Relation of increased prebeta-1 high-density lipoprotein levels to risk of coronary heart disease.

Preß-1 high-density lipoprotein (HDL) plays a key role in reverse cholesterol transport by promoting cholesterol efflux. Our aims were (1) to test previous associations between preß-1 HDL and coronary heart disease (CHD) and (2) to investigate whether preß-1 HDL levels also are associated with risk of myocardial infarction (MI). Plasma preß-1 HDL was measured by an ultrafiltration-isotope dilution technique in 1,255 subjects recruited from the University of California-San Francisco Lipid and Cardiovascular Clinics and collaborating cardiologists. Preß-1 HDL was significantly and positively associated with CHD and MI even after adjustment for established risk factors. Inclusion of preß-1 HDL in a multivariable model for CHD led to a modest improvement in reclassification of subjects (net reclassification index 0.15, p = 0.01; integrated discrimination improvement 0.003, p = 0.2). In contrast, incorporation of preß-1 HDL into a risk model of MI alone significantly improved reclassification of subjects (net reclassification index 0.21, p = 0.008; integrated discrimination improvement 0.01, p = 0.02), suggesting that preß-1 HDL has more discriminatory power for MI than for CHD in our study population. In conclusion, these results confirm previous associations between preß-1 HDL and CHD in a large well-characterized clinical cohort. Also, this is the first study in which preß-1 HDL was identified as a novel and independent predictor of MI above and beyond traditional CHD risk factors.

Immediate results of bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis and Fontan operations in adults.

The purpose of this study is to analyze the immediate results of bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis (BCPA) and Fontan operations performed in adults, and to reveal the risk factors. During the years 1983-2010, 681 consecutive patients underwent BCPA or a Fontan operation. Fifty-three of 681 patients were more than 18 years of age. Twenty-nine adults underwent BCPA and 24 underwent a Fontan operation. Immediate results of surgical treatment were followed during the hospital period. The average number of exceeded 'operability' criteria by Choussat et al. [Choussat A, Fontan F, Besse P, Vallot F, Chauve A, Bricaud H. Selection criteria for Fontan procedure. In: Anderson RH, Shinebourne EA, editors. Pediatric Cardiology. Edinburgh: Churchhill Livingstone, 1977:559-566] was significantly higher in patients from the BCPA group compared to the Fontan group (1.3±0.8 vs. 0.9±0.7, P=0.034). Hospital mortality after BCPA in adults was 6.9% (2/29) and did not differ from children (7.1%, 19/268), P=0.634. Hospital mortality after Fontan operation in adults was 8.3% (2/24) and did not differ from children (11.9%, 43/360), P=0.419. The frequency of non-lethal hospital complications was higher in patients after a Fontan operation. Patients from the Fontan group more frequently developed arrhythmias and prolonged pleural effusions. Preoperative regurgitation at atrioventricular valves was an independent risk factor for hospital mortality and morbidity after a Fontan operation. BCPA and Fontan operations performed in adults are accompanied by good immediate results and considerably improves patients' condition.

Affinity labelling of frog brain opioid receptors by dynorphin(1-10) chloromethyl ketone.

It has been previously found that chloromethyl ketone derivatives of enkephalins bind irreversibly to the opioid receptors in vitro. Recently a novel affinity reagent, Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Leu-Arg-Arg-Ile-Arg-Pro-Gly chloromethyl ketone (Dynorphin(1-10)-Gly11 chloromethyl ketone, DynCMK) was synthesized, and its binding characteristics to frog (Rana esculenta) brain membranes were evaluated. In competition experiments, the product shows a relatively high affinity for the kappa-opioid binding sites labelled by [3H]ethylketocyclazocine (Ki is approximately equal to 200 nM), whereas its binding to the 1 ([3H]dihydromorphine) and to the delta sites ([3H]D-Ala2-Leu5]enkephalin) is weaker. Preincubation of the frog brain membranes with DynCMK at micromolar concentrations results in a washing-resistant and dose-dependent inhibition of the [3H]ethylketocyclazocine binding sites. Saturation binding analysis of the membranes preincubated with 50 microM DynCMK reveals a significant decrease in the number of specific binding sites for [3H]ethylketocyclazocine compared to the control values. The kappa-preferring binding properties of the compound suggest that it could serve as an affinity label for the kappa-type of opioid receptors.