CLINICAL BIOCHEMISTRY

Objectives: Existance of low grade persistent inflammation in obese children may increase the risk of metabolic and cardiovascular events. The aim was to determine whether glucose intolerance has an influence on inflammatory markers in obese adolescents. Designs and methods: 45 obese adolescents (mean BMI: 30.34 +/- 5.42 kg/m(2)) were grouped as normal or impaired glucose tolerance. IL-6 and CRP levels were analyzed by commercially available kits. Chitotriosidase activity was measured by a fluorescence method and neopterin levels were determined by ELISA. Data were expressed as mean +/- SD. Results: IL-6 and CRP levels were similar in the two groups. Serum neopterin levels were not different between the groups. The chitotriosidase activity was significantly higher in the IGT group than NGT (124.33 +/- 51.97 mu mol/L/h vs 84.50 +/- 53.99 mu mol/L/h, p = 0.04). Conclusion: Serum chitotriosidase activity is increased in obese adolescents with impaired glucose tolerance. (C) 2011 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

ENDOCRINE JOURNAL

We observed glucose levels >140 mg/dL measured at 30 minutes (min) during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in some obese patients. We aimed to investigate the significance of this finding by comparing lipid profiles, insulin resistance indices, and systemic inflammatory mediators between obese adolescents with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and elevated glucose levels at 30 min. The study involved 80 obese (body mass index >95th percentile for age and sex) adolescents (48 female, 32 male) between 11 and 16 years of age. Depending on OGTT results, patients were divided into NGT and IGT groups. The third group was recruited from the NOT group as having glucose levels > 140 mg/dL at 30 minutes. Lipid profiles, [interleukin-6 (IL-6)], neopterin, and lipoprotein associated phospholipase A(2) (Lp-PLA(2))] were assessed. Neopterin and Lp-PLA(2) levels were significantly higher in obese adolescents with elevated glucose levels at 30 min. compared with those in both NGT and IGT groups (p=0.013, and 0.004, respectively). In these adolescents, IL-6 levels were significantly higher only than the NOT group (p=0.01). In logistic regression analysis, IL-6, neopterin and Lp-PLA(2) levels were detected to be related to high blood glucose levels at 30 min (OR 1.11, p = 0.01; OR 9.03, p=0.013; OR 1.01, p=0.004 respectively). Obese adolescents with elevated glucose levels at 30 min. demonstrated higher inflammatory mediators levels, which were atherosclerotic indicators, than obese adolescents with NGT and IGT. These results suggest that glucose levels >140 mg/dL measured at 30 min during an OGTT may be a new disorder of glucose tolerance in obesity

The effect of cholesterol levels on hematopoietic stem cell mobilization

PubMed ID: 22465757Data regarding effects of cholesterol levels on hematopoietic stem cell mobilization are limited. We retrospectively reviewed the relationship between serum total cholesterol levels and peripheral blood CD34 (PBCD34) cell counts in 52 granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) induced mobilization cycles with or without chemotherapy. The cholesterol levels between the poor and good mobilization groups (median 172. mg/dl vs. 183.5. mg/dl, respectively, p=0.18) were not different. No significant correlation was obtained between the cholesterol levels and PBCD34 counts (r=0.02, p=0.85). No significant correlation was obtained between cholesterol levels and PBCD34 counts in patients neither mobilized with G-CSF alone (r=-0.02, p=0.9) nor G-CSF plus chemotherapy (r=0.04, p=0.8). The results of the study indicate that there was no effect of cholesterol on hematopoietic stem cell mobilization. Prospective cohort studies are needed to demonstrate the effect of cholesterol on mobilization and its extent in humans. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd

Association of uric acid and carotid artery disease in patients with ischemic stroke

WOS: 000337633400002PubMed ID: 24313880Background and purpose Some previous studies reported an independent association between uric acid and coronary artery disease, while little is known on the association among uric acid and carotid artery disease (CAD). To address this issue, we investigated the association between CAD and higher uric acid level because of the well-known importance of the carotid artery pathologies for ischemic stroke. Methods Between 2009 and 2012, we conducted a study among 406 consecutive first-ever ischemic stroke patients to assess the relationship between uric acid and carotid artery. A mean intima-media thickness IMT was calculated for the wall of the left and right common carotid arteries (CCA) and IMT of the bifurcation of the carotid arteries. CAD was assessed by neuroimaging techniques in patients with carotid artery stenosis more than 50%. Logistic regression models were used to determine the relation among pathological changes of the carotid artery and higher uric acid level. Results In patients with hyperuricemia, the frequency of age (>60years), hypertriglyceridemia, higher apo B, renal failure were significantly higher than those with normal uric acid level. CAD was more frequent in patients with hyperuricemia than those with normal uric acid level (OR, 1.8, 95% CI, 1.1-3.1; P=0.01). In patients with higher uric acid level, the mean of the IMT of the CCA and of the bifurcation of the carotid artery were higher than those with normal uric acid level (P=0.001 for each). Covariance matrix analysis displayed a strong correlation between CAD and age (>60years) (P<0.05), sex (P<0.01), hyperuricemia (P<0.01), hypertension (P<0.05), and hypercholesterolemia (P<0.05). In the models of regression analysis, a strong association was found among patients with CAD and sex, renal failure, hyperuricemia, number of plaques, and size of plaques. Conclusion Our study demonstrated that higher uric acid level is strongly associated with CAD. Elevated uric acid might be injurious for large cerebral arteries with some probable confounding risk factors. Further prospective large clinical trials will determine whether lowering uric acid level reduces the frequency of CAD and ischemic stroke

Nitric oxide and oxidative stress in atherosclerotic renovascular hypertension: Effect of endovascular treatment

WOS: 000184102500008PubMed ID: 12847196PURPOSE: Because activation of the renin-angiotensin system leads to an increase in oxidative stress, the authors investigated nitric oxide (NO; nitrite + nitrate), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and the effect of endovascular treatment on these parameters in patients with atherosclerotic renovascular hypertension. The relationship of NO with blood pressure and renal functional indexes was also investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, serum creatinine, NO, SOD, catalase, plasma MDA, urinary microalbumin, and NO levels, and blood pressure were determined in 21 patients with hypertension and unilateral renal artery stenosis caused by atherosclerosis at entry and after 24 hours, 2 weeks, and 6 weeks of endovascular treatment. RESULTS: MDA concentrations decreased 24 hours after intervention and remained low 2 and 6 weeks later. In addition, serum SOD and NO and urine NO levels were increased significantly 24 hours after endovascular treatment and decreased after 2 and 6 weeks. However, serum catalase levels did not differ after the intervention. Blood pressures decreased after treatment. There were no significant differences in urinary microalbumin levels, estimated glomerular filtration rates, and creatinine levels after endovascular treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular treatment decreases oxidative stress and may offer new benefits in the treatment of patients with hypertension associated with renal artery stenosis. The decrease in oxidative stress and/or the upregulation of SOD may increase the bioavailability of NO, which in turn may lead to the rapid hypotensive response

Nitric oxide levels in Behcet's disease

22nd World Congress of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine -- AUG 30-SEP 03, 2003 -- Busan, SOUTH KOREAWOS: 000189457400026Behcet's syndrome (BS) is a chronic, multisystem disorder characterized by vasculitis. Approximately 25% of patients with Behcet's syndrome develop vascular complications, which may include superficial thrombophlebitis, deep vein and arterial thrombosis and arterial aneursym formation. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the importance of serum nitrate (NO, nitrate) levels in the pathogenesis of vascular complications observed in Behcet's syndrome. 65 patients and 30 healthy volunteers were included in the study. The subjects were studied after an overnight fast, and blood samples were collected for glucose, ALT, AST, total cholesterol., triglyceride, high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), homocysteine, folic acid, vitamin B-12 nitrate + nitrite (NO) and C-reactive Protein (CRP) levels and erythrocyte sedimantation rates (ESR). Scrum nitrate levels of patients with BS were found to be decreased when compared with the control (p<0,001).World Assoc Soc Pathol & Lab Me

Insulin resistance in children with familial hyperlipidemia

PubMed ID: 30433876The aim of the study was to investigate whether there is insulin resistance in children with familial hyperlipidemia (FHL) and to determine the factors affecting insulin resistance. Hyperlipidemic children aged between 4 and 18 years and followed up with an FHL diagnosis were included in the study. The children of adults followed up with an FHL diagnosis were also recruited after the screening period. The scanned children were divided into two groups as hyperlipidemic and normolipidemic. A total of 77 patients of whom 52 were hyperlipidemic and 25 were normolipidemic were assessed in the study. Insulin resistance was evaluated (homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance [HOMA-IR]) by performing the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Of the patients, 36 were male and 41 were female; the average age was 11.6±3.9 years, and the body mass index (BMI) was established to be 20.3±4.4. In hyperlipidemic and normolipidemic patients, the following were determined: Fasting insulin: 10.6 (±0.89) µU/mL, 4.9 (±0.45) µU/mL (p=0.000); 2-h insulin: 28.7 (±12.7) µU/mL, 18.9 (±10.5) µU/mL (p=0.000); and HOMA-IR: 1.9 (±0.17), 0.86 (±0.7) (p=0.000). No relationship was identified between lipid profiles and insulin resistance. Nevertheless, there was a positive correlation between insulin resistance and apolipoprotein B (Apo B) levels (0.52), and a negative correlation was determined in carnitine levels (-0.64). Insulin resistance was established to be higher in children with FHL compared to normolipidemic children. Insulin resistance was not related to lipid phenotypes, but to Apo B levels and carnitine levels. Insulin resistance should be a routine method of evaluation in the follow-up of children with FHL. © 2018 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

C-reactive protein and neopterin levels in healthy non-obese adults

WOS: 000236203000010PubMed ID: 16519605Background: Obesity and increased waist-to-hip ratio, emphasizing the importance of truncal obesity, have been found to correlate positively with increased cardiovascular disease risk and mortality. Owing to the inflammatory nature of atherosclerosis, the aim of our study was to find possible correlations between body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio, and the inflammatory markers C-reactive protein (CRP) and neopterin in healthy lean and overweight adults. Methods: A total of 49 healthy adults ( mean age 42.4 +/- 1.8 years, 32 females and 17 males) were classified according to their body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio values. CRP and neopterin levels were measured. Results: CRP levels were found to be significantly higher in the group with BMI >= 25 kg/m(2) compared to the group with BMI < 25 kg/m(2) ( p = 0.014). Subjects with increased waist-to-hip ratio displayed significantly higher serum CRP and neopterin levels (p = 0.014 and p=0.033, respectively) compared with the group in which the waist-to-hip ratio was < 0.9. A strong positive correlation was found between CRP and BMI in the whole group ( r=0.658, p=0.0001). Conclusions: Grouping overweight subjects according to their waist-to-hip ratio, which is an indicator of truncal obesity, seems to be convenient in studying the inflammatory process in relation to the elevation of adipose tissue. Elevated CRP and neopterin levels may be useful in the assessment of cardiovascular risk in overweight as well as obese subjects