Adropin as a potential protective factor of metabolic complications in obese pregnant women with hyperglycaemia diagnosed in early pregnancy.

Adropin is a hormone which increases insulin sensitivity. It enhances the oxygenation of glucose in the muscles. The 91 obese pregnant women (BMI >30 kg/m2) with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) diagnosed in the first half of pregnancy has been recruited to the study group. The control group consisted of 10 age matched and homogeneous pregnant women with BMI <25 kg/m2. Blood samples were collected on visit V1 - between the 28th and 32nd week and on visit V2 - between the 37th and 39th week of gestation. The ELISA test was used to measure the adropin level. The results in the study group and the control group were compared. Blood samples were collected at the same visits. The median concentration of adropin was 442.2 pg/ml on V1 and 453.1 pg/ml on V2. The increase was significant (p<0.05). Results were significantly lower in the control group's patients, i.e. 57.0 pg/ml (p<0.001) on V1 and 107.9 pg/ml on V2 (p<0.001). The higher adropin level on the V1 and V2 visits were related to patients' lower BMI and better metabolic control. The increase in the adropin level in the third trimester may have been involved in the weight gain reduction, whereas better dietary adherence might have had a compensatory effect on increasing insulin resistance. However, the small control group is a limitation of this study.

Leptin and vascular endothelial growth factor A: a cross-talk in obese women with gestational diabetes and with diabetes in pregnancy - a cohort study.

Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF A) synthesis is intensified by leptin in: hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1A) and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NfκB)-dependent manners. The study aimed to investigate the association between leptin and VEGF A serum levels in obese women with hyperglycaemia in the third trimester of pregnancy. Sixty obese pregnant women with hyperglycaemia were divided into groups according to body mass index (BMI): group 1: BMI 30.0-34.9 kg/m2; group 2: BMI 35.0-39.9 kg/m2; group 3: BMI ≥40 kg/m2. On the enrolment visit, waist circumference, body mass and height were measured. At visit 1 (V1; gestational week (GW) 28-32) and visit 2 (V2; GW 36-38), anthropometric, blood pressure and heart rate measurements, and blood sample collection were performed. Blood levels of leptin, VEGF A, VEGF receptor 2, HIF-1A, NfκB, interleukin 1 alpha, protein delta homolog 1, nitric oxide and glycated haemoglobin were determined. To analyse the predictors of the biochemical parametres involved in leptin and VEGF A cross-talk, multivariate logistic regression was implemented. Positive correlations between serum levels of leptin and VEGF A were found. Serum level of HIF-1A at V1 was a predictor for the highest quartile of the serum levels of VEGF A at V1 and V2. Leptin serum level at V1 was a predictor for the highest quartile of HIF-1A serum concentration at V2. In group 3 HIF-1A level was higher at V2 compared to V1. We conclude that in obese women with hyperglycaemia in the third trimester of pregnancy there is a significant positive influence of serum leptin on VEGF A synthesis and serum level and HIF-1A seems to play more important role in leptin and VEGF A cross-talk than NfκB.

Assessment of progranulin and FAM19A5 protein blood levels in patients with metabolic syndrome.

Progranulin and family with sequence similarity 19, member A5 (FAM19A5) protein are adipokines with growing importance in the context of metabolic diseases. The study aimed to determine the serum concentration of progranulin and FAM19A5 in people with metabolic syndrome (MS) compared to those without MS. The concentration of progranulin and FAM19A5 was determined in 45 people with MS (group A) and in 35 healthy people without MS (group B). Body composition analysis, blood pressure, blood oxygen saturation and anthropometric measurements were performed. There were no differences in the blood levels of progranulin and FAM19A5 between the groups. In group A, the level of progranulin was 29.25±36.92 pg/ml and in group B it was 46.00±60.12pg/ml (p=0.2693). The level of FAM19A5 was 163.16±55.11 pg/ml and 197.57±112.89 pg/ml (p=0.1341) in subjects with and without metabolic syndrome, respectively. In group A, there was a correlation between FAM19A5 and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (R= -0.40) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level (R= -0.37). In group B, correlations were found between progranulin and waist circumference (R= -0.43) and progranulin and triglyceride (TG) levels (R= -0.42). Both groups together showed correlations between progranulin level and body mass index (R= -0.24), HDL (R=0.25) and TG levels (R= -0.25) and between FAM19A5 level and DBP (R= -0.34). In conclusion, patients with and without MS do not differ in the range of progranulin and FAM19A5 serum levels. In patients with MS, elevated FAM19A5 serum levels may be an indicator of dyslipidaemia development. FAM19A5 appears to be a better predictor of MS than progranulin.

Newly proposed insulin resistance indexes called TyG-NC and TyG-NHtR show efficacy in diagnosing the metabolic syndrome.

PURPOSE: Obesity and insulin resistance are considered cardinal to the pathophysiology of metabolic syndrome. Several simple indexes of insulin resistance calculated from biochemical or anthropometric variables have been proposed. The study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of indirect insulin resistance indicators in detecting metabolic syndrome in non-diabetic patients, including TG/HDLc, METS-IR, TyG, TyG-BMI, TyG-WC, TyG-WHtR, and new indicators TyG-NC (TyG-neck circumference) and TyG-NHtR (Tyg-neck circumference to height ratio). METHODS: The diagnostic accuracy of eight insulin resistance indexes was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC curves) in 665 adult non-diabetic patients. Then, the analysis was performed after the division into groups with proper body mass index, overweight and obese. RESULTS: All indexes achieved significant diagnostic accuracy, with the highest AUC (area under the curve) for TyG (0.888) and Tg/HDLc (0.874). The highest diagnostic performance in group with the proper body mass index was shown for TyG (0.909) and TyG-BMI (0.879). The highest accuracy in the group of overweight individuals was presented by TyG (0.884) and TG/HDLc (0.855). TG/HDLc and TyG showed the highest AUC (0.880 and 0.877, respectively) in the group with obesity. Both TyG-NC and TyG-NHtR reached significant areas under the curve, which makes them useful diagnostic tests in metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Indirect indices of insulin resistance, including proposed TyG-NC and TyG-NHtR, show an essential diagnostic value in diagnosing metabolic syndrome. TyG and TG/HDLc seem to be the most useful in the Caucasian population.

Resistin is not a useful insulin resistance marker for non-obese patients.

Resistin, an adipokine produced in fat tissue, may be linked to insulin resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetes. Previous data are controversial and have focused mainly on obese patients. We aimed to evaluate whether resistin plays a role in the development of IR in normal-weight individuals. The study involved 77 normal-weight participants. We defined IR using different indexes and cut-off points. Resistin, fasting insulin, glucose, and lipids concentrations and anthropometric parameters were measured. Serum resistin concentration was not associated with IR. Resistin concentration was weakly related to age in all insulin-sensitive groups and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration in all IR groups. Moreover, a weak negative correlation between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and resistin concentrations was observed in the IR group categorised by the 1.69 cut-off of the homeostasis model assessment of IR. The data suggest that resistin is not a useful marker for the prediction of IR in normal-weight individuals.

Beneficial dose-independent influence of Camellia sinensis supplementation on lipid profile, glycemia, and insulin resistance in an NaCl-induced hypertensive rat model.

Green tea extract exerts favorable influence on the lipid profile and insulin resistance in the high-sodium intake arterial hypertension. A high-sodium diet (HSD) was introduced to thirty Wistar rats to create a model of hypertension. Rats were randomized into three groups, 10 animals each. The SK group consumed HSD. The SH2 group consumed HSD with 2 g of green tea extract in kg of diet. The SH4 group was fed HSD with 4 g of green tea extract in kg of diet. After six-week trial blood samples were collected. The serum concentrations of glucose, insulin and lipids were estimated, and insulin sensitivity was calculated using homeostatic model assessment (HOMA). Neither the high-sodium diet nor supplementation with green tea extract had any significant influence on the body mass of the animals in either group. Total cholesterol (TCH) and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) cholesterol serum concentrations were significantly smaller in both supplemented groups than in the SK group. The insulin level in the SH2 rats and HOMA in SH2 and SH4 groups were found to be significantly smaller than in the SK group. There were no differences in glucose concentrations between groups. Within the whole population, statistically significant positive correlations between HOMA and LDL, TCH were found. We conclude that in NaCl-induced hypertensive Wistar rats, supplementation with green tea extract produced a dose-independent beneficial and parallel effect on the lipid profile and insulin resistance.

The influence of orlistat, metformin and diet on serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 in obeses women with and without insulin resistance.

A range of studies showed confusing data about the relationship between obesity, weight reduction and circulating total insulin-like growth factor -1 (IGF-1). The aim of the study was to compare the influence of orlistat (IO), metformin (IM), or calorie-restricted diet (LC) on IGF-1, with special respect to insulin-resistance status. One hundred and fourteen obese women aged from 18 to 40 years were divided into insulin sensitive (IS) and insulin resistant (IR) groups and received a low calorie diet (LC), or an isocaloric diet and 500 mg metformin twice daily (IM), or isocaloric diet with 120 mg orlistat three times daily (IO). Before and after the intervention anthropometric parameters, serum lipid profile, serum concentrations of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, insulin, glucose, IGF-1, HOMA-IR (homeostatic model assessment), and visceral adiposity index (VAI), and their changes were registered. Although the reductions in weight and body fat were comparable in IS and IR groups, only women with IR showed a significant increase in IGF-1 concentration as a result of all interventions. We found significant positive correlations of ΔIGF-1 with initial and Δ values of: HOMA-IR, triglyceride/high-density cholesterol ratio, VAI. IR premenopausal women show significant increase in IGF-1 serum concentrations regardless the method of intervention. The increase in IGF-1 was parallel to the improvement of insulin resistance parameters.

The relation between osteoprotegerin, inflammatory processes, and atherosclerosis in patients with metabolic syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate osteoprotegerin serum concentration (and compare with healthy controls), to estimate the relationship between serum osteoprotegerin and lipid parameters, insulin resistance, and selected inflammatory factors, and to assess the relationship between osteoprotegerin and intima media thickness in patients with metabolic syndrome. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 70 individuals aged 18-65 years with metabolic syndrome were enrolled. Anthropometric parameters, including body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, and waist-hip ratio, were assessed. The relative and absolute fat tissue contents were evaluated. Serum glucose, insulin, osteoprotegerin, C-reactive protein, and lipid profile were determined. Insulin resistance was calculated using Homeostasis Model Assessment. Intima media complex thickness was evaluated in each participant. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed between patients and the controls with respect to lipid and carbohydrate profiles. Osteoprotegerin was significantly elevated in metabolic syndrome patients compared to the controls. Both C-reactive protein serum concentration and insulin resistance increased in the metabolic syndrome patients. Significant positive correlations between osteoprotegerin serum concentration and body mass index, waist-hip ratio, C-reactive protein serum concentration, and insulin resistance, were documented in patients with metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with metabolic syndrome have increased osteoprotegerin serum levels than healthy individuals. Osteoprotegerin plays an important role in the development of arteriosclerosis, and the effect of osteoprotegerin on intima media thickness strongly depends on the extent of the arteriosclerotic changes that occur in metabolic syndrome.

Late-onset Pompe disease in a 54 year-old sportsman with an episode of syncope: a case report.

Pompe disease is an extra-rare metabolic storage disease with deficiency of acid-alpha-glucosidase (GAA) enzyme activity, which leads to the pathologic accumulation of glycogen in target tissues (skeletal muscles, heart, brain). Clinical features and severity vary by the age of onset, rate of extent of organ involvement. In the late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) form, essential cardiomyopathy seems to be uncommon. Muscles weakness and respiratory failure are the main symptoms of adult patient with Pompe disease. In presented case LOPD coupled with patient's regular sporting activity and healthy diet, which may explain the low intensity of the symptoms and the slow progress of the disease, lack of skeletal muscles weakness and lack of brain manifestation. Myocardial storage deposits are the only abnormalities found.

Spirulina maxima improves insulin sensitivity, lipid profile, and total antioxidant status in obese patients with well-treated hypertension: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: Spirulina maxima consumption is known to be associated with enhanced cardiovascular and metabolic health. Human studies on this topic have recently been described in a few papers; however, potential protective cardiovascular properties of Spirulina in obese patients receiving standard pharmacological antihypertensive treatment remain to be elucidated. Putative beneficial cardiovascular effects of Spirulina supplementation in well treated, obesity-related hypertension were studied in a double-blind placebo-controlled trial. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Total 50 obese subjects with treated hypertension, each randomized to receive 2 g of Spirulina or a placebo daily, for three months. At baseline and after treatment anthropometric parameters, plasma lipid levels, inflammation, and oxidative stress biomarkers along with insulin sensitivity estimated by euglycemic clamp were assessed. RESULTS: After three months of Spirulina supplementation significant decrease in body mass (p < 0.001), body mass index (BMI; p < 0.001) and waist circumference (WC; p = 0.002) were observed in Spirulina group. Spirulina had also significant, lowering effect on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C; p < 0.001) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentration (p = 0.002) in supplemented patients compared to placebo group. Spirulina supplementation considerably improved total antioxidant status (TAS; p = 0.001) and insulin sensitivity ratio (M; p < 0.001) in Spirulina group compared to placebo-treated individuals. CONCLUSIONS: The favorable influence of Spirulina supplementation on insulin sensitivity, plasma lipid levels along with inflammation and oxidative stress biomarkers reported in this study creates the promise for new therapeutic approaches in obese patients with well-treated hypertension.

Gender-related effect of cold water swimming on the seasonal changes in lipid profile, ApoB/ApoA-I ratio, and homocysteine concentration in cold water swimmers.

It has been proposed that regular cold swimming is associated with health benefits. However, the effect of cold adaptation on particular cardiovascular risk factors, within a single swimming season, remains unknown. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of cold water swimming on the seasonal changes in lipid profile and on apolipoprotein and homocysteine concentration in 34 cold water swimmers (CWS) aged 48 - 68 years. Blood samples were collected at the beginning (October), the middle (January), and the end (April) of the swimming season. Body mass (BM), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglycerides (TG), ApoB/ApoA-I ratio, and homocysteine concentrations were evaluated. In October, female CWS showed lower BM (P = 0.01), TG concentrations (P = 0.03), and ApoB/ApoA-I ratios (P = 0.008), and higher HDL (P = 0.01) than in men. Similar trends in BM (P = 0.002), HDL (P = 0.0006), and ApoB/ApoA-I ratio (P = 0.01) were seen in January, and for BM (P = 0.002), TG (P = 0.005), HDL (P = 0.003), and ApoB/ApoA-I (P = 0.01) in April. A decrease in TG concentration between January and April (P = 0.05), lower homocysteine concentration between October and January (P = 0.01), and between October and April (P = 0.001) were documented in CWS. A strong drop in homocysteine concentration was observed in female versus male CWS (P = 0.001 versus P = 0.032), particularly between October and April in women (P = 0.001) and October and January in men (P = 0.05). The ApoB/ApoA-I ratio in female CWS decreased over the season (P = 0.02), particularly between October and January (P = 0.05), and a trend toward the TG concentration to reduce over the swimming season was also observed in female CWS. No beneficial changes were noticed in the control group over the season. Our results suggest that the favorable effect of cold swimming on the cardiovascular risk factors may be gender-dependent; further studies are thus needed to draw a precise conclusion.

Improvement of serum adiponectin and leptin concentrations: effects of a low-calorie or isocaloric diet combined with metformin or orlistat - a prospective randomized open-label trial.

OBJECTIVE: We compared the effects of three weight loss interventions on serum concentrations of adiponectin and leptin in obese premenopausal women. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 114 obese Caucasian women were randomized into three groups receiving a low-calorie diet (LC; n = 39), an isocaloric diet with 500 mg of metformin twice a day (IM; n = 38), and an isocaloric diet with 120 mg of orlistat three times a day (IO; n = 37), for three months. Serum concentrations of adiponectin and leptin were evaluated, along with anthropometric and body composition parameters, at baseline and after the study. RESULTS: Both IO and LC, but not IM, caused an increase in serum adiponectin concentration (p < 0.01, p < 0.05 respectively). A decrease in serum leptin level was documented in the LC (p < 0.001), IM (p < 0.01), and IO group (p < 0.01). Beneficial changes in anthropometric and body composition values were observed following all interventions with the greatest advantage seen in the IO group. The strongest correlations, of Δadiponectin with Δbody weight (r = -0.54), ΔBMI (r = -0.49), ΔFAT [%] (r = -0.48), ΔFAT [kg] (r = -0.48), and Δlean [%] (r = 0.48); and of Δleptin with Δbody weight, ΔBMI, Δwaist, Δfat, and Δlean, were documented in the IO group. CONCLUSIONS: Beneficial effects were observed on serum leptin concentration, weight loss, and body composition for all interventions and in all examined groups, with the greatest advantage being associated with the orlistat treatment. Improvements in serum adiponectin concentrations resulted from the low-calorie and isocaloric diets with orlistat, but not from the isocaloric diet with metformin. We find these strategies more promising for the treatment of obesity and its related complications in obese premenopausal women.

Effects of spirulina consumption on body weight, blood pressure, and endothelial function in overweight hypertensive Caucasians: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE: Some studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of Spirulina maxima (Arthrospira maxima) consumption on glycemic, lipid, and blood pressure parameters. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Spirulina maxima on body weight, blood pressure, and endothelial function. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial, 40 patients with hypertension but lacking evidence of cardiovascular disease were enrolled to receive daily either 2.0 g Hawaiian spirulina or placebo for three months. Anthropometric parameters, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and stiffness index (SI) using digital plethysmography were measured before and after the intervention. RESULTS: After three months, there was no change in body mass index (BMI) or weight in either the spirulina or the placebo group. However, a significant reduction in SBP and SI was observed. The patients in the spirulina group showed significant reductions in BMI (26.9 ± 3.1 vs. 25.0 ± 2.7 kg/m(2), p = 0.0032), weight (75.5 ± 11.8 vs. 70.5 ± 10.3 kg, p < 0.001), SBP (149 ± 7 vs. 143 ± 9 mmHg, p = 0.0023), and SI (7.2 ± 0.6 vs. 6.9 ± 0.7 m/s, p < 0.001). The tested parameters did not change in the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that three months of regular consumption of Spirulina maxima not only improves BMI and weight but also results in improvements in blood pressure and endothelial function spirulina in overweight patients with hypertension but lacking evidence of cardiovascular disease.

Effect of Spirulina maxima Supplementation on Calcium, Magnesium, Iron, and Zinc Status in Obese Patients with Treated Hypertension.

The effects of Spirulina maxima supplementation on calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc status were studied in a double-blind placebo-controlled trial of 50 obese subjects with treated hypertension, each randomized to receive 2 g of spirulina or a placebo daily for 3 months. At baseline and after treatment, the calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc concentration in plasma was assessed. It was found that 3 months of S. maxima supplementation resulted in a significant decrease in the iron level in the plasma of obese patients. In conclusion, this is the first clinical study on the influence of spirulina supplementation on mineral status in obese patients with hypertension. Spirulina supplementation affects the iron status of obese Caucasians with well-treated hypertension.

Concentrations of Mineral in Amniotic Fluid and Their Relations to Selected Maternal and Fetal Parameters.

The concentrations of various trace elements in amniotic fluid (AF) change over the course of pregnancy, with gestational age and fetus growth. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the concentrations of selected essential and toxic elements in AF and their relations to maternal and fetal parameters. The study was carried out in 39 pregnant women, aged 34.6 ± 4.7 years, between weeks 16 and 26 of gestation. Amniotic fluid samples were obtained during the standard procedure of amniocentesis in high-risk patients for chromosomal abnormalities. An inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) technique was used to determine the levels of Al, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mg, Mn, Ni, Sr, U, and V in AF. Body mass and blood pressure were measured in all the women. The basic parameters of fetal development were also assayed. It was found that the age of the mother, the gender of the fetus, and the week of the pregnancy may affect the concentrations of mineral in the amniotic fluid. Moreover, several significant correlations between the essential and toxic elements and maternal and fetal parameters were observed. In particular, negative and positive correlations between fetal parameters and magnesium and copper levels in AF, respectively, were seen. The present findings demonstrate the association between minerals in AF and fetal development.

Relationship between deficiency of vitamin D and exponents of metabolic syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Widespread hypovitaminosis D and an increased incidence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) represent significant problems of contemporary medicine but link between them remain unresolved. We aimed to define relationship between vitamin D serum concentration and exponents of MetS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The studies were conducted on 70 individuals (51 with and 19 without MetS). Concentrations of 25(OH)D (25-hydroxyergocalciferol and 25-hydroxycholecalciferol), calcium, cholesterol, HDL, cholesterol LDL, triglycerides, fasting glucose, blood pressure and anthropometric parameters were measured. RESULTS: Median concentration of vitamin D in the research population amounted to 41.46 nmol/L. Concentration of 25(OH)D in MetS group was lower than in remainder participants (38.45 nmol/L vs. 58.50 nmol/L, p = 0.0104). An inverse correlation was demonstrated between 25(OH)D level on one hand and body weight, waist and hips circumference, adipose body weight, Body Mass Index, Waist to Height Ratio (WHtR), glycaemia and number of MetS components on the other in persons free of MetS. No such relationships could be documented in MetS group. In the entire population values of Waist to Hip Ratio (WHpR) and WHtR indices manifested correlation with hyperglycaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia, low HDL concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: In persons without MetS a relationship was detected between vitamin D concentration and exponents of metabolic syndrome, although further studies on this problem are required.

Cardiorespiratory endurance in relation to body mass in Polish rural children: Preliminary report.

Physical fitness is generally viewed as having morphological, muscular, motor, cardiovascular and metabolic components. Cardiorespiratory fitness describes the capacity of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems to carry out prolonged strenuous exercise. It is often considered as the most important indicator of health status. The place of residence is seen as a factor that may influence the feasibility of physically active lifestyles, and thus shaping cardiorespiratory fitness. The study group consisted of 121 children aged 10-16 years, including 60 girls and 61 boys. All of the children lived in rural areas. The investigated group was divided according to age and sex; body height and weight were measured and body mass index (BMI) calculated. All children performed the Cooper's run test and the Ruffier's test. The analysis of BMI for the nutritional status of children in relation to the entire study group demonstrated that 81 children had normal weight, 20 children were overweight and 11 were obese, while 9 children were underweight. The studied group of children showed on average very good and good performance in the Cooper's test, regardless of body weight, whereas the results of the Ruffier's test showed merely weak or medium cardiorespiratory endurance, which was even worse in overweight or obese children.

Impulse oscillometry in the diagnosis of airway resistance in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Spirometry is a standard lung function test for diagnosis and staging of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Impulse oscillometry (IOS) can be complementary to spirometry, especially in patients at advanced age and with physical or mental disorders who cannot be diagnosed through spirometry. The aim of this study was to compare IOS and spirometry in the assessment of airway obstruction in COPD. The study was conducted in 112 stable COPD patients, including 29 females and 83 males of the mean age of 69±11 years. The oscillometric evaluation included total (R5), peripheral (R5-R20), and negative reactance (X5), which were compared with the predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1%pred). The findings show a significantly negative correlation between FEV1%pred and the R5, R5-R20, and X5. COPD patients had increased R5, R5-R20, and X5. The severity of bronchial obstruction found by impulse oscillometry correlated well the spirometric assessment. IOS is a simple to perform test that may be helpful for functional examination of COPD patients.

Prognostic usefulness of IL-6 and VEGF for the occurrence of changes in coronary arteries of patients with stable angina and implanted stents.

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic significance of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in patients with chronic coronary artery disease treated who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention with stent implantation, for assessing the risk of restenosis and the occurrence of de novo lesions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 498 patients with stable angina were examined during 18 months. 50 patients with significant (> 70%) stenosis of one coronary artery, eligible for the implantation of one stent, were enrolled to the study. Il-6 and VEGF level was measured using ELISA immunoassays during the initial coronary angiography with simultaneous angioplasty and stent implantation and 4 weeks after stent implantation. Coronary angiography was carried out 8-12 months after stent implantation. RESULTS: Statistically significant increase in IL-6 (from 4.02 ± 4.40 to 10.90 ± 8.23) and VEGF (from 310.13 ± 50.90 to 392.32 ± 106.84) level was observed 4 weeks after stent implantation in the group with restenosis. CONCLUSIONS: Increased levels of IL-6 and VEGF in the peripheral blood of patients with chronic stable angina pectoris, measured 4 weeks after coronary angioplasty with stent implantation, may indicate an increased risk of angiographic restenosis and de novo coronary artery lesions.

The effect of L-arginine supplementation on serum resistin concentration in insulin resistance in animal models.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the mechanism of development of the insulin resistance associated with obesity is crucial in identifying new therapeutic options for obese patients. AIM: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of L-arginine on the secretion of resistin in the context of insulin resistance in animal models. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 30 male and female Wistar rats were assigned to three equal groups: the standard diet group, the high-fat diet group, and the high-fat diet supplemented with L-arg group. After 6 weeks, the weight of the rats was measured. The animals were euthanized. The relative weight of the perirenal fat was determined and blood samples were taken for serum glucose, insulin, NO, and resistin. Insulin resistance was estimated using homeostasis model assessment (HOMA). RESULTS: It was found that the absolute and relative masses of the perirenal fat were significantly higher in rats fed the high-fat diet than in the control group. In rats on the high-fat diet supplemented with L-arginine, a tendency for perirenal fat to decrease was observed. The high-fat diet resulted in significant increases in glucose and insulin concentrations, and L-arginine supplementation significantly ameliorated the increase in both glucose and insulin. Moreover, significant decreases in NO concentration were seen in rats fed the high-fat diet. L-arginine supplementation protected significantly against increased NO concentration. Increases in HOMA-IR level and in resistin concentrations were observed in rats fed the high-fat diet. L-arginine supplementation partially restored HOMA-IR levels to those of the control group and did not influence resistin concentration. CONCLUSIONS: L-arginine supplementation improves insulin sensitivity in rats fed a high-fat diet, independently of resistin activity.