Testosterone therapy improves the heart rate turbulence without effect on NT-proBNP level in men with metabolic syndrome.

It is now known that BNP and NT-proBNP levels are decreasing with increased BMI, regardless of other metabolic syndrome (MS) constituents. Additionally, testosterone deficiency may intensify frequency of ventricular rhythm disorders in obese individuals by inhibition of the parasympathetic system. Determination of heart rhythm turbulence (HRT) is a useful, noninvasive method used for evaluation of equilibrium of the vegetative system. The aim of the study was to evaluate effect of testosterone therapy on HRT and NT-proBNP levels in MS patients. Eighty males were qualified for the study. They were divided into 3 groups: I (n=30), males with testosterone deficiency syndrome and metabolic syndrome (MS+TDS+); II (n=25), males with MS+TDS-; III (n=25), healthy males. The patients with MS+TDS+ received Omnadrem 250 in the form of intramuscular injections for 9 weeks. Laboratory tests and 24-h Holter ECG were taken twice before the therapy and directly after completion of the therapy. Males with MS+TDS+ more often presented irregular HRT parameters and were characterised by lower NT-proBNP levels compared to the healthy individuals. Testosterone replacement therapy caused improvement of HRT and had no significant effect on the NT-proBNP level. Testosterone replacement therapy and body weight reduction may significantly decrease negative consequences of MS and TDS.

Oxidative damages in erythrocytes of patients with metabolic syndrome.

The aim of the study was to estimate the changes caused by oxidative stress in structure and function of membrane of erythrocytes from patients with metabolic syndrome (MS). The study involved 85 patients with MS before pharmacological treatment and 75 healthy volunteers as a control group. Cholesterol level, lipid peroxidation, glutathione level (GSH), and antioxidant enzyme activities in erythrocytes were investigated. The damage to erythrocyte proteins was also indicated by means of activity of ATPase (total and Na(+),K(+) ATPase) and thiol group level. The membrane fluidity of erythrocytes was estimated by the fluorescent method. The cholesterol concentration and the level of lipid peroxidation were significantly higher, whereas the concentration of proteins thiol groups decreased in the patient group. ATPase and GSH peroxidase activities diminished compared to those in the control group. There were no differences in either catalase or superoxide dismutase activities. The membrane fluidity was lower in erythrocytes from patients with MS than in the ones from control group. These results show changes in red blood cells of patients with MS as a consequence of a higher concentration of cholesterol in the membrane and an increased oxidative stress.

Anti-inflammatory and hypolipemic effects in vitro of simvastatin comparing to epicatechin in patients with type-2 hypercholesterolemia.

OBJECTIVE: The study involved 25 patients with type-2 hypercholesterolemia (mean age 49.3+/-11.3). The control group consisted of 28 healthy individuals (mean age 50.7+/-7.2). METHODS: The cholesterol concentrations in plasma membranes of erythrocytes were measured by means of Liebermann-Burchard reagent. The membrane lipid peroxidation in whole erythrocytes was determined. The membrane fluidity was estimated by spin labelled method. RESULTS: The in vitro study shows that the cholesterol concentration in membranes incubated with simvastatin and epicatechin decreases; in healthy donors there are no changes. Simvastatin does not lead to changes in the lipid peroxidation in the in vitro data. Epicatechin decreases the level of membrane lipid peroxidation in patients with hypercholesterolemia and in healthy donors. Simvastatin and epicatechin cause an increase in the fluidity of plasma membranes of erythrocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Simvastatin causes the decrease in cholesterol concentration in erythrocytes membranes not only in the in vivo but also the in vitro experiments. Flavonoids have antioxidant properties in vitro. Simvastatin influences the lipid peroxidation only in vivo, not in vitro systems. This observation is an additional contribution to the statins' pleiotropic effect.

Effect of calcium lactate supplementation on cholesterol concentration in patients with hyperlipidaemia and previous viral hepatitis: a preliminary report.

The aim of the study was to estimate the effect of calcium supplementation on cholesterol concentrations in patients with hyperlipidaemia and previous viral hepatitis. The study comprised 43 patients, aged 28 to 82 years (21 with type 2 hyperlipidaemia). The control group included 22 healthy subjects. After four weeks of a hypolipaemic diet (wash-out period), the patients with type 2 hyperlipidaemia were recruited to a group administered a complex preparation containing 170 mg of calcium lactate and 60 mg of vitamin C (Calcium C, Polfa-Lodz SA, Poland) at a dose of one tablet three times a day. After four weeks of active therapy, the concentration of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) decreased by 4, 6 and 8%, respectively. Statistical significance was obtained for only TC (p = 0.03) when comparing the group of patients with hypercholesterolaemia before and after the therapy with the calcium preparation. A statistically insignificant increase of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) of 1% was observed. Within the four-week period of calcium supplementation at a dose of 510 mg/24 h, the total concentration of calcium decreased by 3%, whereas the concentration of ionised calcium increased by 7%. None of the obtained values was of statistical significance. In patients with type 2 hyperlipidaemia and previous viral hepatitis, a four-week supplementation of calcium in a calcium lactate preparation beneficially modified the lipid profile. I t statistically significantly decreased the total cholesterol concentration by 4% (p = 0.03), did not cause any significant changes in serum calcium concentration, was well tolerated and did not induce any side effects.

The effect of atorvastatin on erythrocyte membranes and serum lipids in patients with type-2 hypercholesterolemia.

BACKGROUND: . The beneficial effects of statins on clinical events may involve mechanisms that modify endothelial dysfunction, plaque stability, thrombus formation, and inflammatory responses. To determine the effect of atorvastatin on blood rheology in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), we prospectively studied serum lipid concentration, red cell cholesterol content, lipid peroxidation and erythrocyte membrane fluidity. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the effects of atorvastatin therapy on the erythrocyte membrane structure and the hypolipemic efficacy in patients with FH. MATERIALS, METHODS AND SUBJECTS STUDIED:. The study involved 31 patients with FH and 20 healthy individuals as a control group. The program lasted 20 weeks. For the first 8 weeks, the patients were on a hypolipemic diet only and for the subsequent 12 weeks, alongside the diet they were given 10 mg atorvastatin per day. Laboratory tests were carried out before and after 4 weeks and 12 weeks of the pharmacological treatment. Erythrocyte membrane fluidity was determined using the spin labeled method. The peroxidation of lipids was measured in whole erythrocytes as well as in erythrocyte plasma membranes by means of the thiobarbituric acid technique. RESULTS: . Treatment with atorvastatin reduced serum total cholesterol concentration from 310+/-29 mg/dl in a basal situation to 203+/-34 mg/dl ( P<0.001) at the end of the treatment and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentration from 225+/-30 mg/dl to 126+/-30 mg/dl ( P<0.001), respectively. The changes observed in the plasma lipids correlate with a significant decrease in erythrocyte membrane cholesterol, from 2.24+/-1.69 to 1.17+/-0.75 mg/mg protein ( P<0.001) after 12 weeks of treatment. The lipid peroxidation in membranes of erythrocytes was lowered from the basal value 0.171+/-0.097 to 0.100+/-0.024 mmol/mg protein ( P<0.05) after 4 weeks of treatment and to 0.057+/-0.020 mmol/mg protein ( P<0.001) after 12 weeks of treatment, and in total erythrocytes from 4.78+/-1.49 to 3.99+/-1.39 mmol/g Hb ( P<0.02) and 2.43+/-0.87 mmol/g Hb ( P<0.001), respectively. The membrane fluidity was estimated by means of parameter S at the depth of the fifth carbon atom. Atorvastatin in hypercholesterolemic erythrocytes enhances the fluidity of the superficial layer from 0.758+/-0.009 up to the values observed in the control group 0.744+/-0.009 ( P<0.001). There is no impact on the microviscosity of the hydrophobic core observed. CONCLUSION: . Our findings suggest that the atorvastatin therapy reverses the alteration of erythrocyte plasma membrane properties. It may improve blood rheology in patients with FH. This improvement in blood properties may contribute to the well-known beneficial effects of atorvastatin on cardiovascular risk in patients with severe hyperlipidemia and atherosclerotic vascular disease.

Bisoprolol in the treatment of hypertension in the elderly.

The aim of the study was to examine the hypotensive efficacy and tolerance of bisoprolol in elderly patients. Sixty patients (40 <65 years and 20 >65 years) with mild-to-moderate essential hypertension (diastolic blood pressure (DBP) between 95 and 109 mm Hg) were included in the study. After a 2-week run-in period on placebo, patients began bisoprolol therapy (5 mg/d) for 12 weeks. After 4 weeks the dose was increased to 10 mg/d in those with a DBP > or =95 mm Hg. Additionally, in 10 patients over 65 years old, 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) was performed, after placebo and after bisoprolol (5 mg) administration. The hypotensive efficacy of bisoprolol in the elderly and younger patients was similar. Before and after treatment the mean difference of systolic BP (SBP) was 19.6 +/- 12.5 mm Hg and DBP 9.6 +/- 6.2 mm Hg in the younger patients and 16.1 +/- 13.6 mmHg and 9.5 +/- 6.0 mmHg in the elderly patients. Bisoprolol produced a similar reduction in heart rate (23.1% vs 17.1%) in the estimated groups. The tolerance of bisoprolol was good in both groups. There were no significant differences in adverse drug reactions between the groups.