Effect of ascorbic acid administration on B and E apoproteins in rats fed a cholesterol enriched diet.

The effect of ascorbic acid on cholesterol metabolism is very well documented; it is ascribed to the activation of this vitamin on cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase (EC 1.14) that activates the catabolism of cholesterol. In this paper we have studied the effect of the administration of ascorbic acid on B and E apoproteins of rats fed a diet enriched with 1.5% of cholesterol. The results obtained show that ascorbic acid is able to affect cholesterol metabolism by modifying the serum levels of apo B in total serum and in lipoprotein classes of density less than 1.050 g/ml. Moreover the ascorbic acid treatment reduced the amount of cholesterol and triglycerides in all lipoprotein classes examined. No significant change of total serum apo E was observed following ascorbic acid administration.

[The clinical and hemodynamic effects of propionyl-L-carnitine in the treatment of congestive heart failure]. / Effetti clinici ed emodinamici della propionil-L-carnitina nel trattamento dello scompenso cardiaco congestizio.

In order to evaluate the clinical and hemodynamic effects of propionyl-L-carnitine (PLC) a randomized, double-blind study versus placebo was performed in 50 patients of both sexes, between 48 and 69 years of age, affected by mild-moderate congestive heart failure. All patients participating in said study were on digitalis and diuretic treatment. 25 of these belonged to the control group, while the other 25 were treated with an oral dose of 1 g b.i.d of propionyl-L-carnitine. At the end of six months of treatment maximum exercise time on the treadmill increased 11.1% after 90 days and 16.4% after 180 in the group treated with PLC. From a hemodynamic standpoint, after 30, 90 and 180 days the ejection fraction increased by 7.3%, 10.7% and 12.1%. At the same time, moreover, the systemic vascular resistances were reduced by 14.9%, 20% and 20.6%. In the patients treated with placebo, however, the above-mentioned parameters showed no significant variation. Finally, no unexpected events or toxic effects were observed in any of the patients in either group. As a consequence of these results it is possible to affirm that propionyl-L-carnitine, due to its clinical and hemodynamic effects, represents a drug of notable therapeutic interest in patients with congestive heart failure, in whom it may be usefully combined with the usual pharmacological therapy.

[Effects of 2 thymus extracts on blood levels of cholesterol and glucose in the rat]. / Influenze di due estratti timici sui livelli ematici di colesterolo e glucosio nel ratto.

The effects of two calf thymus extracts (fraction III and Tp1) on the haematic levels of cholesterol and glucose in the rat on a fat diet have been compared. The fraction III carries out a very marked decrease of cholesterolemia without changes in the levels of glycemia. On the contrary the Tp1 determines only a moderate decrease of cholesterolemia but a very marked decrease of glycemia. Thherefore these results seem both to confirm the differences between the two thymus extracts and the metabolic actions of thymus.