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Query: UMLS:C0004153 (atherosclerosis)
 77,401 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Adding less than 0.5% w/w of culture material of strain MRC 826 of the fungus Fusarium moniliforme to a carbohydrate diet low in fat resulted in an atherogenic plasma lipid profile in a non-human primate. Simultaneously increased plasma fibrinogen and activity of blood coagulation factor VII could enhance atherogenesis. This unique potential for promotion of atherosclerosis was probably secondary to chronic hepatotoxicity as indicated by liver fibrosis and elevated cholesterol, albumin and the enzymes AST, ALT, LD, GGT and ALP in serum. The cholesterol and enzymes responded in proportion to the calculated doses of fumonisin mycotoxins in the F. moniliforme MRC 826 cultures. Fumonisins are water soluble and heat stable. Thrombotic, hepatotoxic, carcinogenic and cerebral effects of MRC 826 culture material and fumonisins are well known in non-primates. The estimated fumonisin concentrations tested fall within a range due to natural contamination of human foods. The results suggest that all maize grain products should be analysed for fumonisins.
Atherosclerosis 1992 May
PMID:Atherogenic effects in a non-human primate of Fusarium moniliforme cultures added to a carbohydrate diet. 163 55

The long-term effects of consumption of marine long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on atherosclerosis in the rabbit were examined. Female Dutch rabbits were fed purified diets, containing 40 energy% total fat, for a period of 2.5 years. To study the dose response relationship between fish oil intake and atherosclerosis, four diets were formulated with fish oil levels being 0, 1, 10 and 20 energy%. A fifth and sixth group were fed an alpha-linolenic acid-(C18:3, n-3) and linoleic acid-(C18:2, n-6) rich diet, respectively. Every 6 weeks, blood samples were taken for determination of clinical chemical parameters, triacylglycerol and total cholesterol levels. Feeding 10 and 20 energy% fish oil containing diets, resulted in an increase of liver enzymes (AST, ALT and ALP). Histological evaluation of the liver also revealed adverse effects of fish oil containing diets. Triacylglycerol blood levels were similar in all groups, and remained constant throughout the study. Total cholesterol levels in blood was significantly lower in the animals fed a linoleic acid-rich diet, as compared with the other five groups. An n-3 long-chain PUFA concentration dependent increase in aorta plaque surface area was observed in the fish oil groups. A significant positive relationship was found between the group mean score for severity of liver pathology and the aorta plaque surface area. These results indicate that the long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in fish oil may be hepatotoxic to the herbivorous rabbit, which may interfere with the outcome of atherosclerosis studies. This finding necessitates the exclusion of liver pathology in experimental studies on atherosclerosis in animal models.
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PMID:The association of increasing dietary concentrations of fish oil with hepatotoxic effects and a higher degree of aorta atherosclerosis in the ad lib.-fed rabbit. 973 17

This study was carried out to investigate the relationship between lipoprotein (a) levels and the development of atherosclerosis in chronic renal failure (CRF) patients with the possible role of the liver. Serum Lp (a) levels were measured in samples from 20 CRF patients on hemodialysis (HD), 20 liver cirrhosis (LC) patients, 20 patients having both CRF and LC and undergoing HD, and 20 normal control subjects. Renal function (blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine), hepatic function (transaminases (ALT and AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total bilirubin) investigations and serum cholesterol were carried out for all the subjects enrolled in this study. Serum Lp (a) concentration in CRF patients without LC was 87.25 +/- 6.17 mg/dl, which was significantly higher than all the investigated groups (P < 0.001). Lp (a) concentration in patients with both CRF and LC was 24.65 +/- 1.98 mg/dl, which was not significantly different from the controls, but was significantly higher than that in the subjects with LC only (P < 0.001) where the latter group had significantly low Lp (a) values (11.1 +/- 0.99) relative to all the other groups (P < 0.001). Lp (a) correlated positively with cholesterol in all groups except the LC subjects, but did not correlate with age, or renal function in both CRF groups.
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PMID:Serum lipoprotein (a) levels in chronic renal failure and liver cirrhosis patients. Relationship with atherosclerosis. 1068 47

Adult GH deficiency (AGHD) has been established as a syndrome associated with various metabolic disturbances such as hyperlipidemia, impaired glucose tolerance and protein catabolism, in addition to changes in body composition such as increased visceral fat, decreased muscle mass and bone density. We investigated the clinical findings, complications and prognosis of AGHD in Japan. The questionnaire was sent to various expert facilities of endocrinology and metabolism to gather cross-sectional information as well as longitudinal follow-up data on adult patients with hypopituitarism. We received answers on 422 subjects, of which number the GH stimulation test was performed in only 63% of them. An age- and sex-matched group of 259 adults with hypopituitarism (125 male and 134 female subjects) was finally selected for this investigation. Of them 185 subjects (81 male and 104 females) were diagnosed as AGHD with plasma peak GH levels less than 3 ng/ml after GH stimulation test. Male adult patients with GHD had significantly lower ratio of smoking and drinking in their life style compared with those without GHD. Male adult patients with GHD revealed significantly higher BMI on physical examination, and significantly higher plasma ALT, AST, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol in blood chemistry compared with those without GHD (P < 0.05). Though patients with ischemic heart disease were more frequent in female patients than male patients, the rate of frequency was not different between female adult patients with and without GHD. Clinical characteristics found in especially male adult patients with GHD in Japan were consistent with findings reported so far in foreign countries. However, consequent complications such as atherosclerosis seemed less severe than expected. Moreover, GH stimulation test for the diagnosis of AGHD as well as clinical test to perform when AGHD was suspected is still less frequently carried out. Therefore, the clinical outcome of AGHD in our country requires further investigation.
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PMID:Adult growth hormone deficiency in Japan: results of investigation by questionnaire. 1262 8

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are senescent macroprotein derivatives that are formed at an accelerated rate in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF). AGE formation and accumulation in plasma and vascular tissues contribute to accelerated atherosclerosis in this devastating disorder. AST-120 is an oral adsorbent that attenuates the progression of CRF by removing uremic toxins. Recently, AST-120 has been reported to reduce the progression of atherosclerosis as well. However, whether AST-120 decreases serum levels of AGEs and subsequently exerts atheroprotective properties remains to be elucidated. Ten nondiabetic CRF patients were enrolled in this study. All patients were kept on regular therapeutic diet and medications throughout the study. Serum AGE levels before and after AST-120 treatments were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Effects of patient-derived serum on atherosclerosis-related gene expression in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were analyzed by semiquantitative RT-PCR. Administration of AST-120 (6 g/day) for 3 months significantly decreased serum levels of AGEs in nondiabetic CRF patients, whereas AGE levels remained unchanged in age- and renal function-matched CRF patients without AST-120 treatment (n = 6). Patient serum after AST-120 treatment significantly reduced mRNA levels of receptor for AGEs, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and vascular adhesion molecule-1 in HUVECs compared with serum before treatment. Moreover, in vitro, AST-120 was found to adsorb carboxymethyllysine (CML), one of the well-characterized, digested food-derived AGEs. This study suggests that atheroprotective properties of AST-120 can be ascribed, at least in part, to its AGE-lowering ability via absorption of CML.
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PMID:Oral adsorbent AST-120 decreases serum levels of AGEs in patients with chronic renal failure. 1708 50

Familial combined hyperlipidaemia (FCHL) is a complex genetic disorder conferring high risk of premature atherosclerosis, characterized by high cholesterol and/or triglyceride, low high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and insulin resistance. We examined whether pioglitazone, added to conventional lipid-lowering therapy, would favourably affect metabolic parameters and alter body fat content. We undertook a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study in 22 male patients with FCHL treated with pioglitazone or matching placebo 30 mg daily for 4 weeks, increasing to 45 mg for 12 weeks. Magnetic resonance imaging and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy were performed to measure adipose tissue (AT) body content as well as intrahepatocellular lipids (IHCL) and intramyocellular lipids (IMCL) at baseline and after treatment. Significantly improved in the pioglitazone group were: triglyceride/HDL (atherogenic index of plasma) -32.3% (p=0.002), plasma glucose -4.4% (p=0.03), alanine-aminotransferase (ALT) -7.7% (p=0.005) and adiponectin 130.1% (p=0.001). Pioglitazone treatment resulted in a significant increase in total (5.3%, p=0.02) and subcutaneous (7.1%, p=0.003) adipose tissue as well as in soleus-IMCL levels (47.4%, p=0.02) without alteration in intra-abdominal AT or IHCL. Changes in ALT and AST and IHCL were strongly correlated (r=0.72, p<0.01; r=.0.86, p<0.01, respectively). In patients with FCHL on conventional lipid-lowering therapy, the addition of pioglitazone acts favourably on several metabolic parameters.
Atherosclerosis 2007 Nov
PMID:Pioglitazone added to conventional lipid-lowering treatment in familial combined hyperlipidaemia improves parameters of metabolic control: relation to liver, muscle and regional body fat content. 1748 23

The long-term efficacy and safety of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) have been established in large multicenter trials. Inhibition of this enzyme, however, results in decreased synthesis of cholesterol and other products downstream of mevalonate, such as CoQ10 or dolichol. This was a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study that examined the effects of CoQ10 and placebo in hypercholesterolemic patients treated by atorvastatin. Eligible patients were given 10mg/day of atorvastatin for 16 weeks. Half of the patients (n=24) were supplemented with 100mg/day of CoQ10, while the other half (n=25) were given the placebo. Serum LDL-C levels in the CoQ10 group decreased by 43%, while in the placebo group by 49%. The HDL-C increment was more striking in the CoQ10 group than in the placebo group. All patients showed definite reductions of plasma CoQ10 levels in the placebo group, by 42%. All patients supplemented with CoQ10 showed striking increases in plasma CoQ10 by 127%. In conclusion atorvastatin definitely decreased plasma CoQ10 levels and supplementation with CoQ10 increased their levels. These changes in plasma CoQ10 levels showed no relation to the changes in serum AST, ALT and CK levels. Further studies are needed, however, for the evaluation of CoQ10 supplementation in statin therapy.
Atherosclerosis 2007 Dec
PMID:Effects of CoQ10 supplementation on plasma lipoprotein lipid, CoQ10 and liver and muscle enzyme levels in hypercholesterolemic patients treated with atorvastatin: a randomized double-blind study. 1768 47

Young adults with abdominal obesity are liable to have subclinical atherosclerosis that may contribute to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease later in life. This study aims to evaluate subclinical atherosclerosis and its possible correlation with some inflammatory and biochemical markers in Egyptian young adult males with abdominal obesity. The study includes 50 young adult males (age range: 19-29 years) divided into two groups. Group 1 comprises 20 non-obese subjects (controls). Group 2 comprises 30 apparently healthy obese subjects. Carotid intima media thickness (carotid-IMT) was estimated using B-mode ultrasonography of the common carotid arteries, and abdominal ultrasonography was performed to assess the presence of a fatty liver. Laboratory investigations included fasting levels of serum glucose, triglycerides (TG), cholesterol (total [TC], high-density [HDL-cholesterol] and low-density [LDL-cholesterol] lipoprotein fractions), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), neopterin, lipoprotein-a (Lp[a]), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), aspartate and alanine aminotransferases (AST, ALT), plasma plasminogen and fibrinogen. Results showed that carotid IMT, serum hs-CRP, neopterin, Lp(a), fibrinogen, plasminogen, TC, TG, LDL-cholesterol and liver enzymes were significantly elevated (P<0.001) in the obese group compared to controls. All obese subjects showed evidence of fatty liver. A significant positive correlation was found between carotid-IMT and body mass index, waist circumference, waist/hip ratio, cholesterol, triglycerides, neopterin, hs-CRP AST, ALT and GGT. Elevated serum levels of inflammatory biomarkers and increased ALT, AST and GGT, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease biomarkers may be useful predictors of subclinical atherosclerosis.
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PMID:Evaluation of some markers of subclinical atherosclerosis in Egyptian young adult males with abdominal obesity. 1983 25

The aim of this study was to determine whether a relatively low dose of pioglitazone or metformin was effective in diabetic patients with metabolic syndrome. Fifty diabetic patients with metabolic syndrome were randomly assigned to a low-dose pioglitazone (15 mg/day) treatment group or a low-dose metformin (500 mg/day) treatment group. Drugs were administered for 12 weeks. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, body mass index, triglyceride (TG), HDL and LDL-cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting plasma insulin (IRI), postprandial glucose, and HOMA-IR in the 75gOGTT, HbA1c, high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) determined by cervical artery echography, and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were measured before/after 12-week drug administration. Significant decreases in HbA1c and HOMA-IR were noted in the pioglitazone group, along with significant decreases in TG, AST, ALT, blood pressure, hs-CRP and PWV. Significant decreases in HbA1c, HOMA-IR, BMI and waist circumference were noted in the metformin group. The pioglitazone group significantly improved the values for ALT, systolic blood pressure, hs-CRP and PWV compared to the metformin group. However, the metformin group demonstrated significant improvement in BMI compared with the pioglitazone group. Using a low dose regimen, pioglitazone significantly improved blood pressure and hepatic function and may be more effective than metformin to reduce risk factors in Japanese diabetic patients with metabolic syndrome at preventing atherosclerosis.
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PMID:Comparative study of low-dose pioglitazone or metformin treatment in Japanese diabetic patients with metabolic syndrome. 1992 5

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease worldwide and a frequent finding on ultrasound examination. NAFLD is considered as the liver component of metabolic syndrome and is linked to accelerated atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. No data from systematic studies regarding the prevalence of NAFLD are available for the Malaysian population. One hundred eighty untreated hypercholesterolemic volunteers underwent blood and ultrasound examinations to evaluate their livers. NAFLD was diagnosed in 102 subjects (56.7%) with similar prevalences between sexes. Of the 102 positive subjects 82 (80.4%) were graded as mild, 17 (16.7%) as moderate and 3 (2.9%) as severe fatty liver cases. Elevated fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels were found in 13 of 180 subjects (7.2%), while elevated AST and ALT levels were seen in 30 (16.7%) and 22 (12.2%) of the180 subjects, respectively.
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PMID:Prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver in a hypercholesterolemic population of northwestern peninsular Malaysia. 2107 69


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