Nitric oxide production and arachidonic acid metabolism in platelet membranes of coronary heart disease patients with and without diabetes.

Aim: To evaluate the levels of nitrite (NO(-)(2)) and nitrate (NO(-)(3)) ions and the incorporation of [(3)H]arachidonic acid (AA) into phospholipids of platelet membranes from coronary artery disease (CAD) patients with and without diabetes (NIDDM).

Subjects And Methods: Eighteen CAD patients (group A), 18 CAD patients with NIDDM (group B), and 20 healthy controls (group C) without dyslipidemia, peripheral vascular disease and hypertension were included in the study. The groups were matched for age, sex and body mass index.

Clinical outcomes of silicon carbide coated stents in patients with coronary artery disease.

Background: According to the literature, the stent thrombosis and restenosis rate after coronary angioplasty (PTCA) can be reduced by using stents covered with biologically active substances. The aim of our study was to investigate clinical outcomes of PTCA alone, conventional stainless steel stents, and special Tenax stents covered by amorphous silicon carbide (a-SiC: H).

Material/methods: The study involved a retrospective cohort of 300 patients with coronary artery disease who underwent interventional treatment from 1998 to 2000.