Oral Diseases (2012) 18, 223-235″
“Introduction: Nitric oxide (NO) acts a pleiotropic biomodulator in several systems, including the cardiovascular, nervous and immune systems. The intracellular levels of cyclic guanylate monophosphate (cGMP) can be increased by NO or by inhibiting the breakdown to 5′cGMP operated by the cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs). Platelets are anuclear circulating cells that are rich in both soluble guanylyl cyclase and PDEs. The purpose of this study was to standardize cGMP determination in human platelets. Methods: Fresh blood samples were obtained from a group of healthy volunteers in order to obtain washed

platelets. Platelet (3 x 10(4)/mu l 5 x 10(5)/mu l) cGMP levels were measured in basal and stimulated conditions. To stimulate platelets two different NO-donors were used: sodium nitroprusside (SNP; 10, 100, 1000 mu M) or diethylamine NONOate (DEA-NONOate; 1, 10, 100 mu M). Different times of incubation were also selleck compound studied (5, 15 and 30 min). As positive control has been used ODQ a well known inhibitor

of guanylyl cyclase. Platelet cGMP accumulation was measured by using a standard ELISA kit using different sample dilutions. Results: The optimal stimulus was DEA-NONOate, the optimal washed platelet concentration was 5 x 10(5)/mu l, incubation time was 30 mm and dilution to be used was 1:2. Discussion: Platelets represent a valuable marker to investigate the effect of drugs interfering with the cGMP cascade. This standardized assay allows to measure ex vivo the inhibitory (PDE inhibitors) or stimulatory effect (NO donors) of drugs given in vivo to humans. learn more (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“Background: A recent worldwide disease registration study has revealed a high prevalence of polyvascular diseases in stroke patients. However, although a poor clinical outcome of patients with polyvascular disease has been reported, there have been few reports on clinical features

of peripheral artery disease (PAD) in SB203580 stroke patients. We assessed the prevalence, demographics, characteristics, and risk factors of PAD in Japanese stroke patients. Methods: One hundred and one consecutive chronic stroke patients in an outpatient clinic underwent ankle-brachial index (ABI) screening tests. PAD was diagnosed when the ABI was <0.9. Results: Abnormal ABI was found in 19 patients (18.8%). Eleven patients were asymptomatic, and 8 patients had symptoms of intermittent claudication. Gender, prevalence of hypertension, and dyslipidemia and alcohol intake were not different between the patients with PAD and those without PAD. Prevalence of diabetes mellitus (63.6%) was higher in the patients with asymptomatic PAD. Among the clinical subtypes of stroke, the patients with atherothrombotic infarction had a higher prevalence of PAD. Conclusions: The prevalence of PAD in stroke patients was 18.8%. Approximately 60% of the patients had no symptoms related to PAD.