No abstract

The present study aims first to compare the antioxidant microconstituent contents between organically and conventionally grown tomatoes and, second, to evaluate whether the consumption of purees made of these tomatoes can differently affect the plasma levels of antioxidant microconstituents in humans. When results were expressed as fresh matter, organic tomatoes had higher vitamin C, carotenoids, and polyphenol contents (except for chlorogenic acid) than conventional tomatoes. When results were expressed as dry matter, no significant difference was found for lycopene and naringenin. In tomato purees, no difference in carotenoid content was found between the two modes of culture, whereas the concentrations of vitamin C and polyphenols remained higher in purees made out of organic tomatoes. For the nutritional intervention, no significant difference (after 3 weeks of consumption of 96 g/day of tomato puree) was found between the two purees with regard to their ability to affect the plasma levels of the two major antioxidants, vitamin C and lycopene.

Our data agree with the hypothesis of a gene-nutrient interaction between MTHFR 677C-->T polymorphism and folate status that may confer a selective advantage of TT-homozygous genotype when dietary intake of folate is adequate, at least in the areas studied.

To investigate the evolutionary transition that has shaped the catecholaminergic systems of vertebrates, the organization of catecholamine-synthesizing neurons and the nature of the catecholamines were examined in the central nervous system of adult amphioxus (Branchiostoma lanceolatum), a cephalochordate. We isolated a gene transcript encoding tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the limiting enzyme of catecholamine biosynthesis, and studied its distribution together with that of dopamine and serotonin. Dopamine and TH are found in the same neurons of which they are three separate populations. Two are located in the anterior brain, the first being dorsal and lying in a row and the second being more posterior and lateral. A third population comprising a few dorsal commissural neurons was found in the posterior brain. The anterior dopaminergic cells innervate the ventral commissure of the cephalic vesicle, the hindbrain, and the spinal cord. A serotonin-containing cell group is located in the same plane as the second dopaminergic cell population but is more caudal, marking the probable transition between anterior brain and hindbrain, as deduced from gene expression patterns. The overall distribution of dopaminergic and serotoninergic systems is similar in amphioxus and vertebrate central nervous system and could be an ancestral character of chordates. As assayed by high-performance liquid chromatography and electrochemical detection, significant amounts of dopamine and octopamine, but not of noradrenaline, are present in amphioxus head. This finding is consistent with data obtained from most prostomian species. We conclude that the noradrenergic system is probably an innovation of vertebrates that appeared along with the neural crest and specific hindbrain nuclei.

A low serum 25(OH)D level is a predictor of both severity at admission and poor early functional outcome in stroke patients. The underlying mechanisms of these associations remain to be investigated.

L-Arginine (L-Arg) is a conditionally essential amino acid in the human diet. The most common dietary sources of L-Arg are meat, poultry and fish. L-Arg is the precursor for the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO); a key signaling molecule via NO synthase (NOS). Endogenous NOS inhibitors such as asymmetric-dimethyl-L-Arg inhibit NO synthesis in vivo by competing with L-Arg at the active site of NOS. In addition, NOS possesses the ability to be "uncoupled" to produce superoxide anion instead of NO. Reduced NO bioavailability may play an essential role in cardiovascular pathologies and metabolic diseases. L-Arg deficiency syndromes in humans involve endothelial inflammation and immune dysfunctions. Exogenous administration of L-Arg restores NO bioavailability, but it has not been possible to demonstrate, that L-Arg supplementation improved endothelial function in cardiovascular disease such as heart failure or hypertension. L-Arg supplementation may be a novel therapy for obesity and metabolic syndrome. The utility of l-Arg supplementation in the treatment of L-Arg deficiency syndromes remains to be established. Clinical trials need to continue to determine the optimal concentrations and combinations of L-Arg, with other protective compounds such as tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4 ), and antioxidants to combat oxidative stress that drives down NO production in humans.

The status of thiamin, riboflavin, folate, and vitamins B-6, B-12, C, A, D, and E was investigated in 37 middle-aged and healthy French vegetarians by means of a dietary survey and biochemical studies. Values were compared with those of a group of nonvegetarians. Unsatisfactory intakes of vitamin B-6 were observed: vitamin B-6 intake as a percentage of the French Recommended Dietary Allowances was approximately 66% for vegetarians and approximately 58% for nonvegetarians. Vegetarians had a higher mean intake of thiamin, riboflavin, and vitamins C, A, D, and E than did nonvegetarians. Vegetarians did not have a higher risk rate for a biochemical vitamin deficiency of thiamin, riboflavin, folates, and vitamins B-6, C, A, and E than the nonvegetarians. The percentage of subjects assessed as abnormal by blood vitamin concentrations was higher in vegetarians for vitamin B-12 (serum vitamin B-12) and vitamin D, which indicated a higher risk for a deficiency of vitamins B-12 and D in this group.

Objective-Asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous competitive inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) synthases. From a prospective cohort of patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI), we aimed to analyze the predictive value of circulating ADMA concentrations on prognosis. Methods and Results-Blood samples from 249 consecutive patients hospitalized for acute MI Ͻ24 hours were taken on admission. Serum levels of ADMA and its stereoisomer, symmetrical dimethylarginine (SDMA), were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography. The independent predictors of ADMA were glomerular filtration rate, female sex, and SDMA (R 2 ϭ0. 25). Baseline ADMA levels were higher in patients who had died than in patients who were alive at 1 year follow-up (1.23 [0.98 Key Words: ADMA Ⅲ myocardial infarction Ⅲ prognosis E ndothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) plays a pivotal role in coronary vessel homeostasis. In diseased states, such as acute myocardial infarction (MI), endothelial dysfunction linked to reduced NO bioavailability contributes to increased vasoconstrictor responses, adhesion of platelets and monocytes, and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. 1 After an acute coronary event, a high frequency of transient endothelial vasomotor dysfunction has been reported in coronary arteries and in peripheral circulation. 2,3 Impaired endothelial vasodilatation is strongly associated with future cardiovascular (CV) events after an acute coronary syndrome. 4 Over the last decade, several studies have suggested that circulating concentrations of asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA) may provide a marker of risk for atherosclerosis. 5 ADMA is an endogenous competitive inhibitor of all isoforms of NO synthases and may compete with L-arginine as the substrate for the enzyme. ADMA originates from the degradation of posttranslationally methylated proteins in the course of protein turnover. A minor part of circulating ADMA is excreted via renal elimination. The major catabolic pathway of circulating ADMA occurs via dimethylarginine dimethylarginohydrolase (DDAH), which is also thought to play a major role in impaired vascular homeostasis. 6 An association between high ADMA levels and a risk of acute coronary events has been demonstrated in middle-aged men. 7 In patients with documented coronary artery disease, baseline serum concentrations of ADMA independently predict CV events at 2 years follow-up. 8 Only few data are available on levels of ADMA during acute MI. 9 Moreover, there is currently no evidence indicating any prognostic impact of this factor in the setting of acute MI, in particular in comparison with traditional risk factors and biomarkers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and N-terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP).From a prospective cohort of patients with acute MI, the aim of the present study was to identify the determinants of ADMA levels and to analyze the predictive value of ADMA on mortality at long-term follow-up. MethodsFor detailed descriptions of the methods, please see sup...