Fatores de risco de aterosclerose nos Açores

A secção Biologia é coordenada pelo Professor Universitário Armindo Rodrigues.[…]. Os trabalhos desenvolvidos na Universidade dos Açores sobre esta temática têm como objetivo o rastreio dos principais fatores de risco da aterosclerose nos Açores e a procura de marcadores moleculares da patologia que permitam a sua deteção precoce. Pretende-se assim conseguir um conhecimento mais profundo da aterosclerose e da situação verificada no arquipélago, que permita atuar ao nível da prevenção e da minoração dos fatores de risco da doença. Os resultados do estudo de um grupo de 352 indivíduos de ambos os géneros, naturais e residentes em várias ilhas dos Açores, aparentemente saudáveis (sem doenças cronicas, incluindo a diabetes) e com idades compreendidas entre os 20 e os 60 anos, revelaram elevadas prevalências de alguns dos fatores de risco convencionais, particularmente a hipertensão arterial (46%), o sobrepeso e obesidade (70%) e as dislipidémias (43%). […].info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Assessment of some atherosclerosis risk factors in apparently healthy subjects from two Azorean populations

XV International Symposium of Atherosclerosis (ISA):Abstract P331.Copyright © 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.OBJECTIVES: In Azores, the death rate from coronary artery disease (CAD) is about twice than in mainland Portugal. The aim of this study was to assess some major risk factors of atherosclerosis-AT (serum lipid profile and apoB and apoA-1 levels) in subjects from two populations in S. Miguel Island. Hypertension and obesity were also considered. METHODS: The study group was formed by 147 apparently healthy subjects with no chronic diseases, aged 20 to 60 years, born living, respectively, in the villages of Nordeste –ND (53 men and 39 women) and Povoação-PV (22 men and 51 women). Clinical information and life habits were also registered. RESULTS: In both groups about 62% of subjects were hyperlipidemic and 30% obese. Hypertension was observed in about 36% in PV and 43% in the ND group. Both apoB levels and apoB/apoA-1 ratio were significantly higher in ND than in the PV subjects, namely in men (31% and 19%, respectively). Also apoA-1 levels in men were 9% higher in ND than in PV. In the ND group, sex-related differences were found in apoB levels and apoB/apoA-1 ratio, being higher in men. In the PV group, apoA-1 levels were significantly lower (15%) in men than in women. CONCLUSION: Although apparently healthy, most subjects from the two studied populations were hyperlipidemic, mainly due to hypercholesterolemia (TC and LDL-C). However, HDL-C was at high levels (60 mg/dL) in both groups. The coexistence of dyslipidemia, hypertension and obesity (26% of cases in ND and 17% in PV group) can aggravate the risk of developing AT (and CAD), which is higher in ND than in PV, mainly in men. ApoB/apoA-1 ratio revealed to be a simpler index of atherogenic risk than the classic serum lipid profile.Governo Regional dos Açore

Rapid, sensitive and simultaneous determination of ascorbic and uric acids in human plasma by ion-exclusion HPLC-UV

Copyright © 2013 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.OBJECTIVES: Ascorbic (AA) and uric (UA) acids act as antioxidants and are capable to react with biologically relevant oxidants. We aimed to developed a simple, rapid, sensitive, and accurate ion-exclusion HPLC-UV methodology for the simultaneously determination of AA and UA in human plasma. METHODS: Analytical pre-requisites, such as the use of heparin as an anticoagulant and meta-phosphoric acid as a stabilizer were added for accurate and reliable measurements. Chromatographic separation was achieved by an isocratic elution on a HEMA-BIO 1000 SB analytical column using a phosphate buffer, pH 2.4, as a mobile phase. RESULTS: Results indicated an excellent linearity with correlation coefficients (r²) ≥ 0.999. The LOD of AA and UA was 1.02 and 1.42 nmol/mL, respectively, while LOQ ranged from 0.306 to 0.426 nmol/mL. A great repeatability for both antioxidants was found, where the CV (%) values for intra-day were lower than 1.8% and under 6.5% for the inter-day assay. The recovery of AA ranged from 92% to 96% and from 99% to 100% for UA. CONCLUSION: This validated method allows the determination of both antioxidants within 10 min, and is well suited to routine measurements and/or high-throughput clinical analysis. The methodology was applied to assess the antioxidant status of a group of Azorean subjects.Governo Regional dos Açores

Plasma aminothiol profile in apparently healthy subjects from the Azores Archipelago, Portugal

79th Congress of the European- Atherosclerosis -Society (AES): Abstract 518.Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Hypercysteinemia, a potential risk factor for central obesity and related disorders in Azores, Portugal

In Azores, the standardized mortality rate for coronary artery disease (CAD) is nearly the double when compared to mainland Portugal. The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of conventional CAD risk factors, as well as the plasma aminothiol profile (and its major determinants), between two groups of healthy subjects from Ponta Delgada (in Azores) and Lisbon (in mainland) cities, searching for precocious biomarker(s) of the disease. The study groups consisted of 101 healthy volunteers from Ponta Delgada (PDL) and 121 from Lisbon, aged 20-69 years. No differences in the prevalence of classical CAD risk factors were found between the study groups, except in physical inactivity and related central obesity, which were both higher in PDL men than in those from Lisbon. Hypercysteinemia, which seems to result from sulfur-rich amino acid diets and/or vitamin B12 malabsorption, revealed to be significantly more prevalent in PDL vs. Lisbon subjects (18% vs. 4%, P=0.001), namely, in male gender. Moreover, plasma Cys levels predicted waist circumference (β coefficient = 0.102, P=0.032) and concomitant central obesity and were also associated with insulin resistance. Nevertheless, hyperhomocysteinemia prevalence was similar in both groups, despite the fact that PDL subjects exhibited a higher rate of vitamin B12 deficiency compared to those from Lisbon (19% vs. 6%, P=0.003). Owing to the nature of this study design, a cause-effect relationship between high plasma Cys levels and central obesity or CAD risk could not be derived, but results strongly suggest that hypercysteinemia is a potential risk factor for metabolic disorders, i.e., obesity and insulin resistance, and CAD in Azores, a hypothesis that asks for confirmation through further large prospective studies.)is work was supported by the Regional Government of the Azores (FRCT), Portugal (PhD grant number M3.1.2/F/017/ 2011 to AL, postdoctoral grant number M3.1.7/F/020/2011 to RF, and research project number M1.1.C/I/001/2016).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Prevalence of Heart Disease Risk Factors in the Azores

Abstract(157) de Comunicação em Painel apresentada em "81st European Atherosclerosis Society (AES) Congress", 2013, 2-5 Jun, Lyon, France.BACKGROUND and AIMS: In the Azores age adjusted death rates from coronary heart disease (CHD) are two-fold higher than in mainland Portugal. We determined the prevalence of standard and emerging CHD risk factors in 206 female and 146 male Azorean subjects (mean age 41 years)

Serum atherogenic lipid markers in subjects from three islands of The Azores Archipelago (Portugal): a comparison study

78th Congress of the European- Atherosclerosis -Society (AES): Abstract MS237.Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.São Miguel (SM), Graciosa (GR) and São Jorge (SJ) are three islands of the Azores’ Archipelago, where the death rate from coronary artery disease is abouttwice than in mainland Portugal. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare serum atherogenic lipid markers as reflected by lipid profile, as well as by apoB/apoA-1 ratio in apparently healthy subjects from those islands. The study group was formed by 321 subjects with no chronic diseases, aged 20 to 60 years, born living in the respective island (156 from SM, 92 from GR and 73 from SJ). In all cases, about 64% of subjects were hyperlipidemic, mainly hypercholesterolemic. LDL-C and HDL-C concentrations were respectively, lower and higher in SM than in SJ or GR. ApoB concentration was 40% and 17% higher in SJ than in SM and GR, respectively, while apoA-1 reached the maximum in SM (178±38 mg/dL). Regarding apoB/apoA-1 ratio, taken as a better atherogenic marker then conventional lipid profile, subjects from GR exhibited the highest mean value (0.85±0.4), followed by those from SJ (0.75±0.3) and SM (0.58±0.2). Particularly in men from GR and SJ, ratios were 1.0 and 0.9, respectively, which corresponds to a high risk of developing a cardiovascular incident

Plasma aminothiol status in the population of the Island of São Jorge (The Azores Archipelago, Portugal)

78th Congress of the European- Atherosclerosis -Society (AES): Abstract MS269.Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Hcy, Cys, Cys-Gly and GSH are low molecular weight thiols that play important roles in the metabolism and homeostasis of the organism. An altered plasma aminothiols status can cause oxidative stress, thus contributing to atherogenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the plasma levels of total Hcy, Cys, Cys-Gly and GSH, as well as GGT activity in apparently healthy subjects from the Island of S˜ao Jorge, taking into consideration gender and lipid profile. The study group was formed by 73 subjects with no chronic diseases, aged 20 to 60 years, born living in the island of S˜ao Jorge. The evaluation of the four aminothiols was carried out by HPLC with an isocratic reversephase column using a fluorescence detector. Mean values of GSH (1.8±0.6mM) and Cys (240±35mM) content were under reference values, but Cys-Gly was above. Plasma total Hcy, Cys and Cys-Gly levels, as well as GGT activity were significantly higher in men than in women (respectively, 30%, 7%, 17% and 65%). About 63% of subjects were hyperlipidemic, mainly hypercholesterolemic. Cys concentration was increased by 9% in hyperlipidemics vs. normolipidemics. In subjects with altered thiol status men, but not women, revealed a moderate hyperhomocysteinemia. Also Cys-Gly concentrations were significantly higher in men than in women. In spite of being apparently healthy, all subjects (namely men) have depleted antioxidant defenses, indicating high oxidative stress. Alterations in plasma GSH, Cys-Gly and Cys concentrations, taken together, and independently of dyslipidemia, could be considered as early markers of atherosclerosis

Antioxidant markers and cardiovascular risk factors in Azorean subjects with coronary artery disease

Abstract de Comunicação em painel apresentada em "14th World Congress on Heart Disease, International Academy of Cardiology", 2008, 26-29 Jul, Toronto, Canadá.To evaluate some blood antioxidant parameters in azorean subjects with coronary artery disease (CAD) previously submitted to percutaneous revascularization (PCI), by considering some cardiovascular risk factors

Blood antioxidant markers and elemental levels in Azorean patients with coronary artery disease: a preliminary study

Abstract de comunicação em Painel (3.P01) apresentada em VIIIth Conference of the International Society for Trace Element Research in Humans (ISTERH), IXth Conference of the Nordic Trace Element Society (NTES) and VIth Conference of the Helenic Trace Element Society (HTES),2007,21-26 Out, Hersonissos (Creta), GréciaAtherosclerosis (ATH) and related vascular diseases are the first cause of morbidity and mortality in Portugal, including the Azores’ Archipelago. The oxidation of low density lipoproteins (LDL) is considered to be an important event in the development of the disease. Accordingly, by preventing LDL oxidation, antioxidants can possibly reduce the risk or the progression of ATH. Essential trace elements as Cu, Se, Zn, and Fe are involved in endogenous antioxidant systems, mainly as cofactors of antioxidant enzymes. Other elements, like K and Ca, might play a role in atherogenesis while implicated in physiological and metabolic processes which are known to be disturbed in ATH. The aimof the present study was to evaluate some blood antioxidant markers and blood elemental levels in 20 Azorean subjects (ten men and ten women, aged 40 to 65 years) with coronary artery disease previously submitted to percutaneous revascularization (PCI). The whole blood gluthatione peroxidase (Se-GPx) and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activities were measured, as well as serum vitamin E levels (by HPLC). The concentrations of K, Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Se in plasma and blood cells were determined by PIXE. Results were analyzed by taking into account several cardiovascular risk factors, namely, gender, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) concentration. Se-GPx activity and vitamin E levels were significantly lower (24 and 15%, respectively) in the PCI group than in controls. In blood cells, significantly differences in Ca (19±5 vs 24±6 μg/mL) and Zn (14±1 vs 12±2 μg/mL) levels were observed in PCI women (but not in men) compared to the respective counterparts. Also in PCI women, both serum triglyceride and plasma tHcy concentrations were above reference values and higher than in men. Results suggest a decreased antioxidant status in PCI patients. In particular, women appear to be less protected than men, as reflected in some cardiovascular risk factors