Comparison of plasma levels of different species of trans fatty acids in Japanese male patients with acute coronary syndrome versus healthy men.

Background And Aims: It remains unclear how trans fatty acid (TFA) at low-level intake affect lipid levels and the development of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The study aimed to investigate how plasma TFA composition differs between male patients with ACS and healthy men.

Methods: Plasma fatty acid (FA) composition (as determined by gas chromatography) was analyzed in ACS patients on hospital admission and compared to that of age-adjusted healthy men.

[Tryptophan Metabolites in Plasma of Patients with Depression].

There are two major pathways in tryptophan metabolism. The serotonin pathway mediates mood, anxiety, memory, cognition, and is impaired in depression. The kynurenine pathways are involved in immunity, inflammation, muscle movement, and mental health.

Concentrations of various tryptophan metabolites are higher in patients with diabetes mellitus than in healthy aged male adults.

Tryptophan metabolites in plasma samples from 20 male subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and 20 nondiabetic reference males were analyzed by ultra high performance liquid chromatography. Tryptophan levels in the diabetic subjects were significantly lower than those in nondiabetic subjects. The concentrations of 5-hydroxytryptophan, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, kynurenic acid, 3-hydroxykynurenine, 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid, and xanthurenic acid were found to be higher in the diabetic patients.

Effects of immunosuppressive drugs on platelet aggregation in vitro.

Disturbances in platelet functions are found in kidney diseases and may contribute to the progression of atherosclerosis with its thrombotic complications. Kidney allograft recipients are particularly prone to dyslipidemia and have a high risk of cardiovascular death. The purpose of this work was to assess effects of various immunosuppressive drugs on aggregation of platelets obtained from healthy volunteers and chronically hemodialyzed patients.

Effects of a long-term pharmacological interruption of the renin-angiotensin system on the fibrinolytic system in essential hypertension.

To assess the effects of pharmacological interruption of the renin-angiotensin system on the fibrinolysis, tissue plasminogen activator antigen (t-PA), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 antigens (PAI-1) and neurohormones, such as plasma renin activity, norepinephrine, angiotensin II (AII) and IV (AIV) concentrations, were measured in 60 hypertensives. Among them, 48 patients were divided into two groups (25 with 10-20 mg quinapril and 23 with 50-100 mg losartan) who received the drug for 6 months. AII had a weak positive correlation with free PAI-I (n = 60, r = 0.

5-HT4 receptors in the hippocampus modulate rat locomotor activity.

In the present study, the ability of 5-hydroxytryptamine-4 (5-HT4) receptors in the hippocampus to enhance locomotor activity in rats was investigated by local infusion via microdialysis probes. The local infusion of 5-HT bilaterally into the striatum did not alter rat motor activity. The local infusion of 1.

L-158,809 and (D-Ala(7))-angiotensin I/II (1-7) decrease PAI-1 release from human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

The endothelium is a major source of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), which plays a critical role in the regulation of fibrinolysis. There are many reports on the increase in the expression of PAI-1 by angiotensin II (Ang II). In the present study, we investigated the effects of angiotensin-related substances on the release of PAI-1 from human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

Enhanced secretion of tissue plasminogen activator by simultaneous use of retinoic acid and ascorbic acid from tissue cultured gastroepiploic artery.

Tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) is a key enzyme in the fibrinolysis system and the regulation of its expression has been extensively studied in cultured vascular endothelial cells. Many kinds of supplements including growth factors are needed, however, to keep endothelial cells viable, which leads the culture condition far from the physiological milieu. Using a new device of amorphous calcium phosphate coated culture plate, we succeeded in culturing ring-cut gastroepiploic artery in a basic medium of RPMI 1640 containing 10% fetal calf serum.