ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Ageing, plasma circulating C-reactive protein (CRP), oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL) and homocysteine (Hcy) are associated with atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between age, inflammatory and oxidative stress-related markers with functional and structural changes of the arteries in asymptomatic persons. METHODS: CRP, OxLDL and Hcy were measured in 175 clinically healthy subjects, aged 40-70 years. Ultrasonography and pulse wave analysis were used to measure carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and augmentation index (AIx). RESULTS: OxLDL was correlated with IMT (r = 0.24, P = 0.003), whereas CRP was correlated with AIx (r = 0.21, P = 0.005). No correlation was detected between Hcy and AIx or age-adjusted IMT. There was a significant association between AIx and age
Subject(s)
C-Reactive Protein/metabolism , Carotid Artery, Common/metabolism , Lipoproteins, LDL/blood , Tunica Intima/metabolism , Tunica Media/metabolism , Adult , Age Factors , Aged , Analysis of Variance , Biomarkers/blood , Blood Pressure , Carotid Artery Diseases/blood , Carotid Artery Diseases/physiopathology , Carotid Artery, Common/diagnostic imaging , Carotid Artery, Common/physiopathology , Female , Heart Rate , Homocysteine/blood , Humans , Inflammation Mediators/blood , Male , Middle Aged , Oxidative Stress , Predictive Value of Tests , Regression Analysis , Tunica Intima/diagnostic imaging , Tunica Intima/physiopathology , Tunica Media/diagnostic imaging , Tunica Media/physiopathology , Ultrasonography, Interventional , Vascular ResistanceABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to characterize the binding properties of serotonin transporter (5-HTT) in the brain of the patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in comparison to healthy subjects using single photon emission computer tomography (SPECT) with the radioligand [123I]nor-beta-CIT. The subjects were 7 patients with GAD and 7 matched healthy volunteers. The regions of interest (ROI) were the midbrain and the thalamus. The comparison of the volumes of distribution did not show significant differences between the patients and controls in the binding of nor-beta-CIT to 5-HTT in the ROI. Binding of 5-HTT in the midbrain of patients was significantly and negatively correlated with their anxiety levels measured by the visual analogue scale immediately before the first scan (r=-0.79, p=0.035). This study failed to demonstrate an altered functional activity of 5-HTT in patients with GAD when compared with controls.