Increased plasma concentrations of interleukin 35 in patients with coronary artery disease

INTRODUCTION

Atherosclerosis leading to coronary artery disease (CAD) is a chronic inflammatory condition. Interleukin 35 (IL-35) released by regulatory T cells (Tregs) has been found to be associated with CAD in the Chinese population. However, nothing is known about the relation between IL-35 concentrations and cholesterol levels. The aim of the study was to assess the levels of IL-35 in CAD patients and healthy subjects from a Caucasian population, and to analyze the relationship between IL-35 and the levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), sex and postmenopausal status.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Thirty-one patients with CAD and 30 healthy controls were included in the study. Levels of plasma IL-35 were analyzed by ELISA. The LVEF was assessed by transthoracic echocardiographic examination. Plasma levels of cholesterol fractions and C-reactive protein (CRP) were assessed by immunoenzymatic methods.

RESULTS

The CAD patients had higher levels of IL-35 as compared to healthy controls (58.1 ±16.6 pg/ml vs. 5.35 ±3.35 pg/ml; p < 0.001). IL-35 levels negatively correlated with total and LDL cholesterol concentrations (R = -0.31, p < 0.01) and positively correlated with HDL cholesterol in men (R = 0.53, p < 0.01). In women, IL-35 levels negatively correlated with LVEF (R = -0.29, p < 0.05) and positively with the duration of postmenopausal status (R = 0.55, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest a possible association between high levels of IL-35 and CAD.

[Frequency of use of oral vitamin K antagonists in patients with atrial fibrillation and cognitive function disturbances]

The incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) and of thromboembolic complications increases along with age. This is also the case for cognitive function disturbances; therefore their occurrence in patients (pts) with AF may hamper control of anticoagulant therapy and maintenance of therapeutic INR values. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of cognitive function disturbances on implementation and monitoring of the treatment with oral vitamin K antagonists (VKA) in patients with AF. The relationship between the level of cognitive function disturbances and the severity of experienced AF symptoms was defined.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The analysis included a group of 93 pts (41 males, 52 females, mean age: 76.8) with a diagnosis of AF and with indications for anticoagulation treatment with VKAs (CHA2DS2VASc > or = 2, HAS-BLED < 3), referred to the Clinic of Internal Diseases and Clinical Pharmacology of the Medical University of Lodz. In a group of pts (n = 46) treated chronically with VKAs, mean INR values at admission to the hospital were calculated and the number of results falling within the therapeutic range of 2-3, by the severity of cognitive disturbances, was analyzed. Cognitive abilities were assessed with the Mini Mental State Examination Scale (MMSE) (MMSE-Mini-mental state examination). The EHRA (European Heart Rhythm Association) classification was used to assess AF-related complaints.

RESULTS

The 93 studied subjects were divided into 3 groups: group I with normal cognitive function (MMSE = 24-27) - n = 35; group II with disturbances of cognitive function without dementia (MMSE = 24-26) - n = 35 and group III with dementia (MMSE < 24) - n = 23.66% of pts with normal MMSE result were referred to the hospital because AF-related symptoms and in the group of patients with MMSE < 24 these symptoms were the cause of hospitalization in 23% of pts. Despite the fact that all patients had indications for VKAs, this treatment was not started in 40%, 51.4% and 65% of pts in group I, II and III, respectively. At admission to the hospital, therapeutic level INR values were found only in 34.8% of AF pts. 49% of pts were treated with VKAs in total. In group II, a high percentage of patients (43%) treated with aspirin was found in spite of high thromboembolic risk and no contraindications to VKAs. About 23% of pts with a normal MMSE result and 14% of pts in group II experienced AF-related symptoms preventing them from normal functioning and performing daily activities (EHRA IV). Nobody in group III reported severe AF-related symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Along with the advancing age, there is an increase of the incidence of persistent and fixed atrial fibrillation, of the risk of thromboembolic complications and of the severity of cognitive function disturbances. Treatment with oral vitamin K antagonists was implemented much less frequently among patients with atrial fibrillation and cognitive function disturbances, as compared to the patients with normal cognitive function. The MMSE test should be routinely performed in patients with atrial fibrillation to monitor the efficacy and safety of the treatment with oral vitamin K antagonists properly. In patients with disturbances of cognitive function, significantly lower reportability of AF-related complaints was shown, as compared to individuals without these disturbances. Patients with normal MMSE result were referred to the hospital because AF-related symptoms, in the group of patients with MMSE < 23 the main reason for hospitalization was the severity of the symptoms heart failure. ECG should be a routine test performed in elderly patients with cognitive function disturbances or with dementia to detect atrial fibrillation.

Anti-oxidant activity of spermine and spermidine re-evaluated with oxidizing systems involving iron and copper ions

This study was designed to investigate the direction of redox reactions of spermine and spermidine in the presence of iron and copper. The redox activity of spermine and spermidine was assessed using a variety of methods, including their ability to: (1) reduce Fe(3+) to Fe(2+) ions; (2) protect deoxyribose from oxidation by Fe(2+)-ethylene diaminetetraacetic acid, Fe(3+)-ethylene diaminetetraacetic acid systems with and without H(2)O(2); (3) protect DNA from damage caused by Cu(2+)-H(2)O(2), and Fe(2+)-H(2)O(2) with and without ascorbic acid; (4) inhibit H(2)O(2)-peroxidase-induced luminol dependent chemiluminescence; (5) scavenge diphenyl-picryl-hydrazyl radical. Spermine and spermidine at concentration 1mM reduced 1.8+/-0.3 and 2.5+/-0.1 nmol of Fe(3+) ions during 20 min incubation. Both polyamines enhanced deoxyribose oxidation. The highest enhancement of 7.6-fold in deoxyribose degradation was found for combination of spermine with Fe(3+)-ethylene diaminetetraacetic acid. An 10mM spermine and spermidine decreased CuSO(4)-H(2)O(2)-ascorbic acid- and FeSO(4)-H(2)O(2)-ascorbic-induced DNA damage by 73+/-6, 69+/-4% and 90+/-5, 53+/-4%, respectively. They did not protect DNA from CuSO(4)-H(2)O(2) and FeSO(4)-H(2)O(2). Spermine apparently increased the CuSO(4)-H(2)O(2)-dependent injury to DNA. Polyamines attenuated H(2)O(2)-peroxidase-induced luminol dependent chemiluminescence. Total light emission from specimens containing 10mM spermine or spermidine was attenuated by 85.3+/-1.5 and 87+/-3.6%. During 20 min incubation 1mM spermine or spermidine decomposed 8.1+/-1.4 and 9.2+/-1.8% of diphenyl-picryl-hydrazyl radical. These results demonstrate that polyamines of well known anti-oxidant properties may act as pro-oxidants and enhance oxidative damage to DNA components in the presence of free iron ions and H(2)O(2).

Safety of various methods of intensive insulin therapy in hospital condition assessed by hypoglycaemic episodes detected with the use of continuous glucose monitoring system

PURPOSE

The aim of the study was to determine the safety of three intensive insulin therapy methods: multiple daily insulin injections (MDI), continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) and continuous intravenous insulin infusion (IVII) used in poorly controlled type 2 diabetic patients in hospital condition. The safety of these intensive insulin therapy methods was measured by the assessment of number and duration of symptomatic and symptomfree hypoglycaemic events with use of Continuous Glucose Monitoring System (CGMS, Medtronic MiniMed).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study comprised 90 type 2 diabetic patients treated with conventional insulin therapy based on a twice daily injections with mean glucose profile values > 14 mmol/l. The patients were randomized into three groups according to the method of insulin treatment. The first group was treated with MDI, the second group with CSII and the third with IVII. The glucose monitoring with the use of CGMS lasted 48 hours and was conducted on the second and on the third day of intensive insulin therapy. Glucose level below 3.5 mmol/l were recognized as hypoglycaemic episode. Intensive insulin treatment was continued until "near normoglycaemia" (glucose levels 4.5-10.0 mmol/l) was achieved and then conventional insulin therapy was readministrated.

RESULTS

Mean number of symptomatic hypoglycaemic events detected with CGMS was two times higher for MDI than for IVII (p = 0.04) and for CSII (p = 0.04). Number of symptomfree hypoglycaemic events detected with CGMS was higher for MDI than for IVII and CSII, but the differences were insignificant (NS). Mean duration of one symptomfree hypoglycaemic event detected with CGMS was longer in MDI than in CSII (p = 0.02) and IVII (p = 0.03). It was not observed significant differences in mean duration of one symptomatic hypoglycaemic episode between studied groups (NS).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of study suggest that CSII and IVII treatment is associated with essentially lower number of symptomatic hypoglycaemic events and shorter mean duration of one symptomfree hypoglycaemic event than MDI.

[Effect of short-term intensive insulin therapy on daily insulin requirement in poorly controlled type 2 diabetes patients]

Prompt metabolic control improvement and daily insulin requirement assessment are indications for short-term intensive insulin therapy in type 2 diabetes, applied as multiple daily subcutaneous insulin injections (MDI), continuous subcutaneous (CSII) and intravenous insulin infusion (IVII). The study aimed at assessing the mean daily insulin dosage before beginning and after finishing three methods of short-term intensive insulin therapy, discontinued upon achievement of good glycemic control. 90 poorly controlled type 2 diabetes patients, hospitalized in Diabetology Department of Medical University in Lódź, treated with insulin twice daily were enrolled into the study (age 52.8 +/- 6.7 years, mean daily insulin dosage 0.76 +/- 0.28 U.I./kg. of body weight, daily blood glucose profile values 271 +/- 76 mg/dl). The patients were randomized into three groups: the first group treated with MDI, the second with IVII and the third with CSII. Insulin dosage increased significantly after MDI therapy comparing with prehospital values (0.72 U.I./ kg-->0.84 U.I./kg, p = 0.007). No change in daily insulin requirement was noted in CSII and IVII groups. We concluded that CSII and IVII comparing with MDI are more efficient methods of achieving prompt glucose control improvement and they do not lead to the increase in the insulin dosage.