Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Pentraxin-3 (PTX3) is an acute-phase reactant that shares structural and functional homology with C-reactive protein (CRP). However, unlike CRP, which is synthesized mainly in the liver, PTX3 is produced at the site of inflammation. It has been suggested that PTX3 plays the same role in the periphery that CRP does in circulation. PTX3 may represent a rapid marker for local inflammation.Methods: Fifty three patients with stable coronary arte...

Background: There is growing evidence that adhesion molecules, proinflammatory cells and cytokines play an important role in a variety of cardiac pathophysiological conditions; Cytokines are responsible for the modulation of immune and inflammatory processes. It has been suggested that cytokines such as IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10 and TNF alpha are important modulators of atherosclerotic effects with IL-2 and Interferon γ having a proinflammatory atherogenic effect and IL-8 a...

Background: The patomechanism of developing ischemic heart disease (i.h.d.) is stenosis of coronary blood vessels with plaque placed on vascular endothelium built with monocytes/macrophages, foam cells, oxidized LDL, leukocytes, platelets and collagen. Atherosclerotic lesions are heavily infiltrated by cellular components associated with inflammation and influenced by other inflammatory factors. Trimetazidine, a clinically effective antianginal agent acts by optimizing cardiac...