Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, Von Willebrand factor and thrombomodulin in obesity: new cardiovascular risk factors

The objective of the present study was to investigate the presence of endothelial dysfunction in obesity by measuring the plasma levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 [PAI-1] antigen, von Willebrand [vWF] and thrombomodulin [TM] in obese subjects. Fifty-five healthy subjects, aged 20-60 years with a range body mass index [BMI] of 18.5-63 kg/m2, were evaluated for waist hip ratio [WHR], plasma lipids, PAI-I antigen, vWF and TM. The subjects were divided into two groups according to BM: Group 1 [lean and overweight], 20 subjects with BMI of <30 kg/m2 and group II [obese], 35 subjects with BMI of <30 kg/m2. It was concluded that obesity is associated with an endothelial dysfunction leading to an increase in the plasma concentrations of PAI-1 antigen, vWF and TM, thus providing an additional explanation for the higher cardiovascular risk in individuals with obesity

Effect of maternal active and passive smoking during pregnancy on maternal and neonatal thyroid function

The influence of maternal active and passive smoking on the maternal and neonatal thyroid function was evaluated in 45 mother-neonate pairs. The sample was divided into three groups: Active smokers [n = 16], passive smokers [n = 17] and nonsmokers as a control group [n = 12]. Sera from mothers and umbilical cord of their neonates were analyzed for nicotine metabolite, free thyroxin [free T4] and thyrotropin [TSH] using IMMIULITE immunoassay method. The study concluded that smoking during pregnancy whether active or passive may be responsible for maternal and neonatal thyroid hyperfunction. Other mechanisms than fetal thyroid hyperfunction are responsible for the retarded growth observed in these infants