Using glycosylated hemoglobin to define the metabolic syndrome in United States adults.

Objective: To compare the use of GHb and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) to define the metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Research Design And Methods: Data from the U.S.

The hypertension-diabetes continuum.

Hypertension and type 2 diabetes are both common chronic conditions that affect a major proportion of the general population. They tend to occur in the same individual, suggesting common predisposing factors, which can be genetic or environmental. Although the genes causing hypertension or diabetes await elucidation, the environmental causes of these diseases are well known.

Raising highly desirable lipoprotein versus lowering deleterious lipoprotein.

Evaluation of: Taylor AJ, Villines TC, Stanek EJ et al. Extended-release niacin or ezetimibe and carotid intima-media thickness. N.

Interleukin-6 receptor gene polymorphism modulates interleukin-6 levels and the metabolic syndrome: GBCS-CVD.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a key pleiotropic cytokine that modulates the inflammatory response. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within associated genes may contribute to the metabolic syndrome (MES). We examined the role of the IL-6 (rs1524107-C/T) and IL-6 receptor (IL-6R, rs8192284-A/C, Asp358Ala) SNPs in modulating IL-6 levels and the syndrome.

A new paradigm for managing dyslipidemia with combination therapy: laropiprant + niacin + simvastatin.

Importance Of The Field: Despite effective lowering of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) with statin for prevention of cardiovascular adverse events, residual risk remains high due to low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels in patients with mixed dyslipidemia. As a result, alternative treatment options to raise HDL-C are being investigated intensively. Currently, niacin is the most potent lipid lowering agent for raising HDL-C levels together with lowering of triglyceride and LDL-C.

A genetic variant in the gene encoding fibrinogen beta chain predicted development of hypertension in Chinese men.

Fibrinogen, a major determinant of blood viscosity, is an acute phase protein associated with cardiovascular disease. We studied the association of hypertension with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the gene encoding the fibrinogen beta chain (FGB). Three tagging SNPs (rs1025154, rs4220 and rs1044291) were selected from the HapMap database on Han Chinese.

Obesity susceptibility genetic variants identified from recent genome-wide association studies: implications in a chinese population.

Context: Recent large-scale genome-wide association studies identified novel genetic variants associated with obesity and body mass index (BMI) in addition to the well-described FTO and MC4R genetic variants.

Objective: This study aimed to examine 13 previously reported obesity and/or BMI-associated loci for associations with obesity in Chinese.

Design And Study Participants: This was a cross-sectional case-control study in 470 obese cases (BMI > or =27.

Bioavailable testosterone predicts a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease in older men.

There is a paucity of data on the relationship between testosterone and Alzheimer's disease (AD) in older men. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of serum total testosterone (TT), bioavailable testosterone (BT), and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels on the subsequent risk of AD in nondemented Chinese older men. This was a one-year prospective cohort study.

Pharmacotherapy for obesity.

Obesity is associated with increased risk of conditions such as hypertension, dyslipidaemia, diabetes mellitus, and obstructive sleep apnoea. Pharmacotherapy for obesity should be considered in combination with lifestyle changes in obese patients, or overweight patients with other conditions that put them at risk of developing heart disease. Sibutramine and orlistat are the only two anti-obesity medications approved for long-term use.

Association between serum alkaline phosphatase and C-reactive protein in the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2006.

Background: Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is a widely used marker for skeletal and hepatobiliary disorders, but its activity is also increased in atherosclerosis and peripheral vascular disease. It is an inflammatory marker like C-reactive protein (CRP). We therefore analyzed its relationship with CRP in the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2006.

Utilization of lipid lowering medications among adults in the United States 1999-2006.

Objective: We examined the use of lipid lowering medications and control of dyslipidemia among US adults in 1999-2006.

Methods: Data were extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2006.

Results: The mean low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) level significantly decreased from 3.

Diabetes prevalence and therapeutic target achievement in the United States, 1999 to 2006.

Objective: Changes in the prevalence, treatment, and management of diabetes in the United States from 1999 to 2006 were studied using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Methods: Data on 17,306 participants aged 20 years or more were analyzed. Glycemic, blood pressure, and cholesterol targets were glycosylated hemoglobin less than 7.

Proposed quality standards for regional lymph node dissections in patients with melanoma.

Objective: The experience of the Sydney Melanoma Unit (SMU) is documented to offer quality assurance (QA) standards and an acceptable range for lymph node yield for regional lymph node dissection (RLND) in melanoma patients.

Summary Background Data: Surgery is the most effective treatment for melanoma involving lymph nodes (LN). QA for RLND procedures, including adequacy of surgery and histopathology, is not well developed.

Late-life body mass index and waist circumference in amnestic mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease.

We investigated the progressive associations of late-life body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) in Chinese older adults in a case-control study. Late-life BMI and WC were measured. AD was diagnosed by the NINCDS-ADRDA criteria for probable AD and aMCI by the Petersen's criteria.

Elevated plasma level of soluble F11 receptor/junctional adhesion molecule-A (F11R/JAM-A) in hypertension.

Background: The F11 receptor (F11R, also known as junctional adhesion molecule A (JAM-A)) plays a role in the development of hypertension in rat. Genetic variants in the human F11R gene were demonstrated to influence systolic blood pressure. In the present study, we investigated the relationship between F11R and hypertension by examining the levels of a circulating soluble form of F11R (sF11R) in hypertensive patients.

The efficacy of intravitreal vancomycin and dexamethasone in the treatment of experimental bacillus cereus endophthalmitis.

Purpose: Bacillus cereus causes the most virulent and refractory form of endophthalmitis. The authors analyzed effectiveness of intravitreal vancomycin with or without dexamethasone for experimental Bacillus cereus endophthalmitis.

Methods: Rabbit eyes were injected intravitreally with 1x10(6) colony-forming units of Bacillus cereus organisms.

High density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels increase with age in American women but not in Hong Kong Chinese women.

Objectives: High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is a powerful cardiovascular risk factor. Important gender and ethnic differences in plasma HDL levels exist and warrant investigation.

Design: Cross-sectional survey in two different general populations.

Association between plasma alkaline phosphatase and C-reactive protein in Hong Kong Chinese.

Background: Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is a biomarker for hepatobiliary and skeletal diseases. It is also raised in sepsis. In atherosclerotic plaques, ALP is expressed.

Elevated serum alkaline phosphatase and peripheral arterial disease in the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2004.

Background: Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is elevated in peripheral arterial disease (PAD). We therefore examined the relationship of PAD with ALP and other liver enzymes in the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2004.

Methods: The analysis included 5995 men and non-pregnant women aged >or=40 years with no missing data in variables of interest.

Association between raised blood pressure and dysglycemia in Hong Kong Chinese.

Objective: To investigate the association between raised blood pressure and dysglycemia.

Research Design And Methods: We studied the association between raised blood pressure and dysglycemia in 1,862 subjects in the Hong Kong Cardiovascular Risk Factor Prevalence Study cohort. We determined the factors predicting the development of diabetes and hypertension in 1,496 subjects who did not have either condition at baseline.

Association of a polymorphism in the lipin 1 gene with systolic blood pressure in men.

Background: Lipin 1 plays a role in abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, and hypertriglyceridemia. The gene is located at 2p25.1, a susceptibility locus for hypertension.

Polymorphisms of the fibrinogen-beta gene are related to 2-hour glucose level after oral glucose tolerance test in Hong Kong Chinese.

Fibrinogen, an acute phase protein, is an important inflammatory marker that is associated with cardiovascular diseases. We studied the association of three common human fibrinogen-beta gene (FGB) variants, -455G>A, -249C>T, and -148C>T with glycemic parameters in 265 non-diabetic Hong Kong Chinese subjects. Both FGB variants, -455G>A and -148C>T were in complete linkage disequilibrium and were associated with higher levels of plasma fibrinogen and 2-h glucose after a 75-g oral glucose load (p<0.

Gender difference in blood pressure control and cardiovascular risk factors in Americans with diagnosed hypertension.

Hypertension is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death in women. We, therefore, analyzed gender-specific trends in the control of blood pressure and prevalence of 5 other cardiovascular risk factors (central obesity, elevated total cholesterol, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, hyperglycemia, and smoking) among adults with diagnosed hypertension in the United States. We included 3475 participants aged >or=18 years with diagnosed hypertension in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2004.

Prevalence, treatment, and control of diagnosed diabetes in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2004.

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the trends in prevalence, treatment, and control of diagnosed diabetes in United States adults 20 years of age or older.

Methods: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2004 were used. Glycemic, blood pressure, and total cholesterol target levels were defined as having glycosylated hemoglobin <7.