However, the carotid IMT was not changed despite of 6 months of atorvastatin either low dose or high dose in the present study. Because statin was used more than 2 years in most of the previous studies which showed
favorable results on the progression of carotid atherosclerosis,25-28) relatively short duration of statin use would be a possible explanation for the negative results on carotid IMT progression in the present study. Based on these findings, it is suggested that statin should be used for sufficiently long duration to retard or regress the progression of atherosclerosis. The brachial FMD was significantly decreased in patients Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical with carotid plaque than in patients without plaque in Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical the present study. The brachial FMD was significantly decreased in patients with carotid plaque than in patients without plaque in the present study, the results of the present study also support the previous observations that endothelial dysfunction is associated with atherosclerosis and
involves in every stages of the progression of atherosclerosis.29),30) There are several limitations in Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical the present study. Firstly, the main limitation of this study was the relatively small SIRT2 assay sample size which could affect the results of statistical analysis and the study was not performed in blinded fashion. Selection bias associated with small sample size could present inevitably, and thus the results of the present study cannot be generalized. Secondly, although the prescribed medications such as calcium channel blocker and nitrate were not different between the groups and discontinued 24 hour before
follow-up echocardiographic Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical study, these Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical drugs also could affect diversely on the results of the brachial FMD. Thirdly, because the present study has no control group, the effect of diltiazem or nitrate on the improvement of FMD could not be completely excluded. Considering the previous study of Yun et al.16) which showed the use of statin significantly improves Mephenoxalone FMD regardless of the use of calcium channel blocker or nitrate, the use of statin would be a major factor for the improvement of FMD in the present study. In conclusion, the use of statin improves endothelial function significantly in patients with VAP, but carotid IMT was not changed. Statin therapy would be beneficial in the treatment of VAP. Acknowledgements The present study was supported from the research grant of the Research Institute of Medical Sciences of Chonnam National University.
Heart failure is one of the most important health problems in both the developed and developing world.1) In developed countries, the incidence of heart failure is 1-2%,2) and the prevalence rises to > 10% among persons > 70 years of age.