Objective To assess the effect of B vitamins supplementation on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and also to evaluate the relationship between homocysteine and risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Methods Using the words ‘homocysteine’, ‘cardiovascular disease’, ‘cerebrovascular disease’, ‘B vitamins’, and ‘randomized controlled trial’, we searched PubMed, Ovid, and Springer. We also hand searched relevant journals and conference proceedings. Randomized controlled trials published between 1998 and July 2008 which evaluated the effect of B vitamins supplementation on vascular diseases were collected. Two reviewers independently screened trials, extracted data, and evaluated the quality of included trials. The Cochrane Collaboration’s RevMan 4.2 software was used for statistical analysis. Results Sixteen trials involving 27,043 patients with vascular disease were included. Results of meta-analyses showed that no significant differences were identified between the B vitamins group and the control group for each of the four endpoints, including the risk of cardiovascular events (RR 0.98, 95%CI 0.94 to 1.03), the risk of coronary heart disease (RR 0.99, 95%CI 0.92 to 1.07), the risk of stroke (RR 0.90, 95%CI 0.80 to 1.02), and the total mortality (RR 0.98, 95%CI 0.92 to 1.05). Sensitivity analyses conducted by a random effect model or with the exclusion of low-quality trials did not change the overall results. Conclusion The trials currently available cannot confirm the causal relationship between homocysteine and risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. More evidence from large-scale randomized controlled trials is needed to confirm this. There is not sufficient evidence to show that B vitamins supplementation can lower the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. B vitamins supplementation should not be recommended for the secondary prevention of such diseases.
目的：探讨尿毒症维持性血透(MHD)患者营养不良、炎症与脂质代谢紊乱三者间的相关关系，以及对心血管并发症的预测。方法:测51例尿毒症维持性血透患者血清总胆固醇(TC)、甘油三酯(TG)、高密度脂蛋白(HDL)、低密度脂蛋白(LDL)、载脂蛋白(Apo)A1、ApoB、脂蛋白（a）LP(a)、白蛋白(ALB)、C反应蛋白(CRP)、血清铁蛋白（SF），与30例正常人进行对照研究。结果：MHD患者TG、LDL、ApoB、LP(a)、CRP、SF显著增高,HDL、ApoA1、ALB显著降低(P＜0.05)；随着透析时间的延长，各项检测指标变化进一步加重；且心血管事件发生者血清CRP和LP(a)明显增高，ALB明显降低，血脂紊乱更显著。相关性分析：ALB与HDL、ApoA1正相关，与CRP、LP(a)、TC、TG、ApoB负相关；CRP与LP(a)、TC、TG、ApoB、LDL、SF正相关，与HDL、ApoA1负相关，P均＜0.05。结论：MHD患者存在明显的脂质代谢紊乱、炎症和营养不良，三者的相互促进和影响可能是心血管事件发生的危险因素。
The ability of quickscan(QS)to assess haemodynamically significant lesions in the iliac and femoro-popliteal arteries was studied.Quickscan was prospectively and independently compared to intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography(IADSA)of the iliac and femoro-popliteal arteries.In 176 patients 757 arterial segments were evaluated.A QS frequency ratio of 1:3 or greater had a sensitivity of 88%,a specificity of 94% and accuracy of 92% in detecting stenosisgt;5O% diameter(67% area)reduction as shown on IADSA.In the detection of occlusion,QS had a sensitivity of 91%,specificity of 95% and accuracy of 94%.There was significant correlation between area reduction found by QS and the calf/brachial pressure index(CBI)(r=-0.77,Plt;0.01).Thirty-seven patients underwent an angioplasty based on QS finding alone.All 37 were successful.The authors conclude that quickscan can provide an inexpensive,quick and non-invasive screening technique for the routine initial assessment of peripheral vascular disease.The results indicate that an agreement with angiography which is as good as duplex scanning.It has potential to replace angiography for workup prior to surgical or catheter intervention,in the assessment of the success of the procedure and its continuing follow-up.
Abstract: The amniotic fluidderived stem cells (AFSC) possess considerable advantageous characteristics including high proliferation potential, easy availability, low immunogenicity and oncogenicity，and accordance with medical ethnics. Moreover, they do not require the sacrifice of human embryos for their isolation and the cells can differentiate into all three kinds of germs. Accordingly，they initiate a new and very promising field in stem cell research and they will be a potential source of stem cells for therapies related to regeneration medicine of cardiovascular diseases. The research about the AFSC utilization in cardiovascular diseases is just started. Though there were some exciting breakthroughs, there still remain many challenges. In the article，we will discuss AFSC characteristics, influence of amniotic fluid harvesting time on stem cells, isolation and purification, emphasizing mainly on the potential of AFSC differentiation into cardiovascular cells, current situation and problems in this field.