Parental occupational exposure and congenital heart diseases in a Hungarian case-control study.

Purpose: Our study aimed to explore the effect of parental occupational exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) on the development of congenital heart diseases (CHDs) in the offspring, and to compare job-exposure matrix (JEM)-assessed and self-reported occupational exposures with each other.

Methods: Live-born infants born in 2007-2008 were selected from the population-based Hungarian Case-Control Surveillance of Congenital Abnormalities Study. 577 cases with any CHDs were compared to 1731 matched controls.

Congenital heart diseases and parental occupational exposure in a Hungarian case-control study in 1997 to 2002.

The etiology of congenital heart diseases is not fully understood yet, however, endocrine disrupting chemicals may have a causative role in their development. The purpose of our study was to examine the association between congenital heart diseases and periconceptional parental occupational exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals. In our Hungarian population-based case-control study, we examined 2263 live born cases with any congenital heart disease and 6789 matched controls selected between years 1997 to 2002.

Cigarette, waterpipe and e-cigarette use among an international sample of medical students. Cross-sectional multicenter study in Germany and Hungary.

Background: Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death worldwide. Besides cigarette smoking, waterpipe and e-cigarettes are gaining popularity among young adults. Medical students' smoking behavior is of particular interest because of their impending role in health promotion as future physicians.

Association of PPAR Alpha Intron 7 G/C, PPAR Gamma 2 Pro12Ala, and C161T Polymorphisms with Serum Fetuin-A Concentrations.

Background: Both peroxisome activator proteins (PPARs) and fetuin-A play a role in lipid and glucose metabolism.

Aims: We investigated whether PPAR intron 7 G2468/C and PPAR2 Pro12Ala and PPAR exon 6 C161T polymorphisms are associated with serum fetuin-A concentrations.

Patients And Methods: The PPAR intron 7 G/C polymorphism was studied in cohort 1 (79 reference individuals, 165 postinfarction patients).

Human Fetuin-A Rs4918 Polymorphism and its Association with Obesity in Healthy Persons and in Patients with Myocardial Infarction in Two Hungarian Cohorts.

BACKGROUND Human fetuin A (AHSG) has been associated with the development of obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and atherosclerosis. Observations on the role of AHSG rs4918 single-nucleotide polymorphism are contradictory. We investigated the association between variants of rs4918 and parameters of obesity, lipid status, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), adipokines (adiponectin, resistin, leptin), and insulin resistance in healthy persons and in patients with previous myocardial infarction.

Do socio-cultural factors influence medical students' health status and health-promoting behaviors? A cross-sectional multicenter study in Germany and Hungary.

Background: Physical and mental health is important for coping with the high requirements of medical studies that are associated with a higher risk for severe stress, insomnia, smoking, harmful alcohol consumption and easier access to drugs. Health behaviors of medical students influence not just their own health but also the health of their future patients. We examined whether socio-cultural factors can explain differences in students' health status and health-promoting behaviors.

Association of human fetuin-A rs4917 polymorphism with obesity in 2 cohorts.

Background: Previous studies have shown association of the multifunctional hepatic protein α2HS-glycoprotein/human fetuin A with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, obesity, and atherosclerosis. Reports of contribution of α2HS-glycoprotein/human fetuin A rs4917 single-nucleotide polymorphism to the development of these pathologic processes are inconsistent. We aimed to investigate the association between variants of rs4917 and parameters of obesity, lipid status, the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), adipokines (adiponectin, resistin), and insulin resistance in 2 cohorts.

[The role of fetuin-A in cardiovascular diseases].

Fetuin-A (also known as α2-Heremans-Schmid glycoprotein) is a multifunctional molecule secreted by the liver. It is a negative acute phase reactant with a debated role in subclinical inflammation. Fetuin-A is an inhibitor of the insulin receptor and its serum level correlates with insulin resistance.

Characterization of pericardial and plasma ghrelin levels in patients with ischemic and non-ischemic heart disease.

Ghrelin is an endocrine regulatory peptide with multiple functions including cardioprotective effects. It is produced in various tissues among others in the myocardium. Pericardial fluid has been proven to be a biologically active compartment of the heart that communicates with the myocardial interstitium.

Serum ghrelin level and TNF-α/ghrelin ratio in patients with previous myocardial infarction.

Background And Aims: Studies investigating serum ghrelin level in atherosclerosis yielded contradictory results. Interaction of ghrelin with adipocytokines is obscure in cardiovascular diseases. We undertook this study to determine which molecules influence ghrelin level and to see whether post-myocardial infarction (MI) patients have decreased ghrelin levels.

[Market oriented occupational medicine].

The history and the recent state of occupational medicine in Hungary, and its relation with governmental labor organizations are analyzed. In the past 20 years, large "socialist" factories were replaced by smaller companies employing fewer workers. They have been forced to establish contract with occupational health providers.

Association of PPAR polymorphisms with cytokine levels in allergic rhinitis.

Our aim was to study the association of Pro12Ala and exon6 C161T polymorphisms of PPARgamma and intron7 G/C polymorphisms of PPAR-alpha with clinical symptoms, peak nasal inspiratory flow values, serum soluble TNF-alpha, TNF-R1, Fas, Fas ligand and IgE concentrations in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis during and after pollen season. We performed a follow-up study of 66 Hungarian patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis and 180 healthy referent subjects. We used PCR-RFLP technique and ELISA.

PPAR-gamma2 pro12Ala polymorphism is associated with post-challenge abnormalities of glucose homeostasis in children and adolescents with obesity.

Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the association between PPAR-gamma2 Pro12Ala polymorphism and laboratory characteristics of carbohydrate metabolism in children and adolescents with obesity. In addition, serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and soluble form of its receptors (sTNFR1 and sTNFR2) were assessed.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 79 obese children and adolescents of Caucasian origin were investigated.

Serum fetuin-A in metabolic and inflammatory pathways in patients with myocardial infarction.

Background: Although multifunctional glycoprotein α2HS-glycoprotein/human fetuin-A (AHSG) is involved in atherosclerosis, it is not clear whether high or low concentrations are more important. We studied the correlation of serum AHSG with adiponectin, leptin, resistin, C-reactive protein (CRP) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) to see whether its metabolic effects or its involvement in subclinical inflammation are dominant in patients with established coronary disease.

Materials And Methods: In this cross-sectional study, AHSG concentration was determined in sera of 171 patients (age: 62 ± 6 years, mean ± SD) with previous myocardial STEMI infarction and normal renal function and 81 age-matched healthy controls by radial immunodiffusion.

Association of TLR-4 and TNF-alpha polymorphisms with clinical symptoms and cytokine levels in patients with allergic rhinitis.

Our objective was to determine the frequency of TNF-alpha -238, -308 G/A promoter and TLR-4 299 D/G and 399 T/I polymorphisms in healthy population and in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis, and to examine its influences on serum TNF-alpha, TNF receptor-1, Fas, Fas-ligand, IgE levels and on clinical symptoms. A pilot study was performed in 66 patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis to ragweed pollen and 161 non-allergic subjects using PCR-RFLP technique and ELISA. Carriers of the -238A and -308G alleles have significantly higher TNF-alpha and IgE levels, clinical score values and lower peak nasal flow (PNIF) values during and after ragweed pollen season.

Association between toll-like receptor polymorphisms and serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and its soluble receptors in obese children.

Background: In obesity, increased tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha level is involved in the development of insulin resistance. Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 and TLR2 are expressed in adipose tissue, and polymorphisms of these receptors may influence TNF-alpha secretion from adipocytes. In our study, TNF-alpha, soluble TNF receptor 1 (sTNFR1), and soluble TNF receptor 2 (sTNFR2) levels were determined, and any association between polymorphisms of TLR4 (D299G, T399I), TLR2 (R753Q, R677W), and cytokine levels was assessed in obese children and non-obese control subjects.

[Molecular mechanisms and correlations of insulin resistance, obesity, and type 2 diabetes mellitus].

Adipose tissue cells express and secrete numerous proteins influencing the signal transduction pathways of insulin receptor by auto-, para- and endocrine manner. Several cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and its soluble receptor forms, sTNFR1 and sTNFR2, resistin, retinol-binding protein 4, plasminogen activator inhibitor, lipocain 1 inhibit the signalization of insulin receptor causing insulin resistance in target tissues, mainly in adipose, liver and muscle, brain, endothelial as well as in pancreatic beta-cells. However, many other proteins produced by the fat tissue, such as adiponectin, visfatin, vaspin, apelin, omentin and chemerin enhance the signal transmission of the receptor.

Elevated serum acylated (biologically active) ghrelin and resistin levels associate with pregnancy-induced weight gain and insulin resistance.

Aim: To study fasting biologically active serum ghrelin (RIA) and resistin (ELISA) levels in different trimesters of pregnancy (HP, n=45, 15 in each) and in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM, n=30) compared to non-pregnant healthy women (NP, n=40) in correlation with TNF-alpha, soluble (s)TNF-receptor (R)-1, -2, leptin (ELISA), C-peptide (Cp, RIA) and Cp/blood glucose ratio (bg).

Study Design: Cross-sectional case control study.

Results: Acylated ghrelin levels were significantly increased (p<0.

Myocardial infarction is associated with Spl binding site polymorphism of collagen type 1A1 gene.

Objective: Human atherosclerotic lesions contain collagen type I, which plays a pivotal role in atherosclerotic plaque stability. In contrast, the normal coronary arteries do not express this type of collagen. Data have shown that the collagen type 1A1 (COL1A1) gene Sp1 binding site (-1245 G/T) polymorphism is associated with disturbed collagen protein production.

[Possible connection between ghrelin, resistin and TNF-alpha levels and the metabolic syndrome caused by atypical antipsychotics].

Second generation antipsychotics (SGA) are obesitogenic and diabetogenic. Role of ghrelin (RIA), resistin and TNF-alpha (ELISA) in weight gain and insulin resistance (fasting plasma insulin, HOMA, ELISA) was studied in Hungarian psychiatryic patients (n=60) treated with SGA (clozapine, olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine, 15 each). After 1 year, 80% of patients became overweight/obese (BMI > 27/30) and 35% (n= 21/60) presented impaired glucose tolerance (13/60) or diabetes (8/60).

Expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha protein in the subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue in correlation with adipocyte cell volume, serum TNF-alpha, soluble serum TNF-receptor-2 concentrations and C-peptide level.

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha protein in the subcutaneous and visceral adipose tIssue in correlation with adipocyte cell Volume, serum TNF-alpha, soluble TNF-receptor-2 (sTNFR-2) and indirect parameters of insulin resistance in overweight/obese and lean healthy persons.

Design: A cross-sectional case-control study was used.

Patients: Twenty-eight overweight/obese probands with normal glucose tolerance (BMI>27 kg/m(2)) and 15 lean people (BMI<25 kg/m(2)), all of them undergoing planned surgical operation, participated in the study.

Influence of leptin and the TNF system on insulin resistance in pregnancy and their effect on anthropometric parameters of newborns.

Background: We studied the contribution of the tumor necrosis factor system and leptin to insulin resistance during the course of normal pregnancy.

Methods: Forty-five healthy pregnant women (15 in the 1st, 15 in the 2nd2 and 15 in the 3rd3 trimester) and 25 age-matched healthy nonpregnant women as controls. Twenty-three newborns delivered by women followed in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters were also investigated.

[Role of the TNF system in the pathomechanism of bronchial asthma].

Introduction: The activation of the TNF system during asthmatic attack has already been proved.

Aims: The aim of the study was to reveal the role of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) system in the pathomechanism of bronchial asthma.

Patients/methods: Childhood asthmatic lately symptom-free adults (n:39) and their non-asthmatic offspring were examined (n:42).

Correlation of maternal serum fetuin/alpha2-HS-glycoprotein concentration with maternal insulin resistance and anthropometric parameters of neonates in normal pregnancy and gestational diabetes.

Objective: Human fetuin/alpha(2)-HS-glycoprotein (AHSG) is a 49 kDa serum and tissue protein which is a natural inhibitor of insulin receptor signaling. We investigated serum AHSG levels during pregnancy and whether the protein is involved in insulin resistance observed in healthy pregnant women and patients with gestational diabetes.

Design: One hundred and four healthy pregnant women and 23 of their neonates, 30 patients with gestational diabetes and their neonates and 30 healthy age-matched non-pregnant females as a control group were investigated in a case-control cross-sectional study.