L'Univers

1872/01/29 (Numéro 1686).

Ankle-brachial index, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and endothelial function in a cardiovascular risk population

Atherosclerotic vascular disease is the leading cause of death in the Western world. Its main three manifestations are coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral arterial disease. Asymptomatic peripheral arterial disease is usually diagnosed using the ankle brachial index, and values ≤ 0.90 are used to determine the diagnosis. The classical risk factors of peripheral arterial disease, such as smoking and diabetes, are well known and early interventions are mandatory to improve the prognosis. What is not well known is the role of inflammation as a risk factor. Yet, a novel approach to cardiovascular diseases is the measurement of endothelial function. In this thesis, we studied the ankle-brachial index, C-reactive protein and endothelial function in a cardiovascular risk population. A total of 2856 subjects were invited to the study and 2085 (73%) responded. From these subjects, a cohort of 1756 risk persons was screened. We excluded the subjects with previously known cardiovascular disease or diabetes, because they were already under systematic follow-up. Out of the study subjects, 983 (56%) were women and 773 (44%) men. The ankle brachial index and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were measured from 1047 subjects. Endothelial function was assessed by measuring reactive hyperemia pulse amplitude tonometry from 66 subjects with borderline peripheral arterial disease. In this study, smoking was a crucial risk factor for peripheral arterial disease. Subclinical peripheral arterial disease seems to be more common in hypertensive patients even without comorbidities. The measurement of the ankle brachial index is an efficient method to identify patients at an increased cardiovascular risk. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein did not correlate with the ankle brachial index or peripheral arterial disease. Instead, it correlated with measures of obesity. In a cardiovascular risk population with borderline peripheral arterial disease, nearly every fourth subject had endothelial dysfunction. This might point out a subgroup of individuals in need of more intensive treatment for their risk factors.

L'Univers

1872/04/09 (Numéro 1756).

Mare Balticum. Amstelodami, Apud. F. de Wit. ; Nieuwe pascaert van de Oost Zee t Amsterdam Gedruckt by F. de Wit

Pahville liimattu

La Moscovie.

[N. 1:12000000].

Tečenïe Nepy [!] rěki iz" Ladožskago ozera k" St: Peterburgu. Fluvius Newa e lacu Ladoga Petropolin versus procurrens recens delineatus: jam vero ad exemplar Petropolitanum aeri incisus a Matthaeus Seutter, sac. caes. maj. geogr. Aug. Vind.

Perustuu Joseph Nicolas Delislen laatimaan ja Johann Elias Grimmelin kaivertamaan vastaavaan karttaan vuodelta 1741.

Nova mappa geographica Sueciae ac Gothiae regna ut et Finlandiae ducatum ac Lapponiam, cum provinciis minoribus, ob oculos ponens, cura et sumtibus Tobiae Conradi Lotter, chalcogr et geogr: Augustae Vindel.

Alareunassa privilegiomerkintä: Cum gratia et privil. s. r. i. vicariatq, in partibq Rheni, Sveviae, et juris Franconici.

Om hushållningens uphjelpande i Carelen

Invokaatio: M.G.H.

De usu, quem praestat cognitio logices et metaphysices oratori sacro

Invokaatio: I.N.S.S.T.

Om svenska folkbristen

Invokaatio: M.G.H.

The mutagenic and antimutagenic effects of the traditional phytoestrogen-rich herbs, Pueraria mirifica and Pueraria lobata

Pueraria mirifica is a Thai phytoestrogen-rich herb traditionally used for the treatment of menopausal symptoms. Pueraria lobata is also a phytoestrogen-rich herb traditionally used in Japan, Korea and China for the treatment of hypertension and alcoholism. We evaluated the mutagenic and antimutagenic activity of the two plant extracts using the Ames test preincubation method plus or minus the rat liver mixture S9 for metabolic activation using Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98 and TA100 as indicator strains. The cytotoxicity of the two extracts to the two S. typhimurium indicators was evaluated before the mutagenic and antimutagenic tests. Both extracts at a final concentration of 2.5, 5, 10, or 20 mg/plate exhibited only mild cytotoxic effects. The plant extracts at the concentrations of 2.5, 5 and 10 mg/plate in the presence and absence of the S9 mixture were negative in the mutagenic Ames test. In contrast, both extracts were positive in the antimutagenic Ames test towards either one or both of the tested mutagens 2-(2-furyl)-3-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-acrylamide and benzo(a)pyrene. The absence of mutagenic and the presence of anti-mutagenic activities of the two plant extracts were confirmed in rec-assays and further supported by a micronucleus test where both plant extracts at doses up to 300 mg/kg body weight (equivalent to 16 g/kg body weight plant tuberous powder) failed to exhibit significant micronucleus formation in rats. The tests confirmed the non-mutagenic but reasonably antimutagenic activities of the two plant extracts, supporting their current use as safe dietary supplements and cosmetics.

In quâ homo christianus rudi penicillo describitur ex Actis apostolorum cap. XI. versu 26

Invokaatio: Syn tō theō trismegistō.

De aquis supra coelestibus

Dedikaatio: David Lund, Johannes Beckman, Jonas Ekeroot, Carolus Brochius, Andreas Oselius, Gabriel Kalm.

Positiva veritas causalitatis causae per accidens

Dedikaatio: Johannes Gezelius.

De jure belli

Invokaatio: Ivvante goele!