BACKGROUND: Lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor 1 (LOX-1) is implicated in atherothrombotic diseases. Activation of LOX-1 in humans can be evaluated by use of the LOX index, obtained by multiplying the circulating concentration of LOX-1 ligands containing apolipoprotein B (LAB) times that of the soluble form of LOX-1 (sLOX-1) [LOX index ϭ LAB ϫ sLOX-1]. This study aimed to establish the prognostic value of the LOX index for coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke in a community-based cohort.

Background and Purpose:The nature of hematologic disorders in different stroke subtypes remains uncertain. The purpose of this study was to clarify the differences in the coagulation and fibrinolytic activities among ischemic stroke subtypes.Methods: We performed sequential measurements of hematologic parameters in 21 patients with acute cardioembolic stroke, 10 patients with atherothrombotic stroke, 23 patients with lacunar stroke, and 20 age-matched controls.Results: A marked elevation of plasma concentrations of the thrombin-antithrombin III complex and crosslinked D-dimer was observed only in cardioembolic stroke within 48 hours of onset (p<0.01), persisting for one month with a gradual decline. In atherothrombotic stroke, however, the level of crosslinked D-dimer was not elevated at the onset, but increased seven days after onset (p<0.01). No significant changes in these marker levels were observed in lacunar stroke.Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the nature of altered coagulation and fibrinolysis are different in various subtypes of ischemic stroke, and that an assessment of these hematologic parameters may be useful for the early classification of these subtypes. (Stroke 1992;23:194-198)

Aim: We conducted a pilot study to clarify the effects of the Japan Diet nutritional education program on metabolic risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in middle-aged men who were brought up in the westernized dietary environment of modern Japan.Methods: Thirty-three men, 30–49 years of age, attended a nutrition education class to learn food items and recommended volumes comprising the Japan Diet (more fish, soybeans and soy products, vegetables, seaweed, mushrooms and unrefined cereals, and less animal fat, meat and poultry with fat, sweets, desserts and snacks, and alcoholic drinks), and were encouraged to consume the Japan Diet for 6 weeks. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were measured and 3-day weighted dietary records were kept before and at completion of the intervention.Results: Ninety-one percent of participants showed improvements in more than one cardiovascular risk factor after 6 weeks. Body weight, serum low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, malondialdehyde modified (MDA)-LDL and triglyceride concentrations decreased significantly, while high density lipoprotein cholesterol was unchanged. Fish, soy, and sum of seaweed, mushrooms and konjak intakes doubled, and green and yellow vegetable intakes also increased as compared to baseline. Meanwhile, intakes of refined cereals, meat and poultry, sweets, desserts and snacks, and margarine and shortening decreased. Total energy, lipid, and saturated and monounsaturated fatty acid intakes decreased, while n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, dietary fiber, beta-carotene, vitamins D and K, potassium, and magnesium increased, with no change in sodium intake.Conclusions: The Japan Diet is suggested to improve atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk factors in middle-aged Japanese men.The clinical trial registration number: UMIN000020639.

Human serum paraoxonase (PON1) exists in 2 major polymorphic forms: Q (glutamine) or R (arginine) at codon 192. The PON1192 activity polymorphism is substrate dependent. The PON1Q192 isoform has a higher rate of in vitro hydrolysis of diazoxon, sarin, and soman, whereas the PON1R192 isoform has higher activity for the hydrolysis of paraoxon and chlorpyrifos oxon. Both isoforms hydrolyze phenyl acetate at approximately the same rate. The present study described and evaluated a kinetic method of arylesterase activity determination with a modified fixed incubation method that used the oxidative coupling of phenol with 4-aminoantipyrine of phenyl acetate as the substrate. Our improved method shows that arylesterase activity is lower with the PON1R192 isoform than with the PON1Q192 isoform. The average activities of serum of individuals of a specific PON1Q192 genotype showed higher arylesterase and lower paraoxonase activity than the PON1R192 genotype. The ratio of paraoxonase/arylesterase activity showed a clear separation of all three PON1192 genotypes with no overlap between the groups (QQ: < 5.0, QR: 5.0-11.0, RR: > 11.0). PCR has suggested that the PON1192 phenotypes correspond to the PON1192 genotypes. Therefore, when conducting epidemiological or mechanistic studies that examine the role of PON1 in organophosphorus or lipid metabolism, this ratio is more useful and informative than a PCR-based genotype alone. J Atheroscler Thromb, 2003; 10: 337-342.

To determine the extent of adsorption of coagulation factors by a dextran sulfate cellulose column used for selective removal of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), various coagulation factors were measured before and after application to the column during LDL apheresis. The column almost completely adsorbed many coagulation factors. Although the bradykinin concentration was markedly increased by passing the plasma through the column, this increment was suppressed by nafamostat mesilate which inhibits the initial contact phase of the intrinsic coagulation pathway. The von Willebrand factor, which forms a complex with factor VIII in plasma, is reduced in apheresis with nafamostat mesilate to the same extent as in apheresis without nafamostat mesilate. Thus, coagulation factors seem to be adsorbed by different mechanisms which include activation of the initial contact phase by the negative charges of dextran sulfate and concomitant adsorption with the phospholipid portion of lipoproteins containing apolipoprotein B or with von Willebrand factor.