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Background and Aims: Patients on maintenance hemodialysis (HD) face an increased risk of atherosclerosis, a crucial problem and the leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of zinc supplementation on paraoxonase (PON) enzyme activity in patients on HD., Methods: This double-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted from June 2005 to June 2007. Sixty HD patients were enrolled and divided into two groups: treatment (case) and control. The treatment and control groups were treated with 100 mg/day zinc or placebo, respectively, for 2 months. Serum zinc concentration was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. PON activity was evaluated by spectrophotometric method. Lipid profile was determined using commercial kits, and apolipoprotein AI (Apo-AI) and B (Apo-B) levels were measured by commercial immunoturbidimetric kits., Results: In the case group, there was no significant change in the serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and Apo-B levels, while the serum levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), Apo-AI, and PON activity were significantly increased (p = 0.02). In the control group, although significant increases were observed in the serum levels of TC, TG, and Apo-B (p = 0.009, 0.019, and 0.001, respectively), the serum PON activity was significantly decreased (p = 0.025) and the serum levels of HDL, LDL, and Apo-AI were not changed. At the end of intervention period, the serum level of Apo-AI and PON activity were significantly higher in the case group., Conclusions: Zinc supplementation increased both the activity of PON and the serum level of Apo-AI in the HD patients.

Objectives: Tuberculosis remains one of the most common infectious diseases and a leading cause of mortality world wide. There is some evidence for the possible involvement of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in atherosclerosis. We aim to investigate total antioxidant capacity (TAC), red blood cell superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, whole blood glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) susceptibility to oxidation, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB)., Methods: Forty-five males with active PTB (case group) and 45 healthy age-matched males (control group) were enrolled in the study. TAC, SOD and GPX activities were determined by commercial ELISA kits. MDA levels were measured using the thiobarbituric acid method. LDL susceptibility to oxidation was assessed by measuring lag phase duration., Results: TAC, SOD and GPX activities, and lag phase duration in the case group were significantly lower than the control group (p=.002, p=.004, p=.008, and p=.004, respectively; independent), while the MDA levels was higher in case group (p=.024)., Conclusions: Our findings suggest a higher susceptibility of LDL to oxidation and higher levels of lipid peroxidation, and therefore, a possible higher risk of atherosclerosis in patients with PTB., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Instruction. We investigated the correlation between atherosclerosis and tissue and serum levels of endothelin-1 in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). MATERIALS AND METHODS. Arterial samples were obtained from 35 patients with CKD during arteriovenous fistula placement. Thirty-one patients with cardiovascular disease who underwent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) were selected as the atherosclerotic group, and a piece of their aorta punched during CABG was obtained. Also, a small piece of the renal artery was dissected during donation in 24 kidney donors (control group). Tissue endothelin-1 level was measured and atherosclerosis grading was determined by pathologic examination. Serum levels of endothelin-1 were also measured in the three groups. Results. The mean tissue endothelin-1 levels were 10.73+/-7.57 pg/mL, 12.16 +/- 3.95 pg/mL, and 0.93 +/- 1.06 pg/mL in the patients with CKD, those with CABG, and donors, respectively (P < .001). The mean serum endothelin-1 level was 25.23 +/- 15.15 pg/mL in the patients with CKD, 21.13 +/- 17.22 pg/mL in the patients with CABG, and 2.66 +/- 1.51 pg/mL in the donors (P < .001). Atherosclerosis grades correlated with tissue endothelin-1 level (r = 0.823, P < .001) and serum endothelin-1 level (r = 0.608, P < .001) in the patients with CKD. Multiple regression analysis showed tissue endothelin-1 level as the main predicting factor of atherosclerosis (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS. Tissue endothelin-1 concentration is more important than serum endothelin-1 or lipids levels in prediction of atherosclerosis. Thus, blockade of tissue endothelin-1 receptors with its antagonists may prevent atherosclerosis progression.

Introduction: Oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is believed to be a key factor in the development of atherosclerosis. Oxidative modification of LDL is associated with increased uptake of these particles by the macrophage receptors located in the arterial wall which in turns would lead to accumulation of lipids within the cytoplasm of the cell and formation of the foam cells, a perquisite step in the development of the atherosclerotic plaque. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between serum Ferritin and oxidized low-density lipoprotein in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. Methods: The study group consisted of 160 males [mean age (47±7) years] with suspected CAD and no history of renal, liver and diabetic disorders undergoing coronary angiography. Oxidized LDL and Ferritin levels were measured by ELISA methods. Results: Results obtained from the study revealed that the mean serum Ferritin concentration in our study population was 149.77+119.93 ng/ml and that of OX-LDL was 8.86+5.67 IU/L. Serum Ferritin levels were significantly correlated with both OX-LDL concentrations (p=0.001, r=0.24) and CAD SCORE (p=0.005, r=0.208) in study patients group; however no correlation was detected between OX-LDL and CAD SCORE (p>0.9). Conclusion: The present study is the first to report serum Ferritin levels is associated with circulating OX-LDL level in patients with CAD. The correlation of CAD SCORE with Ferritin levels in these patients is indicative of the importance of this parameter in predicating CAD. These results suggest that measurement of OX- LDL and Ferritin could be of great assistance in predicating premature CHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperlipidemia and increased degree of oxidative stress are among the important risk factors for Atherosclerosis in renal transplant recipients (RTR). The Medical treatment of hyperlipidemia in RTR because of drugs side effects has been problematic, therefore alternative methods such as using of Garlic as an effective material in cholesterol lowering and inhibition of LDL Oxidation has been noted. For evaluation of garlic effect on RTR, 50 renal transplant patients with stable renal function were selected and divided into 2 groups. They took one clove of garlic (1 gr) by chewing or swallowing for two months, after one month wash-out period, they took garlic by the other route. Results indicated that although lipid profile, BUN, Cr, serum levels of cyclosporine and diastolic blood pressure did not change, Systolic blood pressure decreased from 138.2 to 132.8 mmHg (p=0.001) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) decreased from 2.4 to 1.7 nmol/ml (p=0.009) by swallowing route, Cholesterol decreased from 205.1 to 195.3 mg/dl (p=0.03), triglyceride decreased from 195.7 to 174.8 mg/dl (p=0.008), MDA decreased from 2.5 to 1.6 nmol/ml (p=0.001), systolic blood pressure decreased from 137.5 to 129.8 mmHg (p=0.001), diastolic blood pressure decreased from 84.6 to 77.6 mmHg (p=0.001) and Cr decreased from 1.51 to 1.44 mg/dl (p=0.03) by chewing route too. However HDL, LDL and cyclosporine serum levels had no significant differences by both of swallowing and chewing routes. We conclude that undamaged garlic (swallowed) had no lowering effect on lipid level of serum. But Crushed garlic (chewed) reduces cholesterol, triglyceride, MDA and blood pressure. Additionally creatinine reduced without notable decrease in cyclosporine serum levels may be due to cyclosporine nephrotoxicity ameliorating effect of garlic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperlipidemia can lead to atherosclerosis by lipoprotein deposition inside the vessel wall and oxidative stress induction that leads to the formation of atherosclerotic plaque. Oxidized low-density lipoprotein particles (Ox-LDL) have a key role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The lipid-lowering properties and antioxidants of the grape seed can be beneficial in atherosclerosis prevention. We conducted a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled crossover clinical trial. Fifty-two mildly hyperlipidemic individuals were divided into two groups that received either 200 mg/day of the red grape seed extract (RGSE) or placebo for 8 weeks. After an 8-week washout period, the groups were crossed over for another 8 weeks. Lipid profiles and Ox-LDL were measured at the beginning and the end of each phase. RGSE consumption reduced total cholesterol (−10.68±26.76 mg/dL, P=.015), LDL cholesterol (−9.66±23.92 mg/dL, P=.014), and Ox-LDL (−5.47±12.12 mg/dL, P=.008). While triglyceride and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were decreased and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was increased by RGSE, the changes were not statistically significant. RGSE consumption decreases Ox-LDL and has beneficial effects on lipid profile-consequently decreasing the risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disorders-in mild hyperlipidemic individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]