[Serum visfatin concentration in patients with metabolic syndrome]

Recent studies indicate that Visfatin, a newly identified adipocytokine, may have potential proinflammatory effects. Since, the relationship between serum visfatin levels and metabolic syndrome [MetS] has not been established, the aim of this study was to explore the association between serum visfatin levels and anthropometric variables and the metabolic syndrome. Thirty-seven patients with MetS and 37 age matched controls [mean age 46.35 +/- 1.6 years] were included. Metabolic syndrome in patients was defined based on the 2005 criteria of the International Diabetes Federation, and anthropometric and biochemical profiles were documented. Serum Visfatin was measured using an enzyme immunoassay [EIA] kit. Using the t-test, data were compared between groups and Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the relationship between continuous variables. P values <0.05 were considered as statistically significant. Serum Visfatin level was significantly lower in metabolic syndrome patients [P<0. 05] compared controls, log visfatin: 1.74 +/- 0.27 nanogram/ml vs. 1.86 +/- 0.13 nanogram/ml, respectively. There was no significant correlation between serum visfatin levels and any anthropometric or any metabolic parameters in patients with metabolic syndrome or the control group. The results of this study showed that serum visfatin level was decreased in patients with MetS, indicating that Visfatin cannot be considered as a new proinflammatory adipocytokine for the metabolic syndrome

Distribution of non-HDL-cholesterol among Tehranian children and adolescents: Tehran lipid and glucose study

Serum Low-Density-Lipoprotein Cholesterol has long been used as an important assessment tool to predict the risk of coronary artery diseases, but due to certain limitations in the use of this index, it has been shown recently that Apo lipoprotein B is a better screening tool. Non-HDL cholesterol [total cholesterol minus HDL-C] includes all the lipoprotein particles, which contain Apo lipoprotein B, and could be a good screening tool for Apo lipoprotein B during CAD assessment and treatment. This study aims at assessing the distribution and correlation of non-HDL-C and related factors in a population of Tehranian children and adolescents. The study sample consisted of 4298, 3-19 year-olds, [2019 boys[47%] and 2279 girls[53%]] who had participated in the first phase of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study [TLGS], from 1998-2000. Anthropometric and clinical data were collected for analysis. Non-HDL-C levels were higher in girls than in boys of the same age groups, especially among the younger [3-4 year-olds] age groups. Body mass index and waist circumference were positively associated with non-HDL-C. Both non-HDL-C and LDL-C were strongly associated with each other and total cholesterol [r[2] = 0.81and p < 0.001]. Non-HDL-C and LDL-C are were associated with triglycerides, but the strength of this correlation with triglycerides was relatively weaker as compared to that with total cholesterol. Non-HDL-C showed a significant inverse relationship to HDL-C [r[2] = 0.01, p < 0.01]. It was also seen that non-HDL-C had a stronger correlation to BMI and body fatness indicies. Population based data on non-HDL-C are now available for children and adolescents, which may help improve the CAD risk assessment and related interventions