Fats, lipids and blood coagulation

Saturated and n-3 fatty acids, postprandial lipaemia, and the combined effects of fatty acids and lipid-lowering drugs have been of principal interest in recent studies in the field of dietary fats, lipids and haemostasis. The sex-specific effect of individual saturated fatty acids on coagulation factor VII activity has been discovered, and the significant effect of factor VII R353Q polymorphism on the postprandial response has also been found. An increased intake of n-3 fatty acids or fat reduction when combined with intensive lifestyle interventions may lead to reduced thrombotic potential in type 2 diabetic patients and obese individuals. Furthermore, positive effects on haemostasis by combined treatment with long-chain n-3 fatty acids and simvastatin indicate that n-3 fatty acids may be of some relevance with lipid-lowering drugs. The possible unfavourable effect of n-3 fatty acids on plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 activity is still a matter of dispute, but recent studies suggest that n-3 fatty acids, including alpha-linolenic acid, may have antithrombotic effects by enhancing protein C activity.     

Changes in blood lipids and blood pressure during adolescence.

A total of 625 adolescents from three general practices participated in a cross-sectional study of cardiovascular disease risk factors. The girls had higher serum total and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentrations than the boys, while the boys had higher serum triglyceride concentrations. Smoking (equally prevalent in both sexes) was associated with lower HDL cholesterol concentrations, particularly in boys, while in girls use of oral contraceptives was associated with higher total cholesterol and lower HDL cholesterol concentrations showed striking associations with age, height, and sexual maturation in boys, but not in girls. Triglyceride concentrations were associated with age in boys. Systolic blood pressure and serum urate concentrations were higher in boys and rose steeply with age, but no age association was seen for urate concentrations or systolic blood pressure in girls or for diastolic pressures in either sex. Girls, however, had higher diastolic pressures. There was a strong association between urate concentration and the other cardiovascular disease risk factors, especially HDL cholesterol. Adolescence is associated with considerable changes in cardiovascular disease risk factors, and there are striking sex differences in these changes.     

Heparin conjugated polylactide as a blood compatible material

A heparin-conjugated biodegradable polymer (PLA-heparin) by the direct coupling of heparin to polylactide (PLA) was synthesized and characterized. The surface exposed heparin content associated PLA-heparin was measured to be 0.067 microg/cm2. PLA-heparin coated surface has shown higher hydrophilicity rather than control PLA surface. The clotting time of PLA-heparin conjugate measured by activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) was significantly prolonged as compared to PLA. The bioactivity of bound heparin measured by APTT corresponds to 17.4% of free heparin. It has been also demonstrated that the conjugation of heparin suppresses the protein adsorption as well as the platelet adhesion. These results indicate that the unique property of bound heparin has an inhibiting influence on the coagulation, plasma protein adsorption, and subsequent platelet adhesion systems. This novel PLA-heparin conjugate could be applied as blood/tissue compatible biodegradable materials for implantable medical devices and tissue engineering.     

Sudanophilia and lipids in the blood and marrow cells

Summary The method of Sheehan and Storey, used for demonstrating stable Sudanophilia of neutrophils in smears, was modified by substituting other alcohols (from methanol to amyl alcohol) for ethanol, and the effect of this on the resulting staining reactions was investigated. The intensity of the staining of the neutrophil granules decreases with increasing number of carbon atoms in the alcohol, with a gradation of staining from black to yellow, while, at the same time the staining of the erythrocytes increases. The best solvent for Sudan black B for haematological purposes is methanol. This solvent was further used for investigations on various procedures for detecting so-called masked sudanophilia. The most constant and interesting results were obtained after the action of mercuric ions on smears fixed in formalin vapour. Under certain conditions, a characteristic binding of different fractions of Sudan black B on different blood cells can be attained, so that neutrophil granules are stained brown, monocytes mostly grey, lymphocytes, platelets, megakaryocytes, plasmocytes and perinuclear areas of normoblasts blue. The present experiments with various substrates indicate that demasked blue staining in the cytoplasm may be conditioned by phospholipids, although a reaction with other components of the cytoplasm cannot be excluded. The method described may be useful in haematology for studying cytogenetic relations in the monocytic and granulocytic series.Technical Assistance: V. LodrovÁ.     

南瓜多糖对糖尿病大鼠血糖和血脂的影响

目的：研究南瓜多糖对糖尿病大鼠血糖和血脂的影响。方法：Wistar大鼠腹腔注射四氧嘧啶后。将成模的糖尿病大鼠根据血糖和体重随机分为糖尿病组、消渴丸组和南瓜多糖组,同时设立正常对照组,并分别给予蒸馏水、消渴丸和南瓜多糖灌胃,每周测量体重一次,四周后测定空腹血糖、血清总胆固醇、甘油三酯、高密度脂蛋白、低密度脂蛋白和游离脂肪酸的含量。结果：糖尿病组大鼠体重下降,血糖显著升高,甘油三酯、总胆固醇、低密度脂蛋白和游离脂肪酸含量显著增加,而高密度脂蛋白含量显著降低;补充南瓜多糖和消渴丸后,体重逐渐增加,血糖显著下降,总胆固醇、甘油三酯、低密度脂蛋白和游离脂肪酸含量显著降低,高密度脂蛋白含量显著升高,并且南瓜多糖的降糖降脂效果优于消渴丸。结论：南瓜多糖能增加体重,降低糖尿病大鼠血糖、血脂,对糖尿病及其并发症有一定的作用。     

Tempol protects blood proteins and lipids against peroxynitrite-mediated oxidative damage

Oxidative stress is characterized by excessive production of various free radicals and reactive species among which, peroxynitrite is most frequently produced in several pathological conditions. Peroxynitrite is the product of the superoxide anion reaction with nitric oxide, which is reported to take place in the intravascular compartment. Several studies have reported that peroxynitrite targets red blood cells, platelets and plasma proteins, and induces various forms of oxidative damage. This in vitro study was designed to further characterize the types of oxidative damage induced in platelets and plasma proteins by peroxynitrite. This study also determined the ability of tempol to protect blood plasma and platelets against peroxynitrite-induced oxidative damage. The ability of various concentrations of tempol (25, 50, 75, and 100 µM) to antagonize peroxynitrite-induced oxidation was evaluated by measuring the levels of protein carbonyl groups and thiobarbituric-acid-reactive substances in experimental groups. Exposure of platelets and plasma to 100 µM peroxynitrite resulted in an increased levels of carbonyl groups and lipid peroxidation (P < 0.05). Tempol significantly inhibited carbonyl group formation in plasma and platelet proteins (P < 0.05). In addition, tempol significantly reduced the levels of lipid peroxidation in both plasma and platelet samples (P < 0.05). Thus, tempol has antioxidative properties against peroxynitrite-induced oxidative damage in blood plasma and platelets.     

我国山药类药材对动物降血糖和降血脂的作用

我国山药类药材对动物降血糖和降血脂的作用杭悦宇（江苏省植物研究所,中国科学院植物研究所,南京２１００１４）ｐｈａｒｍａｃｏｌｏｇｉｃａｌｅｘｐｅｒｉｍｅｎｔｓｏｎｌｏｗｉｎｇｔｈｅｂｌｏｏｄｓｕｇａｒａｎｄｂｌｏｏｄｌｉｐｉｄｓｌｅｖｅｌｏｆＲｈｉｚ...     

Red cabbage anthocyanins may protect blood plasma proteins and lipids

The present in vitro study was designed to examine the antioxidative activity of red cabbage anthocyanins (ATH) in the protection of blood plasma proteins and lipids against damage induced by oxidative stress. Fresh leaves of red cabbage were extracted with a mixture of methanol/distilled water/0.01% HCl (MeOH/H₂O/HCl, 50/50/1, v/v/w). Total ATH concentration [μM] was determined with cyanidin 3-glucoside as a standard. Phenolic profiles in the crude red cabbage extract were determined using the HPLC method. Plasma samples were exposed to 100 μM peroxynitrite (ONOO⁻) or 2 mM hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in the presence/absence of ATH extract (5–15 μM); oxidative alterations were then assessed. Pre-incubation of plasma with ATH extract partly reduced oxidative stress in plasma proteins and lipids. Dose-dependent reduction of both ONOO⁻ and H₂O₂-mediated plasma protein carbonylation was observed. ATH extract partly inhibited the nitrative action of ONOO⁻, and significantly decreased plasma lipid peroxidation caused by ONOO⁻ or H₂O₂. Our results demonstrate that anthocyanins present in red cabbage have inhibitory effects on ONOO⁻ and H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress in blood plasma components. We suggest that red cabbage ATH, as dietary antioxidants, should be considered as potentially usable nutraceuticals in the prevention of oxidative stress-related diseases.     

Neonatal plasma lipids as measured in cord blood

The status of cord blood screening of plasma lipids is reviewed, emphasizing the problems associated with the diagnosis of familial hyperlipoproteinemia (HLP), particularly type II (hyperbetalipoproteinemia), in the neonate. For 2937 neonates in this study the mean ± standard deviation (SD) of plasma cholesterol was 70.3 ± 16.9 mg/dl. The mean triglyceride level of 1805 neonates was 39.6 ± 19.3 mg/dl. The mean level of β-cholesterol in 240 neonates was 34.3 ± 10.9 mg/dl and the correlation between total and β-cholesterol was high (r=0.89). By convention, the upper limit of normal was defined as the mean + 2 SD, and these levels for total cholesterol, triglyceride and β-cholesterol were 100, 80 and 55 mg/dl respectively. Only by careful follow-up of hyperlipidemic neonates can the incidence of HLP and the worth of early diagnosis be assessed.     

南瓜多糖的降血脂作用研究

研究了南瓜多糖对正常小鼠和四氧嘧啶型糖尿病小鼠血脂的影响.对正常小鼠灌胃高低两个剂量(200、400mg/kg)的南瓜多糖水溶液;对建模成功的小鼠随机分为模型对照组、南瓜多糖组(400mg/kg的PP)和优降糖组(15mg/kg的优降糖),灌胃给药.对两种类型小鼠的处理均设立正常对照组,给予等体积的生理盐水,测定小鼠的TC、 TG、 LDL-C、 HDL-C的含量.结果表明高剂量的南瓜多糖对正常小鼠的降血脂效果优于低剂量;南瓜多糖使糖尿病小鼠的TC、 TG、 LDL-C显著降低,HDL-C极显著升高;并且南瓜多糖的降血脂效果与优降糖相比无显著差异.     

中老年男性患者血脂代谢特点及与年龄等因素的相关分析

目的:探讨中老年男性患者血脂代谢特点及与年龄等因素的相关性。方法:资料来自2006年6月于我院干部门诊进行健康查体的1603例中老年男性患者(排除正在服用降脂药物的患者),采用全自动生化分析仪对血清总胆固醇(TC)、血清甘油三酯(TG)、血清低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-c)、血清高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-c)、空腹血糖(FBG)、血肌酐(Cr)及血尿酸(UA)等指标进行测定,同时记录身高、体重及血压等基本资料。结果:入选患者血脂异常总检出率为56.27%,其中TC、TG、HDL-c及LDL-c异常检出率分别为36.74%、28.20%、10.79%及6.92%,以TC、TG异常为主。与50~59岁组相比,80岁以上高龄老年组TG异常及HDL-c异常检出率显著降低,TC及TG水平显著降低,HDL-c水平显著升高(P<0.05)。在校正BMI、SBP、DBP、UA、FBG及CCr等危险因素影响后的多元线性回归分析发现,年龄每升高10岁,TC、TG分别降低约0.097 mmol/L及0.087 mmol/L,HDL-c升高约0.113 mmol/L。结论:中老年男性患者血脂异常以高TC和高TG为主,TC、TG与年龄呈负相关,HDL-c与年龄呈正相关,需针对高龄老年患者血脂代谢特点进行合理调脂治疗。     

Intentional weight loss, blood lipids and coronary morbidity and mortality

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Although weight reduction has been recommended to reduce cardiovascular risk, studies on the association between weight loss and coronary morbidity and mortality show conflicting results. This review summarizes findings from large studies examining this issue and accentuates the importance of carrying out additional well-designed research. RECENT FINDINGS: Many observational studies report that weight loss in older men and women is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Recent studies suggest that this association may arise from the confounding effect of preexisting disease. Many studies do not report whether weight loss is intentional or unintentional. Unintentional weight loss may mask beneficial changes in cardiovascular risk due to intentional weight loss. In addition to issues related to the cause of weight loss, use of reported rather than measured weight may bias the results of large studies. However, one recent observational study with a methodology aimed at overcoming these limitations found that individuals who intentionally lost weight experienced a decreased coronary risk. SUMMARY: Weight reduction in overweight individuals is not universally associated with good health. This is true even if the weight loss results in normal body mass index. Reports of increased coronary risk associated with intentional weight loss may be explained by comorbidities that are also associated with weight loss. Individuals who are overweight and at high coronary risk may benefit from professionally supervised dieting and avoiding regain of lost weight. Clinical trials on cardiovascular outcomes in individuals who lose weight under supervised dieting are needed to assess this recommendation definitively.