Cardiovascular risk factor levels in Portuguese students.

OBJECTIVE: Portugal has one of the highest incidences of cerebrovascular disease in Europe. We speculated that this could be due to an early setting of the main cardiovascular risk factors in the Portuguese population. METHODS AND RESULTS: The levels of the main cardiovascular risk factors were assessed in 1001 candidates to a private Health Education Institution (mean age: 19.3+/-3.3 years). Overall, men had a higher body mass index (23.0+/-3.0 vs. 21.5+/-3.0 kg/m2, p<0.001), higher blood pressure levels (124+/-12 and 73+/-7 vs. 116+/-12 and 70+/-7 mm Hg for systolic and diastolic pressure, respectively, p<0.001) and higher triglyceride levels (70+/-41 vs. 59+/-31 mg/dl, p<0.001) than women. Prevalence of obesity, hypertension, smoking and drinking were also higher in men (6%, 15%, 24% and 40% vs. 4%, 4%, 17% and 13% in women, respectively, p<0.01). Conversely, women had higher levels of total cholesterol (174+/-31 vs. 166+/-33 mg/dl, p<0.001), which were due to higher levels of HDL-cholesterol (52+/-1 vs. 45+/-9 mg/dl, p<0.001). Finally, in both genders, obese subjects had significantly higher levels of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol and triglycerides than non-obese. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors is high among young male Portuguese students and preventive measures should be applied, namely regarding obesity.

Red-wine polyphenols and inhibition of platelet aggregation: possible mechanisms, and potential use in health promotion and disease prevention.

An extract from red-wine grape fermentation, ANOX has been developed as a source of red-wine polyphenols, which are thought to inhibit several of the pathogenic pathways that lead to cardiovascular disease. New data indicate that this extract has a significantly greater effect than either red wine or red-wine powder on the inhibition of platelet aggregation in vitro. Based on this data, about 300 - 500 mg of the extract is equivalent to the daily dose of red-wine polyphenols that appears to protect against cardiovascular disease. The possible synergistic effect of red-wine polyphenols with vitamin C, their vasorelaxing activity and their possible role in preventing over-crosslinking of connective tissues (premature ageing) are considered. The extract contains standardized amounts of the whole spectrum of polyphenolic compounds found in red wine and may provide a valuable reference substance in clinical investigations of the physiological actions of plant polyphenols; its potential use in functional nutrition and preventive medicine is also discussed.

Nuclear microprobe applied to the study of coronary artery walls--a distinct look at atherogenesis.

The Nuclear Microprobe technique was employed to investigate the elemental concentration alterations due to atherosclerosis, of minor and trace elements at the different cellular layers and structures of freeze-dried cryosections of human coronary arteries. Nuclear Microprobe analyses enable to determine 7 elements, i.e., P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Fe and Zn in the artery walls. Early modifications of the vessels, due to the atherosclerosis progression, that cannot be detected with specific staining or conventional histological methods could be detected. These modifications comprise the disruption of elastic laminae and are apparently related to abnormal Fe and Zn depositions in the intimal region and surroundings of the elastic laminae. Later on, the calcification of these regions occur, contributing to an irreversible damage of the elastic laminae and leading to the atheroma growing and maturation. Moreover, the Fe and Zn content alterations and distribution in the vessel wall can characterize stages of the disease.

Selenium and lipid parameters in plasma of Portuguese subjects.

To obtain further insight into the role of selenium in the development of atherosclerosis, plasma selenium and lipid parameters were determined in 126 Portuguese subjects living in the region of Lisbon, 60 women and 66 men, 20-60 years old, divided up in to three groups according to their plasma lipid profile: Group I consisted of normolipidemic subjects having plasma triglycerides and total cholesterol < 200mg/dL; Group II was composed of hypercholesteremic subjects with total cholesterol > 200mg/dL and plasma triglycerides < 200mg/dL; Group III was composed of hypercholesteremic and hypertriglyceremic subjects having total cholesterol and plasma triglycerides > 200mg/dL. Respective values for mean plasma selenium (+/- SD) in the groups were: 93 +/- 18 micrograms/L, 90 +/- 17 micrograms/L and 96 +/- 18 micrograms/L. A weak significant difference in plasma selenium between women and men was, however, observed in Group I (87 +/- 20 micrograms/L vs. 100 +/- 11 micrograms/L, p < 0.05). Regression analysis showed no significant relationship between plasma selenium and lipid parameters, except in the most hyperlipidemic women of Group III, where a weak correlation between plasma selenium and the HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio (r = 0.80, p < 0.05) was observed. The present study suggests that the relationship between selenium and HDL-cholesterol has to be further examined, taking into account nutritional, metabolic and genetic factors.

[Effect of intravenous administration of SO4Mg in the acute phase of myocardial infarct]. / Efeito da administração de SO4Mg por via intra-venosa na fase aguda do enfarte do miocárdio.

Fifty four patients (p) with acute myocardial infarction (40M; 14F) were entered into a prospective study where they received either intravenous magnesium sulphate (group A-27 p) or placebo (group B-27 p). The incidence of arrhythmias necessitating treatment was greater in group B (37%) than in group A (15%). Mortality was 18.5% in group B and 3.7% in group A. These results suggest that magnesium sulphate administration reduces the incidence of arrhythmias and death after acute myocardial infarction.

[Lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] and ischemic cardiopathy: correlation between radial immunodiffusion (RID) and radioimmunoassay methods (RIA)]. / Lipoprotéine (a) [Lp(a)] et cardiopathie ischémique: corrélation entre les méthodes d'immunodiffusion radiale (RID) et d'immunoradioactivité (RIA).

The anomalous lipemic values are considered as a risk factor in coronarial pathology. We are separately studying different lipemic factors, Lp(a) in the present paper. May be our 38 clinical cases are still a too small number to demonstrate any correlation between Lp(a) haematic content and arterial pathology, and we will continue this study in the evolution of the pathology, eventually until the infarctus. For the moment, we established the significance of correlation between two methods in two laboratories of ours (in Pavia, Italy, and in Lisboa, Portugal). Correlation is more than 0.9. Assays were done on the same air mailed samples.

Effects of dietary supplementation with polyunsaturated ethyl ester lipids (Angiosan) in patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

A total of 80 patients with chronic, stable psoriasis, 34 of whom also had psoriatic arthritis, were treated with 1122 mg/day eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester and 756 mg/day docosahexaenoic acid ethyl ester. Before the study and after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment a Psoriatic Association scoring index (PASI) score was assessed. Before treatment the mean PASI score was 3.56, after 4 weeks 1.98 and after 8 weeks 1.24; the decrease in the score was highly significant (P less than 0.001). The degree of pruritus decreased most rapidly, followed by scaling and induration of the plaques, and erythema was most persistent. At the end of the trial, seven patients were completely healed and in 13 other patients more than 75% healing was observed but in 14 patients the result was poor. The majority of patients with psoriatic arthritis reported a subjective improvement in joint pain during the study. It is concluded that polyunsaturated ethyl ester lipids may be useful for the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and may provide an important adjuvant to standard therapy of both conditions.

Changes in serum and erythrocyte magnesium and blood lipids after distance swimming.

The effect of a 30 min. swimming exercise (freestyle) on plasma magnesium and other biochemical variables was assessed on 6 well trained swimmers. Blood samples were taken before, right after, 30 min. and 24 hours after exercise. Serum Mg concentration decreased significantly during exercise, returning to base line 24 hours after. Erythrocyte content in Mg did not show any significant changes. Plasma total cholesterol level decreased significantly 30 min. after exercise. A significant positive correlation found at rest between plasma Mg levels and plasma total H.D.L. cholesterol disappeared after exercise but was observed again 24 hours later.

Serum and red blood cell Mg levels in acute coronary events.

Serum (s-Mg) and red blood cell (e-Mg) Mg levels were assessed in 29 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and in 16 patients with unstable angina (UA), from admission until discharge. The following results were found: (1) no significant difference existed between mean s-Mg levels in AMI and UA, despite a tendency for an increase being noted with a favorable course of disease, (2) in AMI, mean s-Mg levels were initially lowered, increased within the first 24 h (p less than 0.05), decreased sharply at day 4 (p less than 0.05), and increased again until discharge (p less than 0.05). (3) in UA; the increase in mean e-Mg during hospitalization is statistically significant (p less than 0.02); (4) no significant difference was found between Mg levels and arrhythmias; and (5) a linear inverse correlation was found between Mg levels and prognosis of infarction.

Serum magnesium levels in patients after myocardial infarction or unstable angina treated with nitrites and calcium antagonists.

A rise of serum Mg levels was observed in patients at 3 and 6 months after acute myocardial infarction, irrespective of therapeutic regimen. In unstable angina follow-up, serum Mg levels remained stable, but below normal values (normal mean values = 2.1 +/- SD 0.4 mg%). A significant difference between mean Mg levels at 6 months was noted in patients with unstable angina treated with calcium antagonists and nitrites as well as in patients treated only with nitrites (p less than 0.02).

Therapeutic effect of a magnesium salt in patients suffering from mitral valvular prolapse and latent tetany.

The therapeutic efficacy of Mg lactate in 35 patients (4 men and 31 women) suffering from mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and latent tetany attributed to a primary Mg deficit has been studied. The trial undertaken lasted for 16 weeks. 24 patients took Mg lactate during the entire period. In the remaining 11 patients, the trial was divided into two periods of 8 weeks each. During the first period, a placebo was administered; during the second half the patients took the Mg lactate in the same dosage as the other group. The results appear quite favorable particularly in relation to the functional manifestations and in regard to palpitations, atypical precordialgias, peripheral vascular spasms (Raynaud), muscular cramps, and lipothymias. The sign of Trousseau disappeared in the 10 cases in whom it was positive. The patients who were given a placebo during the first 8 weeks of the trial did not show any improvement. However, in the following 8 weeks during Mg lactate therapy, a regression in the symptomatology was noticed. Out of the 24 patients who underwent 16 weeks of treatment with Mg lactate, 29.2% became asymptomatic between the 4th and 12th weeks, in 45.8% one or two symptoms of a psychic nature persisted (e.g. anxiety, depressive tendency), and the remaining 25% showed an improvement, albeit, a less marked one. The auscultatory signs of MVP did not change. A tendency towards a rise in serum levels was noted during the study and was attributed to the action of Mg lactate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)