BACKGROUND Pitavastatin is the newest statin available in Brazil and likely the one with fewer side effects. Thus, pitavastatin was evaluated in hypercholesterolemic rabbits in relation to its action on vascular reactivity. OBJECTIVE To assess the lowest dose of pitavastatin necessary to reduce plasma lipids, cholesterol and tissue lipid peroxidation, as well as endothelial function in hyperc...

OBJECTIVE Hypercholesterolemia and hypertension are associated with aortic valve stenosis (AVS) in humans. We have examined aortic valve function, structure, and gene expression in hypercholesterolemic/hypertensive mice. APPROACH AND RESULTS Control, hypertensive, hypercholesterolemic (Apoe(-/-)), and hypercholesterolemic/hypertensive mice were studied. Severe aortic stenosis (echocardiograph...

Activated platelets release potent vasoactive factors. Previous studies have focused on mechanisms by which vascular abnormalities lead to altered responses of atherosclerotic arteries. We tested the hypothesis that the activation of platelets from hypercholesterolemic humans produces abnormal vascular responses. Responses to intraluminal and abluminal activation of platelets from normal subjec...

Objectives: There is evidence that the antioxidant systems are imbalanced in hypercholesterolemic rats due to oxidative stress. Dietary supplementation of Pleurotus sajor-caju and P. florida are anti-hypercholesterolemic in rats. In this study, it was investigated whether these mushrooms have any effects on the antioxidant systems in hypercholesterolemic rat liver, which are altered. Methods: T...

Hypercholesterolemia impairs endothelium-dependent relaxations to several platelet-derived substances in large vessels. The effect of hypercholesterolemia on the response of coronary microvessels to platelet products and thrombin is less well defined. Three groups of cynomolgus monkeys were studied: normal (n = 6), short-term hypercholesterolemic (8-11 weeks, n = 5), and long-term hypercholeste...

OBJECTIVES After participating in the CME activity, primary care physicians should be able to: 1. Understand the fundamental concepts in cardiovascular risk stratification in hypercholesterolemic subjects based on new cholesterol guidelines 2. Recognize the common secondary causes of hypercholesterolemia and the choice of laboratory studies to identify patients with these disorders 3. Understan...

OBJECTIVE We sought to assess the activity of endogenous endothelin-1 (ET-1) in hypercholesterolemic patients using antagonists of ET-1 receptors. BACKGROUND Endothelial dysfunction in hypercholesterolemic patients may contribute to their risk of premature atherosclerosis. Endothelin, a peptide released by endothelial cells, may be involved in this process by activating smooth muscle cell mit...

BACKGROUND Hypercholesterolemia is a condition characterised with high level of cholesterol in the blood. OBJECTIVES The effect of ethanolic extract of Buchholzia coriacea (EEBC) on the lipid profile levels and extent of lipid peroxidation in hypercholesterolemic albino rats was investigated in this study. METHODS Thirty albino rats were divided into six different groups which consist of gr...

Our lab has shown that left circumflex coronary artery (LCX) perivascular adipose tissue (PAT) blunts endothelin-1 (ET-1)-induced maximal contractions in normal pigs on low- and high-fat diets. Other studies report that PAT exerts anticontractile effects on agonist-induced arterial contraction via release of a relaxing factor that acts on the underlying vasculature. The purpose of this study wa...