ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Excessive body weight is known to cluster with cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, but it is not clear which anthropometric obesity measure provides best independent predictive value of coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS AND RESULTS: We explored associations between CAD and four different obesity measures (body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waist/height and waist/height(2)) in a cohort of 16 657 subjects (40.4% men; 20.8% CAD patients), recruited by 700 primary care physicians in 444 Polish cities. 42.8% of subjects were classified as overweight, 31.7% as obese and 39.8% had abdominal obesity. In univariate analyses all obesity measures correlated with CAD (p>0.001), but waist/height(2) was the strongest discriminator between CAD patients and controls. Age-adjusted and sex-adjusted analyses confirmed a graded increase in CAD risk across distributions of all four obesity measures-1 standard deviation (SD) increase in BMI, waist, waist/height and waist/height(2) increased the odds of CAD by 1.23, 1.24, 1.26 and 1.27, respectively (all p<0.001). In models fully adjusted for CV risk factors, waist/height(2) remained the strongest obesity correlate of CAD, being the only independent associate of CAD in men. In a fully adjusted BMI-waist circumference stratified model, sarcopenic obesity (waist > median, BMI < median) and simple obesity (waist and BMI > median) were the strongest independent associates of CAD in men (p = 0.008) and women (p>0.001), respectively. CONCLUSION: This cross-sectional study showed that waist/height(2) may potentially offer a slightly higher predictive value of CAD than BMI or waist circumference and revealed an apparent sexual dimorphism in correlations between obesity measures and CAD.
Subject(s)
Coronary Artery Disease/etiology , Obesity/complications , Anthropometry , Body Mass Index , Coronary Artery Disease/epidemiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Obesity/epidemiology , Poland/epidemiology , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
30 patients with primary mild to moderate hypertension (DBP 95-110 mm Hg) were treated with long acting diltiazem (120 or 240 mg) once daily in the morning (7.00-8.00 a.m.) for at least 3 weeks and after that the administration time was changed to evening dose (19.00-20.00 p.m.) for next 3 weeks. 24-hours ABPM was performed in all patients on the last day of each period. Obtained recordings were compared in different periods of time: total 24 hours, 6.00-23.00, 23.00-6.00, 4.30-8.00, 5.00-11.00, 20.00-2.00. Mean values of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate and pressure load (defined as percentage of records above 140/90 mm Hg in day and above 120/80 mm Hg at night) did not differ significantly between investigated dosage regimens. The evening administration of diltiazem did not produce greater decrease of BP at night than the morning dose. For this reason slow release formulation of diltiazem (oxycardil in doses of 120 to 240 mg) can be safely administered in the evening if needed.
Subject(s)
Antihypertensive Agents/administration & dosage , Chronotherapy , Diltiazem/administration & dosage , Hypertension/drug therapy , Adult , Aged , Delayed-Action Preparations , Drug Administration Schedule , Female , Hemodynamics/drug effects , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Conjugates between monoclonal antibodies recognizing human cancer cells and the superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin A (mAb-SEA) represent a potential novel approach to tumor therapy. Such mAb-SEA conjugates direct T-cells to lyse colon carcinoma cells in vitro. The synthesis of mAb-SEA conjugates which were prepared by introducing thiol groups on SEA and iodoacetyl or maleimide groups on mAb forming a stable thioether linkage between SEA and mAb is described. A hydrophilic spacer, composed of repeated ethylene oxide units, was constructed to increase the distance between SEA and mAb, preserving biological activity of both proteins. The degree of modification of mAb with SEA was determined with SDS-PAGE. Variables influencing the composition of the conjugates and their effect on the tumor-cell cytotoxicity were studied and optimal conditions for the synthesis were established. Functionally active mAb-SEA conjugates were prepared from a panel of different mAb and T-cell-dependent cytotoxicity against several human cancer types including colon, ovarial, breast, and renal cancer was obtained. This suggests that mAb-SEA conjugates may be of value in the treatment of human neoplastic disease.
