An update on the cellular basis of atherosclerosis in hypertriglyceridemia

Chylomicrons and very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) are the major carriers of triglycerides (TG) in the plasma. Hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) which is characterized by elevated plasma TG can occur either by overproduction of VLDL triglycerides or lipoprotein particles, by the impaired catabolism of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins or a combined defect in TG metabolism. These abnormalities can result from primary (genetic) disorders or innumerable secondary effects (diet or disease). Primary causes of HTG include the familial hyperlipoproteinemias, types I,IIb, III, IV and V respectively. Secondary effects can arise due to carbohydrate, alcohol or diabetes induced HTG, obesity, chronic renal failure, nephrotic syndrome, excessive stress and trauma. Structural abnormalities and the consequent receptor mediated pathways in foam cell generation are discussed.     

An Infant with Milky Blood : An Unusual but Treatable Case of Familial Hyperlipidemia

Hyperlipidemia is increasing prevalent risk factor in children, concomitant with worldwide epidemic of obesity. Lipid disorder can occur either as primary event or secondary to an underlying disease. The primary dyslipidemia are associated with overproductions/or impaired removal of lipoprotein. The latter defect can be induced by an abnormality in either the lipoprotein itself or in the lipoprotein receptor. A 2 month old male baby was found to have highly viscous and milky serum. S. Cholesterol was 2,200 mg/dl and triglycerides 13,292 mg%. There was no dysmorphic feature. Child was anemic and had hepatosplenomegaly and xanthomas. There was positive history of hyperlipidemia in first maternal cousin. Parents of index case had normal lipid profile. The child was put on lipid lowering agents, Iron drops, medium chain fatty acid.     

Hypoglycemic, lipid lowering and antioxidant activities in root extract of Anthocephalus indicus in alloxan induced diabetic rats

The present study was carried out to evaluate the hypoglycemic, lipid lowering and antioxidant activities in root extract of Anthocephalus indicus (A indicus) in alloxan inducd diabetic rats. Oral administration of ethanol extract of root (500mg/ kg body weight) for 21 days resulted in significant decrease in the levels of blood glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, phospholipid and free fatty acids. Furthermore, the root extract (100–400μg) inhibited the generation of superoxide anions and hydroxyl radicals, in both enzymic and non-enzymic systems, in vitro. The result of the present study demonstrated hypoglycemic, lipid lowering and antioxidant activities in root extract of A indicus, which could help in prevention of diabetic dyslipidemia and related diseases.     

Molecular basis of familial hypercholesterolemia: An Indian experience

Modification of platelet proteins by free radicals and glycation has been studied in the present work, as anin vitro model. The results of the two parameters, SDS-PAGE and carbonylation study are quite corroborative. We observed that the inducers like ferrous sulphate, ascorbate (mainly in supraphysiological concentration) and glucose attack the protein in a dose dependent manner, of which ferrous sulphate is most potent. Proteins from aged and degenerative conditions like malignancy and diabetes mellitus have suffered greater damage than normal adult and foetal proteins. The individual life expectancy in terms of biological versus chronological age may also be worked out from the individual stress level.     

Hypolipidemic Effect of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Celastrus paniculatus</Emphasis> in Experimentally Induced Hypercholesterolemic Wistar Rats

The objective of the present study was to evaluate hypolipidemic effect of methanolic extract of Celastrus paniculatus in experimentally induced hypercholesterolemic rats. Hypercholesterolemia was induced by feeding the animals with high fat diet. Oral administration of methanolic seed extract (50%) of Celastrus paniculatus at the optimized dose of 65 mg/kg body weight, substantially reduced the plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL cholesterol in comparison with induced hypercholesterolemic animal group and the results were comparable with the standard hypocholesterolemic drug and almost similar to the control group. Atherogenic index and liver weight of treated animals also showed significant decrease compared to the hypercholesterolemic animals. It substantially increased the HDL cholesterol level as compared to control group. A significant increase in the activities of lipoprotein lipase and plasma LCAT enhanced hepatic bile acid synthesis and thereby, increased degradation of cholesterol to neutral sterols. Furthermore, the activities of HMG-CoA reductase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase were significantly reduced. Histological studies showed less cholesterol deposits in the aorta of animals fed with seed extract of C. paniculatus compared to the induced hypercholesterolemic animals not given C. paniculatus supplement.     

An opium alkaloid-papaverine ameliorates ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity: Diminution of oxidative stress

In this communication, we show the modulatory potential of papaverine, an opium alkaloid and a well known vasodilator agent on the ethanol-induced hepatic oxidative stress in male Wistar rats. Ethanol treatment (50% v/v) enhanced lipid peroxidation significantly accompanied by a decline in the activities of glutathione peroxidase (G-Px), glutathione reductase (GR) and depletion in levels of hepatic glutathione (GSH). Ethanol administration increased hepatic glutathione-s-transferases (GST). Enhanced lipid peroxidation induced by ethanol was significantly reduced when papverine was coadministered (P<0.05). In addition, the depleted levels of glutathione and inhibited activities of G-Px and GR recovered significantly (P<0.05) levelling off to control values on co-exposure. Papaverine (200 mg/kg bw) effectively antagonised the ethanol-induced lipid peroxidation and impaired glutathione levels and glutathione dependent enzyme systems. Our results suggest that papaverine is an effective chemopreventive agent in the liver and may suppress the ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity.     

家族性因素对家族企业绩效影响的实证研究

家族企业在世界经济中占有重要的地位,研究者相信家族企业具有不同于非家族企业的独特性,于是将其区分出来进行单独研究。但目前的研究多只是简单地探讨家族企业独有的企业特征与非家族企业相比较所具有的优势或劣势,较少研究家族性因素对企业绩效的影响。本文通过文献研究及访谈调研,提出了家族性因素的四个维度,在此基础上构建了家族性因素与企业绩效的关系的研究框架,提出各因素与企业绩效的关系假设。最后,通过问卷调查获取家族性因素及企业绩效的数据,用SPSS13.0软件系统对各个因素与企业绩效之间进行相关性分析,偏相关分析,回归分析,以检验假设。研究表明"家族性因素"中信任度、家族成员间的交流、职业经理模式、愿景共享与企业成功和家族成功均有显著的正相关关系,而人情取向、柔性治理模式、多元化经营与企业成功和家族成功显著负相关关系。     

中国央行降息对股市影响的一类干预分析模型

本文应用时间序列建模方法，对反映中国市场经济睛雨表的股市进行了实证研究，不仅使用大家熟知的平稳时序建模过程，而且更重要的是，在考察政府干预——央行降息对股市影响方面，这里并未采用以往的假设统计检验，而是通过一种定量分析模型——干预模型来进行研究。从而得出与股价、利息率呈反向变动这一理论相吻合的实证结果。     

西藏30a异常冬暖的初步分析

本文利用西藏地区17个气象站1971—2000年30a冬季(12月至翌年2月)平均气温资料，对我区异常冬暖的时空变化特征进行了分析。结果表明：在我区确实存在看全区及区域性的异常冬暖现象，在全区性异常冬暖的区域分布上，以我区藏北地区和雅江中游地区的冬暖表现得更为突出。     

Effect of immobilisation stress on lipid peroxidation and lipid profile in rabbits

Stress is one of the basic factors in the aetiology of a number of diseases such as atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, aging, liver disease etc. Hence this work was designed to study the effect of stress in the form of forced immobilisation stress on lipid peroxidation and lipid profile in rabbits. The study was conducted in 25 healthy rabbits of either sex. Rabbits were subjected to forced immobilisation for two hours everyday for consecutive seven days. Blood samples were collected on day 1, 3 and 7 after immobilisation period. Malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of lipid peroxidation was estimated by TBA assay method. Lipid profile was analysed by multichannel autoanalyser. There was statistically significant increase in MDA, total cholesterol, LDL, VLDL and triglycerides with immobilisation. These findings indicate that stress in the form of forced immobilisation increases lipid peroxidation and alter lipid profile, which may be responsible for pathophysiology of various diseases.     

Lipid peroxidation of fish oils

Fish and fish oils are the richest sources of ω-3 fatty acids. However, they are susceptible to lipid peroxidation due to their high degree of unsaturation. In the present study, the level of thiobarbituric acid reactive material in various fish oils available in the market with and without added Vitamin E was determined. The peroxide levels in fish oil heated to food frying temperature of 180°C and the effect of addition of vitamin E has also been studied. The results indicate that the peroxide levels in almost all the products available in the market were abnormally high irrespective of their Vitamin E content. This might be due to the inefficient methods used for processing and storage of fish oils. Addition of vitamin E was found to have a significant effect in lowering the rate of peroxidation of fish oil during thermal stress, showing that association of antioxidants with ω-3 fatty acids lowers the rate of lipid peroxidation.     

中药现代化的示范性成果——丹参多酚酸盐及其注射用丹参多酚酸盐的研究与开发

丹参多酚酸盐及其注射用丹参多酚酸盐是由中药丹参经提取精制的多酚酸盐类化合物制备而成.经大量临床前药理学研究及多中心临床试验,证明是一个安全、高效、质量稳定、可控的治疗冠心病、心绞痛药物.2005年5月25日,经国家食品药品监督管理局(SFDA)批准,丹参多酚酸盐及其注射用丹参多酚酸盐的新药注册申请获得了新药证书和生产批文.相关技术获中国专利和美国专利的授权,是一项拥有自主知识产权的现代化中药新药.本文主要介绍丹参多酚酸盐及其注射用丹参多酚酸盐的研制背景、意义和取得的成果.     

Effect of felodipine on the serum lipid profile of patients with hypertension

Forty patients suffering from mild to moderate degree of hypertension were put on felodipine. Their lipid profile was analysed before the start of their therapy and consecutively at two and four months after starting felodipine. There was a statistically significant fall in the levels of serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides and serum total lipids; though no appreciable variation was observed in HDL and LDL cholesterol levels. At baseline there were a few patients who had higher than the normal range of the serum lipid profile. Analysis of these patients showed a highly significant fall in the levels of serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides, serum LDL-cholesterol and serum total lipids i.e. felodipine modified the lipid profiles of hypertensive patients in a positive way.     

Effect of supplementation of vitamin C and E on oxidative stress in osteoporosis

Osteoporosis encompasses a wide spectrum of conditions associated with imbalance of osteoclastic and osteoblastic activities. The increased activity of osteoclasts leads to increased free radical formation and hence lipid peroxidation. Present study probes into the role of antioxidants as a palliative treatment for osteoporosis. It involved 50 healthy controls and 75 clinically diagnosed osteoporosis patients. Both the groups underwent baseline assessment of biochemical markers viz. osteoblastic markers: serum Alkaline phosphatase. Free or ionic calcium and Inorganic phosphorus, osteoclastic markers: serum Tartarate resistant acid phosphatase and Malondialdehyde and the antioxidant status: serum Superoxide dismutase and Erythrocyte reduced glutathione. The osteoporotic group was then divided into groups A (Vitamin E-Evinal 400 mg), B (Vitamin C-Celin 500 mg), C (Vitamin E+C-Evinal+Celin) for antioxidant supplementation for a period of 90 days. The results reveal that there is significant fall in concentration of serum MDA (p<0.001), TrACP (p<0.01). Improvement in antioxidant status is reflected by significant rise in concentration of serum SOD (p<0.001) and erythrocyte GSH (p<0.001) after 90 days of antioxidant supplementation in osteoporosis. The findings indicate that on the whole bone status improved with prolonged antioxidant vitamin supplementation, which can be used as a palliative treatment for osteoporosis. The efficacy is not affected whether the vitamins are administered singly or conjointly.     

Study of apolipoproteinc3 Sstl polymorphism in healthy volunteers from Northern India

Several studies including a small case-control (hypertriglyceridemic/normotriglyceridemic individuals) study by us revealed close association between rare S2 allele ofAPOC3 Sstl polymorphism and hypertriglyceridemia. With the understanding that Asian Indians are highly vulnerable to the adverse effects of hypertriglyceridemia, we extended the investigation and studied the frequency distribution of this polymorphism in 216 healthy volunteers from Northern plains of India. We found that more than 50% of the study population had one or two S2 allele. This may suggest that a larger fraction of this population is genetically predisposed to hypertriglyceridemia.     

The triad-iodine deficiency,hyperlipidaemia, high coronary risk— in a ‘maternal-neonate’ population of rural Africa

In order to see the pattern of changes in differential serum lipid and lipoprotein fractions as a risk marker of coronary complication in paired ‘maternal—neonate’ blood samples in an iodine deficient zone, 26 pregnant women and their corresponding new born infants at term delivery from the iodine deficient Bassa region of Plateau state, Nigeria were assessed and the results were compared with those seen in a similar 44 group of women and their newborns assessed in non lodine deficient region of Jos. The serum thyroid function and lipid and lipoprotein profiles were determined by ‘ELISA’ and ‘enzymatic’ methods respectively. Urinary iodide excretion level was also measured in 14 pregnant women in Bassa, 23 pregnant women in Jos and 16 non pregnant control from Jos. Results indicate that the pregnant women assessed in Bassa were iodine deficient (P<0.01) and their thyroid status was strikingly reduced as reflected by a drop in serum level of T4/TBG ratio (P<0.01) and a rise in TSH (P<0.005) in comparison to that seen in Jos. There was marked hypertriglyceridaemia and total hypercholesterolaemia (P<0.005), with differential significant rise in LDL cholestotol fraction (P<0.005) in the women assessed in Bassa as compared to Jos. The HDL cholesterol however dropped less significantly in the group (P<0.05) with a concurrent marked rise (P<0.001) in the serum ratio of LDL cholesterol/HDL cholesterol, total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol and triglycerides/HDL cholesterol in the lodine deficient group. A similar pattern of changes were seen in the corresponding neonates in the Bassa group as compared to Jos group. It is concluded that the pregnant women and their newborn offsprings living in a longstanding environmental iodine deficiency run a higher risk of developing coronary complications than those living in non endemic region. It is striking that such newborns surrounded by a continued state of lodine deficient may at a later adult-period of life develop marked risk of coronary complication and other features of hyperlipidaemias associated with varying thyroid insufficiency and accompanied iodine deficiency disorders. Prophylaxis measures as intervention has been highlighted.     

Catalase: A repertoire of unusual features

Catalases are antioxidant enzymes which catalyze the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen, and are one of the oldest enzymes to be studied biochemically. The first crystal structure of a catalase appeared in the year 1980 and it revealed the tetrameric nature of the enzyme and presence of channels accessing the deeply buried active site heme. An interesting feature of the tetrameric structure is the characteristic interweaving or arm exchange of the subunits. The recent elucidation of the crystal structure of transport proteins (porins, aquaporins) showed that these proteins are also tetrameric in nature and posses channels. However, recent specific investigations focusing on the roles for these channels, in the mechanism of enzyme action of catalases, revealed significant similarities with that observed for the transport of water and/or glycerol, in aquaporins.     

Study of lipid peroxide and lipid profile in diabetes mellitus

The study was designed to find out the correlation between lipid peroxidation, lipoprotein levels to severity and complication of diabetes mellitus. Degree of lipid peroxidation was measured in terms of malondialdehyde (MDA) along with lipid profile and blood glucose in diabetes mellitus. It is categorised into insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and diabetes mellitus(DM) with complication. Total 112 known diabetic patients and 52 non-diabetic controls were studied. These patients were grouped as per the concentration of fasting blood glucose level i.e. controlled, poorly controlled, and uncontrolled group. There are significant increase in the lipid peroxide (MDA) and lipid profile except HDL cholesterol which is decreased, has been found in all groups as compared to controls In NIDDM group lipid peroxidation was markedly increased than IDDM group and it was higher in DM with complications. Other finding observed was that the level of lipid peroxide increased as per the increase in concentration of blood glucose. The increase lipid peroxidation in the hyperglycemic condition may be explained, as the superoxide dismutase enzyme which is antioxidant becomes inactive due the formation of superoxide radical within the cell. Maximum lipid peroxidation leads to the damage of the tissue and organs which results into complication in diabetic patients. High levels of total cholesterol appear due to increased cholesterol synthesis. The triglyceride levels changes according to the glycemic, control. The increase may be due to overproduction of VLDL-TG. It is concluded that good metabolic control of hyperglycemia will prevent in alteration in peroxidation and the lipid metabolism, which may help in good prognosis and preventing manifestation of vascular and secondary complication in diabetes mellitus.     

便携式胆固醇检测产品的现状与趋势

近年来,随着我国社会经济的发展,高胆固醇脂血症引起的心血管疾病呈逐年上升趋势。使用便携式胆固醇检测产品,能随时检测血液胆固醇水平,为高血脂潜在患者提供预警,从而为健康生活和合理用药提供科学依据。本文概况介绍了目前国内外市场上便携式胆固醇检测产品的现状,并对便携式胆固醇检测产品的发展趋势进行了分析与展望。     

Correlation of Cord Blood Lipid Heterogeneity in Neonates with Their Anthropometry at Birth

Objective: Fetus with intrauterine stress may exhibit programmed changes that can alter its metabolism and bear severe risk for diseases in adult life. The current study was designed to assess the correlation between cord blood lipid profile with the anthropometric data in neonates. Materials and methods: 146 newborn babies born at Dr. T M A Pai Hospital, Udupi were screened and their birth weight, length, head circumference and abdominal circumference were noted at birth. Umbilical cord blood samples were analyzed for total cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL). Infants were also grouped further based on gestational age (GA) and sex-adjusted birth weight percentiles into three groups i.e. Small for gestational age (SGA), Appropriate for gestational age (AGA) and Large for gestational age (LGA) for comparison of their lipid profiles. Inclusion criteria were normal fetal heart rate at birth and an APGAR score >7. Statistical significance of relation between lipid profile and anthropometry was done using ANOVA and Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: Triglycerides were significantly higher in babies with higher ponderal index (PI) than those with lower PI (P = 0.011). The TG level of SGA babies were significantly higher as compared to AGA group (P = 0.001). The LDL levels in neonates with higher abdominal circumference were significantly lower than those with lower AC (P = 0.019). Mean HDL levels were higher in neonates with larger AC, but not statistically significant. Maternal BMI had no influence on neonates’ lipid profile. Conclusion: Abnormal intrauterine milieu created by maternal changes during gestation may bear a profound impact on lipid metabolism in neonates, which may account for their differences in lipid profile and anthropometry at birth.