BACKGROUND It is not clear whether demographic or pterygium characteristics or limbal stem cell deficiency determine pterygium recurrence after surgery. PURPOSE To determine whether the demographic, pterygium characteristics, or limbal stem cell deficiency determine pterygium recurrence after excision. METHODS Of 190 patients operated and followed-up for 6 months, 101 and 89 underwent free ...

The first step in the splicing of an intron from nuclear precursors of mRNA results in the formation of a lariat structure. A distinct intronic nucleotide sequence, known as the branchpoint region, plays a central role in this process. We here describe a point mutation in such a sequence. Three sisters were shown to suffer from fish-eye disease (FED), a disorder which is caused by mutations in ...

OBJECTIVE We have previously shown that intravenous apolipoprotein A-I/phosphatidylcholine (apoA-I/PC) discs increase plasma pre-beta HDL concentration and stimulate reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) in humans. We have now investigated the associated changes in the following 3 HDL components that play key roles in RCT: lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), cholesteryl ester transfer pr...

This study aimed to investigate LDL subfraction distribution as well as serum cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), and paraoxonase (PON1) activity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic guinea pigs. Materials/Methods. Guinea pigs were given a single intraperitoneal (ip) injection of streptozotocin (STZ) and animals having fasting blood glucose leve...

Objective: In this study, we examined the effect of iridoid (I) derived from lyophilized aqueous extract of Ajuga iva on serum HDL2 and HDL3 compositions and lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity, enzyme responsible for reverse cholesterol transport. Methods: Male Wistar rats (n=24) weighing 120±5 g were fed a diet containing 1% cholesterol-rich diet for 15 days. After this phase...

BACKGROUND Chronic renal failure (CRF) causes oxidative stress, inflammation, oxidation of lipoproteins, impaired maturation of HDL and accelerated atherosclerosis. Uptake of oxidized lipoproteins by macrophages via scavenger receptors (scavenger receptor class A type I--SR-AI, and lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor--LOX-1) leads to foam cell formation and atherosclerosis. HDL mitigates atherosc...

Pregnenolone (PREG) can be converted to PREG esters (PE) by the plasma enzyme lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), and by other enzyme(s) with unknown identity. Acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase 1 and 2 (ACAT1 and ACAT2) convert various sterols to steryl esters; their activities are activated by cholesterol. PREG is a sterol-like molecule, with 3-β-hydroxy moiety at steroid ring A, ...

The action of a bacterial acyltransferase similar in overall reaction mechanism to the plasma enzyme lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) has been studied using normal plasma and lipoproteins and plasma from LCAT-deficient patients. The microbial enzyme (GCAT) catalyzed acyl transfer using phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol in all of the lipoprotein fractions, presumably because it has ...

BACKGROUND Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is associated with hyperlipidemia, altered lipid regulatory enzymes and receptors, and increased risk of progressive renal and cardiovascular diseases. Acyl-coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) catalyzes intracellular esterification of cholesterol and plays an important role in production of apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins, regulation of chol...