A red wine intervention does not modify plasma trimethylamine N-oxide but is associated with broad shifts in the plasma metabolome and gut microbiota composition.

Background: Gut microbiota profiles are closely related to cardiovascular diseases through mechanisms that include the reported deleterious effects of metabolites, such as trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), which have been studied as diagnostic and therapeutic targets. Moderate red wine (RW) consumption is reportedly cardioprotective, possibly by affecting the gut microbiota.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of RW consumption on the gut microbiota, plasma TMAO, and the plasma metabolome in men with documented coronary artery disease (CAD) using a multiomics assessment in a crossover trial.

Long term effects of red wine consumption in brain: an MRI, fMRI and neuropsychological evaluation study.

Red wine (RW) consumption has been proposed to have a potential health benefit. However, the effect of RW consumption on the brain is not entirely known, mainly when associated with aging. Regular red wine consumers (n = 30) and abstainers (ABST; n = 27) without cognitive impairment were evaluated for brain structural characteristics (Fazekas score and voxel-based morphometry) and for functional adaptations assessed by fMRI (using the Word Tasks Color Stroop (WCST) and Two-Back (TBT)), as well as by neuropsychological tests in different domains.

The effects of macronutrients composition on hormones and substrates during a meal tolerance test in drugnaive and sitagliptin-treated individuals with type 2 diabetes: a randomized crossover study.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of sitagliptin treatment in early type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the impact of different macronutrient compositions on hormones and substrates during meal tolerance tests (MTT).

Methods: Half of the drug-naive patients with T2DM were randomly assigned for treatment with 100 mg of sitagliptin, q.d.

Association between hypertriglyceridemia and protein oxidation and proinflammatory markers in normocholesterolemic and hypercholesterolemic individuals.

Background: Although hypercholesterolemia is a well-established risk factor for coronary heart disease, evidence suggests that increased triglyceride (TG) concentrations are also an independent risk factor. TG concentrations >150mg/dl are observed nearly twice as often in subjects with atherosclerosis. We assessed the association between hypertriglyceridemia and protein oxidation and proinflammatory markers in normocholesterolemic and hypercholesterolemic individuals.

Synergistic anti-inflammatory effect: simvastatin and pioglitazone reduce inflammatory markers of plasma and epicardial adipose tissue of coronary patients with metabolic syndrome.

Background: The inappropriate secretion of adipocytokines plays a critical role in chronic inflammatory states associated with obesity-linked type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis. The pleiotropic actions of simvastatin and pioglitazone on epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) are unknown. This study assessed the anti-inflammatory actions of simvastatin and pioglitazone on EAT in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and metabolic syndrome (MS).

Red wine and equivalent oral pharmacological doses of resveratrol delay vascular aging but do not extend life span in rats.

Objective: To investigate, in male Wistar rats, the effects of long-term moderate red wine (RW) consumption (equivalent to ∼0.15 mg% resveratrol RS), or RS in low (L, 0.15 mg%) or high (H, 400 mg%) doses in chow.

The relationship between body mass index and the variation in plasma levels of triglycerides after short-term red wine consumption.

Background: Alcoholic beverages may have protective cardiovascular effects but are known to increase the plasma levels of triglycerides (TG). Both TG and the ratio of TG to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-cholesterol) are associated with increased cardiovascular risk.

Objectives: To determine the predictive factors for variations in plasma levels of TG and the TG/HDL-cholesterol ratio in patients after they had consumed red wine for 14 days.

Cardioprotection conferred by exercise training is blunted by blockade of the opioid system.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of opioid receptor blockade on the myocardial protection conferred by chronic exercise and to compare exercise training with different strategies of myocardial protection (opioid infusion and brief periods of ischemia-reperfusion) preceding irreversible left anterior descending coronary ligation.

Introduction: The acute cardioprotective effects of exercise training are at least partly mediated through opioid receptor-dependent mechanisms in ischemia-reperfusion models.

Methods: Male Wistar rats (n = 76) were randomly assigned to 7 groups: (1) control; (2) exercise training; (3) morphine; (4) intermittent ischemia-reperfusion (three alternating periods of left anterior descending coronary occlusion and reperfusion); (5) exercise training+morphine; (6) naloxone (a non-selective opioid receptor blocker) plus morphine; (7) naloxone before each exercise-training session.

Effect of exercise training on plasma levels and functional properties of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in the metabolic syndrome.

Intense lifestyle modifications can change the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentration. The aim of the present study was to analyze the early effects of short-term exercise training, without any specific diet, on the HDL cholesterol plasma levels and HDL functional characteristics in patients with the metabolic syndrome (MS). We studied 30 sedentary subjects, 20 with and 10 without the MS.

[Lack of knowledge of Guidelines for Prevention of Atherosclerosis in Childhood and Adolescence by pediatricians in the city of São Paulo].

Objective: To report the extent of knowledge of pediatricians in São Paulo concerning the Guidelines.

Methods: At pediatric events or hospitals, pediatricians were given a questionnaire about the time of training, work, dedication in the area of pediatrics, and academic performance for reply to multiple choice questions with information drawn from the Guidelines. The Chi -square and the Chi -square of linear trend tests were chosen for statistical calculations.

Comparison of non-invasive methods for the detection of coronary atherosclerosis.

Background: Non-invasive detection of atherosclerosis is critical for its prevention.

Objective: To correlate non-invasively detectable indicators of coronary atherosclerosis, or Coronary Artery Disease (i.e.

Short-term red wine consumption promotes differential effects on plasma levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, sympathetic activity, and endothelial function in hypercholesterolemic, hypertensive, and healthy subjects.

Objectives: To compare the metabolic, hemodynamic, autonomic, and endothelial responses to short-term red wine consumption in subjects with hypercholesterolemia or arterial hypertension, and healthy controls.

Methods: Subjects with hypercholesterolemia (n=10) or arterial hypertension (n=9), or healthy controls (n=7) were given red wine (250 mL/night) for 15 days. Analyses were performed before and after red wine intake.

Selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition protects against myocardial damage in experimental acute ischemia.

Background: Acute myocardial infarction is associated with tissue inflammation. Early coronary reperfusion clearly improves the outcome but may help propagate the inflammatory response and enhance tissue damage. Cyclooxygenase-2 is an enzyme that catalyzes the initial step in the formation of inflammatory prostaglandins from arachidonic acid.

Evidence that the degree of obstructive sleep apnea may not increase myocardial ischemia and arrhythmias in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

Unlabelled: There is controversy regarding whether obstructive sleep apnea is responsible for triggering myocardial ischemia, arrhythmias and heart rate variability in patients with coronary artery disease.

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify relationships between sleep apnea, myocardial ischemia and cardiac arrhythmia in patients with coronary artery disease.

Methods: Fifty-three patients with stable coronary disease underwent simultaneous polysomnography and electrocardiographic Holter recording.

Prognostic value of left atrial volume in patients who underwent dobutamine stress echocardiography for known or suspected coronary artery disease.

Background: Left atrial volume indexed (LAVI) has been reported as a predictor of cardiovascular events. We sought to determine the prognostic value of LAVI for predicting the outcome of patients who underwent dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) for known or suspected coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: From January 2000 to July 2005, we studied 981 patients who underwent DSE and off-line measurements of LAVI.

Vascular and metabolic response to statin in the mildly hypertensive hypercholesterolemic elderly.

Introduction: Much evidence indicates the importance of the endothelium and hypercholesterolemia in atherosclerosis, as well as the decline in endothelial function with aging. However, it is unclear if treating dyslipidemia in elderly patients improves endothelial function and reduces C-reactive protein levels.

Objectives: To evaluate vasomotor function, lipids and C-reactive protein in mildly hypertensive and hypercholesterolemic elderly patients treated with atorvastatin.

High ratio of triglycerides to HDL-cholesterol predicts extensive coronary disease.

Unlabelled: An abnormal ratio of triglycerides to HDL-cholesterol (TG/HDL-c) indicates an atherogenic lipid profile and a risk for the development of coronary disease.

Objective: To investigate the association between lipid levels, specifically TG/HDL-c, and the extent of coronary disease.

Methods: High-risk patients (n=374) submitted for coronary angiography had their lipid variables measured and coronary disease extent scored by the Friesinger index.

Characterization of high density lipoprotein particles in familial apolipoprotein A-I deficiency.

Our aim was to characterize HDL subspecies and fat-soluble vitamin levels in a kindred with familial apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) deficiency. Sequencing of the APOA1 gene revealed a nonsense mutation at codon -2, Q[-2]X, with two documented homozygotes, eight heterozygotes, and two normal subjects in the kindred. Homozygotes presented markedly decreased HDL cholesterol levels, undetectable plasma apoA-1, tuboeruptive and planar xanthomas, mild corneal arcus and opacification, and severe premature coronary artery disease.