The circulating vascular endothelial growth factor is only marginally associated with an increased risk for atherosclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) is a protein that plays a role in the formation and function of blood vessels, promotes increased vascular permeability or migration of monocytes through endothelial layers. We have tested the hypothesis that plasma levels of VEGF-A may be associated with biochemical and radiological parameters as a marker of cardiovascular risk in Caucasian patients with early-onset CAD. METHODS: The study group included 100 patients: 75 men not older than 50 years and 25 women not older than 55 years at the moment of CAD diagnosis. The control group (patients without CAD) comprised 50 healthy cases. ELISA test was used to measure plasma concentrations of VEGF. Doppler ultrasound of carotid and peripheral arteries was carried out in each patient. Serum glucose, complete lipid profile, ApoA1, ApoB, Lp(a) and blood count were measured in each case. RESULTS: Only very weak correlations of plasma VEGF levels with biochemical cardiovascular risk factors in the CAD subjects have been demonstrated. In the study group, VEGF concentration was significantly positively correlated with the same blood parameters as white blood cells, platelets, plateletcrit, apolipoprotein B, total and LDL cholesterol fraction. The plaque of common carotid arteries and bifurcation was present in 39% of CAD patients, however, there was no significant association between VEGF plasma concentration and any measured parameters in Doppler ultrasound of carotid and peripheral arteries. CONCLUSIONS: The circulating VEGF is only marginally associated with an increased risk for atherosclerosis.

Is plasma soluble CD36 associated with cardiovascular risk factors in early onset coronary artery disease patients?

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This is the first study to investigate the relationship between plasma concentration of soluble CD36 (sCD36) and CD36 gene polymorphisms as well as clinical and echocardiographic parameters in patients with early onset coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: sCD36 concentrations were measured by the ELISA kits. CD36 sequence alterations detected by the DHPLC technique comprised single nucleotide substitutions: rs3173798, rs3211892, rs5956 and rs141680676. RESULTS: There were significant negative correlations between sCD36 and red blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit and glucose concentration, ApoB/ApoA1 ratio, patients' weight and waist circumference, BMI, WHR, systolic blood pressure, MAP values, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter and volume, left atrium diameter, right ventricular end-diastolic diameter. There were significant positive correlations between sCD36 and patients' age, mean corpuscular volume of erythrocytes, HDL-cholesterol, ApoA1 concentrations. Significantly higher CD36 plasma levels were found in female subgroup. There was no association between CD36 genotypes and sCD36 concentrations. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that significant independent predictors of higher plasma sCD36 level were female gender, older age, lower serum glucose and lower RBC. CONCLUSION: The presented data suggest possible protective effects of higher sCD36 concentration in relation to metabolic syndrome components in CAD patients. Higher sCD36 concentration is also associated with lower risk of left ventricular hypertrophy, but on the other hand is a potential risk factor of impaired left ventricle diastolic function.

Polymorphism of CD36 gene, carbohydrate metabolism and plasma CD36 concentration in obese children. A preliminary study.

INTRODUCTION: CD36 may play an important role in removal of oxidized LDLs from plasma, protein glycation, the pathogenesis of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and diabetic micro- and macroangiopathy. Some reports have pointed to decreased expression of macrophages in association with mutations of the CD36 gene in hyperglycemic and obese subjects. The aim of the study was to search for an association between CD36 gene polymorphism and carbohydrate metabolism disturbances or variability of plasma soluble CD36 concentrations in obese children. MATERIAL/METHODS: The study included 60 children aged 10 to 15 years: 30 with (study group) and 30 without (control group) obesity. Each patient's glycated hemoglobin, weight, height, waist and hip circumference, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured, BMI, WHR and MAP were calculated, and oral glucose tolerance test was performed with glucose and insulin concentration measurements. Amplicons of exons 4-6 of CD36 were studied using DHPLC technique. The PCR products with alterations were bidirectionally sequenced. Plasma concentrations of human antigen CD36 was measured using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: We found two intronic alterations: IVS3-6 T/C (rs3173798) and IVS4-10 G/A (rs3211892), one nonsynonymous substitution: G367A (Glu123Lys, rs183461468) in exon 5 and two synonymous transitions in exon 6: G573A (Pro191Pro, rs5956) and A591T (Thr197Thr, rs141680676). There were no significant differences in any biochemical or morphometric parameters between genotype groups. DISCUSSION: The polymorphisms of the studied fragment of CD36 are not associated with carbohydrate metabolism disturbances or the variability of plasma soluble CD36 concentrations in obese children, but further research is necessary to assess their functional implications.

MR-angiography as a method for evaluating endovascular coiled cerebral aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to compare digital subtraction angiography (DSA) with magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in evaluating intracranial aneurysms embolized with Guglielmi Detachable Coils (GDCs) and to assess 3D TOF MRA source data, maximum intensity projection (MIP), and 3D iso-surface reconstruction in the follow-up of patients with cerebral aneurysms treated with GDC. MATERIAL/METHODS: 3D TOF MRA source data, MIPs, and 3D iso-surface reconstructions of 32 GDC coiled aneurysms were compared with DSA images in the follow-up of 28 patients. Images were assessed for parent and branch artery flow, the presence of neck recurrence, and aneurysm regrowth. RESULTS: In the DSA follow-ups of the 32 aneurysms there was no flow in the embolized aneurysm in 20 (62.5%), flow between the coil loops was found in 11 (34%), and the neck flow was observed in 8 (25%). There was good correlation for all these features when the 3D iso-surface MRA and source data were compared with DSA. The correlation between MIP MRA and DSA was less robust. The correlation was very good in 21 of the 32 aneurysms (65.62%), good in 6 (18.75%), acceptable in 3 (9.37%), and weak and non-diagnostic in 2 (6.25%). Additional information can be obtained by performing plain film x-rays of the skull to demonstrate a change in the coil ball configuration. MRA did not detect any residual aneurysm neck in 2 cases. CONCLUSIONS: MRA is a promising technique to evaluate GDC coiled cerebral aneurysms; however, it cannot substitute DSA.

Increased lipid peroxidation and ascorbic Acid utilization in testis and epididymis of rats chronically exposed to lead.

The hypothesis has been recently presented that lead may exert its negative effect at least partially through the increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) level in tissues. However, little is known about the influence of lead intoxication on equilibrium between generation and elimination of ROS in the male reproductive system. Sexually mature male Wistar rats were given ad libitum 1% of aqueous solution of lead acetate (PbAc) for 9 months. Significantly higher lead concentrations were found in blood [median 7.03 (Q25-Q75: 2.99-7.65) versus 0.18 (0.12-0.99) microg dl-1, P < 0.01], caput epididymis [median 5.51 (Q25-Q75: 4.31-7.83) versus 0.51 (0.11-0.80) microg g-1 d.m., P < 0.001], cauda epididymis [median 5.88 (Q25-Q75: 4.06-8.37) versus 0.61 (0.2 - 1.08) microg g-1 d.m., P < 0.001] and testis [median 1.81 (Q25-Q75: 0.94-2.31) versus 0.17 (0.03-0.3) microg g-1 d.m., P < 0.01] of lead-intoxicated rats when compared to the control. The concentration of ascorbyl radical, generated in vitro from L: -ascorbic acid (present in tissues in vivo) was measured by means of Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The EPR signal of ascorbyl radical in caput epididymis, cauda epididymis, testis and liver of lead acetate-treated animals revealed a significant decrease by 53%, 45%, 40% and 69% versus control tissues, respectively. Plasma L: -ascorbic acid content measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method and total antioxidant status (TAS) measured by means of spectrophotometry were also significantly lower in the intoxicated versus control animals (28% and 21%, respectively). In the group exposed to lead the concentration of lipid peroxide in homogenates of the reproductive system organs was significantly elevated versus control group. It can be assumed that the lower EPR signal was caused by decreased tissue concentrations of L: -ascorbic acid. The latter may have resulted from consumption of ascorbic acid for scavenging of ROS excess in tissues of animals chronically exposed to lead.

Guanine and inosine nucleotides, nucleosides and oxypurines in snail muscles as potential biomarkers of fluoride toxicity.

The aim of the present study was to determine the toxicity of fluorides on energy metabolism in muscles of the Helix aspersa maxima snail. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of purine compounds was performed in slices of foot from mature snails with high-performance liquid chromatography. Fluoride concentrations were measured using an ion-selective electrode and gas chromatography. The results show that exposure to fluoride pollution was accompanied by a statistically significant increase in fluoride concentrations in soft tissues. This effect was already noticeable with the smallest fluoride dose. Accumulation was greatest in the shell. There is a significant and positive correlation between fluoride concentrations in foot muscles and guanine and inosine nucleotides or uridine content. The content of low-energy guanylate, inosylate and oxypurine in foot muscles significantly increased with rising dose of fluoride. The difference as compared with controls was significant only for the highest dose of fluoride. Interestingly, uric acid, the final product of purine catabolism, dominated quantitatively in the foot muscles of snails. In conclusion, increased low-energy guanylate and inosylate as well as decreased xanthine concentrations in snail muscle can be indicators of the toxic influence of fluoride on the organism. The measuring of fluoride accumulation in the shell is the most suitable bioindicator of fluoride pollution in the environment.