BACKGROUND It is not presently known whether non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) is associated with the presence of structural alterations in small arteries or whether the combination of hypertension and NIDDM may have an additive effect on endothelial dysfunction. Therefore, we investigated subcutaneous small arteries in 12 normotensive subjects (NT group), 18 patients with essenti...

Many patients with essential hypertension (EH) exhibit increased left ventricular mass. Similarly, elevated circulating levels of an endogenous ouabainlike factor (OLF) have been described in some but not all patients with EH. Moreover, ouabain has a hypertrophic influence on isolated cardiac myocytes. Accordingly, we investigated relationships among plasma OLF, left ventricular mass, and cardi...

OBJECTIVES To investigate the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors gamma (PPARG) with essential hypertension (EH) and additional role of gene- high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) interaction. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 1640 patients with EH (806 males, 834 females), with a mean age of 52.5±12.6 years, were select...

The production of Alternaria alternata f. sp. lycopersici host-specific toxins (AAL toxins) and epoxide hydrolase (EH) activity were studied during the growth of this plant-pathogenic fungus in stationary liquid cultures. Media containing pectin as the primary carbon source displayed peaks of EH activity at day 4 and at day 12. When pectin was replaced by glucose, there was a single peak of EH ...

A polymorphism of the alpha-subunit of adducin, Gly460-->Trp, may affect membrane ion transport and be associated with human EH (essential hypertension). The alpha-adducin Gly460-->Trp polymorphism was determined in 242 NC (normal controls) and 73 patients with EH and was related to the membrane ion transport marker in EH, erythrocyte Na/LiCT (sodium-lithium countertransport), in a subgroup of ...

Germander, a plant used in folk medicine, caused an epidemic of cytolytic hepatitis in France. In about half of these patients, a rechallenge caused early recurrence, suggesting an immunoallergic type of hepatitis. Teucrin A (TA) was found responsible for the hepatotoxicity via metabolic activation by CYP3A. In this study, we describe the presence of anti-microsomal epoxide hydrolase (EH) autoa...