Comparison of cardiovascular risk factors in young Spanish men between the 1980s and after the year 2000. Data from the AGEMZA study.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate the cardiovascular risk profile of a sample of young Spanish men taken in the 1980s, the initial AGEMZA study cohort, and to compare the findings with those in another sample with similar characteristics taken after 2000. METHODS: The two AGEMZA study cohorts comprised young men who were resident at the Zaragoza General Military Academy, where they were studying as aspiring cadets. A descriptive study of each cohort was carried out and the participants' anthropometric characteristics, sporting and dietary habits, exposure to toxins, and biochemical and lipid profiles were analyzed. Data on the prevalence of various risk factors were obtained for each cohort and the coronary disease risk was estimated using the Framingham equation. RESULTS: Comparison of data on 248 subjects from the current cohort with data on 260 from the initial cohort showed the following significant changes: weight (+6.03 kg), body mass index (BMI) (+1.57), cholesterol (+12.46 mg/dL), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (+15.8 mg/dL), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (-4.11 mg/dL), triglycerides (+3.64 mg/dL), apolipoprotein B (+24.8 mg/dL), estimated coronary disease risk in the next 10 years (+1/1000 individuals) and estimated coronary disease risk up to the age of 65 years (+23/1000 individuals). There were significant correlations between increases in weight and BMI and lipid profile alterations. CONCLUSIONS: The lipid profile and BMI were worse in the current sample. These findings make it essential that preventive measures for young people should be introduced and that an increased effort should be made to develop programs aimed at either stopping the progressive rise in obesity or even preventing it altogether.

Comparación de los factores de riesgo cardiovascular de jóvenes españoles de los años ochenta y tras el 2000. Datos del estudio AGEMZA / Comparison of cardiovascular risk factors in young spanish men between the 1980s and after the year 2000. Data from the AGEMZA study

Introducción y objetivos. Analizar el perfil de riesgo cardiovascular de una muestra de jóvenes varones españoles de los años ochenta, cohorte inicial del estudio AGEMZA, y compararla con otra muestra de similares características, tras el 2000. Métodos. Las dos muestras de AGEMZA están compuestas por varones jóvenes residentes en la Academia General Militar de Zaragoza, donde estudiaban en calidad de cadetes aspirantes. Realizamos un estudio descriptivo de cada cohorte, analizando datos antropométricos, hábitos deportivos, dietéticos y tóxicos y sus perfiles bioquímico y lipídico. Obtuvimos datos de la prevalencia de los diferentes factores de riesgo en cada una de ellas y estimamos el riesgo coronario para las dos cohortes mediante la ecuación de Framingham. Resultados. Comparamos datos de 260 sujetos de la muestra inicial y de 248 de la muestra actual, de lo que se obtuvo las siguientes variaciones significativas: peso (+6,03 kg), IMC (+1,57), colesterol total (+12,46 mg/dl), colesterol de las lipoproteínas de baja densidad (+15,8 mg/dl), colesterol de las lipoproteínas de alta densidad (-4,11 mg/dl), triglicéridos (+3,64 mg/dl) y apolipoproteína B (+24,8 mg/dl), el riesgo coronario estimado en los próximos 10 años (+1/1.000 sujetos) y el proyectado a los 65 años de edad (+23/1.000 sujetos). Los aumentos de peso y del IMC se correlacionan de forma significativa con los cambios encontrados en el perfil lipídico. Conclusiones. La muestra actual tiene peor perfil lipídico e IMC. Estos resultados nos obligan a tomar medidas preventivas en los jóvenes y extremar el desarrollo de campañas destinadas a frenar este aumento progresivo de la obesidad y para prevenir su aparición (AU)

Introduction and objectives. To investigate the cardiovascular risk profile of a sample of young Spanish men taken in the 1980s, the initial AGEMZA study cohort, and to compare the findings with those in another sample with similar characteristics taken after 2000. Methods. The two AGEMZA study cohorts comprised young men who were resident at the Zaragoza General Military Academy, where they were studying as aspiring cadets. A descriptive study of each cohort was carried out and the participants' anthropometric characteristics, sporting and dietary habits, exposure to toxins, and biochemical and lipid profiles were analyzed. Data on the prevalence of various risk factors were obtained for each cohort and the coronary disease risk was estimated using the Framingham equation. Results. Comparison of data on 248 subjects from the current cohort with data on 260 from the initial cohort showed the following significant changes: weight (+6.03 kg), body mass index (BMI) (+1.57), cholesterol (+12.46 mg/dL), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (+15.8 mg/dL), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (-4.11 mg/dL), triglycerides (+3.64 mg/dL), apolipoprotein B (+24.8 mg/dL), estimated coronary disease risk in the next 10 years (+1/1000 individuals) and estimated coronary disease risk up to the age of 65 years (+23/1000 individuals). There were significant correlations between increases in weight and BMI and lipid profile alterations. Conclusions. The lipid profile and BMI were worse in the current sample. These findings make it essential that preventive measures for young people should be introduced and that an increased effort should be made to develop programs aimed at either stopping the progressive rise in obesity or even preventing it altogether (AU)

Prognostic significance and diagnostic value of protein S-100 and tyrosinase in patients with malignant melanoma.

OBJECTIVES: The utility of many molecules as tumor markers in melanoma has been investigated with different results. The aims of this study was to compare the value of tyrosinase mRNA by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in peripheral blood and of serum S-100 protein in patients with melanoma at different stages of disease. METHODS: We have studied 90 peripheral blood samples corresponding to 90 patients that had been diagnosed with melanoma. The clinical staging at the time of blood sampling was performed according to the American Join Committee on Cancer guidelines. S-100 protein in serum was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (normal range: 0-0.150 microg) and the presence of tyrosinase mRNA was assessed by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Median progression-free survival was 281 days for tyrosinase positive patients and it has not been reached for tyrosinase negative patients (P = 0.03). Median progression free survival was 213 days for patients with elevated serum S-100 and it has not been reached for patients with normal level of serum S-100 (P < 0.001). Median overall survival (OS) was 396 days for tyrosinase positive patients and it has not been reached for negative patients (P = 0.0096). Median OS was 282 days for patients with elevated serum S-100 and it has not been reached for patients with normal level of serum S-100 (P < 0.001). In a multivariate analysis, both markers have significant prognostic value for time to progression and for survival (chi(2) test). CONCLUSIONS: RT-PCR for tyrosinase mRNA and S-100 are significant prognostic factors for progression-free survival and OS in melanoma. S-100 has higher sensitivity and specificity than tyrosinase.