Sex hormones and oxidant- antioxidant status in post-menopausal women with coronary artery disease

The strikingly lower prevalence of acute coronary syndromes in pre-menopausal women than in men of similar age, then the progressive narrowing of that difference with age after menopause, suggests an important role for sex hormones and probably oxidative stress in the development of coronary artery disease. The aim of this study is to evaluate the sex hormones and oxidant stress [malondialdehyde, which is a metabolite of lipid peroxidation] and anti-oxidants [vitamin C and E] status in postmenopausal women with stable coronary artery disease and in those with acute coronary syndromes. This study was conducted on 40 non-hormone user postmenopausal women with coronary artery disease. They were divided into 3 groups: the 1[st] group [17 patients] who had an acute myocardial infarction, the 2[nd] group [10 patients] had unstable angina and the 3[rd] one [13 patients] had stable angina. This is an addition to 20 apparently healthy postmenopausal women of similar age. All cases and control subjects were subjected to thorough history taking, full clinical examination, routine laboratory investigations, resting echocardiography and special laboratory investigations including detection of serum level of; total and free testosterone, total estradiol, morning and nocturnal serum cortisol, malondialdehyde and plasma levels of alpha-tocopherol and vitamin-C. We found a higher serum level of total and free testosterone in cases than control subjects [P-value 0.016 and 0.031 respectively] and the serum free testosterone was significantly higher in the group of acute myocardial infarction than the group of stable angina [P-value 0.008]. The serum level of total estradiol was significantly lower in cases than in control group [P value 0.0001]. Serum malondialdehyde was significantly higher in cases than control subjects [P<0.0001], and it was significantly higher in cases of acute myocardial infarction in comparison to stable angina cases [P-value 0.005]. Vitamin E [[alpha]-tocopherol] and vitamin C were significantly lower in cases than control group [P 0.0001 and 0.048 respectively]. The serum levels of free testosterone as well as malondi-aldehyde were higher in postmenopausal women with coronary artery disease. However, serum level of estradiol, vitamin E and C were lower in them in comparison to control subjects

Oxidative stress and antioxidant vitamins in obese children

Oxidant-antioxidant status was investigated in a group of obese children in comparison with healthy subjects by determination of malondialdehyde [MDA], tocopherol, and ascorbic acid. Thirty five obese children [25 male and 10 female] mean age [9 +/- 4.4year] with BMI > 2SD of the mean for age and sex [BMI = 31.5 +/- 6.6]. A group of 30 healthy, age and sex matched children were used as a control group. Blood samples were collected from every subject and control after an overnight fast of which 2ml blood collected on heparin for plasma ascorbic acid [vitamin C] and 4ml blood collected into plain tube for serum tocopherol and malondialdehyde [MDA]. MDA was significantly higher in obese children compared to control [P=0.0001]. This was associated with significantly lower plasma vitamin E and vitamin C in obese children compared to control [P= 0.0001]. BMI was positively correlated with age and MDA and showed negative correlation with vitamin E and C. Severely obese children present a highly altered oxidant antioxidant status, which is alarming for the increased risk of complication so early intervention has been recommended by giving antioxidant, diet-control and exercise

Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and insulin resistance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract: Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule -1 [sICAM-1] is ranked as one of the endothelial dysfunction markers and factors predicting diseases of the cardiovascular system. Polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS] is an extremely prevalent disorder in which altered endothelial function and insulin resistance have been found

The main Objective: To assess serum level of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 [sICAM-1] as a marker of endothelial dysfunction in relation to insulin resistance and serum testosterone in women with PCOS

Subjects and Methods The study assessed 40 women with PCOS [mean age 25.57 + 3.25 year]. That group was further divided into two subgroups: the first with body mass index [BMI] > 25kg/m2 [20 women of mean age 25.6 + 3.5 years] and the second with BMI< 25 kg/m2 [20 women of mean age [25.5 + 30 years]. In the control group there were 30 healthy women [mean age of 24.9 + 3.24 years]. That group again was divided accordingly to BMI in to two subgroup: the first with BMI> 25 kg/m2 [15 women, mean age 25 + 3.1 years] and the second with BMI <25 kg/m [15 women, mean age 24.9 + 3.4 years]

Results: The results demonstrated statistical significant higher mean concentrations of sICAM-1 in women with PCOS as compared to control group and also from the control subgroup with BMI> 25 kg/m2. There was statistically significant positive correlation between sICAM-1 and Insulin resistance [HOMA ]in PCOS and total testosterone level. There was statistically significant correlation between sICAM-1 and BMI in group with PCOS

Conclusion: higher concentration of sICAM-1 in women with PCOS, a significant degree of insulin resistance exist, which clearly is not related to obesity, may confirm the presence of endothelial dysfunctions, a higher risk for cardiovascular diseases in this group. Further study are therefore necessary to identify both the factors that are responsible for the increase in sICAM-1 concentration and the clinical usefulness of routine sICAM-1 measurement in females with PCOS