Iron deficiency in myocardial ischaemia: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic perspectives.

Systemic iron deficiency (SID), even in the absence of anaemia, worsens the prognosis and increases mortality in heart failure (HF). Recent clinical-epidemiological studies, however, have shown that a myocardial iron deficiency (MID) is frequently present in cases of severe HF, even in the absence of SID and without anaemia. In addition, experimental studies have shown a poor correlation between the state of systemic and myocardial iron.

The membrane depolarization and increase intracellular calcium level produced by silver nanoclusters are responsible for bacterial death.

This work highlights how our silver ultra nanoclusters (ARGIRIUM-SUNc) hand-made synthesized, are very useful as a bactericide and anti-biofilm agent. The Argirium-SUNc effective antibacterial concentrations are very low (< 1 ppm) as compared to the corresponding values reported in the literature. Different bacterial defense mechanisms are observed dependent on ARGIRIUM-SUNc concentrations.

A novel and efficient subcritical butane extraction method and UHPLC analysis of oxyprenylated phenylpropanoids from grapefruits peels.

Biologically active prenyoxyphenylpropanoids are well known to be biosynthesized by Citrus species, for which they have been found most abundantly in fruit peels. Although several extraction methodologies have been described, the development of novel and alternative extraction processes is a field of research of current interest. In this preliminary communication, we studied the performance of the subcritical butane promoted extraction of selected oxyprenylated phenylpropanoids from grapefruit peels under a counter-current mode using a handmade extraction apparatus coupled to UHPLC analysis.

UHPLC-UV/Vis Quantitative Analysis of Hydroxylated and -prenylated Coumarins in Pomegranate Seed Extracts.

A simple and rapid analytical UHPLC methodology with spectrophotometric (UV/Vis) detection, coupled with different extraction procedures, has been perfected to investigate the presence of biologically active -prenylated umbelliferone derivatives, such as auraptene and umbelliprenin, in pomegranate ( L.) seed extracts. Absolute ethanol was the most efficient extraction solvent in terms of yields, after a short ultrasound-assisted.

Novel biologically active principles from spinach, goji and quinoa.

Spinach leaves, goji berries and quinoa seeds are claimed to have a great nutraceutical potential due to their high content of compounds providing benefits for human health, such as amino acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, carotenoids, betaine, vitamins, fibre, minerals and polyphenols. Samples of these plants were extracted with different solvent mixtures (e.g.

Electrochemically Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles Are Active Against Planktonic and Biofilm Cells of and Other Cystic Fibrosis-Associated Bacterial Pathogens.

A novel, electrochemically synthesized, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) formulation was evaluated against , , , and strains from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. AgNPs were particularly active against and planktonic cells (median MIC: 1.06 and 2.

Analysis of biologically active oxyprenylated phenylpropanoids in Tea tree oil using selective solid-phase extraction with UHPLC-PDA detection.

An efficient analytical strategy based on different extraction methods of biologically active naturally occurring oxyprenylated umbelliferone and ferulic acid derivatives 7-isopentenyloxycoumarin, auraptene, umbelliprenin, boropinic acid, and 4'-geranyloxyferulic acid and quantification by UHPLC with spectrophotometric (UV/Vis) detection from Tea tree oil is reported. Absorption of the pure oil on AlO (Brockmann activity II) prior washing the resulting solid with MeOH and treatment of this latter with CHCl resulted the best extraction methodology in terms of yields of oxyprenylated secondary metabolites. Among the five O-prenylphenylpropanoids herein under investigation auraptene and umbelliprenin were never detected while 4'-geranyloxyferulic acid was the most abundant compound resulting from all the three extraction methods employed.

Dilated cardiomyopathy following use of xenadrine EFX.

We describe a case of a 35-year-old man presented at the emergency room of our institution with acute onset of dyspnea and dizziness. He was a body builder and had been using Xenadrine EFX for weight loss reduction. The laboratory analyses were normal.

Physical exercise reduces synthesis of ADMA, SDMA, and L-Arg.

Increased levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) and low plasma level of L-arginine (L-ARG) are all conditions likely to decrease nitric oxide (NO) production. Aim of this study is to evaluate ADMA, SDMA, and L-ARG plasmatic levels before and after physical exercise in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). We studied 30 patient with mean age 52 + 4.

ADMA/SDMA in elderly subjects with asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis: values and site-specific association.

Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor known as a mediator of endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. Circulating ADMA levels are correlated with cardiovascular risk factors such as hypercholesterolemia, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperhomocysteinemia, age and smoking. We assessed the relationship between ADMA values and site-specific association of asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis (intima-media thickness (CIMT) and plaque) in elderly subjects.

The biological evaluation of ADMA/SDMA and eNOS in patients with ACHF.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of acute pharmacological treatment on the plasma levels of l-arginine, asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA), and symmetrical dimethylarginine (SDMA). We also investigated the related effects on endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression and activity and cytochrome c oxidase activity in the primary blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from patients with acute congestive heart failure (ACHF). Compared to pre-treatment values, ADMA, SDMA, and l-arginine plasma levels were significantly higher after pharmacological treatment (ADMA, 0.

Calcium binding promotes prion protein fragment 90-231 conformational change toward a membrane destabilizing and cytotoxic structure.

The pathological form of prion protein (PrP(Sc)), as other amyloidogenic proteins, causes a marked increase of membrane permeability. PrP(Sc) extracted from infected Syrian hamster brains induces a considerable change in membrane ionic conductance, although the contribution of this interaction to the molecular mechanism of neurodegeneration process is still controversial. We previously showed that the human PrP fragment 90-231 (hPrP₉₀₋₂₃₁) increases ionic conductance across artificial lipid bilayer, in a calcium-dependent manner, producing an alteration similar to that observed for PrP(Sc).

Rosuvastatin effect on intima media thickness in adult vs elderly patients.

The benefits of cardiovascular therapies such as statins for the treatment of atherosclerosis have been well documented. Many studies have demonstrated important benefits in patients with asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis. We have evaluated the effect of low dose of rosuvastatin on asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis in elderly versus adult subjects.

Genetic determinants of blood pressure responses to caffeine drinking.

Background: The widely observed between-subject variability in cardiovascular responses to coffee may have a genetic basis.

Objective: We evaluated acute blood pressure (BP) responses to caffeine and explored whether they are influenced by candidate gene variants affecting caffeine metabolism (for cytochrome P450 1A2), adenosine metabolism (for adenosine receptor and AMP deaminase), or catecholamine receptors.

Methods: We recruited 110 healthy male habitual moderate coffee drinkers who refrained from drinking coffee on the day preceding the study.

Effect of 2-year treatment with low-dose rosuvastatin on intima-media thickness in hypercholesterolemic subjects with asymptomatic carotid artery disease.

Objectives: Recent evidence indicates that rosuvastatin 40 mg may exert a beneficial effect in both carotid and coronary atherosclerosis progression. In particular, 2-year rosuvastatin treatment reduced the progression of carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in patients with low cardiovascular risk. However, despite the fact that in clinical practice lower doses of rosuvastatin are usually administered at this time, there are no clear data about its effect on cIMT.

The biological effect of pharmacological treatment on dimethylaminohydrolases (DDAH-1) and cationic amino acid transporter-1 (CAT-1) expression in patients with acute congestive heart failure.

Aim: Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) which plays an important role in controlling vascular tone and regulates the contractile properties of cardiac myocytes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of pharmacological treatment on symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), ADMA and arginine plasma concentrations in patients with acute congestive heart failure (ACHF) through the evaluation of type-1 system cationic amino acid transporter-1/type 1 dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolases-1 (CAT-1/DDAH-1).

Methods And Results: 25 hospitalized cardiology patients with symptomatic acute congestive HF (NYHA Class III-IV) and impaired left ventricular (LV) function (ejection fraction<35%) were included in the study.

The effect of pharmacological treatment on ADMA in patients with heart failure.

Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) plays a crucial role in the arginine-nitric oxide (NO) pathway. NO plays an important role in controlling vascular tone and regulates the contractile properties of cardiac myocytes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of pharmacological treatment on asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA) plasma levels in patients with acute congestive heart failure (HF).

Peripheral blood lymphocytes: a model for monitoring physiological adaptation to high altitude.

Depending on the absolute altitude and the duration of exposure, a high altitude environment induces various cellular effects that are strictly related to changes in oxidative balance. In this study, we used in vitro isolated peripheral blood lymphocytes as biosensors to test the effect of hypobaric hypoxia on seven climbers by measuring the functional activity of these cells. Our data revealed that a 21-day exposure to high altitude (5000 m) (1) increased intracellular Ca(2+) concentration, (2) caused a significant decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, and (3) despite possible transient increases in intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species, did not significantly change the antioxidant and/or oxidative damage-related status in lymphocytes and serum, assessed by measuring Trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity, glutathione peroxidase activity, vitamin levels, and oxidatively modified proteins and lipids.

High hydrophobic amino acid exposure is responsible of the neurotoxic effects induced by E200K or D202N disease-related mutations of the human prion protein.

Mutations in prion protein are thought to be causative of inherited prion diseases favoring the spontaneous conversion of the normal prion protein into the scrapie-like pathological prion protein. We previously reported that, by controlled thermal denaturation, human prion protein fragment 90-231 acquires neurotoxic properties when transformed in a β-rich conformation, resembling the scrapie-like conformation. In this study we generated prion protein fragment 90-231 bearing mutations identified in familial prion diseases (D202N and E200K), to analyze their role in the induction of a neurotoxic conformation.

Relationship between plasma antioxidant concentrations and carotid intima-media thickness: the Asymptomatic Carotid Atherosclerotic Disease In Manfredonia Study.

Background: Few studies have examined the relationship among carotid atherosclerosis, vascular risk factors, and antioxidant plasma concentrations, and those that have reported conflicting results. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis, as defined by carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), and inflammatory markers, plasma lipids and serum antioxidant vitamins.

Methods And Results: We examined baseline characteristics of the 640 participants in the Asymptomatic Carotid Atherosclerotic Disease In Manfredonia Study.

Oxidation of Cys278 of ADH I isozyme from Kluyveromyces lactis by naturally occurring disulfides causes its reversible inactivation.

The inactivation of the homotetrameric cytosolic alcohol dehydrogenase I from Kluyveromyces lactis (KlADH I) by naturally occurring disulfides, oxidized glutathione, cystine and cystamine, was studied. The inactivation was fully reversed by dithiothreitol. The nicotinamide coenzyme, but not the substrate ethanol, protected KlADH I from inactivation.

Plasma antioxidants and asymptomatic carotid atherosclerotic disease.

Background: Atherosclerosis remains clinically mute for a long time and frequently manifests itself with an acute cardiovascular event. The possibility of detecting this disease in a subclinical phase and reducing or reversing its progression is an issue of relevance. Published studies on the association between antioxidant vitamins and carotenoids and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) have been inconclusive.

Glutathione transferases from Anguilla anguilla liver: identification, cloning and functional characterization.

Glutathione transferases (GSTs) constitute a class of detoxifying enzymes involved in Phase II metabolism. Using GSH-affinity chromatografy followed by HPLC analysis, two GST isoforms were isolated from the Anguilla anguilla liver cytosol. The major GST belongs to the piscine-specific rho class and accounted for about 59% of total GST affinity eluted fraction, while the remaining 41% was represented by a Pi class GST.

Leukotriene modifiers in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Cysteinyl-leukotrienes (Cys-LTs) and LTB4 are potent proinflammatory mediators derived from arachidonic acid through the 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) pathway, which exerts important pharmacological effects through their interaction with specific receptors: Cys-LT receptors (CysLT1 and CysLT2) and LTB4 receptors (BLT1 and BLT2). Published evidence justifies a broader role for LT receptor antagonists (LTRAs), in particular, montelukast, in the treatment of bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, and recently, in cardiocerebrovascular disease. The actions of Cys-LTs on the cardiovascular (CV) system are well-documented and include a broad array of activities with promising therapeutic targets in animal models exploring the use of selective 5-LO (or 5-LO-activating protein) inhibitors or dual LO-cycloxygenase-blocking agents in experimentally induced acute myocardial infarction.

Rosuvastatin reduces intima-media thickness in hypercholesterolemic subjects with asymptomatic carotid artery disease: the Asymptomatic Carotid Atherosclerotic Disease in Manfredonia (ACADIM) Study.

Background: An increase in carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) represents an early phase of the atherosclerotic process. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a reduction in CIMT could be seen with only 16 weeks of treatment with rosuvastatin (10 mg/day).

Methods/results: Sixty-six participants of the ACADIM Study with hypercholesterolemia and carotid atherosclerosis at baseline carotid ultrasound investigation (CUI) were examined, with repeat CUI after 16 weeks of treatment.