Allyl mercaptan, a major metabolite of garlic compounds, reduces cellular cholesterol synthesis and its secretion in Hep-G2 cells.

The cytotoxicity, cellular cholesterol synthesis, and secretion of allyl mercaptan, a major metabolite of garlic compounds, were studied in Hep-G2 cells. The cells were grown in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum and treated with 5, 25, 50, 100, 125, 250, and 500 microg of allyl mercaptan/mL for 4, 12, and 24 hours. At concentrations up to 125 microg, no significant cytotoxic effect was noted during those incubation periods.

A comparison of balloon-mounted and self-expanding stents in the carotid arteries: immediate and long-term results of more than 500 patients.

Purpose: To compare the rates of neurological complications and restenosis for balloon-mounted (BM) versus self-expanding (SE) stents deployed in the extracranial carotid arteries.

Methods: Among 513 patients (312 men; mean age 71.3 years, range 27-91) who underwent carotid artery stent placement, 496 received 520 stents.