Estrogen receptor α polymorphism is associated with dementia in a Brazilian cohort.

The growth of the elderly population is a worldwide phenomenon and it is associated with chronic diseases, including dementia. In this scenario, the present study aimed to evaluate a possible association of estrogen receptor α polymorphisms with dementia in a Brazilian cohort. The subject sample was divided into two groups, control ( = 105) and case ( = 73), according to analysis of two predictive dementia tests (MMSE and CDR).

Simultaneous transfer of cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids to high-density lipoprotein in aging subjects with or without coronary artery disease.

Objective: To verify whether the capacity of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) to simultaneously receive nonesterified cholesterol, triglycerides, cholesteryl esters, and phospholipids changes with aging and the presence of coronary artery disease.

Design: Cross-sectional study with biochemical analyses.

Subjects: Eleven elderly patients with coronary artery disease (74 ± 5 years) were compared with the following groups of non-coronary artery disease subjects (referred to as "healthy"): 25 young (25 ± 5 years), 25 middle-aged (42 ± 6 years), and 25 elderly subjects (75 ± 8 years).

Transfer of cholesterol and other lipids from a lipid nanoemulsion to high-density lipoprotein in heart transplant patients.

Background: Beyond the first year after a heart transplant (HT) procedure, patients often develop dyslipidemias, which may be implicated in the genesis of transplant coronary heart disease. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) has a several anti-atherogenic properties, but the status of HDL in HT patients is still controversial. Nonetheless, determination of HDL cholesterol concentration is not sufficient for evaluation of the overall HDL protective role.

In vitro simultaneous transfer of lipids to HDL in coronary artery disease and in statin treatment.

The exchange of lipids with cells and other lipoproteins is a crucial process in HDL metabolism and for HDL antiatherogenic function. Here, we tested a practical method to quantify the simultaneous transfer to HDL of phospholipids, free-cholesterol, esterified cholesterol and triacylglycerols and to verify the lipid transfer in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) or undergoing statin treatment. Twenty-eight control subjects without CAD, 27 with CAD and 25 CAD patients under simvastatin treatment were studied.

Evaluation in melanoma-bearing mice of an etoposide derivative associated to a cholesterol-rich nano-emulsion.

A cholesterol-rich nano-emulsion (LDE) may be used as a vehicle to target antineoplastic drugs against cancer cells. The association of an etoposide derivative to LDE is stable and retains the cytotoxic activity of etoposide. We have evaluated the toxicity and antitumoral action of this new preparation in-vivo.

Use of a cholesterol-rich microemulsion that binds to low-density lipoprotein receptors as vehicle for etoposide.

A cholesterol-rich microemulsion (LDE) that binds to low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors is selectively taken up by malignant cells that overexpress those receptors and may be used as vehicle for antineoplastic agents. This study aimed to develop the association of etoposide with LDE. It was firstly observed that etoposide poorly associates with the microemulsion, therefore the experiments were performed with a lipophilic fatty acid derivative of the drug.