Statins, vascular calcification, and vitamin K-dependent proteins: Is there a relation?

The present cross-sectional clinical study aimed to examine the connection between statin exposure, coronary artery calcification (CAC), and vitamin K-dependent proteins (VKDPs) in patients with cardiovascular (CV) conditions. Two groups of patients were studied: patients with established CV disease (CVD) and healthy patients at moderate risk for CVD (a control group). The groups were also split into statin users and non-users.

Circulating uncarboxylated matrix Gla protein in patients with atrial fibrillation or heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Context: Circulating uncarboxylated matrix Gla protein (ucMGP) is possibly related to coronary arterial calcification (CAC) in cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the relationships between circulating ucMGP, CVD pathology and CAC and its interplay with CVD risk factors.

Materials And Methods: ucMGP was measured in 99 CVD-patients.

Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in Bulgarian patients with chronic hepatitis C viral infection.

Aims: The present pilot study aimed to determine vitamin D status in Bulgarian patients with chronic HCV infection in respect to the severity of liver disease and response to interferon-ribavirin therapy.

Methods: The study encompassed 296 patients: 161 males (54.4%) aged 42.

Melatonin: Quantum-chemical and biochemical investigation of antioxidant activity.

Experimental and theoretical investigation of the antioxidant activity of melatonin is carried out. The theoretical approach comprises the evaluation of several appropriate descriptors of scavenging activity with the help of quantum-chemistry methods. The values obtained are compared with available data for substances with established antioxidant properties.

Protective effect of Aronia melanocarpa fruit juice pretreatment in a model of carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

Unlabelled: The main active ingredients of Aronia melanocarpa fruit juice (AMFJ) are phenolic substances, mainly flavonoids from the anthocyanin subclass.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of AMFJ applied as pretreatment in a model of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

Material And Methods: AMFJ was given orally to rats for 2 days at doses of 5, 10 and 20 ml/kg either alone or as pretreatment before the oral application of CCl4 (0.

Protective effect of BP 2-94, a histamine H3-receptor agonist prodrug, in a model of carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

Unlabelled: BP 2-94 is a prodrug of the H3-receptor agonist (R)-alpha-methylhistamine [(R)-alpha-MeHA]. BP 2-94 displayed anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and ulcero-protective properties in experimental animals.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of BP 2-94 in a model of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.