Cross-over study on effects of Mediterranean diet in two randomly selected population samples

Abstract Two randomly selected population samples in Western Sicily, one rural (n = 40) and one urban (n = 40), were studied to evaluate the impact of dietary intervention on lipid, coagulative and fibrinolytic parameters. The two groups received the diets in a cross-over design with the following sequences: (a) baseline period; (b) 8-week dietary intervention period; (c) 8-week return to the original diet. During (a) and (c) all subjects consumed their usual diet. During the dietary intervention period (b), the rural sample consumed the urban sample's diet, while the urban sample consumed the rural sample's diet (the so-called “Mediterranean diet”). At baseline, after 8 weeks' dietary inte…

Increased thrombin generation and complement activation in patients with type IIA hyperlipoproteinemia: effects of simvastatin treatment

Abstract The aim of this study was to demonstrate the existence of increased thrombin generation and complement activation in patients with type IIa primary hyperlipoproteinemia, but no signs of atherosclerotic vascular disease and to assess the effects of simvastatin treatment in these patients. We studied 40 patients with type IIa primary hyperlipoproteinemia and 40 healthy subjects matched for sex, age, body mass index, and smoking status. The study was divided into two phases. In the first phase, a cross-sectional comparison of lipid and hemostatic patterns was performed between patients and controls. In the second phase, we assessed the effect of a persistent reduction in cholesterol s…

Different effects of losartan and delapril on plasma PAI-1 levels in patients with mild to moderate hypertension

ACE probably influences the fibrinolytic system at acentral point by converting angiotensin I to angiotensin II,which increases PAI-1 activity. This effect appears to bemediated via the AT1-receptor in humans. The RAAS mayalso contribute to a reduction in t-PA production by degra-dation of bradykinin, since the latter increases the release ofprostacyclin, nitric oxide, and t-PA from endothelial cells.Accordingly, ACE inhibitors not only influence the fibrino-lytic system by a reduction of PAI-1 activity but also byincreasing t-PA activity [1–3]. However, few studies haveanalysed the effects of AT1-R antagonists on t-PA and PAI-1plasma levels and the in vivo effects of AT1-R antagonistson th…

Effects of heparin treatment on hemostatic abnormalities in obese non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients.

This study was conducted to identify the mechanisms responsible for coagulative and fibrinolytic alterations and to study the effects of a short-term treatment with low-dose heparin on hemostatic abnormalities in obese non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients. Four groups of age- and sex-matched patients were studied: (1) lean nondiabetic subjects (n = 30) with a body mass index (BMI) less than 25 kg/m2 (lean control subjects), (2) obese nondiabetic subjects (n = 30) with a BMI greater than 30 kg/m2 (obese control subjects), (3) lean NIDDM patients (n = 30), and (4) obese NIDDM patients (n = 30). All subjects were tested on the following parameters: fibrinogen, factor VII, p…

Effetto di due vini rossi siciliani su alcuni fattori di rischio cardiovascolare

Background. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether Sicilian red wine consumption is associated with a lower cardiovascular risk. Methods. Forty-eight subjects of both sexes (age range 35-65 years) nondrinkers or rarely drinkers of moderate red wine intake were selected. Subjects were divided into two groups (group A and group B), assigned to receive with a crossover design 250 ml/die (during the meals) of one of two types of Sicilian red wines (Nero d’Avola and Etna Torrepalino respectively). At all visits (-15 days, basal, +4 and +8 weeks) the following parameters were measured: blood glucose, total cholesterol and triglycerides (by enzyme kit methods, Boehringer Mannheim, Milan, It…

Efficacia della associazione Atorvastatina e n-3 PUFA in pazienti affetti da dislipidemia combinata e ad alto rischio di eventi cardiovascolari

Changes induced by pravastatin treatment on hemostatic and fibrinolytic patterns in patients with type IIb hyperlipoproteinemia

Abstract A randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study of pravastatin versus placebo was carried out for 24 weeks in 20 patients with type IIb primary hyperlipoproteinemia. Total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, blood glucose, apolipoproteins (apo) A1 and B, and lipoprotein (a) (Lp[a]) levels were determined. A venous occlusion test was also performed in all patients. Pre- and postvenous occlusion tests were determined: tissue plasminogen activator antigen (t-PA[Ag]), plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) activity, factor VII, fibrinogen, plasminogen, and hematocrit. Compared with placebo, pravastatin signi…

Coagulation, fibrinolysis and haemorheology in premenopausal obese women with different body fat distribution

Recently waist/hip ratio (WHR), a marker of body fat distribution, has been described as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of body fat distribution on metabolic, haemostatic and haemorheological pattern in premenopausal obese women with different WHR. Fourty premenopausal obese women were subdivided into two groups, matched for age and body mass index (BMI): 20 women with abdominal obesity (WHR = 0.94 +/- 0.02) and 20 women with peripheral obesity (WHR = 0.77 +/- 0.03). Twenty nonobese women were recruited as control group. The abdominal obesity group had significantly higher blood glucose, triglycerides, total cholest…

Effects of Losartan and Delapril on the Fibrinolytic System in Patients with Mild to Moderate Hypertension

Background and objectives: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) probably influences the fibrinolytic system at a central point by converting angiotensin I to angiotensin II, which increases plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) activity. This effect appears to be mediated in humans via the angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor. The objective of this study was to evaluate, in patients with mild to moderate hypertension, the change in tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and PAI-1 plasma levels after treatment with an AT1-receptor blocker (losartan 50 mg/day) or an ACE inhibitor (delapril 60 mg/day). Patients and methods: 30 hypertensive patients and 15 controls were enrolled. Essential hype…

Effect of gemfibrozil treatment on fibrinolysis system in patients with hypertriglyceridemia

Abstract The effect of gemfibrozil on lipidic, coagulative, and fibrinolytic pattern was studied in 20 patients with primary type IV hyperlipoproteinemia. After a 4-week stabilization period during which administration of lipid-lowering drugs was stopped and an isocaloric diet (20% protein, 30% fat, and 50% carbohydrates) was prescribed, 20 patients (12 men and 8 women; mean age, 38 ± 4 years; body mass index, 23.4 ± 1.5) suffering from primary hypertriglyceridemia were included in this study and treated for a 12-week period with gemfibrozil (600 mg BID). Every 4 weeks the following parameters were checked: glycemia, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, to…