Tomato-rich (Mediterranean) diet does not modify inflammatory markers.

Background: The Mediterranean diet is rich in lycopene and has been reported to reduce cardiovascular events. The mechanism of prevention of cardiovascular events has not been clearly established. Our aim was to study the effects of a tomatoes-rich diet on markers of vascular inflammation.

The stroke trial - can we predict clinical outcome of patients with ischemic stroke by measuring soluble cell adhesion molecules (CAM)?

Background: Several studies have found that an increased concentration of haemostatic or inflammation markers was associated with worse prognosis in vascular disease. The inflammatory components in ischemic stroke are of current interest, and there is some experimental evidence that they may be linked.

Hypothesis: The study was performed to determine the association between the neurological clinical outcome and levels of cell adhesion molecules in the first four days of hospitalization in patients with acute ischemic event.

Effects of tomatoes on the lipid profile.

Purpose: The Mediterranean diet has been reported to reduce cardiovascular mortality and morbidity considerably. Tomatoes and lycopene are considered potent antioxidants. Our purpose was to study the effects of a tomatoe-rich diet on the lipid profile following 300g daily of tomatoes for one month.

Varicella zoster infection and pulmonary complications.

A 34-year-old immunocompetent man with varicella zoster (VZ) infection developed deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism after suffering severe pneumonitis. He recovered after treatment with acyclovir, high-dose steroids, and ventilatory support. The endothelial damage could be a direct link between VZ pneumonitis and pulmonary emboli.

The beneficial effects of tomatoes.

Dietary intake of tomatoes and tomato products containing lycopene has been shown to be associated with a decreased risk of chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease in several recent studies. Serum and tissue lycopene levels have also been inversely related to the risk of chronic disease. While the antioxidant properties of lycopene are thought to be primarily responsible for its beneficial effects, evidence is accumulating to suggest that other mechanisms, such as modulation of intercellular gap junction communication, hormonal and immune systems, and metabolic pathways, may also be involved.

Coumadin-induced hepatitis.

The diagnosis of "coumadin-induced hepatitis" is compatible with the time relationship between the start of the drug and the onset of hepatopathy, the rapid improvement following discontinuation of the drug, recurrence of liver dysfunction after re-exposure to the drug and liver histology. Although liver damage induced by coumadin derivatives is rare, it is important to be aware of the hepatotoxic potential of these drugs, which, in most cases, mimic the clinical presentation of viral hepatitis.