of renal dysfunction during long-term combined treatment with these drugs.

Association between CHADS2 score and the preventive effect of statin therapy on new-onset atrial fibrillation in patients with acute myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVES

New-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) commonly occurs in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Data regarding the value of the CHADS2 score in patients hospitalized for AMI is limited. This study aimed to determine whether the CHADS2 score is associated with new-onset AF and if it can help identify the patients who will benefit most from statin use for the prevention of arrhythmia after AMI.

METHODS

A total of 724 consecutive AMI patients were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to their CHADS2 scores: group 1, score 0; group 2, score 1-2; and group 3, score 3-6. The study endpoint was an episode of new-onset AF that lasted more than 30 seconds during hospitalization at the coronary care unit.

RESULTS

Seventy-eight (10.8%) patients developed new-onset AF, and 273 (37.7%) were on a statin upon admission. The incidence of new-onset AF increased significantly from 5.8% in group 1 to 11.3% in group 2 and 14.3% in group 3 (χ(2) for linear trend, P = 0.017). Statin use (odds ratio [OR], 0.22; 95% CI, 0.06-0.85) and CHADS2 score (OR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.02-2.28) were independent predictors of new-onset AF in AMI patients. Patients with CHADS2 score ≤2 had significantly reduced C-reactive protein level and lower risk of developing new-onset AF if they were taking statins (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated the benefit of statin use for preventing new-onset AF in patients with CHADS2 scores ≤2 (OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.14-0.81).

CONCLUSIONS

The CHADS2 score is a convenient scoring system for predicting the incidence of new-onset AF and may help in identifying the patients who will benefit most from statin use for the prevention of arrhythmia after AMI.

Arterial inflammation in bronchial asthma

BACKGROUND

Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition associated with increased cardiovascular (CV) events. Here, we assess arterial inflammation, using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging (FDG-PET/CT), in patients with bronchial asthma and low to intermediate Framingham risk scores (FRS).

METHODS

A total of 102 patients underwent FDG-PET/CT imaging for clinical indications. Thirty-four patients (mean age 54.9 ± 16.1) with mild asthma and no known atherosclerotic disease were compared to 2 non-asthmatic groups. The first control group (n = 34) were matched by age, gender, and FRS. The second control group (n = 34) had clinical atherosclerosis and were matched by gender. Thereafter, arterial FDG uptake on PET images was determined, while blinded to patient identifiers.

RESULTS

Target-to-background-ratio (TBR) in the aorta was higher in asthmatics vs non-asthmatic FRS-matched controls (1.96 ± 0.26 vs 1.76 ± 0.20; P < .001). The aortic TBR remained elevated in asthmatics vs non-asthmatic controls after adjusting traditional CV risk factors (P < .001). An inverse correlation was observed between FDG uptake and lung function, FEV1 (P = .02) and peak flow (P = .03).

CONCLUSIONS

Bronchial asthma is associated with increased arterial inflammation beyond that estimated by current risk stratification tools. Further studies are required to evaluate whether attenuation of systemic inflammation will decrease CV events.

A highly productive, whole-cell DERA chemoenzymatic process for production of key lactonized side-chain intermediates in statin synthesis

Employing DERA (2-deoxyribose-5-phosphate aldolase), we developed the first whole-cell biotransformation process for production of chiral lactol intermediates useful for synthesis of optically pure super-statins such as rosuvastatin and pitavastatin. Herein, we report the development of a fed-batch, high-density fermentation with Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) overexpressing the native E. coli deoC gene. High activity of this biomass allows direct utilization of the fermentation broth as a whole-cell DERA biocatalyst. We further show a highly productive bioconversion processes with this biocatalyst for conversion of 2-substituted acetaldehydes to the corresponding lactols. The process is evaluated in detail for conversion of acetyloxy-acetaldehyde with the first insight into the dynamics of reaction intermediates, side products and enzyme activity, allowing optimization of the feeding strategy of the aldehyde substrates for improved productivities, yields and purities. The resulting process for production of ((2S,4R)-4,6-dihydroxytetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)methyl acetate (acetyloxymethylene-lactol) has a volumetric productivity exceeding 40 g L⁻¹ h⁻¹ (up to 50 g L⁻¹ h⁻¹) with >80% yield and >80% chromatographic purity with titers reaching 100 g L⁻¹. Stereochemical selectivity of DERA allows excellent enantiomeric purities (ee >99.9%), which were demonstrated on downstream advanced intermediates. The presented process is highly cost effective and environmentally friendly. To our knowledge, this is the first asymmetric aldol condensation process achieved with whole-cell DERA catalysis and it simplifies and extends previously developed DERA-catalyzed approaches based on the isolated enzyme. Finally, applicability of the presented process is demonstrated by efficient preparation of a key lactol precursor, which fits directly into the lactone pathway to optically pure super-statins.

Protective role of atorvastatin against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity and testicular toxicity in mice

Doxorubicin (DOX), a potent chemotherapeutic agent, is widely used for the treatment of various malignancies. However, its clinical uses are limited due to its dose-dependent adverse effects particularly cardiac and testicular toxicities. DOX-induced toxicity is mainly due to the induction of oxidative stress. Atorvastatin (ATV), a 3-hydroxy 3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor, with lipid-lowering activity, acts as an antioxidant at lower doses. It possesses pleiotropic effects independent of cholesterol-lowering property usually shown at lower doses, which include antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The present study was aimed to investigate the possible protection exerted by atorvastatin against oxidative stress and DNA damage induced by DOX in the heart and testes of mice. The protective role of ATV in the heart and testes of DOX-treated mice was evident from the amelioration of oxidative stress, DNA and cellular damage. The present study clearly indicates that ATV offers a significant protection against DOX-induced oxidative stress and DNA damage in the heart and testes of mice.

A genetic and pharmacological analysis of isoprenoid pathway by LC-MS/MS in fission yeast

Currently, statins are the only drugs acting on the mammalian isoprenoid pathway. The mammalian genes in this pathway are not easily amenable to genetic manipulation. Thus, it is difficult to study the effects of the inhibition of various enzymes on the intermediate and final products in the isoprenoid pathway. In fission yeast, antifungal compounds such as azoles and terbinafine are available as inhibitors of the pathway in addition to statins, and various isoprenoid pathway mutants are also available. Here in these mutants, treated with statins or antifungals, we quantified the final and intermediate products of the fission yeast isoprenoid pathway using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry. In hmg1-1, a mutant of the gene encoding 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR), ergosterol (a final sterol product), and squalene (an intermediate pathway product), were decreased to approximately 80% and 10%, respectively, compared with that of wild-type cells. Consistently in wild-type cells, pravastatin, an HMGR inhibitor decreased ergosterol and squalene, and the effect was more pronounced on squalene. In hmg1-1 mutant and in wild-type cells treated with pravastatin, the decrease in the levels of farnesyl pyrophosphate and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate respectively was larger than that of ergosterol but was smaller than that of squalene. In Δerg6 or Δsts1 cells, mutants of the genes involved in the last step of the pathway, ergosterol was not detected, and the changes of intermediate product levels were distinct from that of hmg1-1 mutant. Notably, in wild-type cells miconazole and terbinafine only slightly decreased ergosterol level. Altogether, these studies suggest that the pleiotropic phenotypes caused by the hmg1-1 mutation and pravastatin might be due to decreased levels of isoprenoid pyrophosphates or other isoprenoid pathway intermediate products rather than due to a decreased ergosterol level.

Association between statins and infections after coronary artery bypass grafting

BACKGROUND

We determined whether pre-operative statin therapy is associated with a decrease in the incidence of infections after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of 6253 patients undergoing isolated CABG, from the Texas Heart Institute Database from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2010 (3869 receiving statins and 2384 not receiving statins) was conducted. Primary outcome was the development of any postoperative infection (composite of deep-sternal wound infection, leg harvest-site infection, pneumonia, or sepsis) after CABG. Secondary outcome was the association between pre-operative statin use and individual incidence of each aforementioned infection. Logistic regression analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Incidence of any postoperative infection in patients who received statins pre-operatively was 6.5% compared to 8.3% in patients who did not receive statins. Pre-operative statin therapy was associated with a significant reduction in the primary outcome (odds ratio (OR) 0.74, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.60-0.90) in adjusted models. Among individual secondary outcomes, pre-operative statin therapy was associated with a reduced incidence of sternal wound infections (2.5% vs. 3.2%, OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.5-0.8) and leg harvest site infections (0.6% vs. 1.3%, OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.2-0.8). Pre-operative statin therapy was not associated with a reduced incidence of pneumonia or sepsis.

CONCLUSION

Pre-operative statin use is associated with a decrease in overall incidence of post-operative infections after CABG. We propose immunomodulatory effects of statins leading to a dampening of inflammatory cascade as the cause of our findings.

Established and emerging approaches for the management of dyslipidaemia

The key role of dyslipidaemia in determining cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been proved beyond reasonable doubt, and therefore several dietary and pharmacological approaches have been developed. The discovery of statins has provided a very effective approach in reducing cardiovascular risk as documented by the results obtained in clinical trials and in clinical practice. The current efficacy of statins or other drugs, however, comes short of providing the benefit that could derive from a further reduction of LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) in high-risk and very high risk patients. Furthermore, experimental data clearly suggest that other lipoprotein classes beyond LDL play important roles in determining cardiovascular risk. For these reasons a number of new potential drugs are under development in this area. Aim of this review is to discuss the available and the future pharmacological strategies for the management of dyslipidemia.

Nitric oxide-mediated coronary flow regulation in patients with coronary artery disease: recent advances

Nitric oxide (NO) formed via endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) plays crucial roles in the regulation of coronary blood flow through vasodilatation and decreased vascular resistance, and in inhibition of platelet aggregation and adhesion, leading to the prevention of coronary circulatory failure, thrombosis, and atherosclerosis. Endothelial function is impaired by several pathogenic factors including smoking, chronic alcohol intake, hypercholesterolemia, obesity, hyperglycemia, and hypertension. The mechanisms underlying endothelial dysfunction include reduced NO synthase (NOS) expression and activity, decreased NO bioavailability, and increased production of oxygen radicals and endogenous NOS inhibitors. Atrial fibrillation appears to be a risk factor for endothelial dysfunction. Endothelial dysfunction is an important predictor of coronary artery disease (CAD) in humans. Penile erectile dysfunction, associated with impaired bioavailability of NO produced by eNOS and neuronal NOS, is also considered to be highly predictive of ischemic heart disease. There is evidence suggesting an important role of nitrergic innervation in coronary blood flow regulation. Prophylactic and therapeutic measures to eliminate pathogenic factors inducing endothelial and nitrergic nerve dysfunction would be quite important in preventing the genesis and development of CAD.