Background-Human immunodeficiency virus protease inhibitors (HIV PIs) are associated with hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, and obesity; however, it is not known whether they increase risk of atherosclerotic vascular disease. The purposes of this study were to characterize the lipoprotein abnormalities associated with use of HIV PIs in individuals with HIV infection and to determine the pathophysiological significance of these changes by assessing their effect on endothelial dysfunction. Methods and Results-This was a cross-sectional study of 37 adults with HIV-1 infection who were receiving antiretroviral therapy. Twenty-two were taking HIV PIs (group 1); 15 were not (group 2). Lipids and lipoproteins were measured by enzymatic techniques and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic analysis. Flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) of the brachial artery was measured by high-resolution ultrasound. Subjects in both groups were similar in regard to age, time since diagnosis of HIV infection, and CD4 cell count.

Short-term ingestion of purple grape juice improves FMD and reduces LDL susceptibility to oxidation in CAD patients. Improved endothelium-dependent vasodilation and prevention of LDL oxidation are potential mechanisms by which flavonoids in purple grape products may prevent cardiovascular events, independent of alcohol content.

No abstract

3-Epi-25(OH)D(3) is present in the majority of human serum specimens. Although this concentration is generally low, further work must investigate the impact of 3-epi-25(OH)D(3) on the various 25-hydroxyvitamin D assays and ultimately what information, if any, C-3 epimer measurement can provide clinically.

The types and magnitude of changes in cardiovascular risk factors seen here with tamoxifen are similar to a certain extent with those seen with estrogen supplements. Further risk-factor and ethnic-group data are needed to estimate the magnitude of expected benefits of tamoxifen treatment on incidence of heart disease.

A roundtable to discuss monitoring of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] in the NHANES was held in late July 2009. Topics included the following: 1) options for dealing with assay fluctuations in serum 25(OH)D in the NHANES conducted between 1988 and 2006; 2) approaches for transitioning between the RIA used in the NHANES between 1988 and 2006 to the liquid chromatography tandem MS (LC-MS/MS) measurement procedure to be used in NHANES 2007 and later; 3) approaches for integrating the recently available standard reference material for vitamin D in human serum (SRM 972) from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) into the NHANES; 4) questions regarding whether the C-3 epimer of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [3-epi-25(OH)D3] should be measured in NHANES 2007 and later; and 5) identification of research and educational needs. The roundtable experts agreed that the NHANES data needed to be adjusted to control for assay fluctuations and offered several options for addressing this issue. The experts suggested that the LC-MS/MS measurement procedure developed by NIST could serve as a higher order reference measurement procedure. They noted the need for a commutability study for the recently released NIST SRM 972 across a range of measurement procedures. They suggested that federal agencies and professional organizations work with manufacturers to improve the quality and comparability of measurement procedures across all laboratories. The experts noted the preliminary nature of the evidence of the 3-epi-25(OH)D3 but felt that it should be measured in 2007 NHANES and later.

We conducted a 2-year, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled toxicity trial of therapy with tamoxifen (10 mg twice a day) in 140 postmenopausal women with a history of breast cancer and histologically negative axillary lymph nodes. These women had been treated with surgery with or without radiotherapy. At a 3-month evaluation, tamoxifen-treated women showed a significant decrease in fasting plasma levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which persisted at 6- and 12-month evaluations. During the first 12 months, plasma triglyceride levels increased; small but significant decreases in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) were observed in tamoxifen-treated women, but ratios of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol and of LDL to HDL cholesterol changed favorably. While data relating lipid/lipoprotein profiles and cardiovascular disease are limited in women, current evidence suggests that total cholesterol and possibly low-density lipoprotein cholesterol are risk factors. We conclude that during the first 12 months of treatment, tamoxifen exerts a favorable effect on the lipid profile in postmenopausal women with early stage breast cancer.

Antioxidant activity of six fractions of cranberry phenolic compounds was determined by inhibition of Cu 2 -induced low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation. The phenolic composition of each fraction was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. The phenolic fractions were mixed with aliquots of modi®ed human serum prior to LDL isolation. The serum was modi®ed to remove very-low-density lipoprotein and chylomicrons that may bind phenolic compounds. Only fractions 5 and 6 that contained proanthocyanidins (PAs) signi®cantly increased the lag time of LDL oxidation, and the lag time for fraction 6 was signi®cantly higher than for fraction 5. The mass distribution of PAs in these fractions was obtained by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation timeof-¯ight mass spectrometry, a technique that allows rapid characterisation of the molecular weight distribution in mixtures of oligomeric compounds. Fraction 5 contained trimers through heptamers, whereas fraction 6 contained pentamers through nonamers. In addition, fraction 6 contained PA oligomers with more doubly linked, A-type inter¯avan bonds. Results indicate that PAs speci®cally associate with LDL in modi®ed serum and increase the lag time of Cu 2 -induced oxidation. Differences between fractions 5 and 6 in PA structure and effects on LDL oxidation suggest that the degree of polymerisation and the nature of the inter¯avan bond in¯uence antioxidant properties. # 2001 Society of Chemical IndustryKeywords: low-density lipoprotein; oxidation; atherosclerosis; antioxidants; phenolic compounds; cranberry; proanthocyandins; anthocyanins;¯avonols INTRODUCTIONIndividuals with increased levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) have a greater risk of myocardial infarction, 1 suggesting that LDL has a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The earliest detectable form of an atherosclerotic plaque is a fatty streak in which macrophages have accumulated LDL cholesterol in an unregulated manner within the intima of the artery.2 Experiments demonstrate that native LDL is not taken up by scavenger receptors of macrophages, but oxidised LDL is recognised by scavenger receptors and engulfed once the LDL has reached a certain stage of oxidation.3 In addition, antibodies to oxidised LDL bind to human and animal atherosclerotic regions.