ESR1 polymorphisms and statin therapy: a sex-specific approach

Lipid-lowering therapy has shown a high degree of variability in clinical response and there is evidence that the variability in drug response between individuals is due to genetic factors. Thirteen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the ESR1 gene were evaluated with basal lipid and lipoprotein levels, as well as response to lipid-lowering therapy, in 495 hypercholesterolemic individuals of European descent receiving simvastatin or atorvastatin. Significant associations were detected between rs4870061 (P=0.040, corrected P-value (PC)=0.440), rs1801132 (P=0.002, PC=0.022) and the SNP rs3020314 (P=0.013, PC=0.143) with triglyceride (TG) baseline levels. The rs4870061 was also associated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) baseline levels (P=0.045, PC=0.495). Regarding statin efficacy, rs2234693 C/C was associated with greater HDL-C increase (P=0.037; PC=0.407) and rs3798577 T allele was associated with greater total cholesterol (TC) reduction (P=0.019; PC=0.209) and greater TG reduction (P=0.026; PC=0.286). These associations suggest that ESR1 polymorphisms are in part responsible for the TC, HDL-C and TG variation levels and this effect may be sex-specific.

Surfactin reduces the adhesion of food-borne pathogenic bacteria to solid surfaces

AIMS

To investigate the effect of the biosurfactants surfactin and rhamnolipids on the adhesion of the food pathogens Listeria monocytogenes, Enterobacter sakazakii and Salmonella Enteritidis to stainless steel and polypropylene surfaces.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Quantification of bacterial adhesion was performed using the crystal violet staining technique. Preconditioning of surfaces with surfactin caused a reduction on the number of adhered cells of Ent. sakazakii and L. monocytogenes on stainless steel. The most significant result was obtained with L. monocytogenes where number of adhered cells was reduced by 10(2) CFU cm(-2). On polypropylene, surfactin showed a significant decrease on the adhesion of all strains. The adsorption of surfactin on polystyrene also reduces the adhesion of L. monocytogenes and Salm. Enteritidis growing cells. For short contact periods using nongrowing cells or longer contact periods with growing cells, surfactin was able to delay bacterial adhesion.

CONCLUSIONS

The prior adsorption of surfactin to solid surfaces contributes on reducing colonization of the pathogenic bacteria.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This is the first work investigating the effect of surfactin on the adhesion of the food pathogens L. monocytogenes, Ent. sakazakii and Salm. Enteritidis to polypropylene and stainless steel surfaces.

Determinants of variable response to simvastatin treatment: the role of common variants of SCAP, SREBF-1a and SREBF-2 genes

We investigated the effect of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in sterol regulatory element-binding factors-1a and -2 (SREBF-1a and SREBF-2) and SREBF cleavage-activating protein (SCAP) genes on lipid-lowering response to simvastatin. In all, 146 hypercholesterolemic patients of European descent were prospectively treated with simvastatin 20 mg/day for over 6 months. Of these 99 subjects completed the 6-month follow-up. Plasma lipids and lipoproteins were measured before and throughout the study. The mean percentage decrease in plasma total cholesterol (TC) was greater in subject carriers of SCAP 2386G allele compared with those homozygous for 2386A allele (-29.6+/-13.4 vs -22.1+/-13.8%, P=0.007). About 61% of the 2386G carriers were above-average responders for TC levels (DeltaTC -27.8%), whereas only 29% of 2386A homozygous reached this reduction (P=0.009). Our data suggest that the SCAP 2386A>G gene polymorphism was a significant predictor of TC and triglyceride responses to simvastatin treatment.

[Use of high-dose oral amiodarone for the reversion of atrial fibrillation during the postoperative period of cardiac surgery]

PURPOSE

To report our experience using high dose oral amiodarone (1,800 mg/day) for the reversion of atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm in patients submitted to cardiac surgery.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the records of 80 patients who had atrial fibrillation during the postoperative period after cardiac surgery, initially divided in two groups: group A, 28 patients that used amiodarone, and group B composed of patients receiving digoxin. The latter group was divided further in a third group (C), with 21 patients in which amiodarone was associated with digoxin if there was no reversion of the arrhythmia after 48 hours of treatment. The observed differences were considered significant at P < 0.05.

RESULTS

Atrial fibrillation occurred in 19.4% of the patients submitted to surgery, predominating in males, 60 to 69 years-old. In group A there was reversion to sinus rhythm in 78.6% of the cases. In group B digoxin succeeded in 60%, and in group C 90% of the patients reverted to sinus rhythm.

CONCLUSION

High dose oral amiodarone, alone or combined to digoxin, can be safe and effective for the treatment of atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery.