Gamma-Carboxyglutamic acid (Gla)-containing protein, synthesized in the presence of vitamin K, has been found in atherogenic plaques, but the pharmacological effect of vitamin K on atherosclerosis is unclear. We examined whether vitamin K2 (menatetrenone) could affect the progression of both atherosclerosis and hypercoagulability in hypercholesterolemic rabbits. Vitamin K2 in daily doses of 1, ...

Objective(s): Protosappanin A (PrA) is an effective and major ingredient of Caesalpinia sappan L. The current study was aimed to explore the effect of PrA on atherosclerosis (AS). Materials and Methods: Firstly, the experimental model of AS was established in rabbits by two-month feeding of high fat diet. Then, the rabbits were randomly divided into five groups and treated with continuous high ...

BACKGROUND Inflammation is fundamental to the development of atherosclerosis. We examined the effect of anti-inflammatory doses of salicylate on endothelium-dependent vasodilation, a biomarker of cardiovascular risk, in a broad range of subjects. METHODS AND RESULTS We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial evaluating the effects of 4 weeks of high-dose salsa...

Background—Although there is a statistically significant association between modestly raised baseline plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) values and future cardiovascular events, the debate is still unsettled in regard to whether CRP plays a causal role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Methods and Results—We generated 2 lines of transgenic (Tg) rabbits expressing human CRP (hCRP). The plasma...

BACKGROUND Although there is a statistically significant association between modestly raised baseline plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) values and future cardiovascular events, the debate is still unsettled in regard to whether CRP plays a causal role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. METHODS AND RESULTS We generated 2 lines of transgenic (Tg) rabbits expressing human CRP (hCRP). The plas...

The feeding of a diet rich in unsaturated fats to rabbits produced no significant alteration of the serum cholesterol level, while the feeding of a diet rich in saturated fats produced an elevation of the serum cholesterol without the development of experimental atherosclerosis. The addition of unsaturated fnts to a diet rich in cholesterol failed to prevent hypercholesterolemia and experimenta...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Chronic simulated snoring was induced in rabbits to determine the impact of snoring on the development of atherosclerosis. METHODS The pressure wave of induced snoring at the carotid bifurcation of rabbits was acquired by gently pressing the airway. This wave was then simulated using custom-made mechanical devices. Twelve rabbits were used in this study, seven of which ...

1. The range of free cholesterol in the blood of rabbits, as determined by the Windaus method, varies from 35 to 125 mg. with a mean of 71 mg. per 100 cc. of blood. 2. The small amount of cholesterol contained in the high protein diet used by us in earlier work and causing atherosclerosis does not affect the blood cholesterol nor does it cause arterial disease. 3. In order to produce atheroscle...

S U M M A R Y Rabbits fed cholesteroland oil-supplemented diet were carefully paired for equality of plasma cholesterol concentration during the feeding period and a subsequent 30 days of normal diet. The normal diet was continued and one of each pair of rabbits was then subjected to intravenous infusion of mixed phosphatides of animal or soybean origin twice weekly for an average of 11 infusi...

Rabbits were fed a low cholesterol atherogenic diet for up to 5 years. Arterial lesions during the first 12 months consisted of smooth muscle cell and lipid accumulation in the intima, with smaller amounts of elastin and collagen. By 24 months, considerable degeneration and necrosis of smooth muscle foam cells had occurred, lipid had decreased in relative proportion, and collagen was predominan...