Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0004153 (atherosclerosis)
 77,401 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

This paper reviews the literature on somatic and psychological consequences of vasectomy published in the past 10 years. Although there is some evidence in animal studies of harmful effects, these findings are not supported in the epidemiological and clinical studies. The somatic aspects are discussed in terms of hormonal and accessory gland function consequences, immunological data on animals and men (clinical studies of cancer, atherosclerosis, and urolithiasis, and epidemiological studies). Psychological aspects are viewed in terms of the effects on sex life, attitude toward family and children, repercussions on mental health, and second thoughts after vasectomy (displeasure, dissatisfaction, and regrets). The summary of clinical and large scale epidemiological studies indicates that there aren't any long term side effects of vasectomy on the health of individuals examined. The results are considered valid and reliable and a complete confirmation of long term safety of vasectomy. That some evidence was produced clinically on side effects may mean the results reflect methodological or experimental conditions, or the need for case control studies among male high risk groups. 2 points are made about the lack of statistical power and selection bias. Vasectomy may act as a co-risk factor. The risk is low and only appears in some groups of already high risk men with hypercholesterolemia and familial hypertension. The total number of high risk men is low, which means lack of statistical power. The 2nd point is that accessibility may present a selection bias, where patients elect not to have a vasectomy because of bad health or doctors may reject individuals in bad health or long term risk factors. The psychological aspects as reported show 90% of men satisfied with having has a vasectomy. There is not notable change in frequency of sexual relations or sexual desire. Studies have not been done which take into account cultural differences, and do not reflect comparisons with the before period. Interpretations and cross study comparisons lack uniformity and clarity. Reduced sexual relations could be considered appropriate for a couple requesting sterilization, and frequent sexual activity post operation could mean insecurity. Future studies might monitor closely the real life experiences to answer the why vasectomy, how adjusted, and so on. All the studies are restricted by limited options questions. Of concern is whether the man selected the right choice. Compared to costs, failure rate, and complications of tubal ligation, it is hoped that vasectomy continues as a viable and available method for couples.
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PMID:Does vasectomy have long-term effects on somatic and psychological health status? 209 10

From pharmacological investigations and clinical studies, it is known that ACE inhibitors exhibit additional local actions that are not related to hemodynamic changes and that cannot be explained only by interference with the renin-angiotensin system by means of an inhibition of ANG II formation. Because ACE is identical to kininase II, which inactivates the nonapeptide BK and related kinins, potentiation of kinins might be responsible for these additional effects of ACE inhibitors. ACE inhibition, concentration, and time dependently increased the formation of NO and PGI2 in cultured endothelial cells of different origin and from different species, including humans. The specific B2 kinin receptor antagonist, icatibant, suppressed the ACE inhibitor-induced increase in endothelial cyclic GMP accumulation index for NO-formation and, in parallel, attenuated the increase in PGI2 release. In renovascular models of hypertension associated with a stimulated renin-angiotensin system (two-kidney, one-clip), blood pressure reduction by ACE inhibitors was attenuated by icatibant, whereas in rats with genetic hypertension with normal to low plasma renin, blood pressure reduction through ACE inhibitors was not affected. In experimental atherosclerosis in rabbits, ACE inhibitors were able to preserve endothelial function and vascular reactivity and to reduce surface involvement. In the balloon denudation model of carotid arteries in rats, it was found that ACE inhibition markedly reduced neointima formation. However, when the ACE inhibitor was given together with icatibant, its effect was significantly blunted. Perfusion with ACE inhibitors induced a reduction of the incidence, as well as of the duration, of ventricular fibrillation and improved cardiodynamics and myocardial metabolism. BK perfusion induced comparable cardioprotective effects. In addition, perfusion with ACE inhibitors markedly increased the outflow of BK and related kinins from isolated rat hearts. The antiischemic effect of ACE inhibitors and BK were abolished by the addition of L-NNA (1 x 10(-6) mol/l) or icatibant (1 x 10(-9) mol/l). Similar results were found in dogs and rabbits with myocardial infarction. BK and related kinins also seem to be involved in preconditioning and remodeling. The effect of ACE inhibition in LVH was investigated in rats made hypertensive by aortic banding. ACE inhibition with ramipril, in the antihypertensive dose of 1 mg/kg/day for 6 weeks, prevented the increase in blood pressure and the development of LVH. A lower, nonantihypertensive dose of the ACE inhibitor (10 micrograms/kg/day for 6 weeks) had no effect on the increase in blood pressure or on plasma ACE activity, but also prevented LVH after aortic banding.4+ off
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PMID:Contribution of kinins to the cardiovascular actions of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. 778 79

1. We compared the serum and aortic lipid levels in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Dahl salt-sensitive rats (DSR) fed a high-cholesterol (HC) diet. 2. In SHR fed the HC diet, the serum cholesterol level significantly increased, but no aortic cholesterol deposition was observed. 3. The serum cholesterol level in DSR fed the HC diet markedly increased compared to that in DSR fed the basal diet, and this change was greater with the diet containing 8% NaCl than 0.4% NaCl. A significant increase in the content of aortic cholesterol, notably cholesteryl ester, was observed in only DSR fed the HC diet containing 8% NaCl. 4. These results suggest that the combination of hypercholesterolaemia with salt-induced hypertension acts as a greater risk factor for atherosclerosis than that with genetic hypertension.
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PMID:Different cholesterol deposition in aorta of Dahl salt-sensitive rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats fed a high-cholesterol diet. 907 77

Hypercholesterolemia is associated with more rapid development of atherosclerosis, and hypertension is frequently associated with abnormal vascular function. Therefore, to investigate the role of hypercholesterolemia and hypertension on vascular function, we studied three groups of male rats (aged 6 wk): normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) as a control group and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) receiving either standard diet (SD; SHR-SD) or high-cholesterol (1%) diet (ChD; SHR-ChD). Vascular reactivity was tested on isolated aortic rings at 4 wk and at 3 and 6 mo of diet. At 3 mo, endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine (ACh) and ADP was significantly reduced in SHR-ChD but not in SHR-SD compared with WKY. At 6 mo, relaxations to ACh were further impaired in both SHR groups compared with WKY. Endothelium-independent vasodilation to nitroglycerin (NTG) was not different in the three groups of animals throughout 6 mo of diet. In additional experiments, we evaluated vascular reactivity in rats fed with ChD enriched with an excess of vitamin D [atherogenic diet (AD)] capable of producing vascular atherosclerotic lesions. In particular, we studied three additional groups of WKY and SHR rats fed with SD, AD, or AD plus a nonhypotensive dose of the calcium antagonist nitrendipine (Nit). Vasodilation to ACh and ADP was significantly blunted in WKY-AD compared with WKY-SD, whereas it was partially improved in WKY-Nit. There were no differences in endothelium-independent relaxation to NTG in the three WKY groups. In contrast, SHR-AD showed a marked reduction of endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilation, but only endothelium-dependent vasodilation was preserved by addition of Nit to the diet. These data suggest that the development of vascular dysfunction in rat genetic hypertension is accelerated by ChD, in absence of detectable vascular lesions. Our study also shows that AD alters both vascular smooth muscle and endothelium-dependent relaxation. Low doses of Nit partially preserve endothelium-dependent vasodilation but do not affect the impairment of smooth muscle function in these rats.
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PMID:Effects of high-cholesterol and atherogenic diets on vascular relaxation in spontaneously hypertensive rats. 927 80

Low-voltage-activated T-type Ca2+ channels are present in most excitable tissues including the heart (mainly pacemaker cells), smooth muscle, central and peripheral nervous systems, and endocrine tissues, but also in non-excitable cells, such as osteoblasts, fibroblasts, glial cells, etc. Although they comprise a slightly heterogeneous population, these channels share many defining characteristics: small conductance (< 10 pS), similar Ca2+ and Ba2+ permeabilities, slow deactivation, and a voltage-dependent inactivation rate. In addition, activation at low voltages, rapid inactivation, and blockade by Ni2+ are classical properties of T-type Ca2+ channels, which are less specific. T-type Ca2+ channels are weakly blocked by standard Ca2+ antagonists. Pharmacological blockers are scarce and often lack specificity and/or potency. The physiological modulation of T-type Ca2+ currents is complex: they are enhanced by endothelin-1, angiotensin II (AT1-receptor), ATP, and isoproterenol (cAMP-independent), but are reduced by angiotensin II (AT2-receptor), somatostatin and atrial natriuretic peptide. Norepinephrine enhances these currents in some cells but decreases them in others. T-type Ca2+ currents have many known or suggested physiological and pathophysiological roles in growth (protein synthesis, cell differentiation, and proliferation), neuronal firing regulation, some aspects of genetic hypertension, cardiac hypertrophy, cardiac fibrosis, cardiac rhythm (normal and abnormal), and atherosclerosis. Mibefradil is a new Ca2+ antagonist that is effective in hypertension and angina pectoris. Its favorable pharmacological profile and limited side effects appear to be related to selective block of T-type Ca2+ channels: mibefradil reduces vascular resistance and heart rate without negative inotropy or neurohormonal stimulation, and it also has significant antiproliferative actions.
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PMID:T-type Ca2+ channels and pharmacological blockade: potential pathophysiological relevance. 951 67

We have reported the cDNA cloning of a modified low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) receptor, designated lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1 (LOX-1), which is postulated to be involved in endothelial dysfunction and the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Here, we determined the organization of the human LOX-1 gene, including the 5'-regulatory region. The 5'-regulatory region contained several potential cis-regulatory elements, such as GATA-2 binding element, c-ets-1 binding element, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate-responsive element and shear-stress-responsive elements, which may mediate the endothelium-specific and inducible expression of LOX-1. The major transcription-initiation site was found to be located 29 nucleotides downstream of the TATA box and 61 nucleotides upstream from the translation-initiation codon. The minor initiation site was found to be 5 bp downstream from the major site. Most of the promoter activity of the LOX-1 gene was ascribed to the region (-150 to -90) containing the GC and CAAT boxes. The coding sequence was divided into 6 exons by 5 introns. The first 3 exons corresponded to the different functional domains of the protein (cytoplasmic, transmembrane and neck domains), and the residual 3 exons encoded the carbohydrate-recognition domain similar to the case of other C-type lectin genes. The LOX-1 gene was a single-copy gene and assigned to the p12.3-p13.2 region of chromosome 12. Since the locus for a familial hypertension has been mapped to the overlapping region, LOX-1 might be the gene responsible for the hypertension.
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PMID:Structure and chromosomal assignment of the human lectin-like oxidized low-density-lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) gene. 1008 42

Chromogranin A (CgA)-the index member of the chromogranin/secretogranin secretory protein family-is ubiquitously distributed in endocrine, neuroendocrine, and immune cells. Elevated levels of CgA-related polypeptides, consisting of full-length molecules and fragments, are detected in the blood of patients suffering from neuroendocrine tumors, heart failure, renal failure, hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease. Full-length CgA and various CgA-derived peptides, including vasostatin-1, pancreastatin, catestatin, and serpinin, are expressed at different relative levels in normal and pathological conditions and exert diverse, and sometime opposite, biological functions. For example, CgA is overexpressed in genetic hypertension, whereas catestatin is diminished. In rodents, the administration of catestatin decreases hypertension, cardiac contractility, obesity, atherosclerosis, and inflammation, and it improves insulin sensitivity. By contrast, pancreastatin is elevated in diabetic patients, and the administration of this peptide to obese mice decreases insulin sensitivity and increases inflammation. CgA and the N-terminal fragment of vasostatin-1 can enhance the endothelial barrier function, exert antiangiogenic effects, and inhibit tumor growth in animal models, whereas CgA fragments lacking the CgA C-terminal region promote angiogenesis and tumor growth. Overall, the CgA system, consisting of full-length CgA and its fragments, is emerging as an important and complex player in cardiovascular, immunometabolic, and cancer regulation.
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PMID:Chromogranin A and its fragments in cardiovascular, immunometabolic, and cancer regulation. 3158 72