The effects of a single nucleotide polymorphism in SLCO1B1 on the pharmacodynamics of pravastatin.

Aim: To determine whether the SNP rs4149056 in SLCO1B1 alters the pharmacodynamics of pravastatin.

Methods: rs4149056 was genotyped in 626 pravastatin-treated participants in the WOSCOPS trial and the response after 1 year of treatment was compared between the different genotypes.

Results: Pravastatin reduced serum LDL cholesterol by 22.

Healthy individuals carrying the PCSK9 p.R46L variant and familial hypercholesterolemia patients carrying PCSK9 p.D374Y exhibit lower plasma concentrations of PCSK9.

Background: We measured plasma PCSK9 concentrations in healthy men with a PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9) loss-of-function variant (p.R46L), in statin-treated patients with a clinical diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and carrying a PCSK9 gain-of-function mutation (p.D374Y), and in statin-treated patients with FH due to different genetic causes.

Bio-protocols for directly forming active encapsulations containing living primary cells.

Electrosprays and electrospinning were recently pioneered for directly handling living cells. These recent discoveries are now widely referred to as "bio-electrosprays" and "cell electrospinning", which have been demonstrated as having tremendous applicability to the life sciences in regenerative and therapeutic medicine. In the current work, we report our developmental studies with these protocols as submerged entities with primary rabbit aorta smooth muscle cells for generating cell-bearing encapsulations, which demonstrate proof-of-concept for a plethora of biomedical applications.

Inhibition of in-stent restenosis in rabbit iliac arteries with photodynamic therapy.

Objectives: Photodynamic therapy (PDT, the combination of light with a photosensitising drug in the presence of oxygen) inhibits restenosis after angioplasty without stenting. This study assesses the potential of PDT for prevention of in-stent re-stenosis.

Design And Methods: Normal rabbits were given the photosensitising agent 5-aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) 60 mg/kg, 3 h prior to endovascular illumination of the iliac artery (635 nm at 50 J/cm(2)) either immediately before or after deployment of an oversized (3 mm diameter) stent.

Use of a needleless injection system for digital ring block anesthesia.

Digital ring block anesthesia, which is frequently used before surgery for ingrown toenails, is often extremely uncomfortable for patients and can be the most distressing aspect of the procedure. The authors used a novel needleless injection device to induce digital anesthesia before surgery and compared it in terms of patient discomfort and preference with use of a standard needle and syringe for injection in individuals undergoing simultaneous bilateral nail procedures. Use of the needleless device significantly reduced the pain associated with this procedure and was preferred over use of a standard needle and syringe by all individuals.

Varicose veins: loss of release of vascular endothelial growth factor and reduced plasma nitric oxide.

Objectives: To examine the release of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and nitric oxide (NO) in primary varicose veins (VVs) and normal vein controls following experimentally-induced venous stasis.

Design, Materials And Methods: Patients with primary VVs (n=21) and control subjects (n=11) were rested supine for 15 min. Blood was collected from both an arm and foot vein.

"Long haul" flight and deep vein thrombosis: a model to help investigate the benefit of aspirin and below-knee compression stockings.

Objective: to develop a model simulating factors of "long haul" flight to investigate the relationship with DVT.

Materials And Methods: volunteers (19 males: 20 females) sat for 6 h in a warm (>25 degrees C), dry environment, limited in movement, consuming alcohol (40 ml of 40% alcohol/hour) and salted foods (300 g). Half of the subjects received 150 mg aspirin and wore especially designed below-knee, compression stockings (Class 1 profile).