[Effects of pharmacological doses of polyunsaturated fatty acids of the series 3 on the concentration of plasma lipoproteins]. / Influencia de las dosis farmacológicas de ácidos grasos poliinsaturados de la serie-3 sobre la concentración de lipoproteínas plasmáticas.

Cardiovascular disease is one of the main causes of death in developed countries. Its incidence may be modified through dietary changes, this being supported by the low incidence of the disease among populations with high intake of fatty fishes. The aim of this work was to study the modifications on plasmatic levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids omega 3 after an additional supply of fish oils and to assess its effect on the metabolism of lipids and lipoproteins. The study was conducted on 8 healthy volunteers, their age ranging between 24 and 37 years. They received, during 30 days and in tablets of 500 mg, 7.5 gr/24 h of fish oil concentrate which supplied 2.5 gr/24 h of fatty acids omega 3. After 12 hours of fasting, blood samples were taken before and after the intake of this concentrate. Methyl esters from fatty acids omega 3 were assessed through gas chromatography; cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, VLDL, HDLt, HDL2 and HDL3, through several enzymatic techniques; and lipoprotein(a) Lp(a), through ELISA. The statistical analysis was conducted using the Student's method for matched data. After 30 days of supplement, we observed: a significant increase in the plasmatic percentage of fatty acids omega 3 (EPA + DHA) along with a significant decrease of triglycerides, VLDL and HDL3 and a significant increase of HDL2, We did not observe any significant changes in cholesterol, LDL and HDLt. With respect to Lp(a), after one month of dietary supplement, its plasmatic levels did not change. Our results supports the clinical usefulness of the dietary supplementation with fatty acid omega 3 for the management of hypertriglyceridemias.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Effects of dietary oil (olive/sunflower) on the plasmatic apolipoprotein profile]. / Efectos del aceite de la dieta (oliva/girasol) sobre el perfil lipo-apoproteico plasmático.

UNLABELLED: FOUNDATIONS: The dietary oil provides a significant portion of the caloric intake in the form of fat, although there is some controversy with respect to the potential positive action of each type of oil. In this study, the effect on the lipo-apoprotein profile of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) provided by olive oil and the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) provided by girasol oil are compared in a population with high risk of arteriosclerosis, as it is the aged population. METHODOLOGY: 44 aged patients living in the same institution, 21 males and 23 females (age: 79 +/- 6 years), and following two different diets during 3 months, with olive and girasol oils, respectively, participated in the study. Both diets were isocaloric: 2.300 kcal/day, 17% proteins, 33% lipids (30 g/day of oil), and 50% carbohydrates. Plasmatic concentrations of cholesterol (C), triglycerides (TG), c-LDL, c-VLDL, c-HDL2, c-HDL3 and lipoprotein a (Lp[a]), as well as apoproteins A1, B, CII, CIII and E, were assessed. Applied statistics: Student's t test for matched samples. RESULTS: C and TG plasmatic levels did not changed, whereas levels of c-LDL decreased significantly, as well as levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (135 +/- 43 and 124 +/- 33 mg/dl., p < 0.009) and levels of apo B (151 +/- 47 and 139 +/- 36 mg/dl., p < 0.009). Levels of c-HDL increased significantly (49 +/- 14 and 52 +/- 16 mg/dl., p < 0.01) as well as levels of apo A1 (190 +/- 32 and 205 +/- 41 mg/dl., p < 0.01). Levels of apo CIII (8.2 +/- 2.8 and 9.9 +/- 3.2 mg/dl., p < 0.008) and apo E (3.2 +/- 1.1 and 3.7 +/- 0.9 mg/dl., p < 0.01) also increased in men. Women did not showed any significant variations in lipoproteins, although apo A1 and apo E increased slightly and apo B decreased, although not significantly, with the polyunsaturated fat. The levels of Lp(a) did not changed. CONCLUSIONS: In the aged population following a standard diet, without overloads, the PUFAs induced positive changes in the lipoapoprotein profile when compared to a previous diet with MUFA. Those changes were more evident in men than in women.

[Beta-thromboglobulin levels and atherosclerosis. Its relationship with the presence of risk factors]. / Niveles de beta-tromboglobulina y aterosclerosis. Su relación con la presencia de factores de riesgo.

In order to evaluate whether plasma beta-thromboglobulin (as a marker of the degree of platelet function) in patients presenting clinically evident atherosclerosis is related to the presence or absence of different risk factors (smoking habit, arterial hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, hypertriglyceridemia, obesity, hyperuricemia, alcoholism), 40 patients have been studied in whom mean beta-thromboglobulin levels was 54 +/- 25.56 ng/ml, which is very superior to levels considered normal. However, the presence of one or more risk factors did not lead to significant variations in b-thromboglobulin concentrations, and no differences were found either when each risk factor was considered separately. The positive correlation (r = 0.98; p less than 0.01) between beta-thromboglobulin and apo B levels is highlighted. The results suggest that platelet hyperfunction seems to be due to a greater extent to the atherosclerotic process rather than to the existence of a particular risk factor.

[Thrombogenic factors in the elderly. Evaluation of the plasma concentrations of thromboxane B2 and antithrombin III]. / Factores trombogénicos en el anciano. Valoración de las concentraciones plasmáticas de tromboxano B2 y antitrombina III.

The aim of this study is to prove the existence of a major tendency of platelet aggregation in elderly patients compared to medium-aged adults and, also, to detect whether it is affected by the presence of diabetes mellitus. Plasmatic concentrations of B2 thromboxane (TXB2) and antithrombin III (AT III) were determined in 73 elderly patients of both sexes; 56 without metabolic disease known (Group a) and 17 diabetic patients, 7 type I (Group bI) and 10 of type II (Group bII); and 12 healthy adults (control group). Medium plasmatic concentration of TXB2 was significantly higher (p less than 0.001) in Group a (55 +/- 14 ng/ml) compared to the control group (37 +/- 9 ng/ml) and there was no difference between Group bI (53 +/- 19 ng/ml) and bII (57 +/- 15 ng/ml). No variations were noted in ATIII concentration between the adults (27.4 +/- 2.3 mg/dl) and elderly patients (a = 29.6 +/- 4.4, bI = 29 +/- 2.6, bII = 31.2 +/- 5.9 mg/dl). In elderly patients, there appears to be a state of platelet pro-aggregation without influence of any risk factor, such as diabetes. This could explain the thrombogenic tendency of this age group.

[Tobacco and arterial pressure (II.). The acute effects on the angiotensin-converting enzyme]. / Tabaco y tensión arterial (IIo.). Efectos agudos sobre la enzima de conversión de la angiotensina.

The effects of the inhalation of 2.2 mg of nicotine in 20 persons with normal blood pressure and heavy smokers were studied. Blood pressure, heart rate, plasmatic renin activity, aldosterone and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) changes were registered 10 and 20 minutes after the inhalation. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure increased significantly, as well as heart rate. Although the plasmatic renin activity did not alter during the study, aldosterone and the ACE activity increased significantly, being undoubtedly correlated. part from the adrenergic response and the possible effects of ACTH on aldosterone, secondary to nicotine, the results showed a possible modification of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone, directly related to tobacco inhalation.

[Tobacco and arterial pressure (I.). The hormonal changes in a model of acute nicotine overload]. / Tabaco y tensión arterial (Io.). Modificaciones hormonales en un modelo de sobrecarga aguda de nicotina.

42 persons with normal blood pressure were studied. Only 31 of them were smokers. We did not find any differences in the basal blood pressure, heart rate, ACTH nor cortisol levels, but there were significant differences in the levels of biological markers of tobacco (cotinine and nicotine). When the smokers were induced to smoke 2 cigarettes which had 2.2 mg of nicotine, we observed an increase in the diastolic and systolic blood pressure as well as the heart rate, plasma levels of ACTH (basal: 21.61 +/- 12.52, 10 minutes: 28.06 +/- 21.01, p less than 0.05; 20 minutes: 26.06 +/- 18.56 ng/ml) and cortisol (basal: 14.56 +/- 3.84; 10 minutes: 14.60 +/- 4.7; 20 minutes: 16.55 +/- 6.61 ug/dl, p less than 0.01). At the same time, the nicotine and cotinine levels were significantly higher (p less than 0.0001) and correlated. Our results suggest that apart from the adrenergic response to tobacco exposure, nicotine can produce other hormonal changes which affect the regulating systems of blood pressure. Nicotine and cotinine are the election biological markers to monitor the response to passive or active tobacco smoke inhalation.