Insulin resistance phenotypes and coronary artery disease in a native Pakistani cohort.

Objective: To determine the relationship between insulin resistance (IR) and atheroma burden in Pakistanis.

Methods: A prospective case-control study of 400 patients selected for the presence/absence of angiographic disease. Coronary atheroma burden was quantified and IR and cardiovascular risk factors were measured.

Waist circumference, metabolic syndrome and coronary artery disease in a Pakistani cohort.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (M-IRS) is common in Asians. This study investigated the relationship of two definitions of M-IRS to atherosclerosis in Indian Asians with suspected coronary arterial disease (CAD).

Methods: 400 patients with chest pain selected for the presence or absence of angiographic disease were recruited from a tertiary referral centre in Pakistan into a prospective case-control study.

Cardiovascular risk factors determine erectile and arterial function response to sildenafil.

Background: Erectile dysfunction is related to endothelial function. Cardiovascular risk factors determine endothelial function. Sildenafil is effective in treatment of erectile dysfunction but shows variable results.

Impaired renal function and atherosclerosis in a Pakistani cohort.

Objective: To investigate the relationship of creatinine and calculated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) with coronary arterial disease (CAD) in Pakistani patients.

Subjects: Four hundred individuals with chest pain; 200 with angiographic disease matched with 200 without occlusive disease.

Design: A prospective case-control study.

Asymmetric dimethyl arginine levels correlate with cardiovascular risk factors in patients with erectile dysfunction.

Background: Erectile dysfunction is related to penile arterial endothelial nitric oxide production. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and E-selectin are often considered plasma markers of endothelial function.

Objective: This study investigated the relationship between these plasma markers and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with erectile dysfunction.

Metabolic syndrome and risk of coronary heart disease in a Pakistani cohort.

Objective: To assess the relation of the metabolic insulin resistance syndrome (M-IRS) with coronary heart disease (CHD) in Pakistani patients.

Subjects: 200 patients with angiographic disease (CHD(+)) matched with 200 patients with chest pain without occlusive disease (CHD(-)).

Design: Prospective case-control study.

Determinants of left ventricular mass in aortic stenosis.

Background And Aim Of The Study: There are many possible determinants of left ventricular (LV) mass, including the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) genotype, which have rarely been compared in aortic stenosis (AS). The study aim was to investigate these determinants in patients with all grades of AS.

Methods: Transthoracic echocardiography and an analysis of ACE genotype was performed in 91 patients with aortic valve thickening and a peak aortic velocity >2.

Waist-hip ratio and low HDL predict the risk of coronary artery disease in Pakistanis.

Objective: To establish risk factor causal associations for coronary artery disease (CAD) in the native Pakistani population.

Methods: We conducted a hospital-based, case-control study of 200 cases with angiographically documented CAD and 200 age- and sex-matched controls without angiographic evidence of CAD. Patients on lipid lowering therapy were excluded.

The apolipoprotein E2 allele modulates activity and maximal velocity of the sodium-lithium countertransporter.

Background: Alterations in erythrocyte sodium-lithium countertransport (SLC) activity and its maximal velocity (Vmax) are associated with hypertension and hypertriglyceridemia. The presence of apolipoprotein (apo) E variants is associated with hypertriglyceridemia. This study investigated the relationship between apoE phenotype and SLC kinetics.

Differing relationships of methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase genotypes with cardiovascular risk in familial and polygenic hypercholesterolaemia.

Background: Plasma homocysteine and the methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase C677T polymorphism have been suggested as being risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Objective: To determine whether plasma homocysteine and the methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase C677T polymorphism are risk factors for coronary heart disease in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia as compared with those with polygenic hyperlipidaemia.

Methods: Plasma homocysteine and the methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphism were assessed with other risk factors in 112 patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia and 72 patients with polygenic hyperlipidaemia, of whom 29 (25.

Renin-angiotensin system polymorphisms and coronary events in familial hypercholesterolemia.

The role of renin-angiotensin system polymorphisms as risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD) is controversial. This study investigated their role in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). Polymorphism frequencies for angiotensin-I-converting enzyme insertion/deletion (ACE I/D), angiotensinogen M235T, and angiotensin-II type I receptor (AG2R) A1166C were determined in 112 patients with FH and 72 patients with polygenic hypercholesterolemia, of whom 26.

Effects of lipids in patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia on the kinetics of the sodium-lithium countertransporter.

Sodium-lithium countertransport kinetics were measured in 87 patients (50 male; 37 female) with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) and a group of 38 age range and sex-distribution matched controls. Basic clinical data including basic anthropometry, blood pressure were obtained and blood was taken for detailed lipid biochemistry, glucose and insulin measurement. Patients with FH had elevated total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol and apolipoprotein B concentrations compared to controls.

Identification of genetic heterogeneity in Refsum's disease.

Refsum's disease (MIM 266500) is a recessive disorder characterised by defective peroxisomal alpha-oxidation of phytanic acid. A Refsum's disease gene, phytanoyl-CoA hydroxylase (PAHX), has been localised to chromosome 10p13 between the markers D10S226-D10S223. This study investigated whether all cases of Refsum's disease were linked with chromosome 10p13.