Soluble glycoprotein VI predicts abdominal aortic aneurysm growth rate and is a novel therapeutic target.

A common feature in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) is the formation of a nonocclusive intraluminal thrombus (ILT) in regions of aortic dilation. Platelets are known to maintain hemostasis and propagate thrombosis through several redundant activation mechanisms, yet the role of platelet activation in the pathogenesis of AAA-associated ILT is still poorly understood. Thus, we sought to investigate how platelet activation affects the pathogenesis of AAA.

Venous thromboembolic outcomes in patients with lymphedema and lipedema: An analysis from the National Inpatient Sample.

Background: Patients with lymphedema and lipedema share physical exam findings that may lead to misdiagnosis. Poor mobility is common in patients with obesity and patients with lymphedema and lipedema. This may constitute a risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE).

Glycoprotein VI is Critical for the Detection and Progression of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms.

Unlabelled: A common feature in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) is the formation of a nonocclusive intraluminal thrombus (ILT) in regions of aortic dilation. Platelets are known to maintain hemostasis and propagate thrombosis through several redundant activation mechanisms, yet the role of platelet activation in the pathogenesis of AAA associated ILT is still poorly understood. Thus, we sought to investigate how platelet activation impacts the pathogenesis of AAA.

Platelets at the Vessel Wall in Non-Thrombotic Disease.

Platelets are small, anucleate entities that bud from megakaryocytes in the bone marrow. Among circulating cells, platelets are the most abundant cell, traditionally involved in regulating the balance between thrombosis (the terminal event of platelet activation) and hemostasis (a protective response to tissue injury). Although platelets lack the precise cellular control offered by nucleate cells, they are in fact very dynamic cells, enriched in preformed RNA that allows them the capability of de novo protein synthesis which alters the platelet phenotype and responses in physiological and pathological events.

Neisseria meningitidis Lacking the Major Porins PorA and PorB Is Viable and Modulates Apoptosis and the Oxidative Burst of Neutrophils.

The bacterial pathogen Neisseria meningitidis expresses two major outer-membrane porins. PorA expression is subject to phase-variation (high frequency, random, on-off switching), and both PorA and PorB are antigenically variable between strains. PorA expression is variable and not correlated with meningococcal colonisation or invasive disease, whereas all naturally-occurring strains express PorB suggesting strong selection for expression.

Diagnostic ability of obesity measures to identify metabolic risk factors in South African women.

Background: Currently, guidelines for obesity thresholds relating to metabolic risk in South African women have not been established. Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate the level and diagnostic ability of obesity measures [waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) area] to identify black and white South African women with elevated blood pressure, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance.

Methods: Blood pressure, fasting insulin, glucose, and lipids were measured in 241 black and 188 white South African women.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene -308 G/A polymorphism modulates the relationship between dietary fat intake, serum lipids, and obesity risk in black South African women.

The prevalence of obesity and related disease risk is high in black South African (SA) women, possibly influenced by the dietary transition associated with urbanization. This study explored interactions between dietary fat intake and the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFA) -308 G/A polymorphism on obesity, insulin resistance, and serum lipid concentrations in urbanized black SA women. Normal-weight (n = 105) and obese (n = 118) women underwent measurements of body composition, fat distribution, fasting serum lipids, glucose and insulin concentrations, and dietary intake.

Comparison of body fatness measurements by near-infrared reactance and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in normal-weight and obese black and white women.

The aim of the present study was to compare body fat percent (BF %) using single-site near-IR reactance (NIR) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in a cohort of normal-weight (BMI < 25 kg/m2) black (n 102) and white (n 71); and obese (BMI > or = 30 kg/m2) black (n 117) and white (n 41) South African women (18-45 years). NIR-derived BF % was significantly correlated with DXA-derived BF % in all groups: normal-weight black (r 0.55, 95 % CI: 0.

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and anthropometric estimates of visceral fat in Black and White South African Women.

Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease, and therefore, accurate methods to estimate VAT have been investigated. Computerized tomography (CT) is the gold standard measure of VAT, but its use is limited. We therefore compared waist measures and two dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) methods (Ley and Lunar) that quantify abdominal regions of interest (ROIs) to CT-derived VAT in 166 black and 143 white South African women.

Association between the 4 bp proinsulin gene insertion polymorphism (IVS-69) and body composition in black South African women.

The objective of the study was to examine the association between a functional 4 bp proinsulin gene insertion polymorphism (IVS-69), fasting insulin concentrations, and body composition in black South African women. Body composition, body fat distribution, fasting glucose and insulin concentrations, and IVS-69 genotype were measured in 115 normal-weight (BMI<25 kg/m2) and 138 obese (BMI>or=30 kg/m2) premenopausal women. The frequency of the insertion allele was significantly higher in the class 2 obese (BMI>or=35 kg/m2) compared with the normal-weight group (P=0.

The atypical presentation of the metabolic syndrome components in black African women: the relationship with insulin resistance and the influence of regional adipose tissue distribution.

The appropriateness of the metabolic syndrome criteria as an indicator of cardiovascular disease risk has been challenged in black Africans. Hence, the aims of this study were (1) to examine the level of agreement between the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) metabolic syndrome criteria, which differ in their emphasis on central obesity; (2) to investigate the degree to which these criteria predict insulin resistance, as estimated by the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR); and (3) to investigate the extent to which a diagnosis of the metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance may be explained by body fat and its distribution. In 103 normal-weight (body mass index View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Determinants of insulin-resistant phenotypes in normal-weight and obese Black African women.

Objective: Subsets of metabolically "healthy obese" and "at-risk" normal-weight individuals have been previously identified. The aim of this study was to explore the determinants of these phenotypes in black South African (SA) women.

Methods And Procedures: From a total of 103 normal-weight (BMI or= 30 kg/m(2)) black SA women, body composition, fat distribution, blood pressure, fasting glucose levels, insulin resistance, and lipid profiles were measured.

The association of interleukin-18 genotype and serum levels with metabolic risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Objective: Circulating levels of interleukin (IL)-18 are associated with the metabolic syndrome and risk for the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study investigated the association between the circulating IL-18 levels and the -137 G/C polymorphism within the IL-18 gene with metabolic risk factors for CVD in normal-weight and obese black South African women.

Methods: Blood pressure (BP), body composition (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometer), visceral adiposity (computerized tomography), as well as fasting glucose, insulin, lipid profile, IL-18 levels, and IL-18 genotype were measured in 104 normal-weight (body mass index (BMI) < or = 25 kg/m2) and 124 obese (BMI > or = 30 kg/m2) black South African women.

Maintenance of plasma volume and serum sodium concentration despite body weight loss in ironman triathletes.

Objective: To examine the relationship between body weight, plasma volume, and serum sodium concentration ([Na]) during prolonged endurance exercise.

Design: Observational field study.

Settings: 2000 South African Ironman Triathlon.

The reliability of the FitroDyne as a measure of muscle power.

The FitroDyne is a device that attaches to conventional resistance-training equipment to measure speed of movement, from which muscle power is calculated. The aim of this study was to quantify the repeatability of the measurement of muscle power with the FitroDyne during squat jump and biceps curl exercises. Thirty male subjects completed 3 trials, each consisting of 6 squat jumps and 6 biceps curls of increasing loads.

Emergence of a new national health services research alliance.

Although underrepresented to date, PPOs have the potential to become major contributors to health services research. However, policy and health plan decision makers must be informed about the unique features and contributions of PPOs. The authors describe a unique health services research coalition established among 13 Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans nationwide and the Kerr L.

Recent tax changes may assist treatment of obesity.

The U.S. Surgeon General's Call to Action on Overweight and Obesity 2001 proposes inclusion of health care providers in prevention efforts and suggests classification of obesity as a disease category for reimbursement coding.

Promoting physical activity: a profile of health plan programs and initiatives.

A study was conducted to capture information on health plans' initiatives to promote physical activity among members and in community settings. This investigation was based on a descriptive nationwide study of American Association of Health Plans- and Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association-member plans conducted from October 2001 to February 2002. Sixty individuals with responsibility for health-promotion programs were surveyed, and 24 provided in-depth interviews.