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Tse-Min Lu

Publications and source records attributed to Tse-Min Lu.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Decreased heparin cofactor II activity is associated with impaired endothelial function determined by brachial ultrasonography and predicts cardiovascular events.

BACKGROUND: Heparin cofactor II (HCII) could inactivate thrombin after binding to dermatan sulfate at injured arterial walls, and has been shown to be a novel and independent antiatherosclerotic factor. However, the relation between plasma HCII activity and peripheral vascular endothelial function remains unclear. METHODS: A total of 199 patients (mean age, 63+/-14 years) were enrolled and followed up for a median period of 24 months. Endothelial function was assessed using brachial ultrasonography to determine endothelium dependent flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD). Cox regression analyses were conducted for the 199 subjects, with cardiovascular events being defined as myocardial infarction (MI), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), ischemic stroke, and peripheral artery revascularization. RESULTS: A total of 31 patients (16%) had cardiovascular events. Patients with cardiovascular events had significantly lower HCII activity (112+/-34 versus 127+/-34%, p=0.027) and lower antithrombin III (ATIII) activity (82+/-12 versus 88+/-13%, p=0.014) than those without events. By multivariate analysis, age (p=0.012), hsCRP (p=0.020) and HCII activity (p=0.035) were correlated with FMD. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed and showed plasma HCII (p=0.036) and ATIII activities (p=0.005) were predictors of cardiovascular events. By Cox regression analysis, plasma HCII activity (p=0.026) could be an independent predictor of future cardiovascular events, but not ATIII. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates that plasma HCII activity is positively correlated with endothelial vasodilator function. Furthermore, plasma HCII activity could be a predictor of future cardiovascular events in patients with suspected coronary artery disease, suggesting its role in atherosclerosis.

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PubMed2005

Double-barrel coronary artery dissection.

Coronary artery dissection is a common occurrence after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). However, we report herein a rare case of double-barrel coronary artery dissection occurring 1 year after PTCA for stenosis in the left circumflex coronary artery. The case history and angiographic findings are reported, and relevant literature is reviewed.

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PubMed2004

Effect of rosuvastatin on plasma levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine in patients with hypercholesterolemia.

Elevated plasma levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) have been associated with attenuated endothelium-dependent vasodilation in hypercholesterolemic patients. However, whether lowering of plasma cholesterol concentration by hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) can reduce plasma ADMA levels is still not clear. This study was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design including 46 patients with elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Patients were randomized into 2 groups: rosuvastatin 10 mg/day and placebo for 6 weeks. Plasma levels of ADMA, 8-isoprostane (as a marker of oxidative stress), homocysteine, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were measured at baseline and 6 weeks later. Endothelial function assessed by flow-mediated vasodilation of the brachial artery was performed in 11 patients in the rosuvastatin group and in 12 in the placebo group. Baseline characteristics of both groups were similar, and the plasma ADMA levels were significantly correlated with 8-isoprostane (r = 0.388, p = 0.008). After 6 weeks of treatment, plasma ADMA levels were significantly reduced in the rosuvastatin group (from 0.60 +/- 0.19 to 0.49 +/- 0.10 micromol/L, p <0.001). Increases in flow-mediated vasodilation were positively correlated with reductions in plasma levels of ADMA (p = 0.017) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p <0.001). Thus, our findings suggest that treatment with rosuvastatin in patients with hypercholesterolemia may lead to a significant reduction in plasma ADMA levels, which appear to be related to the improvement in endothelial function by rosuvastatin.

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PubMed2003

Asymmetrical dimethylarginine: a novel risk factor for coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous competitive inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase and has been associated with systemic atherosclerosis; however, the role of ADMA in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) has not been investigated. HYPOTHESIS: The present study was designed to determine whether the plasma ADMA level predicts the presence of CAD independently, and whether the plasma ADMA level correlates with the extent and severity of coronary atherosclerosis. METHODS: In all, 97 consecutive patients with angina and positive exercise stress test were enrolled prospectively for coronary angiography. According to the result of angiography, the subjects were divided into two groups: Group I (n = 46): patients with normal coronary artery or mild CAD (< 50% stenosis of major coronary arteries); Group 2 (n = 51): patients with significant CAD (> or = 50% stenosis of majorcoronary arteries). Plasma levels of ADMA and L-arginine were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. In addition, we used coronary atherosclerotic score to assess the extent and severity of CAD. RESULTS: The plasma levels of ADMA in Group 2 patients were significantly higher than those in Group 1 patients (0.66 +/- 0.17 microM vs. 0.44 +/- 0.09 microM, p < 0.001); these were accompanied by significantly lower plasma L-arginine/ADMA ratio in patients with significant CAD (Group 1 vs. 2: 194.0 +/- 55.3 vs. 136.7 +/- 50.3, p < 0.001). In a multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis, both plasma ADMA level and plasma L-arginine/ADMA ratio were identified as independent predictors for CAD. Moreover, there were significant positive and negative correlations between coronary atherosclerotic score and plasma ADMA level as well as plasma L-arginine/ADMA ratio, respectively (plasma ADMA level: r = 0.518, p < 0.001; L-arginine/ADMA ratio: r = -0.430, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Both plasma ADMA level and plasma L-arginine/ADMA ratio were useful in predicting the presence of significant CAD and correlated significantly with the extent and severity of coronary atherosclerosis. Our findings suggest that plasma ADMA level may be a novel marker of CAD.

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PubMed2003

Plasma levels of asymmetrical dimethylarginine and adverse cardiovascular events after percutaneous coronary intervention.

AIMS: We investigated the predictive value of plasma concentration of asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA) on clinical outcome in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS AND RESULTS: One-hundred and fifty-three consecutive patients with stable angina and undergoing PCI were prospectively enrolled for clinical follow-up. Plasma ADMA levels were determined before procedure by high performance liquid chromatography. The major adverse cardiovascular events included cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and repeat revascularization of target vessels. Patients were grouped into tertiles according to their plasma ADMA levels. Over a follow-up period of 16 months (median), cardiovascular events occurred in 6 patients of tertile I (<0.50microM), in 17 patients of tertile II (0.50-0.62microM), and in 28 patients of tertile III (>0.62microM), P<0.001. By multivariate analysis, tertiles of ADMA levels were independently associated with a higher risk of adverse cardiovascular events after PCI (relative risk: tertile II vs I: 3.0 [1.2-7.7], P=0.022; tertile III vs I: 5.3 [2.2-12.9], P<0.001). Moreover, plasma ADMA level in the highest tertile also appeared as a significant risk factor of subsequent death and non-fatal myocardial infarction after PCI (tertile III vs I, P=0.04). CONCLUSION: Pre-procedural plasma ADMA levels may independently predict subsequent adverse cardiovascular events in patients undergoing PCI. Measurement of plasma ADMA levels could provide a rationale for risk stratification of patients by measuring ADMA levels before intervention.

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