Thickness of epicardial and pericoronary adipose tissue measured using 128-slice MSCT as predictors for risk of significant coronary artery diseases.

AIM: Determination the relationship between the epicardial adipose tissue thickness (EATT) and pericoronary adipose tissue thickness (PATT) and the risk of significant coronary artery diseases (CAD) using the coronary artery calcium score (CACS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 80 patients. The risk of significant CAD was estimated based on CACS. Adipose tissue thickness was measured based on multiplanar reformation (MPR), left ventricle short axis and mid-chamber level. EATT in the middle of the length of the right ventricular free wall, PATT around the left anterior descending (LAD), around the left circumflex (LCX) and around the right coronary artery in the posterior interventricular sulcus (RCA). RESULTS: The median (IQR) values of CACS and EATT were 12.00 (97.90) and 8.65 (3.90) mm. It was found that in the subgroup CACS = 0 statistically significantly lower than in the subgroup CACS > 0 were mean values EATT and PATT RCA. Based on the regression analysis, it was demonstrated that higher CACS is associated with higher EATT, independent of older age and higher BMI. On the basis the ROC curve analysis, the highest prediction sensitivity of 98.4% was demonstrated for EATT ≥ 16.7 mm as a predictor of high risk of significant CAD and the highest specificity of 61.5% for the criterion EATT ≤ 8.7 mm as a predictor of practically no risk of significant CAD. CONCLUSION: There is a positive relationship between the risk of a significant CAD estimated based on the coronary artery calcium score and the epicardial adipose tissue thickness.

The Relationship Between the Effectiveness of Blood Pressure Control and Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Concentration, Adipose Tissue Hormone Concentration and Endothelium Function in Hypertensives.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the effectiveness of blood pressure (BP) control and telomerase reverse transcriptase concentration (TERT), the concentration of adipose tissue hormones and endothelium function in hypertensive patients. METHODS: The study group included 94 people with arterial hypertension. Two subgroups were distinguished according to effective BP control during 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM): Group A - effective BP control (n=49) and Group B - ineffective BP control (n=45). Telomerase reverse transcriptase concentration, blood visfatin concentration and blood adipsin concentration were determined. The function of the endothelium was measured with the flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) method. RESULTS: Telomerase reverse transcriptase concentration, blood visfatin concentration and FMD were higher in Group A compared with Group B. Ineffective BP control was an independent risk factor for lower TERT, lower blood visfatin concentration and lower FMD. Diuretics, ß-blockers and angiotensin receptor blockers were independent protective factors for lower TERT. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) were independent protective factors for lower blood visfatin concentration. Calcium channel blockers were independent protective factors for lower FMD. CONCLUSIONS: Ineffective BP control, assessed by ABPM, was associated with decreased TERT, worse metabolic profile of adipose tissue and impaired endothelial function in hypertensives.

Coexistence of obstructive sleep apnea and telomerase activity, concentration of selected adipose tissue hormones and vascular endothelial function in patients with arterial hypertension.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with hypertension on telomerase activity, visfatin and adipsine concentration in the blood and vascular endothelial function assessed by ultrasound measured flow-mediated dilatation of the brachial artery (FMD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study involved a group of 106 people (average age: 54.79 years). The determination of telomerase activity and blood visfatin and adipsine concentrations, brachial artery ultrasound examination with endothelium-dependent dilatation evaluation (FMD) and polysomnography were carried out. RESULTS: Patients with hypertension without OSA were characterized by significantly greater FMD in comparison to patients with arterial hypertension and OSA (8.13 ±â€¯5.12 %vs. 6.82 ±â€¯5.36%; p < 0.05). Negative linear relationship between apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and FMD (r = -0.22, p < 0.05) has been demonstrated. Negative linear relationship between adipsine concentration in the blood and length of REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep (r = -0.21, p < 0.05) was found. Positive linear relationship between the concentration of visfatin in the blood and the length of REM sleep (r = 0.22, p < 0.05) was also observed. Higher body mass index, higher total cholesterol, triglyceride and glucose levels have been shown to be independent predictors of higher AHI values, while greater telomerase activity, greater FMD and use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors are independent predicators for lower AHI values. CONCLUSION: Higher values of AHI index in polysomnography in hypertensive patients can be related to lower telomerase activity in the blood and impaired function of vascular endothelial function assessed using ultrasound.