The prevalence of cigarette smoking and its relation to certain risk predictors of cardiovascular diseases in central-Slovakian Roma children and adolescents.

The objective of the study was to determine some Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) risk factors in relation to cigarette smoking in 174 Roma children and adolescents (88 males and 86 females) and 131 non-Roma probands (males and females) aged 7-18 in central Slovakia. In this biethnic study, 26.4% of the Roma children and adolescents (more than twice contrary to the control group) were smokers. Among the studied ethnicities, the majority of smokers was Roma (79.3%, 46 subjects). Smoking Roma have higher means of TG, Lp(a) and WHR compared with non-smoking non-Roma. The most frequent CVD risk predictors of smoking Roma probands was low serum levels HDL-C, apo A (the Fisher test confirmed a significant relationship between cigarette smoking and HDL-C, apo A; p < 0.01). The results of the research should help to develop an effective preventative health education programs focused on Roma education (who live in a higher-risk environment compared to the majority population) in order to stem the spread of CVD as well as morbidity and mortality in this ethnic group living in Slovakia.

Metabolic effects of pioglitazone in chemically-induced mammary carcinogenesis in rats.

In this paper, the effect of peroral antidiabetic pioglitazone, a thiazolidinedione derivate, on selected parameters of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-induced mammary carcinogenesis in female Sprague-Dawley rats was evaluated. Pioglitazone was administered in the diet at two concentrations (10 ppm and 100 ppm), the chemoprevention was initiated 12 days before carcinogenesis induction and lasted until the termination of the experiment. The experiment was terminated 17 weeks after carcinogenesis induction, selected organs and tissues were removed and weighed and basic metabolic and hormonal parameters were determined. Pioglitazone increased glycemia (without exceeding normal values) and glycogen concentration in both liver and heart muscle without altering insulinemia and increased triacylglycerol concentration in liver, these changes were more prominent in group with higher dose. Pioglitazone also reduced corticosterone serum concentration and attenuated lipid peroxidation. Pioglitazone and other glitazones may be useful in alleviation of unfavourable metabolic changes in cancer patients.

Cardiovascular risk predictors in central Slovakian Roma children and adolescents: regional differences.

The objective of the study was to determine some Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) risk factors in 174 Roma children and adolescents (88 males and 86 females) aged 7-18 in 3 Central Slovakian cities (44 from Zilina, 39 from Bansk, Bystrica and 91 from Rimavská Sobota). Venous blood samples were drawn in the morning, after a 12 hour overnight fast for biochemical analysis. Total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) were determined enzymatically. HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) after selective precipitation lipoproteins containing apolipoprotein B and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) was calculated by the Friedewald Formula. Serum levels of apolipoproteins (apo A, apo B) were analyzed immunochemically. Concentration of lipoprotein a [Lp(a)] was analyzed by immunonephelometric method (Beckman-Coulter System). Anthropometric measurements, including weight, height, waist and hip circumference were used to calculate the sum of the body mass index (BMI) and waist to hip ratio (WHR). Measured blood pressure (BP) was used to classify for hypertension. Significant differences were determined in serum levels of LDL-C (p < 0.05; by Tukey HSD test multiple comparison more significant difference was determined between Zilina and Rimavská Sobota p < 0.046), TG (p = 0.008), apo A (p < 0.001), Lp(a) (p = 0.042), WHR (p < 0.001), BMI (p < 0.001), sBP (p < 0.001) and dBP (p = 0.012) in Roma individuals of all locality groups. The Roma population from Rimavsk, Sobota had (in comparison to the examined populations) statistically higher values of TC, TG, LDL-C, lower HDL-C. The population showed significant relation of TG and stress at home (p = 0.03) and at school (p = 0.01), HDL-C and cigarette smoking (p = 0.004), apo A and cigarette smoking (p = 0.02) and socioeconomic status (p = 0.006), WHR and cigarette smoking (p = 0.02). Risk values of WHR, apo B and Lp(a) were mostly determined in Zilina's population (WHR significantly connected with family history CVD p = 0.03, cigarette smoking p = 0.02 and leisure time physical activity p < 0.001) and BMI, apo A and BP in Banská Bystrica. WHR was positively correlated to BP and negatively to HDL-C and TG only in Roma participants from Rimavská Sobota. BMI was positively correlated to systolic BP in populations from Banská Bystrica and Rimavská Sobota. The results of the study should improve the paediatric health treatment and prevention of CVD risk predictors for Roma from different cities.

Pioglitazone in chemically induced mammary carcinogenesis in rats.

Data available from in-vitro and in-vivo studies suggest oncostatic properties of peroral antidiabetics, thiazolidinediones, in many types of cancer. This study is the first report on the chemopreventive effect of pioglitazone in mammary carcinogenesis in rats. Mammary carcinogenesis was induced by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea administered in two intraperitoneal doses per 50 mg/kg bodyweight on the 43rd and 50th postnatal days. Pioglitazone was administered in the diet at concentrations of 10 and 100 ppm, respectively, 12 days before the first carcinogen dose until the termination of the experiment. During the experiment, the animals were weighed weekly and palpated for the presence of mammary tumors, and the incidence, latency, tumor frequency, and tumor volume were recorded. The experiment was terminated 17 weeks after the first carcinogen dose; basic tumor growth parameters and metabolic and hormonal variables were evaluated. Pioglitazone at higher concentration decreased incidence and frequency per group from the 11th week of experiment when compared with the control group and a group receiving a lower dose. Pioglitazone at a higher dose decreased the final incidence by 38%, frequency per group by 63%, and extended latency period by 32% when compared with the control group. Our data suggest that pioglitazone and other glitazones should be further investigated for oncopreventive effects.

Distribution and correlations of non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in Roma and Caucasian children: the Slovak Lipid Community Study.

Non-high-density lipoprotein (non-HDL) cholesterol [total cholesterol minus high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol] is considered a better predictor of coronary heart disease (CHD) risk than low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. The Slovak Roma population have approximately 2.5-fold higher premature CHD mortality than the overall population. It is agreed that detection of dyslipidemia and prevention of atherosclerosis by controlling CHD risk factors should begin in childhood. However, only limited population-based data are available for non-HDL cholesterol in children. Hence the aim of the present cross-sectional study has been to determine population frequency data and correlations of non-HDL cholesterol in 788 Roma and Caucasian children (42% Roma, 51% male), aged 7-17, from Central Slovakia, as part of the Slovak Lipid Community Study. Roma children, compared to Caucasians, had higher serum levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol, were less physically active, smoked more, and had lower body mass index and blood pressure (all at p < 0.05). Serum non-HDL cholesterol levels were similar in Roma and Caucasians (in mmol/L: 2.74 vs. 2.65, p = 0.062) and similar too in boys and girls (2.66 vs. 2.73, p = 0.092), but higher in the younger (7-11 yrs.) than in the older (12-17 yrs.) age group (2.77 vs. 2.62, p < 0.001). Non-HDL cholesterol was negatively associated with age and cigarette smoking (r = -0.09 and -0.11 respectively, p < 0.05), whereas general obesity as measured by body mass index, waist circumference and per capita income were positively correlated with non-HDL cholesterol (r = 0.09-0.14, p < 0.05). Intermediate or strong positive correlations were found with other lipid variables under study: triglycerides, total and LDL cholesterol and apoliporotein (Apo) B (r = 0.43-0.93, p < 0.001). No significant association was noted between non-HDL cholesterol and blood pressure, physical activity status, and HDL cholesterol and Apo AI. In a multivariate analysis: body mass index, age and cigarette smoking accounted for 3.3% of the variance in non-HDL cholesterol. The non-HDL cholesterol cut-off points identified as corresponding to the recommended cut-off points of LDL cholesterol for CHD risk assessment and treatment of dyslipidemia in pediatric population were: acceptable < 3.30, borderline 3.31-3.81 and high > or = 3.82 mmol/L. The prevalence of dyslipidemia according to the high non-HDL cholesterol value was 5.4% in Roma and 4.2% in Caucasian children (p = 0.098). In conclusion, our results confirm no ethnic-, gender- or age-related differences in non-HDL cholesterol levels between Slovak Roma and Caucasian children. In both ethnic groups, overweight and obesity and also higher socio-economic status--but not cigarette smoking--are adversely associated with non-HDL cholesterol levels in childhood.

Chemoprevention of mammary carcinogenesis in female rats by rofecoxib.

Epidemiological and experimental studies indicate that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs play role in the prevention of human neoplasia including mammary gland cancer. In this study, tumour suppressive effects of a selective inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) rofecoxib in the prevention of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (NMU)-induced mammary carcinogenesis in female Sprague-Dawley rats were evaluated. Rofecoxib was dietary administered in two concentrations-0.01 mg/1 g (ROFE 0.001%), or 0.05 mg/1 g (ROFE 0.005%). Rofecoxib decreased the incidence by 40% (ROFE 0.001%) and by 42.5% (ROFE 0.005%) (P=0.043) when compared to the control group. Similarly, tumour frequency and tumour volume decreased depending on an increasing rofecoxib dose by 18.5 or 40% (tumour frequency) and by 35 or 43% (tumour volume). Rofecoxib shifted the rate of fibroadenomas from 15% (control group) to 32% (ROFE 0.001%), or 38% (ROFE 0.005%), respectively. The present study points to pronounced dose-dependent tumour suppressive effects of rofecoxib in mammary carcinogenesis.