Influence of waist circumference on blood pressure status in non-obese adolescents.

Objectives To check whether excess in abdominal adiposity and metabolic factors were associated with blood pressure abnormalities in non-obese adolescents. Methods We randomly selected 1100 adolescent students, aged 12-18 years, from schools and classrooms in the city of Constantine, Algeria. Among them 179 were overweight and 51 were obese (IOTF criteria). Waist circumference (WC) was considered high if >74 cm in boys and 75 cm in girls (mean of WC of all population studied). Hypertension (HBP) and prehypertension (preHBP) were defined by the NHBPEP's 2004 criteria. Results The prevalence of HBP/preHBP were 13.0%/12.4% with no difference between boys and girls. The percentages of HBP/preHBP patients were 15.6%/15.6% in overweight adolescents, 5.9%/31.4% in obese adolescents and 12.9%/10.6% in adolescents with normal body weight (p < 0.0001). In obese adolescents, the prevalence of HBP was higher among boys than girls (36% vs. 27%, p = 0.002). In normal and overweight adolescents, the prevalence of HBP and preHBP was similar in boys and girls (11.9% vs. 11.0% and 14.7% vs. 12.1%); the association of WC (high vs. not high) with HBP was found in boys (16.1% vs. 8.8%, p = 0.009) but not in girls (12.1% vs. 10.2%), and with preHBP in girls (15.5% vs. 8.0%, p = 0.029) but not in boys (16.2% vs. 13.6%). Waist circumference [OR: 1.04 (1.03-1.06); p < 0.0001] and HOMA index [OR: 1.65 (1.13-2.39); p = 0.009] were associated with an increased risk of HBP. Conclusion In non-obese adolescents, a high WC, defined by values over the mean WC observed in our population, is associated with a higher risk of HBP in boys.

Initiating or switching to biphasic insulin aspart 30 in type 2 diabetes patients from Algeria: a sub-analysis of the A1chieve study.

AIM: To determine the safety and effectiveness of biphasic insulin aspart 30 (BIAsp 30) in Algerian patients with type 2 diabetes initiating insulin or switching from prior insulin therapy. METHODS: Insulin-naive and insulin-experienced patients, including prior basal insulin users, starting BIAsp 30 were evaluated in this sub-analysis of the 24-week, open-label, non-interventional A1chieve study. Clinical safety and effectiveness was evaluated as a part of routine clinical care. RESULTS: A total of 134 insulin-naive patients initiating BIAsp 30 at a mean dose of 0.44 ± 0.23 U/kg and 283 insulin-experienced patients, including 129 prior basal insulin users, switching from a mean pre-study insulin dose of 0.51 ± 0.23 U/kg to BIAsp 30 (0.54 ± 0.20 U/kg) were evaluated. At Week 24, the average BIAsp 30 dose was 0.60 ± 0.25 U/kg and 0.66 ± 0.24 U/kg in insulin-naive and insulin-experienced patients, respectively. No serious adverse drug reactions were reported. From baseline to Week 24, the proportion of patients experiencing overall hypoglycaemia increased in the insulin-naive group (p = 0.0067) and no significant changes were reported in the insulin-experienced group including prior basal insulin users. Glucose control improved significantly in the insulin-experienced group (p < 0.001) and appeared to improve in the insulin-naive patients and prior basal insulin users as well. Body weight increased significantly in all patients (p < 0.001). Quality of life was positively impacted after 24 weeks of BIAsp 30 therapy. CONCLUSION: Initiating or switching to BIAsp 30 therapy in this Algerian cohort was well-tolerated and significantly improved glucose control.

Goitrogenic activity of p-coumaric acid in rats.

The effects of three natural phenolic acids (caffeic, ferulic, and p-coumaric) on the rat thyroid gland were examined in a 3-week oral-treatment study. Forty male Wistar albino rats, divided into groups of 10 rats each and fed iodine-rich diet, were administered by gastrointestinal tube saline (control), caffeic acid, ferulic acid, or p-coumaric acid at a dose level of 0.25 micromol/kg/day for 3 weeks. The mean absolute and relative thyroid weights in caffeic, ferulic, or p-coumaric acid groups were significantly increased to 127 and 132%, 146 and 153%, or 189 and 201% compared to control value, respectively. Histological examination of the thyroids of p-coumaric acid group revealed marked hypertrophy and/or hyperplasia of the follicles. Caffeic or ferulic groups showed slight to moderate thyroid gland enlargement. Thyroid lesions in p-coumaric acid group were associated with significant increases in cellular proliferation as indicated by [(3)H]thymidine incorporation. In addition, the goitrogenic effect of p-coumaric acid was further confirmed by significant decreases (50%) in serum tri-iodothyronine (T(3)) and thyroxine (T(4)), and a parallel increase (90%) in serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) compared to control group. These results indicate that administration of p-coumaric acid at relatively high doses induces goiter in rats.