UMLS:C0004153 - FACTA Search

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

The aim of the study was to assess the correlations between the levels of sex hormones and blood lipid profile as well as indexes of coronary artery stenosis in men with angiographically documented coronary artery disease. 111 men, aged 36-73 yrs (av. 55) were studied. In all the patients levels of testosterone (T), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), estradiol (E), SHBG, LH and FSH were measured. The level of bioavailable testosterone (BT) was calculated knowing SHBG level. Total cholesterol (TCh), HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides (TG) levels were estimated as well as the degree of coronary artery stenosis was estimated by means of modified indexes. For statistics R-Spearman test was used. Summing coronary stenosis index correlated significantly with T-Ch and LDL-Ch levels. Positive correlation was found between blood level of E and TCh as well as between E and LDL-Ch. BT correlated partially with LDL-Ch level. No correlations were found between the levels of T, SHBG, DHEA-S, FSH, LH and lipid profile. The level of DHEA-s revealed negative correlation with age, while the level of SHBG increased with ageing leading to the decrease of the value of BT but not total T. None of studied hormones correlated with coronary indexes. Our results suggest that estradiol and BT may promote the formation of atherogenic lipid profile leading to atherosclerosis in men.
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PMID:[Sex steroids versus lipid profile and the degree of coronary artery stenosis in men with angiographically documented coronary artery disease]. 1129 7

Atherosclerosis is increasingly recognized as an inflammatory disease. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a proinflammatory cytokine, recently implicated as a prominent component of the regulatory network involved in atherogenesis. We aimed to study the relationship between circulating GM-CSF levels and serum fatty acid (FA) composition in 78 healthy subjects. The latter was analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography and GM-CSF by a high-sensitivity commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Among women (n = 40), serum GM-CSF levels were found to be positively associated with the proportion of palmitic acid (C16:0) and negatively with linoleic acid (C18:2omega-6), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6omega-3), and the proportion of total essential FA. After excluding smoking women (n = 6), the associations among GM-CSF and serum linoleic acid concentration (r = -0.49, P =.003), arachidonic acid (r = -0.52, P =.001), and DHA (r = -0.34, P =.04) were strengthened. The ratio of palmitic to linoleic and DHA acids was the single best predictor of serum GM-CSF in all subjects. Together with arachidonic acid, it contributed to 22% of the GM-CSF variance in women, after taking into account the effects of age, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, and smoking status. None of these associations were observed among men. In conclusion, serum FA composition is associated with circulating GM-CSF specifically in women. As human arterial and venous smooth muscle cells release GM-CSF, and treatment of endothelial cells with oxidized low-density lipoproteins results in a rapid expression of GM-CSF, the mechanisms involved in these associations and the sex-linked differences should be further explored.
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PMID:Circulating granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and serum fatty acid composition in men and women. 1173 97

In short-term studies, both in animals and in humans, fish oil seems to exert anti-inflammatory effects. However, these effects may vanish during long-term treatment. There is a possibility that in autoimmune diseases, supplementation of dietary n-3 fatty acids might lead to a decrease in the number of autoreactive T cells via apoptosis, as demonstrated in (NZBXNZW) F1 lupus mice [40]. Thus, the "fade away" effect might be due to regrowth of pathogenic autoreactive cells. In animal models of autoimmune diseases, diets high in n-3 fatty acids from fish oil increase survival and reduce disease severity in spontaneous autoantibody-mediated disease, while n-6 linoleic acid-rich diets appear to increase disease severity. The situation in human disease is probably more complex. Some of the discrepancy between studies can be attributed to methodologic problems. The effect of fish oil is dose, time and disease-dependent. Since the anti-inflammatory effects depend on the balance between n-3 and n-6 fatty acids, the relative proportion of EPA and DHA and possibly co-treatment with dietary vitamin E, the dose/effect ratio may vary between individuals. Furthermore, some animal studies demonstrating efficacy used very high doses that may be incompatible with human consumption. It seems that fish oil is only mildly effective in acute inflammation. In those chronic inflammatory disorders where it was found to be effective, several weeks are necessary to exhibit results. Yet, this mild anti-inflammatory effect, possibly through downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine production, leads to striking therapeutic improvement in critically ill patients. Fish oil supplementation seems advantageous especially in acute and chronic disorders where inappropriate activation of the immune system occurs. Fish oil has only a mild effect on active inflammation of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, SLE and Crohn's disease, but it could prevent relapse (in some of the studies). In diseases where the inflammation is mild, such as IgA nephropathy, fish oil may slow or even prevent disease progression. The above could explain the observation in some populations of a decreased incidence of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases [3], since the constant consumption of n-3 fatty acids could suppress any autoreactive (or hyper-reactive) T cells. However, if there is already an existing disease, increased consumption might not be beneficial over a long period. Therefore, the use of n-3 fatty acids can be recommended to the general healthy population, not only to prevent atherosclerosis but possibly also to reduce the risk of autoimmunity.
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PMID:n-3 fatty acids and the immune system in autoimmunity. 1180 9

The plasma ACTH and cortisol levels do not change during aging. On the other hand, the plasma dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) changes remarkably during aging. Before puberty, the plasma DHEA-S level both in males and females is very low, however, it rapidly increases at puberty, and thereafter significantly decreases both linearly and age-dependently. Cytochrome P450c17 has two enzyme activities, 17-alpha-hydroxylase and 17,20-lyase. Cortisol is synthesized by 17-alpha-hydroxylase, and DHEA is synthesized by 17,20-lyase. The mechanism of dissociation of cortisol and DHEA synthesis in aging depends on another regulator of 17,20-lyase of cytochrome P450c17 such as cytochrome P450 reductase. We demonstrated significant decrease in cytochrome P450 reductase activity in bovine aged adrenal glands. We clarified the beneficial effects of DHEA as an anti-aging steroid based on both in vitro and in vivo experiments, such as the stimulatory effect of immune system, anti-diabetes mellitus, anti-atherosclerosis, anti-dementia (neurosteroid), anti-obesity and anti-osteoporosis. It is very important to identify the mechanism of action of DHEA. We clarified the conversion of DHEA to estrone by cytochrome P450 aromatase in primary cultured human osteoblasts. We indentified high affinity of DHEA binding with K(d)=6.6 nM in antigen and DHEA stimulated human T lymphocytes. We searched for the target genes that are specifically induced in activated T lymphocytes in the presence of DHEA by subtractive hybridization screening for differentially expressed transcripts. The double blind, randomized human replacement therapies utilizing DHEA are also reviewed.
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PMID:Mechanism of action of anti-aging DHEA-S and the replacement of DHEA-S. 1204 59

Oxidized LDL (oxLDL) may contribute to the accumulation of apoptotic cells in atherosclerotic plaques. Although it is well established in monophasic chemical systems that the highly unsaturated EPA and DHA will oxidize more readily than FA that contain fewer double bonds, our previous studies showed that enrichment of LDL, which has discrete polar and nonpolar phases, with these FA did not increase oxidation. The objective of this study was to compare the extent of apoptosis induced by EPA/DHA-rich oxLDL to that induced by EPA/DHA-non-rich oxLDL in U937 cells. LDL was obtained from one healthy subject three times before and after supplementation for 5 wk with 15 g/d of fish oil (FO), an amount easily obtainable from a diet that contains fatty fish. After supplementation, an EPA/DHA-rich LDL was obtained. Oxidative susceptibility of LDL, as determined by measuring the formation of conjugated dienes and the accumulation of cholesteryl ester hydroperoxides, was not higher in EPA/DHA-rich LDL. The oxLDL-induced cell apoptosis was detected by the activation of caspase-3, the translocation of PS to the outer surface of the plasma membrane using the Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate binding assay, and the presence of chromatin condensation and nuclear fragmentation using the 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining assay. All three measures showed that after FO supplementation, EPA/DHA-rich oxLDL-induced cell apoptosis decreased. The decrease was not related to the concentration of lipid hydroperoxides. This study suggests that a possible protective effect of EPA/DHA-rich diets on atherosclerosis may be through lessening cell apoptosis in the arterial wall.
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PMID:Enrichment of LDL with EPA and DHA decreased oxidized LDL-induced apoptosis in U937 cells. 1237 50

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate ester metabolite (DHEA-S) are precursors to testosterone and, to a lesser extent, to estrogen, and, for both sexes, they are produced in the adrenal cortex. They are among the most abundant steroids in the human body, yet their physiological roles remain unknown. DHEA and DHEA-S appear to have diverse biochemical activities, including actions within the central nervous system. So DHEA is produced in the central nervous system as well as the human adrenals and is present in the brain, concentrated in limbic regions, in levels much higher than other steroids. DHEA has been postulated to function as an excitory neuroregulator, antagonizing g-aminobutyric acid transmission. The main characteristic of DHEA is that its level of concentration in plasma varies throughout life, such level being low during the early childhood and after the age of 60 years. Adrenal production and serum concentrations of DHEA are then known to peak between ages 25 and 30 years and thereafter decrease with age, severe illness and chronic stress. The decrease of DHEA over time would appear to be responsible for morbidity related to aging process. Previous reports have found low levels of DHEA in association with physical and with frailty in the elderly (immunosenescence, increased incidence of osteoporosis, atherosclerosis and cancer, decreased cognitive functions and/or well-being). As it has been touted as a fountain of youth and a sexual tonic and promoted for a variety of illnesses associated with aging, DHEA is widely available over all the United States (since 1994) as a dietary supplement. In France, as a result of a massive advertising campaign, DHEA is already the subject of a widespread use and a growing demand although it has not yet been approved by the relevant authorities for sale as drug to the public. In practice, DHEA is prescribed and delivered under the sole responsibility of both doctor and chemist who ascertain the benefit-risk ratio and the quality of the product. DHEA may then be purchased on the internet or in the form of magistral preparations delivered on the basis of such prescription. Accordingly, there is little information or data on efficacy, drug interactions, results of long-term use, abrupt discontinuation or potential adverse effects related to the use of DHEA. We report a case of mania possibly precipitated by the use of high doses of DHEA (150-200 mg/day at the time of presentation) during several weeks in a 68 years old man who had already been hospitalized for an acute mania many years ago. Although, in this case, the patient suffered a bipolar diathesis in the past, oral DHEA may have played a role in the induction of his acute manic episode. Further research is required to assess the mood effects of DHEA, including its potential risk for patients with bipolar disorder.
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PMID:[A case report of mania precipitated by use of DHEA]. 1250 69

Several clinical signs might be related to the decline of DHEA secretion in aged people: sarcopenia, osteopenia, atherosclerosis progression, impairment of cognitive and affective performances, deterioration of immunocompetence are the most significant evidences. In addition, in aged people this clinical condition might be worsened by the concomitant relative glucocorticoid excess which develops in an age related manner. All together, these clinical signs construct the corpus of a syndrome named adrenopause. DHEA replacement therapy might find its indication besides the obvious condition of primary and secondary corticoadrenal insufficiency in those aged patients with typical signs of adrenopause accompanied by magnified decline of DHEA and relative excess of cortisol. Two further indications for aged patients might be represented by those with chronic inflammatory diseases, especially when long term treated with glucocorticoids and those who undergo surgical procedures.
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PMID:Adrenopause: an imbalance between dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and cortisol secretion. 1250 10

The aim of this study was to investigate the direct involvement of hyperinsulinaemia, DHEA and DHEA-S [DHEA(S)] in severe obesity in early carotid atherosclerosis, measured as intima-media thickness (IMT). Seventeen normotensive premenopausal women with very high BMI (43.5 +/- 1.6 kg/m2) were recruited for the study. Six women were also evaluated 12 months after laparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric banding (LASGB). Dietary intake, fasting plasma lipid profile, glycemic and insulinemic response to the OGTT, adrenal secretion, at baseline and after ACTH stimulation test, were measured. IMT, common carotid diameter (CD) and left ventricular mass index (LVMi) were measured by B-mode echotomography. All obese subjects showed higher fasting and stimulated insulin levels, but lower DHEA(S) levels than controls, showing a negative correlation between both fasting and stimulated insulin and DHEA(S), either at baseline or after ACTH testing. IMT was higher (p < 0.05) than controls, with a positive correlation with stimulated insulin (p < 0.05) and a strong negative correlation with DHEA(S) (p < 0.001). In a multiple linear regression analysis, insulin response to OGTT maintained an association with DHEA(S) independent of fasting insulin, while DHEA maintained the association with IMT independent of stimulated insulin (p < 0.0001). In the six patients evaluated 12 months after LASGB, fasting insulin levels decreased, while DHEA(S) levels increased (p < 0.05). In conclusion, an early cardiovascular involvement was detected in this group of severe obese with hyperinsulinaemia and low DHEA(S), even in the absence of other well known CVD risk factors.
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PMID:Early carotid atherosclerosis in normotensive severe obese premenopausal women with low DHEA(S). 1280 74

Increased serum urate concentration is a frequent finding in patients with hypertension. Since hyperuricemia is associated with obesity, renal disease, hyperlipidemia, and atherosclerosis, whether or not serum urate is a cardiovascular risk factor per se has remained elusive. The subjects were 210 Turkish male and 210 female adults over 20 years of age. None had diabetes mellitus, endocrine diseases, or renal or hepatic disease, and those receiving antihypertensive drugs, systemic corticosteroids, or lipid-lowering drugs were excluded. Height, weight, blood pressure, serum glucose, lipid profiles, serum insulin, DHEA-SO4, and leptin were measured in the morning after an overnight fast. Women had significantly higher mean leptin (20.3 +/- 0.88 ng/mL vs 5.78 +/- 0.39 ng/mL, P < 0.001) and lower mean uric acid (248.03 +/- 4.76 micromol/L vs 311.6 +/- 5.35 micromol/L, P < 0.001), triglyceride (1.42 +/- 0.06 mmol/L vs 1.61 +/- 0.06 mmol/L, P < 0.001), and DHEA-SO4 (3.02 +/- 0.17 micromol/L vs 4.43 +/- 0.19 micromol/L, P < 0.001) concentrations than men, even when adjusted for BMI. On univariate correlation analysis, leptin showed the strongest association with BMI in both sexes and also correlated significantly with BMI, insulin, uric acid, glucose, total cholesterol, and triglycerides in males and BMI, insulin, uric acid, total cholesterol, apo B, and creatinine in females after adjustment for age and BMI. A statistical model containing creatinine, leptin, insulin, and triglycerides accounted for 34% of the variance in serum uric acid levels in men, whereas another consisting of creatinine, triglycerides, leptin, SBP, and insulin explained 42% of the variance in serum uric acid in women. The present study suggests that leptin could be one of the possible candidates for the missing link between obesity and hyperuricemia. Our study may also suggest that hyperuricemia is not only a metabolic end product but also a marker of a major pressor or pathogenic mechanism underlying the hypertension in obesity.
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PMID:Leptin might be a regulator of serum uric acid concentrations in humans. 1290 34

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfated ester are found in high concentrations in the plasma; however, their role in normal human physiology, other than as precursors for sex hormones, remains incompletely defined. Studies of rodent models have shown that these hormones have beneficial effects on a wide variety of conditions, such as diabetes, obesity, immune function, atherosclerosis, and many of the disorders associated with normal aging. However, rodents are not the best models to study the actions of these hormones because they have very little endogenous DHEA; thus, the doses given to these animals are usually suprapharmacological. Human studies have been performed to determine the potential beneficial effects of DHEA replacement in persons with low DHEA levels. Results have been conflicting. Human studies suggest a potential role for DHEA replacement in persons who have undergone adrenalectomy and possibly in the aging population. However, long-term studies assessing the benefits vs adverse effects must be done before DHEA replacement can be recommended.
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PMID:Dehydroepiandrosterone: is there a role for replacement? 1453 85

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