Aim: Paraoxonase-1 (PON1) is an antioxidant enzyme located in high density lipoprotein (HDL). PON1 was defined as a protective factor against atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible relationship between serum paraoxonase (PONase), homocysteine thiolactonase (HTase) activities and PON1 Q192R polymorphism, and the extent and severity of atherosclerosis. Methods: Blood specimens were collected from 142 individuals who had no coronary artery lesions angiographically (control group) and 128 individuals who had angiographically documented coronary artery disease of several degrees (patient group). The extent and severity of arterial lesions were evaluated by the Gensini scoring system. PONase and HTase activities were measured in serum using a spectrophotometric method. PON1 Q192R polymorphism was evaluated using PCR-RFLP after DNA isolation from blood. Results: Serum PONase and HTase activities were significantly lower in the patient group than in healthy controls (135.7 56.0 U/mL vs 153.8 62.0 U/mL, p 0.05; 36.0 6.1 U/mL vs 43.0 4.04 U/mL, p 0.01; respectively). In the patient group, there was a negative correlation between PONase, HTase activities and the Gensini score (r 0.168, p 0.039; r 0.164, p 0.006, respectively). In both groups, there was no significant difference in the distribution of PON1 Q192R polymorphism. In the patient group, the distribution of Gensini scores according to genotypes was not significant. Conclusion: It has been concluded that serum PONase and HTase activities might be a more relevant marker than PON1 genotype in evaluating the extent and severity of atherosclerosis.

Both treatment regimens caused positive alterations in the lipid and lipoprotein profiles. This association might play a pivotal role in the postmenopausal increases in atherosclerotic diseases and cardioprotective effect of estrogen in postmenopausal women.

We believe that we have introduced three novel follow-up parameters, such as: IMA, MPO, EFTT to literature for the follow-up of CKD. As the levels of IMA MPO and EFTT increase, the severity of CKD increases (Tab. 4, Fig. 1, Ref. 25).

Decreased PON1-HTLase and increased ADMA levels might be a relevant marker for the development of future atherosclerotic heart disease (AHD) in non-obese PCOS patients. Further studies are needed to confirm our results.

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Organophosphate (OP) compounds are the most commonly used pesticide groups and they are commercially used in the market for local and industrial purposes. Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) enzyme plays an important role in biotransformation of OP compounds, which shows toxic effects via inhibiting the acetylcholinesterase (AChE). The aim of this study was to determine the effects of PON1 gene polymorphism and its effects on PON and AChE enzyme activities in individuals who were exposed to organophosphorus insecticides due to occupational reasons, and to profile the probability of susceptibility to organophosphorus compounds. For this purpose, 54 individuals who were exposed to OPs and 54 healthy unrelated controls were studied. First, PON1 and AChE enzyme activities were measured. Second, PON1 192 Q/R polymorphism was determined by standard polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique. When the PON1 192 Q/R polymorphism was compared with PON1 enzyme activities, statistically significant association was found in both OP-exposed and control groups (p < 0.05). PON1 192 R(+) (QR + RR genotypes) genotype carriers had higher PON1 activities than 192 R(-) (QQ) genotype carriers. On the other hand, results were statistically analyzed in terms of AChE enzyme activities and there were statistically significant differences only in the OP-exposed group (p < 0.05). The mean AChE concentration in the OP-exposed group was determined as 33.79 ± 6.84 U/g haemoglobin (Hb) for PON1 192 R(+) carriers and 30.37 ± 7.62 U/g Hb for PON1 192 R(+) carriers. As a conclusion, PON1 and AChE activities were increasing according to the genotypes found in individuals having been exposed to OPs at a chronic level; 192 R(+) > 192 R(-), respectively.

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