Statins barely touch the heart but bite the kidneys after cardiac surgery. Coenzyme Q10 deficiency in the dock?

Improving the efficacy and safety of concurrent chemoradiotherapy by neoadjuvant chemotherapy: a randomized controlled study of locally advanced cervical cancer with a large tumor

OBJECTIVE

To compare the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (NACT+CCRT) vs. concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) patients with large tumor masses.

METHODS

LACC patients with localized tumor diameter >4 cm, were randomly allocated in an unblinded 1:1 ratio to NACT+CCRT or CCRT groups. Patients in the NACT+CCRT group were given paclitaxel combined with cisplatin (TP) NACT every 3 weeks for 2 cycles, followed by CCRT, with the chemotherapy regimen the same as for NACT. CCRT group were given CCRT with the same as for NACT.

RESULTS

From March 1, 2019, to June 30, 2021, 146 patients were included in the final analysis. Sixty-eight (93.2%) patients in the NACT+CCRT group and 66 (90.4%) patients in the CCRT group completed the expected treatment course. The complete response (CR) rate in the NACT+CCRT group was significantly higher than in the CCRT group (87.7% vs. 67.6%, χ²=54.540, p=0.000). In the NACT+CCRT group, the 1- and 2-year overall survival (OS) rates were significantly higher than those in the CCRT group (96% vs. 89% and 89% vs. 79%, χ²=5.737, p=0.017). Additionally, the rate of recurrences and distant metastases was significantly lower in the NACT+CCRT group than in the CCRT group (4.11% vs. 7.35%, χ²=4.059, p=0.021). Most treatment-related adverse events in both groups were grade 3.

CONCLUSION

Compared to CCRT, NACT+CCRT might improve the treatment completion rate, increase CR rate and 1- and 2-year OS rates, and reduce distant metastases rate for LACC patients with large tumor masses.

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 .