Serum cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and apolipoprotein (apo) A-I, A-II and B concentrations were measured in 109 first-degree relatives of patients with angiographically defined coronary artery disease (CAD). Age- and sex-matched healthy factory employees were chosen as a control group. Male relatives of the CAD patients had significantly higher serum triglyceride and apoB levels, and significantly lower serum HDL-C and apoA-I levels than the controls. Female relatives of the CAD patients also showed similar differences in serum HDL-C, apoA-I and apoB levels. Discriminant analysis indicated that apolipoproteins were better discriminators than lipids in both patients with CAD and their relatives. In univariate analysis, the best discriminator was apoB between male relatives and the controls, and apoA-I between female relatives and the controls. The percentage of exact classification achieved using three variables (serum cholesterol, triglyceride and HDL-C) was 74% in male relatives and 70% in female relatives. By adding variables of apoA-I and apoB, the percentage of correctly classified subjects was increased to 82% and 80%, respectively. These results indicate that serum apolipoprotein abnormalities are prevalent in relatives of the CAD patients. These abnormalities may explain the familial aggregation of CAD.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Usefulness of multiangle MRI in aortic arch dissection.

A multiangle scan technique was used in combination with usual spin echo and cine MR techniques to study a patient with aortic arch dissection. The intimal flap was seen with each technique and the jet into the entry site was observed with cine MR technique. Exact short axis images of aortic arch were obtained only with multiangle scan. Retrograde dissection and involvement of left subclavian artery were detected clearly on the short axis images.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Comparative effects of three sites of renin-angiotensin blockade on the regression of left ventricular hypertrophy in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The effects of blockade of the renin-angiotensin system at three different sites on regression of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) were investigated in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonist, renin inhibitor, or the combination of hydralazine and hydrochlorothiazide was administered for 7 days to SHRs to obtain the same decrease in blood pressure. Treatment with ACE inhibitor, AT1 receptor antagonist, or renin inhibitor significantly decreased left ventricular mass. On the other hand, hydralazine administration failed to diminish LVH in SHRs. These findings indicate that blockade of the renin-angiotensin system regressed LVH irrespective of the site of the blockade and independent of hemodynamic changes.

Angiotensin II↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Production of angiotensin-converting enzyme in rat epididymis.

Unilateral ductuli efferentia testis of immature rat were severed in order to interrupt the continuity between testis and epididymis and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activities were measured 5 weeks after the operation. The epididymal ACE on the operated side increased to nearly the same level as that on the contralateral side, but the testicular ACE activity on the operated side was markedly lower than that on the contralateral side. On immunofluorescent study using antiserum against purified rat lung ACE, ACE could be found in the tubular epithelial cells of the operated epididymis. These results suggest that epididymis itself synthesize ACE without connection to testis.

Animals↗