Analysis of plasma homocysteine levels in patients with unstable angina.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of hyperhomocystinemia in patients with acute ischemic syndrome of the unstable angina type.

Methods: We prospectively studied 46 patients (24 females) with unstable angina and 46 control patients (19 males), paired by sex and age, blinded to the laboratory data. Details of diets, smoking habits, medication used, body mass index, and the presence of hypertension and diabetes were recorded, as were plasma lipid and glucose levels, C-reactive protein, and lipoperoxidation in all participants.

Relationship between total homocysteine and folate levels in pregnant women and their newborn babies according to maternal serum levels of vitamin B12.

Objective: To determine total homocysteine and folate levels in pregnant women according to vitamin B12 (B12) levels, and to analyse the impact of maternal B12 levels on the nutritional status of their newborn babies.

Design: Cross sectional observational study.

Setting: Two public hospitals in Jundiai City, São Paulo, Brazil.