Novel serum paraoxonase activity assays are associated with coronary artery disease.

Background: Serum paraoxonase (PON1) exerts antiatherogenic effects. Novel PON1 enzymatic tests have been recently developed: 5-thiobutyl butyrolactone (TBBL) estimates PON1 lactonase activity, whereas 7-O-diethylphosphoryl-3-cyano-4-methyl-7-hydroxycoumarin (DEPCyMC) is considered a surrogate marker of PON1 concentration. The TBBL to DEPCyMC ratio provides the normalized lactonase activity (NLA), which may reflect the degree of PON1 lactonase catalytic stimulation.

Significance of plasma B-type natriuretic peptide in hemodialysis patients: blood sample timing and comorbidity burden.

Plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentration was evaluated in end-stage renal disease patients to verify if measurements before or after the session could furnish different information. BNP levels in plasma from 52 hemodialysis (HD) patients were measured both before and after the first session of the week. Echocardiographic studies were also performed and patients were followed over a period of 28 months.

Paraoxonase activity and paraoxonase 1 gene polymorphism in patients with uremia.

Patients on hemodialysis (HD) show an increased risk for developing atherothrombotic events. The oxidative modification of low density lipoproteins (LDL) play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In patients with uremia (chronic renal failure and HD), the increased oxidative stress induces oxidative modification of LDL.

HDL3-related decreased serum paraoxonase (PON) activity in uremic patients: comparison with the PON1 allele polymorphism.

Background: Patients with chronic renal failure on maintenance haemodialysis (HD) are at high risk of atherothrombotic events; an enhanced oxidant stress might have a major role. The decrease of human paraoxonase (PON1), an anti-oxidant high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-linked enzyme, is a possible mechanism for developing cardiovascular disease. To ascertain the causes of low PON1 in such patients, we investigated the contribution of both PON1 gene polymorphism and individual pattern of HDL.