Two smillier articles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Two smillier articles - Essay Example One of the components is the transforming growth factor, also known as TGF B-1. This is an immunosuppressive cytokine that is in the heart, meaning that it is a main protein that functions with relation to helping to fight immunity. It has been found that individuals who have a higher concentration of TGF B-1 in the heart also create atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries. Those who have regular coronary artery disease are not as likely to have the plasma concentration of TGF B-1. Those with both degenerative heart valves and regular coronary valves have a lower amount of TGF B-1, as well as a higher distribution amount of the cytokine throughout the body (Attaran et al, 2010). . The article used (Attaran et al, 2010), conducted a study to determine why those with atherosclerosis of coronary arteries create this specific dysfunction, as opposed to a regular coronary artery disease. 158 patients were studied who were undergoing treatment for coronary artery disease for the first time and which were required to have valve surgery. To conduct this survey, the enzyme inhibitors to the heart were stopped. After this was complete for a period of time, the blood from the heart was collected to determine how the plasma functioned within the heart. Enzyme linked chemicals were used to detect the amount of TGF B-1 that was in each patient’s blood. The results were then compared to the amount of TGF B-1 that was in the normal population and from those who had normal functioning of the heart (Attaran et al, 2010). There were several associations found between the dysfunction of atherosclerosis of coronary arteries and TGF B-1. It was found that those with atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries also suffered from hypertension and myocardial infarction in the past. It was also found that the mean concentration for TGF B-1 was lower than the normal population