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Some studies suggest that being an apolipoprotein e4 (APOE e4) carrier increases the risk of atherosclerosis, and others suggest that cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) could play a key role in atherosclerotic prevention. Our aim was to analyze the association of APOE e4 with carotid atherosclerosis and the association of CRF with atherosclerosis in APOE e4 carriers. A cross-sectional analysis based on a subsample of 90 participants in the Aragon Workers' Health Study was carried out. Ultrasonography was used to assess the presence of plaques in carotid territory; the submaximal Chester Step Test was used to assess CRF; and behavioral, demographic, anthropometric, and clinical data were obtained by trained personnel during annual medical examinations. APOE e4e4 participants were categorized into Low-CRF (VO2max < 35 mL/kg/min) and High-CRF (VO2max ≥ 35 mL/kg/min) groups. After adjusting for several confounders, compared with APOE e3e3, those participants genotyped as APOE e3e4 and APOE e4e4 showed an OR = 1.60 (95% CI 0.45, 5.71) and OR = 4.29 (95% CI 1.16, 15.91), respectively, for carotid atherosclerosis. Compared to Low-CRF APOE e4e4 carriers, the odds of carotid plaque detection were 0.09 (95% CI 0.008, 0.98) times lower among High-CRF APOE e4e4 carriers. The APOE e4e4 genotype was associated with increased carotid atherosclerosis. However, CRF is a modifiable factor that may be targeted by APOE e4e4 to decrease the elevation of atherosclerotic risk due to this genetic condition.
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Aterosclerosis , Capacidad Cardiovascular , Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas , Placa Aterosclerótica , Humanos , Apolipoproteína E4/genética , Homocigoto , Estudios Transversales , Polimorfismo Genético , Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas/diagnóstico por imagen , Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas/epidemiología , Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas/genética , Placa Aterosclerótica/diagnóstico por imagen , Genotipo , Apolipoproteínas E/genéticaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Studies evaluating the association of metals with subclinical atherosclerosis are mostly limited to carotid arteries. We assessed individual and joint associations of nonessential metals exposure with subclinical atherosclerosis in 3 vascular territories. Approach and Results: One thousand eight hundred seventy-three Aragon Workers Health Study participants had urinary determinations of inorganic arsenic species, barium, cadmium, chromium, antimony, titanium, uranium, vanadium, and tungsten. Plaque presence in carotid and femoral arteries was determined by ultrasound. Coronary Agatston calcium score ≥1 was determined by computed tomography scan. Median arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, antimony, titanium, uranium, vanadium, and tungsten levels were 1.83, 1.98, 0.27, 1.18, 0.05, 9.8, 0.03, 0.66, and 0.23 µg/g creatinine, respectively. The adjusted odds ratio (95% CI) for subclinical atherosclerosis presence in at least one territory was 1.25 (1.03-1.51) for arsenic, 1.67 (1.22-2.29) for cadmium, and 1.26 (1.04-1.52) for titanium. These associations were driven by arsenic and cadmium in carotid, cadmium and titanium in femoral, and titanium in coronary territories and mostly remained after additional adjustment for the other relevant metals. Titanium, cadmium, and antimony also showed positive associations with alternative definitions of increased coronary calcium. Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression analysis simultaneously evaluating metal associations suggested an interaction between arsenic and the joint cadmium-titanium exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support arsenic and cadmium and identify titanium and potentially antimony as atherosclerosis risk factors. Exposure reduction and mitigation interventions of these metals may decrease cardiovascular risk in individuals without clinical disease.
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Aterosclerosis/inducido químicamente , Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas/inducido químicamente , Enfermedad de la Arteria Coronaria/inducido químicamente , Arteria Femoral/efectos de los fármacos , Metales/efectos adversos , Exposición Profesional/efectos adversos , Salud Laboral , Adulto , Antimonio/efectos adversos , Antimonio/orina , Arsénico/efectos adversos , Arsénico/orina , Enfermedades Asintomáticas , Aterosclerosis/diagnóstico por imagen , Aterosclerosis/epidemiología , Aterosclerosis/orina , Biomarcadores/orina , Cadmio/efectos adversos , Cadmio/orina , Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas/diagnóstico por imagen , Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas/epidemiología , Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas/orina , Enfermedad de la Arteria Coronaria/diagnóstico por imagen , Enfermedad de la Arteria Coronaria/epidemiología , Enfermedad de la Arteria Coronaria/orina , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Arteria Femoral/diagnóstico por imagen , Humanos , Masculino , Metales/orina , Persona de Mediana Edad , Placa Aterosclerótica , Medición de Riesgo , Factores de Riesgo , España/epidemiología , Titanio/efectos adversos , Titanio/orinaRESUMEN
The use of 3D sensors combined with appropriate data processing and analysis has provided tools to optimise agricultural management through the application of precision agriculture. The recent development of low-cost RGB-Depth cameras has presented an opportunity to introduce 3D sensors into the agricultural community. However, due to the sensitivity of these sensors to highly illuminated environments, it is necessary to know under which conditions RGB-D sensors are capable of operating. This work presents a methodology to evaluate the performance of RGB-D sensors under different lighting and distance conditions, considering both geometrical and spectral (colour and NIR) features. The methodology was applied to evaluate the performance of the Microsoft Kinect v2 sensor in an apple orchard. The results show that sensor resolution and precision decreased significantly under middle to high ambient illuminance (>2000 lx). However, this effect was minimised when measurements were conducted closer to the target. In contrast, illuminance levels below 50 lx affected the quality of colour data and may require the use of artificial lighting. The methodology was useful for characterizing sensor performance throughout the full range of ambient conditions in commercial orchards. Although Kinect v2 was originally developed for indoor conditions, it performed well under a range of outdoor conditions.
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BACKGROUND: Current cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk stratification scales, drawn up from traditional risk factors, have important limitations. The detection of subclinical atherosclerosis, by a non-invasive technique such as peripheral arteries ultrasound (US) may improve cardiovascular risk (CVR) stratification, especially in intermediate risk population. Our aim was to compare the predictive power of atherosclerotic plaques detected in carotid and femoral arteries by 2-dimensional (2D) vs. 3-dimensional (3D) US for positive coronary artery calcium score (CACS), used as a proxy for CVD, in a middle-aged sample with intermediate 10-year CVR (7.5-20%). METHODS: To detect atherosclerotic plaques by 2D vs. 3D US scan of carotid and femoral arteries and comparison of their association with CACS obtained by computed tomography (CT) of subjects with intermediate CVR belonging to the Aragon Workers' Health Study. RESULTS: 120 men were included, with a 10.4% average 10 years CVR. Forty-one (34.2%) participants had CACS ≥ 1. 90 participants (75%) had at least one plaque detected by 2D scan while 85 participants (70.8%) had at least a plaque detected by 3D US. Conventional CVR estimates c-statistic for CACS was .590. Although the variables most predicted of CACS ≥ 1 were those measured by 3D US (total plaque volume and mean of plaque density, c-statistics: .743 and .750 respectively), their predictive capacity was not statistically significantly different from the number of territories with plaque, measured either by 2D and 3D US (c-statistics .728 to .740 respectively). CONCLUSION: Subclinical atherosclerosis measured by 2D and 3D US were better predictors of CACS ≥ 1 than CVR estimated by conventional guidelines. In our sample, 3D US did not show any significant advantages with respect to 2D US for the prediction of coronary atherosclerosis.
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Aterosclerosis/diagnóstico , Arterias Carótidas/diagnóstico por imagen , Enfermedad de la Arteria Coronaria/diagnóstico , Arteria Femoral/diagnóstico por imagen , Imagenología Tridimensional , Aterosclerosis/epidemiología , Aterosclerosis/patología , Enfermedad de la Arteria Coronaria/epidemiología , Enfermedad de la Arteria Coronaria/patología , Vasos Coronarios/diagnóstico por imagen , Vasos Coronarios/patología , Humanos , Estudios Longitudinales , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Valor Predictivo de las Pruebas , Pronóstico , Medición de Riesgo/métodos , Factores de Riesgo , Tomografía Computarizada por Rayos X , Ultrasonografía/métodosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Few studies have evaluated the association of sleep duration with subclinical atherosclerosis, and with heterogeneous findings. We evaluated the association of sleep duration with the presence of coronary, carotid, and femoral subclinical atherosclerosis in healthy middle-age men with low prevalence of clinical comorbidities. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 1968 men, 40-60 years of age, participating in the Aragon Workers' Health Study (AWHS). Duration of sleep during a typical work week was assessed by questionnaire. Coronary artery calcium scores (CACS) was assessed by computed tomography and the presence of carotid plaque and femoral plaque by ultrasound. RESULTS: In fully adjusted models, the odds ratios (95% CI) for CACS >0 comparing sleep durations of ≤5, 6, and ≥8â¯h with 7â¯h were 1.34 (0.98-1.85), 1.35 (1.08-1.69) and 1.21 (0.90-1.62), respectively (pâ¯=â¯0.04). A similar U-shaped association was observed for CACS ≥100 and for CACS. The corresponding odds ratios for the presence of at least one carotid plaque were ≤5, 6, and ≥8â¯h with 7â¯h were 1.23 (0.88-1.72), 1.09 (0.86-1.38), and 0.86 (0.63-1.17), respectively (pâ¯=â¯0.31), and for the presence of at least one femoral plaque were 1.25 (0.87-1.80), 1.19 (0.93-1.51) and 1.17 (0.86-1.61), respectively (pâ¯=â¯0.39). CONCLUSIONS: Middle-aged men reporting 7â¯h of sleep duration had the lowest prevalence of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis as assessed by CACs. Our results support that men with very short or very long sleep durations are at increased risk of atherosclerosis.
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Aterosclerosis/epidemiología , Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas/epidemiología , Enfermedad de la Arteria Coronaria/epidemiología , Arteria Femoral , Salud Laboral , Trastornos del Sueño-Vigilia/epidemiología , Sueño , Adulto , Enfermedades Asintomáticas , Aterosclerosis/diagnóstico por imagen , Aterosclerosis/patología , Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas/diagnóstico por imagen , Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas/patología , Comorbilidad , Angiografía Coronaria , Enfermedad de la Arteria Coronaria/diagnóstico por imagen , Enfermedad de la Arteria Coronaria/patología , Estudios Transversales , Arteria Femoral/diagnóstico por imagen , Arteria Femoral/patología , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Placa Aterosclerótica , Prevalencia , Medición de Riesgo , Factores de Riesgo , Trastornos del Sueño-Vigilia/diagnóstico , Trastornos del Sueño-Vigilia/fisiopatología , España/epidemiología , Factores de Tiempo , UltrasonografíaRESUMEN
Inorganic arsenic exposure may be associated with diabetes, but the evidence at low-moderate levels is not sufficient. Polymorphisms in diabetes-related genes have been involved in diabetes risk. We evaluated the association of inorganic arsenic exposure on diabetes in the Hortega Study, a representative sample of a general population from Valladolid, Spain. Total urine arsenic was measured in 1451 adults. Urine arsenic speciation was available in 295 randomly selected participants. To account for the confounding introduced by non-toxic seafood arsenicals, we designed a multiple imputation model to predict the missing arsenobetaine levels. The prevalence of diabetes was 8.3%. The geometric mean of total arsenic was 66.0⯵g/g. The adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for diabetes comparing the highest with the lowest tertile of total arsenic were 1.76 (1.01, 3.09) and 2.14 (1.47, 3.11) before and after arsenobetaine adjustment, respectively. Polymorphisms in several genes including IL8RA, TXN, NR3C2, COX5A and GCLC showed suggestive differential associations of urine total arsenic with diabetes. The findings support the role of arsenic on diabetes and the importance of controlling for seafood arsenicals in populations with high seafood intake. Suggestive arsenic-gene interactions require confirmation in larger studies.
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Arsénico/metabolismo , Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiología , Exposición a Riesgos Ambientales/estadística & datos numéricos , Contaminantes Ambientales/metabolismo , Adulto , Arsénico/toxicidad , Arsenicales/metabolismo , Diabetes Mellitus/genética , Contaminantes Ambientales/toxicidad , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Oportunidad Relativa , Prevalencia , Riesgo , Alimentos Marinos/estadística & datos numéricos , España , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
The change from traditional to a more mechanized and technical agriculture has involved, in many cases, land transformations. This has supposed alteration of landforms and soils, with significant consequences. The effects of induced soil variability and the subsequent implications in site-specific crop management have not been sufficiently studied. The present work investigated the application of a resistivity soil sensor (Veris 3100), to map the apparent electrical conductivity (ECa), and detailed multispectral airborne images to analyse soil and crop spatial variability to assist in site-specific orchard management. The study was carried out in a peach orchard (Prunus persica (L.) Stokes), in an area transformed in the 1980 decade to change from rainfed arable crops to irrigated orchards. A total of 40 soil samples at two depths (0-30cm and 30-60cm) were analysed and compared to ECa and the normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI). Two types of statistical analysis were performed between ECa or NDVI classes with soil properties: a linear correlation analysis and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). The results showed that the land transformation altered the spatial distribution and continuity of soil properties. Although a relationship between ECa and peach tree vigour could be expected, it was not found, even in the case of trees planted in soils with salts content above the tolerance threshold. Two types of management zones were proposed: a) zones delineated according to ECa classes to leach salts in the high ECa zones, and b) zones delineated according to NDVI classes to regulate tree vigour and yield. These strategies respond to the alteration of the original soil functions due to the land transformation carried out in previous years.
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We explored the association of metal levels with subclinical atherosclerosis and epigenetic changes in relevant biological pathways. Whole blood DNA Infinium Methylation 450 K data were obtained from 23 of 73 middle age men without clinically evident cardiovascular disease (CVD) who participated in the Aragon Workers Health Study in 2009 (baseline visit) and had available baseline urinary metals and subclinical atherosclerosis measures obtained in 2010-2013 (follow-up visit). The median metal levels were 7.36 µg g-1, 0.33 µg g-1, 0.11 µg g-1 and 0.07 µg g-1, for arsenic (sum of inorganic and methylated species), cadmium, antimony and tungsten, respectively. Urine cadmium and tungsten were associated with femoral and carotid intima-media thickness, respectively (Pearson's r = 0.27; p = 0.03 in both cases). Among nearest genes to identified differentially methylated regions (DMRs), 46% of metal-DMR genes overlapped with atherosclerosis-DMR genes (p < 0.001). Pathway enrichment analysis of atherosclerosis-DMR genes showed a role in inflammatory, metabolic and transport pathways. In in silico protein-to-protein interaction networks among proteins encoded by 162 and 108 genes attributed to atherosclerosis- and metal-DMRs, respectively, with proteins known to have a role in atherosclerosis pathways, we observed hub proteins in the network associated with both atherosclerosis and metal-DMRs (e.g. SMAD3 and NOP56), and also hub proteins associated with metal-DMRs only but with relevant connections with atherosclerosis effectors (e.g. SSTR5, HDAC4, AP2A2, CXCL12 and SSTR4). Our integrative in silico analysis demonstrates the feasibility of identifying epigenomic regions linked to environmental exposures and potentially involved in relevant pathways for human diseases. While our results support the hypothesis that metal exposures can influence health due to epigenetic changes, larger studies are needed to confirm our pilot results.This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Frontiers in epigenetic chemical biology'.
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Aterosclerosis/orina , Epigénesis Genética , Metales/orina , Enfermedades Asintomáticas , Aterosclerosis/inducido químicamente , Simulación por Computador , Metilación de ADN , Humanos , Estudios Longitudinales , Persona de Mediana Edad , Proyectos Piloto , EspañaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To assess changes in the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and macula in subjects with cardiovascular risk factors or subclinical ischemia. DESIGN: Prospective and observational study. METHODS: A total of 152 healthy men underwent cardiovascular examination, including quantification of subclinical atheroma plaques by artery ultrasound scans, blood analysis, and a complete ophthalmic evaluation, including spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. The variables registered in cardiovascular examination were quantification of classic major risk factors, subclinical atheroma plaques by artery ultrasound scans, and analytical records. The ophthalmic evaluation registered RNFL and macular thickness. RESULTS: Mean subject age was 51.27±3.71 years. The 40 subjects without classic cardiovascular risk factors did not show differences in RNFL and macular thicknesses compared with the 112 subjects with at least one risk factor (except in sector 9 that showed higher thicknesses in subjects with ≥1 risk factor). Comparison between the group of subjects with and without atheroma plaques revealed no differences in RNFL and macular thicknesses. The sub-analysis of subjects with subclinical atheroma plaques in the common carotid artery revealed a significant reduction in central macular thickness in the left eye compared with the right eye (p = 0.016), RNFL in the superior quadrant (p = 0.007), and the 11 o'clock sector (p = 0.020). Comparison between smokers and nonsmokers revealed that smokers had significant thinning of the central macular thickness (p = 0.034), the nasal RNFL quadrant (p = 0.006), and the 3 and 5 o'clock sectors (p = 0.016 and 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Classic cardiovascular risk factors do not cause RNFL or macular thickness reduction, but tobacco smoking habit reduces nasal RNFL thickness. Subclinical atherosclerosis in the common carotid artery associates a reduction in central macular and nasal RNFL quadrant thicknesses in the left eye compared with the right eye.
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Fenómenos Fisiológicos Cardiovasculares , Fibras Nerviosas , Retina/anatomía & histología , Adulto , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana EdadRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The Mediterranean diet (MeDi) is known to prevent cardiovascular events but the mechanisms mediating this association are not fully understood. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to examine the association between MeDi adherence and the presence and extent of atherosclerotic plaques in carotid, femoral, and aorta territories and its relationship with risk factors in asymptomatic middle-aged adults. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis of the Aragon Workers' Health Study, a cohort of 2588 subjects (94.9% men aged 51.3 ± 3.89 years) without previous cardiovascular history. Participants underwent carotid, femoral, and aorta ultrasound for the quantification of number and thickness of plaques and intima-media thickness. To estimate the participant's adherence to MeDi, we computed the Alternative MEDiterranean index (aMED). RESULTS: The overall aMED score was 4.19 ± 1.70, representing a moderate adherence to MeDi. aMED score was associated with the presence of plaque in femoral arteries (odds ratio highest vs lowest aMED score quartile: 0.63; 95% confidence interval: 0.48-0.83; P trend = .045) independently of risk factors and mediators. The strongest association between aMED quartiles and presence of plaque was found among smokers, both in femoral (0.39 [0.22-0.69]; P trend = .001) and in any territory (0.33 [0.14-0.79], P trend = .008). aMED was inversely associated with the number of plaques in all territories except for carotids. CONCLUSION: MeDi adherence showed a dose-dependent protective association with the presence, number, and thickness of plaques independent of other risk factors. The association was strongest for femoral arteries and among smokers.
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Aterosclerosis/dietoterapia , Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas/dietoterapia , Dieta Mediterránea , Placa Aterosclerótica/dietoterapia , Aterosclerosis/epidemiología , Aterosclerosis/fisiopatología , Aterosclerosis/prevención & control , Arterias Carótidas/efectos de los fármacos , Arterias Carótidas/fisiopatología , Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas/epidemiología , Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas/prevención & control , Grosor Intima-Media Carotídeo , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Placa Aterosclerótica/epidemiología , Placa Aterosclerótica/fisiopatología , Placa Aterosclerótica/prevención & control , Factores de RiesgoRESUMEN
Genome-wide Illumina InfiniumMethylation 450 K DNA methylation analysis was performed on blood samples from clinical atherosclerosis patients (n = 8) and healthy donors (n = 8) in the LVAD study (NCT02174133, NCT01799005). Multiple differentially methylated regions (DMR) could be identified in atherosclerosis patients, related to epigenetic control of cell adhesion, chemotaxis, cytoskeletal reorganisations, cell proliferation, cell death, estrogen receptor pathways and phagocytic immune responses. Furthermore, a subset of 34 DMRs related to impaired oxidative stress, DNA repair, and inflammatory pathways could be replicated in an independent cohort study of donor-matched healthy and atherosclerotic human aorta tissue (n = 15) and human carotid plaque samples (n = 19). Upon integrated network analysis, BRCA1 and CRISP2 DMRs were identified as most central disease-associated DNA methylation biomarkers. Differentially methylated BRCA1 and CRISP2 regions were verified by MassARRAY Epityper and pyrosequencing assays and could be further replicated in blood, aorta tissue and carotid plaque material of atherosclerosis patients. Moreover, methylation changes at BRCA1 and CRISP2 specific CpG sites were consistently associated with subclinical atherosclerosis measures (coronary calcium score and carotid intima media thickness) in an independent sample cohort of middle-aged men with subclinical cardiovascular disease in the Aragon Workers' Health Study (n = 24). Altogether, BRCA1 and CRISP2 DMRs hold promise as novel blood surrogate markers for early risk stratification and CVD prevention.
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Aterosclerosis/genética , Proteína BRCA1/genética , Biomarcadores/sangre , Metilación de ADN , Glicoproteínas/genética , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Aterosclerosis/sangre , Proteína BRCA1/sangre , Grosor Intima-Media Carotídeo , Moléculas de Adhesión Celular , Estudios de Cohortes , Islas de CpG , Epigénesis Genética , Femenino , Redes Reguladoras de Genes , Glicoproteínas/sangre , Secuenciación de Nucleótidos de Alto Rendimiento , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Secuenciación Completa del GenomaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Early subclinical atherosclerosis has been mainly researched in carotid arteries. The potential value of femoral arteries for improving the predictive capacity of traditional risk factors is an understudied area. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to evaluate the association of subclinical carotid and femoral plaques with risk factors and coronary artery calcium score (CACS) in middle-aged men. METHODS: Participants (n = 1,423) of the AWHS (Aragon Workers' Health Study), a study designed to assess cardiovascular risk and subclinical atherosclerosis in a cohort of middle-aged men (40 to 59 years of age), underwent carotid and femoral ultrasound plus noncontrast coronary computed tomography. Subclinical atherosclerosis was defined as the presence of any plaque in carotid or femoral arteries and/or CACS ≥1. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the prevalence of atherosclerosis adjusted for risk factors and age, to evaluate the association of atherosclerosis with risk factors, and to calculate areas under the receiver-operating characteristic curves for the presence of positive CACS. RESULTS: Subclinical atherosclerosis was found in 72% of participants. Plaques were most common in femoral arteries (54%), followed by coronary calcification (38%) and carotid plaques (34%). Association of atherosclerosis with risk factors was stronger in femoral arteries than carotid or coronary arteries. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve for prediction of positive CACS increased from 0.665 when considering only risk factors (dyslipidemia, current smoking, hypertension, diabetes, and age) to 0.719 when adding femoral and carotid plaques (p < 0.001). In this model, the femoral odds ratio (2.58) exceeded the carotid odds ratio (1.80) for prediction of positive CACS. CONCLUSIONS: Subclinical atherosclerosis was highly prevalent in this middle-aged male cohort. Association with risk factors and positive CACS was stronger in femoral than carotid arteries. Screening for femoral plaques may be an appealing strategy for improving cardiovascular risk scales and predicting coronary disease.
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Calcio/metabolismo , Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas/complicaciones , Enfermedad de la Arteria Coronaria/etiología , Vasos Coronarios/metabolismo , Arteria Femoral , Placa Aterosclerótica/complicaciones , Medición de Riesgo/métodos , Adulto , Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas/diagnóstico , Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas/metabolismo , Angiografía Coronaria , Enfermedad de la Arteria Coronaria/diagnóstico , Enfermedad de la Arteria Coronaria/epidemiología , Vasos Coronarios/diagnóstico por imagen , Estudios de Seguimiento , Humanos , Incidencia , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Oportunidad Relativa , Placa Aterosclerótica/diagnóstico , Placa Aterosclerótica/metabolismo , Prevalencia , Estudios Retrospectivos , Factores de Riesgo , España/epidemiología , Tomografía Computarizada por Rayos X , UltrasonografíaRESUMEN
The leaf area index (LAI) is defined as the one-side leaf area per unit ground area, and is probably the most widely used index to characterize grapevine vigor. However, LAI varies spatially within vineyard plots. Mapping and quantifying this variability is very important for improving management decisions and agricultural practices. In this study, a mobile terrestrial laser scanner (MTLS) was used to map the LAI of a vineyard, and then to examine how different scanning methods (on-the-go or discontinuous systematic sampling) may affect the reliability of the resulting raster maps. The use of the MTLS allows calculating the enveloping vegetative area of the canopy, which is the sum of the leaf wall areas for both sides of the row (excluding gaps) and the projected upper area. Obtaining the enveloping areas requires scanning from both sides one meter length section along the row at each systematic sampling point. By converting the enveloping areas into LAI values, a raster map of the latter can be obtained by spatial interpolation (kriging). However, the user can opt for scanning on-the-go in a continuous way and compute 1-m LAI values along the rows, or instead, perform the scanning at discontinuous systematic sampling within the plot. An analysis of correlation between maps indicated that MTLS can be used discontinuously in specific sampling sections separated by up to 15 m along the rows. This capability significantly reduces the amount of data to be acquired at field level, the data storage capacity and the processing power of computers.
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Agricultura/métodos , Procesamiento de Imagen Asistido por Computador/métodos , Hojas de la Planta/fisiología , Vitis/fisiología , Algoritmos , Lógica DifusaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To design and develop a questionnaire that can account for an individual's adherence to a Mediterranean lifestyle including the assessment of diet and physical activity patterns, as well as social interaction. DESIGN: The Mediterranean Lifestyle (MEDLIFE) index was created based on the current Spanish Mediterranean food guide pyramid. MEDLIFE is a twenty-eight-item derived index consisting of questions about food consumption (fifteen items), traditional Mediterranean dietary habits (seven items) and physical activity, rest and social interaction habits (six items). Linear regression models and Spearman rank correlation were fitted to assess content validity and internal consistency. SETTING: A subset of participants in the Aragon Workers' Health Study cohort (Zaragoza, Spain) provided the data for development of MEDLIFE. SUBJECTS: Participants (n 988) of the Aragon Workers' Health Study cohort in Spain. RESULTS: Mean MEDLIFE score was 11·3 (sd 2·6; range: 0-28), and the quintile distribution of MEDLIFE score showed a significant association with each of the individual items as well as with specific nutrients and lifestyle indicators (intra-validity). We also quantified MEDLIFE correspondence with previously reported diet quality indices and found significant correlations (ρ range: 0·44-0·53; P<0·001) for the Alternate Healthy Eating Index, the Alternate Mediterranean Diet Index and Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener. CONCLUSIONS: MEDLIFE is the first index to include an overall assessment of lifestyle habits. It is expected to be a more holistic tool to measure adherence to the Mediterranean lifestyle in epidemiological studies.
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Hábitos , Promoción de la Salud/métodos , Estilo de Vida , Tamizaje Masivo/métodos , Cooperación del Paciente , Adulto , Estudios de Cohortes , Dieta Mediterránea/etnología , Femenino , Humanos , Relaciones Interpersonales , Estilo de Vida/etnología , Modelos Lineales , Masculino , Región Mediterránea , Persona de Mediana Edad , Actividad Motora , Evaluación Nutricional , Cooperación del Paciente/etnología , Descanso , España , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: To analyze the association between sitting time and biomarkers of insulin resistance and inflammation in a sample of healthy male workers. METHODS: Cross-sectional study carried out in a sample of 929 volunteers belonging to the Aragon Workers' Health Study cohort. Sociodemographic, anthropometric, pharmacological and laboratory data were collected: lipids-total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoproteins A-1 and B-100, lipoprotein (a)-, insulin resistance-glucose, glycated hemoglobin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, insulin, and triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio-, and inflammatory profile-C-reactive protein and leukocytes. Information on sitting time and physical activity was assessed using a questionnaire. Sedentary behavior was analyzed in terms of prevalences and medians, according to tertiles, using a multivariate model (crude and adjusted linear regression) with biomarkers of inflammation and insulin resistance. RESULTS: The most sedentary individuals had higher body mass index, greater waist circumference, and higher systolic blood pressure, with a significant upward trend in each tertile. Likewise, they had a worse lipid profile with a higher C-reactive protein level, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index, triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, and insulin concentration. In the multivariate analysis, we observed a significant association between the latter parameters and sitting time in hours (log C-reactive protein [ß = 0.07], log homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index [ß = 0.05], triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio [ß = 0.23], and insulin [ß = 0.44]), which remained after adjustment for metabolic equivalents-h/week. CONCLUSIONS: Workers who spend more time sitting show a worse inflammatory and insulin resistance profile independently of the physical activity performed.
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Enfermedades Cardiovasculares/epidemiología , Inflamación/epidemiología , Resistencia a la Insulina , Conducta Sedentaria , Estudios Transversales , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Estudios Prospectivos , Factores de RiesgoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: GWAS have consistently revealed that LDLR locus variability influences LDL-cholesterol in general population. Severe LDLR mutations are responsible for familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). However, most primary hypercholesterolemias are polygenic diseases. Although Cis-regulatory regions might be the cause of LDL-cholesterol variability; an extensive analysis of the LDLR distal promoter has not yet been performed. We hypothesized that genetic variants in this region are responsible for the LDLR association with LDL-cholesterol found in GWAS. METHODS: Four-hundred seventy-seven unrelated subjects with polygenic hypercholesterolemia (PH) and without causative FH-mutations and 525 normolipemic subjects were selected. A 3103 pb from LDLR (-625 to +2468) was sequenced in 125 subjects with PH. All subjects were genotyped for 4 SNPs (rs17242346, rs17242739, rs17248720 and rs17249120) predicted to be potentially involved in transcription regulation by in silico analysis. EMSA and luciferase assays were carried out for the rs17248720 variant. Multivariable linear regression analysis using LDL-cholesterol levels as the dependent variable were done in order to find out the variables that were independently associated with LDL-cholesterol. RESULTS: The sequencing of the 125 PH subjects did not show variants with minor allele frequency ≥ 10%. The T-allele from g.3131C > T (rs17248720) had frequencies of 9% (PH) and 16.4% (normolipemic), p < 0.00001. Studies of this variant with EMSA and luciferase assays showed a higher affinity for transcription factors and an increase of 2.5 times in LDLR transcriptional activity (T-allele vs C-allele). At multivariate analysis, this polymorphism with the lipoprotein(a) and age explained ≈ 10% of LDL-cholesterol variability. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the T-allele at the g.3131 T > C SNP is associated with LDL-cholesterol levels, and explains part of the LDL-cholesterol variability. As a plausible cause, the T-allele produces an increase in LDLR transcriptional activity and lower LDL-cholesterol levels.
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LDL-Colesterol/genética , Predisposición Genética a la Enfermedad , Hipercolesterolemia/genética , Polimorfismo de Nucleótido Simple/genética , Regiones Promotoras Genéticas , Receptores de LDL/genética , Adulto , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Femenino , Frecuencia de los Genes/genética , Células Hep G2 , Humanos , Modelos Lineales , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Análisis MultivarianteRESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Hypertension is the most prevalent risk factor in the community. The aim of this study was to describe the risk factors for the progression of blood pressure (BP) from correct values. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Prospective and observational study with 7 years follow-up. BP>140/90 mmHg was considered hypertension. A multivariate model was performed to assess risk factors for BP progression and a predictive score. RESULTS: The 2,236 males, median age 42 years, had differential characteristics according to their baseline BP category. At the end of the 7-years follow-up 31.9% of baseline-normotensive subjects had an increase of their BP to the range of hypertension. Baseline-normotensive subjects who experienced a progression of BP had higher baseline BP and less favourable lipid profile. A risk score was performed using the following variables: age, hypertension familiar history, overweight and obesity, glucose>100mg/dl, triglycerides>150 mg/dl and uric acid. Total score ranged between -2 and 24; the risk of BP progression beyond normal thresholds increased linearly as the score increased. CONCLUSIONS: Progression of BP from normotension to higher BP categories into the next 7 years in young males and the risk can be estimated by a simple score.
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Hipertensión/epidemiología , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Adulto , Presión Sanguínea , Índice de Masa Corporal , Comorbilidad , Progresión de la Enfermedad , Dislipidemias/epidemiología , Empleo , Estudios de Seguimiento , Humanos , Hiperglucemia/epidemiología , Hipertensión/diagnóstico , Hipertrigliceridemia/epidemiología , Hiperuricemia/epidemiología , Lipoproteínas LDL/sangre , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Modelos Biológicos , Análisis Multivariante , Obesidad/epidemiología , Examen Físico , Estudios Prospectivos , Medición de Riesgo , Factores de Riesgo , España/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Spain, a Mediterranean country with relatively low rates of coronary heart disease, has a high prevalence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and is experiencing a severe epidemic of overweight/obesity. We designed the Aragon Workers' Health Study (AWHS) to characterize the factors associated with metabolic abnormalities and subclinical atherosclerosis in a middle aged population in Spain free of clinical cardiovascular disease. The objective of this paper is to describe the study design, aims and baseline characteristics of participants in the AWHS. METHODS/DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort study based on the annual health exams of 5,400 workers of a car assembly plant in Figueruelas (Zaragoza, Spain). Study participants were recruited during a standardized clinical exam in 2009-2010 (participation rate 95.6%). Study participants will undergo annual clinical exams and laboratory assays, and baseline and triennial collection of biological materials for biobanking and cardiovascular imaging exams (carotid, femoral and abdominal ultrasonography, coronary calcium score, and ankle-arm blood pressure index). Participants will be followed-up for 10 years. RESULTS: The average (SD) age, body mass index, and waist circumference were 49.3 (8.7) years, 27.7 (3.6) kg/m² and 97.2 (9.9) cm, respectively, among males (N = 5,048), and 40.8 (11.6) years, 24.4 (3.8) kg/m², and 81.9 (9.9) cm, among females (N = 351). The prevalence of overweight, obesity, current smoking, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes were 55.0, 23.1, 37.1, 40.3, 75.0, and 7.4%, respectively, among males, and 23.7, 8.3, 45.0, 12.1, 59.5, and 0.6%, respectively, among females. In the initial 587 study participants who completed all imaging exams (94.5% male), the prevalence of carotid plaque, femoral plaque, coronary calcium score >1 to 100, and coronary calcium score >100 was 30.3, 56.9, 27.0, and 8.8%, respectively. 67.7% of study participants had at least one plaque in the carotid or femoral arteries. DISCUSSION: Baseline data from the AWHS show a high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and of sublinical atherosclerosis. Follow-up of this cohort will allow the assessment of subclinical atherosclerosis progression and the link of disease progression to traditional and emergent risk factors.
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Aterosclerosis/epidemiología , Enfermedades Cardiovasculares/epidemiología , Diseño de Investigaciones Epidemiológicas , Industrias/estadística & datos numéricos , Salud Laboral/estadística & datos numéricos , Sobrepeso/epidemiología , Adulto , Enfermedades Asintomáticas , Aterosclerosis/diagnóstico , Automóviles , Enfermedades Cardiovasculares/diagnóstico , Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiología , Progresión de la Enfermedad , Femenino , Encuestas Epidemiológicas , Humanos , Hipercolesterolemia/epidemiología , Hipertensión/epidemiología , Estudios Longitudinales , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Obesidad/epidemiología , Sobrepeso/diagnóstico , Prevalencia , Pronóstico , Estudios Prospectivos , Medición de Riesgo , Factores de Riesgo , Fumar/epidemiología , España/epidemiología , Factores de TiempoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Most previous studies assess the effect of depression and other psychiatric variables as risk factors for acute myocardial infarction; however, studies that assess the effect of psychiatric disorders as a whole are scarce, compared with other non-psychiatric factors. The aim of this study is to assess the importance of psychiatric morbidity, compared with other risk factors, in hospital readmission for acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: This is a 8-year follow-up study in which the Hospital Discharge Administrative Database was used. RESULTS: From the total sample (11,062 patients), 590 patients (4.88%) were diagnosed with some mental disorder. Psychiatric disorders were more common in women than in men with myocardial infarction (4.76 % and 6.20%, respectively, p-value = 0.002). For those who have had recurrence of stroke, mental disease influences in the consecutive readmission for AMI with the same severity as did tobacco, diabetes, or obesity. CONCLUSIONS: The main finding of this study is the enormous impact of psychiatric disorders on readmissions for AMI, comparable to diabetes, obesity, cerebral vascular disease, and hypertension. Interestingly, the efforts made to treat and prevent psychiatric disorders in AMI patients are clearly lower than those health authorities make with respect to classic risk factors.
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Trastornos Mentales/epidemiología , Trastornos Mentales/psicología , Infarto del Miocardio/epidemiología , Infarto del Miocardio/psicología , Anciano , Comorbilidad , Femenino , Estudios de Seguimiento , Conductas Relacionadas con la Salud , Humanos , Masculino , Readmisión del Paciente , Factores de Riesgo , Factores Sexuales , España , Accidente Cerebrovascular/epidemiología , Accidente Cerebrovascular/psicologíaRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Acute myocardial infarction is responsible for most of the deaths in developed countries and for a very large number of hospital admissions. Specifically in Spain, each year about 140,000 deaths and 5 million hospital stays are due to acute myocardial infarction, corresponding to health care costs reaching 15% of total expenditure. Therefore, this paper presents an exhaustive analysis of acute myocardial infarction and the related prognosis, such as recurrence and mortality. METHODS: This observational study was carried out in Spain. Data were obtained using the Hospital Discharge Administrative Database from 2000 through 2007, inclusive. Specifically, 12,096 cases of acute myocardial infarction (8606 women and 3490 men) were reported during this period, with 2395 readmissions for this diagnosis. Readmissions were analyzed for frequency and duration using logistic regression and the Wang survival model. Mortality was analyzed using logistic regression. RESULTS: Readmission rates were 50% for patients younger than 45 years and 38% for those older than 75 years (P<.001). Men were readmitted more frequently than women throughout the follow-up period. Variables related to hospital mortality from acute myocardial infarction were the presence of diabetes, previous ischemic heart disease, and cerebrovascular disease. CONCLUSIONS: Mid-term hospital readmissions are highly frequent in acute myocardial infarction survivors. Male sex, previous coronary heart disease, and the number of classical cardiovascular risk factors are the major risk predictors of this readmission. Our results highlight the need for improved medical care during acute myocardial infarction admission, integrated into secondary prevention programs.