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Ghrelin and obestatin are a single gene products and are a multiple functional peptides that regulates energy homeostasis, and food intake. In the present work, we studied the secretion of ghrelin and its co-secreted peptide obestatin in 44 patients with ischemic heart disease with that of 27 healthy matched controls. Here we first conducted using an immunohistochemistry assay to screen whether human salivary glands have any obestatin immunoreactivity. Then, serum and saliva obestatin and acylated ghrelin levels were determined by using Radioimmunoassay. Our immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that obestatin was localized in the striated and excretory duct of human salivary gland. We also report for the first time that obestatin, like ghrelin, is present in human salivary gland and saliva. No evidence of the role of obestatin or ghrelin saliva levels in the context of ischemic heart disease was found. Salivary ghrelin and obestatin levels are correlated in controls with the blood levels. Determination of salivary values could represent a non-invasive alternative to serum ones that can be useful in clinical practice. [BMB reports 2008; 41(1): 55-61]

No abstract

Background/Aim. Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) was thought of as a variant of atherosclerosis. C-reactive protein (CRP) which is among the most sensitive markers of systemic inflammation, and elevation of systemic and local levels of this inflammatory marker which has been associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease in the obstructive coronary artery disease (O-CAD) are well known, but little was known in CAE. The anti-inflammatory effects of statins and the effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors on endothelial dysfunction are well established in atherosclerosis. The aim of the present study was to investigate CRP level and its response to statin and ACE inhibitor treatment in CAE. Materials and method. We measured serum hs-CRP level in 40 CAE (26 males, mean age: 56.32 ± 9 years) and 41 O-CAD (34 males, mean age: 57.19 ± 10 years) patients referred for elective coronary angiography at baseline and after 3-month statin and ACE inhibitor treatment. Results. Plasma hs-CRP levels were significantly higher in CAE group than O-CAD group at baseline (2.68 ± 66 mg/L versus 1, 64 ± 64, resp., P < .0001). Plasma hs-CRP levels significantly decreased from baseline 3 months later in the CE (from 2.68±0.66 mg/L to 1.2±0.53 mg/L, P < .0001) as well as in the O-CAD group (from 1.64±0.64 mg/L to 1.01±0.56 mg/L, P < .001). Conclusion. We think that hs-CRP measurement may be a good prognostic value in CAE patients as in stenotic ones. Further placebo-controlled studies are needed to evaluate the clinical significance of this decrease in hs-CRP.

SUMMARYThe effects of spironolactone or metoprolol added to a conventional treatment protocol on QT dispersion, which is accepted as a sudden cardiac death predictor, were evaluated in heart failure patients.?A total of 105 New York Heart Association class III patients were included in this study. The conventional treatment protocol was standardized by giving ramipril, furosemide, and digoxin to all patients for 3 weeks at the same doses. At the end of this period, the patients were divided into three groups. Conventional treatment was continued in group 1, 25 mg spironolactone was added in group 2, and 12.5 mg metoprolol was added in group 3. Patients were followed for 12 weeks and clinical and laboratory tests were conducted at 3 week intervals.No significant change in corrected QT dispersion was observed in group1 at the end of 12 weeks (corrected QT dispersion: 80 ± 2 msc to 79 ± 2 msc, P: 0.22). However, corrected QT dispersion in group 2 was reduced by 32.5% (83 ± 2 msc to 56 ± 1 msc; P: 0.01). A 32.9% reduction in corrected QT dispersion (79 ± 2 msc to 53 ± 2 msc; P: 0.01) was observed in group 3.In conclusion, the addition of spironolactone or metoprolol to a conventional treatment in heart failure patients resulted in improved clinical conditions and the significant decrease in sudden death predictors corrected QT dispersion. The effects of spironolactone and metoprolol on corrected QT dispersion were similar. (Jpn Heart J 2003; 44: 681-692)

We suggest that there is an abnormal plasma ADMA-to-NO balance in patients with documented CAD and that this may be due at least in part to an associated reduction in renal function.

Long-term clopidogrel administration significantly reduced neointimal formation at the stent site as well as reducing major clinical events in patients who did not develop high-risk systemic inflammatory response after percutaneous coronary intervention.

Brakiyal arter intima-media kalınlığının endotel fonksiyonu ve sol ventrikül kütle indeksi ile ilişkisiThe relation of intima-media thickness with endothelial function and left ventricular mass index 220 ABSTRACT Objective: We aimed to investigate the relation of brachial artery intima-media thickness (IMT) with endothelial function and left ventricular mass (LVM). Methods: Fifty four stage I-II hypertensive patients according to JNC VII who were not taking any medication and 27 age and sex-matched healthy controls were included to this cross-sectional observational study. IMT was measured by the same radiologist who was unaware of the patient's clinical status by using high resolution ultrasound machine. Endothelial function was evaluated by flow mediated dilation (endothelium-dependent vasodilatation, FMD