A longitudinal study of free leptin index in pre-eclamptic pregnancies.

The ratio between circulating levels of leptin and soluble leptin receptor (sOB-R), the free leptin index (FLI), is used as a marker of leptin resistance. Therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate the FLI in mild pre-eclamptic pregnancies in a nested case-control study within a prospective observational study. Circulating levels of leptin and sOB-R levels rise significantly during pregnancy in healthy (p < 0.05) (n = 46) and pre-eclamptic pregnancies (p < 0.05) (n = 20). Serum levels of leptin were significantly higher in pre-eclamptic compared to healthy pregnancies at second and third trimesters of pregnancy (p < 0.05). Additionally, serum levels of sOB-R were significantly lower in pre-eclamptic pregnancies during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy compared to healthy pregnancies (p < 0.05). Moreover, we found that FLI did not vary significantly during pregnancy in healthy women (p > 0.05), while it increases in pre-eclamptic pregnancies (p < 0.05). Indeed, FLI was significantly higher at second and third trimesters of pregnancy in pre-eclamptic compared to healthy pregnancies (p < 0.05). In addition, FLI was significantly higher in the luteal phase compared with the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle in eumenorrheic women (p < 0.05). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed the ability of leptin (AUC = 0.72) and FLI (AUC = 0.67) as a reliable predictor for mild pre-eclampsia during the second trimester of pregnancy. In conclusion, our findings show that FLI were significantly increased in mild pre-eclamptic pregnancies and allowed us to hypothesize that this rise might alter leptin bioavailability and bioactivity which might lead to the sympathetic hyperactivity and the hypertensive disorders during pregnancy.

Riesgo cardiometabólico en población colombiana con perfíl dietario bajo en fibra y ácidos grasos poliinsaturados / Cardiometabolic risk in a colombian population with dietary profile low in fiber and polyunsaturated fatty acids

Introducción: Los factores de riesgo a enfermedades metabólicas y cardiovasculares pueden pasar desapercibidos en personas aparentemente sanas, consideradas así por tener dentro del rango normal el índice de masa corporal (IMC) y la tensión arterial. Al determinar tempranamente los factores de riesgo a las alteraciones metabólicas puede retrasarse el desarrollo de patologías, como la diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DM2) y sus complicaciones, que actualmente causan discapacidad y muerte a nivel global. Objetivo: Evaluar factores de riesgo metabólico y cardiovascular en adultos colombianos aparentemente sanos, entre 40 a 70 años. Material y métodos: Se seleccionaron voluntarios sin medicación antihipertensiva ni hipoglucemiante, entre otros fármacos A cada participante se le determinó glucosa basal y perfil lipídico completo en suero, las medidas antropométricas y de composición corporal. Se diligenció la escala Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISC), una encuesta de frecuencia de alimentos y sociodemográfica. Resultados: De acuerdo con los criterios de inclusión, 535 voluntarios completaron el protocolo, de ellos el 70% presentó alteración del IMC. En el 57% se detectó riesgo a padecer DM2 en un lapso de 10 años, valorado entre moderado y alto mediante FINDRISC. Se encontró en el 23% hiperglucemia, el 2% en rango de diagnóstico a DM2. Se determinó alguna forma de dislipidemia en el 86% de la población y el 66% presentó riesgo cardiovascular. El análisis nutricional de macronutrientes permitió detectar deficiencia en el consumo de fibra, ácidos grasos monoinsaturados y poliinsaturados. Conclusiones: Una valoración integral, con implementación de herramientas de fácil acceso y aplicación como el FINDRISC, los índices antropométricos y aterogénicos, logró detectar en una población aparentemente sana, alto riesgo a enfermedad cardiovascular y a DM2. El patrón dietario con características de tipo occidental, puede ser una de las causas en el aumento del porcentaje...(AU)

Objective: To evaluate metabolic and cardiovascular riskfactors in apparently healthy Colombian adults between 40and 70 years of age. Methods: Volunteers were selected without antihyper-tensive and hypoglycemic medication. Basal glucose andcomplete serum lipid profile, anthropometric measurementsand body composition were determined in each participant.The Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISC), a food fre-quency survey were completed and atherogenic indiceswere determined. Results: 535 volunteers completed the inclusion criteria.70% of whom presented altered BMI. In 57%, a risk of de-veloping DM2 within 10 years was detected, assessed be-tween moderate and high by FINDRISC. Hyperglycemia wasfound in 23%, some form of dyslipidemia was found in 86%of the population and 66% presented risk of cardiovasculardisease. The nutritional analysis of macronutrients showeddeficiency in the consumption of fiber and polyunsaturatedfatty acids. The response to FINDRISC questionnaire andmedical history question about physical activity characterized79% of the volunteers as sedentary.Conclusions: A medical evaluation, with implementationof easily accessible and applicable tools such as FINDRISC,anthropometric and atherogenic indices, it was possible to de-tect in an apparently healthy population, alteration of BMI,with high cardiovascular risk and to DM2. The dietary patternwith Western-type characteristics may be one of the causesof the increase in the percentage of cardiovascular diseaserisk factors and metabolic alterations.(AU)

Study of the Ghrelin/LEAP-2 Ratio in Humans and Rats during Different Phases of Pregnancy.

The Liver-Expressed Antimicrobial Peptide 2 (LEAP-2) has emerged as an endogenous GHS-R antagonist and blunts the orexigenic action of ghrelin. This study aimed to determine the Ghrelin/LEAP-2 ratio in humans and rats during pregnancy. In humans, we conducted a nested case-control study within an observational prospective cohort. Healthy and mild preeclamptic pregnant women were studied at each trimester of gestation and three months postpartum. In addition, a group of non-pregnant women was studied into the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. Furthermore, Ghrelin/LEAP-2 ratio was investigated in non-pregnant rats and at different periods of rat pregnancy. Human and rat serum ghrelin and LEAP-2 levels were determined using the commercially available ELISA kits. The Ghrelin/LEAP-2 ratio peak around the second trimester of gestation in healthy pregnant women (p < 0.05). Additionally, there were no statistically significant differences in Ghrelin/LEAP-2 ratio between healthy and preeclamptic pregnant women at each trimester of gestation (p > 0.05). The Ghrelin/LEAP-2 ratio in pregnant rat reached the peak around mid-gestation with a similar pattern to the human pregnancy. LEAP-2 was visualized by immunohistochemistry in human term placenta and rat placentas on days 12, 16 and 21 of pregnancy. In conclusion, this study provides the first evidence of a Ghrelin/LEAP-2 ratio peak around the half-way point of pregnancy onwards during human and rat pregnancy, and it might be associated with increased rates of weight gain during pregnancy. Thus, this study suggests that LEAP-2 and Ghrelin/LEAP-2 ratio might play an important role in maternal physiology adaptation of weight gain during pregnancy.

Maternal Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 Levels Decrease during Early Pregnancy in Normotensive Pregnant Women but Are Higher in Preeclamptic Women-A Longitudinal Study.

(1) Background: Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21) is an endocrine factor involved in glucose and lipid metabolism that exerts pleiotropic effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the serum FGF-21 profile in healthy and mild preeclamptic pregnant women at each trimester of pregnancy; (2) Methods: Serum FGF-21 levels were determined by ELISA in a nested case-control study within a longitudinal cohort study that included healthy (n = 54) and mild preeclamptic (n = 20) pregnant women, women at three months after delivery (n = 20) and eumenorrheic women during the menstrual cycle (n = 20); (3) Results: FGF-21 levels were significantly lower in the mid-luteal phase compared to the early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle in eumenorrheic women (p < 0.01). Maternal levels of FGF-21 were significantly lower in the first and second trimesters and peaked during the third trimester in healthy pregnant women (p < 0.01). Serum levels of FGF-21 in healthy pregnant were significantly lower in the first and second trimester of pregnancy compared with the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle and postpartum (p < 0.01). Serum FGF-21 levels were significantly higher in preeclamptic compared to healthy pregnant women during pregnancy (p < 0.01); (4) Conclusions: These results suggest that a peak of FGF-21 towards the end of pregnancy in healthy pregnancy and higher levels in preeclamptic women might play a critical role that contributes to protecting against the negatives effects of high concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and hypertensive disorder. Furthermore, FGF-21 might play an important role in reproductive function in healthy eumenorrheic women during the menstrual cycle.

Maternal Serum Angiopoietin-Like 3 Levels in Healthy and Mild Preeclamptic Pregnant Women.

Objective: Angiopoietin-like protein 3(ANGPTL3) is an important regulator of lipoprotein metabolism in the fed state by inhibiting the enzyme lipoprotein lipase in oxidative tissues. However, the possible role of ANGPTL3 throughout gestation and its relationship with hormonal and biochemical variables are still unknown. The aim of this study was to determinate serum ANGPTL3 level in healthy non-pregnant women, during healthy and preeclamptic pregnancy and postpartum. Methods: Serum ANGPTL3 was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), in a prospective cohort of healthy pregnant women (n = 52) and women with mild preeclampsia (n = 21), and women at three months postpartum (n = 20) and healthy non-pregnant women (n = 20). The results obtained were correlated with biochemical, hormonal and anthropometric variables and insulin resistance indices. Results: Levels of ANGPTL3 were not different between the follicular and the luteal phases of the cycle in healthy non-pregnant women. There was a significant reduction in serum ANGPTL3 levels from the first to the third trimester in healthy pregnant women compared with healthy non-pregnant and postpartum women (p <0.01). ANGPTL3 levels do not differ significantly during the three trimesters of pregnancy neither in healthy women nor in preeclamptic women. The serum levels of ANGPTL3 in women who developed preeclampsia are not statistically different from those observed in healthy pregnant women in each trimester of pregnancy. A significant lineal positive correlation was observed between serum ANGPTL3 levels and triglyceride (P =0.0186, r =0.52), very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P =0.0224, r =0.50), and total cholesterol levels (P =0.0220, r =0.50) in healthy non-pregnant women (P 0.05). Besides, there were no significant correlations between serum ANGPTL3 and body mass index (BMI), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, glucose, insulin, leptin, or HOMA-IR (P >0.05). Conclusions: We describe for the first time the profile of ANGPTL3 throughout pregnancy and postpartum as well as and discussed about explore their potential contribution interactions with lipoprotein metabolism throughout pregnancy and postpartum. Thus, low levels of ANGPTL3 during pregnancy might favor lipid uptake in oxidative tissues as the main maternal energy source, while may helping to preserve glucose for use by the fetus and placenta.

La dermatomiositis paraneoplásica como una presentación inusual de cáncer de mama / Paraneoplastic dermatomyositis as an unusual presentation of breast cancer

Introducción: La dermatomiositis es una inflamación muscular autoinmune con presencia de rash, se manifiesta con debilidad muscular proximal, asociado a complicaciones cardiacas como miocarditis y/o trastornos de la conducción. En algunas ocasiones puede ser la única manifestación clínica de una neoplasia maligna oculta, por lo cual su detección temprana puede tener grandes repercusiones en el pronóstico del tumor oculto. Objetivo: Describir el caso de una paciente con un síndrome paraneoplásico dado por una dermatopolimiositis como presentación inusual de un cáncer de mama. Caso clínico: Se trata de una paciente en quinta década de la vida sin antecedentes personales de importancia, que debuta con una debilidad en miembros superiores de predominio proximal incapacitante, fiebre y elevación importante de la creatinquinasa (CPK), bajo un diagnóstico de una dermatopolimiositis como manifestación principal de un cáncer de mama infiltrante. Conclusiones: La dermatomiositis en mujeres de mediana edad debe hacer sospechar en una patología neoplásica oculta. Lo más importante es descastar el cáncer de mama(AU)

Introduction: Dermatomyositis is an autoimmune muscle inflammation exhibited rash, and proximal muscle weakness, associated with cardiac complications such as myocarditis and / or conduction disorders. In some cases, it can be the only clinical manifestation of hidden malignancy, so its early detection can have great repercussions on the prognosis of the hidden tumor. Objective: To describe the case of a patient with a paraneoplastic syndrome caused by dermatopolymyositis as an unusual presentation of breast cancer. Clinical case report: This is a patient in her fifties with no significant clinical personal history, who had disabling proximal weakness, predominantly in her upper limbs, fever and significant elevation of creatine kinase (CPK), under a diagnosis of dermatopolymyositis as the main manifestation of an infiltrating breast cancer. Conclusions: Dermatomyositis in middle-aged women should make us suspect an occult neoplastic pathology. The most important is to rule out breast cancer(AU)

El síndrome de Takotsubo con taponamiento cardíaco como complicación inusual / Takotsubo syndrome with cardiac tamponade as an unusual complication

Introducción: La miocardiopatía por estrés o síndrome de Takotsubo está asociado a la reducción de la fracción de eyección, niveles elevados de enzimas cardiacas y signos de isquemia en el electrocardiograma. Sin embargo, en pocas ocasiones trascurre con complicaciones tan importantes como el taponamiento cardiaco, deterioro significativo de la contractilidad y la posibilidad de trombos dentro de la cavidad ventricular. Estas son subestimadas a pesar de poner en riesgo la vida del paciente. Objetivo: Describir el caso de una paciente con miocardiopatía por estrés con taponamiento cardiaco como una complicación inusual. Caso clínico: Paciente en la novena década de la vida con antecedente de hipertensión arterial sistémica primaria y enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica. Presentó dolor precordial con trastornos de la contractilidad de patrón usual correspondiente a la cardiomiopatía de Takotsubo en la que se descartaron otros diagnósticos diferenciales. Conclusiones: El caso presentado de miocardiopatía de Takotsubo asociado a una complicación cardiovascular tan importante e inusual como el taponamiento cardiaco, aporta información sobre esta enfermedad infrecuente en nuestro medio(AU)

Introduction: Stress cardiomyopathy or Takotsubo syndrome is associated with reduced ejection fraction, elevated levels of cardiac enzymes and signs of ischemia on the electrocardiogram. However, it rarely occurs with complications as important as cardiac tamponade, significant deterioration of contractility and the possibility of thrombi within the ventricular cavity. These are underestimated despite putting the patient's life at risk. Objective: To describe the case of a patient with stress cardiomyopathy with cardiac tamponade as an unusual complication. Clinical case report: A case of a female patient in her nineties is reported due to her history of primary systemic arterial hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. She had chest pain with contractility disorders of the usual pattern corresponding to Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in which other differential diagnoses were ruled out. Conclusions: This case of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy associated with a cardiovascular complication as important and unusual as cardiac tamponade, provides information on this rare disease in our setting(AU)

Serum angiopoietin-like 3 levels are elevated in obese non diabetic men but are unaffected during an oral glucose tolerance test.

This study aimed to determine ANGPTL3 serum levels in healthy young lean and obese non-diabetic men during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and correlate them with anthropometric, biochemical and hormonal parameters. A case-control study was carried out and 30 young obese non-diabetic (23.90 ± 3.84 years and BMI 37.92 ± 4.85 kg/m2) and 28 age-matched healthy lean (24.56 ± 3.50 years and BMI of 22.10 ± 1.72 kg/m2) men were included in this study. The primary outcome measures were serum basal ANGPTL3 and ANGPTL3-area under the curve (AUC) levels. The percentage of body fat was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and biochemical, hormonal and insulin resistance indices were determined. Basal ANGPTL3 and ANGPTL3-AUC levels were significantly elevated (p < 0.05) in young obese subjects compared with lean subjects and were positively and significantly associated with different anthropometric measurements. Fasting ANGPTL3 serum levels were positively correlated with fasting insulin, leptin, Leptin/Adiponectin index and triglyceride-glucose index. Moreover, ANGPTL3-AUC was negatively correlated with Matsuda index. In this regard, chronically high ANGPTL3 levels in young obese subjects might favor triglyceride-rich lipoprotein clearance to replenish triglyceride stores by white adipose tissue rather than oxidative tissues.