Endothelial and Autonomic Dysfunction at Early Stages of Glucose Intolerance and in Metabolic Syndrome.

This study evaluated sE-selectin, Endothelin-1, and cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) at early stages of glucose intolerance and in metabolic syndrome (MetS). A total of 87 subjects - 39 males, of mean age 45.7±11.

Increased prevalence of depression and anxiety among subjects with metabolic syndrome and known type 2 diabetes mellitus - a population-based study.

Objectives: The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors associated with high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The MetS and its elements have been linked to anxiety and depressive disorders. The aim of the current cross-sectional study was to assess the prevalence of depression and anxiety, measured by the Zung Self-Rating Scale in subjects with and without the metabolic syndrome and diabetes.

Cardio-metabolic profile of subjects with early stages of glucose intolerance and cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction.

Aims: The present study evaluates the cardio-metabolic profile of subjects with early stages of glucose intolerance and presence of cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction (CAD).

Materials And Methods: 478 subjects, of mean age 49.3±13.

Risk factors for autonomic and somatic nerve dysfunction in different stages of glucose tolerance.

Aim: The present study evaluates autonomic and somatic nerve function in different stages of glucose tolerance and its correlation with different cardio-metabolic parameters.

Material And Methods: Four hundred seventy-eight subjects, mean age 49.3±13.

Is vaspin related to cardio-metabolic status and autonomic function in early stages of glucose intolerance and in metabolic syndrome?

Background: This study aims to assess serum vaspin in early stages of glucose intolerance and in the presence of metabolic syndrome (MetS); and to evaluate vaspin correlation to different cardio-metabolic parameters and autonomic tone in these subjects.

Methods: 185 subjects (80 males and 105 females) of mean age 45.8 ± 11.

Differences in the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and hip fractures in nursing home residents and independently living elderly.

Objective: To compare the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and fracture history in nursing home residents and community-dwelling elderly subjects and to explore the association of vitamin D levels with various characteristics.

Materials And Methods: Sixty-six nursing home residents and 139 community-dwelling elderly subjects participated. Marital status, medical history, medication including vitamin D supplements, smoking, past fractures were assessed.

Cardiovascular autonomic tone relation to metabolic parameters and hsCRP in normoglycemia and prediabetes.

Aims: The aim of the study was to evaluate cardiovascular autonomic function (CAF) at different stages of obesity and in the presence of metabolic syndrome (MetS), and its association with metabolic parameters and hsCRP in subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and prediabetes.

Methods: A total of 259 subjects (mean age 47.1 ± 14.

Changes in the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in bulgaria (2006-2012).

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare two nationwide cross-sectional studies of diabetes prevalence in Bulgaria (2006 and 2012) and to assess its dynamics.

Material And Methods: The two studies included 2396 and 2033 subjects, respectively. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) diagnostic criteria were applied, and the data were weighed for type of settlement and age.

The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome increases through the quartiles of thyroid stimulating hormone in a population-based sample of euthyroid subjects.

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence and characteristics of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its elements in relation to TSH in euthyroid subjects.

Materials And Methods: In the cross-sectional study, 2,153 euthyroid adults, 47.2 ± 14.

Age and menopausal status affect osteoprotegerin and osteocalcin levels in women differently, irrespective of thyroid function.

Unlabelled: Osteoprotegerin (OPG) and osteocalcin (OC) are essential bone proteins. Recent studies have demonstrated that they are not secreted solely by bone cells; they play roles in the vascular function and energy metabolism, and they are influenced by multiple factors. The aim of the current study was to investigate the influence of menopause and age on OPG and OC in women with different thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels.

Winter 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in young urban adults are affected by smoking, body mass index and educational level.

Background/objectives: To study the relationship of winter 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OHD) levels with age, education, place of residency, marital status and body mass index (BMI) as they may affect sun exposure, vitamin D synthesis and metabolism.

Subjects/methods: Subjects (1952) answered a structured questionnaire concerning education, marital status and smoking; and body weight/height, and parathyroid hormone and 25-OHD were measured.

Results: 25-OHD levels were higher in the males with elementary and secondary education compared with higher education (46.

Influence of serum levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies, age and gender on depression as measured by the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale.

Unlabelled: The AIM of the present study was to explore the level of depression in the respondents using the Zung self-rating depression scale (SDS) and find a correlation with the levels of the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and the anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (anti-TPO), the age and gender of the participants.

Patients And Methods: 2401 subjects aged 20-84 yrs were included, 1344 of them female aged 48.7 +/- 14.

Male gender differences in the thyroid ultrasound features, thyroid peroxidase antibodies and thyroid hormone levels: a large population-based study.

Unlabelled: Anti-thyroid antibodies and thyroid ultrasound (US) are currently the methods for diagnosing autoimmune thyroid disease. Few data exist on their utility in males. The aim of the study was to investigate the gender-specific relationship between the Anti-TPO levels, thyroid ultrasound features, and thyroid function in a population with no known thyroid disorder.

Vitamin D status in Bulgaria--winter data.

Unlabelled: We assume that 25(OH)D level >50 nmol/l is necessary for adequate parathyroid hormone (PTH) suppression in our population. The epidemiology of vitamin D status in Bulgarian population shows deficiency in 21.3 %, insufficiency in 54.

Assessment of HbA1c as a diagnostic tool in diabetes and prediabetes.

To evaluate HbA1c as a diagnostic tool in prediabetes-impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and newly detected diabetes (NDD), defined by plasma glucose and OGTT. 2,231 subjects, of mean age 50.3 ± 13.

Evaluation of the Finnish Diabetes Risk Score as a screening tool for impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance and undetected diabetes.

Aim: To evaluate the performance of FINDRISC as a screening tool for prediabetes - impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and undetected diabetes (UDD) in subjects at risk of developing diabetes.

Subjects And Methods: 2169 subjects with at least one risk factor for diabetes completed the FINDRISC questionnaire and underwent an oral glucose tolerance test. FINDRISC performance was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC).

Serum lipid and hsCRP levels in prediabetes--impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT).

Aim: To evaluate cardiovascular risk in prediabetes (IFG and IGT) assessed by serum lipid and hsCRP levels.

Subjects And Methods: 445 subjects with prediabetes (248 with IFG, 197 with IGT), 318 patients with newly-diagnosed diabetes (NDD) and a group of 477 age- and BMI-matched subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) were enrolled. Glucose tolerance was studied during oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and 2006 WHO criteria were applied.

Sibutramine in the treatment of obesity in type 2 diabetic patients and in nondiabetic subjects.

Obesity is considered a chronic disease requiring treatment. The effect of sibutramine combined with hypocaloric diet and exercise on body weight, body fat mass, lipids, glycemic control, insulin secretion and insulin resistance was evaluated in a randomized, controlled, open-label study. A total of 44 obese type 2 diabetic patients (aged 45.

Alpha-lipoic acid in the treatment of autonomic diabetic neuropathy (controlled, randomized, open-label study).

Aim: to evaluate the effect of alpha-lipoic acid in autonomic diabetic neuropathy in a controlled, randomized, open-label study.

Material And Methods: 46 patients with type 1 diabetes and different forms of autonomic neuropathy, of mean age 38.1 +/- 12.

Metformin in the treatment of obesity in subjects with normal glucose tolerance.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of metformin on body weight, body fat mass, waist circumference, lipid parameters, insulin secretion and insulin resistance in obese subjects with normal glucose tolerance. 26 subjects (16 females and 10 males), mean age 37.3+/-9.

The effect of smoking on peripheral insulin sensitivity and plasma endothelin level.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of smoking on peripheral insulin effectiveness.

Methods: Seven healthy volunteers, nonsmokers, of mean age 39.6 +/- 7.

[Cyproterone acetate improves beta-cell function in postmenopausal women with diabetes mellitus type 2].

Menopause is associated with two main risk factors for the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus--impaired beta-cell insulin secretion and insulin resistance. Physiologically estrogens improve carbohydrate metabolism, but this is not the case with different progestogens. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of Cyproterone acetate (a progestogen with antiandrogenic activity) on insulin secretion, peripheral insulin sensitivity, lipid parameters and parameters of oxidative stress.

Elevated plasma endothelin as an additional cardiovascular risk factor in patients with Cushing's syndrome.

Background: Recently the pathophysiological role of endothelin (ET) has been presumed in a number of adrenal disorders such as primary hyperaldosteronism, pheochromocytoma and adrenocortical insufficiency.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate circulating ET-1 levels in patients with endogenous Cushing's syndrome.

Methods And Results: Plasma ET-1 levels were determined by highly sensitive RIA.

The effect of vitamin D3 on insulin secretion and peripheral insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetic patients.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of vitamin D3 supplementation on insulin secretion and insulin resistance. Ten females with type 2 diabetes being treated with oral hypoglycaemic agents and with normal serum and urine calcium levels were enrolled in the study. The study was conducted in March, when levels of vitamin D are lowest in our region.

The effect of repaglinide on insulin secretion and oxidative stress in type 2 diabetic patients.

The effect of repaglinide on insulin secretion and oxidative stress was evaluated in type 2 diabetic patients in a randomized, controlled, open-label trial. Forty-six patients were treated for 2 months with repaglinide, added to either diet (n=21) or metformin (n=25). A control group of 29 patients, matched for age, weight and glycaemic control, on either diet (n=13) or metformin (n=16) was also followed-up.