ObjectiveTo explore whether red yeast rice is a safe and effective alternative approach for dyslipidemia.MethodsPubmed, the Cochrane Library, EBSCO host, Chinese VIP Information (VIP), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Databases were searched for appropriate articles. Randomized trials of RYR (not including Xuezhikang and Zhibituo) and placebo as control in patients with dyslipidemia were considered. Two authors read all papers and independently extracted all relevant information. The primary outcomes were serum total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride (TG), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). The secondary outcomes were increased levels of alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase, creatinine and fasting blood glucose.ResultsA total of 13 randomized, placebo-controlled trials containing 804 participants were analyzed. Red yeast rice exhibited significant lowering effects on serum TC [WMD = −0.97 (95% CI: −1.13, −0.80) mmol/L, P<0.001], TG [WMD = −0.23 (95% CI: −0.31, −0.14) mmol/L, P<0.001], and LDL-C [WMD = −0.87 (95% CI: −1.03, −0.71) mmol/L, P<0.001] but no significant increasing effect on HDL-C [WMD = 0.08 (95% CI: −0.02, 0.19) mmol/L, P = 0.11] compared with placebo. No serious side effects were reported in all trials.ConclusionsThe meta-analysis suggests that red yeast rice is an effective and relatively safe approach for dyslipidemia. However, further long-term, rigorously designed randomized controlled trials are still warranted before red yeast rice could be recommended to patients with dyslipidemia, especially as an alternative to statins.

We evaluated the impact of transradial coronary procedures on the vasodilatory function of the radial artery. A total of 65 patients who underwent transradial coronary procedures were enrolled. All patients were examined with B-mode high-resolution ultrasound. Radial artery baseline diameter and response to flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and nitroglycerin-mediated dilation (NMD) were measured in the right radial artery. The FMD of the right radial artery was 11.5%, 4.1%, and 0.7%, respectively, before the procedures, 1 day, and 3 months after the procedures (P < .05 at 1 day, P < .01 at 3 months). The NMD of the right radial artery was 17.6%, 5.4%, and 6.3%, respectively, before the procedures, 1 day, and 3 months after the procedures (P < .05 at 1 day, P < .05 at 3 months). Transradial coronary procedures decrease radial artery FMD and NMD resulting in immediate and persistent blunting of vasodilatory function.

Background:In recent years, the radial artery (RA) has become an alternative vascular access site for percutaneous coronary procedures, and the ulnar artery (UA) is another possibility. The objective of this study was to investigate the anatomy of the forearm arteries with ultrasound (US) and to evaluate the effect of the anatomy of the right RA (RRA) on the outcomes of transradial coronary procedures. Methods and Results:The 638 patients undergoing transradial coronary procedures were examined with US for measurement of the diameters of the forearm arteries and determination of their anatomical abnormalities before the procedures. The next day the incidence of RA occlusion was recorded. The diameters of the radial and ulnar arteries were similar (P>0.05). The procedure time was longer in patients with anatomical abnormalities (P<0.05) and whose RRA had a diameter <2 mm (P<0.05). The incidence of procedure failure, and of RA occlusion one day after the procedure was also higher in patients with an anatomical abnormality of the RRA (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively) and whose RRA diameter was <2 mm (P<0.05 and P<0.05, respectively). Conclusions:The diameters of the forearm arteries of Chinese people are similar. The small diameter and anatomical abnormalities of the RRA could result in longer procedure time, more incidence of procedure failure and RA occlusion. (Circ J 2010; 74: 686 - 692)