Obesity Parameters Research Articles

Effect of an exercise intervention during pregnancy on metabolic health parameters and delivery outcomes in Indian women

Moderate physical activity is important during pregnancy. However, this concept is new in India. This study reported the effect of an exercise intervention on weight changes and delivery outcomes in pregnant Indian women. 60 pregnant women in two groups underwent a pregnancy intervention between 20 weeks of gestation till delivery. Group 1 attended a supervised prenatal weekly exercise session with diet advise & walking for 30 min/day from 20 weeks of gestation till delivery. Group 2 received regular prenatal care at the hospital with general advice on physical activity during pregnancy. Outcome variables-body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist & hip circumference, gestational weight gain (GWG), post-partum weight retention (PPWR) and 2 delivery outcomes, i.e. mode of delivery and prolonged labour. The readings were taken at baseline, at delivery and at 2 months post-delivery. Intervention group retained less PPWR than the control at 2 months post-delivery. Similar results were found for various obesity parameters, waist (5.60±4.96 and 9.46±4.64, P=0.003) and hip (4.33±4.25 and 7.70±7.46, P=0.036) circumference and BMI at 2 months post-partum (2.41±1.65 and 4.28±3.75, P=0.015). Incidence of caesarean section and prolonged labour was less in intervention group too (P=0.012). The pregnancy lifestyle intervention significantly reduced weight retention, obesity parameters, and reduced pregnancy complications, in Indian women. Clinical Trial Registry India no. CTRI/2017/04/008322

Antioxidant, Anti-Obesity, and Hypolipidemic Effects of Polyphenol Rich Star Anise (Illicium verum) Tea in High-Fat-Sugar Diet-Induced Obesity Rat Model.

Star anise (Illicium verum Hook. fil.) is commonly utilized as a culinary and medicinal fruit and is most famous in indigenous systems of medicine. The present research work aims to appraise and validate the potential of polyphenol-rich star anise tea (SAT) on oxidative stress, obesity and related biochemical parameters in high-fat-sugar-diet (HFSD)-induced obesity model in rats. SAT was prepared using the traditional method in warm water. The Reverse Phase High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC) analysis was performed for the simultaneous determination of phenolic acids and flavonoids in SAT. Two doses (250 and 500 mg/kg body weight) were selected to investigate the anti-obesity potential of SAT using HFSD-induced obese rat model. Major (>5 mg/100 mL) phenolic acids in SAT were p-coumeric acid, gallic aid, cinamic acid, chlorogenic acid and ferulic acid while catechin and rutin were the major flavonoids detected in the SAT. SAT exhibited 51.3% DPPH radical scavenging activity. In vivo study showed that higher doses of SAT (500 mg/kg body weight) significantly reduced the body weight increase (74.82%) and BMI (0.64 g/cm2). Moreover, significant reductions in the levels of serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL and VLDL were recorded in all the treatment groups in comparison to the HFSDC group. Furthermore, SAT reduced the alterations in MDA, SOD and GSH levels of experimental groups thus showing the potential against oxidative stress. The SAT-500 group showed a significant decrease in the elevated kidney and liver weights and atherogenic index in comparison to the HFSDC group. The present study proved that SAT exhibited strong protective effects against obesity and oxidative stress, especially at higher doses.

Influence of Obesity Parameters on Different Regional Patterns of Lymph Node Metastasis in Papillary Thyroid Cancer.

Obesity increases risk of thyroid cancer. However, the association between obesity and the progression of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) remains controversial. This retrospective study aimed to explore the relationship between obesity and regional patterns of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in PTC. We retrospectively reviewed data from 1015 patients with PTC. We calculated obese parameters, such as body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (BFP), and body surface area (BSA). Logistic regression models were used to assess associations between obese parameters and the rate of lymph node metastasis (LNM), number of LNM, pattern of LNM, and lymph node ratio (LNR). Higher BMI was not associated with different regional patterns of LNM in PTC. In men with PTC, high BFP was an independent predictor of total LNM, central lymph node metastasis (CLNM), total lateral lymph node metastasis (LLNM), multiple lateral lymph node metastasis, and simultaneous metastasis in lateral compartment. In addition, male patients with high BFP had higher central LNR and higher number of CLNM. For women, high BSA was an independent predictor of LLNM and level IV metastasis. Female patients with high BSA had higher number of CLNM. BFP and BSA, possibly influenced by gender, were positively associated with the number and risk of LNM in different regions of PTC patients. However, BMI was not the predictor for aggressiveness of PTC in terms of LNM. Clinical decision-making for regional LNM in PTC patients should consider the factor of obesity.

Dietary parameters in patients with drug allergy: Assessing dietary inflammatory index.

Research on the increasing incidence of allergic diseases evidenced the role of diet as a potential key factor. Diet can modulate the low-grade systemic inflammation related to obesity and several diseases. There are no published data on drug allergy. To investigate a potential association between diet, including dietary inflammatory index (DII), and drug allergy. Also, to evaluate correlations between diet and obesity, inflammatory and metabolic parameters in patients with drug allergy. Ninety consecutive patients studied for suspected drug allergy were evaluated in terms of dietary parameters, anthropometric measurements, bioimpedance and biochemical analysis. DII was calculated based on information collected from a food frequency questionnaire. After diagnostic work-up, 39 patients had confirmed drug allergy and 45 excluded, representing the study group and the control group, respectively. The majority (79%) were female, with mean age of 39.58±13.3 years. The 84 subjects revealed an anti-inflammatory diet pattern. No significative difference was found in DII scores between drug allergic patients and controls (-3.37±0.95 vs -3.39±0.86, p = 0.985). However, the patients with drug allergy revealed higher obesity and inflammatory parameters. A significative negative correlation was found between DII and adiponectin levels, in the control group (r = -0.311, p = 0.040). In the patient group, a significative positive correlation was observed between DII and triglycerides (r = 0.359, p = 0.032). No other correlations were found between DII and the assessed parameters. Patients with drug allergy presented a significative higher intake of mono-unsaturated fatty-acids comparing to controls (19.8±3.7 vs 17.8 ± 4.0, p = 0.021). No other statistically significant differences were achieved in dietary parameters, between patients and controls. The population assessed in this study revealed an anti-inflammatory diet profile. Although we have found in a previous work that the same patients with drug allergy revealed higher obesity and inflammatory parameters, the DII did not allow to distinguish between patients with drug allergy or controls. The DII scores correlated with triglycerides levels in the drug allergy patients and inversely with adiponectin levels in the control group. Larger studies are needed to clarify the potential role of the diet in drug allergy and its outcomes.

Relationships between adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein with parameters of obesity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology ISSN 1470-3947 (print) | ISSN 1479-6848 (online)

Association between coronary artery calcium and all-cause mortality: A large single-center retrospective cohort study.

ObjectivePrevious studies have revealed that coronary artery calcium is related to cardiovascular diseases and mortality. However, most studies have been conducted in Western countries and have excluded patients with pre-existing heart disease. We investigated the association between coronary artery calcium (CAC) and all-cause mortality in an Asian cohort and in subgroups stratified by age, sex, smoking, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, blood pressure, and biochemical parameters.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study on 4529 health examinees who underwent multidetector computed tomography in a tertiary medical center in Taiwan between 2011 and 2016. The mean follow-up was 3.5 years. Cox regression was used to estimate the relative hazards of death. Stratified analyses were performed.ResultsThe all-cause mortality rates were 2.94, 4.88, 17.6, and 33.1 per 1000 person-years for CAC scores of 0, 1–100, 101–400, and >400, respectively. The multivariable adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) for all-cause mortality were 0.95 (0.53, 1.72), 1.87 (0.89, 3.90), and 3.05 (1.46, 6.39) for CAC scores of 1–100, 101–400, and >400, respectively, relative to a CAC score of 0. Compared with CAC ≤ 400, the HRs (95% CIs) for CAC > 400 were 6.46 (2.44, 17.15) and 1.94 (1.00, 3.76) in younger and older adults, respectively, indicating that age was a moderating variable (p = 0.02).ConclusionHigh CAC scores were associated with increased all-cause mortality. Although older adult patients had higher risks of death, the relative risk of death for patients with CAC > 400 was more prominent in people younger than 65 years.

Comparison of Serum Levels of Adiponectin and Cortisol between Overweight/Obese and Normal Weight Men

Introduction: Obesity, results in a number of serious complications, such as type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and metabolic syndrome. The levels of blood of adiponectin and cortisol have been associated with obesity. This study aimed to investigate the relationship of adiponectin and cortisol levels with obesity and biochemical parameters.
 Methods: This case-control study was conducted only on men, 80 participants with body mass index (BMI)≥25 considered as case group, and 100 participants with BMI<25 as control group in the Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. Plasma levels of adiponectin and cortisol were measured through ELISA kit and other variables were determined by standard methods. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 16. P-values <0.05 were considered as significant.
 Results: Our findings showed no significant difference in cortisol level between individuals with BMI≥25 and individuals with BMI<25. Obese men had significantly higher levels of triglycerides, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and lipid profiles whereas, adiponectin and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were lower compared to the control group (p-value<0.05). In this study, an inverse correlation was observed between adiponectin and fasting blood glucose (FBS), and also BMI. It was found a positive correlation between cortisol and cholesterol and also FBS.
 Conclusion: The results show that there is no relationship between cortisol and obesity, but a negative correlation between adiponectin levels and obesity.

The value of combining the simple anthropometric obesity parameters, Body Mass Index (BMI) and a Body Shape Index (ABSI), to assess the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

BackgroundBody mass index (BMI) and A Body Shape Index (ABSI) are current independent risk factors for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The aim of this study was to explore the value of combining these two most common obesity indexes in identifying NAFLD.MethodsThe subjects in this study were 14,251 individuals from the NAfld in the Gifu Area, Longitudinal Analysis (NAGALA) cohort who underwent routine health examination. We integrated BMI with WC and with ABSI to construct 6 combined obesity indicators—obesity phenotypes, the combined anthropometric risk index (ARI) for BMI and ABSI, optimal proportional combination OBMI+WC and OBMI+ABSI, and multiplicative combination BMI*WC and BMI*ABSI. Several multivariable logistic regression models were established to evaluate the relationship between BMI, WC, ABSI, and the above six combined indicators and NAFLD; receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn to compare the ability of each obesity indicator to identify NAFLD.ResultsA total of 2,507 (17.59%) subjects were diagnosed with NAFLD. BMI, WC, ABSI, and all other combined obesity indicators were significantly and positively associated with NAFLD in the current study, with BMI*WC having the strongest correlation with NAFLD in female subjects (OR per SD increase: 3.13) and BMI*ABSI having the strongest correlation in male subjects (OR per SD increase: 2.97). ROC analysis showed that ARI and OBMI+ABSI had the best diagnostic performance in both sexes, followed by BMI*WC (area under the curve: female 0.8912; male 0.8270). After further age stratification, it was found that ARI and multiplicative indicators (BMI*WC, BMI*ABSI) and optimal proportional combination indicators (OBMI+WC, OBMI+ABSI) significantly improved the NAFLD risk identification ability of the basic anthropometric parameters in middle-aged females and young and middle-aged males.ConclusionIn the general population, BMI combined with ABSI best identified obesity-related NAFLD risk and was significantly better than BMI or WC, or ABSI. We find that ARI and the multiplicative combined indicators BMI*WC and BMI*ABSI further improved risk prediction and may be proposed for possible use in clinical practice.

Association of GLP1R variants rs2268641 and rs6923761 with obesity and other metabolic parameters in a Polish cohort.

Obesity is a complex disease associated with excessive fat accumulation and numerous metabolic complications. So far, many factors leading to the development of this disorder have been identified, including genetic susceptibility. Various studies linked GLP1R variants with anthropometric and metabolic parameters, suggesting the role of the variation in this gene in metabolic health. The aim of this study is to investigate the association of two single nucleotide variants of GLP1R gene, rs2268641 and rs6923761, with excessive weight, metabolic syndrome, anthropometric measurements and selected metabolic parameters. Normal-weight subjects (n= 340, control group) and subjects with excessive body mass (n = 600, study group) participated in this study. For all participants, anthropometric measurements and metabolic parameters were collected, and genotyping of the two single nucleotide variants of GLP1R gene, rs2268641 and rs6923761, was performed using the high-resolution melting curve analysis. Significant differences in the genotype distribution of rs2268641 were found, where homozygous TT genotype was significantly less frequent in the study group with excessive body mass (OR=0.66; p=0.0298). For rs6923761, A allele and homozygous AA genotype were significantly more frequent in the study group with excessive weight than in the control group (OR=1.27; p=0.0239 and OR=1.69; p=0.0205, respectively). The association of studied variants with metabolic parameters was found for rs6923761. For this variant, AA carriers had higher body mass in comparison to GG carriers (p=0.0246), and AA carriers had higher glucose concentration in comparison to AG carriers (p=0.0498). We did not find an association of rs2268641 and rs6923761 with metabolic syndrome. In our study, AA carriers of rs6923761 had higher risk of excessive body mass, whereas TT carriers of rs2268641 had lower risk of being overweight. Moreover, homozygous carriers of the minor allele of rs6923761 had higher glucose concentration in comparison to heterozygous subjects. None of the studied variants were associated with metabolic syndrome in the studied population.

Enterotypes in asthenospermia patients with obesity

The essence of enterotypes is stratifying the entire human gut microbiome, which modulates the association between diet and disease risk. A study was designed at the Center of Reproductive Medicine, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University and Jinghua Hospital of Shenyang. Prevotella and Bacteroides were analyzed in 407 samples of stool, including 178 men with enterotype B (61 normal, 117 overweight/obese) and 229 men with enterotype P (74 normal, 155 overweight/obese). The ratio between Prevotella and Bacteroides abundance, P/B, was used as a simplified way to distinguish the predominant enterotype. In enterotype P group (P/B ≥ 0.01), obesity was a risk factor for a reduced rate of forward progressive sperm motility (odds ratio [OR] 3.350; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.881–5.966; P < 0.001), and a reduced rate of total sperm motility (OR 4.298; 95% CI 2.365–7.809; P < 0.001). Obesity was also an independent risk factor (OR 3.131; 95% CI 1.749–5.607; P < 0.001) after adjusting follicle-stimulating hormone. In enterotype P, body mass index, as a diagnostic indicator of a reduced rate of forward progressive sperm motility and a decreased rate of decreased total sperm motility, had AUC values of 0.627 (P = 0.001) and 0.675 (P < 0.0001), respectively, which were significantly higher than the predicted values in all patients. However, in enterotype B group (P < 0.01), obesity was not a risk factor for asthenospermia, where no significant difference between obesity and sperm quality parameters was observed. This study is tried to introduce enterotypes as a population-based individualized classification index to investigate the correlation between BMI and asthenospermia. In our study, overweight/obese men with enterotype P were found to have poorer sperm quality. however, sperm quality was not associated with overweight/obese in men with enterotype B. Thereof, BMI is a risk factor for asthenospermia only in men with enterotype P, but not in men with enterotype B.

Associations between indoor light pollution and unhealthy outcomes in 2,947 adults: Cross-sectional analysis in the HEIJO-KYO cohort

Nighttime use of artificial light is usual and essential in these modern times. Although light exposure at night (LAN) is reportedly a risk factor of several diseases, epidemiological studies on indoor LAN levels are still limited. Hence, the present study aimed to measure bedroom LAN levels by using light meters in a larger sample than in previous studies, and to evaluate the associations with comprehensive health outcomes. Out of 3012 participants, 2947 (mean age, 69.3 years; female, 60.6%) completed the bedroom LAN intensity measurement. The median bedroom LAN intensity was 1.0 lux (interquartile range, 0.2–4.0 lux). In a multivariable analysis adjusted for potential confounding factors, the highest quartile group of bedroom LAN intensity had significantly higher body weight, body mass index, abdominal circumference, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol than the lowest quartile group. The group with a median LAN intensity ≥10 lux had significantly higher white blood cell counts and had significantly lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels than the group with a median LAN intensity <10 lux. In addition, the groups with median LAN intensities ≥3 and ≥10 lux had significantly higher odds ratios for sleep disturbances and depressive symptoms than the group with <3 and <10 lux, respectively. Therefore, the present study provided real-world data on bedroom LAN levels as a marker for indoor light pollution in a large sample and suggested that higher bedroom LAN levels are significantly associated with parameters of obesity, dyslipidemia, systemic inflammation, sleep disturbances, and depressive symptoms.

Association of Abdominal Obesity and Hematological Parameters in Korean Adults: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2016“2018

Association of Abdominal Obesity and Hematological Parameters in Korean Adults: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2016“2018

The Role of Traditional Obesity Parameters in Predicting Frailty among Coronary Artery Disease Patients Undergoing Cardiac Catheterization.

Background Obesity has been reported to be associated with frailty and coronary artery disease (CAD). Objective The present study aimed to investigate the role of the seven traditional obesity parameters body mass index (BMI), waist-height ratio (WHtR), waist-hip ratio (WHR), body adiposity index (BAI), body shape index (BSI), waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC) in the prediction of frailty among CAD patients undergoing cardiac catheterization. Design A secondary data analysis was conducted. Setting. Three main hospitals were located at the northern and middle regions of Jordan. Participants. 220 hospitalized patients undergoing cardiac catheterization were recruited. Measurements. The traditional obesity parameters were measured using an anthropometric tape and weight scale and frailty was measured using the Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI). Data were analyzed using bivariate Pearson's correlation and forward linear regression analysis. Results Total cholesterol, HC, triglycerides, age, random blood sugar, and WC had significant positive associations with and were predictors of frailty (p < 0.05). The model of the seven predictors explained 32.4% of the variance in frailty (p = 0.02). Conclusion The incidence of frailty can be predicted by the increase in total cholesterol, HC, triglycerides, age, random blood sugar, and WC. The results of this study may help healthcare providers, including nurses, to identify the factors that could lead to frailty among CAD patients undergoing cardiac catheterization.

Morchella esculenta polysaccharide attenuate obesity, inflammation and modulate gut microbiota

Edible mushrooms have now been suggested as promising sources of biological functional ingredients and are the subject of the most recent nutrition research and novel functional foods. Polysaccharides from mushrooms exhibit impressive biological effects, notably against obesity. Obesity is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by chronic inflammation, gut dysbiosis, and hyperpermeability of the colon. Here, we prove that mushrooms Morchella esculenta polysaccharide (MEP) effects on HFD-induced obesity, colonic inflammation, and gut microbiota dysbiosis. Our findings demonstrate MEP supplementation attenuates obesity parameters and reduces inflammation in the colon via regulation of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and inactivation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). Furthermore, MEP administration restores gut microbiota dysregulation by ameliorating Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes proportion as well as enhancing beneficial bacteria, like Lactobacillus, and inhibiting pathogenic bacteria like Enterococcus. MEP improves gut integrity by increasing tight junction proteins (TJs) and reducing endotoxin levels by controlling Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in HFD-induced obese mice. These results demonstrated the therapeutic efficacy of MEP in attenuating HFD-induced obesity via regulating inflammatory cascades, ameliorating the gut microbiome, and modulating gut integrity.

Is Neck Circumference A Better Measure for Determining Obesity? A Cross-Sectional Analytical Study to Assess Its Validity in Type II Diabetes Mellitus Patient

Introduction: Several anthropometric measurements like Body mass index (BMI), skin fold thickness, Waist circumference (WC), waist-height ratio (WHtR), and Waist hip ratio (WHR) are available for diagnosing obesity at the population level. But each of them has its disadvantage as well. Neck circumference, which has been the recent anthropometric tool of interest can be used as an alternative to these measurements. Objective: To determine the validity of neck circumference as an anthropometric parameter of obesity and to estimate the cut-off points for obesity in type II diabetes mellitus patients. Material &amp; Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study was done among 141 Type II diabetes patients attending rural and urban health training center Non-communicable disease clinic of Sri Ramachandra Institute of higher education and research, Chennai. After obtaining informed consent, their anthropometric measurements like NC, BMI, WC, HC, and WHR was measured. Results: Neck circumference ≥36.5cm in males and ≥33.2cm in females is conceivably the perfect cut-off point for diagnosing overweight/Obesity in Type II diabetes mellitus. Conclusion: This analytical study deduced that NC is a valid anthropometric measurement for diagnosing obesity among Type II diabetes mellitus with plausible sensitivity and specificity.

Evaluation of Cafeteria Diet in Experimental Animal with Plant Extract of Calotropis procera for Obesity Parameter

The function of obesity in an insulin-resistant syndrome associated with hyper insulinemia, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, atherosclerotic diseased illness is vital. Hunger, body weight and lipid profile investigations thus assess Calotropis procera extract in animal models.&#x0D; Adult Wister rats (180-240g) 8 were used in each experimental group. The impact of Cactus Kalahari on hunger, body weight and profile of lipids. (A) Control in weight, (B) obesity and CP+ obesity. Control obesity caused by material of cafeteria cuisine (CD). (CP was induced at (100 mg/kg/day po. for 50 days). Every 10 days, the food give, animal body weight, blood glucose, serum lipids level examined—serum and term tests for Liver Function and Renal Function Tests were checked.&#x0D; Our research has demonstrated that following obesity induction CP pretreatment and administration at 100mg/kg/day p&lt;0.05) have resulted in substantial reductions in food consumption, increased body weight and improved lipid profile, liver enzyme and kidney function tests. Cafeteria food rats also showed considerable growth in body weight gain, famine, lipid profile, hepatic enzymes, and kidney function tests.&#x0D; When administered with a protein-rich food at the same time, the Kalahari extract prevented and reduced body weight gain and profile of lipid alterations in experimental induced obesity(fats) in rats.

The effect of obesity-related allostatic changes on cardio-metabolic risk in euthyroid children.

The hormonal thyroid changes related to obesity, even when in the euthyroid state, may contribute to the unfavorable cardio-metabolic profile of obese patients. In this retrospective study, we aim to investigate the biochemical thyroid changes and the association between serum TSH, FT4, FT3 and cardio-metabolic risk factors in euthyroid obese youths. Four hundred ninety-one Caucasian euthyroid obese children and adolescents aged 9.93 ± 2.90years were recruited. Each patient underwent clinical and auxological examination and laboratory workup including an OGTT and the measurement of thyroid function and lipid profile. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, total cholesterol to HDL ratio, atherogenic index of plasma, insulinogenic index, area under the glucose and insulin curves were calculated. We found that TSH was positively correlated with BMI-SDS values and significantly associated with hypercholesterolemia and hyperinsulinemia; FT4 resulted negatively correlated with BMI-SDS; FT3 was positively correlated with BMI-SDS and the area under the curve of insulin and negatively correlated with HDL. FT3 and FT4 resulted significantly associated with severe obesity. In addition, children with high-normal TSH values showed higher triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio values than those with normal TSH levels. Our data showed that thyroid hormones could influence obesity, lipid and glycemic parameters in euthyroid youths. These findings could carry implications regarding optimal TSH levels in obese children and confirm the importance of evaluating the thyroid function as possible adjunctive cardio-metabolic risk factor related to obesity.

Anthropometric parameters of obesity can be alternative biomarkers for the potential cardiac dysfunction in obese children.

Childhood obesity, as one of the potential risk factors of cardiovascular diseases, is closely associated with the incidence of cardiovascular disease at a younger age and has become a public health concern worldwide. However, its potential effects on the cardiovascular system have still remained elusive. In this study, we systematically evaluated the cardiovascular characteristics of 79 obese children and 161 normal weight children in Guangzhou (China) using the potential biomarkers for cardiovascular disease. Compared with normal weight children, obese children not only exhibited significantly higher levels of creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LHD), soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (s-Flt-1), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and uric acid (UA) (p = 0.0062, 0.0012, 0.0013, 0.0225, and <0.0001, respectively) but also significantly higher diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.0074) and the heart rate (p = 0.0049) were found in obese children. Of 79 obese children, cardiac functions of 40 cases were further assessed by color Doppler echocardiography. The results showed that there were significant differences between the obesity group and the healthy weight group in terms of interventricular septal wall thickness at end-diastolic (IVSd), the left ventricular posterior wall thickness at end-diastolic (LVPWD), and aortic annulus (AO) (p < 0.0001, 0.0003, and p < 0.0001, respectively). Besides, the left and/or right ventricular functions were declined in 52.4% of obese children. Correlation analysis revealed that the anthropometric parameters of obesity were not only significantly correlated with a blood lipid profile but also exhibited a more significant correlation with most of the parameters of cardiac dysfunction than a blood lipid profile. Therefore, our study indicated that obese children in Guangzhou suffered from functional damages related to cardiovascular events, which were characterized by cardiac dysfunction, and the anthropometric parameters of obesity could be economically alternative biomarkers for monitoring of cardiac dysfunction in obese children.

The role of traditional obesity parameters in predicting the number of stenosed coronary arteries (≥ 60%) among patients undergoing cardiac catheterization

The correlation between obesity and coronary artery disease (CAD) has been well-documented in the literature. Body mass index, waist–height ratio, waist–hip ratio, body adiposity index, body shape index, waist circumference, and hip circumference are traditional obesity parameters used to measure obesity. This study aimed to investigate the role of these traditional obesity parameters in the prediction of the number of stenosed coronary arteries (≥ 60%) among patients undergoing cardiac catheterization. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 220 hospitalized patients undergoing cardiac catheterization in two hospitals in Jordan. Bivariate Pearson’s correlation and forward linear regression analysis were used in the current study. Hip circumference was identified as being the best predictor of CAD (r = 0.5), with the best cut-off value of 103 cm (sensitivity = 0.92, specificity = 0.58). Hip circumference had significant regression levels with the number of stented coronary arteries (P = 0.002) and the number of severe stenosed coronary arteries (P = 0.04). The second-best obesity parameter in predicting CAD was waist circumference (r = 0.4), with a cut-off value of 0.95 m (sensitivity = 0.76, specificity = 0.68). High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (HS-CRP), triglycerides, and smoking had significant positive correlations with the number of stented coronary arteries (P < 0.05). Hip circumference of ≥ 103 cm, increased serum level of triglycerides, HS-CRP, and being a smoker are all factors which can predict CAD or the risk of developing it.

Clinical and ultrasound characteristics of the health status of fertile aged women, who smoke and have metabolic syndrome

Objectives: to identify clinical and ultrasound indicators that can determine the need for further examination of fertile aged women who smoke and have metabolic syndrome (MS) regarding the risk of developing somatic pathology or diseases of the reproductive system.Materials and methods. 2 groups of women of fertile age were examined: the first group consisted of 20 women who smoked with MS, the second group included 20 women who smoked without MS. All women were interviewed using a specially designed general and reproductive health questionnaire. Ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity and pelvic organs was performed using convex and transvaginal sensors according to existing examination protocols.Results. Women of the first group had a higher body mass index and other obesity parameters, which is typical for MS. Women of the second group smoked more cigarettes per day. The identified early onset of menstrual function in women with MS may be a manifestation of hormonal homeostasis disorders at the end of puberty with a predominance of estradiol secretion and insufficient progesterone synthesis in the second phase of the menstrual cycle. A significant amount of blood loss during menstruation and painful menstruation in women of the first group may be a manifestation of adenomyosis, which confirms by echo-positive and echo-negative inclusions in the myometrium and thickening of the uterine walls. In most patients with MS ultrasound showed multifollicular ovaries, which may point at polycystic ovary syndrome, given changes in body mass index and ovarian structure as a response on hyperestrogenemia. Prolonged manifestation of MS also negatively affected the abdominal organs, as evidenced by echo-positive inclusions in the liver and pancreas parenchyma, which is a manifestation of inflammatory diseases of these organs.Conclusions. The combination of prolonged smoking and metabolic syndrome leads to more pronounced changes in the reproductive system and abdominal organs, which in turn expands the range of recommended methods of instrumental examination for such women.