Serum orexin-a level and the severity of coronary artery disease: Original article

In this study, we aimed to investigate the correlations of serum Orexin-A level (SOAL) and the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD). A total of 80 participants (mean age: 55.7±12.7 years) were enrolled into the study. SOAL, electrocardiography and transthoracic echocardiography and 24 Hour Holter monitoring (24HHM) and coronary angiography were performed in all participants. Autonomic functions were assessed using the data of Heart Rate Variability measurements. Patients were categorized into three groups according to their Gensini scores as: Group 1: The patients with normal coronary angiogram, Group 2: The patients with mild CAD (Gensini <20) and Group 3: The patients with severe CAD (Gensini ?20). A total of 28 patients were Group 1 (mean age 51.8±12.0 years), 25 patients were Group 2 (mean age 57.7±11.6 years) and 27 patients were Group 3 (mean age 57.6±13.6 years). There were statistically significant differences in SOAL (p=0.004) among the groups. We found that SOAL had statistically significant associations with Gensini score and LF/HF (Sympathetic activity) values. (F= 15.299; p=0.004 and F= 15.470; p=0.004, respectively). Serum Orexin-A levels are positively correlated with severity of CAD and sympathetic activity

Adiponectin and insulin resistance in obesity-related diseases

WOS: 000253171700010PubMed: 18230270The relationship between insulin resistance and serum adiponectin levels in 400 subjects with different obesity-related diseases was studied. Lean subjects with body mass index (BMI) = 25 kg/m(2) were grouped according to disease profile. The homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index and adiponectin levels were similar in the lean, metabolically normal (MNO) and hypertensive groups, but were different when the dyslipidaemic group was compared with the lean and MNO groups. The type 2 diabetic (DMO) and hypertensive, type 2 diabetic (DMHTO) groups were significantly different from other groups with respect to HOMA-IR index and adiponectin levels. Adiponectin levels were lower in the DMHTO than the DMO group. In multiple regression analysis, adiponectin levels correlated with group categorization independently of age, sex, BMI and HOMA-IR. Hypoadiponectinaemia may play a role in the development of complications of obesity

Coxiella burnetii seropositivity and coronary ectasia

Bacterial infections could contribute to atherosclerotic inflammation. We investigated the association of Coxiella Burnetii seropositivity with the atherosclerotic lesion types (obstructive and/or ectatic), serum lipid profile, nitric oxide (NO),total sulfhydryl (SH) groups and malonyldialdehyde (MDA) levels. A total of 150 participants (73 male, mean age: 56.6 ± 11.4 years; 77 female, mean age: 57.3 ± 13.0 years) were enrolled into the study. Coronary angiography was performed all the participants. We also performed serum lipid profile, NO, SH groups and MDA levels to determine the changes in chronic and acute Coxiella burnetii infections. The patients with obstructive and ectatic coronary artery lesions were of higher Coxiella phase I IgG titer (The marker of chronic Coxiella infection) than those of other coronary artery disease groups(One Way ANOVA, p=0.001). There were higher serum total cholesterol levels in the patients with chronic Coxiella infection than those of other patients. The chronic Coxiella Burnetii infection may be an important factor for the formation of coronary artery ectasia on basement of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. Hyperlipidemia might also facilitate and augment this association

The association between serum Dickkopf-1 levels and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Serum Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1) is elevated in many malignancies and is an important indicator of malignant potential. However, its significance in esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) has not yet been clarified. We hypothesized a role for DKK-1 in patients with ESCC. The study consisted of 90 ESCC patients and 85 healthy controls. After diagnosis, the level of DKK-1 was measured in the serum samples by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the levels of DKK-1 were much higher in the ESCC patients than in the healthy control group (p < 0.0001). For serum DKK-1, the sensitivity and specificity of the assay were 70 and 80%, respectively. The preoperative serum DKK-1 level was elevated in the ESCC patients. Although serum DKK-1 is not a specific biomarker for ESCC, it might be a useful marker for the diagnosis and treatment of ESCC

The effects of statin therapy on pulse wave velocity measurements

Several studies have shown that positive effects of statins on pulse wave velocity parameters. However, there is few study about the comparison of the effectivity of statins on pulse wave velocity parameters. In the present study, we aimed to show the difference about the effects of long term atorvastatin and rosuvastatin therapy on aortic stiffness in patients with hyperlipidemia. A total of 104 hyperlipidemic patients were enrolled into the study. There were 50 patients in Group 1 (The patients treated with Atorvastatin 20 mg/day) (23 male and 27 female, mean age: 55.8 ± 10.3 years;, mean age: 52.7 ± 9.4 years) and 54 patients in Group 2 (The patients treated with Rosuvastatin 10 mg/day) (23 male and 31 female, mean age: 52.7 ± 9.4 years). All patients followed up to 12 months about their lipid profile and pulse wave analysis data. After 12 months, we found that rosuvastatin was of higher positive effects on arterial stiffness and reflection index parameters (Student T test, p=0.049 and =0.041, respectively ) We considered that, rosuvastatin was of greater ameliorative effect on vascular stiffness than that of atorvastatin in the patients with hyperlipidemia

Effects of sympatholytic therapy with moxonidine on serum adiponectin levels in hypertensive women

WOS: 000253171700011PubMed: 18230271We examined whether moxonidine influences lipid profile, insulin resistance, adiponectin levels, renal function and microalbuminuria in women with essential hypertension in a study of SS non-diabetic hypertensive patients and 53 normotensive women. Hypertensive patients received moxonidine for 12 weeks. At baseline the hypertensive group had significantly higher mean blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, total cholesterol, fasting glucose, urinary albumin excretion and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), together with significantly lower mean high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, creatinine clearance and serum adiponectin than the normotensive group. Moxonidine significantly decreased blood pressure, fasting glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, HOMA-IR and albumin excretion, but significantly increased serum adiponectin. The change in adiponectin level was negatively correlated with the change in HOMA-IR. Moxonidine treatment may improve unfavourable metabolic status related to insulin resistance by increasing adiponectin levels in patients with essential hypertension. Since it can improve adiponectin levels, it may be used in the antihypertensive treatment of patients at high risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease

Single high dose atorvastatin does not ameliorate endothelial function and large arterial stiffness in dyslipidemic patients without atherosclerosis

WOS: 000305823100016PubMed: 22913216Background: Many studies show that statins have beneficial effects on atherosclerotic risk factors and markers such as flow mediated dilatation (FMD). However, studies on early effects of statins on endothelial function of non atherosclerotic humans are limited. Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine whether a single high dose of atorvastatin could improve endothelial function and large arterial stiffness in statin naive dyslipidemic non-atherosclerotic patients. Materials and Methods: Thirty statin naive dyslipidemic non-atherosclerotic patients from Cardiology Outpatient Clinic were enrolled. Arterial stiffness and endothelial function of patients were evaluated by assessing the finger photoplethysmography and the flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery before and 24 hour after oral administration of 80 mg atorvastatin. Results: Stiffness indices and FMD 24 hours after administration of 80mg atorvastatin did not differ from baseline measurements (6.89 +/- 1.90 vs 7.06 +/- 2.37 p : NS and 9.13 +/- 6.07 vs 9.80 +/- 6.34 p : NS). Conclusions: Although it is widely accepted that statins improve endothelial function, evidences of early effect might largely be associated with endothelial injury. Our study suggests that beneficial early effects of statins might not be applicable to patients without atherosclerosis