The protective effect of superoxide dismutase on isolated human mammary arteries preincubated with triglyceride-rich remnant lipoproteins.

Unlabelled: The main changes of the plasma lipid profile in patients with endothelial dysfunction are the increased triglyceride content of the lipoprotein remnant particles, the presence of the small and dense LDL particles and the decreasing of the HDL-cholesterol level.

Material And Method: Considering these observations, we performed "in vitro" experiments using human mammary artery rings, in order to examine the effect of the lipoprotein "remnants" on endothelium-dependent vasodilatation induced by cumulative doses (10(-9) M - 10(-4) M) of adenosine (ADP) and to study the effect on endothelial--independent vasodilatation induced by cumulative doses (10(-9) M-10(-4) M) of sodium-nitropruside (NSP), respectively.

Results: Our results showed that 1 hour pre-incubation with triglyceride--rich lipoprotein remnants diminished the endothelial-dependent vasodilator response to ADP, but it has not modified the endothelial-independent vasodilator response to NSP.

Measurement of plasma ox-LDL and carotid IMT may represent useful markers for atherosclerosis and may represent potential targets for therapeutic interventions.

Unlabelled: Oxidation of LDL plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Increased wall thickness precedes plaque formation and noninvasive B-mode ultrasonographic measurement of IMT is considered a useful marker of the development of the carotid atherosclerosis.

Material And Method: The present study was designed to assess the association of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) with carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in hypertensive patients.

[Prognostic value of brachial artery flow--mediated dilation and carotid artery intima-media thickness in hypertensive patients].

Unlabelled: Endothelial vasodilator dysfunction assessed by brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and carotid intima-media thickening (IMT) are two indicators of subclinical atherosclerotic disease. The aim of the study was to observe if there is a relationship between FMD and IMT in a group of hypertensive patients.

Material And Method: We measured FMD and IMT by ultrasound in 75 subjects aged between 42 and 62 years.

[Correlations between carotid intima-media thickness and serum uric acid levels in hypertensive patients].

Unlabelled: Intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid arteries assessed noninvasively by ultrasonography is now validated as a sensitive marker for atherosclerosis and it is directly associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Hyperuricemia (HU) is a well-recognized risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.

Aim: To evaluate the correlations between IMT and uric acid levels in patients with hypertension (HT).

[Some aspects of pulmonary vascular remodelling in smokers and patients with mild COPD].

An important feature of the pathophysiology of COPD patients is represented by the remodelling of pulmonary vasculature. Within this process, a pathogenic element might be the endothelial dysfunction induced by the combined effect of several factors such as: cigarette smoke, inflammatory mediators, hypoxia, mechanical stress, whose contribution differs according to the stage of the disease. The aims of our study were to characterize the structural pulmonary vascular abnormalities present in smokers and patients with mild COPD and to assess their pathophysiological importance.