Baseline Characteristics stratified by sex.

<p>Baseline Characteristics stratified by sex.</p

Circulating Irisin Concentrations Are Associated with a Favourable Lipid Profile in the General Population

<div><p>Background/aims</p><p>Irisin is a myokine, which is mainly inversely associated with the risk for non-communicable diseases. Irisin improves cellular energy metabolism by uncoupling the mitochondrial respiratory chain resulting in increased energy expenditure using lipids. To date potential associations between irisin concentration and lipid profile are poorly understood. Therefore, this investigation aimed to evaluate potential associations between irisin and lipid levels in the general population.</p><p>Methods</p><p>Data of 430 men and 537 women from the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP-TREND) with available irisin and lipid concentrations were used. Analyses of variance, linear and logistic regression models adjusted for age, HBA1c, waist circumference, physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, systolic blood pressure, ALAT were calculated.</p><p>Results</p><p>We detected significantly inverse associations between irisin and circulating levels of total [beta coefficient 0.21 (standard error 0.08), p = 0.01], low-density cholesterol [-0.16 (0.07), p = 0.03] and triglycerides [-0.17 (0.08), p = 0.02] for men. Females without lipid lowering medication had an inverse association between irisin and total cholesterol [-0.12 (0.06), p = 0.05]. Further, male subjects with irisin concentrations in the third tertile had an increased odds for elevated low-density cholesterol [odds ratio 1.96 (95% confidence interval 1.07–3.48), p = 0.03) and triglyceride [1.95 (1.09–3.47), p = 0.02] levels, even after exclusion of subjects with lipid lowering medication. In addition, our data revealed an annual rhythm of serum irisin levels with peak levels arise in winter and summer months.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>This is the first investigation to report a significant association between circulating irisin and a favourable lipid profile in the general population. This may infer that higher irisin concentrations are associated with a reduced risk for non-communicable diseases.</p></div

Boxplots of irisin concentrations separately for men and women by month.

<p>*p<0.05 for comparison between men and women. The black triangles indicate group means.</p

Association between irisin concentrations and lipid levels as well as dyslipidemia.

<p>Association between irisin concentrations and lipid levels as well as dyslipidemia.</p

Association between irisin concentrations and levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and triglyceride among men and women.

<p><i>Left side of each lipid</i>: Estimated mean levels with 95% confidence interval by tertiles of irisin. <i>Right side of each lipid</i>: Linear regression. All models were adjusted for age, HBA1c, waist circumference, physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, systolic blood pressure, ALAT and months of examination (only linear regression).</p

Association between irisin concentrations and lipid levels.

<p>Association between irisin concentrations and lipid levels.</p

Circulating Angiopoietin-2 and Its Soluble Receptor Tie-2 Concentrations Are Related to Renal Function in Two Population-Based Cohorts

<div><p>Background</p><p>An intact angiopoietin/Tie-2 ligand receptor system is indispensable for life. High circulating angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) concentrations are strongly associated with kidney disease involving the progressive loss of glomerular filtration. The aim of our study was to investigate the associations between renal function and serum Ang-2 or serum Tie-2 concentrations in the general population.</p><p>Methods</p><p>Data of 3081 and 4088 subjects from two population-based studies, the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP-1) and SHIP-Trend, were used. Renal function was assessed by serum creatinine, cystatin C concentration, creatinine-based estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR(crea)], cystatin C-based eGFR [eGFR(cys)] and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR). Analyses of variance and linear regression models were calculated.</p><p>Results</p><p>In both cohorts, strong positive associations between serum cystatin C concentrations and serum Ang-2 or Tie-2 concentrations as well as inverse associations between eGFR(cys) and serum Ang-2 or Tie-2 concentrations were found. These relations were also present in a subpopulation without hypertension or diabetes mellitus type 2. Furthermore, we detected weak U-shaped associations between serum creatinine concentrations or eGFR(crea) and serum Ang-2 concentrations. With respect to uACR a strong positive association with serum Ang-2 concentrations was revealed.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Serum Ang-2 concentrations are strongly associated with sensitive parameters of renal impairment like serum cystatin C, uACR and eGFR(cys). These findings persisted even after exclusion of subjects with hypertension or diabetes mellitus type 2, conditions that predispose to chronic renal disease and are associated with increased Ang-2 concentrations. Interestingly, we did not detect the same strong relations between serum creatinine and eGFR(crea) with serum Ang-2 concentration. Additionally, significant association of serum Tie-2 concentrations with cystatin C and eGFR(cys) were detected.</p></div

Multivariate analysis of the association of serum N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and incident hypertension.

<p><b>Model 1:</b> adjusted for age and sex.</p><p><b>Model 2:</b> adjusted for model 1, heart rate, estimated glomerular filtration rate, body mass index, FEV1, baseline systolic- and diastolic blood pressure (three categories each).</p><p><b>Model 3:</b> adjusted for model 2, alcohol intake, physical activity, smoking status, educational level, and dietary habits.</p><p><b>Model 4:</b> adjusted for model 3, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, haemoglobin A1c, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and leptin.</p><p>Multivariate analysis of the association of serum N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and incident hypertension.</p

Multivariate analysis of the association of serum N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and prevalent hypertension.

<p><b>Model 1:</b> adjusted for age and sex.</p><p><b>Model 2:</b> adjusted for model 1, heart rate, estimated glomerular filtration rate, body mass index, and FEV1.</p><p><b>Model 3:</b> adjusted for model 2, alcohol intake, physical activity, smoking status, educational level, and dietary habits.</p><p><b>Model 4:</b> adjusted for model 3, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, haemoglobin A1c, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and leptin.</p><p>Multivariate analysis of the association of serum N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and prevalent hypertension.</p

Partial Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients, adjusted for sex and age, between serum N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and selected variables of interest.

<p>FEV1 indicates forced expiratory volume in one sec.; HDL, High-density lipoprotein; HOMA, homeostatic model assessment; IR, insulin resistance; GFR, glomerular filtration rate.</p><p>*<i>P<0</i>.<i>05</i></p><p>†<i>P<0</i>.<i>01</i></p><p>‡<i>P<0</i>.<i>001</i></p><p>Partial Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients, adjusted for sex and age, between serum N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and selected variables of interest.</p