Assessment of the effect of lipoic acid administration on hemostatic and lipid parameters in ovariectomized rats

Adverse thrombotic cardiovascular events increase in women coincident with the onset of menopause. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of lipoic acid administration on hemostatic and lipid parameters, pertinent to thrombotic cardiovascular tendency in ovariectomized rats. Mature female rats were allocated into three groups namely; sham-operated, ovariectomized and lipoic acid-treated ovariectomized rats. Lipoic acid administration started 8 weeks after ovariectomy, and lasted for 3 weeks, in a dose of 100mg/kg body weight, on daily basis. All ovariectomized rats, whether treated or not, were sacrificed 11 weeks after ovariectomy. Various hemostatic and lipid parameters were evaluated, in addition to body mass index, body fat weight as well as malondialdehyde level and red blood cell profile. Compared with their non-treated ovariectomized littermates, lipoic acid-treated ovariectomized rats showed increased platelet count and decreased platelet aggregation, together with reduced fibrinogen level, body mass index and fat weight to body weight ratio, as well as the malondialdehyde level. Lipoic acid also ameliorated the increment in triglycerides, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein and atherogenic index detected in the ovariectomized group. Lipoic acid treatment also caused reduction in red blood cell count, hemoglobin level and hematocrit value. The encountered data showed that the administration of lipoic acid may have favorable effects on females after menopause by mitigating some hemostatic and lipid parameters, together with control of body weight and body fat weight. The present findings indicate potential antiobesity, antiplatelet aggregation, antilipedemic and antiatherosclerotic effects of lipoic acid

Cognitive function in patients with non valvular atrial fibrillation: correlation to markers of thrombogenesis

There is increasing evidence that non valvular atrial fibrillation NVAF is associated with an increased risk of asymptomatic or silent cerebral infarctions. An important question is whether these infarction are truly asymptomatic and whether anti-thrombotic treatment could be beneficial in those patients. In this study we examined components of cognitive function [Event Related Potentials "ERP[s]" P300 and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale "WAIS"] and markers of thrombogenesis [fibrinogen, fibrinopeptide A "FPA". platelet aggregation, platelet factor 4 "PF-4" and beta-thromboglobulin "beta T.G"] in 20 neurologically asymptomatic NVAF patients comparing them to a well matched group in sinus rhythm. In addition, parameters of cognitive function components were correlated to those of thrombogenesis in the group of AF patients. NVAF patients had significantly prolonged latency and significantly reduced amplitude of P300 component of ERPs in AF Vs sinus rhythm group respectively and significantly reduced verbal intelligence quotient [VIQ] component of [WAIS] Vs sinus rhythm group P< 0.006. In addition, NVAF patients had significantly elevated levels of fibrinogen [p< 0.01], FPA [p<0.001], significant platelet aggregation is response to 2 ug/ml collagen [p< 0.001] and 1 ug/ml collagen [P< 0.001] and significantly elevated levels of PF-4 [P< 0.01] and beta T. G [P< 0.001] compared to the group in sinus rhythm respectively. In the NVAF group, there was positive association between P300 latency of ERPs components and each of FPA and PF-4 with high P< 0.1 and marginal P= 0.05 significance respectively and significant inverse correlation between all parameters of WAIS components and those of thrombogenesis except for the relation of performance intelligence quotient [PIQ] to each of FPA and beta T.G levels. These results may aid in identifying those patients at high risk of developing dementia and may help decision making when anti thrombotic therapy is being considered in NVAF patients. We recommend cognitive

Platelet aggregation and von willebrand factor in children with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus

Microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus represent the most serious complications that burden normal life in insulin dependent diabetic patients. It has been speculated that platelet activation and von Willebrand factor [vWF] activity might contribute to the evolution of microvascular complications in patients with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus [IDDM]. In this study, platelet aggregation [in response to ADP and ristocetin] and vWF activity were measured in 20 children with IDDM who were clinically free from demonstrable microvascular complications, and in 10 normal healthy children of matched age and sex served as control group. The results showed an abnormal platelet behavior in diabetic children that was characterized by irreversible aggregation with low dose of ADP and significant increase in peak wave length of platelet aggregation with both ADP and ristocetin. Also the activity of vWF which is a marker of endothelial cell function was significantly higher in diabetic children compared to control group. The studied parameters, were compared with the state of metabolic control, namely glycemic control by measurement of glycated haemoglobin [Hb A1c] and the lipidemic state assessed by serum total cholesterol levels. Platelet aggregation was positively correlated with the serum cholesterol level while vWF was positively correlated with the level of glycated haemoglobin. Meanwhile vWF activity was positively correlated with platelet aggregation. To conclude; the results of this study suggest that diabetic children who are clinically free from detectable microvascular complications might be at the onset of preclinical microangiopathy manifesting itself by the enhanced platelet aggregation and endothelial cell dysfunction [high vWF activity]. Both the glycemic and lipidemic states seem to affect the enhanced platelet activation and increased vWF