Evaluation of quality of life in patients treated for colorectal cancer at the University Hospital Trnava

Introduction: The aim of the study was to evaluate quality of life (QoL) in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) during complex treatment using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30 and QLQ-CR29 questionnaires and to implement routine QoL assessment into our practice. Methods: 30 patients diagnosed with CRC at the Department of Surgery, Faculty Hospital Trnava, Slovakia were included in the study between May 2014 and April 2015. QoL was assessed using EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-CR29 questionnaires before surgery and 1 month after surgery. Data are presented as means, and a paired t-test and independent t-test were used for statistical analysis. Results: A significant correlation between the type of treatment and QoL was identified in the cohort. A trend to lower QoL was observed in patients with completed neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and after surgery with stoma formation. The QoL was also affected by the age and gender of the patients. Conclusion: QoL assessment provides important outcomes reflecting the consequences of particular therapeutic modality in patients with CRC. The worse effect of neoadjuvant CRT and stoma formation was shown in our study in comparison to radical resection with adjuvant chemotherapy

Are liver function biomarkers independently associated with Framingham risk score in women?

Introduction/Objective Given the contradictory results regarding the association of liver function biomarkers [e.g., alanine-aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and total biliru-bin)] and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), we aimed to explore the relationship between these biomarkers and Framingham risk score (FRS), an established tool used in the prediction of 10-year CVD risk in the cohort of women.Methods A total of 278 women participated in this cross-sectional study. Anthropometric, biochemical parameters, and blood pressure were obtained.Results There was a significant increase in ALT and GGT activity, as well as a decrease in total bilirubin level in the high-risk FRS group compared to moderate-, and low-risk FRS (p for trend = 0.025, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that body mass index, triglycer-ides, creatinine, and high sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were the independent predictors of FRS in women [odds ratio (OR) = 1.234, p = 0.001; OR = 2.856, p = 0.001; OR = 1.090, p = 0.002, and OR = 1.295, p = 0.045, respectively]. In contrast, total bilirubin, ALT and GGT lost their independent predictions for high CVD risk.Увод/Циљ С обзиром на контрадикторне резултате који се односе на повезаност биомаркера функције јетре [аланин-аминотрансферазе (АЛТ), гама-глутамил трансферазе (ГГТ) и укупног билирубина)] и ризика за појаву кардиоваску-ларних болести, циљ студије је био да се испита повезаност између ових биомаркера и Фрамингхамског скора за ризик (ФСР), алгоритма за процену 10-годишњег ризика за појаву кардиоваскуларних болести у кохорти женске популације. Методе У овој студији пресека учествовало је укупно 278 жена. Мерени су антропометријски, биохемијски параметри и крвни притисак. Резултати Уочен је статистички значајан пораст активности АЛТ и ГГТ, као и пад вредности укупног билирубина у групи са високим статусом ФСР, у поређењу са средњим и ниским ФСР (p = 0,025, p < 0,001, p < 0,001, редом). Мултиваријантна логистичка регресиона анализа показала је да су индекс телесне масе, вредности триглицерида, креатинина и висо-коосетљивог c-реактивног протеина независни предиктори ФСР код жена (OR = 1,234, p = 0,001; OR = 2,856, p = 0,001; OR = 1,090, p = 0,002 и OR = 1,295, p = 0,045, редом). С друге стране, укупни билирубин, АЛТ и ГГТ су изгубили независну предикцију за високи ризик за појаву кардиоваскуларних болести

Cardiovascular risk estimated by UKPDS risk engine algorithm in diabetes

Since there is a high prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2), as well as CVD in Montenegro, we aimed to estimate CVD risk by United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) risk engine algorithm in individuals with DM2. Furthermore, we aimed to explore whether non-traditional biomarker such as high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) is superior for CVD risk prediction over old traditional risk factors. A total of 180 participants with DM2 (of them 50% females) were included in the current cross-sectional study. Biochemical and anthropometric parameters, and blood pressure were obtained. More males than females were classified at high UKPDS risk category (p<0.001). Also, about one third of diabetic patients (29.4%) were classified into the high-risk category. In multivariate regression analysis, triglycerides [Odds ratio (OR) =1.703, p=0.001] and creatinine concentration (OR=1.040, p<0.001) were independent predictors of CVD risk, whereas hsCRP was not correlated with CVD risk. HsCRP is not superior for CVD risk prediction by UKPDS risk engine algorithm over high triglyceride and creatinine levels in diabetic population, which suggests that the old traditional markers must not be underestimated when examining CVD risk in population with diabetes

Retinol-binding protein 4 in obese and obese-diabetic postmenopausal women in Montenegro

Introduction: Menopause is associated with an increase in visceral fat and obesity and is the leading risk factor for insulin resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Recent evidence suggests that retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) is not an independent determinant of IR and its role in human glucose metabolism is not well clarified. We examined RBP4 and its association with IR, cardiometabolic and kidney parameters in obese postmenopausal women with and without T2DM. Methods: Basic anthropometric, biochemical parameters, and blood pressure (BP) were determined in 50 obese diabetic and 50 obese non-diabetic sedentary postmenopausal women, and compared with 50 healthy normal weight controls. Results: Higher levels of RBP4 were observed in obese individuals, as compared with normal weight group (p=0.033). However, we did not find significant difference between obese non-diabetic and obese-diabetic individuals (p=0.583). Serum RBP4 did not correlate with anthropometric measurements or any indicator of glucose metabolism in diabetic group, whereas RBP4 correlated with creatinine (r=0.416, p=0.003), eGFR (r= -0.304, p=0.032) and triglycerides (r=0.484, p<0.001). In obese non-diabetic group, correlations were observed with fasting glucose (r=0.346, p=0.014), insulin (r=0.292, p=0.038), HOMA-IR (r=0.329 p=0.020), HbA1c (r=0.326, p=0.021), creatinine (r=0.399, p=0.004), eGFR (r= -0.389, p=0.005), HDL-c (r= -0.316, p=0.025), triglycerides (r=0.461, p<0.001), and systolic BP (r=0.286, p=0.044). In multiple regression analysis, triglycerides (Beta=0.302, p<0.001) and eGFR (Beta= -0.188, p=0.015) were independent predictors of RBP4. Conclusions: Serum RBP4 is not increased in obese type 2 diabetic postmenopausal women, but is associated with triglycerides and eGFR independently of diabetes

Cystatin C in healthy middle-aged adults: A relationship with anthropometric and cardiometabolic parameters

Introduction: Data suggesting that cystatin C levels are linked to obesity, apart from renal pathology, are conflicting. The aim of the study was to explore the potential association between serum cystatin C levels, anthropometric, and cardiometabolic parameters in healthy middle-aged adults.Methods: A total of 132 participants (mean age 56.2 ± 6.73 years, 69% females) were included in this cross-sectional study. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters, as well as blood pressure, were obtained.Results: Obese participants displayed higher cystatin C levels than normal-weight participants (p &lt; 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that waist circumference (WC) (Beta = 0.376, p &lt; 0.001) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (Beta = -0.484, p &lt; 0.001) were independently associated with cystatin C levels (R2 = 0.447; p &lt; 0.001).Conclusions: Cystatin C is associated with abdominal obesity independent of renal function. Its relationship with changes in other target organs  should be determined

Cystatin C in healthy middle-aged adults: A relationship with anthropometric and cardiometabolic parameters

Introduction: Data suggesting that cystatin C levels are linked to obesity, apart from renal pathology, are conflicting. The aim of the study was to explore the potential association between serum cystatin C levels, anthropometric, and cardiometabolic parameters in healthy middle-aged adults. Methods: A total of 132 participants (mean age 56.2 ± 6.73 years, 69% females) were included in this cross-sectional study. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters, as well as blood pressure, were obtained. Results: Obese participants displayed higher cystatin C levels than normal-weight participants (p < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that waist circumference (WC) (Beta = 0.376, p < 0.001) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (Beta = -0.484, p < 0.001) were independently associated with cystatin C levels (R2 = 0.447; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Cystatin C is associated with abdominal obesity independent of renal function. Its relationship with changes in other target organs  should be determined

Factorial Analysis of the Cardiometabolic Risk Influence on Redox Status Components in Adult Population

Different byproducts of oxidative stress do not always lead to the same conclusion regarding its relationship with cardiometabolic risk, since controversial results are reported so far. The aim of the current study was to examine prooxidant determinant ((prooxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB)) and the marker of antioxidant defence capacity (total sulphydryl groups (tSHG)), as well as their ratio (PAB/tSHG) in relation to different cardiometabolic risk factors in the cohort of adult population. Additionally, we aimed to examine the joint effect of various cardiometabolic parameters on these markers, since to our knowledge, there are no studies that investigated that issue. A total of 292 participants underwent anthropometric measurements and venipuncture procedure for cardiometabolic risk factors assessment. Waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), body mass index, visceral adiposity index (VAI), and lipid accumulation product (LAP) were calculated. Principal component analysis (PCA) grouped various cardiometabolic risk parameters into different factors. This analysis was used in the subsequent binary logistic regression analysis to estimate the predictive potency of the factors towards the highest PAB and tSHG values. Our results show that triglycerides, VAI, and LAP were positively and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) were negatively correlated with tSHG levels and vice versa with PAB/tSHG index, respectively. On the contrary, there were no independent correlations between each cardiometabolic risk factor and PAB. PCA revealed that obesity-renal function-related factor (i.e., higher WHtR, but lower urea and creatinine) predicts both high PAB (OR=1.617, 95% CI (1.204-2.171), P<0.01) and low tSHG values (OR=0.443, 95% CI (0.317-0.618), P<0.001), while obesity-dyslipidemia-related factor (i.e., lower HDL-c and higher triglycerides, VAI, and LAP) predicts high tSHG values (OR=2.433, 95% CI (1.660-3.566), P<0.001). In conclusion, unfavorable cardiometabolic profile was associated with higher tSHG values. Further studies are needed to examine whether increased antioxidative capacity might be regarded as a compensatory mechanism due to free radicals’ harmful effects

Prevalence of and contributing factors to overweight and obesity among the schoolchildren of Podgorica, Montenegro

Introduction/Objective. Childhood obesity is an emerging public health problem. The national prevalence of child overweight/obesity in Montenegro has increased by one third in the last decade. As the overwhelming majority of Montenegrin population is urban, investigation of obesity and correlates among urban children is of special public health interest. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of and contributing factors to obesity among schoolchildren of Podgorica. Method. The sample included 1,134 schoolchildren (49.8% boys) aged 7–12 years, from 10 elementary schools in Podgorica. We measured children’s body mass, body height, and waist circumference to calculate body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-height ratio. The research instrument was a closed type of the original questionnaire. Nutritional status was assessed according to the criteria recommended by the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization and International Obesity Task Force. Results. Among the investigated children there were 21.2% and 6% overweight and obese children, respectively. Obesity was more frequent among boys (7.6%) compared to girls (4.4%). In a multiple regression, childhood obesity was positively related to the following: male gender, younger age, lower number of siblings, parental obesity, and low physical activity. Conclusion. One out of five urban Montenegrin schoolchildren is overweight/obese, with obesity being twice as frequent among boys compared to girls. A program against obesity among urban Montenegrin children should focus on the revealed contributing factors