Plasma adiponectin levels in patients with coronary artery disease

Adiponectin, a recently discovered adipocyte-derived peptide, is involved in the regulation of insulin sensitivity and lipid oxidation and purportedly, in the development of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease in human. The aim of this study was to investigate whether concentrations of plasma adiponectin constitute a significant coronary risk factor, with particular focus on the relation between plasma concentrations of adiponectin and the development of acute coronary syndrome [ACS]. The study was performed on 116 patients with coronary artery disease [CAD] and in 20 control participants. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to condition type: acute myocardial infarction [AMI] group [n = 52], unstable angina pectoris [UAP] group [n = 24] and stable angina [SAP] group [n = 40]. Full history and clinical examination were reported. Measurement of plasma adiponectin. In addition to, glycosylated haemoglobin [HbAl c], fasting concentrations of blood glucose [FBG]. C reactive protein [CRP] and serum lipids were measured in all subjects. Plasma concentrations of adiponectin were significantly lower in patients with AMI and UAP, than controls and those with SAP [P < 0.01], while no significant changes were found in patients with AMI and those with UAP, also no significant changes between control and patients with SAP [P = 50]. CRP levels were significantly higher in patients with AMI and UAP than controls and those with SAP [P < 0.01], significantly higher in patients with AMI than those with UAP [p < 0.05] and in patients with UAP than those with SAP [P < 0.01]. serum levels of adiponectin correlated positively with age [r = 0.570, p < 0.05], and with HDL cholesterol [r = 0.650, p < 0.01] and correlated negatively with total cholesterol [r = -0.560, p < 0.05], LDL cholesterol [r = -0.650, p < 0.01], triglycerides [r = -0.560, p < 0.05], HbAlc [r = -0.570, p < 0.05], FBG [r = -0.540, p < 0.05], Body mass index [BMI] [r = -510, p < 0.05] and CRP [r = -610, p < 0.01]. serum levels of adiponectin were significantly lower in diabetic or hypertensive patients than the rest of patients and significantly higher in females than males in all studied groups. We concluded that plasma concentration of adiponectin is lowered in patients with CAD and their measurement may be of use for assessing the risk of CAD and may be related to the development of ACS

Reduction in Nitric Oxide metabolites and antioxidants concentration in plasma after a single Cigarette smoking

In this study, the changes in the combined plasma concentrations of nitrate and nitrite as an index of nitric oxide [NO] concentration as well as the changes in the concentrations of major serum antioxidants [ascorbic acids and methionine] in smokers after smoking a single cigarette were measured. The effect of smoking a single cigarette was studied in 30 smokers and 15 nonsmokers [controls]. Plasma were collected before 5 and 60 minutes after smoking a single cigarette to measure the plasma levels of NO metabolites and antioxidants. Smoking a single cigarette significantly decreased NO metabolites concentrations by 10.2 +/- 1.1 mumol/L compared with the plasma concentrations at pre-smoking [13.5 +/- 1.2 mumol/L. The concentrations of ascorbic acid and methionine were also significantly lower after smoking a single cigarette [39.7 +/- 3.3 mumol/L and 8.1 +/- 0.7 mumol/L, respectively] compared with the plasma concentrations at pre-smoking [51.8 +/- 4.2 mumol/L and 10.2 +/- 0.7 mumol/L, respectively, for both]. These parameters returned to the pre-experimental levels at 60 minutes after smoking cessation. In nonsmokers, the same results were obtained, except that the impairments of NO and antioxidant release from the endothelium are less than in nonsmokers

Plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide: a new neurohormonal predictor of left ventricular function and its prognosis after acute myocardial infarction

The study was performed on 50 patients with acute myocardial infarction [MI]. Serum levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide [NT-proBNP] and LV functions including wall motion index [WMI] and ejection fraction [EF] were measured immediately and six weeks later after acute MI. Serum levels of NT-proBNP were significantly higher in patients [320 +/- 52 pmol/L] than controls [65 +/- 12 pmol/L] and in complicated [398 +/- 59 pmol/L] vs. Noncomplicated [170 +/- 14 pmol/L], while LV WMI and EF values were significantly lower in patients than controls and in complicated vs. non- complicated. NT-proBNP correlated significantly with both LV WMI and EF early post-infarction and after six weeks from acute MI and in patients who died during following up the study. The results revealed that NT-proBNP was highly sensitive, specific and negative predictive value for acute MI and its complications soon after and six weeks later after acute MI