Irisin is more strongly associated with leisure-time physical activity than resistin and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol are.

Obectives: Irisin is a myokine with a potential role in cardiometabolic diseases, but previous studies have described inconsistencies between serum irisin and physical activity (PA). Our aim was to analyze the relationship between serum irisin and leisure-time PA (LTPA) in a large sample of the general adult population, and secondarily, to evaluate its relationship with two PA-related biomarkers (HDL cholesterol and resistin). Design: A cross-sectional study was nested in the "CDC of the Canary Islands" cohort participants (n = 3827, 18-75 years, 60% women). Methods: PA was collected by administering the Minnesota leisure-time physical activity questionnaire, and physical examination and blood tests (irisin, resistin, HDL-cholesterol) were performed. Results: Irisin inversely correlated with BMI (p < 0.001 in women) and resistin (p = 0.038 in women, p = 0.004 in men), and directly with HDL cholesterol (p < 0.001in women). There was a direct association of irisin with leisure-time and energy expenditure in light, moderate and vigorous LTPA, which was stronger in women than men. The distribution of leisure-time and PA variables across irisin quintiles showed a significant trend, except for light LPTA in men. Adjusting for age, sex and BMI, the association of irisin with leisure-time and LTPA variables was stronger than the association of these variables with resistin and HDL cholesterol, reaching the strongest association for irisin with the 80th percentile of time of LTPA (OR = 2.57; 95% CI = 2.00-3.31). Conclusions: There is a direct and independent association between serum irisin levels and LTPA in the general adult population, which is stronger than other biomarkers of PA. Findings on exercise-related irisin support the possibility of irisin health benefits.

Major amputations in type 2 diabetes between 2001 and 2015 in Spain: regional differences.

BACKGROUND: To analyze the trend of lower extremity major amputations (MA) among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the Regions of Spain from year 2001 until 2015. METHODS: Descriptive study of 40,392 MA. Data were obtained from the national hospital discharge database in patients with T2DM. The incidence rate was calculated in each Region, in addition to the incidence ratios (IR) between annual incidence and incidence of the year 2001. The length of hospital stay and mortality risks were analyzed using regression models adjusted for sex, age and smoking. RESULTS: The major amputations incidence rate per 100,000 person-years was 0.48 in Spain; Canary Islands showed the highest incidence (0.81). The trend was a slight decrease or stability of the incidence in all Regions except in the Canary Islands (IR2015 = 2.0 [CI95% = 1.5, 2.6]) and in Madrid (IR2015 = 0.1 [CI95% = 0.1, 0.2]). Mortality after major amputations was 10% in Spain; Cantabria suffered the highest risk of death [1.7 (CI95% = 1.4; 2.1), p < 0.001] and La Rioja the lowest risk (0.5 [CI95% = 0.2; 0.9]; p = 0.026). The longest hospital stay was registered in the Canary Islands [(CI95% = 11.4;13.3], p < 0.001)], and the shortest in the Valencian Community [(CI95% = - 7.3; - 5.8), p < 0.001)]. CONCLUSION: MA in T2DM followed a growing trend in the Canary Islands, which diverged from the downward trend in Spain. The variability of mortality and hospital stay, suggest to review the clinical management in some Regions. Sudden incidence decrease in Madrid suggests checking the record procedures of hospital discharges.

[Evolution of Smoking According to Social Class in the Adult Population of the Canary Islands During 2000-2015: Follow-up of the CDC-Canary Cohort]. / Evolución del tabaquismo según clase social en la población adulta de las Islas Canarias durante el periodo 2000-2015: seguimiento de la cohorte CDC-Canarias.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the status of tobacco consumption in the Canary Islands during 2000-2015, according to social class. LOCATION: Canary Islands. PARTICIPANTS: General population cohort, with contacts in 2000 (n=6,729), 2008 (n=6,171) and 2015 (n=4,705). MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Smoking, gender, age, and social class. RESULTS: Consumption decreased by 6% (5-7%, P<.001) in general, being more accentuated in the period 2000-2008 (5%). The decrease was greater in men, although they continued to smoke more than women, with a prevalence of 25% (24-26%) compared to 18% (17-19%, P<.001). A decrease in consumption was only observed in the younger groups (6% [3-5%], P=.011) and intermediate ages (7% [6-8%], P<.001). A similar decrease was observed in all the social classes, but there was a higher prevalence of smoking in the upper class: 24% (23-25%) in 2015 (P<.001). By jointly assessing gender, age, and social class, younger and middle age men had the greatest decreases in consumption: 8% (7-9%) low and upper classes, 10% (9-11%) middle class. In the lower social class, younger women continue to smoke more (27%) although more of them quit smoking (14%), a phenomenon that occurred in the middle class at intermediate ages. CONCLUSIONS: The evolution of tobacco consumption in the Canary Islands follows a pattern similar to that of mainland Spain. The abandonment of tobacco consumption has slowed down in the period 2008-2015, especially in men, and middle and upper social classes.

[ETAP: A smoking scale for Primary Health Care]. / ETAP: una escala de tabaquismo para la atención primaria de salud.

OBJECTIVE: To obtain a scale of tobacco exposure to address smoking cessation. DESIGN: Follow-up of a cohort. Scale validation. SETTING: Primary Care Research Unit. Tenerife. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 6729 participants from the "CDC de Canarias" cohort. METHODS: A scale was constructed under the assumption that the time of exposure to tobacco is the key factor to express accumulated risk. Discriminant validity was tested on prevalent cases of acute myocardial infarction (AMI; n=171), and its best cut-off for preventive screening was obtained. Its predictive validity was tested with incident cases of AMI (n=46), comparing the predictive power with markers (age, sex) and classic risk factors of AMI (hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia), including the pack-years index (PYI). RESULTS: The scale obtained was the sum of three times the years that they had smoked plus years exposed to smoking at home and at work. The frequency of AMI increased with the values of the scale, with the value 20 years of exposure being the most appropriate cut-off for preventive action, as it provided adequate predictive values for incident AMI. The scale surpassed PYI in predicting AMI, and competed with the known markers and risk factors. CONCLUSION: The proposed scale allows a valid measurement of exposure to smoking and provides a useful and simple approach that can help promote a willingness to change, as well as prevention. It still needs to demonstrate its validity, taking as reference other problems associated with smoking.

Irisin, in women and men: blood pressure, heart rate, obesity and insulin resistance.

Background: Irisin is a myokine that increases with leisure time physical activity (LTPA) and for which a cardiovascular protective role has been postulated. Our aim was to assess this role in the general population. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was performed in a large randomly selected population sample (n=2298 women and 1529 men). Apart from age and sex, we record anthropometrics (blood pressure, heart rate, obesity), lifestyle (LTPA, smoking, alcohol), and biochemical measurements (irisin, lipid profile, insulin resistance). Correlations and regression multivariate models were used to analyze the association of irisin levels with the studied factors. Results: The variables more strongly and directly associated with irisin, adjusting the studied factors separately in women and men, were HOMA-2 (p=0.043 and p=0.001, respectively) and LTPA (p<0.001 and p=0.001, respectively). Also heart rate inversely (p=0.005 and p=0.002, respectively) and DBP directly (p<0.005 and p=0.045, respectively) were associated to irisin in both sexes. The waist/height ratio (p<0.001) was inversely associated to irisin only in women, and the alcohol drinking was directly associated (p=0.029) only in men. Conclusion: We provide new findings for irisin, such as its association with DBP and with heart rate; furthermore, in women irisin is associated to abdominal obesity, and in men is associated to the alcohol intake. We also corroborate the association of irisin with LTPA and insulin resistance. The associations detected point towards a protective role of irisin in the maintenance of cardiometabolic health.

Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and waist-to-hip ratio in middle-aged postmenopausal women are the main factors associated with semantic verbal fluency 12 years later.

Few studies have analized the effect of vascular risk factors and lifestyle habits affecting the middle age of postmenopausal women on later cognitive performance in old age. We have carried out an observational study to identify those factors and whether they differ from those acting in men. Postmenopausal women and males, both aged 40-60 years old at recruitment, from a community dwelling cohort were included. Data for this study were collected from the first visit at recruitment (2001 to 2005). Participants were interviewed with a questionnaire on their health-related antecedents and underwent a physical exam. The cohort was contacted again for a new presential visit between 2014 and 2015. A semantic verbal fluency test was included in this new visit protocol as a brief measure of cognition. Besides educational attainment, Mediterranean diet adherence 20th percentile (OR = 1.93; 95%CI = 1.07-3.47) and waist to hip ratio 80th percentile (OR = 1.81; 95%CI = 1.10-2,98) were the main factors associated to low semantic fluency performance in postmenopausal women, while declared diabetes mellitus (OR = 2.24; 95%CI = 1.16-4,33), HOMA 2 insulin resistance index (OR = 1.77; 95%CI =1.04-3,02), light physical activity in leisure time (OR = 0.41; 95%CI = 0.19-0,93) and recommended moderate to vigorous physical activity (OR = 2.09; 95%CI = 1.23-3.56) did in men. Factors in middle age that explain semantic verbal fluency in old age are different between postmenopausal women and men. Menopause related fat redistribution may be a precondition for other vascular risk factors. The effect of Mediterranean diet on cognition deserves new specific studies centered on postmenopausal women as group.

Digging into the admixture strata of current-day Canary Islanders based on mitogenomes.

The conquest of the Canary Islands by Europeans began at the beginning of the 15th century and culminated in 1496 with the surrender of the aborigines. The collapse of the aboriginal population during the conquest and the arrival of settlers caused a drastic change in the demographic composition of the archipelago. To shed light on this historical process, we analyzed 896 mitogenomes of current inhabitants from the seven main islands. Our findings confirm the continuity of aboriginal maternal contributions and the persistence of their genetic footprints in the current population, even at higher levels (>60% on average) than previously evidenced. Moreover, the age estimates for most autochthonous founder lineages support a first aboriginal arrival to the islands at the beginning of the first millennium. We also revealed for the first time that the main recognizable genetic influences from Europe are from Portuguese and Galicians.

Developing CIRdb as a catalog of natural genetic variation in the Canary Islanders.

The current inhabitants of the Canary Islands have a unique genetic makeup in the European diversity landscape due to the existence of African footprints from recent admixture events, especially of North African components (> 20%). The underrepresentation of non-Europeans in genetic studies and the sizable North African ancestry, which is nearly absent from all existing catalogs of worldwide genetic diversity, justify the need to develop CIRdb, a population-specific reference catalog of natural genetic variation in the Canary Islanders. Based on array genotyping of the selected unrelated donors and comparisons against available datasets from European, sub-Saharan, and North African populations, we illustrate the intermediate genetic differentiation of Canary Islanders between Europeans and North Africans and the existence of within-population differences that are likely driven by genetic isolation. Here we describe the overall design and the methods that are being implemented to further develop CIRdb. This resource will help to strengthen the implementation of Precision Medicine in this population by contributing to increase the diversity in genetic studies. Among others, this will translate into improved ability to fine map disease genes and simplify the identification of causal variants and estimate the prevalence of unattended Mendelian diseases.

Domain and intensity of physical activity are associated with metabolic syndrome: A population-based study.

INTRODUCTION: Little is known on how the domain and intensity of physical activity (PA) associates with metabolic syndrome (MetS). The aim of this study was to examine associations between PA domains (leisure-time, domestic, active transport, total walking and total PA), PA intensities (light, moderate and vigorous) and PA levels with MetS in the general adult population. METHODS: Cross-sectional study. Anthropometry, blood biochemistry, 79-item PA-questionnaire, lifestyle and medical history were evaluated in a representative sample of Canary Island adults (n = 6,729). MetS was diagnosed using the harmonized IDF-NHLBI-AHA criteria. T-test and multivariable logistic regression was used to analyse associations between PA domains and intensities with MetS vs. no MetS, controlling for socio-demographic, lifestyle, family antecedents and body mass index (BMI). RESULTS: For each MET-h/day spent in moderate-vigorous PA intensities, as well as in recreational domain, active transport, total walking and total PA, the odds of MetS decreased between 3-10%. Energy expenditure exclusively in light and domestic PAs was not associated with MetS, however it was important to achieve a total PA level of 3 MET-h/day, which reduced the odds of MetS by 23%. This reduction was blunted in those with more than 2 h/d of TV watching time. A PA level of 3 MET-h/d also nullified the risk of MetS in those with low PA and high TV consumption. CONCLUSIONS: Some types of leisure time PAs may contribute more than others to reducing MetS. Light and domestic PA play a complementary role in enhancing energy expenditure in the general population. TV watching time above 2 h/d counteracted the MetS risk reduction associated with PA level, but PA level also reduced the risk of METs presented by those with a low level of PA and an excess TV watching time. Physical activity explains a greater amount of the variance of MetS than any other factors of lifestyle, education, sex and family history, and substantially mitigates the strong association of age and BMI with MetS.

[Validation of a food intake frequency questionnaire adapted for the study and monitoring of the adult population of the Canary Islands, Spain]. / Validación de un cuestionario de frecuencia de consumo de alimentos adaptado para el estudio y seguimiento de la población adulta de las Islas Canarias.

BACKGROUND: The registering of eating habits requires a valid and reliable method. The purpose of this study is to validate the food intake frequency questionnaire, CDC-FFQ, which is an adaptation of another questionnaire, in order to assess the nutrition of the adult population of the Canary Islands. METHODS: The CDC-FFQ questionnaire was given to 1,067 individuals taken from the general population (GP) and to 106 university students, aged 19 to 30. The second group was surveyed also in three 24-hour follow-ups. The nutrients were compared according to the CDC-FFQ in the GP and university students. The correlations were estimated between the CDC-FFQ and the follow-ups for nutrients and groups of foods and the concordance of the intakes of nutrients and groups of foods in the extreme quintiles, for the university students. RESULTS: The mean values between nutrients of the CDC-FFQ between the GP, university students and the general population with university studies showed no significant differences except for vitamin B12 (p=0.004) and vitamin D (p=0.005). Correlations between the CDC-FFQ and the mean of the three follow-ups were obtained in the 0.202-0.601 range between nutrients adjusted by calories consumed in the case of the university students. By groups of foods, the correlations ranged between 0.243-0.542 for the CDC-FFQ and the follow-ups. The concordance of nutrients ranged between 39% and 100% and for groups of foods, between 41% and 100%. CONCLUSIONS: The CDC-FFQ questionnaire is valid for classifying the subjects in the relative ranges of their level of intake of foods and nutrients and, therefore, it could be useful in epidemiological studies with a diet assessment in the adult population of the Canary Islands.

Validation of DIABSCORE in screening for Type 2 Diabetes and prediabetes in Tunisian population.

AIMS: To perform a validation of DIABSCORE in a sample of Tunisian adults and find out the optimal cut-off point for screening of Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and prediabetes. METHODS: 225 adults 18-75 years and a subgroup of 138 adults (18-54 years), with undiagnosed T2D from the region of Cap-Bon, Tunisia were included in the present study. The DIABSCORE was calculated based on: age, waist/height ratio, family history of T2D and gestational diabetes. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves and areas under curve (AUC) were obtained. The T2D and prediabetes prevalences odds ratios (OR) between patients exposed and not exposed to DIABSCORE≥90 and DIABSCORE≥80, respectively were calculated in both age ranges. RESULTS: For screening of T2D the best value was DIABSCORE = 90 with a highest sensitivity (Se), negative predictive value (NPV) and lower negative likelihood ratio in participants aged 18-75 yr (Se = 97%; NPV = 97%) when compared to participants aged 18-54 yr (Se = 95%; NPV = 97%); for prediabetes, the best Se and NPV were for DIABSCORE = 80 in both age groups, but it showed a disbalanced sensitivity-specificity. The ROC curves for T2D showed a similar AUC in both age ranges (AUC = 0.62 and AUC = 0.61 respectively). The ROC curves for prediabetes showed a highest AUC in those aged 18-54 years than the older ones (AUC = 0.62 and AUC = 0.57, respectively). The prevalences OR of T2D for DIABSCORE≥90 was higher than for DIABSCORE≥80 in both age ranges. Nevertheless, the prevalences OR of prediabetes for DIABSCORE≥90 was half of the detected for DIABSCORE≥80 in both age ranges. CONCLUSION: The DIABSCORE is a simple clinical tool and accurate method in screening for T2D and prediabetes in the adult Tunisian population.

Inverse association of resistin with physical activity in the general population.

AIM: Resistin is a cytokine related with inflammation and ischemic heart disease. Physical activity (PA) prevents chronic inflammation and ischemic heart disease. We studied the relationship of serum concentration of resistin with HDL cholesterol, a known biomarker of PA, and with different measures of PA, in a large sample of the general adult population in the Canary Islands. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 6636 adults recruited randomly. We analyzed the correlation of resistin and HDL cholesterol with PA (as metabolic equivalent level [MET]), and fitted the results with linear and logistic regression models using adjustment for age, alcohol consumption and smoking. RESULTS: Mean resistin level was higher in women (p<0.001), correlated inversely with age, HDL cholesterol (p<0.001) and alcohol consumption (p<0.001 in men), and correlated directly with smoking (p<0.001). Resistin correlated inversely with the duration of leisure time PA (p<0.001), leisure time MET (p<0.001) and moderate leisure time PA (p<0.001), with some differences between sexes. Men (OR = 0.78 [0.61-0.99; p<0.05]) and women (OR = 0.75 [0.61-0.92; p<0.01]) in the upper quintile of leisure time PA had a lower risk of elevated resistin. In contrast, a high degree of sedentarism was associated with an increased risk elevated resistin in women (OR = 1.24 [1.04-1.47; p<0.05] and in men (OR = 1.40 [1.01-1.82; p<0.05]). CONCLUSIONS: In our sample of the general population, resistin was inversely associated with measures and levels of PA and HDL cholesterol. The association of resistin with PA was stronger than the association of HDL cholesterol with PA, making resistin a potentially useful biomarker of PA.

[Coronary risk in the population of the Canary Islands, Spain, using the Framingham function]. / Estimación del riesgo coronario en la población de Canarias aplicando la ecuación de Framingham.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Although ischemic cardiopathy mortality in the Canary Islands is among the highest in Spain, the specific coronary risk for its population has not been estimated. This study presents the first cardiovascular risk charts for the Canarian adult population and compares them with those previously published on Gerona, Spain. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A cross-sectional study of 4915 subjects, aged 25-74, that had been enrolled in the cohort study CDC of the Canary Islands. The standardized prevalence of obesity, overweight, smoking, hypertension and diabetes were estimated with the information obtained from personnel interviews, physical exams and blood samples. Those prevalences were used to calibrate the Framingham coronary function and to elaborate coronary risk charts. RESULTS: The crude prevalence of obesity was 30% (95% confidence interval [CI], 28.7-31.3), overweight 39% (95% CI, 37.6-40.4), smoking 26% (95% CI, 24.8-27.2), hypertension 40% (95% CI, 38.6-41.4) and diabetes 12% (95% CI, 11.1-12.9). In most of the factors, these prevalences were higher than Gerona's population in every age group and gender. On average, the estimated coronary risk of the islanders was 89% higher than Gerona's risk (94% higher in males and 87% in females), which is concordant with the distance between both populations in the national mortality statistics. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of obesity and other factors in the Canarian population implies important coronary risks and it explains the position of the Canary Islands in the Spanish statistics of ischemic cardiopathy mortality. The use of these calibrated risk charts would be helpful to intensify the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

Lipid and inflammatory biomarker profiles in early insulin resistance.

AIMS: To analyze the serum lipid and inflammatory biomarker profile in the early insulin resistance (e-IR). METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 5943 adults without diabetes, stratified into no IR group (C-peptide

Role of HIF1A, VEGFA and VEGFR2 SNPs in the Susceptibility and Progression of COPD in a Spanish Population.

Hypoxia is involved in the development of chronic inflammatory processes. Under hypoxic conditions HIF1A, VEGF and VEGFR2 are expressed and mediate the course of the resultant disease. The aim of the present study was to define the associations between tSNPs in these genes and COPD susceptibility and progression in a Spanish cohort. The T alleles in rs3025020 and rs833070 SNPs (VEGFA gene) were less frequent in the group of COPD cases and were associated with a lower risk of developing the disease (OR = 0.60; 95% CI = 0. 39-0.93; p = 0.023 and OR = 0.60; 95% CI = 0.38-0.96; p = 0.034, respectively) under a dominant model of inheritance. The haplotype in which both SNPs presented the T allele confirmed the association found (OR = 0.02; 95% CI = 0.00 to 0.66; p = 0.03). Moreover, patients with COPD carrying the T allele in homozygosis in rs3025020 SNP showed higher lung function values and this association remained constant during 3 years of follow-up. In conclusion, T allele in rs833070 and rs3025020 may confer a protective effect to COPD susceptibility in a Spanish population and the association of the SNP rs3025020 with lung function may be suggesting a role for VEGF in the progression of the disease.

Incidence, Mortality and Positive Predictive Value of Type 1 Cardiorenal Syndrome in Acute Coronary Syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the risk of cardiovascular mortality associated with cardiorenal syndrome subtype 1 (CRS1) in patients who were hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) was greater than the expected risk based on the sum of its components, to estimate the predictive value of CRS1, and to determine whether the severity of CRS1 worsens the prognosis. METHODS: Follow-up study of 1912 incident cases of ACS for 1 year after discharge. Cox regression models were estimated with time to event (in-hospital death, and readmission or death during the first year after discharge) as the dependent variable. RESULTS: The incidence of CRS1 was 9.2/1000 person-days of hospitalization (95% CI = 8.1-10.5), but these patients accounted for 56.6% (95% CI = 47.4-65.) of all mortality. The positive predictive value of CRS1 was 29.6% (95% CI = 23.9-36.0) for in-hospital death, and 51.4% (95% CI = 44.8-58.0) for readmission or death after discharge. The risk of in-hospital death from CRS1 (RR = 18.3; 95% CI = 6.3-53.2) was greater than the sum of risks associated with either acute heart failure (RR = 7.6; 95% CI = 1.8-31.8) or acute kidney injury (RR = 2.8; 95% CI = 0.9-8.8). The risk of events associated with CRS1 also increased with syndrome severity, reaching a RR of 10.6 (95% CI = 6.2-18.1) for in-hospital death at the highest severity level. CONCLUSIONS: The effect of CRS1 on in-hospital mortality is greater than the sum of the effects associated with each of its components, and it increases with the severity of the syndrome. CRS1 accounted for more than half of all mortality, and its positive predictive value approached 30% in-hospital and 50% after discharge.

C-peptide as a risk factor of coronary artery disease in the general population.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the association between serum C-peptide and coronary artery disease in the general population. METHODS: Follow-up study of 6630 adults from the general population. They were stratified into group 1 (no insulin resistance: C-peptide < third tercile and glycaemia < 100 mg/dL), group 2 (initial insulin resistance: C-peptide ⩾ third tercile and glycaemia < 100 mg/dL) and group 3 (advanced insulin resistance: glycaemia ⩾ 100 mg/dL). RESULTS: After 3.5 years of follow-up, group 2 had a higher incidence of myocardial infarction (relative risk (RR) = 4.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.7-10.6) and coronary artery disease (RR = 3.5, 95% CI = 1.9-6.6) than group 1. Group 3 also had increased incidences of both diseases. In multivariable analysis of the entire population, groups 2 and 3 showed significant risks of myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease (RR > 3 and RR > 2, respectively). However, when people with diabetes were excluded, the increased risks were corroborated only in group 2 for myocardial infarction (RR = 2.8, 95% CI = 1.1-6.9; p = 0.025) and coronary artery disease (RR = 2.4, 95% CI = 1.3-4.6; p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: Elevated C-peptide is associated with the incidence of myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease in the general population. It can be an earlier predictor of coronary events than impaired fasting glucose.

MC1R gene variants and sporadic malignant melanoma susceptibility in the Canary Islands population.

Several MC1R variants are associated with increased risk of malignant melanoma (MM) in a variety of populations. We aim to examine the influence of the MC1R variants (RHC: D84E, R151C, R160W; NRHC: V60L, R163Q and the synonymous polymorphism T314T) on the MM risk in a population from the Canary Islands. Overall, 1,046 Caucasian individuals were included in the study. A thousand of them were genotyped for MC1R variants: 509 were sporadic MM patients and 491 were healthy control subjects from general population. The analysis was adjusted for age, sex, hair colour, eye colour, skin phototype and ancestry. We found that carriers of the R151C and R163Q variants were at an increased risk for melanoma OR 2.76 (1.59-4.78) and OR 5.62 (2.54-12.42), respectively. The risk of carrying RHC variants was 3.04 (1.90-4.86). Current study confirms the increased MM risk for R151C carriers. It also supports the association between R163Q variant and MM risk in the population on the Canary Islands, as opposed to reported on northern populations. These results highlight the importance of the sample population selection in this kind of studies.

The association of resistin with coronary disease in the general population.

AIMS: To explore the association between resistin expression and the incidence of ischemic heart disease in the general population. METHODS: A follow-up study of 6636 adults recruited randomly from the general population. RESULTS: The serum resistin concentration was higher in women (6.1 ng/mL; CI95%=6.0-6.2) than in men (5.6 ng/mL; CI95%=5.5-5.7). Individuals in the 5th quintile or higher of resistin (RQ5) were younger (P＜0.001) and had a lower prevalence of arterial hypertension (P＜0.001), abdominal obesity (P＜0.001), diabetes (P＜0.001) and dyslipidemia (P＜0.001). The cardiovascular risk estimated by the Framingham function was also lower in the RQ5 subgroup (P＜0.001); however, the prevalence of smoking was higher (P＜0.001), as was the prevalence of low HDL cholesterol (P＜0.001). After 3.5 years of follow-up, the RQ5 subgroup had a higher incidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI, RR=1.9; CI95%=1.01-3.54). In the population without diabetes, the RQ5 subgroup had a higher risk of AMI (RR=2.4; CI95%=1.10-5.17), and the risk of AMI was highest in women in this group (4.97; CI95%=1.33-18.57). The risk levels were significant in the Cox models adjusted for age, sex and smoking; and the hazard ratio was 2.5 for AMI (CI95%=1.29-4.70) in the sample of patients matched by sex and smoking status. CONCLUSIONS: Resistin may be a risk marker for ischemic heart disease in the general population. The serum resistin concentration is higher in women, and the associated increase in the risk of AMI based on the resistin level is also higher in women than in men.