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 work describes oral contraceptives (OCs) in current use and examines their risks. OC pills are composed of synthetic estrogens, usually either ethinyl estradiol or mestranol, and progestins. Either estrogens or progestins can be used alone, but combinations permit smaller doses to be used. Combined pills are available in monophasic, biphasic, or triphasic formulations. Different modalities of administration are also available for progestin-only pills. The "morning after" pill containing high doses of steroids to be taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse can contain either estrogen or progestin alone or combined. The mechanisms of action of OCs vary according to the type of pill. Classic combined OCs inhibit ovulation, render the cervical mucus inhospitable to sperm, and cause endometrial atrophy which hinders nidation. Low-dose pills have various effects but in general depend on changes in the cervical mucus for their contraceptive effect. Pregnancy may result from forgetting pills or using them incorrectly, or in the case of low-dose pills may occur even if they are used correctly. Some drugs can lower the concentrations of the OC hormones at the level of the receptors by hindering their intestinal absorption or by increasing the metabolic power of the liver. Considerable individual variability limits the incidence of pill failure due to drug interactions, but OC use should be avoided if rifampicine or certain other drugs are used. Among undesirable effects of OCs on endocrine glands and reproductive function are the adaptation syndrome characterized by symptoms similar to those of early pregnancy and reversible in most but not all women; galactorrhea resulting from diminished levels of "prolactin inhibiting factor"; and virilizing effects such as alopecia, hirsutism, and acne usually occurring during use of high-dose formulations. Pills should be carefully adapted to the hormonal profile of the user to avoid these side effects. OCs very rarely entail longterm infertility. OCs in current use do not appear to be teratogenic but it is advisable to wait 2 months after termination of use before becoming pregnant. Lactation is a contraindication to OC use. Combined OCs frequently cause problems in glucose tolerance of variable significance. Low-dose progestins do not seem to affect lipid metabolism, but low and normal dose combined pills may provoke increases in the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. OCs are implicated in vascular accidents of various kinds, but low-dose pills are better tolerated. Cardiovascular risks are increased by age, smoking, use of alcohol, and excess fat in the diet. Hepatobiliary complications may occur during pill use. The carcinogenic role of OCx remains controversial, although growth of preexisting breast cancers is accelerated with pill use. The multifactorial etiologies of cardiovascular ailments, atherosclerosis, and cancerous tumors make the role of OCs difficult to assess. OCs can interact with various drugs, heightening the undesirable effects of each. Research on hormonal methods of contraception is currently directed toward achieving a better tolerance and administration of both male and female methods.
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PMID:[Oral contraception: failures and risks]. 1228 May 90

Because of the increased cardiovascular risk (CVR) in HIV-positive patients, preventive measures are essential, requiring algorithms for risk estimation, such as the Framingham risk equation, the Prospective Cardiovascular Munster Study (PROCAM) algorithm and the Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) chart. Classical cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) are closely related to CVR in HIV-infected patients but whether this risk is comparable to that in the general population is unknown. Therefore, these algorithms probably underestimate the risk in these patients. Currently, application of the same strategies as those used in the general population is recommended, without forgetting the specific characteristics of HIV positive patients or the importance of their inflammatory status, which can accelerate the development of arteriosclerosis and lead to an increase in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Therefore, in addition to traditional CVRF, biological markers of inflammation could help to identify the patients most at risk of a cardiovascular event. These markers, as well as the diverse techniques for assessment of subclinical atherosclerosis that could help in the early identification of at-risk patients, are reviewed in the present study. Lifestyle changes (healthy diet, smoking cessation, maintaining a healthy weight and daily physical exercise) reduce the probability of a coronary event by up to 80% in the general population. Traditional therapeutic measures (dyslipidemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus) and those specific to HIV infection (viral suppression, discontinuous treatment, etc.) are reviewed.
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PMID:[Cardiovascular risk assessment and intervention in HIV-infected patients]. 2017 14

An experimental mouse model of dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis was utilized to study the generation of methylarginines in vivo, as well as any potential behavioral changes in mice associated with the production of excess methylarginines. Following 14 weeks of poloxamer 407 treatment, mice developed atherosclerosis and the plasma concentrations of monomethylarginine and asymmetric dimethylarginine were found to be significantly greater than corresponding concentrations in control mice. This finding may have contributed to the development of aortic atherosclerotic lesions in poloxamer-treated mice by interfering with nitric oxide availability and, hence, normal function of vascular endothelium. Poloxamer-407-treated mice also showed a significant decrease in locomotor and exploratory activity, together with signs of emotional stress and anxiety relative to controls. Passive avoidance testing to assess learning and memory provided suggestive evidence that poloxamer-treated mice could potentially be characterized as having undergone a disruption in the process of forgetting about an aversive event, specifically, a foot shock, when compared with control mice. Thus, it is also suggested that the increase in both plasma monomethylarginine and asymmetric dimethylarginine in poloxamer-407-treated mice may somehow influence learning and memory, because endothelial dysfunction caused by reduced nitric oxide availability has been hypothesized to negatively influence cognitive function.
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PMID:Methylated arginine analogues: their potential role in atherosclerosis and cognition using the poloxamer-407-induced mouse model of dyslipidemia. 2745 6