Effects of tobacco smoking on alpha-2-macroglobulin and some biochemical parameters in Thai males.

This cross-sectional study was carried out among smokers and nonsmokers from suburban and urban residential areas in Bangkok, Thailand. One hundred eighty-six smokers and 102 nonsmokers, who voluntarily participated in the study, were investigated. The levels of alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M), albumin, total protein, and other biochemical and hematological parameters as well as body mass index (BMI) measurements were taken. The levels of A2M, BUN and WBC counts were significantly higher in smokers than nonsmokers. Total protein and albumin concentrations were significantly lower in smokers than nonsmokers, but the levels of other biochemical parameters did not differ between the two groups. The relationship between BMI and median A2M levels in the smoker and nonsmoker groups showed the higher the BMI, the lower the serum A2M levels. Smokers had a higher percentage of hyperalpha-2-macroglobulinemia than nonsmokers. A2M concentrations correlated inversely with BMI, BUN, albumin, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and the quantity of cigarettes smoked for the total period of smoking (cigarette pack-years). Multiple regression analysis revealed that albumin and cigarette pack-years were the most closely related variables to A2M concentrations among smokers. These findings suggest cigarette smoking affects inflammation markers, increasing A2M and WBC and decreasing albumin. This effect may be the mechanism responsible for the development of chronic disease states associated with smoking since cigarette smoke contains many toxic compounds harmful to health.

Comparative study of LDL-cholesterol levels in Thai patients by the direct method and using the Friedewald formula.

In this study, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels by direct measurement and estimation using the Friedewald formula, were compared among 1,016 Thai patients. The study assessed blood samples from out-patients sent to the Clinical Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Clinical Pathology, Rajvithi Hospital, Ministry of Public Health, for measurement of total cholesterol (TC), LDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) levels, January 2004-December 2005. Patients' ages ranged 8-89 years, 573 (56.4%) were females. Linear regression analysis showed the two methods had highly significant correlation coefficients (p<0.001). Upon comparing the two methods, at TG levels of 151-200 mg/dl, bias was 18.3 mg/dl; and for TG levels of 201-300 mg/dl, bias was lower at 11.4 mg/dl; for TG levels of 301-400 mg/dl, bias increased to 20.9 mg/dl. The direct assay meets currently established analytical performance targets and may be useful for the diagnosis and management of hyperlipidemic patients. The Friedewald formula did not give a homogeneous performance when estimating LDL-C levels in samples with different TG levels.

Serum leptin concentrations in chronic hepatitis.

The objectives of this research were to investigate the leptin levels among Chronic Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Chronic Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and non-alcoholic steatosis hepatitis (NASH) diseases of Thai patients compared with controls. Twenty of each HBV, HCV and NASH patients compared with sixty people as the control group from the Outpatient Department at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Bangkok, Thailand were investigated. Fasting blood samples were collected for investigation of leptin concentration, liver enzyme function tests and hematological variables. The serum leptin concentration of liver patients was significantly higher than that of control subjects. It might be due to the accumulations of fat cells in liver disease patients. However, there is no relationship between leptin level and other parameters such as BMI, ALT, AST, ALP and hematological variables. Liver enzyme functions levels are much higher in patients groups. White blood cells counts, platelets and hematocrit values are slightly lower in liver disease patients. Therefore, it is concluded that physiological regulation of leptin maintains in relation to body fat, even in chronic viral liver diseases. This finding and the apparent stage suggest the possibility that in the course of chronic viral diseases, serum leptin levels may reflect the extent of liver dysfunction.

Riboflavin-deficient and Trichinella spiralis-induced stresses on plasma corticosterone associated with spermatogenesis in male Wistar rats.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of riboflavin-deficient and Trichinella spiralis-induced stresses on corticosterone associated with spermatogenesis in male Wistar rats. Rats were allocated into 4 groups: Group 1: control; group 2: riboflavin-deficient diet; group 3: T. spiralis infection; group 4: riboflavin deficient diet with T. spiralis infection. This experiment lasted for 12 weeks. Plasma corticosterone was significantly enhanced when exposed to acute riboflavin deficiency and/or T. spiralis infection stress. When the rats were chronically subjected to such stresses, T. spiralis per se had prolonged effects, in a marked increase in corticosterone. T. spiralis per se tended to impact on such sperm characteristics as sperm motility, sperm count and daily sperm production, even defected seminiferous tubules. It was proposed that the Trichinella spiralis-induced stress probably had adverse effects on the level of adrenocortical-testicular axis whenever their habitats on muscle fibers were evident. However, riboflavin-deficient-induced stress had little implication in the adrenocortical-testicular axis.

Factors associated with obesity among workers in a metropolitan waterworks authority.

To examine the relationship of socio-demographic characteristics, psychological factors, knowledge, attitude and behavior towards obesity among Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWWA) officers, a cross-sectional study was conducted between July and September, 2004. Two hundred and eighty-eight obese [body mass index (BMI) > or = 25 kg/m2] and 106 non-obese persons, aged 20-60 years, were recruited as study subjects. Data were collected by a self-administered questionnaire, comprised of three parts: socio-demographic; psychological factors (depression and stress); and knowledge, attitude, behavior related to obesity. Univariate analyses and Logistic regression models were used to study the association between obesity and possible risk factors. The results demonstrate significant associations between older age and obesity. Volunteers in the age groups of 40-49 and 50-59 years had a significantly higher risk of being obese than the age group of less than 40 years (adjusted OR = 3.4, 95% Cl = 1.1-11.1 and adjusted OR = 10.4, 95% CI = 3.3-32.7, respectively). Volunteers with unhealthy behaviors were at significantly higher risk than those with healthy behaviors (adjusted OR = 10.3, 95% CI = 2.0-52.4) while persons with moderately healthy behaviors also had increased risk, but to a lesser extent (adjusted OR = 4.5, 95% CI = 1.7-11.4). There were no associations between psychological factors and obesity in this group of volunteers. When we focused on whether they consumed more food when they were stressed, it was found that the obese consumed significantly more food during stress (p-value = 0.003). Watching television, videos, or playing computer continuously for more than 3 hours, were significantly associated with obesity. We conclude that although the obese have a good knowledge and attitude towards obesity, they still practise unhealthy behavior, have a sedentary lifestyle, and over eat when they are stressed. Future research regarding behavioral modification should be implemented at both community and country levels.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphism (C677T) in relation to homocysteine concentration in overweight and obese Thais.

We analyzed the association between MTHFR (C677T) gene polymorphism with serum concentrations of homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12 in 37 male and 112 female overweight/ obese Thai volunteers (BMI > or = 25.00 kg/m2), and compared them with 23 male and 90 female control subjects (BMI = 18.5-24.99 kg/m2). Statistically significant higher levels of serum homocysteine were found in the overweight/obese subjects than the control subjects (p < 0.05). Serum folic acid levels in the overweight/obese subjects were significantly lower than the control subjects (p < 0.05). When the data were grouped according to homocysteine concentration and MTHFR gene polymorphism, there were significantly higher homocysteine concentrations in the overweight/obese subjects than the control subjects in wild type gene polymorphism (CC) in the hyperhomocysteine group (homocysteine >10.0 mmol/l) (p < 0.05), but in genotype polymorphism (CC, CT, TT) there were lower folic acid and vitamin B12 concentrations in the overweight/obese subjects than in the control subjects. In the hyperhomocysteine groups, there was no significant difference in the frequencies of MTHFR (C677T) gene polymorphism between the overweight/obese subjects and the control subjects. Folic acid and gene polymorphism were found to be significantly related to the overweight/ obese and control groups in logistic regression analysis (p < 0.05). The results support the supposition that folic acid is more important than vitamin B12.

Relationship between soluble leptin receptor, leptin, lipid profiles and anthropometric parameters in overweight and obese Thai subjects.

Median, range and 95% confidence interval (CI) for median of age, anthropometric variables, soluble leptin receptor, serum leptin and lipid profile levels of 48 overweight (Body mass index (BMI) = 25.00-29.99 kg/m2) and obese (BMI > or = 30. 00 kg/m2) Thai males and 166 overweight and obese Thai females, compared with 26 males and 81 females in a control group (BMI = 18.50-24.99 kg/m2), were determined The study subjects were persons who turned up regularly for physical check-ups at the Out-patient Department, General Practice Section, Ratchawithi Hospital, Bangkok, aged between 18-60 years. Serum leptin, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein cholesterol/high density lipoprotein cholesterol ratios (LDL-C/ HDL-C ratio) were significantly higher in the overweight and obese males and females. Soluble leptin receptor and HDL-C were significantly lower in the overweight and obese males and females. Cholesterol and LDL-C were significantly higher in the overweight and obese females, but there was no significant difference in the overweight and obese males when compared with the control males. Low soluble leptin receptor levels were found in 38.1% (8/21) of the overweight and obese males, while 31.5% (29/92) were found in the overweight and obese females. Elevated leptin levels were found in 66.7% (32/48) and 89.8% (149/166) of the overweight and obese males and females, respectively. Both low soluble leptin receptor levels and elevated leptin levels were found in 9.5% (2/21) and 29.4% (27/92) of the overweight and obese males and females, respectively. A significant positive correlation was found between soluble leptin receptor and cholesterol, and between weight, BMI, waist, hip and HDL-C, with leptin. Serum soluble leptin receptor levels were significantly negatively correlated with leptin and BMI. The results can elucidate the causes and consequences of obesity, and are expected to aid the provision of care for overweight and obese Thai people.

Antioxidant enzyme levels in the erythrocytes of riboflavin-deficient and Trichinella spiralis-infected rats.

The erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme levels of catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) of riboflavin-deficient and Trichinella spiralis-infected rats were investigated. The rats were deprived of riboflavin at the 8th week of the experiment. At that time, the erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity coefficient (EGR AC), as an indicator of riboflavin status, was > or = 1.30 in rats fed a riboflavin-deficient diet and T. spiralis-infected rats fed a riboflavin-deficient diet showed no biochemical sign of riboflavin deficiency. At the 12th week of the experiment, the levels of catalase, SOD and GSH-Px were significantly lower in the riboflavin-deficient, T. spiralis-infected, and combined riboflavin-deficient and T. spiralis-infected, rats, compared to the control group. This may have been due to an increase in free oxygen radicals caused by riboflavin deficiency and parasitic infection.

Serum copper, zinc, ceruloplasmin and superoxide dismutase in Thai overweight and obese.

The serum copper, selenium, ceruloplasmin, superoxide dismutase (SOD) (specific activities of antioxidant enzymes), anthropometric measurements, including waist/hip ratio 51 male and 190 female overweight subjects (body mass index (BMI) > or = 25.0 kg/m2) compared with a 26 male and 83 female control group (BMI = 18.5-24.9 kg/m2) Thai volunteers who attended the Out-patient Department, General Practice Section, Rajvithi Hospital, Bangkok, for a physical check-up from March to October, 1998, were investigated. There was no age difference between the overweight group and the controls. All of the anthropometric variables, except the height of the overweight group, were significantly higher than those of the normal subjects. The medians of weight and waist/hip ratio of overweight and obese males were significantly higher than those of overweight and obese females. Serum ceruloplasmin, copper were statistically significantly higher in overweight subjects than in the controls. However, serum zinc and superoxide dismutase activity in the overweight group were found to be lower than in the control group. Higher serum ceruloplasmin, copper, zinc and superoxide dismutase activity were shown in the female overweight group than in the male overweight group. Ceruloplasmin was found to correlate positively with copper concentration but negatively related with superoxide dismutase enzyme activity. A negative correlation was found between serum copper and zinc concentrations in both sexes of the overweight and obese subjects. Low SOD activity found in the overweight and obese subjects might be caused by low zinc intake.

Gnathostoma infection in Nakhon Nayok and Prachin Buri, Central Thailand.

Gnathostoma infection in Nakhon Nayok and Prachin Buri Provinces, Central Thailand, was investigated. The prevalence and intensity of infection of swamp eels were determined; dog fecal samples and fresh-water copepods were examined for evidence of infection. The overall prevalence of eel infection was 38.1% (117/307) in Nakhon Nayok and 24.0% (74/308) in Prachin Buri--the former rate being significantly higher than the latter. Most of the positive Nalkhon Nayok eels (53.8%) harbored only 1-9 larvae; only one eel bore more than 50 larvae. In Prachin Buri, 67.6% of the positive eels harbored 1-9 larvae; again, only one eel bore more than 50 larvae. The mean number of 11.0 +/- 10.4 larvae/eel in Nakhon Nayok was not significantly different from that of Prachin Buri (9.3 +/- 11.4). A total of 1,292 gnathostome larvae were recovered from 307 eels in Nakhon Nayok. Of these, 52.3% had accumulated in the liver and 47.7% had spread throughout the muscles. In eels from Prachin Buri, 50.6% and 49.4% of the total of 688 larvae (from 308 eels) were found in the liver and muscles, respectively. The larvae preferred encysting in ventral of muscles rather than dorsal part; they preferred the middle portion to the anterior and posterior portions. The average length of gnathostome larvae recovered from Nakhon Nayok eels was 4.0 +/- 0.5 mm (range 2.5-5.1 mm) and the average body width was 0.40 +/- 0.05 mm (range 0.29-0.51 mm). Those from eels in Prachin Buri were 3.9 +/- 0.5 mm (range 2.2-5.1 mm) and 0.34 +/- 0.05 mm (range 0.20-0.48 mm), respectively. The mean body length and width of the larvae from eels in Nakhon Nayok were significantly greater than those of the larvae from eels in Prachin Buri. In Ban Phrao, Nakhon Nayok, none of the first 44 fecal specimens examined was positive. Of the second (68) and the third (70) specimens, one (1.5%) and two (2.9%) samples were positive. However, six months after the third fecal collection, no eggs were found. In Tha Ngam, Prachin Buri, no eggs were found in all three batches (109, 115, and 100 fecal samples). A cyclops survey of 4,000-5,000 crustacea from each of two areas (Ban Phrao and Tha Ngam) found no evidence of natural cyclops infection.

The effect of cigarette smoking on ceruloplasmin and C3 complement: risk of cardiovascular disease (atherosclerosis).

Serum ceruloplasmin, C3 complement and albumin in 119 male smokers and 65 male non-smoker; from a military unit in Bangkok were investigated in this study. The serum ceruloplasmin concentration was found to be significantly higher in smokers than in non-smokers. However, the serum albumin concentration in smokers was statistically significantly lower than in non-smokers. Significant associations were also found between ages, albumin levels and the quantity of cigarettes smoked. There was a significant positive correlation between serum ceruloplasmin and C3 complement concentrations. An association between the quantity of cigarettes smoked and albumin was also found, as well as a significant relationship between smoking and the quantities of cigarettes smoked to serum ceruloplasmin levels when smoking and the quantity of cigarettes smoked were taken as independent variables, and the serum ceruloplasmin levels as a dependent variable. This might suggest that high concentrations of the acute-phase protein, i.e. ceruloplasmin, might constitute a risk of developing atherosclerosis or cardiovascular disease in smokers.

B vitamins, vitamin C and hematological measurements in overweight and obese Thais in Bangkok.

The dynamic changes of socio-economics leading to the industrialisation of countries are known to affect lifestyle and nutritional behaviours of the population. Review of the literature on the prevalence of obesity showed increasing numbers of the overweight and obese during the past decade. However, information on health and nutritional status of the obese in Thailand has not been widely publicized. This study reveals the vitamin status and hematological picture in 270 overweight and obese Thais in Bangkok, Thailand, compared with 175 normal subjects. No statistically significant differences in haemoglobin and hematocrit were observed in the overweight compared with the control subjects. The prevalence of anaemia was 9.8 per cent among male and 17.2 per cent among female overweight and obese subjects compared with 2.6 per cent and 21.2 per cent in male and female normal controls using the cut-off point of haemoglobin concentration as an indicator of anaemia. Prevalence of hypertension was exhibited in both male and female overweight and obese subjects. Even if there were no statistically significant differences in vitamin B1, B2 and B6 in overweight and obese subjects compared with the controls, high percentages of vitamin C and vitamin B2 deficiencies were observed. Vitamin B2 deficiency was detected in 19.7 per cent of overweight and obese males as well as in 28.7 per cent of overweight and obese females using glutathione reductase activity coefficient (alpha EGR) < 1.5 as the cut-off point. However, clinical signs of vitamin B2 deficiencies were rare. There was also a high percentage of vitamin C (antioxidant vitamin) deficiency in 51.5 per cent of the overweight and obese subjects and 41.7 per cent of the controls, respectively. The results suggest more attention should be paid to health study and nutritional problems for the overweight and obese population, especially concerning vitamins and oxidative stress. Further research is still needed in these aspects.