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Abstract Introduction: Atherosclerosis -the accumulation of lipid deposits within the linings of arteries- is a major cause of death in developed countries. This disease, based on the involved site and its characteristics, induces specific clinical symptoms that may vary. In spite of our knowledge about this disease, however, some of its principal characteristics are unknown. Trace elements , found in human and animal tissues in about mg/kg or less , have a major role in most aspects of substances metabolism in the body so, their role in health , nourishment and disease in human have been proved. Today, it is believed that there is a significant relationship between the level of alteration of these elements and most the diseases such as atherosclerosis. Therefore, this research was undertaken to evaluate the level of copper and zinc in the serum according to the number of coronary stenosis in the patients with coronary atherosclerosis against the control group. Materials & methods: In this research, 243 subjects- including 60 people (25 female, 35 male) with average of 50.55±9.313 years as control group and 183 subjects (52 female, 131 male) with average of 57.38±10.4 years as case group- were examined. According to clinical examinations and angiographic results and based on the numbers of coronary arteries involved (zero, one, two or three), the case and control groups were assigned into the four groups. There was no coronary vessels stenosis in control group. The case and control groups were compared for background and confidence variables. CTA- 2000-- atomic absorption spectrophotometer was used for analysis of trace elements and biochemical parameters were measured with RA-1000 auto-analyzer. Data were analyzed using Version 10.0 of statistic SPSS package and the results were analyzed using T-test and ANOVA. p<0.05 was the spot for statistical significance. Findings: The mean level of copper and zinc serum in control group was 0.848±0.260 PPM and 0.562±0.204 PPM respectively, while in the second group, it was 0.918±0.205 PPM and 0.578±0.208 PPM respectively, and in case of the third group, it was 1.022±0.241 PPM and 0.643±0.182 PPM respectively, and in the fourth group the results were 1.125±0.241 PPM and 0.718±0.211 PPM respectively. The mean level of copper and zinc serum in all the three case groups compared with the control group increased. Such differences in the view of statistical analysis were significant, (p<0.001).The levels of Cu/Zn and Zn/Cu in these patients compared with the control group were Measured. There were no significant differences between them based on the statistical analysis. Conclusion: According to the results of this research and the previous ones, it is important to maintain the normal level of plasma copper and zinc in the serum . Any abnormal changes in these levels in the serum may increase the risk of atherosclerosis.

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Introduction: Atherosclerosis is one of the main causes of mortality in developed countries. Many researchers, in the past, have proved that factors such as: smoking, high blood cholesterol level and high blood pressure play a major role in pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. Investigations to find the etiology of the disease have supported the idea that the trace elements may play a role in initiation or progress of atherosclerosis. It has been proved that the trace elements have an essential role in most aspects of metabolism in the body, but still the relationship between the variation of these trace elements with some diseases such as atherosclerosis has not been proved. Therefore, the present study was designed to evaluate the serum copper and zinc levels in patients with obstruction of one of the coroner vessels named LAD (Left Anterior Descending) against the control group. Materials and methods: In this study, 247 subjects, patients and healthy (control) who have referred to Shahid Modaress hospital, Tehran, were evaluated, including 64 people as the control group (27 female and 37 male) with mean age of 50.88±9.4 years and 183 people as the test group (59 female and 124 male) with mean age of 57.66±9.7 years. According to the results of angiography, there was no sign of obstruction in the control group, but in the test group, there were LAD obstructions. The test and control groups were compared for background and confidence variables. The measurement of trace elements was performed by means of Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The results were calculated by software of SPSS ver. 10.0 and Chi Square and ANOVA statical tests. Findings: Mean value and standard deviation of serum copper and zinc were studied in both the test and control groups. Mean value of serum copper level in the test group was 0.98±0.25 ppm which in comparison with the mean value of the control group, 0.90±0.27 ppm was higher a difference which was significant (P<0.05). Mean value of serum zinc level in the test group was 0.63±0.22 ppm which in comparison with the mean value of the control group, 0.65±0.20 ppm was lower a difference which was not significant (p>0.05). Conclusion: According to the results of this and the previous studies, it is important to maintain the normal levels of plasma copper and zinc in the serum since their abnormal levels in the serum may increase the risk of atherosclerosis.

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Introduction: Ischemic heart disease, more than any other disease, leads to mortality and morbidity and high economical costs in developed countries. A cardiovascular disease, especially atherosclerosis, is predicted to become the most important disease in 2020. A disorder which reduces the quality of life due to early death and deterioration. Today, lipid metabolism and lipoprotein disorders have come to be the most important risk factors of atherosclerosis. So,management and treatment of dyslipidemia, is considered an effective preventive method. Considering the high level of atherosclerosis rate in khorramabad (western-center Iran) as well as several reports on anti oxidative effects of Rhus coriaria , this study was planned to compare the effects of lovastatin and Rhus coriaria in decreasing LDL cholesterol level. Materials & Methods: In this study, 86 patients with elevated LDL cholesterol levels, having the indications to enter the study, were selected and divided into two groups of 43 people. Group 1(control group) underwent treatment with lovastatin, and group 2(case group) took lovastatin+Rhus coriria as their cure. After 3 months, LDL cholesterol levels were measured in both the groups. Findings: 58 patients of all the 86 patients completed the tests. The mean LDL levels in the control and case groups before intervention were 141.82 and 171.52 respectively. After intervention, they were 115.7 in the control and 141.45 in the case group. Due to higher level of LDL in the case group vs. the control one before the intervention, the mean level of LDL decreased and its percentage was measured. The decrease of LDL level in the case group was 17%, while it was 18% in the control cases. Nevertheless, thw mean decrease in case patients was 30.07, while it was 26.12 in the control ones, a difference which was not significant statically. Discussion & Conclusion: Due to insignificant decrease of LDL level in both the groups of patients, using Rhus coriaria (Somac) is not recommended as an effective factor in treating patients suffering from high levels of LDL cholesterol.

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Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases especially atherosclerosis, are the main causative of disability and death in all over the world and they have increasing spread in Iran. Homocysteine and fibrinogen are two new risk factors for prediction of atherosclerosis. Considering this, our aim in this study was to evaluate the effect of 8 weeks aerobic training on serum predictive inflammatory markers of atherosclerosis and lipid profile in obese elderly women.

Materials & methods: In a quasi-experimental study, 44 obese women (BMI&ge;30) 55 to 65 years old as volunteer, were selected and randomly divided into two groups of experiment (22 individuals) and control (22 individuals). Training program included aerobic exercise with 45 to 65 percent of maximum heart rate for 1 hour per session and 3session per week and continued for 8 weeks. Blood samples were collected after 12 hours fasting in the pre-test and 48 hours in the post-test to measure homocysteine, fibrinogen, high-sensitivity protein (CRP) and lipid profile.

Findings: Present study data shows that a significant decrease was observed in homocysteine (p=0.004), hs-CRP (p=0.009), cholesterol (p=0.037), triglyceride (p=0.017) and LDL-C (p=0.047) levels in experimental group; while there wasn't significant relation between study variability in control group. Also, a significant difference was observed in comparison between control and experimental groups about homocysteine (p=0.000), hs-CRP (p=0.037), cholesterol (p=0.049), triglyceride (p=0.000) and LDL-C (p=0.012). There was a significant relation between body fat percentage(r=0.87) and body mass index(r=0.68) with homocysteine.

Discussion & Conclusions: To sum up, by losing weight  and body fat, homocysteine, CRP and also the increase of HDL study results showed that 8 week aerobic training can lead to reduction of cardiovascular risk factors and improving the health status in the elderly women.