fat deposition in the muscles a significant factor that predisposes women to cardiovascular disease?

To determine if fat deposition within mid-thigh muscles represented by low density lean tissue was associated with age, menopausal status, visceral adiposity, hyperleptinemia, hyperinsulinemia and dyslipidemia in a relatively cohort group of women. Eighty women aged 28-63 years with a body mass index [BMI] < 40 kg/ m[2]. Mid-thigh muscle, mid-thigh fat, low density lean tissue, intra-abdominal adipose tissue [IAAT] and subcutaneous abdominal fat [with Computed Tomography], plasma insulin and leptin [with radioimmunoassay, RIA] and lipoprotein lipid profiles [with enzymatic methods]. IAAT increased with age [r= 0.69, p<0.000] also subcutaneous adipose tissue increase with age [r= 0.58, p<0.001]. Mid-thigh total fat and low density lean tissue increased with age [r= 0.53 and r= 0.59 both p<0.001] in contrast, mid-thigh muscle area decreased with age [r= 0.62, p<0.001]. Premenopausal women had lower plasma leptin and glucose levels than post-menopausal women [p<0.001], while mid-thigh low density lean tissue was significantly associated with higher leptin level [r= 0.44, p<0.001] and insulin level [r= 0.34, p<0.005]. Mid-thigh low density tissue correlated with plasma levels of total cholesterol, LDL-C and triglycerides [r= 0.5, 0.53, 0.41 and all p<0.001]. There was no significant correlation between mid-thigh low density lean tissue and HDL-C. Mid-thigh low density lean tissue is directly related to age and adiposity. Furthermore, it appears that fat accumulation in skeletal muscle adversely influences plasma insulin and lipoprotein metabolism in women, but not independently of total adiposity and age

Role of color doppler in evaluating the effect of systemic hypertension in glaucomatous patients

This study was designed to investigate the flow velocity in ophthalmic and central retinal arteries in glaucoma patients and to assess the effect of systemic hypertension on this circulation. Twenty-eight patients with primary open-angle glaucoma were included in this study. Twelve of these patients had a history of systemic hypertension. Seven of them were controlled with anti-hypertensive medications while the other fire patients had uncontrolled hypertension. Results of glaucomatous patients were compared with those of 10 age-matched controls. Peak systolic velocity, [PSV], end-diastolic velocity [EDV] and resistivity index [RI] were measured using color Doppler imaging with 7.5 MHz probe. Significant increase in the RI in the ophthalmic and C.R. arteries, which means low blood flow to the optic nerve is reported in the glaucoma patients without systemic hypertension as compared to the control group. Also, a significant decrease in RI of both examined arteries is noted in glaucoma with uncontrolled hypertension as compared with glaucoma patients without hypertension and glaucoma patients with controlled hypertension. Although glaucoma can produce reduction in the optic nerve blood flow, systemic hypertension in glaucoma patients helps to maintain adequate perfusion to the optic nerve. While decrease in blood pressure may be associated with reduction in optic nerve flow

Adnexal masses: clinical issues and magnetic resonance imaging appearance

Magnetic resonance images [MRI] of the pelvis in 33 women suspected of having an adnexal mass on physical examination or ultrasound study were done to determine accuracy of MRI in characterization of adnexal masses prior to surgery with correlation to histopathology. Masses were classified according to MRI diagnosis into three groups [benign [neoplastic and non neoplastic] and malignant groups]. They were analysed for size, location, morphologic characteristics and signal behaviour. In every case an attempt was made to generate a specific diagnosis according to previously reported characteristics MR appearance. Surgical follow up was obtained within 19 days of MRI examination for 30 patients. Surgical interference was avoided in 3 non neoplastic cases which diagnosed by MRI as theca lutein cysts, where follow up by clinical, examination, MRI and serial serum titre of B-subunit of hCG showed regression of masses by medical treatment. Of the total 30 operative adnexal masses, MRI, was 85.7% sensitive and 95% specific in prosectively diagnosing ovarian malignancy. MRI is highly accurate in identifying common benign and non neoplastic pelvic masses. In conclusion, when physical examination or ultrasound examination are inconclusive, pelvic MRI can aid in the evaluation of women with suspected pelvic masses