BACKGROUND Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) is a high- density lipoprotein (HDL)-associated enzyme, displaying esterase and lactonase activity. The PON1 is involved in a variety of inflammatory diseases, metabolizing toxic oxidized lipids and detoxifying of organophosphorus insecticide compounds and nerve agents. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of methanolic date seed extr...

We used the Princeton School Family Study hypercholesterolemic recall group to assess whether, and to what degree, the identification of hypercholesterolemic subjects could be improved through the phenomenon of familial lipid and lipoprotein aggregation. A second aim was to assess whether within-family lipid and lipoprotein correlations outlasted the period of shared family environment. Approxi...

PURPOSE Hypercholesterolemia and tight junctions play important roles in atherosclerosis. But the relationship between these two factors is unclear. In the present study, we investigated whether hypercholesterolemic serum could change the permeability of endothelial cells through altering expression and/or distribution of tight junction protein zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1). Phosphatidylinositol 3-...

Two classes of nascent lipoproteins can be isolated from Golgi apparatus-rich fractions of liver from hypercholesterolemic rats. Golgi very low density lipoproteins (VLDL, d less than 1.006 g/ml) are enriched in cholesteryl esters and are similar in many respects to hypercholesterolemic plasma B-VLDL. Golgi low density lipoproteins (LDL, d 1.006-1.05 g/ml) are cholesteryl ester-rich beta-migrat...

OBJECTIVES The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that long-term dietary supplementation with the nitric oxide precursor L-arginine would enhance vascular or platelet-derived nitric oxide activity, or both, and thereby inhibit platelet reactivity in hypercholesterolemic humans. BACKGROUND We have shown that reduced vascular activity of nitric oxide in hypercholesterolemic rabbi...

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus with hyperlipidemia is a common disease. Conventional anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic drugs have limited efficacies and important side effects, so that alternative agents are needed. Previous studies suggest that fiber-free artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) leaf extract may have anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hypercholesterolemic effects in hypercholest...

AIM Hypercholesterolemic patients with inflammation are at high risk for cardiovascular events. Statins exert anti-inflammatory action independent of their cholesterol-lowering action. This study sought to clarify whether statin therapy reduces inflammatory markers in hypercholesterolemic patients and to determine factors that predict the reduction in these markers. METHODS Fasting concentrat...

Hypercholesterolemia and hypertension are both risk factors for end-stage renal disease. This study was designed to examine whether their coexistence augmented impairment in renal function and redox status. Regional renal hemodynamics and function in response to vasoactive challenges with acetylcholine or sodium nitroprusside were quantified by using electron-beam computed tomography in pigs af...

OBJECTIVE To compare the effects of atorvastatin, fluvastatin, pravastatin, and simvastatin on endothelial function, aortic atherosclerosis, and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in native and oxidized LDL and in the arterial wall of hypercholesterolemic rabbits after adjusting the dosages of those statins to reduce total serum cholesterol levels to similar values. METHODS Male rabbits wer...