Research Study on the Effects of Smoking on Arteries

The Dose Effect Of Cigarette-Smoking On Indices Of Arterial Function And Oxidative Stress

The current proposal, will elucidate the role of oxidant stress (OS) on arterial function as measured by flow mediated vasodilation. In addition, the investigators will address the hypothesis, that a pro-oxidant might have different degrees of effects on different biological targets, by performing quantitative assessment of the effects of OS on lipids, proteins and DNA.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Chronic smokers (of between 4 and 20 years duration) and non-smokers will be recruited to the GCRC. Smokers will be allocated to a "light" group, smoking 4-10 cigarettes per day and a "heavy" smoking group who smoke 11-20 cigarettes per day.
• Non-smokers will be defined as those with a life time consumption of no more than 20 cigarettes, do not live or work in a smoky atmosphere.
• All individuals will have a normal history and clinical examination, including a normal EKG, urinalysis and serum chemistry, haemogram and negative urinary pregnancy test.

Exclusion Criteria:

• previously suffered an acute major cardiovascular event
• those with a chronic disease
• those taking chronic medication
• those with a history of alcoholism or substance abuse
• Ex-smokers
• Subjects, who have less than or equal to 60% platelet aggregation in response to arachidonic acid