[Lipoprotein [a] and its relationship with other lipids and lipoproteins in Iranian college students]

Lipoprotein [a] or Lp[a] is a cholesterol-rich particle with atherothrombogenic properties. Plasma level of Lp[a] varies in different populations, however, little data on normal range of Lp[a] lipoprotein among Iranian population is available The aim of this study was to estimate the normal range of Lp[a] and also its relationship with other lipoproteins in a group of Iranian students. This was a cross-sectional descriptive analytical study carried out on 150 college students [88 females and 62 males] aged 19-30 [21.8 +/- 2.3] who were clinically healthy and coming from various regions of Iran. The fasting serum levels of Lp[a], lipids, lipoproteins, apolipoproteins, total cholesterol [TC], triglycerides [TG], high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol [HDL-C], were determined by standard kits. Lp[a] and apo-B100 measurement was performed using electro-immunoassay, and apo-A1 by an immunoturbidimetric method. The data were further analyzed using SPSS, U- and t-tests to compare the variables and also the Pearson correlation test in determination of correlation between Lp[a] and other variables. A p-value of ? 0.05 was considered to be significant. Lp[a] with a mean of 19.46 +/- 19.44 mg/dl, did not showed any significant differences between males [16.33 +/- 18.79 mg/dl] and females [21.41 +/- 19.80 mg/dl]. In addition, no statistically significant correlation was demonstrated between the serum Lp[a] levels and oher variables such as age, lipids, and lipoproteins. A serum Lp[a] level higher than 30 mg/dl was shown in 14% of males, 36.5% of females and 21.5% of the total subjects. The mean serum concentration of Lp[a] in the present study was relatively higher than the values found by most researchers. This might be an acceptable explanation to high incidence of cardiovascular disease in some Iranian populations

[Comparison between the analgesic effect of humulus lupulus [hops] extract and morphine in mice]

HOPS is a medicinal herb named Humulus, wildly grown in Europe, Asia and North America since ancient times. The antianxiety, analgesic and hypnotic effects of HOPS have been already shown in drug pharmacopoeias. HOPS consists of protein, amino acid. lipid, glucose, wax and some esterogenic components. The aim of this study was to compare analgesic effect of this herb with morphine. In this experimental study, after preparation of watery extract of HOPS by steam method, its analgesic effect was examined on mice by useing doses of formalin test and compareing it with 1 and 0.5mg/kg doses of morphine. Injection of formalin leads to a biphasic pain response in which the phasic pain period is followed by a retarded and tonic pain period. The results showed that while HOPS at dose of 8 mg/kg had no effect on the first phase, it was effective in the late phase of formalin-induced pain during 15-60 minute. This analgesic effect lies within the 0.5-1mg/kg doses of morphine but showed no significant difference with these doses of morphine. Evidences suggest that different mechanisms are involved in pain relief. Due to the presence of estrogenic compounds in HOPS extract and its suppressing effects on pain and inflammation, it can be concluded that estrogen and the inhibitory mechanism of cyclo oxigenase possibly produce these effects

Relationship between plasma levels of zinc and lipid oxidizability in diluted plasma

Zinc [Zn] is an essential trace element that has been regarded as having antioxidant properties. Some epidemiological studies have indicated the protective effect of Zn on lipid and lipoprotein peroxidation, but the underline mechanism is poorly understood. This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between plasma Zn and copper-induced lipid peroxidation parameters in diluted plasma. in 100 healthy adult men [36.82 +/- 10.33 years], fasting plasma levels of Zn, lipids, bilirubin, urate, malondialdehyde [MDA] and copper induced lipid peroxidation were evaluated. Lipid oxidation estimated by monitoring the change of conjugated dienes in 60-fold diluted plasma after addition of 60 maicroM Cu[2+] and MDA was determined by thiobarbituric acid method. A significant correlation [r=0.24, p=0.024], between Lag-time [104 +/- 33min] and plasma Zn levels [128.76 +/- 108.33 microg/dl] was found; however, no significant correlation was found between other parameters of lipid oxidation kinetics and MDA with plasma Zn levels. Based what the results indicated there is a delay in Cu-induced plasma lipid oxidation by higher levels of plasma Zn, but Zn level has no effect on finals oxidation products. It seems that Zn interferes with for Cu in the formation of an active oxidizing complex