The Effects of Body Acupuncture on Obesity: Anthropometric Parameters, Lipid Profile, and Inflammatory and Immunologic Markers

A randomized controlled clinical trial in 196 obese subjects was performed to examine the effectiveness of body acupuncture on body weight loss, lipid profile and immunogenic and inflammatory markers. Subjects received authentic (cases) or sham (controls) acupuncture for 6 weeks in combination with a low-calorie diet. In the following 6 weeks, they received the low-calorie diet alone. Subjects were assessed at the beginning, 6 and 12 weeks later. Heat shock protein (Hsps)-27, 60, 65, 70 antibody titers and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were also assessed. A significant reduction in measures of adiposity and improvement in lipid profile were observed in both groups, but the levels of anti-Hsp-antibodies decreased in cases only. A reduction in anthropometric and lipid profile in cases were sustained in the second period, however, only changes in lipid profile were observed in the control group. Anti-Hsp-antibodies and hs-CRP levels continued to be reduced in cases but in controls only the reduction in hs-CRP remained. Changes in anthropometric parameters, lipid profile, and anti-Hsp-antibodies were more evident in cases. Body acupuncture in combination with diet restriction was effective in enhancing weight loss and improving dyslipidemia

Association of Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide With Cardiac Magnetic Resonance-Measured Global and Regional Cardiac Function and Structure Over 10 Years: The MESA Study.

Background NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide) is widely used to diagnose and manage patients with heart failure. We aimed to investigate associations between NT-proBNP levels and development of global and regional myocardial impairment, dyssynchrony, and risk of developing myocardial scar over time. Methods and Results We included 2416 adults (45-84 years) without baseline clinical cardiovascular disease from MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis). NT-proBNP was assessed at baseline (2000-2002). Cardiac magnetic resonance-measured left ventricular parameters were assessed at baseline and year 10 (2010-2012). Tagged cardiac magnetic resonance and myocardial dyssynchrony were assessed. We used linear and logistic regression models to study the relationships between quartiles of NT-proBNP levels and outcome variables. Left ventricular parameters decreased over time. After 10-year follow-up and adjusting for cardiovascular disease risk factors, people in the highest quartile had significantly greater decline in left ventricular ejection fraction (-1.60%; 95% CI, -2.26 to -0.94; P<0.01) and smaller decline in left ventricular end systolic volume index (-0.47 mL/m2; 95% CI, -1.18 to 0.23; P<0.01) compared with those in the lowest quartile. Individuals in the highest quartile had more severe risk factor adjusted global, mid, and apical regional dyssynchrony compared with those in the lowest, second, and third quartiles (all P-trend<0.05). Compared with the lowest-quartile group, the adjusted odds ratios for having myocardial scar was 1.3 (95% CI, 0.7-2.2) for quartile 2; 1.2 (95% CI, 0.6-2.3) for quartile 3; and 2.7 (95% CI, 1.4-5.5) for quartile 4 (P-trend=0.012) for the total sample. Conclusions Among participants without baseline clinical cardiovascular disease, higher baseline NT-proBNP concentration was significantly associated with subclinical changes in developing myocardial dysfunction, more severe cardiac dyssynchrony, and higher odds of having myocardial scar over a 10-year period independent of traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors

Association between indices of body mass and antibody titers to heat-shock protein-27 in healthy subjects

OBJECTIVES We have assessed the relationship between indices of adiposity and antibody titers to Hsp-27 in healthy subjects. DESIGN Two-hundred and fifty subjects were studied, including 50 normal-weight subjects (body-mass-index (BMI) 25 kg/m(2)), 100 overweight subjects (BMI 25 to 30 kg/m(2)) (n=100) and 100 obese subjects (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m(2)). RESULTS Anti-Hsp27-antibody levels in obese subjects were [0.34 (0.20-0.39) absorbency unit], being significantly higher than overweight and normal-weight groups (P<0.05). Anti-Hsp27-antibody levels in overweight subjects [0.29 (0.15-0.34) absorbency unit] were statistically higher than controls [0.18 (0.10-0.23) absorbency unit] (P<0.05). CONCLUSION High anti-Hsp-27-antibody levels in obese-subjects without established coronary disease may be related to a heightened state of immunoactivation associated with obesity

Serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and heat shock protein 27 antibody titers in patients with stroke and 6-month prognosis

Serum heat shock protein 27 immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody titers (anti-HSP27) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) concentrations were measured in samples from 168 patients in the first 24 hours after the onset of stroke and 80 age-and sex-matched control participants. In patients with stroke, median serum anti-HSP27 titer was significantly higher than that of the control group (0.18 [0.14-0.28] vs 0.08 [0.04-0.12], P < .001). Median serum hsCRP concentration was also significantly higher in patients compared with the control group (11.43 [8.07-13.53] vs 3.23 [1.66-6.24], P < .001). Serum anti-HSP27 and hsCRP concentrations did not differ significantly among patients with different stroke types. Neither serum anti-HSP27 nor hsCRP levels predicted 6-month prognosis in the patients with stroke. We conclude that serum anti-HSP27 titers and hsCRP concentrations are elevated in patients with stroke but do not distinguish between stroke types or predict 6-month prognosis

Changes in plasma level of heat shock protein 27 after acute coronary syndrome

We assessed the association between serum heat shock protein 27 (Hsp-27)concentrations in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and compared them with healthy participants. Patients with ACS (n = 75) were recruited and their biochemical parameters were compared with 75 healthy participants. Heat shock protein 27 concentrations were measured from blood samples taken on admission and 12 hours after the onset of chest pain. In the patient group, Hsp-27 concentrations (31.62 [20.12-38.51] ng/mL) in the first blood samples were significantly (P < .001) higher than in control samples (20.12 [16.67-28.17] ng/mL). In patients, serum Hsp-27 levels on admission were significantly (P < .001) higher than for the samples collected 12 hours after the onset of chest pain (25.87 [15.52-31.62]); the latter did not differ significantly from samples of healthy controls. In conclusion, serum Hsp-27 concentrations are elevated in the early hours following ACS, but fall to levels near to those in healthy individuals after about 12 hours from the onset of chest pain

Simvastatin therapy reduces prooxidant-antioxidant balance: results of a placebo-controlled cross-over trial

Oxidative stress is thought to play an important role in atherogenesis. The statin group of cholesterol-lowering drugs have been shown to reduce cardiovascular events and possess antioxidant properties. We aimed to assess the effects of simvastatin on a novel measure of prooxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB) in dyslipidemic patients. The PAB assay can measure the prooxidant burden and the antioxidant capacity simultaneously in one assay, thereby giving a redox index. We treated 102 dyslipidemic individuals with simvastatin, or a placebo in a double-blind, cross-over, placebo-controlled trial. PAB values were measured before and after each treatment period. Seventy-seven subjects completed the study. We found that statin therapy was associated with a significant reduction in PAB values (P < 0.001). This effect appeared to be independent of the cholesterol-lowering effects of statins. We conclude that serum PAB values are decreased by simvastatin therapy. Regarding previous reports on the elevation of PAB in conditions associated with oxidative stress, the PAB assay, along with other markers of oxidative stress, may be applied to estimate the extent of oxidative stress in patients, assessment of the antioxidative efficacy of medication such as statins and perhaps also for the identification of those individuals who need antioxidant therapy

Relationship between serum cytokine and growth factor concentrations and coronary artery disease

Background: We have assessed the association between serum concentrations of 12 cytokines/growth factors and angiographically-defined coronary artery disease, comparing the concentrations in four groups (one control group and three case groups). Methods: We studied a total of 426 subjects including; 98 control subjects and 3 case groups. The patient groups consisted of: coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) candidates (. n=. 48) and patients undergoing coronary angiography, with, or without obstructive coronary artery disease. Twelve cytokines (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, MCP-1, IFN-γ, EGF, and VEGF) were measured using a sandwich chemi-luminescence assays, on the Evidence Investigator® system. Results: The four groups were well matched for demographic and clinical characteristics, except waist circumference, fasting blood glucose (FBG), total and LDL cholesterol and diastolic blood pressure that were significantly higher in case groups compared to the control group (. P<. 0.05 for all). There were significant differences between control group and the other three groups regarding the measured cytokines, such as IL-1α, IL-8, MCP-1, and VEGF (. P<. 0.01). Furthermore, IL-4, IL-6 and EGF were also significantly different between the control, obstructive coronary disease and CABG candidate groups (. P<. 0.01). Analysis of the ROC curve showed 92.1 sensitivity, 99.2 specificity and 100 positive predictive value (PPV) for VEGF in its ability to distinguish the CABG group at the cut-off point of 37.18. pg/ml. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that cytokines such as IL-1α, IL-4, IL-8, IL-10 and VEGF may play major roles in pathogenesis of CAD. © 2015 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists

Simvastatin treatment reduces heat shock protein 60, 65, and 70 antibody titers in dyslipidemic patients: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the effects of statin therapy on serum levels of antibodies to several specific heat shock proteins (HSPs) in dyslipidemic patients. DESIGN AND METHODS Participants (n=102) were treated with simvastatin (40mg/day), or placebo in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial. Anti-HSP60, 65, 70, and hs-CRP levels were measured before and after each treatment period. Seventy-seven subjects completed the study. RESULTS Treatment with simvastatin was associated with significant reductions in serum anti-HSP60, 65, and 70 titers in the dyslipidemic patients (10%, 14%, and 15% decrease, respectively) (p<0.001). There have been previous reports of reductions in serum CRP with statin treatment, and although median CRP levels were 9% lower on simvastatin treatment, this did not achieve statistical significance. CONCLUSION While it is unclear whether HSP antibodies are directly involved in atherogenesis, our findings suggest that simvastatin inhibits autoimmune responses that may contribute to the development of cardiovascular diseas