Adipokines: a novel link between adiposity and carotid plaque vulnerability.

Background: In patients with carotid stenosis, we prospectively investigated the association of novel adipokines, apelin and visfatin, with gray-scale median (GSM) score, a valid index of carotid plaque vulnerability. We also assessed the impact of atorvastatin therapy on the above biochemical and imaging markers.

Materials And Methods: Seventy-four overweight [body-mass index (BMI) > 25 kg/m(2) , fat-mass > 30%], statin-free patients, with carotid stenosis, but without indications for intervention were enrolled.

The impact of aerobic exercise training on novel adipokines, apelin and ghrelin, in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Background: Accumulating data support the atheroprotective role of the novel adipokines, apelin and ghrelin. The aim of the present randomized study was to investigate the effects of aerobic exercise training on these adipokines in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Material/methods: Fifty-four overweight (BMI >25 kg/m²) patients with T2DM, but without vascular complications, were randomized to either the aerobic exercise training group (EG, N=27), 4 times/week, 45-60 min/session; or to the control group (CG, N=27), orally instructed to increase physical activity.

Associations between diet quality, health status and diabetic complications in patients with type 2 diabetes and comorbid obesity.

Objective: Patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) demonstrate low dietary adherence and this is further aggravated with comorbid obesity. The aim of the present study was to assess diet quality in patients with T2DM and comorbid obesity compared to patients with T2DM alone and to examine the associations between comorbidities and diet quality.

Methods: The sample consisted of 59 adult patients with diabesity (T2DM and comorbid obesity) and 94 patients with T2DM alone.

Effects of atorvastatin on apelin, visfatin (nampt), ghrelin and early carotid atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes.

To investigate the influence of atrovastatin treatment on carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and serum levels of novel adipokines, like apelin, visfatin (nampt), and ghrelin, in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). 87 statin-free patients (50 males) with T2DM, aged 55-70, but without carotid atherosclerotic plaques were initially enrolled. CIMT was assayed in all participants by ultrasound.

Impact of atorvastatin on serum vaspin levels in hypercholesterolemic patients with moderate cardiovascular risk.

Aim: Vaspin and visfatin have emerged as novel adipokines, involved in atherosclerosis progression. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of atorvastatin and lifestyle modification on the above adipokines in hypercholesterolemic patients.

Methods: One hundred four statin-free subjects with moderate cardiovascular risk (Framingham risk score of 10-20%) were randomly assigned to receive either atorvastatin 20mg per day (AT group, n=52) or lifestyle modification (LM, group, n=52).

Exercise training ameliorates the effects of rosiglitazone on traditional and novel cardiovascular risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of rosiglitazone and/or exercise training on novel cardiovascular risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. One hundred overweight/obese type 2 diabetes mellitus patients, with inadequate glycemic control (hemoglobin A(1c) >7%) despite combined treatment with gliclazide plus metformin, were randomized using a 2 x 2 factorial design to 4 equivalent (n = 25) groups, as follows: (1) CO: maintenance of habitual activities, (2) RSG: add-on therapy with rosiglitazone (8 mg/d), (3) EX: adjunctive exercise training, and (4) RSG + EX: supplementary administration of rosiglitazone (8 mg/d) plus exercise training. No participant had diabetic vascular complications or was receiving lipid-lowering therapy.

Aggressive lipid-lowering is more effective than moderate lipid-lowering treatment in carotid plaque stabilization.

Objective: Atherosclerotic plaque stabilization is a promising strategy to prevent cerebrovascular events in patients with carotid atherosclerosis. Vascular calcification inhibitors, known osteopontin (OPN) and osteoprotegerin (OPG), have emerged as novel cardiovascular biomarkers. This open-label, prospective study aimed to examine whether aggressive lipid-lowering therapy with atorvastatin is more effective than moderate lipid-lowering in increasing carotid plaque echogenicity, assessed by Gray-Scale Median (GSM) score and suppressing serum OPN and OPG levels in patients with moderate carotid stenosis.

Effects of rosiglitazone and metformin treatment on apelin, visfatin, and ghrelin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Visfatin, ghrelin, and apelin are the most recently identified adipocytokines; but their response to insulin-sensitizing agents is poorly clarified. We aimed to assess the differential effects of either rosiglitazone or metformin monotherapy on the aforementioned adipocytokines in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). One hundred T2DM patients (30 men, 70 women), with poor glycemic control (glycosylated hemoglobin >6.

Cardiorespiratory capacity is associated with favourable cardiovascular risk profile in patients with Type 2 diabetes.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the interaction between cardiorespiratory capacity and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Research Design/methods: A total of 92 patients with T2DM (40 men, 52 women) performed a symptom-limited exercise test on ergocycle, with continuous gas exchange measurement. All patients were overweight or obese (body mass index >25 kg/m(2)), with poor glycemic control (hemoglobin A(1c) >7%), but free from overt diabetic vascular complications.