The effects of testosterone on transgender males on carotid intima-media thickness and serum inflammatory markers compared within patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of testosterone on carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and serum inflammatory markers compared within transgender males (TGM-Former called female-to-male) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).Methods: The prospective observational study included 30 TGM, 30 patients with PCOS, and 30 healthy women. Groups were compared for CIMT and hematologic inflammatory markers white blood cell (WBC), lymphocyte/monocyte ratio (LMR), neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and mean platelet volume (MPV).Results: The CIMT of the TGM group was 0.48 ± 0.09 mm was significantly higher than PCOS (0.41 ± 0.09 mm, p = .005) and the control group (0.38 ± 0.7 mm, p = .001). The mean NLR, LMR, and MPV values were similar (p > .05). TGM had higher WBC levels compared to control women (p = .029). TGM had significantly lower PLR compared to PCOS and the control group (p = .001). CIMT were related to age (r = .390, p = .04) and body mass index (BMI) (r = .392, p = .03) in TGM.Conclusion: Increased CIMT in TGM individuals is not associated with inflammation; it seems to be a deleterious effect of exogenous testosterone exposure. Since increased CIMT may be a sign of serious cardiovascular problems developing in the future, it is suggested that it will be beneficial for these individuals should undergo clinical and radiological evaluation at regular intervals.

Association between triglyceride glucose index and carotid intima-media thickness in obese and nonobese adults.

BACKGROUND: The triglyceride glucose (TyG) index is closely associated with subclinical atherosclerosis. However, the association remains inconclusive among obese and nonobese individuals. METHODS: This prospective study was conducted in 5751 adults with normal carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) at baseline. We divided the population into four groups based on the TyG index, which was calculated by the following formula: Ln (fasting triglycerides [mg/dL] × fasting glucose [mg/dL]/2). Information on CIMT was acquired by ultrasonography. Incident elevated CIMT was defined as IMT values greater than 0.9 mm at follow-up. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the associations between TyG index and elevated CIMT were estimated using multivariable logistic regression models. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 4.3 years, 722 (12.6%) individuals had progressed to elevated CIMT. Compared with the second quartile of the TyG index, the first and fourth quartile both conferred higher risks of elevated CIMT after adjusting for potential confounders. In the total population, the ORs for the first and fourth quartile were 1.29 (95% CI, 1.00-1.66) and 1.42 (95% CI, 1.11-1.83), respectively. Restricted cubic splines demonstrated an approximately U-shaped association between TyG index and elevated CIMT among the total and nonobese adults (P for nonlinearity <.05), but not in those with general or abdominal obesity. CONCLUSIONS: A U-shaped association was observed between TyG index and elevated CIMT only among nonobese Chinese adults.

Autonomic dysfunction assessed by EZSCAN and subclinical atherosclerosis.

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to explore the association between autonomic dysfunction and measurements of atherosclerosis in a middle-aged and elderly Chinese population. METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional study was performed in Shanghai, China, from March to August 2010, with 5076 participants included in the analysis. Autonomic function was assessed by a novel EZSCAN test based on sudomotor function analysis. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) was measured using B-mode ultrasonography and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (ba-PWV) was measured using an autonomic device. Participants were divided into three groups based on EZSCAN values: Group 1: EZSCAN 0-24; Group 2, EZSCAN 25-49; and Group 3, EZSCAN 50-100. These groups denoted autonomic dysfunction risk groups as follows: no risk, moderate risk and high risk, respectively. RESULTS: The prevalence of elevated CIMT and ba-PWV increased markedly with increasing EZSCAN values (elevated CIMT 7.4%, 17.5%, and 29.7%, elevated ba-PWV 3.2%, 19.7%, and 36.5%, in Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively; both Ptrend < 0.0001). Logistic regressions revealed that EZSCAN values ≥50 were associated with a non-significantly higher risk of elevated CIMT (odds ratio [OR] = 1.43; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.98-2.07) and a significantly higher risk of elevated ba-PWV (OR = 2.16; 95% CI 1.25-3.71) compared with EZSCAN values <25, after controlling for conventional risk factors. CONCLUSION: A higher EZSCAN value (≥50), an index of high autonomic dysfunction risk, was associated with an increased risk of elevated ba-PWV and CIMT. Such associations were partially explained by traditional atherosclerotic risk factors.