Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0042373 (vascular disease)
 17,070 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Considerable epidemiologic data suggest that dietary consumption of vitamin E reduces the incidence of cardiovascular disease. The precise mechanisms are not clear, but emerging data indicate that vitamin E has numerous activities that may, in part, explain its effect on vascular disease. In particular, vitamin E enhances the bioactivity of nitric oxide, inhibits smooth muscle proliferation, and limits platelet aggregation. One common mechanism to account for these effects of vitamin E is the inhibition of protein kinase C stimulation. In the setting of atherosclerosis, inhibition of protein kinase C by vitamin E would be expected to maintain normal vascular homeostasis and thus reduce the clinical incidence of cardiovascular disease.
 ...
PMID:Vitamin E and vascular homeostasis: implications for atherosclerosis. 1033 80

The 1996 Bethesda Conference acknowledged left ventricular hypertrophy, hyperhomocysteinemia, lipoprotein(a) excess, hypertriglyceridemia, oxidative stress, and hyperfibrinogenemia as possible new cardiac risk factors. This review summarizes the current literature that supports these conditions as cardiac risk factors. Left ventricular hypertrophy is an independent risk factor for vascular disease. Improvement or progression of left ventricular hypertrophy influences subsequent cardiovascular complications. Clinical trials are under way to assess the potential benefit of decreasing homocysteine levels. The role of lipoprotein(a) excess in vascular disease is controversial. The atherogenic potential of lipoprotein(a) seems to be neutralized by effective reduction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Increasing evidence supports an independent role of hypertriglyceridemia in cardiovascular disease and a possible clinical benefit from decreasing triglyceride levels. Among antioxidant micronutrients, supplementation with vitamin E has been shown to be beneficial in primary and secondary prevention studies. Data supporting the use of other antioxidants are much weaker. Preliminary evidence suggests that reducing fibrinogen levels in patients with high baseline levels and coronary disease may be beneficial. Despite the potential relation between new risk factors and cardiovascular disease, routine clinical application of these conditions as cardiovascular risk factors would be premature. Evidence is needed that these conditions extend prognostic ability beyond conventional risk factors and that modification of these conditions can reduce the risk for cardiovascular events.
 ...
PMID:Potential new cardiovascular risk factors: left ventricular hypertrophy, homocysteine, lipoprotein(a), triglycerides, oxidative stress, and fibrinogen. 1078 77

Vascular disease accounts for the majority of the clinical complications in diabetes mellitus. As an exaggerated oxidative stress degree has been postulated as the link between diabetes mellitus and endothelial function, a possible positive effect of plasma vitamin E (Vit.E) administration on brachial reactivity could be postulated. Our study aims at investigating the possible effect of chronic Vit.E administration on brachial reactivity, oxidative stress indexes, and intracellular magnesium and calcium content in type II diabetic patients free of diabetic complications. Forty adult, type II diabetic patients were enrolled in the study, which was deigned as a double blind, randomized vs. placebo trial. At baseline all patients underwent the following tests: 1) anthropometric and metabolic examinations, 2) evaluation of oxidative stress indexes, 3) intracellular magnesium and calcium measurements, and 4) determination of arterial compliance and distensibility. Then, all patients were randomly assigned to Vit.E treatment at a dose of 600 mg/day (Evion Forte; n = 20) or placebo (n = 20) over 8 weeks. At the end of this treatment period, a complete reevaluation of the patients was made. Vit.E treatment was associated with a significant improvement in the percent change in brachial artery diameter (P<0.03) and oxidative stress indexes (P< 0.005). In the Vit.E group, the percent change in brachial artery diameter correlated positively with the percent change in oxidative stress indexes (oxidized/reduced glutathione, Trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity, thiobarbituric acid reaction products, lipid peroxides) and intracellular cation content (magnesium and calcium). After adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, and wait/hip ratio, all of these correlations remained significant (P<0.03 for all). Furthermore, adjusting for glycosylated hemoglobin, plasma total cholesterol, and homeostatic model index, brachial artery diameter was still correlated with the percent change in oxidative stress indexes (P<0.04 for all). Nevertheless, the relationship between the percent change in brachial artery diameter and oxidative stress indexes was no longer significant after adjustment for intracellular Mg and Ca2+. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that chronic administration of Vit.E improves brachial artery reactivity in patients with type II diabetes mellitus. Such an effect seems mediated by a reduction in oxidative stress and a regulation of intracellular calcium and magnesium contents.
 ...
PMID:Chronic vitamin E administration improves brachial reactivity and increases intracellular magnesium concentration in type II diabetic patients. 1063 73

Autoantibodies against oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) have been proposed to be independent predictors of atherosclerotic vascular disease. Because the levels of autoantibodies against oxLDL and cardiolipin might be modified by the presentation and severity of coronary heart disease (CHD), we measured their levels in patients with different manifestations of CHD (n=415, mean age 61 years, range 33 to 74 years) in a subset of the European Action on Secondary Prevention through Intervention to Reduce Events (EUROASPIRE) study. There were 109 patients with coronary artery bypass surgery, 106 patients with balloon angioplasty, 101 patients with acute myocardial infarction, and 99 patients with acute myocardial ischemia. Autoantibodies were measured by ELISA. Food records and fatty acid profiles of serum cholesteryl esters were used to evaluate dietary intake. Anti-oxLDL antibodies were significantly higher in the group with acute myocardial infarction than in other groups in men (coronary artery bypass surgery 1.91+/-1. 41, balloon angioplasty 2.11+/-2.19, acute myocardial infarction 2. 52+/-2.05, and acute myocardial ischemia 1.96+/-1.78; P=0.022, mean+/-SD) but not in women. The titers of anti-cardiolipin antibodies did not differ among the patient groups. Neither of the autoantibodies was associated with recurrent coronary events. Anti-oxLDL and anti-cardiolipin autoantibodies were not correlated with serum total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, or triglycerides, except that in women anti-oxLDL antibodies and triglycerides were positively correlated (r=0.225, P=0.011). In men, anti-cardiolipin antibodies were higher in the lowest quartiles of dietary intakes of vitamin E and polyunsaturated fat. Dietary intakes of vitamin E and polyunsaturated fat were correlated (r=0. 588, P<0.001). In conclusion, autoantibodies against oxLDL were associated with myocardial infarction in men. Anti-cardiolipin autoantibodies were inversely correlated with dietary intakes of vitamin E and polyunsaturated fat in men with CHD.
 ...
PMID:Autoantibodies against oxidized low-density lipoprotein and cardiolipin in patients with coronary heart disease. 1063 19

Free radical are highly reactive chemical species with an unpaired electron in an atomic or molecular orbital. In biological systems, the most important free radicals are superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide; in the presence of transition metals such as iron, copper and manganese both these free radicals produce hydroxyl radicals. Free radicals attack proteins, nuclei acids and membranes containing large quantities of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Because of their toxicity, the organism has developed ways to deactivate them. The superoxide dismutase enzyme (SOD) catalyzes dismutation of the superoxide radical into hydrogen peroxide and oxygen hydrogen peroxide is in turn reduced to water and oxygen by peroxidase glutathione and catalase enzymes. The production of radicals in the brain is due to catecholamine metabolism such as dopamine and norepinephrine and is increased by the presence of transition metals and by a deficiency of antioxidant agents such as vitamin E. Two main groups of dementia exist in older age: the multi-infarctual dementias, caused by cerebrovascular disorders and the primary degenerative disorders such as Alzheimer, where no vascular disease is evident. Free radicals play an important role in Parkinson's disease, in Alzheimer's disease and in stroke. The value of SOD and CAT activity following the above mentioned degenerative diseases differ among the various studies carried out. In Alzheimer's disease, the value of SOD activity probably increases in the neuropathologically involved areas. In stroke, the SOD value does not vary either in the ischemic area or in the peri-infarctual one during the first 24 hrs after lesion, while the CAT value decreases.
 ...
PMID:Free radicals: important cause of pathologies refer to ageing. 1070 16

Substantial in vitro and animal model evidence implicates the free radical-mediated oxidation of low density lipoprotein and its subsequent preferential uptake by macrophages in the arterial intima as an important factor in the development of vascular disease. In addition, antioxidants which prevent the oxidation of LDL in vitro also reduce the severity of vascular disease in animal models. Although some epidemiological studies also suggest that inadequate antioxidant status is related to the development of vascular disease, particularly cardiovascular disease, results from intervention trials have been contradictory. Whereas vitamin E may have a role in reducing the incidence of vascular disease, evidence is less strong for vitamin C, flavonoids and beta-carotene. Additionally, supplementation with some antioxidants such as beta-carotene may increase the incidence of cancer in high risk groups. Although increasing antioxidant intake is generally beneficial for health, this should perhaps be achieved by an increased dietary intake of antioxidant-rich foods rather than by use of supplements.
 ...
PMID:Effects of antioxidants on vascular health. 1074 47

Excessive oxidative stress due to hyperglycemia and glycoxidation leads to an increased production of F2-isoprostanes, one of which, 8-iso-PGF2 alpha, reaches high concentrations in plasma and urine in both insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent diabetics. This is associated with an increase in platelet activation, reflected by an increased urinary excretion of platelet-derived TxB2. Improved metabolic control or vitamin E supplementation reduces urinary 8-iso-PGF2 alpha and TxB2, whereas aspirin or indobufen reduces TxB2 but not 8-iso-PGF2 alpha. Since TxB2 in the urine seems to represent the common link between diabetes (as well as other risk factors) and the thrombotic complications of vascular disease, platelet activation due to lipid-glycoxidation is an important aspect in the pathogenesis of vascular complications of diabetes mellitus. Among the various plasma coagulation and fibrinolysis factors that are found to be altered in diabetes, the increased level of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) in the plasma and in the vessel wall is of the utmost importance. Indeed, it is suspected that the atherosclerotic plaques formed in the presence of high concentrations of PAI-1 are more prone to rupture and ensuing thrombosis. The thrombosis-oriented modifications of blood platelets, coagulation and fibrinolysis are an important cause behind the high prevalence of vascular events in diabetes.
 ...
PMID:[Diabetes, coagulation and vascular events]. 1074 54

The results of the HOPE ("Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation") study, recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, demonstrated a highly significant cardiovascular protection by an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, ramipril at a dose of 10 mg/day, after a mean follow-up of 4.5 years, but not of vitamin E supplements at a dose of 400 UI/day in high-risk patients (> 55 years old) who had evidence of vascular disease (secondary prevention) or combined diabetes mellitus and another cardiovascular risk factor (primary prevention).
 ...
PMID:[Clinical study of the month. The HOPE study, a two-by-two factorial clinical trial with contrasted results]. 1076 84

Vitamin E per unit serum cholesterol has been found to correlate with memory performance in a recent analysis of data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Because vitamin E is thought to be protective against vascular disease, this finding is consistent with the growing body of evidence that implicates vascular disease and vascular disease risk factors in age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease.
 ...
PMID:Vitamin E and memory: is it vascular protection? 1083

Since moderate hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for vascular disease by mean of its oxidant effect and glutathione plays a main role as intracellular redox-regulating agent, we have studied for the first time the total intracellular content of homocysteine in aging. Plasma homocysteine concentration, total intracellular and plasma glutathione, and other related thiol compounds such as cysteine and the glutathione catabolite cysteinglycine were also studied. Forty three healthy elderly subjects and twenty seven healthy young ones were studied. The total intracellular peripheral blood mononuclear cell content was higher for homocysteine, cysteine and cysteinglycine, whereas that of the total glutathione was greatly decreased in elderly people with respect to young ones. Elderly subjects showed significantly higher levels than young ones of total plasma homocysteine and cysteinglycine, but not cysteine, whereas total plasma glutathione levels were increased. In addition, elderly subjects showed significantly decreased plasma vitamin E levels and increased concentrations of serum lipid peroxides measured as TBARS (reaction product of malondialdehyde with thiobarbituric acid). The intracellular glutathione content presented significantly negative correlation with serum TBARS, and intracellular and plasma homocysteine levels. These findings show an increase of homocysteine synthesis associated with aging, which in turn can produce an augmented oxidant effect on endothelium, and an impaired intracellular antioxidant capacity leading to an enhanced lipid peroxidation and decreased total intracellular glutathione content.
 ...
PMID:Changes in the intracellular homocysteine and glutathione content associated with aging. 1097


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next >>