Inverse correlation between seasonal changes in home blood pressure and atmospheric temperature in treated-hypertensive patients.

We examined the relationships between home blood pressure (BP) and atmospheric temperature in 20 treated-hypertensive patients. A significant correlation between morning and evening BP and atmospheric temperature was found. For morning systolic blood pressure (SBP), the maximal seasonal difference was 13.

Relationship between activin A level and infarct size in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing successful primary coronary intervention.

Background: Activin A, a member of the transforming growth factor-beta cytokine family, has been suggested to have a role in inflammation. We examined the serum level of activin A in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: The subjects were 30 AMI patients, 20 stable angina pectoris (AP) patients and 20 normal subjects.

Horseradish peroxidase degrades lipid hydroperoxides and suppresses lipid peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the presence of phenolic antioxidants.

Linoleic acid hydroperoxide (LAOOH) was effectively degraded by horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in the presence of quercetin. Several natural phenolic antioxidants, such as quercetin, capsaicin, and alpha-tocopherol, acted as good hydrogen donors in the peroxidase reaction that occurs during lipid hydroperoxide degradation. However, glutathione, which is a non-phenolic antioxidant that acts as a hydrogen donor for glutathione peroxidase, could not suppress lipid peroxidation in the presence of HRP.