Inhibitory effects of crataegus curviseoala, salvia hydrangea, and betula pendula on in-vitro protein glycosylation

Diabetes is one of the most common endocrine diseases spreading rapidly in the world. Diabetes complications are classified into acute and chronic. Non-enzymatic glycosylation of body proteins such as hemoglobin and albumin is the main cause of pathogenesis in chronic complications of diabetes. Protein glycosylation is an oxidative reaction. Antioxidants such as vitamin C may be able to reduce the chronic complications of diabetes through inhibiting protein glycosylation. The inhibitory effects of vitamin C and the polyphenolic extracts of Betula pendula, Saliva hydrangea and Crataegus curvisepala on the extent of glycosylation of albumin, insulin and hemoglobin were investigated in this study. Polyphenolic extracts of the aforesaid plants were prepared at three different concentrations, namely 3.6, 1.8 and 0.9 mg/ml. Vitamin C solutions were also prepared at 5 concentrations, namely 0.5, 5, 10, 50 and 500 micro g/ml. The highest extent of glycosylation inhibition of albumin and insulin was due to S. hydrangea by 100% and 97%, respectively, and that of hemoglobin was due to B. pendula by 80%. At its highest concentration, vitamin C inhibited the glycosylation of insulin, albumin and hemoglobin by 100%, 93%, and 58% respectively [P<0.05]. Based on our findings, the studied plants might be able to prevent the chronic complications of diabetes

Post-coronary artery bypass graft stroke and its related risk factors

Cerebrovascular accident [CVA] or stroke remains a devastating complication of cardiac surgical procedures, especially coronary artery bypass graft [CABG] despite advances in perioperative monitoring and management. An individual's risk of stroke is based in part on preoperative characteristics, but also on intra- and postoperative factors. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of stroke in a large group of patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Data were collected on 1467 patients who underwent CABG at Chamran Heart Center from 1995 to 2003. Stroke was defined as "a new focal neurological deficit which appears and is still at least partially evident more than 24 hours after its onset". Logistic regression identified significant predictors of stroke. Among the preoperative and postoperative factors, significant correlates of stroke included chronic renal insufficiency [P=0.0001], hypertension [P=0.0001], diabetes [P=0.0001], and atrial fibrillation [P=0.0001]. However, stroke had no significant correlation with sex [P=0.054], age [P=0.28], severe LV failure [P=0.062], history of CVA [P=0.723] or shock state [P=0.802]. Neurologic complications after cardiac surgical procedures remain a relatively common problem despite improvements in anesthetic and surgical techniques, as well as in perioperative monitoring and management. Increased stroke risk can be predicted by preoperative and postoperative clinical factors

effect of nicotine gum on blood pressure and heart rate

Smoking is an important risk factor of coronary artery disease. Nicotine replacement therapy [NRT] for smoking cessation should be considered, especially in coronary patients. Twenty-four healthy smokers, smoking 20 cigarettes a day on average for 15 years and with moderate cigarette dependence [according to the Fagershtrum questionnaire score] were randomly assigned to 3 groups of 8 and followed up for 5 days. The first group consisted only of cigarette smokers. The smokers in the second group were given a piece of nicotine gum every two hours. The smokers in the third group were given a piece of non-nicotine gum [placebo] every 2 hours. The subjects' blood pressure and heart rate were checked 12 times during four daily intervals [between 7 AM and 12 PM, 1 PM and 6 PM, 7 PM and 12 PM, 1 AM and 6 AM] and recorded in related forms. Systolic pressure was not significantly different in the three groups, but diastolic blood pressure of cigarette smokers was evidently higher than that of subjects who used nicotine and non-nicotine [placebo] gums. Heart rate in smokers was higher than in nicotine and placebo users [P<0.0001]. It seems that nicotine gum does not act as a cardiovascular disease risk factor. Hence in the context of smoking cessation efforts, its prescription to smokers with cardiovascular disease is recommended

study of the antioxidant effects of Iranian captopril on patients with hypertension and heart failure

Myocardial ischemia, cerebral ischemia and myocardial infarction are the most important complications of hypertension and atherosclerotic disease in developing countries. Angiotensin converting enzyme [ACE] inhibitors are among the drugs used to treat hypertension and heart failure. Captopril is an ACE-inhibitor which also has antioxidant properties. This study was conducted to assess the antioxidant effects of captopril on malondialdehyde [MDA], conjugated dienes [CD] and serum antioxidant capacity before and after treatment. This interventional prospective single-blind study was conducted on 34 mildly hypertensive individuals and 34 patients with stage I and II heart failure. MDA, CD and serum antioxidant capacity were measured in all samples. The patients were then given 50 mg captopril tablets 2-3 times daily. The measurements were repeated 1.5 months later. Comparison of mean MDA, CD and serum antioxidant capacity in hypertensive patients and patients with heart failure before and after drug administration revealed no significant difference in any of the parameters studied. Existing evidence is suggestive of the strong antioxidative properties of captopril in vitro, although these effects have not been borne out by some studies. In the present study, comparison of the results of MDA, CD and serum antioxidant measurements before and after the period of treatment with captopril did not reveal any statistically significant difference

[ situation of new risk factors of cardiovascular disease in urban population of Isfahan]

During recent years, many epidemiological studies on risk factors of cardiovascular disease [CVD] have been performed among which are fibrinogen, activity of factor VII, lipoprotein [a], and homocysteine as new CVD risk factors. Through completed studies, it is found that in urban population of Isfahan more than one risk factor [hypertension, smoking, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes and obesity are seen in 32% of men and a descriptive cross-sectional study was performed in 1998-99 and 409 subjects [175 men, 234 women] were randomly sample. Then each subject underwent a blood test, electrocardiography, medical examination and daily physical activity assessment. Nutrient intakes were obtained through assessment of food consumption as 3-day recall. Personal information and anthropometric measurements were also recorded. Fast blood sugar and serum lipids were measured by auto analyzer Elan 2000; lipoprotein [a] by ELISA; hemocystein by HPLC; fibrinogen by turbidimetry and factor VII by calculating coagulation time compared to standard time. Statistical analyses were done by t-tests. The results showed that mean fibrinogen, factor VII, lipoprotein [a], and hemocystein were 244.9+/-7 mg/dl, 118.3+/-58 per cent. 13.3+/-13 mg/dl and 11.5+/-3 micro mol/lit respectively in studied population. By comparing these new CVD risk factors over the world, it was determined that their- levels were in the normal range in urban population of Isfahan. The level of fibrinogen and hemocystein are higher and lower in women than those in men, respectively that is compatible with many other studies