Protection by nitric oxide against liver inflammatory injury in animals carrying a nitric oxide synthase-2 transgene

22 pages, 7 figures, 1 table.

Dependence of hepatic gluconeogenesis on PO2: inhibitory effects of halothane

The dependence of gluconeogenesis and O2 uptake on PO2 in isolated rat hepatocytes is presented. Maintenance of steady-state PO2 was achieved with an oxystat system (Biochem. J. 236: 765–769, 1986). O2 uptake showed a half-maximal (K0.5) value of 0.5 Torr PO2, whereas the glucose synthesis rate was half-maximal at 1.2 Torr PO2. Halothane at concentrations greater than 1 mM exerted a parallel inhibition of O2 uptake and glucose synthesis at all PO2 levels studied. In contrast, at halothane concentrations less than 1 mM, inhibition of glucose synthesis occurred only at less than 20 Torr PO2. At these low concentrations, halothane was without significant effects on cellular O2 uptake. In isol…

Effects of multicomponent and power training programs using elastic devices on motor function, body composition, and metabolic, bone and inflammatory profile in older adults

Background: It is needed to understand what type of training strategy can be the most effective for contributing to a healthier, active, and more independent elderly population. Nowadays, there are novel types of training interventions and devices, but only little is known regarding whether these can provoke positive benefits in this target population. Concretely, no evidence has examined the effectiveness of high-speed resistance training and multicomponent training in older adults in respect of not only physical function but also bone, immunity, and metabolic status. Developing an understanding these novel training strategies can ultimately provide a viable alternative to traditional mode…

Inverse association between habitual polyphenol intake and incidence of cardiovascular events in the PREDIMED study

Background and aims: Epidemiologic and biological evidence supports an inverse association between polyphenol consumption and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, no previous studies have prospectively evaluated the relationship between polyphenol intake and the incidence of CVD in such a comprehensive way. The aim was to evaluate the association between intakes of total polyphenol and polyphenol subgroups, and the risk of major cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction, stroke or death from cardiovascular causes) in the PREDIMED study. Methods and results: The present work is an observational study within the PREDIMED trial. Over an average of 4.3 years of follow-up, there…

Oxidative stress and enzymatic antioxidant mechanisms in essential hypertension

8-HYDROXY-2'DEOXYGUANOSINE LEVELS AND ANTIOXIDANT STATUS IN RAT LIVER FED WITH OLIVE AND CORN OIL DIETS: EFFECT OF ASCORBIC ACID SUPPLEMENATION

DNA damage and antioxidants status were determined in liver of rat fed with olive and corn oil diets with and without ascorbic acid supplementation. In order to elucidate the role of fat intake, the study included a control and hyperlipidic diet. Liver antioxidant activities were significantly influenced by dietary fat and intake levels. In general, control groups fed with corn oil diets exhibited reduced liver antioxidant (SOD, catalase, and GSH-PX) and GSH levels compared with rats fed on olive oil diets. These activities were lower in rats consuming hyperlipidic diets relative to the control groups. Ascorbic acid supplementation resulted in a slight decrease of antioxidant activities bot…

Increased thioredoxin levels are related to insulin resistance in familial combined hyperlipidaemia

BACKGROUND Thioredoxins (TRX) are major cellular protein disulphide reductases that are critical for redox regulation. Oxidative stress and inflammation play promoting roles in the genesis and progression of atherosclerosis, but until now scarce data are available considering the influence of TRX activity in familial combined hyperlipidaemia (FCH). Since FCH is associated with high risk of cardiovascular disease, the objective of the present study was to assess oxidative stress status in FCH patients, and evaluate the influence of insulin resistance (IR). MATERIALS AND METHODS A cohort of 35 control subjects and 35 non-related FCH patients were included, all of them nondiabetic, normotensiv…

Age-related changes in antioxidant status and oxidative damage to lipids and dna in mitochondria of rat liver

To investigate the correlation between oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage with aging, antioxidant system, levels of oxidative DNA damage and as an index of the loss of plasma membrane integrity lipid peroxidation and membrane potential were studied. Results showed that the activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase significantly decreased during aging, however glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) increased in the aged mitochondria and glutathione (GSH) did not change during aging. No statistical difference was observed in the lipid peroxidation of mitochondria between young and old animals. The level of oxidative DNA damage (measured as 8oxo-dG) tended to in…

Impact of the components of metabolic syndrome on oxidative stress and enzymatic antioxidant activity in essential hypertension.

The objective of the present study was to analyze the impact of metabolic syndrome (MS) and its individual components on oxidative stress (OX) and on the activity of antioxidant enzymes of patients with essential hypertension. One hundred and eighty-seven hypertensives, 127 (61.9%) of them having criteria for MS according to the International Diabetes Federation criteria and 30 healthy normotensive subjects were included. OX status was assessed by measuring glutathione oxidized/glutathione reduced and reactive oxygen species-induced byproducts of lipid peroxidation, malondialdehide, and DNA damage, 8-oxo-dG genomic and mitochondrial. Antioxidant enzymatic activity of Cu/Zn extracellular-sup…

Inadequate Cytoplasmic Antioxidant Enzymes Response Contributes to the Oxidative Stress in Human Hypertension

Untreated hypertensive patients show increased oxidative stress and decreased antioxidant enzyme activity in mononuclear cells. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine whether or not the low antioxidant enzyme activity observed in mononuclear cells of hypertensive subjects is in part dependent on a defective activity of antioxidant mechanisms. Activity and mRNA level of antioxidant enzymes, CuZn- and Mn-superoxide dismutases, catalase, glutathione peroxidase type 1, and glutathione reductase were simultaneously measured in mononuclear cells of controls (n = 38) and hypertensive subjects (n = 35), in the absence of and during antihypertensive treatment. An increase in oxidati…

Abstract 2810: Pterostilbene, a natural phytoalexin, weakens the antioxidant defenses of aggressive cancer cells in vivo: a pituitary gland- and Nrf2-dependent mechanism

Abstract Polyphenolic phytochemicals have anticancer properties. However, in mechanistic studies lack of correlation to the bioavailable concentrations is a critical issue. We studied the underlying mechanisms using different human melanomas (A2058, MeWo and MelJuso) and pancreatic cancers (AsPC-1 and BxPC-3) (with genetic backgrounds correlating with most tumors in patients), growing in nude mice as xenografts, and pterostilbene (Pter, 3’,5’-dimethoxy-4-stilbenol; abundant in e.g. blueberries and a natural dimethoxylated analog of resveratrol). RESULTS: Intravenous administration of Pter decreased human melanoma and pancreatic cancer growth (an effect associated with lower rates of tumor c…

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Correlations Between Oxidative Stress Metabolism and Cytogenetic Subgroups

Abstract The chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B cell-CLL) is a heterogeneous lymphoproliferative disorder susceptible to oxidative stress. The excessive production of reactive oxygen intermediates above the capability of naturally produced antioxidants may result in the instability of essential macromolecules, and represents the molecular basis of many diseases including cancer. Highly reactive radicals interact with DNA inducing a multitude of oxidative modifications, and are implicated in mutagenesis due to misreplication of the damaged base 8-oxo-2′-deoxiguanosine (8-oxo-dG). Furthermore, protooncogene activation and/or tumor suppressor gene inhibition has been reported as a consequence of …

Effect of nut consumption on oxidative stress and the endothelial function in metabolic syndrome

Effect of nut consumption on oxidative stress and the endothelial function in metabolic syndrome BACKGROUND & AIMS: Oxidative stress has a key role in atherosclerosis, cancer and other chronic diseases. Some bioactive compounds in nuts have been implicated in antioxidant activities. OBJECTIVE: We assessed how nut consumption affected several markers of oxidation and endothelial function (EF) in metabolic syndrome (MetS) patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A randomized, controlled, parallel feeding trial was conducted on 50 MetS adults who were recommended a healthy diet supplemented or not with 30 g of mixed nuts (Nut and Control groups, respectively) every day for 12 weeks. The plasma anti…

Klotho urinario determinado por ELISA como biomarcador precoz de fracaso renal agudo en pacientes sometidos a cirugía cardiaca o angiografía coronaria

ResumenIntroducción y objetivos: El fracaso renal agudo (FRA) es una complicación frecuente tras la cirugía cardiaca y las intervenciones percutáneas coronarias cuya aparición empeora el pronóstico de manera marcada. En los últimos años se han identificado nuevos biomarcadores precoces de FRA, pero aún quedan muchos aspectos importantes por resolver. Klotho es una proteína pleiotrópica que actúa como un factor paracrino y endocrino en múltiples órganos. En diversos modelos animales de FRA se ha demostrado niveles disminuidos de Klotho renal. No se ha publicado ningún estudio en el que se haya probado Klotho como marcador precoz de FRA en humanos. El objetivo de este trabajo es investigar la…

Legume consumption is inversely associated with type 2 diabetes incidence in adults: A prospective assessment from the PREDIMED study

Background & aims: Legumes, a low-energy, nutrient-dense and low glycemic index food, have shown beneficial effects on glycemic control and adiposity. As such, legumes are widely recommended in diabetic diets, even though there is little evidence that their consumption protects against type 2 diabetes. Therefore the aim of the present study was to examine the associations between consumption of total legumes and specific subtypes, and type 2 diabetes risk. We also investigated the effect of theoretically substituting legumes for other protein- or carbohydrate-rich foods. Methods: Prospective assessment of 3349 participants in the PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea (PREDIMED) study without ty…

P1055REMARKABLE REMOVALS OF BETA-2-MICROGLOBULIN AND PHOSPHATE WITH SHORT-DAILY HOME HEMODIALYSIS USING LOW DIALYSATE FLOW RATE

Abstract Background and Aims Short-daily hemodialysis (HD) with low-dialysate volume is an appealing portable dialysis approach for home use. Although this type of HD has proved being effective for the volume control and the clearance of low molecular-weight uremic toxins, limited data are available on the impact on the removal rates of other uremic toxins like β2-microglobulin (β2M) or phosphate (P), whose clearance is limited by sequestration into compartments, poor diffusion, high time-dependency, or protein binding. We evaluated the impact of short-daily HD with slow dialysate flow rate on the removal of solutes of different molecular weights and distribution volumes. Method Single-sess…

Urinary levels of sirtuin-1 associated with disease activity in lupus nephritis.

Identifying new markers of disease flares in lupus nephritis (LN) that facilitate patient stratification and prognosis is important. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to analyze whether urinary SIRT1 expression was altered in LN and whether SIRT1 values in urine could be valuable biomarker of disease activity. In a cohort study, urinary pellets from 40 patients diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were analyzed. Clinical measures of lupus activity were assessed. The expression of SIRT1 was quantified by quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunoblot, then compared between patients with active lupus nephritis, in remission and healthy controls. Association with lupus activi…

Dose-dependent metabolic disposition of hydroxytyrosol and formation of mercapturates in rats

Hydroxytyrosol (HT), one of the major polyphenols present in olive oil, is known to possess a high antioxidant capacity. The aim of the present study was to investigate dose dependent (0, 1, 10 and 100 mg/kg) alterations in the metabolism of HT in rats since it has been reported that metabolites may contribute to biological effects. Special attention was paid to the activation of the semiquinone quinone oxidative cycle and the formation of adducts with potential deleterious effects. Thus, we developed a novel analytical methodology to monitor the in vivo formation of the HT mercapturate, N-acetyl-5-S-cysteinyl-hydroxytyrosol in urine samples. Biomarkers of hepatic and renal toxicity were ev…

A new 8-oxo-7,8-2 ' deoxyguanosine nanoporous anodic alumina aptasensor for colorectal cancer diagnosis in blood and urine

Many important human diseases, and especially cancer, have been related to the overproduction of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2 '-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG). This molecule is a product of oxidative stress processes over nucleophilic bases in DNA. In this work, an aptasensor for the rapid, selective and accurate detection of this oncomarker is presented. The aptasensor consists of a nanoporous anodic alumina material loaded with a dye and is functionalized with an aptamer-based "molecular gate". In the presence of target 8-oxo-dG, the capping aptamer displaces from the surface due to the high affinity of the analyte with the capping aptamer, thus inducing delivery of the preloaded fluorescent dye. In co…

Olive oils high in phenolic compounds modulate oxidative/antioxidative status in men

The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether olive oils high in phenolic compounds influence the oxidative/antioxidative status in humans. Healthy men (n = 12) participated in a double-blind, randomized, crossover study in which 3 olive oils with low (LPC), moderate (MPC), and high (HPC) phenolic content were given as raw doses (25 mL/d) for 4 consecutive days preceded by 10-d washout periods. Volunteers followed a strict very low-antioxidant diet the 3 d before and during the intervention periods. Short-term consumption of olive oils decreased plasma oxidized LDL (oxLDL), 8-oxo-dG in mitochondrial DNA and urine, malondialdehyde in urine (P < 0.05 for linear trend), and increased HD…

Interleukin‐6 concentration changes in plasma and saliva in bisphosphonate‐related osteonecrosis of the jaws

To determine the plasma and saliva levels of IL-6 in patients with bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (BRONJ) and to investigate whether there is a correlation between more advanced stages of BRONJ and levels of IL-6.We studied three groups: group 1 consisted of 30 patients with BRONJ due to intravenous bisphosphonates (ivBP), group 2 consisted of 25 patients treated with ivBP but without BRONJ, and group 3 consisted of 15 healthy controls. In each case, we assayed plasma and saliva IL-6 samples using an ELISA test.Significantly, higher IL-6 values were found in both saliva and plasma in group 1 vs groups 2 and 3 (P  0.01). Group 1 showed no differences in plasma or saliva IL-…

Microalbuminuria and oxidative stress in essential hypertension

. Objective.  To assess the relationship between microalbuminuria and oxidative stress in mononuclear peripherals cells in essential hypertension. Methods.  A total of 123 hypertensive patients in absence of antihypertensive treatment were included. A 24-h ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring was performed using a Spacelabs 90207 monitor, and microalbuminuria was measured in 24-h urine collections. Oxidized/reduced glutathione ratio and the content of malondialdehide and damaged base 8-oxo-2′-deoxyguanosine in genomic and mitochondrial DNA were measured in peripheral mononuclear cells. Results.  In the 29 (24%) microalbuminuric subjects, the amount of reduced glutathione was significan…

Effect of the Mediterranean diet on blood pressure in the PREDIMED trial: Results from a randomized controlled trial

[Background]: Hypertension can be prevented by adopting healthy dietary patterns. Our aim was to assess the 4-year effect on blood pressure (BP) control of a randomized feeding trial promoting the traditional Mediterranean dietary pattern.

Clinical and Biological Characterization of Patients with Low/Intermediate-1 Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome and Iron Overload

Abstract Abstract 4956 Introduction. Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) are susceptible to developing iron overload as a response to the red blood cell (RBC) transfusions and ineffective hematopoiesis. This iron overload (IOL) is characterized by an increase in oxygen-reactive species accompanied by a decrease in antioxidants, and results in hepatic, cardiac and endocrine disorders, as well as an increased risk of infection. Ineffective hematopoiesis promotes iron absorption at intestinal level. This process is enhanced by the presence of mutations in the hereditary hemochromatosis gene (HFE). This study aims to define the features that accompany patients with iron overload, compa…

Dietary intake and major food sources of polyphenols in a Spanish population at high cardiovascular risk: the PREDIMED study.

[Background and aims]: Epidemiological data have shown an inverse association between the consumption of polyphenol-rich foods and the risk of cardiovascular disease or overall mortality. A comprehensive estimation of individual polyphenol intake in nutritional cohorts is needed to gain a better understanding of this association. The aim of this study was to estimate the quantitative intake of polyphenols and the major dietary sources in the PREDIMED (PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea) cohort using individual food consumption records. [Methods and results]: The PREDIMED study is a large, parallel-group, multicentre, randomised, controlled 5-year feeding trial aimed at assessing the effects …

Enhanced reduction in oxidative stress and altered glutathione and thioredoxin system response to unsaturated fatty acid load in familial hypercholesterolemia.

Abstract Objectives Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is characterized by increased oxidative stress (OS) levels. In the postprandial state, lipids and lipoproteins modulate OS status through their impact on pro-oxidant and antioxidant mechanisms. The objective of this study was to evaluate in patients with FH the response to an unsaturated oral fat load test (OFLT) by analyzing the mRNA levels of genes involved in the glutathione and thioredoxin antioxidant systems. Design and Methods We analyzed 14 FH patients and 20 normolipidemic and normoglycemic controls. In both groups, mRNA values of antioxidant enzyme genes (glutathione and thioredoxin systems) were determined at baseline and at 2…

Effects of total dietary polyphenols on plasma nitric oxide and blood pressure in a high cardiovascular risk cohort. The PREDIMED randomized trial

© 2014 Elsevier B.V. Background and aim: Hypertension is one of the main cardiovascular risk factors in the elderly. The aims of this work were to evaluate if a one-year intervention with two Mediterranean diets (Med-diet) could decrease blood pressure (BP) due to a high polyphenol consumption, and if the decrease in BP was mediated by plasma nitric oxide (NO) production. Methods and results: An intervention substudy of 200 participants at high cardiovascular risk was carried out within the PREDIMED trial. They were randomly assigned to a low-fat control diet or to two Med-diets, one supplemented with extra virgin olive oil (Med-EVOO) and the other with nuts (Med-nuts). Anthropometrics and …

Antioxidant enzymes in lymphocites from essential hypertension patients

Different impacts of cardiovascular risk factors on oxidative stress.

The objective of the study was to evaluate oxidative stress (OS) status in subjects with different cardiovascular risk factors. With this in mind, we have studied three models of high cardiovascular risk: hypertension (HT) with and without metabolic syndrome, familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCH) with and without insulin resistance. Oxidative stress markers (oxidized/reduced glutathione ratio, 8-oxo-deoxyguanosine and malondialdehide) together with the activity of antioxidant enzyme triad (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase) and activation of both pro-oxidant enzyme (NAPDH oxidase components) and AGTR1 genes, as well as antioxidant…

Oxidative stress and early organ damage in essential hypertension

Total polyphenol excretion and blood pressure in subjects at high cardiovascular risk.

Background and aims Dietary factors are critical for the prevention and treatment of hypertension, but data on the effects of specific nutrients on blood pressure (BP) are scarce. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between total polyphenol excretion (TPE) in urine, as an objective measurement of total polyphenol intake and BP in an elderly population at high cardiovascular risk. Methods and results Cross-sectional substudy of 589 high-risk participants entering in the PREDIMED trial. BP was measured and TPE was determined in urine by Folin–Ciocalteu assay. A significant positive association was observed between TPE in urine and daily intake of fruit and vegetables (F&V), c…

Plasma selenium levels and oxidative stress biomarkers: a gene-environment interaction population-based study.

The role of selenium exposure in preventing chronic disease is controversial, especially in selenium-repleted populations. At high concentrations, selenium exposure may increase oxidative stress. Studies evaluating the interaction of genetic variation in genes involved in oxidative stress pathways and selenium are scarce. We evaluated the cross-sectional association of plasma selenium concentrations with oxidative stress levels, measured as oxidized to reduced glutathione ratio (GSSG/GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (8-oxo-dG) in urine, and the interacting role of genetic variation in oxidative stress candidate genes, in a representative sample of 1445 men and women…

Role of glutathione in the induction of apoptosis and c-fos and c-jun mRNAs by oxidative stress in tumor cells.

We have used two tumor cell clones (B9 and G2), derived from the methylcholanthrene-induced murine fibrosarcoma GR9 and normal BALB/c3T3 fibroblasts, to study the ability of t-BOOH derived reactive oxygen radicals to induce oxidative stress, apoptosis and c-fos and c-jun mRNA transcription. These clones differ in terms of their major histocompatibility complex (MHC) (H-2) class I genes expression, their tumor induction and metastatic potential and their reduced glutathione (GSH) levels. Incubation of both cell clones in the presence of t-BOOH results in the increase of 8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG) and malondialdehyde and the decrease of GSH. The xenobiotic also induces the transcripti…

Gazpacho consumption is associated with lower blood pressure and reduced hypertension in a high cardiovascular risk cohort. Cross-sectional study of the PREDIMED trial.

[Background and aim]: Hypertension is a major public health problem and a leading cause of death and disability in both developed and developing countries, affecting one-quarter of the world's adult population. Our aim was to evaluate whether the consumption of gazpacho, a Mediterranean vegetable-based cold soup rich in phytochemicals, is associated with lower blood pressure (BP) and/or reduced prevalence of hypertension in individuals at high cardiovascular risk.

Oxidative stress markers in the neocortex of drug-resistant epilepsy patients submitted to epilepsy surgery

Summary Purpose While there is solid experimental evidence of brain oxidative stress in animal models of epilepsy, it has not been thoroughly verified in epileptic human brain. Our purpose was to determine and to compare oxidative stress markers in the neocortex of epileptic and non-epileptic humans, with the final objective of confirming oxidative stress phenomena in human epileptic brain. Methods Neocortical samples from drug-resistant epilepsy patients submitted to epilepsy surgery ( n =20) and from control, non-epileptic cortex samples ( n =11) obtained from brain bank donors without neurological disease, were studied for oxidative stress markers: levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS)…

Insulin resistance and oxidative stress in familial combined hyperlipidemia.

Oxidative stress is associated with atherosclerosis. Familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCH) is considered as a human model of primary dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis frequently associated with insulin resistance (IR), but there are few data on its possible relation to oxidative stress. The objective of this study was to evaluate oxidative stress status using different markers in subjects with FCH assessing its possible correlation with anthropometric parameters and IR. This was a cross-sectional study. A cohort of 40 FCH patients (20 with IR (HOMAor=3.2) and 20 without IR (HOMA3.2)), and 20 healthy volunteers were included, all of them non-diabetic, normotensive and non-smokers. We measure…

SP404OXIDATIVE STRESS AND CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE: TRAVELLING COMPANIONS

PAI-1 Levels are Related to Insulin Resistance and Carotid Atherosclerosis in Subjects with Familial Combined Hyperlipidemia

Familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCH) is a primary atherogenic dyslipidemia with insulin resistance and increased cardiovascular risk. Plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity are associated with proinflammatory and atherothrombotic risk. Our aim was to study the role played by PAI-1 and MPO activity in the carotid atherosclerosis prevalence in FCH subjects. 36 FCH unrelated subjects (17 women) were matched by age and body weight with 36 healthy normolipidemic subjects (19 female). Blood lipids, glucose, insulin, insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment (HOMA)), MPO, and PAI-1 were determined in both groups. Carotid intima media thickness (…

Effect of corn oil and vitamin E on the oxidative status of adipose tissues and liver in rat

Abstract The diet is usually formed of a varying antioxidant and fatty acid content acquired from oils. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of corn oil-rich diet supplemented or not with vitamin E on oxidative damage and antioxidant status in liver and adipose tissue of rat. Male Wistar rats were fed during 4 weeks with a hyperlipidic diet. The groups fed with hyperlipidic diets showed lower activity levels than the control groups with the exception of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in brown adipose tissue. Supplementation of the control group with vitamin E (CE) did not produce any significant changes in the superoxide dismutase and catalase levels, but …

Dietary inflammatory index and all-cause mortality in large cohorts: The SUN and PREDIMED studies

[Background]: Inflammation is known to be related to the leading causes of death including cardiovascular disease, several types of cancer, obesity, type 2 diabetes, depression-suicide and other chronic diseases. In the context of whole dietary patterns, the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII®) was developed to appraise the inflammatory potential of the diet. [Objective]: We prospectively assessed the association between DII scores and all-cause mortality in two large Spanish cohorts and valuated the consistency of findings across these two cohorts and results published based on other cohorts.

Crataegus laevigata decreases neutrophil elastase and has hypolipidemic effect: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Crataegus laevigata is a medicinal plant most commonly used for the treatment of heart failure and psychosomatic disorders. Based on previous experimental findings, this double-blind placebo-controlled study was aimed at finding beneficial effects of C. laevigata on biomarkers of coronary heart disease (CHD). The study included 49 diabetic subjects with chronic CHD who were randomly assigned to the treatment for 6 months with either a micronized flower and leaf preparation of C. laevigata (400 mg three times a day) or a matching placebo. Blood cell count, lipid profile, C-reactive protein, neutrophil elastase (NE) and malondialdehyde were analyzed in plasma at baseline, at one month and six…

Factors related to the impact of antihypertensive treatment in antioxidant activities and oxidative stress by-products in human hypertension

The objective was to study factors related to the changes induced by antihypertensive treatment on oxidative status, antioxidant activities, and reactive oxygen species by-products in whole blood and mononuclear peripheral cells. Eighty-nine hypertensive patients (mean age 46 years, 46 men, average 24-h blood pressure 139/88 mm Hg, body mass index 29) were included. After 3 months of nonrandomized allocation to antihypertensive treatment (20 nonpharmacologic, 36 beta-blockers, 33 angiotensin receptor blocker), oxidized/reduced glutathione ratio and malondialdehyde were significantly reduced, and the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase was significantly inc…