ABSTRACT
This study evaluated the efficacy of combined therapy with probucol and cilostazol on endothelial function in silent lacunar cerebral infarcts [SLCI] and mild hypercholesterolemia. Flow-mediated vasodilatation [FMD] and nitroglycerin-induced vasodilatation [NMD] were measured before and after 4 weeks of combined therapy with probucol [500 mg/day] and cilostazol [200 mg/day] in 34 patients with a mean age of 72 +/- 7 years [range 57-80 years] with SLCI, mild hypercholesterolemia [low-density lipoprotein cholesterol >100 mg/dl] and impaired endothelial function [FMD <6%]. Patients were randomly allocated to one of the following two treatment groups: [1] aspirin [100 mg/day] with behavioral modifications, such as diet and/or exercise therapy [A group or control group, n = 17], and [2] probucol and cilostazol treatment [PC group, n = 17], also with behavioral modifications. Although the baseline FMD was not different between the two treatment arms [2.7 +/- 1.5 vs. 2.6 +/- 1.5%, n.s.], the posttreatment FMD was significantly improved in the PC group [from 2.7 +/- 1.5 to 3.5 +/- 1.7%, p < 0.05] but not in the A group [from 2.6 +/- 1.5 to 2.9 +/- 1.4%, n.s.]. No differences were observed between baseline and posttreatment NMD in either group. The effects of treatments on lipid profiles were more profound in the PC group. Combined treatment with probucol and cilostazol resulted in subacute improvement in FMD/endothelial function in patients with SLCI with mild hypercholesterolemia. This combination therapy has the potential to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events via improvements in endothelial function and lipid profiles
ABSTRACT
Ascorbate radical (Asc.-) produced by the reaction of AscH- (ascorbic acid) with HO or O2.- after irradiation in mice has been measured. It is possible to measure Asc.- easily using ESR and a dialysis method in which Asc.- is collected at room temperature in the interstitial fluid through the dialysis membrane. After irradiation, Asc.- increases in both normal muscle and tumor tissues (SCC-VII) in proportion to the radiation dose. These results suggest that the amount of HO and O2.- produced is reflected in the Asc.- production. This method has been found more useful for the following reasons, (i) no special treatment, such as freezing of the sample, and no administration of noxious agents are necessary to measure Asc.-, (ii) irradiation using a dose of only a few Gy shows an increase in production of Asc.-, and (iii) this method dose not require removal of organs. Using this method, Asc.- can serve as an indicator of the amount of HO and O2.- produced by irradiation in vivo.
Subject(s)
Animals , Ascorbic Acid/analysis , Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy , Free Radicals , Male , Mice , Mice, Inbred C3H , Neoplasm Transplantation , Radiation Dosage , Tumor Cells, CulturedABSTRACT
Resumo: O objetivo desse estudo foi descrever aspectos do comportamento nuclear durante a divisäo miótica em conídios e células miceliais do fungo celulolítico Humicola so. A sequência dos eventos mitóticos foi similar aquela observada em outros fungos filamentosos. O número de cromossomos observados no final da metáfase näo pode ser determinado com segurança, mas pareceu estar entre 6 e 8. As culturas de Humicola sp frequentemente mostraram anastomose de hifas e a presença de núcleos na ponte hifal, o que permitiria a ocorrência de heterocariose,e indica que o ciclo parasexual pode ocorrer nessa espécie (au)