Weight fluctuation, mortality, and cardiovascular disease in adults in 18 years of follow-up: Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study.

PURPOSE: Controversies exist in the effect of body weight loss and fluctuation on cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality. This study aims to assess the effect of weight variability on CVD and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS) cohort. METHOD: Participants aged ≥ 40 year at the baseline period with at least 3 BMI measurements were included in this study. After excluding individuals with cancer, CVD, end-stage renal disease, systemic use of glucocorticoids, pregnancy, and missing covariates at the baseline, a total of 3461 participants were enrolled and followed for 18 years. BMI variability was defined using root mean squared error (RMSE) and average successive variability (ASV). In the RMSE method, BMI variability was calculated using the best-fitting model for BMI trend of each subject. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard models were applied to assess BMI variability's effect on CVD and mortality. RESULTS: Among the 3461 participants in this study, the group with the highest weight variability had an increased risk of death for all-cause (HR 1.65; 95% CI 1.21-2.25), non-cardiovascular (HR 1.77; 95% CI 1.24-2.53), and non-cancer (HR 1.77; 95% CI 1.25-2.50) mortality. However, BMI variability showed to be protective against CVD (HR 0.76; 95% CI 0.6-0.97). These findings were significant in males, non-smokers, participants with age ≤ 60 year, BMI < 30, negative BMI slope, and both diabetic and non-diabetic subjects. CONCLUSION: High BMI variability is associated with increased risk of all-cause, non-CVD, and non-cancer mortality, although protective for the CVD event. Appropriate strategies for body weight maintenance after weight loss could be adopted to avoid weight variability, particularly in non-obese subjects.

Pre-diabetes tsunami: incidence rates and risk factors of pre-diabetes and its different phenotypes over 9 years of follow-up.

AIMS: To investigate the incidence of pre-diabetes and its different phenotypes and the related risk factors during 9 years of follow-up. METHODS: A total of 5879 people (2597 men and 3282 women) aged ≥ 20 years, free of diabetes and pre-diabetes, took part in the study. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to evaluate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for all potential risk factors. RESULTS: Overall, 853 men and 902 women developed pre-diabetes. Incidence rates of pre-diabetes were 46.1 per 1000 person-years in men and 36.8 per 1000 person-years in women, while isolated impaired fasting glucose had the highest incidence rate among all pre-diabetes phenotypes. In both sexes, age, family history of diabetes, fasting plasma glucose and 2-hour post-challenge plasma glucose were related to incident pre-diabetes. Among women, waist-to-height ratio [HR: 1.02 (1.00-1.03)] and being divorced/widowed compared with married [HR: 0.67 (0.52-0.87)] were significant predictors of pre-diabetes; whereas among men, community-based intervention [HR: 0.79 (0.68-0.90)], higher level of education and being single [HR: 0.77 (0.6-0.97)] were protective against progression to pre-diabetes. Moreover, hip circumference among women [HR: 0.95 (0.93-0.98)] and current smoking among men [HR: 1.69 (1.15-2.48)] were related to incident combined impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance. CONCLUSION: More than 4% of the Iranian population develop pre-diabetes each year, emphasizing the important role of socio-economic factors (marital status, education and smoking habits) and community-based intervention in progression to impaired glucose regulations. Thus, emergent intervention is necessary to halt the tsunami of pre-diabetes among the Iranian population.

Age-specific anti-Müllerian hormone and electrocardiographic silent coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between age-specific anti-Müllerian hormone level, as a predictor of ovarian reserve status, and electrocardiographic silent coronary artery disease in a population-based, prospective cohort, the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study. METHODS: For the present study, 1015 reproductive-aged participants in the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study met our eligibility criteria. According to the Whitehall criteria, silent coronary artery disease was defined as an electrocardiogram showing possible or probable coronary heart disease using Minnesota codes. By excluding those with a history of coronary heart disease and silent coronary artery disease at the initiation of the study (n = 49), there were 108 events of silent coronary artery disease at electrocardiograms among 752 women followed for 9.5 ± 0.9 years (missing data: n = 214); the association between this outcome with age-specific anti-Müllerian hormone levels was explored after adjustment for confounding variables using logistic regression analysis. Cardiovascular disease risk scores were assessed for all participants using the guidelines of the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association. RESULTS: There were 108 events of silent coronary artery disease over the 10-year follow-up. Logistic regression analysis, considering age-specific anti-Müllerian hormone and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk score as independent variables, revealed an odds ratio of 1.146 (95% confidence interval 1.008-1.303) for cardiovascular disease risk score (p = 0.038) and odds ratio of 1.002 (95% confidence interval 0.996-1.009) for age-specific anti-Müllerian hormone (p = 0.526). CONCLUSION: No association has been found between age-specific anti-Müllerian hormone levels and events of silent coronary artery disease in a 10-year follow-up of reproductive-aged women.

The effect of a single dose of vitamin D on glycemic status and C-reactive protein levels in type 2 diabetic patients with ischemic heart disease: a randomized clinical trial.

AIMS: To assess whether a single parental dose of 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)Vit D] could improve glucose control and inflammation in type 2 diabetic patients (T2D) with ischemic heart disease (IHD). METHODS: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial was performed on 95 patients (47-placebo and 48-vitamin D groups). Participants were randomized using a randomization table to a single dose of either vitamin D (300,000 IU, IM) or a matching placebo. Fasting blood sugar (FBS), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), 25(OH)Vit D and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were measured at baseline and at 8 weeks. RESULTS: No significant differences in baseline values were noted between groups, except in HbA1c, which was lower in the placebo group. In the supplemented group, the level of serum 25(OH)Vit D increased (29.6 ± 20.8 vs. 44.5 ± 19.2 ng/mL) and those of FBS and HbA1c decreased significantly [186.5 ± 64.1 vs. 165.1 ± 58.5 mg/dL and 8.2 ± 2.0 % (66.3 ± 21.8 mmol/mol) vs. 7.7 ± 1.8 % (61.7 ± 20.0 mmol/mol), respectively] (all p < 0.05), and no changes, however, were observed in the placebo group. We also compared change of marginal means of outcome variables (HbA1c, FBS, 25(OH)Vit D and hs-CRP) from baseline between the vitamin D versus placebo group, using ANCOVA, adjusted for the baseline of each variable itself, season at study entry, age and body mass index. During trial, only HbA1c level decreased significantly [0.48 % (standard error: 0.17), p = 0.04]. No any adverse effect was seen. CONCLUSIONS: A single parenteral dose of vitamin D in T2D patients with IHD improved glycemic control, but not inflammatory status. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: ACTRN12614000529640.

Women self-perception of excess hair growth, as a predictor of clinical hirsutism: a population-based study.

PURPOSE: Hirsutism is the most common indicator of hyperandrogenism. Both, the sensitivity of the patients to the serum androgen levels and the responsiveness of women to the perceived excess hair growth vary among different populations. This report elaborates the relationship between the woman's discerned abnormal hair growths with the clinical diagnosis of hirsutism. METHODS: The survey was conducted among 1160 women aged 18-45 and randomly selected from Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study for further detailed assessment of Hirsutism; using the m-FG scoring method. Data gathering was performed by interviews and physical examinations. The receiver operating characteristic curve was drawn and the new cutoff value, sensitivity, specificity and concordance percentage were calculated. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that among 12 androgen-dependent body areas, the chin skin had the highest area under curve of 0.81 (CI; 0.78-0.84). According to the patient's evaluation, a threshold point of 4 had the optimum concordance percentage of 0.77 with the modified Ferriman-Gallwey scoring system. CONCLUSIONS: Patient's self-identification of excess terminal hair based on the chin area has great sensitivity and reliability in predicting the clinical hirsutism.

Relationship of hyperinsulinaemia, insulin resistance and ß-cell dysfunction with incident diabetes and pre-diabetes: the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study.

AIMS: To examine the association of fasting insulin, insulin resistance and reduced ß-cell function with incident Type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes (isolated impaired fasting glucose/isolated impaired glucose tolerance and combined impaired fasting glucose/impaired glucose tolerance). METHODS: An Iranian population comprising 1532 men and 2221 women, aged ≥ 20 years, with normal fasting glucose and normal glucose tolerance at baseline, were enrolled in the study. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to calculate the hazard ratios and 95% CIs of fasting insulin, updated homeostasis model assessments of insulin resistance and ß-cell function for incident Type 2 diabetes, isolated impaired fasting glucose, isolated impaired glucose tolerance and combined impaired fasting glucose/impaired glucose tolerance. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 9.2 years, the annual incidence rates (95% CI) of diabetes were 3.73 (2.74-4.94) and 4.06 (3.21-5.06) per 1000 person-years in men and women, respectively. In both men and women, fasting insulin and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (≥ 75th percentile) were significantly associated with incident diabetes and combined impaired fasting glucose/impaired glucose tolerance; however, reduced ß-cell function as measured by homeostasis model assessment of ß-cell function (< 25th percentile) was associated with incident isolated impaired fasting glucose solely in men [hazard ratio 1.35 (95% CI 1.02-1.78)] in multivariable analysis including waist-hip ratio). Hyperinsulinaemia, insulin resistance and ß-cell dysfunction were not related to the incidence of isolated impaired glucose tolerance in either gender. CONCLUSIONS: Fasting hyperinsulinaemia and insulin resistance were strong risk factors for progression to diabetes and combined impaired fasting glucose/impaired glucose tolerance in a population with normal fasting glucose/normal glucose tolerance. In addition, impaired ß-cell function at baseline was related to the development of isolated impaired fasting glucose only in men and, in both men and women, neither insulin resistance nor ß-cell dysfunction were associated with incident isolated impaired glucose tolerance.

Does metabolic syndrome or its components differ in naturally and surgically menopausal women?

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare metabolic syndrome and its components in naturally and surgically menopausal women. METHODS: This is a longitudinal study, with incident case and control groups, conducted on 446 women participants of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study, who experienced surgical or natural menopause over a 10-year period. In both groups, data collection was conducted using questionnaires including information on demographic, reproductive and metabolic characteristics at baseline and again after 3 years. Physical examinations and the biochemical profiles were also assessed. RESULTS: During the follow-up, metabolic syndrome was observed in 28.7% and 32.5% of the naturally menopause and surgically menopausal women, respectively. Mean fasting blood sugar and 2-h plasma glucose were significantly higher in the surgically menopause group, compared to the naturally menopause one, whereas mean systolic blood pressure was significantly higher in naturally menopausal women as compared to surgically menopause ones, after further adjustment for premenopausal status. CONCLUSIONS: Although no difference in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in naturally menopausal women and in surgically menopausal women was found, the components of metabolic syndrome were more prevalent among those with surgical menopause.

Non-linear association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D and the incidence of type 2 diabetes: a community-based nested case-control study.

AIMS: To examine the nature of the association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Serum 25(OH)D concentrations were measured for 761 participants (aged 20-83 years) in the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study, selected for a 1-to-3 nested case-control study. Cases were 191 cases of Type 2 diabetes diagnosed during a median follow-up of 3.6 years. A total of 570 participants were matched with these cases with regard to age, sex, BMI, and month of entering the study. Diabetes was defined according to the American Diabetes Association criteria, 2003. Serum 25(OH)D was measured using the enzyme immunoassay method. Odds ratios for Type 2 diabetes were obtained from conditional logistic regression models for tertiles of serum 25(OH)D concentrations [tertile-1: 2.82-11.02 (reference), tertile-2: 11.03-21.80, and tertile-3: ≥ 21.82 ng/ml]. The multivariate model was adjusted for age, sex, family history of diabetes, systolic blood pressure, triglyceride-to- HDL cholesterol ratio, waist-to-height ratio, lifestyle modification intervention, leisure time physical activity, and fasting plasma glucose at baseline. Non-linearity in the associations between baseline 25(OH)D and Type 2 diabetes, was examined by using restricted cubic splines. RESULTS: Unadjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of diabetes were 0.73 (0.74-1.13), 0.54 (0.34-0.85) for the second and third tertiles, respectively. Multivariate adjusted odds ratios were 0.47 (0.25-0.90) and 0.43 (0.23-0.82), respectively. Below the cutoff of ~ 10 ng/ml the risk of newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetes increased dramatically. DISCUSSION: It was found that 25(OH)D concentrations contributed to the Type 2 diabetes incidence rate in a non-linear fashion, with the risk beginning to increase sharply for values < 10 ng/ml.

High normal blood pressure is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease among middle-aged but not in elderly populations: 9-year results of a population-based study.

Data are conflicting and sparse regarding the impact of high normal blood pressure (BP) (systolic BP (SBP) of 130-139 mm Hg or diastolic BP (DBP) of 85-89 mm Hg) on incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) among middle-aged vs elderly population. We examined the risk of BP categories among 6273 participants ≥ 30 years, free of CVD at baseline, during more than 9.3 years follow-up. Cox regression analysis was used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) of CVD for normal BP group (SBP between 120-129 mmHg or DBP between 80-85 mmHg), high normal BP group and hypertension group (SBP ≥ 140 mm Hg or DBP ≥ 90 mmHg or taking antihypertensive drugs), considering those with optimal BP (SBP<120 mmHg and DBP<80 mmHg) as reference. During follow-up, 512 CVD events occurred. There was significant interaction between age and BP categories (P=0.028) in prediction of CVD. In multivariate analysis, HRs (95% CIs) of CVD were 1.62 (1.11-2.37) and 2.20 (1.57-3.09) for middle aged with high normal and hypertensive BP groups, respectively. Among elderly (≥ 60 years), HR was 2.09 (1.36-3.21) only for hypertensive ones. High normal BP is a risk factor for incident of CVD only among middle-aged population. Furthermore, the effect of hypertension on incident CVD was stronger among younger population.

Estimating the proportion of diabetes to the attributable burden of cardiovascular diseases in iran.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed at estimating the proportion of diabetes as a risk factor to the attributable burden of cardiovascular diseases in Iran. METHODS: Comparative Risk Assessment methodology was used to calculating Potential Impact Fraction (PIF). To calculate PIF, data on the prevalence of newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus (NDM) and known diabetes mellitus (KDM) were obtained from 3rd Iranian surveillance of risk factors of non-communicable diseases and data on corresponding measures of effect were derived from a cohort study. PIF were estimated on both theoretical minimum and feasible minimum risk. Uncertainty for the attributable burden was estimated by Monte Carlo simulation-modeling techniques incorporating sources of uncertainty. RESULTS: According to multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios, by reducing the prevalence of Iranian women with diabetes from 10.05 percent to the feasible minimum risk level i.e. 5 percent, 6.8% (95% uncertainty intervals: 3.5-9.8) of attributable Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) to CVD are avoidable and the corresponding value for men were 3.1% (95% uncertainty intervals: 1.4-4.8). CONCLUSION: Although data on the prevalence of diabetes and corresponding measures of associations were obtained from an updated and country-specific source, but to better priority setting, PIF should be applied to updated and revised burden of CVDs.

Predicting outcome after severe brain injury in risk neonates using the serum S100B biomarker: results using single (24 h) time-point.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In recent years, biochemical markers have been employed to predict the outcome of risk neonates with severe asphyxia contributing to traumatic brain injury (TBI). In mild TBI S100B has shown the most promise as a marker of outcome. The objectives of this study were: (i) to show the range of serum S100B levels during the acute phase after asphyxia in neonates and premature newborns, (ii) to determine if S100B has potential to discriminate favourable from unfavourable outcomes in neonates and premature newborns with similar severity of brain injury and (iii) to establish an S100B 'cut-off' point for lethal outcome. METHODS: 119 neonates were recruited, divided into an overall risk group (N=71) and control group (N=48). The risk neonates were categorized into subgroups according to their clinical presentation. A serum blood sample was obtained from each patient at a 24 h post-injury time-point. S100B levels were measured using the ECLIA (Electro-Chemi-Luminiscence Immuno Assay) method. Injuries were coded using an internationally recognised injury severity scoring system (ISS). RESULTS: S100B levels were significantly higher in asphyxiated term neonates (N=29; M=0.64) than in premature neonates (N=30; M=0.18) and IUGR (intrauterine growth retardation) neonates (N=9; M=0.03). The neonates with a neurological defect (N=3; M=1.73) measured the highest level of S100B. The average serum S100B levels for the control group (N=48) was 0.12 µgL(-1); cut-off point. CONCLUSION: During the first 24 h of life S100B protein in term neonates was significantly higher compared to all the other groups (cut-off was 0.12 µgL), except the neonates with neurological defects. S100B protein is a good indicator of brain damage in term neonates, especially in the first 24 h of life.

A new approach to compare the predictive power of metabolic syndrome defined by a joint interim statement versus its components for incident cardiovascular disease in Middle East Caucasian residents in Tehran.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MS) has an increased risk for developing cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, whether the concept of MS, applying the new joint interim statement definition, has a greater impact on incident CVD than its individual components is debated. METHODS: The authors related MS and its components to CVD incidence in 1856 men and 2392 women, Iranian adults aged ≥40 years, free of CVD at baseline, using Cox proportional hazards models. To examine whether MS would improve prediction of CVD beyond that achieved by its components; model fitness, discrimination and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) statistics were used. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 8.6 years, there were 244 CVD events in men and 189 in women. MS resulted in HRs (95% CIs) of 1.97 (1.50 to 2.57) in men and 2.25 (1.57 to 3.21) in women after adjusting for CVD risk factors; in another model including all the five MS components, high blood pressure in both genders [men: 1.99 (1.48 to 2.67), women: 1.62 (1.14 to 2.30)), high waist circumference (≥94.5 cm) in men (1.47 (1.12 to 1.93)) and high fasting plasma glucose (FPG) in women (1.88 (1.39 to 2.55)) remained as independent predictors of CVD after adjusting for CVD risk factors. Adding the MS variable to this model did not yield any improvement in model fitness, C-statistic or significant IDI value. CONCLUSION: In the Middle East population, MS did not provide CVD predictive risk information beyond its individual components; clinical focus should remain on hypertension in both sexes, high FPG in women and central adiposity in men rather than MS.

Family history of diabetes modifies the effect of blood pressure for incident diabetes in Middle Eastern women: Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study.

Elevated blood pressure (BP) may lead to incident diabetes. However, data about the effect of different BP components on incident diabetes in Middle Eastern women is lacking. We evaluated systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), pulse pressure (PP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) as independent predictors of diabetes in Iranian women. We performed a population-based prospective study among 3028 non-diabetic women, aged ≥20 years. Odds ratios (ORs) of diabetes were calculated for every 1 s.d. increase in SBP, DBP, PP and MAP. During ≈6 years of follow-up, 220 women developed diabetes. There were significant interactions between family history of diabetes and SBP, PP and MAP (P≤0.01) in predicting incident diabetes. In women without a family history of diabetes, all BP components were significantly associated with diabetes in the age-adjusted model; the risk factor-adjusted ORs were significant (P<0.05) for SBP, PP and MAP (1.30, 1.34 and 1.27, respectively) with similar predictive ability (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve ≈83%). In women with family history of diabetes, in the age-adjusted model, SBP, DBP and MAP were associated with diabetes; in multivariable model, they were not independent predictors of diabetes. In conclusion, in women without family history of diabetes, SBP, PP and MAP, were independent predictors of diabetes with almost similar predictive ability; hence, in the evaluation of the risk of BP components for prediction of diabetes, the presence of family history of diabetes should be considered.

Appropriate cutoff values of anthropometric variables to predict cardiovascular outcomes: 7.6 years follow-up in an Iranian population.

OBJECTIVE: To determine cutoff points of anthropometric variables for predicting incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Iranian adults. DESIGN: It is a population-based longitudinal study. SUBJECTS: A total of 1614 men and 2006 women, aged > or =40 years, free of CVD at baseline were included in the study. MEASUREMENTS: Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and cardiovascular risks were assessed. Incident CVD was ascertained over a median of 7.6 years follow-up. The adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for CVD were calculated for 1 s.d. change in all obesity variables using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used as the method of defining the points of the maximum sum of sensitivity and specificity (MAXss) of each variable as a predictor of CVD. RESULTS: We found 333 CVD events during follow-up. The risk-factor-adjusted HRs were significant for all anthropometric variables in males and WHR in females and were 1.19, 1.24, 1.21 and 1.24 for BMI, WC, WHR and WHtR in males and 1.27 for WHR in females, respectively (all P<0.05). ROC analysis showed the highest area under curve (AUC) for WHR, WHtR and WC, followed by BMI in males and both genders aged< or =60 years. In females, WHR and WHtR had the highest AUC, followed by WC and BMI. Among those >60 years old, all the anthropometric variables showed same CVD predicting power. The cutoff values (MAXss) for CVD prediction in males and females were BMIs 26.95 and 29.19 kg m(-2),WCs 94.5 and 94.5 cm, WHRs 0.95 and 0.90, and WHtR 0.55 and 0.62, respectively. CONCLUSION: There was no difference between central obesity variables in predicting CVD in males, whereas in females WHR and WHtR were more appropriate. The cutoff values of anthropometric variables were higher in the Iranian than in other Asian populations.

Glucose intolerance and risk of cardiovascular disease in Iranian men and women: results of the 7.6-year follow-up of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS).

BACKGROUND: Despite the high prevalence of diabetes, limited information is available about the impact of impaired glucose regulation on the cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among Middle East populations. AIMS: To determine the risk of CVD in an urban Iranian population according to glucose tolerance status. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 1752 men and 2273 women, aged > or = 40 yr, free of CVD at baseline. Incident CVD was ascertained over a median of 7.6 yr of follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 340 CVD events occurred (197 in men and 143 in women). At baseline, there was no difference between newly diagnosed and known diabetes regarding the Prospective Cardiovascular Münster (PROCAM) risk score and prevalence of metabolic syndrome in both genders. Applying the 1997 American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria, compared with those with normal glucose tolerance, after controlling traditional risk factors, hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for CVD in women with known and newly diagnosed diabetes were 3.30 (2.09-5.21) and 1.93 (1.16-3.21) and the corresponding values for men were 1.90 (1.11-3.25) and 1.69 (1.12-2.54), respectively. Impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance was associated with 56% increased risk of CVD in women (HR 1.56, 95% CI 1.00 to 2.45), in the age-adjusted analysis, considering the 2003 ADA criteria. CONCLUSIONS: All diabetic subjects, whether newly diagnosed or known cases, should receive intensive primary prevention for CVD regardless of risk factors, in particular females with abnormal glucose regulation.

Triglyceride/HDL-cholesterol ratio is an independent predictor for coronary heart disease in a population of Iranian men.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: To determine whether triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (TG/HDL-C), which has been shown to be an indicator of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and insulin resistance, can predict coronary heart disease (CHD) independently of total cholesterol (TC) and other risk factors in an Iranian population with a high prevalence of MetS and low HDL-C. METHODS AND RESULTS: Between February 1999 and August 2001, 1824 men > or =40 years old, free of clinical cardiovascular diseases at baseline, were followed. Baseline measurements included serum level of TC, HDL-C, TG and risk factors for CHD including age, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference, diabetes, smoking and a family history of premature cardiovascular diseases. During a median follow up of 6.5 years until March 2007 (11,316 person-years at risk), a total of 163 new CHD events (27 fatal and 136 nonfatal) occurred. The prevalence of MetS in subjects with TG/HDL-C > or =6.9 (top quartile) reached 63.6% versus 3.0% in those with TG/HDL-C <2.8 (low quartile). According to a stepwise Cox proportional hazard model, including TG and TG/HDL-C quartiles, with TC and other risk factors, men in the top quartile of TG/HDL-C relative to the first quartile had a significant hazard ratio (HR) of 1.75 (95% CI, 1.02-3.00), while TG did not remain in the model. CONCLUSION: The evaluation of TG/HDL-C ratio should be considered for CHD risk prediction in our male population with a high prevalence of MetS.

Synthesis of some new bis-Schiff bases of isatin and 5-fluoroisatin in a water suspension medium.

Condensation of aromatic primary bis-amines with isatin (1H-indole-2,3-dione) and 5-flouroisatin occurred cleanly and efficiently in a water suspension medium without using any organic solvent or acid catalyst. The corresponding bis-Schiff bases were obtained in good yields and were easily isolated by filtration. Their structures were confirmed by (1)H-NMR, (13)C-NMR, IR and mass spectra.