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Objective Fatty acid composition of Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particle is an effective factor in LDL oxidation and atherosclerotic plaques formation. This study evaluates the relationship between LDL fatty acid composition and coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods 42 men with coronary artery disease (CAD-group) and 40 men without coronary artery disease (non-CAD-group) were selected. LDL fatty acid composition of blood samples was measured by gas chromatography. Results Ox-LDL was significantly high in CAD-group. Poly unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and PUFA/MUFA (Mono unsaturated fatty acids), linoleic acid and arachidonic acid were significantly higher in CAD-group than in non-CAD-group. In CAD-group, a reverse correlation was observed between oleic acid concentrations and ox-LDL levels and a direct correlation was seen between arachidonic acid concentrations and ox-LDL levels. Conclusion Composition of LDL is related to atherosclerosis and CAD. High levels of arachidonic and linoleic acids could increase LDL oxidation and atherosclerotic plaques formation. In addition, LDL arachidonic acid levels could be a better predictor of CAD.

Introduction. Cardioprotective effect of high density lipoprotein (HDL) is, in part, dependent on its related enzyme, paraoxonase 1 (PON1). Fatty acid composition of HDL could affect its size and structure. On the other hand, PON1 activity is directly related to the structure of HDL. This study was designed to investigate the association between serum PON1 activity and fatty acid composition of HDL in healthy men.Methods. One hundred and forty healthy men participated in this research. HDL was separated by sequential ultracentrifugation, and its fatty acid composition was analyzed by gas chromatography. PON1 activity was measured spectrophotometrically using paraxon as substrate.Results. Serum PON1 activity was directly correlated with the amount of stearic acid and dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA). PON1/HDL-C was directly correlated with the amount of miristic acid, stearic acid, and DGLA and was inversely correlated with total amount ofω6 fatty acids of HDL.Conclusion. The fatty acid composition of HDL could affect the activity of its associated enzyme, PON1. As dietary fats are the major determinants of serum lipids and lipoprotein composition, consuming some special dietary fatty acids may improve the activity of PON1 and thereby have beneficial effects on health.

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis is the most important underlying cause of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) which recently has been classified as an inflammatory disorder. Accumulation of large amounts of oxidized LDL in the intima during local inflammation reaction led to increase several factors such as C -reactive protein (CRP). It has also been reported that CRP is able to bind with modified forms of LDL as well as oxidized LDL. These findings suggest possible positive or negative involvement of this protein in atherogenesis. The main objective of the present study was to assess the influence of CRP on LDL oxidation and the possible physical \changes of LDL in the presence of CRP in vitro. METHODS: In this study, the susceptibility of purified LDL to oxidation was assayed by monitoring of formation of conjugated dienes in different physiological concentrations of CRP (0 - 0.5 -2 µg/ml) using a shimadzu spectrophotometer. Electrophoresis was used to determine the electrophoretic mobility of LDL in those conditions. RESULTS: CRP significantly reduced the susceptibility of Cu++ -induced LDL oxidation through increasing the lag timeand there was positive relationship between these findings and CRP concentration (P < 0.05). CRP caused a significant reduction in the electrophotretic mobility of LDL compared to native LDL (n-LDL) (P CONCLUSION: A considerable reduction was shown in LDL oxidation, in higher concentration of CRP, via an unknown mechanism. The electrophoretic mobility of LDL, in the oxidative condition, decreases in the presence of CRP compared to n-LDL, which can be indicative of the effect of this protein on the physical and chemical properties of LDL. It seems that, other pathway than LDL oxidation is responsible for the effect of CRP on the atherogenesis processes. Keywords: Atherosclerosis, Creactive protein, Low-density lipoprotein, Inflammation. &nbsp

The present study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant activity of essential oils obtained from branchlets of male and female trees as well as fruits of Juniperus foetidissima Willd., Cupressaceae, from Iran. For this purpose, essential oils of J. foetidissima were phytochemically analyzed and different concentrations of them were tested in five oxidative systems: 1) low-density lipoprotein oxidation; 2) linoleic acid peroxidation; 3) red blood cell hemolysis; 4) hemoglobin glycation; and 5) insulin glycation assays. In all employed systems, antioxidant effects were observed from the three tested oils though in varying degrees. The most promising activities of the oils were observed against hemoglobin and insulin glycation. Antioxidant activities of the oils did not appear to be dose-dependent. In addition, no consistent superiority in antioxidant effects was observed from a single oil in different assays. In view of the current results, J. foetidissima branchlet and fruit oils could be regarded as effective natural products with anti-glycation activity.

INTRODUCTION: Female carpet-weavers are vulnerable to vitamin D deficiency due to cultural, occupational and economic reasons. This case-control study was conducted to compare the frequency coronary artery disease (CAD) and its risk factors in relation with the serum vitamin D level in 260 female carpet-wearers and non-carpet-weavers in the villages across Isfahan Province in the centre of Iran. METHODS: All postmenopausal women aged over 50 were matched for cultural and socioeconomic status. The participants underwent clinical examinations. Blood samples were obtained and electrocardiography was performed. When necessary, echocardiography and exercise test were also administered to diagnose heart disease. Dietary intake of vitamin D was determined by completing a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. A questionnaire obtaining personal data and length of daily exposure to sunlight was also completed. The existence of CAD was determined using standardized WHO Rose questionnaire and/or the Minnesota electrocardiography coding system. Blood lipids and vitamin D levels were measured using an ELAN-2000 auto analyzer and radioimmunoassay, respectively. RESULTS: The results showed that only the frequency percentage of myocardial infarction (MI) in non-carpet-weavers was significantly higher than in female carpet weavers (P=0.001). The differences of age, serum vitamin D level, blood lipids, blood pressure and other variables were not significant (P>0.05). Neither was there any statistical association between serum vitamin D level and CAD risk factors, however, after adjustment for confounders (age, etc.), a direct relationship was observed between abdominal obesity as measured by waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) (WHR>1) and serum vitamin D level (OR=0.99, P>0.05). Carpet weaving had no effect on CAD risk factors (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study reveal no association between vitamin D and CAD. Further research is recommended into the possible relationship between CAD and vitamin D, as well as vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms responsible for genetic differences in vitamin D uptake by the bone. Keywords: Vitamin D, carpet-weaver women, coronary artery disease (CAD), risk factors, post-menopause, angina pectoris, ischemia, blood lipids, blood pressure, Iran.

BACKGROUND: The oxidative modification of low density lipoprotein (LDL) is believed to play an important role in the development of atherosclerosis. Thus, measurement of plasma oxidized LDL (OX-LDL) is essential for atherosclerotic diseases, for investigating its relevance to atherosclerotic diseases. We aimed to assess the oxidized LDL in patients with coronary artery disease and correlation between serum oxidized low density lipoprotein and in vitro susceptibility of LDL to oxidation. METHODS: Subjects of the study were selected from patients who undergone angiography (42 patients with coronary artery disease and 40 controls without any evidence of CAD). The susceptibility of LDL to in vitro oxidation was assessed with the addition of a Cuso4 solution. The lag time, propagation rate and maximal diene calculated from the oxidation curve. Biochemical factors (FBS, total cholesterol, TG, LDL, and HDL) were measured in these subjects. SPSS version 15.5 was used to analyze the data, P- value under 0.05 was considered to be significant. RESULTS: The results indicated that the serum OX-LDL concentration was significantly elevated in CAD patients and the lag time was significantly shorter than controls (P < 0.05). These results clearly confirm that LDL from persons with CAD is more susceptible to oxidative modification in vitro than LDL from healthy subjects. The other measured biochemical factors were not significantly different between CAD patients and controls (P > 0.05). Correlation between serum OX-LDL and susceptibility of LDL to in vitro oxidation did not show significant association (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: our findings suggest that a high OX-LDL concentration and a short LDL oxidation lag time might be independent risk factors for CAD. Keywords: OX-LDL; Lag time; Maximal Diene; Propagation Rate; Susceptibility. &nbsp

INTRODUCTION: Opioid peptides and exogenous opioids such as morphine have important effects on the cardiovascular system. Today, the opioid system is being considered as a therapeutic target receptor for reducing myocardial ischemia through inhibiting the G protein. Opioid addiction, on the other hand, is one of the major challenges facing humanity and the truth about the effects of opium use on the cardiovascular system is often misted by wrong beliefs. The effect of an exogenous opioid (morphine) on the development and progression of fatty streaks in hypercholesterolemic rabbits was investigated in this study. METHODS: The rabbits were randomly divided into four groups (five in each group): normal, normal + morphine, high-cholesterol, and high-cholesterol + morphine. Biochemical parameters including total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), malondialdehyde, triglyceride (TG), fasting blood sugar (FBS), quantitative chronic reactive protein (CRP), coagulation factor VII, fibrinogen, platelet count, RBC count, WBC count and hemoglobin were measured at the start and end of the study. Pathological studies were conducted on the right and left coronary arteries of the animals to look for evidence of fatty streak formation. RESULTS: The results showed that morphine administration along with a normal diet led to a significant increase in levels of cholesterol, coagulation factor VII, and fibrinogen, while enhancing fatty streak formation in the right and left coronary arteries (P CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that morphine use with both normal and hypercholesterolemic diet increases the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases and atherosclerosis, although it accelerates the development of early atherosclerotic lesions only when administered with normal diet. Keywords: Atherosclerosis, Morphine, High Cholesterol Diet, Animal Study.

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Peroxidation of blood lipoproteins is regarded as a key event in the development of atherosclerosis. Evidence suggests that oxidative modification of amino acids in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles leads to its convert into an atherogenic form, which is taken up by macrophages. Therefore the reduction of oxidative modification of lipoproteins by increasing plasma antioxidant capacity may prevent cardiovascular disease. methods: In this study, the antioxidant and anti-fatty streak effects of L-serine were investigated in hypercholesterolemic rabbits. Rabbits were randomly divided into three groups which were fed high-cholesterol diet (hypercholesterolemic control group), high-cholesterol + L-serine diet (treatment group), and normal diet (control) for twelve weeks and then blood samples were obtained to measure plasma cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), antioxidant capacity (AC), malondialdehyde (MDA), and conjugated dienes (CDS). Right and left coronary arteries were also obtained for histological evaluation. results: No significant difference was observed in plasma cholesterol, TG, HDL, LDL and CDS levels between treatment and hypercholesterolemic control groups (P>0.05). The levels of plasma MDA and AC were 0.29‌ µM and 56%, respectively in the treatment group which showed a significant change in comparison with hypercholesterolemic control groups (P CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that L-serine has antioxidant and anti-fatty streak effects without any influence on plasma lipid levels in hypercholesterolemic rabbits. Keywords: Atherosclerosis, cholesterol, L-serine, antioxidant, lipids, fatty streak.

BACKGROUND: Dietary polyphenols have been shown to possess cardio protective effects. Recently, dietary citrus flavonoids have been associated with reduced risk of coronary heart disease in epidemiological studies. So, this study was designed to determine the effects of Citrus limon Burm. f. juice and peel on cardiovascular risk factors in male rabbits with atherogenic diet. METHODS: Forty rabbits were randomly divided into four groups and treated 2 months as follows: 1: Hypercholesterolemic diet (HCD), 2 and 3: HCD + lemon juice (5cc daily) and lemon dried peel (1g daily), respectively and 4: normal diet. At the baseline and the end of the study in addition to weight, biochemical factors (FBS, TC, TG, ApoA1, ApoB100, LDL, HDL) were measured in the rabbits. Blood pressure measurements were conducted directly after the intervention. RESULTS: Compared with 4th group total cholesterol was significantly increased during the study in 3 first groups (p = 0.00). Results for HDL and LDL cholesterol were the same (p = 0.00). But compared with control group (first group), only LDL cholesterol mean value was significantly increased in group 2 (lemon juice consumer) after intervention (p Weight and FBS have not been significantly changed between the groups after interventions. Also, blood pressures did not show any significant difference between the groups. CONCLUSION: We conclude that opposite to high amount of antioxidants in sore lemon, it not only was able to control the hyperlipidemic effects of an atherogenic diet but also increased serum LDL level and Apo B. But decision about antiatherogenic effect of this fruit, will be made after defining pathologic results. Keywords: lipid profile, risk factor, flavonoid, rabbit, atherogenic diet, blood pressure. &nbsp