Pulse wave velocity correlates with aortic atherosclerosis assessed with transesophageal echocardiography.

Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a noninvasive vascular parameter that is related to cardiovascular risk. We studied the relationship between aortic PWV and aortic atherosclerosis assessed with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). The patients referred for TEE before electrical cardioversion of atrial fibrillation were included in the study. Maximal intima-media thickness (IMT) including maximal atherosclerotic plaque thickness of the descending thoracic aorta was measured on TEE images. PWV was measured in those patients who had the sinus rhythm restored. Univariable linear regression was used to test associations between the parameters studied. Variables identified by linear regression, as significantly related to PWV, were further analyzed by multivariable linear regression models. We studied 99 patients (57 men, 42 women, mean age 70.4±11.5 years). With univariable regression, we found that PWV was significantly related to IMT (P<0.0001), age (P<0.0001) and pulse pressure (PP, P=0.005). There was no significant relationship between PWV and systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressures, as well as heart rate. The multivariable regression analysis, with all the variables significant in the univariable analysis in the model, showed that only IMT remained significantly related to PWV (P<0.0001, ß=0.31), whereas age (P=0.18) and PP (P=0.16) were not. In conclusion, PWV is related to aortic atherosclerosis assessed with TEE independent of age and blood pressure.

Early expression of hepatocyte growth factor, interleukin-6, and transforming growth factor-beta1 and -beta2 in symptomatic infection in patients who have undergone liver transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: Early septic complications may be a deciding factor for successful recovery among patients who have undergone orthotopic liver transplantation. Therefore, monitoring liver function parameters plays an important role in postoperative treatment to achieve an early diagnosis of postsurgical complications. We ought to measure standard liver function parameters and the expression levels for selected cytokines among patients exhibiting symptoms of infection after orthotopic liver transplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was performed on 30 patients who were divided into two groups: SI-0 consisted of patients free of infection, and SI-1, those who had symptoms of infection. We determined standard liver function parameters and expression of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), interleukin (IL)-6, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1, and TGF-beta2. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in standard liver function parameters between the two groups of patients. There were no significant differences in the levels of expression for the cytokines in question between the two groups of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Although standard liver function parameters provide diagnostically valuable information on the patient's condition, they cannot be used to determine the extent of systemic infection among patients showing signs of infection after liver transplantation. Determining gene expression levels in circulating lymphocytes is a sensitive method to monitor patients' condition after liver transplantation. The expression levels of HGF, IL-6, TGF-beta1, and TGF-beta2 in circulating lymphocytes were not sufficiently specific to diagnose transitory postsurgical complications such as symptomatic infection.

A genome-wide linkage scan for genes controlling variation in urinary albumin excretion in type II diabetes.

The main hallmark of diabetic nephropathy is elevation in urinary albumin excretion. We performed a genome-wide linkage scan in 63 extended families with multiple members with type II diabetes. Urinary albumin excretion, measured as the albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR), was determined in 426 diabetic and 431 nondiabetic relatives who were genotyped for 383 markers. The data were analyzed using variance components linkage analysis. Heritability (h2) of ACR was significant in diabetic (h2=0.23, P=0.0007), and nondiabetic (h2=0.39, P=0.0001) relatives. There was no significant difference in genetic variance of ACR between diabetic and nondiabetic relatives (P=0.16), and the genetic correlation (rG=0.64) for ACR between these two groups was not different from 1 (P=0.12). These results suggested that similar genes contribute to variation in ACR in diabetic and nondiabetic relatives. This hypothesis was supported further by the linkage results. Support for linkage to ACR was suggestive in diabetic relatives and became significant in all relatives for chromosome 22q (logarithm of odds, LOD=3.7) and chromosome 7q (LOD=3.1). When analyses were restricted to 59 Caucasian families, support for linkage in all relatives increased and became significant for 5q (LOD=3.4). In conclusion, genes on chromosomes 22q, 5q and 7q may contribute to variation in urinary albumin excretion in diabetic and nondiabetic individuals.

Efficacy and safety of sibutramine in 2225 subjects with cardiovascular risk factors: short-term, open-label, observational study.

This study aims to determine the efficacy and tolerability of sibutramine hydrochloride in overweight and obese patients with cardiovascular risk factors. This was a 12-week, open-label, observational trial carried out in primary care settings. Patients' data were obtained from questionnaires received from 153 physicians. A total of 2225 overweight and obese (BMI> or =27 kg/m2) patients received sibutramine in single daily doses of 10 and/or 15 mg. The study population included patients in general good health and with controlled hypertension (41.2%), type II diabetes mellitus (15.6%), hyperlipidaemia (45.5%), and who were chronic tobacco users (smokers) (37.0%). The main outcome measures were changes in body weight, blood pressure and heart rate, and evaluation of reported adverse events. Reduction of body weight of at least >5% from baseline to week 12 was achieved in 2030 (91%) patients and >10% was achieved in 987 (44%) patients. Baseline differences in the percentages of male and female patients, presence or absence of hyperlipidaemia or smoking status did not appear to affect the rate of weight change. Weight loss was less in patients with type II diabetes mellitus and/or controlled systolic hypertension at baseline compared to those patients without these conditions. Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate decreased from baseline to week 12. Overall, sibutramine was well tolerated. In conclusions, treatment with sibutramine resulted in clinically significant weight loss during short-term therapy in obese adults with a range of cardiovascular risk factors..

The effect of chronic allograft rejection on plasma regulators of fibrinolysis.

Chronic renal allograft rejection is often associated with the presence of fibrin thrombi in the microcirculation. Our purpose was to evaluate the influence of chronic rejection on fibrinolytic regulators in plasma of renal allograft recipients. We evaluated the concentration and activities of tPA, uPA and PAI-I in plasma from kidney allograft recipients. We studied 64 patients who underwent kidney transplantation from cadaveric allograft donors. At the time of the study 38 patients had stable graft function for at least 6 months proceeding the study, and 26 recipients had biopsy-proven chronic rejection of the kidney transplant. Control group included 30 healthy blood donors. In kidney transplant recipients we found significantly higher plasma tPA activity (median: 0.99 IU/ml; range: 0-3.8 IU/ml) in comparison to healthy controls (median: 0.15 IU/ml; range: 0-2.8 IU/ml) (p = 0.002) as well as significantly lower plasma PAI-I activity (median: 7.06 U/ml; range: 0-33.2 U/ml) in comparison to healthy controls (median: 21.8 U/ml; range: 0-36.7 U/ml), (p = 0.0001). Among transplant recipients, PAI-I plasma activity in recipients with chronic graft rejection (median: 10.16 U/ml; range: 0-33.2 U/ml) was significantly higher than in patients with stable graft function (median: 4.83 U/ml; range: 0-22.9 U/ml), (p = 0.01). In transplant recipients with stable graft function and poorly controlled hypertension we found significantly higher PAI-I plasma activity in comparison to recipients with normal blood pressure (p = 0.006). In kidney transplant recipients there was a positive correlation between the dose of prednisone and PAI-I activity in plasma (p = 0.01) and an association between BMI value and plasma PAI-I activity (p = 0.008), as well as an association between BMI value and plasma tPA-Ant concentration (p = 0.006). Among transplant recipients, patients treated with ACE inhibitors had significantly lower uPA plasma activity than the rest of the group (p = 0.003). In recipients with stable graft function we found a correlation between CsA concentration and tPA activity (p = 0.04), as well as an association between the dose of CsA and uPA-Ant concentration in plasma (p = 0.049). In patients with chronic graft rejection we found a negative correlation between the dose of prednisone and uPA-Ant plasma level (p = 0.004). Renal allograft recipients have higher tPA and lower PAI-I activities in plasma in comparison to healthy individuals. Chronic allograft rejection, is as well as poorly controlled hypertension, seem to be associated with an increase PAI-I plasma activity. In kidney graft recipients there is a relation between the value of BMI and the activity and concentration of tPA-Ant as well as the value of BMI and the PAI-I activity in plasma. Poorly controlled hypertension is associated with an increase in PAI-I plasma activity. The results of our study suggest a stimulatory effect of CsA on tPA and PAI-I plasma activities as well as on uPA-Ant concentration, while prednisone in turn seems to enhance PAI-I activity in plasma and decrease uPA expression. In renal allograft recipients ACE inhibitors seem to reduce uPA plasma activity.