BACKGROUND Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have an increased prevalence of insulin resistance (IR) and related disorders. Elevated serum levels of cellular adhesion molecules (CAMs) reflect low-grade chronic inflammation and have been associated with several insulin-resistant states. The objective of this study is to investigate whether soluble inflammatory markers [soluble intercel...

BACKGROUND Cell adhesion molecules and endothelial growth factors have an important role in the infiltrating of rheumatoid synovium with mononuclear cells, leading to the initiation and progression of the disease. OBJECTIVE To investigate whether the serum profile of soluble adhesion molecules and of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is associated with the histological appearance of r...

BACKGROUND Formation of advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs), endothelial dysfunction, and low-grade inflammation are intermediate pathways of hyperglycemia-induced vascular complications. We investigated the effect of benfotiamine on markers of these pathways in patients with type 2 diabetes and nephropathy. METHODS Patients with type 2 diabetes and urinary albumin excretion in the high-nor...

BACKGROUND Salt sensitivity in essential hypertension is associated with both endothelial dysfunction and increased cardiovascular risk. We evaluated several serum markers of atherosclerosis and endothelial function in a group of essential hypertensive patients classified on the basis of their salt sensitivity. METHODS Forty-three patients were classified as having salt-sensitive (20 subjects...

An increasing death rate due to cardiovascular disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been reported. Keishibukuryogan (KBG) is a traditional Chinese/Japanese (Kampo) formula that has been administered to patients with blood stagnation, e.g. thrombotic disease and atherosclerosis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of KBG on disease activity and endothelial ...

BACKGROUND The phosphodiesterase inhibitor cilostazol has beneficial effects on atherosclerosis by virtue of vasodilatory and antiplatelet effects. However, less is known about the effect of cilostazol on arterial stiffness and biochemical markers related to vascular inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in type 2 diabetic patients with metabolic syndrome. METHODS In this randomized, doubl...

PURPOSE Chronic renal failure (CRF) patients present with signs of immunodeficiency, such as increased incidence of infections. Cell adhesion molecules, determining leukocyte migration, may be responsible for the impaired immune response. The aim of the study was to measure soluble (s) vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), P-selectin and L-...

BACKGROUND Our objective was to evaluate and compare the effect of abacavir on levels of biomarkers associated with cardiovascular risk. METHODS In an open-label randomized trial, HIV-infected patients were randomized 1:1 to switch from zidovudine/lamivudine to abacavir/lamivudine or tenofovir/emtricitabine. In the present analysis, we measured levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), high-sensitivity...

In the present study, we investigated plasma levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) in seven Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) infected with Plasmodium coatneyi. Concentrations of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 were significantly elevated in the severe phase; the levels were maximally increased up to six times and three times those be...