Since little is known about how coffee intake affects low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidative susceptibility and serum lipid levels, we conducted an in vivo study in 11 healthy male students of Wakayama Medical University aged between 20 and 31 years fed an average Japanese diet. On days 1-7 of the study, the subjects drank mineral water. On day 7, the subjects began drinking coffee, 24 g total per day, for one week. This was followed by a one week "washout period" during which mineral water was consumed. Fasting peripheral venous blood samples were taken at the end of each one-week period. LDL oxidation lag time was approximately 8% greater (p < 0.01) after the coffee drinking period than the other periods. Serum levels of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) and malondialdehyde (MDA) as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were significantly decreased after the coffee drinking period. Finally, regular coffee ingestion may favorably affect cardiovascular risk status by modestly reducing LDL oxidation susceptibility and decreasing LDL-cholesterol and MDA levels.

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Factors associated with calcification of the abdominal aorta indue to the numerous factors that can accelerate arteriohemodialysis patients.sclerosis in HD patients that do not exist in healthy Background. Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular injury individuals. We have semiquantitatively evaluated the caused by arteriosclerosis has been the major cause of the death calcification of the abdominal aorta using an aortic calciin hemodialysis (HD) patients. We quantitatively analyzed and fication index (ACI) [3] and correlated this index with evaluated the severity of abdominal aortic calcification in HD patients in comparison to risk factors for arteriosclerosis. risk factors for arteriosclerosis in HD patients. This study Methods. One hundred thirty-seven HD patients were exintroduces an alternative method to the ACI to quantiamined. Using image analysis software, areas of the calcified tate calcification on simple abdominal computerized toabdominal aorta were quantitatively analyzed on plain compumography scans in order to better clarify arteriosclerotic terized tomography images. Other factors such as blood presrisk factors in HD patients.sure (BP), lipid levels, and calcium (Ca) ϫ phosphorus (Pi) value were also analyzed.Results. Patients with a higher one-year average of systolic BP showed a higher severity of abdominal aortic calcification. METHODSThat is, the severity of abdominal aortic calcification in patients Subjectswith a one-year systolic BP average above 160 mm Hg was 31.5 Ϯ 13.6%, and this severity was significantly higher than We examined 137 HD patients (70 male and 67 fethat in patients with a one-year systolic BP average of less than male). This average age was 59.7 Ϯ 11.9 years, and they 120 mm Hg (8.0 Ϯ 7.7%, P Ͻ 0.01). The severity of abdominal

An analysis of patients registered in the POLARIS study indicated that LDL-A has short-term efficacy for drug-resistant NS. Rapid relief of dyslipidemia by LDL-A may provide early remission in about half of the NS patients who are resistant to conventional medication. Completion of the POLARIS study may reveal additional long-term effects of LDL-A in these patients.

Background/Aims: LDL apheresis (LDL-A) is used for drug-resistant nephrotic syndrome (NS) as an alternative therapy to induce remission by improvement of hyperlipidemia. Several clinical studies have suggested the efficacy of LDL-A for refractory NS, but the level of evidence remains insufficient. A multicenter prospective study, POLARIS (Prospective Observational Survey on the Long-Term Effects of LDL Apheresis on Drug-Resistant Nephrotic Syndrome), was conducted to evaluate its clinical efficacy with high-level evidence. Methods: Patients with NS who showed resistance to primary medication for at least 4 weeks were prospectively recruited to the study and treated with LDL-A. The long-term outcome was evaluated based on the rate of remission of NS 2 years after treatment. Factors affecting the outcome were also examined. Results: A total of 58 refractory NS patients from 40 facilities were recruited and enrolled as subjects of the POLARIS study. Of the 44 subjects followed for 2 years, 21 (47.7%) showed remission of NS based on a urinary protein (UP) level <1.0 g/day. The UP level immediately after LDL-A and the rates of improvement of UP, serum albumin, serum creatinine, eGFR, and total and LDL cholesterol after the treatment session significantly affected the outcome. Conclusions: Almost half of the cases of drug-resistant NS showed remission 2 years after LDL-A. Improvement of nephrotic parameters at termination of the LDL-A treatment was a predictor of a favorable outcome.