Reduction of soluble P-selectin by statins is inversely correlated with the progression of coronary artery disease.

Background: Cell adhesion molecules (CAM) play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis by mediating the binding of leukocytes to the endothelium. Soluble CAM isoforms are known to be elevated in the sera of patients suffering from coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: We measured the concentrations of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, E-selectin, P-selectin, platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1, and highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in the blood of 47 CAD patients before and 6 months after starting statin therapy and in 16 untreated CAD patients.

Management of respiratory deterioration in a pregnant patient with severe kyphoscoliosis by non-invasive positive pressure ventilation.

The problem of kyphoscoliosis in combination with pregnancy is uncommon and published cases are rare. Until now, little and controversial information on the outcome, optimal management and course of pregnancy in patients with kyphoscoliosis has been available. The majority of maternal deaths seem to be attributed to cardiorespiratory failure, while obstetric complications account for relatively few complications.

Simvastatin inhibits malignant transformation following expression of the Ha-ras oncogene in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts.

In previous studies we have shown that the expression of the transforming Ha-ras oncogene in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts stimulates cellular calcium entry, which triggers oscillatory calcium induced calcium release from internal stores. The intracellular calcium oscillations lead to cytoskeletal remodeling by actin stress fiber depolymerization and activation of the Na(+)/H(+) exchanger thus mediating cell swelling and intracellular alkalosis, both important mitogenic signals. This is evidenced by abrogation of Ha-ras induced growth factor independent cell proliferation by interference with any of these events, i.