ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 gene polymorphisms and serum lipid levels in young Greek nurses

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>The ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) is essential protein involved in lipid metabolism. The present study was undertaken to detect the possible association of polymorphisms in the ABCA1 gene [rs2230806 (R219K) and rs2230808 (R1587K)] and lipid profile in Greek young nurses.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study population consisted of 308 unrelated nurses who were genotyped and the ABCA1 polymorphisms were detected. Additionally, lipid profile [total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGs), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and apolipoprotein (apo) A] was evaluated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There was no difference in the genotypic and allelic frequencies of the R219K polymorphism according to lipid profile. The R1587K genotypes differed significantly according to TC, LDL-C and TGs concentration (p = 0.023, p = 0.014 and p = 0.047, respectively). Particularly, significant difference in TC, LDL-C and TGs concentration was detected between RK and RR genotypes (p = 0.006, p = 0.004, p = 0.014, respectively). Women with RK genotype compared to RR genotype had higher concentration of TGs (134.25 mg/dl vs 108.89 mg/dl, p = 0.014, respectively), total cholesterol (207.41 mg/dl vs 187.69 mg/dl, p = 0.006, respectively), and LDL-C (110.6 mg/dl vs 96.9 mg/dl, p = 0.004, respectively).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These findings suggest that the R1587K polymorphism of ABCA1 gene was associated with lipid profile of Greek nurses. Women with RK genotype had higher TGs, total and LDL-C concentration compared to RR genotype. These observations may be significant in assessing the risk of CAD since a 1% change in LDL-C is associated with a 1% change of cardiovascular events. Also, TGs concentration were documented to play a significant role in women. However, this needs to be confirmed by larger studies.</p

Prevalence of familial hypercholesterolemia in Attica region, Greece

Background: Dyslipidemias are one of the major modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is the most common genetic metabolic disorder; it is estimated that around 14-34 million people worldwide have FH but only 25% of FH patients have been diagnosed. Aim: The aim of the present study was to explore the prevalence of FH in Attica region, Greece.Methods: Attica region was divided into 8 regional units. A predesigned questionnaire was used to collect demographic and clinical data. Data analysis was performed by using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), ver. 20.Results: The studied sample consisted of 1578 Greek inhabitants of Attica region. The majority of the sample was women (59.9%). The mean age of the studied participants was 47.1 (±14.9) years. According to Simon Broome criteria, the probability of an FH diagnosis as unlikely is determined in 98.7% of the studied sample, probable in 0.8% of the participants or definite in 0.5% of the participants, based on this data, the prevalence of FH in Attica region, Greece is 1:200. Qualitative factors found to be associated with the onset of the disease were medication (p-value = 0.001) and hypolipidemic therapy (p-value = 0.001). The quantitative factors found to be associated with disease onset were body mass index (p-value = 0.044), and systolic (p-value = 0.001) and diastolic (p-value = 0.007) pressure.Conclusions: Based on our data, the prevalence of FH in Attica region, Greece is 1:200. Early identification of contributing factors in FH development and proper treatment is vital and reduce the risk of premature and severe atherosclerotic disease

Low fasting low high-density lipoprotein and postprandial lipemia

BACKGROUND: Low levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and disturbed postprandial lipemia are associated with coronary heart disease. In the present study, we evaluated the variation of triglyceride (TG) postprandially in respect to serum HDL cholesterol levels. RESULTS: Fifty two Greek men were divided into 2 main groups: a) the low HDL group (HDL < 40 mg/dl), and b) the control group. Both groups were further matched according to fasting TG (matched-low HDL, and matched-control groups). The fasting TG concentrations were higher in the low HDL group compared to controls (p = 0.002). The low HDL group had significantly higher TG at 4, 6 and 8 h postprandially compared to the controls (p = 0.006, p = 0.002, and p < 0.001, respectively). The matched-low HDL group revealed higher TG only at 8 h postprandially (p = 0.017) compared to the matched-control group. ROC analysis showed that fasting TG ≥ 121 mg/dl have 100% sensitivity and 81% specificity for an abnormal TG response (auc = 0.962, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The delayed TG clearance postprandially seems to result in low HDL cholesterol even in subjects with low fasting TG. The fasting TG > 121 mg/dl are predictable for abnormal response to fatty meal

Changes in Lipids and Lipoproteins after Selective LDL Apheresis (7-Year Experience)

Background. The aim of the study was to investigate the changes in plasma lipids and lipoproteins and the cardiovascular events after selective LDL apheresis. Methods and Results. Two pediatric patients with familial hypercholesterolemia aged 11 and 13 years and 19 dyslipidemic adults aged 41 ± 14 years underwent direct adsorption of lipoproteins (DALI) sessions. The mean follow-up period was 47 ± 23 months. The total cholesterol (TC) values before and after treatment were 8.2 ± 2.2 and 3.1 ± 1.6 mmol/l (318 ± 86 and 122 ± 62 mg/dL), respectively. The interval mean of TC was 6.9 ± 1.9 mmol/l (268 ± 75 mg/dL). The LDL cholesterol concentrations before and after treatment were 6.6 ± 2.1 and 1.7 ± 1.1 mmol/l, (256 ± 82 mg/dL and 65 ± 41 mg/dL), respectively. The percentage of acute LDL cholesterol reduction was 75 ± 11%. Cardiovascular events were observed in seven patients. The average annual event rate was 5.51%. Conclusion. LDL apheresis is a very important therapeutic tool in managing patients at high risk for premature CAD or with aggressive CAD, despite adequate medical treatment

Fasting Serum Triglyceride and High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels in Patients Intended to be Treated for Dyslipidemia

Genovefa D Kolovou1, Katherine Anagnostopoulou1, Nektarios D Pilatis1, Klelia D Salpea1, Ioannis S Hoursalas1, Ilias Petropoulos1, Helen I Bilianou2, Dennis V Cokkinos11Cardiology Department, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, Athens, Greece; 2Cardiology Department, Tzanio State Hospital, Piraeus, GreeceObjective: The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the influence of serum triglycerides (TG) on other plasma lipids in patients to be treated for dyslipidemia.Methodology: Lipid profiles of a cohort of 801 patients (487 males and 314 females) aged 57 &plusmn; 9 years (mean &plusmn; SD) were evaluated. Patients were stratified according to their plasma lipid levels. They were divided into various groups on the basis of serum TG (&ge; 150 or &lt; 150 mg/dL) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (&ge; 40 or &lt; 40 mg/dL).Results: Patients with TG &ge; 150 mg/dL had a higher total cholesterol and lower HDL-C levels compared with those with TG &lt; 150 mg/dL, (p &lt; 0.001). Patients with HDL-C &lt; 40 mg/dL had a lower serum total cholesterol and higher TG compared with those with HDL-C &ge; 40 mg/dL (p = 0.011 and p &lt; 0.0001, respectively). In all patients as well as in the subgroups, an inverse correlation between TG and HDL-C was found (r = &ndash;0.377, p &lt; 0.001).Conclusions: Although, the metabolic pathway for TG and HDL-C is closely linked, an inverse correlation between TG and HDL-C levels seems to exist in the entire sampled population. This correlation also appears to persist in fasting patients with low levels of TG.Keywords: triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, dyslipidemi

Sex-associated effect of CETP and LPL polymorphisms on postprandial lipids in familial hypercholesterolaemia

Background: This study assessed the gender-specific influence of the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (TaqIB, I405V) and lipoprotein lipase (S447X) polymorphisms on the response to an oral fat tolerance test in heterozygotes for familial hypercholesterolaemia.Methods: We selected and genotyped 80 men and postmenopausal women heterozygous for familial hypercholesterolaemia (main group) as well as 11 healthy control subjects. Patients were subgrouped based on their response to oral fat tolerance test. The oral fat tolerance test was defined as pathological when postprandial triglyceride concentration was higher than the highest triglyceride concentration observed in healthy subjects (220 mg/dl) at any time (2, 4, 6 or 8 h).Results: In the pathological subgroup, men had significantly higher incremental area under the curve after oral fat tolerance test than postmenopausal women. Furthermore, multivariate analysis revealed a gender association of TaqIB and I405V influence on postprandial lipaemia in this subgroup.Conclusion: In conclusion, it seems that gender and TaqIB polymorphism of the cholesteryl ester transfer protein gene were both associated with the distribution of triglyceride values after oral fat tolerance test, only in subjects with a pathological response to oral fat tolerance test. Specifically, men carrying the B2 allele of the TaqIB polymorphism showed a higher postprandial triglyceride peak and a delayed return to basal values compared with women carrying B2. However, further investigations in larger populations are required to replicate and confirm these findings

Postprandial lipemia in men with metabolic syndrome, hypertensives and healthy subjects

BACKGROUND: The metabolic syndrome (MetS), as well as postprandial hypertriglyceridemia, is associated with coronary heart disease. This study aimed to evaluate the postprandial lipemia after oral fat tolerance test (OFTT) in subjects with MetS and compare them to hypertensive (HTN) and healthy subjects. RESULTS: OFTT was given to 33 men with MetS (defined by the Adult Treatment Panel III), 17 HTN and 14 healthy men. The MetS group was further divided according to fasting triglycerides (TG) into TG ≥ 150 [MetS+TG, (n = 22)] or <150 mg/dl [MetS-TG (n = 11)], and into those with or without hypertension [MetS+HTN (n = 24), MetS-HTN (n = 9), respectively]. TG concentrations were measured before and at 4, 6 and 8 h after OFTT and the postprandial response was quantified using the area under the curve (AUC) for TG. The postprandial response was significantly higher in MetS compared to HTN and healthy men [AUC (SD) in mg/dl/h; 2534 ± 1016 vs. 1620 ± 494 and 1019 ± 280, respectively, p ≤ 0.001]. The TG levels were increased significantly in MetS+TG compared to MetS-TG subjects at 4 (p = 0.022), 6 (p < 0.001) and 8 hours (p < 0.001). The TG were increased significantly in MetS-TG compared to healthy subjects at 4 (p = 0.011), 6 (p = 0.001) and 8 hours (p = 0.015). In linear regression analysis only fasting TG levels were a significant predictor of the AUC (Coefficient B = 8.462, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Fasting TG concentration is the main determinant of postprandial lipemia. However, an exaggeration of TG postprandialy was found in normotriglyceridemic MetS and HTN compared to healthy subjects. This suggests that intervention to lower fasting TG levels should be recommended in MetS subjects