Effect of either gamma-tocotrienol or a tocotrienol mixture on the plasma lipid profile in hamsters.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Tocotrienols has been shown to inhibit the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase activity; however, the published animal and human studies yield conflicting results. We investigated the effects of a 4-week dietary supplement of either gamma-tocotrienol (86% gamma-T3) or a mixture of tocotrienols (29.5% alpha-T3, 3.3% beta-T3, 41.4% gamma-T3, 0.1% delta-T3: mix-T3) on the plasma lipid profile in hamsters receiving a high fat diet. METHODS: The hamsters were randomized into 7 groups: no treatment, 16 mg/day/kg BW simvastatin, 23, 58, 263 mg/day/kg BW gamma-tocotrienol, and 39 or 263 mg/day/kg BW for the mixture of tocotrienols. Plasma lipid levels were measured after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: In all groups treated with tocotrienol total cholesterol levels were decreased, ranging from 7 to 23% after 2 weeks of treatment and from 7 to 15% after 4 weeks. Low-density lipoprotein plasma levels changed accordingly: a decline of 6-37% after 2 weeks and of 12-32% at the end of the study was observed. After 4 weeks of treatment, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein plasma levels were significantly reduced in the 263 mg/day/kg BW mixed tocotrienols and the 58 mg/day/kg BW and 263 mg/day/kg BW gamma-tocotrienol groups when compared to the no treatment group. Plasma triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein levels did not change significantly. CONCLUSION: This study provides further evidence that tocotrienols lower total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein plasma levels in hamsters and that gamma-tocotrienol is a more potent agent than a mixture of tocotrienols.

[Inhalational antibiotic therapy in patients with cystic fibrosis and Pseudomonas infection]. / Zur inhalativen Antibiotika-Therapie bei Patienten mit zystischer Fibrose und Pseudomonas-Befall.

Treating chronic Pseudomonas infection of the bronchial tree is a very important part of the treatment strategy in patients with cystic fibrosis. There are only a few antibiotics which are effective against pseudomonas. Many of them soon lead to bacterial resistance (e.g. fluoro-quinolones). Inhaling antibiotics produces high sputum concentrations and low systemic toxicity. Tolerance is good and resistance rare. Several clinical studies, some of them doubleblind placebo controlled, have shown a positive effect of inhaled antibiotics on symptoms, on frequency of necessary i.v. therapies and also on pulmonary function. Most commonly aminoglycosides (tobramycin) and colistin, which is not yet registered in Switzerland, are used. The main indication is chronic therapy of Pseudomonas infection.