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

Plasma adrenomedullin levels in patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus with and without complications

The present study was undertaken to determine plasma adrenomedullin [ADM] levels in patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus [NIDDM] to elucidate the potential involvement in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. The patients were 31 males and 29 females with age ranging from 46-72 years [M +/- SD 57 +/- 12], the study were done at Al-Azhar University Hospitals and National Institute of Diabetes and Endocrinology between March 2000 and August 2000. Plasma ADM levels were 49.3 +/- 5.7 pg/ml in control subjects, 54.3 +/- 7.5 pg/ml in NIDDM patients without complications and 65.5 +/- 7.1 pg/ml in NIDDM with complications. Plasma ADM levels were significantly higher in NIDDM patients without complications than controls and in complicated vs non-complicated patients and their levels were not affected by plasma glucose concentrations. Plasma ADM levels increased dependently on the severity of diabetic complications and positively correlated with systolic blood pressure, serum creatinine, urinary excretion of albumin and fall in systolic blood pressure on standing up [sympathetic function]. In contrast, plasma ADM levels were reversely correlated with R-R interval on standing up 30:15 ratio [parasympathetic function] and conduction velocities of left ulnar nerves [peripheral neuropathy]. The results indicated that the increase in plasma ADM levels were closely related to diabetic complications, which may depend on the development of microangiopathy and play a certain role in protection against microvascular disturbance in diabetic patients

Plasma homocysteine and endothelin-I in patients with type-I [IDDM] diabetes

This study was performed on 40 type I diabetes [IDDM] patients with complications [nephropathy and retinopathy], 20 IDDM patients without complications and 20 age and sex matched healthy control subjects. IDDM patients with complications had significantly higher fasting total homocysteine [tHCY] and endothlin-1 [ET-1] plasma levels than the other two groups. In diabetic patients without complications, plasma tHCY had a slight increase than the control subjects, while plasma level of ET-1 was significantly higher than the control subjects. tHCY plasma level was correlated with albumin excretion rate [AER], serum creatinine and ET-1 glycated hemoglobin [HbA1c], but it was not correlated with the duration of diabetes mellitus, serum lipids and age of the patients