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Biomedical subjects

A Del Río

Publications and source records attributed to A Del Río.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Cholesterol-lowering effect of policosanol on rabbits with hypercholesterolaemia induced by a wheat starch-casein diet.

The effect of policosanol, a mixture of high-molecular-weight aliphatic alcohols isolated from sugarcane wax, on casein-induced hypercholesterolaemia in rabbits was studied. When policosanol was administered by the oral route once daily for 30 d (50 mg/kg) the increases in plasma total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol (LDC-C) were significantly reduced when compared with the control group. The incorporation of 3H2O into sterols in the liver was significantly depressed, suggesting inhibition of hepatic cholesterol biosynthesis. The oral administration of policosanol raised the rate of removal of 125I-labelled LDL from serum. Kinetic parameters calculated following injection of [125I]LDL showed than in casein-fed rabbits, the terminal half-life (t1/2) was significantly decreased after policosanol treatment. The hepatic LDL-binding activity was increased after policosanol administration which suggested that the enhanced clearance was due, at least in part, to increased receptor-mediated uptake of LDL by the liver. Considered together, these results suggest that policosanol can significantly reduce the increase of plasma LDL-C in rabbits fed on a wheat starch-casein diet by reducing cholesterol biosynthesis in the liver. Such an effect could account for the enhancement of LDL catabolism through the receptor-mediated pathway.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Metabolic effects of strict salt restriction in essential hypertensive patients.

OBJECTIVE: Some observations suggest that a strict low-salt diet may induce unfavourable metabolic side-effects. The main aim of this study was to analyse the possible consequences of severe salt restriction in mildly hypertensive patients. DESIGN: The study was carried out through a randomized double-blind protocol. SUBJECTS: Forty-seven ambulatory patients proceeding from the hypertension unit were initially admitted: 17 were lost, and 30 non-diabetic mildly hypertensives (DBP 90-104 mmHg) with normal renal function completed the protocol. INTERVENTION: After a wash-out period, patients were maintained on a low-salt intake (2.8 +/- 1.0 g day-1 of NaCl) and placebo for 2 weeks, and the same diet and salt supplements (11.7 +/- 2.5 g day-1 of NaCl) for another 2 weeks, separated by a second wash-out period. MEASURES: At the end of each dietary period, blood pressure (BP) and body weight were measured, and a blood sample was taken for determination of routine serum chemistries, plasma lipid and apolipoprotein concentrations, immunoreactive insulin (IRI), and plasma renin activity (PRA). Urinary 24 h excretion of sodium and potassium were measured. RESULTS: During the salt restriction period BP did not change, weight lowered, and PRA raised. There was a significant increase in serum level of creatinine, uric acid, IRI, total cholesterol and apo B, and a decrease in HDL cholesterol and apo A-I. CONCLUSION: As previously suggested, these observations seem to indicate that strict salt restriction may cause, at least in the short-term, adverse metabolic changes in hypertensive patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Tobacco, physical exercise and lipid profile.

A group of 572 young cadets from the General Military Academy in Zaragoza (AGEMZA) with a mean age of 19.9 years was studied in two different situations: on admission to the AGEMZA, when physical activity was very intensive (A) and after 8 months, by which time they had all received identical diets and physical activity was considerably reduced (B). On both occasions they were asked about their smoking habits and their personal and family histories. Their height and weight were recorded and a sample of venous blood was taken to determine the lipid, biochemical and haematological profiles. We found that more smokers had a family history of sudden death or acute myocardial infarction than the non-smokers. The smokers also showed a lower HDL cholesterol level (54.3 +/- 9.8 mg.dl-1 +/- SD) than the non-smokers (59.4 +/- 10.9) (P less than 0.0001) and a higher level of triglycerides (75.4 +/- 24.7 mg.dl-1) than the non-smokers (65.4 +/- 21.1 mg.dl-1). The smokers had a higher white cell count (8194 +/- 1981 vs 7332 +/- 1672 cells. 10mm-3) (P less than 0.001), a higher haemoglobin value (14.9 +/- 0.9 vs 14.6 +/- 0.9 g.dl-1) (P less than 0.004) and a higher haematocrit value (44.2 +/- 2.3 vs 43.6 +/- 2.7%) (P less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Effect of moderate salt restriction on the antihypertensive action of nifedipine: a double blind study].

Moderate salt restriction is of debatable efficacy in the treatment of mild or moderate hypertension; however, salt restriction enhances the activity of most antihypertensive drugs. Some observations suggest that the antihypertensive activity of calcium antagonists is not increased or could even decrease with dietary salt restriction. In the present work 15 patients suffering arterial hypertension and normal renal function are studied during four two week periods; a) unrestricted diet and medication, b) unrestricted diet and nifedipine (40 mg/day), c) low salt diet (5 g of salt/day) and nifedipine, and d) the same low salt diet, nifedipine and a salt supplement (6 g/day); salt or placebo were given in a double blind manner. At the end of each period arterial blood pressure was recorded, a urine sample for sodium determination was taken, and a blood sample was drawn for serum renine activity and biochemical parameters; at the end of each period patients' weight was recorded. Blood pressure significantly decreased (systolic: 9.83%, and dyastolic 11.17%) in patients treated with nifedipine, with no differences observed with salt modifications. Urinary sodium reflected correctly dietary salt modifications. Serum renine activity significantly increased during salt restriction. No significant changes were observed in weight or in the biochemical parameters studied. These results seem to suggest that the antihypertensive effect of nifedipine in patents suffering mild to moderate essential hypertension, with no change observed is not altered by the amount of salt in diet, at least within the limits studied (89.7 to 190 mEq/day of Sodium).

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMed1987

Calcitonin-induced hypocalcaemia as a possible index of osteoclastic activity in patients with chronic renal failure.

It has been suggested that the intensity of hypocalcaemic response to the administration of calcitonin may reflect the degree of osteoclastic activity and thus the state of the parathyroid function. We have performed the calcitonin test in 14 healthy volunteers and in 17 patients with chronic renal failure undergoing haemodialysis. The test involved the intramuscular injection of 100 MRC units of synthetic salmon calcitonin, serum calcium being determined before and after 5 h of the injections of the hormone. In 7 of the patients, the test was repeated using intranasal administration by means of a spray of calcitonin. In renal patients, serum calcium fell from 9.73 +/- 0.76 to 7.88 +/- 1.01 mg/dl (1.85 +/- 0.67 mg/dl). In the control group, serum calcium fell from 9.51 +/- 0.56 to 8.89 +/- 0.34 mg/dl (0.62 +/- 0.35 mg/dl). The calcium fall in renal patients was significantly greater than in the control group (p less than 0.001). In patients there was a statistically significant correlation between the fall in serum calcium and the level of alkaline phosphatase, but no with the serum concentration of immunoreactive parathormone (C-Terminal). After intranasal calcitonin, serum calcium fell from 9.81 +/- 0.55 to 8.83 +/- 0.72 mg/dl (1.42 +/- 0.42 mg/dl), a reduction comparable to that obtained after the intramuscular injection of the hormone in the same patients (1.84 +/- 0.69 mg/dl). These results provide evidence of an increase in osteoclastic activity in chronic renal failure, perhaps reflecting parathyroid hyperfunction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗