h. fakhrzadeh

: Heme oxygenase 2 (HMOX2) is an important antioxidative stress enzyme found in the endothelial cells of blood vessels and adventitial nerves. This enzyme in collaboration with heme oxygenase 1 metabolizes heme molecules into ferrous iron, carbon monoxide (CO) and biliverdin while the later is further converted to bilirubin. Both biliverdin and bilirubin are potent antioxidants, reducing the chance of atherosclerosis. HMOX2 also induces endothelial relaxation by synthesizing CO.
Heme oxygenase 2 gene mutations were studied in 137 patients with atherosclerosis and in 100 normal controls. Pairs of primers were designed to amplify 2nd, 3rd and 5th exons of HMOX2 gene. These products were analyzed by single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis and the shifted fragments were separated from SSCP polyacrylamide gel for further sequencing.
2.97 and the risk of atherosclerosis.
Our findings denoted to the importance of K89E mutation in the development of atherosclerosis in Iranian cases. Further studies are required to show the importance of hemoxygenase 2 gene mutation in other populations.

Metabolic syndrome includes obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, glucose intolerance, hypertension and lipid profile abnormalities. The risk of cardiovascular diseases with this syndrome is higher than every components alone. In view of its burden and high mortality rate, this syndrome should be noted.

The 25-64 aged individuals in 17th zone of Tehran were studied. It was designed according to the WHO MONICA (Multinational Monitoring of Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Disease) project using the ATP III criteria. The parameters have been used for the risk analysis were Waist Circumference (WC), fasting serum triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), blood pressure (BP) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG).

The crude prevalence rate of the metabolic syndrome was 29.9% and the age-adjusted prevalence was 27.5%. The prevalence increased with age. The highest prevalence among different age-groups was seen in women aged 55-64 years. In the whole population, the most metabolic abnormalities were hypertriglyceridemia and hypertension that were present in more than half of the population. The people with metabolic syndrome had higher BMI than rest.

Results demonstrate high metabolic syndrome rate among target population specially in women. In view. of correlation between metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease, it must be the priority of interventional preventive measures. Improving the diet, changing the lifestyle and increasing physical activity can be helpful.