Fluorometric assay of lipoperoxides and chromatographic analysis of alpha-tocopherol and fatty acids as biomarkers of risk from coronary atherosclerosis.

There has been growing interest in the quantitative determination of biochemical predictors of atherogenesis. The aim of the present study was to investigate association of lipoperoxidation biomarkers known to be pro-atherogenic (thiobarbituric acid reactive substance activity, TBARS) or anti-atherogenic (alpha-tocopherol) with the fatty acid status, and relate it to the coronary artery disease (CAD) as assessed by coronary angiography in patients with stable angina pectoris. We found that serum lipoproteins and TBARS did not differ significantly.

Fluorimetric determination of the levels of urinary neopterin and serum thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in the nonagenarians.

Twelve self-sustaining nonagenarians, 10 women and two men, aged 94+/-3 years, and eight institutionalised nonagenarians, eight women, aged 91+/-1 year as well as 11 control subjects, seven women and four men, aged 84+/-5 years entered the study. Urinary neopterin, an indicator of systemic immune activation, and serum thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), a marker of lipoperoxidation, were determined initially, and collection of the blood and urine samples was repeated at 3-month interval. Neopterin was measured in the urine specimens by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography.

Atorvastatin has hypolipidemic and anti-inflammatory effects in apoE/LDL receptor-double-knockout mice.

Statins are first-line pharmacotherapeutic agents for hypercholesterolemia treatment in humans. However the effects of statins in animal models of atherosclerosis are not very consistent. Thus we wanted to evaluate whether atorvastatin possesses hypolipidemic and anti-inflammatory effects in mice lacking apolipoprotein E/low-density lipoprotein receptor (apoE/LDLR-deficient mice).

Endothelial expression of endoglin in normocholesterolemic and hypercholesterolemic C57BL/6J mice before and after atorvastatin treatment.

Endoglin (CD105) is a homodimeric transmembrane glycoprotein strongly related to transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta signaling and many pathological states. In this study, we wanted to evaluate whether endoglin is expressed in normocholesterolemic and hypercholesterolemic C57BL/6J mice as well as whether it is affected by atorvastatin treatment in these mice. C57BL/6J mice were fed with chow diet or an atherogenic diet for 12 weeks after weaning.

Endoglin expression in hyper-cholesterolemia and after atorvastatin treatment in apoE-deficient mice.

Purpose: Endoglin (CD105) is a marker of activated endothelium and a modulator of TGF-beta signaling. We hypothesized whether endothelial expression of endoglin is changed in hypercholesterolemia as well as whether its expression is affected by atorvastatin treatment in apoE-deficient mice.

Methods: ApoE-deficient mice were fed with the chow diet for either 4 weeks or for 12 weeks respectively.

Atorvastatin has distinct effects on endothelial markers in different mouse models of atherosclerosis.

Purpose: Atherosclerosis is a progressive process that initially involves endothelial dysfunction. We investigated the effects of atorvastatin on both lipid parameters, and VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expression in apoE-deficient or wild type C57BL/6J mice.

Methods: The C57BL/6J mice were fed with either chow or an atherogenic diet for 12 weeks.

MDOC and atorvastatin have potential antiinflammatory effects in vascular endothelium of apoE-/- mouse model of atherosclerosis.

Members of the immunoglobulin superfamily of endothelial adhesion molecules, vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1) and intercellular cell adhesion molecule (ICAM- 1), strongly participate in leukocyte adhesion to the endothelium and play an important role in all stages of atherogenesis. The aim of this study was to detect and quantify the changes of endothelial expression of VCAM-1, and ICAM-1 in the vessel wall after the short-term administration of simvastatin, atorvastatin, and micro dispersed derivatives of oxidised cellulose (MDOC) in apolipoprotein-E-deficient (apoE(-/-)) mice atherosclerotic model. Hyperlipidemic apoE(-/-) mice (n = 32) received normal chow diet or diet containing simvastatin or atorvastatin 10 mg/kg/day or MDOC 50 mg/kg/day.

The impairment of gastroduodenal mucosal barrier by coffee.

Background: Even though coffee is not considered to be responsible for development of peptic ulcer, it may, however, prolong its healing by increasing acidity of gastric content. In our former work we observed a profound increase in sucrose permeability (above normal values) in healthy volunteers regularly drinking coffee for years. In literature, many factors affecting sucrose permeability have been described so far.

[Use of sucrose permeability test (SaLM) for detection of lesions of upper gastrointestinal tract mucosa in upper dyspepsia patients--a pilot study].

Introduction: Endoscopy, a golden standard with its high diagnostic value, is an invasive and unpleasant method as far as patients are concerned. So far there has been no available non-invasive test in the Czech Republic capable of distinguishing between heavy (i.e.

The changes in the endothelial expression of cell adhesion molecules and iNOS in the vessel wall after the short-term administration of simvastatin in rabbit model of atherosclerosis.

Cell adhesion molecules P-selectin, VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. High levels of nitric oxide (NO) produced by inducible NO synthase (iNOS) have been associated with atherosclerotic processes. Simvastatin is an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor responsible for many clinical benefits.

Application of stereological methods for the quantification of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expression in early stages of rabbit atherogenesis.

Early stages of atherogenesis are characterized by the overexpression of cell adhesion molecules with the subsequent accumulation of macrophages, smooth muscle cells and proliferation of extracellular matrix in arterial intima. The quantification of atherogenic changes is necessary for the objective evaluation of the atherogenic process. The purpose of this study was to introduce stereological methods that may be used for the quantification of immunohistochemical staining, namely intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1).

Development and validation of HPLC method for the determination of alpha-tocopherol in human erythrocytes for clinical applications.

In this work, a simple isocratic reversed-phase HPLC method for determination of alpha-tocopherol in human erythrocytes has been developed and validated. After separation of plasma the erythrocytes were washed three times with 0.9% sodium chloride containing 0.