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 lipoprotein [A] as a risk factor for cardiovascular disorders in rheumatoid arthritis

To determine the serum LP [a] level in rheumatoid arthritis [RA] patients in order to assess its role in their increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease. Thirty-two RA patients in the age group 40-50 years [mean 46.5 +/- 2.9] and 22 healthy subjects in the same age group as control were selected for this study. ESR, CRP, Lipid profile and serum level of LP [a] were measured in RA and control groups. LP [a] levels were significantly higher in RA patients than in control group [p <0.001]. There was no significant difference in LP [a] levels between male and female subjects in both groups. Also, there was no significant correlation between ESR [r = 0.18] or CRP [r = 0.27] as a marker of disease activity and LP [a] concentration in RA patients. There was no significant correlation between LP [a] levels and other lipid profiles in RA patients. LP [a] concentrations in RA patients with atherosclerotic diseases as IHD, Cerebral infarction or TIA tended to be higher in RA patients. LP [a] seems to have a significant role in the increased incidence of cardiovascular disease in RA patients