Diltiazem prevention of toxic effects of monosodium glutamate on ovaries in rats.

The female reproductive system is very sensitive to different harmful environmental factors. A great danger is hidden in an increased use of food additives like monosodium glutamate (MSG). Numerous studies have shown that application of high doses of MSG to different kinds of animals during the neonatal period may cause lesions of neural structures and the retina. Later in adulthood animals exhibit a series of neuroendocrine disorders: a stunted growth, obesity and infertility. The mechanism of MSG action is not well explained yet. We hypothesized that high concentration of MSG could alter permeability of neural membrane for calcium. We studied whether pretreatment with diltiazem prevented the effects of MSG on ovaries in rats. Female rat pups were treated with: 0.9% NaCl, MSG, diltiazem or diltiazem with MSG. MSG treatment resulted in a cystic degeneration of ovaries and irregular and prolonged estrus phase of estrus cycle. The other treated groups of rats had normal ovarian histology and estrus cycle. The pretreatment with diltiazem prevented development of morphological and functional disorders of ovaries. Our results suggest that calcium overloading play an important role in mechanisms of MSG toxicity.

[Overview of the scoring system for cardiovascular risk estimation: role and significance of lipids].

Practical recommendations for the regulation of hyperlipoproteinemia and the prevention of coronary disease and scoring systems for coronary disease risk estimation are based on the results of epidemiologic studies and international consensus guidelines. According to the Framingham point score the risk was defined as an absolute 10 year probability of myocardial infarction and coronary death, while the PROCAM function of risk was based on cardiovascular events: fatal and non-fatal myocardial infarction and sudden coronary death. The Third European Joint Task Force and other societies for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases revise the joint European guidelines and the recommendations for national population strategies. Global coronary disease risk is nowadays in Europe based on the SCORE system. The risk is defined as an absolute 10 year probability of afatal cardiovascular event, and high risk cut-off is at 5%.

Effects of physical exercise on inflammatory parameters and risk for repeated acute coronary syndrome in patients with ischemic heart disease.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Inflammation is an important factor in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, and several markers of inflammation have been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. Physical activity may lower the risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) by mitigating inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of aerobic physical exercise on systemic inflammatory response in patients with stable coronary disease participating in a cardiovascular rehabilitation exercise program. METHODS: Male (n=29) and female (n=23) patients with stable coronary heart disease were enrolled in this study. All the patients were divided into two groups: the group with regular aerobic physical training during cardiovascular rehabilitation program phase II for 3 weeks in our rehabilitation center and 3 weeks after that in their home setting, and sedentary lifestyle group. There were no significant differences in gender distribution among the analysed groups. Student's t-test showed no significant differences in average age, waist circumference (OS) and waist/hip ratio (WHR). RESULTS: The degree of obesity was measured by BMI and there was a significant improvement in BMI in the patients who undertook 6-week physical training compared to the controls (p<0.05). Physical training during 6-week appeared not to have any effects on leukocite count and ICAM-1 levels compared to controls. Exercise induced reduction in plasma CRP levels by 23.72% (p<0.001) and reduction in plasma VCAM-1 levels by 10.23%, (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Moderate aerobic exercise resulted in a significant reduction of inflammatory state by decreasing CRP and VCAM-1 levels with significant obesity reduction but without visceral obesity reduction. The obtained results indicate that regular physical activity is clinically desirable in primary and secondary prevention of coronary heart disases.

[Gender difference in hipolipemic and anti-inflammatory effects of statins in diabetics with coronary artery disease].

BACKGROUND/AIM: Statins produce hipolipemic and pleotropic effects on markers of inflammation with stabilization of atheromatous plaque. The aim of this paper was to examine gender difference in hipolipemic and antiinflammatory effects of statins in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) type 2 with coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: Sixty dyslipidemic patients with DM type 2 were analyzed. Lifestyle modification and hipolipemic diet were applied in all patients divided into two groups: 30 patients with statins therapy (20 mg of simvastatin or equivalent dose of some other statins, during 3 months) and 30 patients without statins therapy. Estimation of obesity, quality of glicoregulation, and determination of inflammatory parameters: C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, total and differential leukocyte count, intracellular adhesive molecules (ICAM-1), vascular adhesive molecule-(VCAM-1) and lipid profile (total cholesterol--TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, triglicerides--TG) were done. RESULTS: Women with DM type 2 were more obese and had significant disturbances in lipid profiles, glicoregulation and inflammatory markers compared to men. Statins therapy significantly improved all lipid parameters and quality of glicoregulation in women, while there were only significant reduction of LDL-C and nonHDL-C in males. There were more significant reductions of inflammatory markers in women as compared to men with statins therapy. In the group without statins there was not such significant reduction. Concentration of ICAM-1 was the lowest in men on statins therapy, while there were no significant variability of VCAM-1 values between groups and genders. CONCLUSION: Women with DM type 2 and CAD have more prominent lipoprotein disorders and impaired glicoregulation with expression of enhanced proinflammatory state which could not be seen in men. Statins therapy exerts more favorable effects in women leading to stabilization of lipoprotein profiles, improvement of glicoregulation and reduction of inflammatory markers. More superior antiinflammatory effects of statins therapy in men were registered only in significant ICAM-1 reduction.