We studied the functional role of N-linked sugar chains of apolipoprotein (apo) B-100 of low density lipoprotein (LDL) in cholesterol metabolism. The N-linked sugar chains of apo B-100 of LDL obtained from four homozygous Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbits were liberated by hydrazinolysis, followed by NaB3H4 reduction and were fractionated by paper electrophoresis and column chromatography. They consisted of one neutral (N) and two acidic (A1, A2) fractions. The ratio of apo B-100 acidic fractions (A1+A2) varied among 4 WHHL rabbits. Serial measurements of serum cholesterol levels showed that they decreased with aging in each of 4 WHHL rabbits. We investigated the relation of the ratio of acidic sugar chains of apo B-100 to the serum cholesterol levels. Reciprocals of the serum cholesterol levels were significantly correlated with the ratio of acidic sugar chains of apo B-100 (r = 0.901, P < 0.001). To elucidate the role of N-linked sugar chains of apo B-100, we investigated cellular uptake of LDL in normal rabbit skin fibroblasts. The amounts of association, degradation and cholesteryl esterification of LDL with a lower ratio of acidic sugar chains at 37 degrees C were greater than those of LDL with a higher ratio of acidic sugar chains. These results suggest that N-glycosylation of apo B-100 may be related with serum cholesterol levels and N-linked sugar chains of apo B-100 may play an important role in cellular metabolism of LDL.

The following parameters were determined in 20 diabetics with chronic obliterating arteriopathy of the lower extremities: C-HDL, apo-A1, apo-B, triglyceridaemia, the glycaemic profile and HbA1c oscillometry, photoplethysmogram and claudication distance on a treadmill. Examination of the results obtained did not show any variation in the lipoproteic picture and only an improvement, in some subjects, in claudication distance. It is therefore hypothesised that in diabetic C-HDL and apo-A1 are not predictive of atherosclerotic risk although it cannot be excluded that changes in such constants may represent a synergetic factor in determining arteriosclerosis.

Controlled deposition of 2D multilayered nanomaterials onto different electrodes to design a highly sensitive biosensing platform utilizing their active inherent electrochemistry is extremely challenging. Herein, a green, facile, and cost-effective one-pot deposition mechanism of 2D MXene-Ti₃C₂T_x nanosheets (MXNSs) onto conductive electrodes within few minutes via electroplating (termed electroMXenition) is reported for the first time. The redox reaction in the colloidal MXNS solution under the effect of a constant applied potential generates an electric field, which drives the nanoparticles toward a specific electrode interface such that they are cathodically electroplated. A task-specific ionic liquid, that is, 4-amino-1-(4-formyl-benzyl) pyridinium bromide (AFBPB), is exploited as a multiplex host arena for the substantial immobilization of MXNSs and covalent binding of antibodies. A miniaturized, single-masked gold dual interdigitated microelectrode (DIDμE) is microfabricated and presented by investigating the benefit of AFBPB coated on MXNSs. The resulting MXNSs-AFBPB-film-modified DIDμE biosensor exhibited a 7× higher redox current than bare electrodes owing to the uniform deposition. Using Apo-A1 and NMP 22 as model bladder cancer analytes, this newly developed dual immunosensor demonstrated precise and large linear ranges over five orders of significance with limit of detection values as low as 0.3 and 0.7 pg mL^-1, respectively.

Keywords: 4‐amino‐1‐(4‐formyl‐benzyl) pyridinium bromide; bladder cancer analytes (Apo‐A1 and NMP 22); dual interdigitated microelectrodes; electroMXenition; multiplexed immunosensors.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effect and possible mechanism of an apolipoprotein (apo) A-I mimetic peptide, D-4F, on cholesterol efflux in RAW264.7 macrophages.

METHODS

RAW264.7 macrophages were incubated in the medium containing 8-bromo cAMP (8-Br-cAMP, 0.5 mmol/L) and ox-LDL (50 μg/mL) for 24 h. Then various concentrations of D-4F (0-100 μg/mL) or H89 (20 μmol/L, a protein kinase A inhibitor) were added for the purpose of interference. The intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) level was determined by enzyme-linked immunoabsobant assay (ELISA). ATP binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) expression in the macrophages was quantitated by real-time PCR and Western blot.

RESULTS

D-4F significantly increased the cholesterol efflux in both concentration and time-dependent manner accompanied by the increase in the intracellular cAMP level, ABCA1 mRNA and protein expression. The effect of D-4F on cholesterol efflux ABCA1 expression was enhanced by 8-Br-cAMP. Although H89 did not affect the basal cholesterol efflux and ABCA1 expression, it could attenuate the effect of 8-Br cAMP.

CONCLUSIONS

D-4F affects cholesterol efflux, cAMP level, and ABCA1 expression in macrophages, which is likely involved in the pathway of cAMP/PKA/ABCA1.

Purpose: To identify potential diagnostic biomarkers for herpetic and syphilitic uveitis.Methods: Blood samples were collected from 92 uveitis patients. Concentrations of 47 biomarkers were evaluated in unstimulated Quantiferon supernatants using the Luminex platform.Results: Results showed 11 patients (12%) had herpetic uveitis, 11 (12%) syphilis, 40 (43.5%) other infectious causes, 16 (17.4%) established noninfectious causes and 14 (15.2%) were idiopathic. Biomarker analysis revealed three proteins (Apo-A1, Apo-CIII, CRP) that differed between syphilis and other causes. A three-marker biosignature (CCL4/MIP-1β, Apo-CIII and CRP) separated syphilis from other groups with AUC = 0.83 (95% CI: 0.68-0.98). Apo-CIII and CRP differed between herpetic cases and other groups (p < .05). A three-analyte biosignature (Apo-A1, SAP and CRP) separated the herpetic group from other groups with AUC = 0.79 (95% CI: 0.65-0.93).Conclusion: We have identified candidate biomarkers with potential to differentiate between herpetic, syphilitic and other causes of uveitis. These results warrant further investigation in larger future studies.

Beyond persistent underestimation of atherogenic dyslipoproteinemias of genetic origin, which account altogether for one out of 50 births, and even more, considerable advances have been done, in the last past years, about molecular and genetic basis of metabolic defects, and possible various mutations--at this level. These major advances include not only the discovery of LDL Apo B100 receptor pathway by M. Brown and J. Goldstein with various mutations about synthesis or cellular processing of these receptors, but also some critical amino acid substitutions in molecular sequence of apoprotein E, as well as apoprotein A1, A2, and perhaps, also apoprotein B. Chromosomal localisation of all these coding genes, and identification of there exons and introns are also available. And practical use of genetic probes could appear promising a very next future.

Background: Apos play a role in lipoprotein metabolism. Several studies have been carried out on the effect of chromium supplement in improving CVD risk factors.

Objective: This study is a systematic review and meta-analysis that aimed to investigate the effect of chromium supplementation on Apos levels of human studies.

Materials and methods: We searched PubMed, Scopus up to May 2020 up to September 2019. We retrieved studies from identified articles. The studies' quality was evaluated using Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. We estimated the effect of chromium supplementation on Apo A, Apo A1, and Apo B by pooling mean and standard deviation (SD) values.

Results: We obtained six trials involving 231 participants. Chromium consumption resulted significantly decreased Apo B while the subjects were ingesting chromium picolinate. Chromium supplementation did not significantly decrease Apo A (WMD: -3.89 mg/dl; 95% CI, -11.96 to 4.18) with no significant heterogeneity (I² = 0.00%, p = 0.37). The serum level of Apo A1 did not statistically change following chromium intervention (WMD: 6.11 mg/dl; 95% CI, -7.01 to 19.23) with no significant heterogeneity (I² = 0.00%, p = 0.68). Chromium supplementation did not significantly decrease Apo B (WMD: 3.81 mg/dl; 95% CI, -5.32 to 12.94). With no significant heterogeneity (I² = 42.3%, p = 0.12).

Conclusions: The chromium supplement did not have a significant effect on the Apolipoproteins (Apo A, ApoA1 and Apo B).

Keywords: Apo A; Apo B; Apolipoprotein; Cardiovascular diseases; Chromium; Chromium supplementation.

The glycine receptor (GlyR) belongs to a superfamily of pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs) that mediate fast neurotransmission. GlyR typically modulates inhibitory transmission by antagonizing membrane depolarization through anion influx. Allosteric interactions between the receptor and its lipid surroundings affect receptor function, and cholesterol is essential for pLGIC activity. Cholesterol at compositions below ∼33 mol percent has been shown to have negligible chemical activity, suggesting that specific interactions between membrane proteins and cholesterol become significant only at concentrations above this stoichiometric threshold. Human α1 GlyR was purified from baculovirus infected insect cells and reconstituted in unilamellar vesicles at cholesterol/lipid ratios above and below the cholesterol activity threshold with equivalent aliquots of azi-cholesterol, a photoactivatable nonspecific cross-linker. After photoactivation, cross-linked cholesterol-GlyR was trypsinized and mass fingerprinted. Mass shifted peptides containing cholesterol were identified by electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-Q-TOF MS), and sites of direct covalent attachment to peptides were refined by targeted MS/MS. Differential patterns of dozens of cholesterol-GlyR cross-links were identified in these comparative studies, with sites of cross-linking found primarily in the fourth transmembrane helix and extramembranous connecting loops and mapping the lipid-accessible surface of the receptor. Unique cross-linking observed in both reduced and elevated cholesterol composition suggests different apo-state structural conformations of GlyR as a function of cholesterol concentration and, in the latter studies, identified potential specific binding sites for cholesterol in the receptor.

Though it is said that some immunosuppressive agents are implicated in the development of hyperlipidemia in kidney recipients, this subject is still controversial. Main plasma lipid parameters, as well as apolipoproteins A1 and B were measured periodically in 39 kidney first cadaveric, nondiabetic recipients during 24 months of clinic follow-up after transplantation. Standard triple immunosuppressive therapy: prednisone + cyclosporine + azathioprine was administrated from the beginning. After the second year of kidney transplantation, a significant reduction refers to values of TC, LDL, apo A1 and apo B. In the group with antirejection - methylprednisolone therapy, and without it only TG in the 24th month and apo B in the 1st month were statistically lower in the latter group (both p < 0.05). In the multiple regression test, a linear coincidence was observed between apo A1, apo B and prednisone cumulative dosage after the 1st month, TG and cyclosporine in the 6th month and LDL and cyclosporine in the 12th month after transplantation. It appears that steroids had an impact on lipids directly after transplantation, while cyclosporine did so thereafter.

Introduction: Studies found that the inflammation plays a key role in the pathogenesis of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). It is well-known that apolipoprotein-A1 (Apo-A1) demonstrates antiinflammatory and anti-oxidant properties in a healthy physiological system. In the present study, we aimed to determine whether there is any difference of Apo-A1 levels in patients with PAF and healthy subjects. Methods: In this prospective cohort study, we enrolled a total of 35 PAF patients and 34 comparable healthy participants. Apo-A1 levels were measured from each subject using an immunophelometric method. All enrolled subjects were followed-up for one year during the study period. Results: Serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were statistically higher in PAF patients compared to healthy subjects (1.54±1.99 vs. 1.06±2.01, P = 0.016, respectively). Of note, patients with PAF had lower Apo-A1 levels (1.84±0.74 vs. 2.55±0.44, P = 0.001, respectively). There was no statistical difference between the groups in terms of apolipoprotein-B levels (1.08±0.36 vs. 0.99±0.38, P = 0.339, respectively). We did not find any correlation between Apo-A1 levels and PAF attacks in the study. Conclusion: The main finding of this study was that Apo-A1 levels were significantly lower in PAF patients compared to healthy participants. Based on our results, we considered that Apo-A1 may have a key role in the pathogenesis of PAF.

Keywords: Apolipoprotein-A1; Inflammation; Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation.

Medium term effects (3 months) on serum lipoprotein levels of a diet with a high P/S ratio (2.2) and a low P/S ratio (0.3) were investigated in 13 normolipoproteinemic rhesus monkeys. Both diets were studied with and without added gel-forming fibre, as pectin. Addition of pectin did not have major influences on serum lipid levels. Changing from a low to a high P/S diet resulted in a significant decrease of total cholesterol (23%) and LDL cholesterol (18%) levels, but also HDL cholesterol (23%) and apolipoprotein A1 (Apo A1; 13%) concentrations fell significantly. However, after 12 weeks on the high P/S diet, HDL cholesterol concentrations rose by 24%, not significantly different from the levels during the low P/S diet. We conclude that the medium-term effects of a high P/S diet are a decrease in LDL cholesterol with only a transient effect on HDL cholesterol.

In this observational study we examined the impact of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDS) on the disease activity as well as the values of acute phase reactants and the apolipoprotein A1 (Apo A1) in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Eighty patients with active RA and newly discovered RA patients who meet the American Rheumatology Association (ARA) 1987 revised criteria were treated with disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs – DMARDs according to the standard protocol of everyday clinical practice. At 6 and 12 months of treatment the patients achieved a signifi cant decrease in the disease activity score 28 (DAS28), C-reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) values. On the other hand, the levels of Apo A-1, which were low at baseline, were signifi - cantly higher. In conclusion, the use of DMARDs in patients with RA reduced disease activity and infl ammation, but also had a benefi cial eff ect in increasing the levels of atheroprotective Apo A-1 lipoprotein, which can reduce CV risks in these patients.

BACKGROUND

The influence of lipid-lowering therapy on high-density lipoprotein (HDL) is incompletely understood. We compared the effect of two lipid-lowering strategies on HDL functions and identified some HDL-related proteins.

METHODS

Thirty two patients were initially screened and HDLs of 21 patients were finally analyzed. Patients were randomized to receive atorvastatin 20 mg (n = 11) or atorvastatin 5 mg/ezetimibe 10 mg combination (n = 10) for 8 weeks. The cholesterol efflux capacity and other anti-inflammatory functions were assessed based on HDLs of the participants before and after treatment. Pre-specified HDL proteins of the same HDL samples were measured.

RESULTS

The post-treatment increase in cholesterol efflux capacities was similar between the groups (35.6% and 34.6% for mono-therapy and combination, respectively, p = 0.60). Changes in nitric oxide (NO) production, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expression, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were similar between the groups. The baseline cholesterol efflux capacity correlated positively with apolipoprotein (apo)A1 and C3, whereas apoA1 and apoC1 showed inverse associations with VCAM-1 expression. The changes in the cholesterol efflux capacity were positively correlated with multiple HDL proteins, especially apoA2.

CONCLUSIONS

Two regimens increased the cholesterol efflux capacity of HDL comparably. Multiple HDL proteins, not limited to apoA1, showed a correlation with HDL functions. These results indicate that conventional lipid therapy may have additional effects on HDL functions with changes in HDL proteins.

BACKGROUND

ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02942602 .

Traditional Asian fermented soy food products are associated with reduced cardiovascular disease risk in prospective studies, but few randomized controlled trials have been conducted in at-risk populations. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a commercial non-probiotic fermented soy product on blood lipids in adults with cardiovascular risk biomarkers. In a randomized, crossover, intervention study, 27 men and women (aged 29-75 y) exhibiting at least two risk factors, consumed two packets (12.5 g each) daily of a fermented powdered soy product, or an isoenergic control powder made from germinated brown rice for 12 weeks each. The consumption of the fermented soy product resulted in a significantly greater mean change from baseline (compared to the germinated rice, all p < 0.05) in total cholesterol of -0.23 mmol/L (CI: -0.40, -0.06) compared with 0.14 mmol/L (CI: -0.03, 0.31), respectively; and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol -0.18 mmol/L (CI: -0.32, -0.04) compared with 0.04 mmol/L (CI: -0.01, 0.018) respectively. This was accompanied by an increase in high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in the germinated rice group, a decrease in apolipoprotein B (ApoB) in the fermented soy group, and a between-treatment effect in apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1); however, the ratio of the LDL:HDL and of Apo B:ApoA1 did not differ between the groups. The ratio of total cholesterol:LDL decreased in men in the fermented soy group (p < 0.001). Twenty-four-hour urine collection at the end of each treatment period resulted in an increased excretion expressed as a ratio in μmol/d between treatments of 10.93 (CI: 5.07, 23.54) for daidzein; 1.24 (CI: 1.14, 4.43) for genistein; and, 8.48 (CI: 4.28, 16.80) for glycitein, all p < 0.05. The fermented soy powder consumed by participants in this study without implementing other changes in their typical diets, decreased the total and LDL cholesterol, and may serve as a dietary strategy to manage blood lipids. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT03429920.

Keywords: LDL cholesterol; Q-Can natural; fermented soy powder; isoflavones; total cholesterol.

Background: Mac-2 binding protein (Mac-2BP) is used as a serum biomarker of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, considered to be a liver phenotype of metabolic syndrome (MetS). In this study, we investigated the serum Mac-2BP concentrations-correlated MetS-related clinical parameters in vivo, and the underlying mechanism in vitro.

Materials & methods: We enrolled 54 healthy Japanese men who underwent health examination at Osaka University Health Care Center in this study. Physical and serum biochemical parameters were obtained from all the subjects. In the cultured HepG2 cells, the effects of interferon (IFN)-γ on the expression of Mac-2BP, apolipoprotein (apo) A-I, and ATP binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) were studied.

Results: Serum Mac-2BP concentrations correlated negatively with HDL-C, and positively with body mass index and systolic blood pressure in univariate analysis. These results suggested the association between Mac-2BP and MetS, although none of these 3 parameters had significant correlation with serum Mac-2BP concentrations in multivariate analysis. In HepG2 cells, IFN-γ stimulation resulted in the increased Mac-2BP and the decreased ABCA1 and apo A-I mRNA concentrations, while Mac-2BP had no effects on ABCA1 and apo A-I concentrations.

Conclusions: The serum Mac-2BP concentrations are negatively correlated with HDL-C concentrations in healthy subjects, as a result of chronic inflammation.

Keywords: ATP binding cassette transporter A1; Mac-2 binding protein; apolipoprotein A-I; high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; interferon-γ.

NO sensitive soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) plays a key role in mediating physiological functions of NO. Genetic alterations of the GUCY1A3, coding for the α1 subunit of sGC, are associated with several cardiovascular dysfunctions. A rare sGC variant with Cys517→Tyr substitution in the α1subunit, has been associated with moyamoya disease and achalasia. In this report we characterize the properties of this rare sGC variant. Purified α₁C517Yβ₁ sGC preserved only ∼25% of its cGMP-forming activity and showed an elevated K_m for GTP substrate. However, the mutant enzyme retained a high affinity for and robust activation by NO, similar to wild type sGC. Purified α₁C517Yβ₁ enzyme was more sensitive to specific sGC heme oxidizers and less responsive to heme reducing agents. When expressed in COS7 cells, α₁C517Yβ₁ sGC showed a much stronger response to cinaciguat or gemfibrozil, which targets apo-sGC or sGC with ferric heme, as compared to its NO response or the relative response of the wild type sGC. A stronger response to cinaciguat was also observed for purified α₁C517Yβ₁ in the absence of reducing agents. In COS7 cells, αCys517β sGC was less stable than the wild type enzyme under normal conditions and exhibited accelerated degradation upon induction of cellular oxidative stress. We conclude that diminished cGMP-forming activity of this sGC variant is aggravated by its high susceptibility to oxidative stress and diminished protein stability. The combination of these deficiencies contribute to the severity of observed moyamoya and achalasia symptoms in human carriers of this rare α₁C517Yβ₁ sGC variant.

Keywords: Nitric oxide; cGMP; oxidative stress; protein stability; soluble guanylyl cyclase.

Serum lipid and apoprotein levels were determined in fasting women after long-term use (5-12 years) of Depo Provera, Orgametril, Ortho Novum SQ, Binordiol, Microgynon-50, and Ministat. Compared with matched controls, pure progestogens (Depo Provera and Orgametril) caused a moderate decrease of TG, HDL chol, and Apo A1, whereas estrogen-dominant oral contraceptives (Ortho Novum SQ) increased the same parameters. The effects of long-term use of hormonal contraception on lipids did not differ from those predicted from short-term (6 months) studies.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by various reproductive and cardiometabolic disorders. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is associated with cardiovascular, metabolic, and hormonal status. Selenium, a micronutrient with antioxidant properties, could affect multiple physiological pathways. This study aimed to investigate the effect of selenium supplementation on ADMA, cardiometabolic risk factors, and hormonal status in women with PCOS. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 66 women with PCOS, aged 18-45 years, were randomly assigned to receive either 200 μg/day selenium or placebo, for 12 weeks. Circulating concentrations of ADMA, testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), lipid profiles, and glycemic parameters were assessed at baseline and following supplementation. ADMA concentration decreased significantly compared to baseline values (85.14 ± 75 to 56.4 ± 38.64 ng/l, p = 0.02) in the selenium group. This change was marginally significant compared with the placebo group (28.74 ± 68.63 vs. - 1.77 ± 52.88 ng/l, p = 0.056). Serum testosterone levels declined significantly in the intervention compared to the placebo group (0.01 ± 0.17 vs. - 0.08 ± 0.18 ng/ml, p = 0.038). Pre- to post-Apo-B100/Apo-A1 ratio declined considerably in the intervention group (0.72 ± 0.16 to 0.65 ± 0.16, p = 0.003). No further differences were observed in SHBG, lipid profiles, Apo-A1, Apo-B100, Apo-B100/Apo-A1 ratio, and glycemic control between the two groups at the end of the study. Selenium supplementation for 12 weeks had beneficial effects on reduction of circulating ADMA and total testosterone levels in women with PCOS. No significant improvements were seen in other cardiometabolic risk factors. The effects of selenium supplementation on hormonal, reproductive, and cardiometabolic disorders, considering the potential mediating role of ADMA, should be further investigated.

Previous genome-wide association studies have shown that the rs10248618 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the dynein axonemal heavy chain 11 gene (DNAH11) has been associated with serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. However, little is known about such association in the Chinese population. The present study was performed to clarify the association between the DNAH11 rs10248618 SNP and serum lipid traits and the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) and ischemic stroke (IS) in the Guangxi Han population. Genotypes of the DNAH11 rs10248618 SNP in 1,213 unrelated patients (CAD, 600 and IS, 613) and 631 healthy controls were determined by snapshot technology. The genotypic and allelic frequencies of the SNP were significantly different between the CAD/IS patients and the controls (P < 0.01 for all). The CT/TT genotypes and the T allele were associated with an increased risk of CAD and IS (CAD: P < 0.01 for CT/TT vs. CC and T vs. C; IS: P < 0.01 for CT/TT vs. CC and T vs. C). The CT/TT genotypes in the healthy controls, but not in CAD or IS patients, were associated with a decreased serum HDL-C and apolipoprotein (Apo) A1 concentration. These results suggest that the DNAH11 rs10248618 SNP is associated with the risk of CAD and IS in our study population. It is likely to increase the risk of CAD and IS by reducing serum HDL-C and ApoA1 levels.

UNASSIGNED

There have been no previous reports that apolipoprotein (apo) A-I mimetic peptide improves survival rate after myocardial infarction (MI).

UNASSIGNED

Male C57Bl/6J mice were subjected to left coronary artery permanent ligation as a model of MI. We synthesized a novel 24-amino acid apoA-I mimetic peptide-type5 (FAMP5), which potently removes cholesterol via specific ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1). FAMP5 was associated with a significantly improved survival rate by protecting against cardiac rupture compared to the control. mRNA levels for eNOS, Gata-4, CTGF and ANP were significantly increased in the hearts of the FAMP5-treated group, while that for MCP-1 decreased.

UNASSIGNED

This is the first report that high-density lipoprotein (HDL) therapy with FAMP5 improved the survival rate after MI.

The study was undertaken to examine 190 males, aged 30-60 years who were divided into 4 groups: (1) patients with essential hypertension; (2) those with postinfarction cardiosclerosis; (3) those with postinfarction cardiosclerosis and essential hypertension; (4) healthy individuals. The levels of apolipoproteins B and A1 and circulating immune complex cholesterol were examined in the cold (winter) and hot (summer) seasons in the areas of arid (Ashkhabad) and temperate (Moscow) climate. The major apo-proteins were determined by enzyme uncompetitive immunoassay. Cholesterol levels in the immune complexes were measured by the method developed at the Institute of Experimental Cardiology, All-Union Cardiology Research Center, USSR Academy of Medical Sciences. The Moscow examinees were found to have more profound changes in the lipid spectrum than the Ashkhabad ones. In both climatic zones, the level of the major apo-proteins and their ratio were unaffected by seasonal variations.

The identification of risk factors is very important for primary and secondary prevention of coronary artery disease. Among the different risk factors, the individual predisposition plays an important role. We have studied 130 patients with old myocardial infarction (Group A), 38 subjects belonging to the same family (Group B) and 147 control subjects in order to investigate: familiarity of coronary artery disease; distribution of lipids, lipoproteins and fibrinogen; distribution of these parameters in subjects with and without familiarity for coronary artery disease. Familiar forms showed similar lipemic and coagulative profiles as occasional forms. However, groups A and B showed significant variations in HDL-cholesterol, apolipoprotein A1, Apo A1/B ratio and in fibrinogen when compared with control subjects. These results confirm the important role of these factors and their genetical distribution. The importance of familiar distribution is also evident.

The role of lipid parameters disorder in the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is unclear. The aim of this study was to analyze lipid profile in these patients and to test the influence of gender on lipid profile of AMD patients, especially in the early and late form of the disease. 82 patients with AMD (mean age 70.3 yrs) and 80 age-matched control subjects were included in this study. Serum lipid and apolipoproteiin levels were determined using standardized methods. AMD patients had significantly higher values of total cholesterol (P=0.000), HDL-cholesterol (P=0.0003) and LDL-cholesterol (P=0.000) compared to control group. Significantly higher values of apo A1 (P=0.039), apo E (P=0.002), total-cholesterol (P=0.000), LDL-chol. (P=0.026), total HDL-chol (P=0.000), HDL3-chol. (P=0.005) and non-HDL-cholesterol (P=0.029) were found in female AMD patients compared to males with AMD. Females with the advanced form of the disease had significantly higher total cholesterol (P=0.006), HDL-C (P=0.004), non HDL-C (P=0.05) and apo E (P=0.014) compared to males with the same form of the disease. There is a significant disorder of lipid parameters in AMD patients especially in females. More severe forms of AMD are followed by the increase of atherogenic lipoproteins and apolipoproteins, and females have higher values of these parameters compared to males with the same form of AMD.