Elevated concentration of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) in individuals with metabolic syndrome.

The metabolic syndrome (MS) is a cluster of pathophysiological alterations that includes the presence of hypertension, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and abdominal obesity. MS is associated with increased risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Endothelial dysfunction with impaired nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability has been implicated in insulin resistance and hypertension. NO is synthesized by nitric oxide synthase (NOS) using l-arginine as substrate. Asymmetric dimethyl arginine (ADMA) is a major and potent endogenous NOS inhibitor, associated with cardiovascular and renal diseases. We tested the hypothesis that plasmatic ADMA levels are increased in patients with MS. We studied 85 adult individuals from Talca, Chile, separated in two groups, 48 individuals with MS (according to modified ATP III criteria), and 37 individuals without MS as controls. ADMA levels were significantly increased in the MS group (mean±standard deviation 0.71±0.38 vs. 0.48±0.28µmol/L, p=0.0009). Furthermore, the levels of ADMA were modestly but significantly correlated with waist circumference (p=0.01) but not with the other components of MS (blood pressure, glycemia, triglycerides and high density lipoprotein cholesterol HDL-c). These results suggest a possible link between increased ADMA levels and the MS.

Efecto antioxidante de frutas y hortalizas de la zona central de Chile / Antioxidant effect of fruits and vegetables of central region of Chile

Las especies reactivas del oxígeno (ERO) causan daño celular que se puede expresar como patología, tales como las enfermedades cardiovasculares (ECV) y otras enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles. El organismo humano cuenta con sistemas antioxidantes; algunos provienen de la dieta, especialmente de frutas y hortalizas, otros los genera el mismo organismo de manera endógena. El objetivo de este estudio fue conocer la capacidad antioxidante in vitro de algunas frutas y hortalizas que se consumen en la Región del Maule de Chile. Las once especies de frutas y 16 de hortalizas empleadas en el estudio fueron adquiridas en el Centro Regional de Abastecimiento de Talca, en época de cosecha; a partir de ellas se obtuvo extractos acuosos y metanólicos. La actividad antioxidante se determinó mediante decoloración del radical violeta 2,2-difenil-I-picril hidrazilo hidratado (DPPH). En general la actividad antioxidante, en extractos metanólicos, fue mayor en frutas (70,3 por ciento; 87,7-54,3 por ciento de decoloración) que en hortalizas (54,7 por ciento; 44,3-79,7 por ciento) (p < 0.003) y dependiente de la concentración del extracto evaluado. En los ensayos a 1000 f < g/m, la mayoría de las frutas mostraron un porcentaje de decoloración superior al 60 por ciento y las que presentaron mayor actividad antioxidante fueron frambuesa, frutilla y kiwi. Entre las hortalizas, las que presentaron mayor actividad antioxidante, fueron los tomates seguidos por pepino dulce, betarraga, melón tuna, pimentón y sandía. La actividad antioxidante observada en la mayoría de las frutas y hortalizas evaluadas podría ser un argumento científico a dar a conocer en las campañas de promoción del consumo interno y en la exportación de productos hortofrutícolas.

The reactive oxygen species (ERO) cause cell damage that can be expressed as a disease, including cardiovascular disease (CVD) and other non transmissible chronic diseases. The human body has antioxidant systems, some come from the diet, especially fruits and vegetables, and others are generated by the same organism as an endogenous way. The aim of this study was to determine the in vitro antioxidant capacity of some fruits and vegetables that are consumed in the Maule Region, Chile. Eleven species of fruits and 16 of vegetables used in the study were obtained at the Regional Center of Fruits and Vegetables of Talca during the harvest season, and different aqueous and methanol extract were obtained. The antioxidant activity was determined by purple discoloration of the radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hidrazilo hydrated (DPPH). In general the antioxidant activity was slightly higher in fruits (70,3 percent; 87,7-54,3 percent) than in vegetables (54,7 percent; 44,3-79,7 percent) (p < 0.003) and it was dependent on the concentration of the extract. In the tests at 1000 ug/m, most fruits showed a higher percentage of discoloration over to 60 percent; those that showed higher antioxidant activity were raspberry, strawberry and kiwi. Among vegetables, those showing higher antioxidant activity were tomato, followed by melon pear, red beet, melon (type tuna), sweet pepper and watermelon. The antioxidant activity observed in most fruits and vegetables could be assessed as a scientific argument to make known in promotional campaigns in national consumption and the horticultural products exports.

Antiagregantes plaquetarios: mecanismos de acción y riesgos asociados al uso / Platelet antiaggregants: mechanisms of action and use asocied risks

Las Enfermedades Cardiovasculares son la principal causa de muerte en el mundo. Junto con los esfuerzos en disminuir los factores de riesgo cardiovascular, se recurre a diversos medicamentos para disminuir la morbimortalidad asociada a estas enfermedades, entre otros fármacos se utilizan, antihipertensivos, antidiabéticos, hipolipimiantes y antiagregantes plaquetarios.Dada la participación de las plaquetas, tanto en las etapas precoces de la aterogénesis como en la trombosis arterial, el uso de antiagregantes plaquetarios es muy relevante en la prevención primaria y secundaria de las trombosis arteriales.Los antiagregantes plaquetarios son utilizados en prevención primaria y secundaria de ECV. En esta revisión, se abordan diversos aspectos relativos a los antiagregantes, especialmente mecanismo de acción y riesgos asociados al uso durante los últimos 10 años.Como fuente bibliográfica se utilizó principalmente www.pubmed.com; y los términos utilizados en la búsqueda fueron: antiagregantes plaquetarios, aspirina, dipiridamol, clopidogrel, abciximab, entre otros; luego se buscaron los textos completos de los artículos que interesaban y además se utilizaron algunos libros de hematología.

[Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in adult from Talca, Chile]. / Prevalencia de factores de riesgo cardiovascular clásicos en población adulta de Talca, Chile, 2005.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has several traditional risk factors (RF), and some of them are potentially modifiable. AIM: To determine the prevalence of most common risk factors in adult population in Talca in Central Chile. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We studied 1007 subjects aged 18 to 74 years (66% women), living in Talca, selected by a probability sampling. They answered a questionnaire and anthropometry, blood pressure, lipid profile and blood glucose were measured. RESULTS: Thirty seven percent of subjects smoked, 70.1% had a body mass index over 25 kg/m(2) and 41% had an abnormally high circumference. High blood pressure was found in 37% (36% of these subjects were unaware of this condition), 44.5% had hypercholesterolemia, 21.5% had low HDL cholesterol, 40.1% had hypertriglyceridemia and 26.3% had high blood glucose levels. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high prevalence of risk factors for CVD in adult population from Talca. The prevalence of risk factors is higher than that reported by the 2003 National Health Survery.

Prevalencia de factores de riesgo cardiovascular clásicos en población adulta de Talca, Chile, 2005 / Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in adult from Talca, Chile

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has several traditional risk factors (RF), and some of them are potentially modifiable. Aim: To determine the prevalence of most common risk factors in adult population in Talca in Central Chile. Subjects and methods: We studied 1007 subjects aged 18 to 74 years (66 percent women), living in Talca, selected by a probability sampling. They answered a questionnaire and anthropometry, blood pressure, lipid profile and blood glucose were measured. Results: Thirty seven percent of subjects smoked, 70.1 percent had a body mass index over 25 kg/m² and 41 percent had an abnormally high circumference. High blood pressure was found in 37 percent (36 percent of these subjects were unaware of this condition), 44.5 percent had hypercholesterolemia, 21.5 percent had low HDL cholesterol, 40.1 percent had hypertriglyceridemia and 26.3 percent had high blood glucose levels. Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of risk factors for CVD in adult population from Talca. The prevalence of risk factors is higher than that reported by the 2003 National Health Survery.

Factor V Leiden y mutación de la protrombina G20210A en pacientes con trombosis venosa y arterial / Factor V Leiden and prothrombin G20210A among Chilean patients with venous and arterial thrombosis

Background: Factor V Leiden and G20210A mutation of prothrombin gene are two important genetic polymorphisms associated with an increased risk for thrombosis. Aim: To establish the prevalence of factor V Leiden and prothrombin G20210A mutation in the Chilean population and their association to venous and arterial thromboembolism. Material and methods: A case-control study was conducted where 149 patients with thrombosis (87 with arterial and 62 with venous thrombosis) confirmed by CAT-scan, electrocardiogram and cardiac enzymes or Doppler depending on the case, and 160 healthy blood donors were genetically analyzed for the presence of both polymorphisms. Results: Factor V Leiden mutation was found in 5.4% of patients and in 1.3% of healthy controls (p=0.04). Heterozygosity for G20210A prothrombin mutation was found in 5.4% of patients and in 2.5% of the control group (p=NS). When arterial and venous thrombosis were considered as separate entities, 4.6% of patients with arterial thrombosis and 6.5% with venous thrombosis presented factor V Leiden (p=NS). Likewise, 8.1% of patients with venous thrombosis and 3.5% of patients with arterial thrombosis had G20210A prothrombin mutation (p=NS). Conclusions: In non selected consecutive Chilean patients with arterial and venous thrombosis the frequency of factor V Leiden and prothrombin G20210A is less than we could expect from their prevalence in the general population.