The influence of short-term treatment with simvastatin on the inflammatory profile of patients with hypercholesterolaemia.

BACKGROUND: Treatment with 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase inhibitors can reduce cardiovascular mortality of patients with atherosclerosis. This effect is probably due not only to a decrease in concentration of cholesterol, but also to non-lipid-involving mechanisms elicited by the action of statin drugs. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of short-term therapy with simvastatin on markers of inflammation and oxidation processes in patients with hypercholesterolaemia. DESIGN: We administered 20mg simvastatin daily for 12 weeks to 19 patients with hypercholesterolaemia (250-400 mg/dl). Peripheral blood samples for evaluation of plasma concentrations of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (malonaldehyde), stable metabolites of nitric oxide (NOx) and interleukin 6 (11-6) were taken before and after the therapy. RESULTS: Plasma levels of malonaldehyde decreased significantly (from 4.533+/-0.428 versus 3.690+/-0.310 micromol/l, P = 0.04) during the study period. Similarly, there was a significant decrease in the plasma concentrations of NOx (from 33.477+/-4.352 micromol/l versus 25.919+/-2.561 micromol/l, P = 0.02). There were significant positive correlations between concentrations of total cholesterol and NOx in plasma (r = 0.4397, P = 0.008) and of low-density lipoprotein and NOx (r = 0.3987, P = 0.02). The plasma level of interleukin 6 remained unchanged by the intervention (1.837+/-0.200 versus 1.820+/-0.169 pg/ml, P = 0.54). CONCLUSIONS: Short-term therapy with simvastatin decreases the plasma concentrations of markers of peroxidation of lipids and of stable metabolites of nitric oxide in hypercholesterolaemic patients, but leaves levels of interleukin 6 unaffected.

The influence of treatment of hypercholesterolemic patients with simvastatin on plasma chemotactic activity and adherence of neutrophils.

BACKGROUND: there is some evidence to indicate that statins may affect the function of immune and inflammatory cells. This study investigates the influence of short term treatment with simvastatin on plasma chemotactic activity and adherence of polymorphonuclear neutrophils in hypercholesterolemic patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: 20 hypercholesterolemic patients (250-400 mg/dl) were given simvastatin (20 mg daily for 12 weeks). Peripheral blood samples were taken before and after 4 and 12 weeks of the therapy. The percentage of neutrophils adhering to plastic surface coated with albumin was significantly higher when cells were incubated with plasma obtained after 12 weeks of treatment with simvastatin in comparison with plasma collected before the therapy (unstimulated neutrophils: 5.945+/-0.475% vs. 8.155+/-0.96%, P=0.0477, stimulated neutrophils: 39.09+/-4.540% vs. 29.18+/-3.702%, P=0.032). There was a significant negative correlation between adherence of stimulated neutrophils and total cholesterol levels ((r)=-0.2796, 95% CI -0. 4999 to -0.02526, r(2)=0.07817, P=0.032). Migration of neutrophils towards plasma obtained after 12 weeks of treatment with simvastatin was significantly higher than towards plasma collected before the therapy (7.038+/-1.127 vs. 4.505+/-0 618 P=0.0475). CONCLUSION: treatment of hypercholesterolemic patients with simvastatin increases the chemotactic activity of plasma and augments the adherence of human neutrophils.

[Malaria in six patients hospitalized in the Department of Parasitic and Tropical Diseases of the Medical Academy in Poznan in 1994 and 1995]. / Zimnica u szesciu chorych hospitalizowanych w Klinice Chorób Pasozytniczych i Tropikalnych Akademii Medycznej w Poznaniu w 1994 i 1995 r.

Clinical course of malaria was described in the observed patients. Principal aspects of the respective pathomechanism, diagnostics, therapy and prophylaxis were discussed. Practical recommendations were presented, as related to procedures which should be followed in suspicion of malaria and his treatment.

[Co-occurring trichinellosis and sausage poisoning: report of 4 cases]. / Jednoczesne zachorowania na wlosnice i zatrucie jadem kielbasianym czterech chorych.

Four cases of the coexisting trichinellosis and botulism. Four cases of the coexisting trichinellosis and botulism in an epidemia of trichinellosis are presented. Botulism varied in the clinical expressing causing diagnostic especially in an index care.