Trimethylamine-N-oxide has prognostic value in coronary heart disease: a meta-analysis and dose-response analysis.

BACKGROUND: Previous clinical studies have suggested that trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) could contribute to the development of atherosclerosis cardiovascular disease. However, the synthetic analysis in coronary heart disease (CHD) was not yet performed. We aimed to clarify the relationship between elevated plasma concentrations of TMAO and the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in CHD patients. METHODS: Meta-analysis and dose-response analysis of hazard ratio data from prospective observational studies reporting on the association between TMAO plasma concentrations and the incidence of MACE in patients with CHD were conducted. RESULTS: Of the 2369 published articles identified in the search, seven papers, with data from nine cohort studies (10,301 patients), were included in the meta-analysis. Combined data showed that elevated plasma TMAO concentrations could increase 58% higher risk of MACE in patients with CHD (hazard ratios [HR]: 1.58; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.35-1.84, P = 0.000). For follow-up ≥ 1 year, it was associated with 62% higher risk of MACE in patients with longer-term than shorter-term (HR for follow-up ≥ 4 years: 1.96; 95% CI = 1.52-2.52 vs one to 3 years: 1.34; 95% CI = 1.26-1.43, P = 0.004). The dose-response analysis revealed a 'J' shaped association between TMAO concentration and the incidence of MACE (P = 0.033), with the concentration above 5.1 µmol/L being associated with HR of > 1. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated levels of TMAO are associated with an increased incidence of MACE in patients with CHD. TMAO concentration of 5.1 µmol/L may be a cut-off value for prognosis.

Comparison of plasmid DNA versus PCR amplified gene of insert DNA for nucleofection in Kasumi-1 cells.

Plasmid electroporation, or its optimized version nucleofection, is an important technique for gene transfection of cells in suspension. However, substantial cell death and/or low transfection efficiency are still common for some cell lines. By using enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) as a reporter, we compared the use of PCR amplified EGFP (PaEGFP) and its parental plasmid (pEGFP-N2) for nucleofection in Kasumi-1 cells. We found that PaEGFP induced significantly lower cell death but had similar transfection efficiency compared to its parent plasmid (pEGFP-N2). Most importantly, contrary to the pEGFP-N2-nucleofected cells, the PaEGFP-nucleofected cells subsequently grew properly. Tests in other cell lines also implied that PaEGFP indeed induced consistently less cell death, but transfection efficiencies varied, being good in suspension cell lines but lower in adhesive cell lines. We suggest that direct transfection with PCR amplified genes can be a simple and useful approach for optimization of electropulse-based transfection not only of Kasumi-1 cells, but also may be useful for other cell lines that are difficult to transfect in suspension.

[Plasma concentration and pharmacokinetics of ursolic acid carried in self-microemulsifying drug delivery system in rats studied by UPLC-MS/MS].

This study is to report the establishment of an UPLC-MS/MS method for the determination of plasma concentration of UA carried in self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) and its pharmacokinetics in rats. It was used for determination and analysis when serum with internal standard was extracted from C18 solid-phase column. Acquity UPLC BEH C18 column (100 mm x 2.1 mm, 1.7 microm) was used for separation. The mobile phase was acetonitrile -0.1% ammonia with gradient elution at the flow rate of 0.2 mL x min(-1). The column temperature was 40 degrees C and the detection wave length was 210 nm. It was detected by negative ion using electrospray ionization source (ESI) and scanned by multiple reaction ion monitoring (MRM) mode. The liner relationship of UA was very good in the range of 1.19-3 815.00 ng x mL(-1) (r = 0.999 0). Recovery rate of different concentrations were 87.42%-89.95%. The precision of inter-day and intra-day were less than 11%. The method developed in our study was proved to be sensitive, rapid and simple. It is suitable for the pharmacokinetic study of UA-SMEDDS in rats.

[A study protocol for clinical pathways based on integrative medicine for patients with acute myocardial infarction].

BACKGROUND: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is one of the most common cardiovascular diseases. The clinical pathway is the therapeutic program for disease-specific treatment and its implementation may reduce both the duration and cost of the hospital stay. This study aims to construct and evaluate the efficacy of clinical pathways (CPs) based on integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine for patients with AMI. METHODS AND DESIGN: The clinical pathway of integrative medicine for AMI was constructed on the basis of syndrome evolvement surveys, literature research and expert consultation. Then, a non-randomized controlled, multicenter trial was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the clinical pathway around the length of hospital stay, hospital expenses and the incidence of major cardiovascular events. This also allowed further exploration into the efficacy and safety of the clinical pathway for AMI based on traditional Chinese and Western medicine. DISCUSSION: The study firstly researched CPs based on the integrative medicine in hospitals of Chinese medicine and set up the key methods and skills for the construction of CPs of integrative medicine. This study will provide a powerful reference and direction for single-disease management reform under the healthcare system and set a good example for the improvement of integrative treatments. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR-TNRC-10000753.