Improved procedure for the extraction of lipids from human erythrocytes.

Background: Epidemiological studies suggested that consumption of fruit and vegetables may protect against stroke. The hypothesis that dietary antioxidant vitamins and flavonoids account for this observation is investigated in a prospective study. Methods: A cohort of 552 men aged 50 to 69 years was examined in 1970 and followed up for 15 years. Mean nutrient and food intake was calculated from crosscheck dietary histories taken in 1960, 1965, and 1970. The association between antioxidants, selected foods, and stroke incidence was assessed by Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. Adjustment was made for confounding by age, systolic blood pressure, serum cholesterol, cigarette smoking, energy intake, and consumption of fish and alcohol. Results: Forty-two cases of first fatal or nonfatal stroke were documented. Dietary flavonoids (mainly quercetin) were inversely associated with stroke incidence after adjustment for potential confounders, including antioxidant vitamins. The relative risk (RR) of the highest vs the lowest quartile of flavonoid intake (≥28.6 mg/d vs Conclusions: The habitual intake of flavonoids and their major source (tea) may protect against stroke. (Arch Intern Med. 1996;154:637-642)

https://jamanetwork.com/HttpHandlers/ArticlePdfHandler.ashx?journal=intemed&articleId=621746&pdfFileName=archinte_156_6_007.pdf

Dietary Flavonoids, Antioxidant Vitamins, and Incidence of Stroke: The Zutphen Study

Magnesium: Nature's physiologic calcium blocker

Eine einfache enzymatische Methode zur Bestimmung des Gesamt-Cholesterins im Serum wird beschrieben. Die im Serum vorhandenen Cholcsterinester werden mittels Cholcstcrinesterase quantitativ in freies Cholestcrin und Fettsauren gespalten. Das freie Cholesterin wird in Gegenwart von Sauerstoff und Cholesterinoxydase in A-Cholestenon umgewandelt. Das bei dieser Reaktion entstehende Wasserstoffperoxyd oxydiert bei Anwesenheit von Katalase Methanol zu Formaldchyd. Dieses reagiert mit Ammoniumionen und Acetylaceton unter Bildung von 3,5-Diacctyl-l,4-dihydrolutidin, dessen Farbintcnsitat bei 405 nm gemessen wird. Richtigkeit und Prazision der Methode sind sehr gut. Die Proportionalitat ist bis 25,85 mmol Cholcsterin/1 Serum gegeben. Serumprotcine, Bilirubin, Creatinin, Hamoglobin und Pharmaka storen nicht.

[Enzymatic determination of total cholesterol in serum (author's transl)]

Some pharmacological actions of curcumin (diferuloyl methane) have been examined in rats, mice and cats. The compound possesses significant anti-inflammatory activity in acute as well as in chronic models of inflammation. It is as potent as phenylbutazone in the carrageenan oedema test but only half as potent in chronic tests. Curcumin possesses a much lower ulcerogenic index than phenylbutazone. It prevents the inflammation induced increase in SGOT and SGPT levels. It lacks analgesic and antipyretic activity. It has no other significant pharmacological effects. The oral LD50 in mice is more than 2m0 g kg−1.

Albert J. Boyle

Papers

A new method for the direct determination of serum cholesterol.

Water and electrolyte content of cardiac and skeletal muscle in heart failure and myocardial infarction.

The use of flame photometry for the quantitative determination of sodium and potassium in plasma and urine.

Water and electrolyte balance during recovery from severe congestive failure on a 50 milligram sodium diet.

Estimation of serum phospholipide and total phosphorus using chloric acid.