150,

P < 0.001), IL-6 Selleck AG-14699 (r = 0.154, P < 0.001), oxidized LDL (oxLDL) (r = 0.161, P = < 0.001), and baPWV (r = 0.087, P = 0.032); and negative correlation with folate (r = -0.353, P < 0.001) and vitamin B(12) (r = -0.269, P < 0.001). In subgroup analysis based on plasma tHcy level, tHcy was associated with baPWV in men with high levels of tHcy (>= 13.1 mu mol/L, n = 153; r = 0.258, P = 0.001), but not in those with low-tHcy (< 13.1 mu mol/L, n = 459; r = -0.033, P = 0.478). The association between tHcy and baPWV in the high-tHcy group remained significant after adjustment for age, BMI, smoking, drinking, folate, and vitamin B(12). In the high-tHcy group, tHcy level was also positively correlated with IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, oxLDL,

and blood pressure; and negatively correlated with LDL particle size. In addition, baPWV showed negative correlation with LDL particle size and positive correlation with oxLDL in the high-tHcy group.

Conclusion: This study shows an association between high levels of plasma tHcy and more advanced arterial stiffness, smaller LDL particle size, and higher levels of oxLDL and cytokines in men with hyperhomocysteinemia. Enhanced arterial stiffness in hyperhomocysteinemia might be attributed, in part, to Hcy-related LDL atherogenicity. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“BACKGROUND: Percutaneous coronary intervention SYN-117 ic50 (PCI)-induced myocardial damage is associated with late cardiovascular events. Treatment with atorvastatin before PCI can reduce myocardial damage during the peri-PCI period.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the safety and myocardial effects of different atorvastatin loading doses and dosing frequency before PCI in non-ST segment EPZ5676 in vivo elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) patients.

METHODS: Eighty NSTE-ACS patients were randomly divided into four groups (20 patients per group). The control group was given

40 mg atorvastatin each night. The three loading dose groups were treated the same as in the control group, but were given 80 mg atorvastatin 12 h before PCI (low-load group) in combination with 40 mg atorvastatin 2 h to 4 h before PCI (mid-load group) or 60 mg atorvastatin 2 h to 4 h before PCI (high-load group). All patients underwent PCI within 48 h to 72 h of admission, and received 40 mg atorvastatin for at least one month after PCI. Changes in myocardial markers and highly sensitive C-reactive protein were analyzed. Patients were followed up for 30 days to monitor the incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE).

RESULTS: No deaths or revascularizations were recorded. The incidences of MACE differed significantly between the four groups (40%, 25%, 10% and 0% for the control, low-load, mid-load and high-load groups, respectively; P<0.05).