Increase in circulating products of lipid peroxidation (F2-isoprostanes) in smokers: smoking as a cause of oxidative damage

Article Abstract:

Cigarette smoking appears to oxidize fats, which could ultimately lead to atherosclerosis. Researchers took blood and urine samples from 10 smokers before and after they smoked three cigarettes in a 30-minute period. They also took blood and urine samples from 10 nonsmokers. All samples were tested for a group of chemicals called F2-isoprostanes, which are formed in the body when fats are oxidized. Seven of the smokers had higher blood levels of F2-isoprostanes than nonsmokers, even before they smoked the three cigarettes. They also had higher levels of F2-isoprostane metabolites in their urine, and lower levels of vitamin C in their blood. When eight of the smokers stopped smoking for two weeks, their blood levels of F2-isoprostane dropped significantly. Some of the smokers had blood levels of F2-isoprostanes that were not significantly higher than in nonsmokers, indicating that some people may be naturally resistant to the effects of smoking.

Causes of, Physiological aspects, Smoking, Lipid peroxidation

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When should heart disease prevention begin?

Article Abstract:

Efforts to prevent heart disease should begin in childhood. Autopsy reports on Korean and Vietnam veterans showed that even young men can have coronary artery disease. A 1998 analysis of data from the Bogalusa Heart Study confirmed this, and found that children and young adults with the traditional risk factors for heart disease were more likely to have coronary artery disease. Since it is very difficult to change behavior patterns in adulthood, it may be best to begin in childhood. It may be most cost-effective to screen children from high-risk families.

Editorial, Prevention, Pediatric diseases, Children, Demographic aspects, Diseases, Heart diseases, Atherosclerosis

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Selecting asymptomatic patients for coronary computed tomography or electrocardiographic exercise testing

Article Abstract:

Only people who have an intermediate risk for coronary artery disease should have a non-invasive test to determine whether they have the initial stages of coronary artery disease even if they have no symptoms. People with a low risk would not benefit from screening and people with a high risk would not need to be screened. The Framingham Scoring System can be used to estimate a person's risk for developing coronary artery disease.

Evaluation, Diagnosis, Coronary heart disease, Medical screening, Health screening, Diagnosis, Noninvasive, Noninvasive diagnosis

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