Fasting Glucose, Glycated Hemoglobin, and 2h Post-load Blood Glucose Are Independently Associated With Arterial Stiffness in Diabetes: The ELSA-Brasil Study.

The association of diabetes with increased large artery stiffness is not definitively established. We aimed to describe the carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV) in participants with and without diabetes and whether the cf-PWV could vary among the different laboratory-based criteria used. A cross-sectional analysis using baseline data from 13,912 adults was used. cf-PWV as well as anthropometric, biochemical, and clinical data were measured. Diabetes was defined by previous medical diagnosis, medication use, fasting glucose, an oral glucose tolerance test (GTT), or glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). The prevalence of diabetes was 18.7%, higher in men than in women. After adjustment, participants with diabetes showed higher cf-PWV (men: 9.7 ± 1.7 vs 9.4 ± 1.7 m/s, P < .05; women: 9.4 ± 1.6 vs 9.1 ± 1.7 m/s, P < .05). We observed a progressive increase in cf-PWV as >1 laboratory-based criterion for diabetes diagnosis was reached. Also, participants with diabetes with alterations in any laboratory-based criteria had higher cf-PWV than participants without diabetes, regardless of sex. In summary, diabetes is associated with higher cf-PWV as is each laboratory-based parameter used for its diagnosis. These results support the strong consequences of glucose dysregulation on the vascular system and provide evidence to screen all parameters involved in glycemic metabolism to improve vascular health.

Preliminary results from a twin study of infant--caregiver attachment.

Two pilot studies were conducted. First, the validity of a measure of infant-caregiver attachment for twins was assessed. Sixteen twin pairs from the Louisville Twin Study (LTS) were assessed in the Strange Situation (SS) at ages 19 or 25 months. Concordance between the LTS procedure and the SS procedure for assessing attachment was 78.1%, significantly greater than chance. Second, twin similarity for attachment as measured by the LTS procedure was assessed. Videotapes of 34 MZ pairs and 26 DZ pairs at ages 18 and 24 months were rated in terms of attachment behavior. MZ concordance for attachment was 67.6%, significantly greater than the DZ concordance rate of 38.5%. Results are discussed in the context of current debate in attachment theory.

Identification of endothelial and mesothelial cells in human omental tissue and in omentum-derived cultured cells by specific cell markers.

Human omental tissue has been used as a source for the isolation and cultivation of microvascular endothelial cells, but also for mesothelial cells. Since both cell types have several morphologic and functional features in common, concerns were raised whether endothelial cells can be separated from mesothelial cells by the methods described for the isolation of microvascular endothelial cells. In the present study, endothelial cells were identified in the capillaries of native human omentum by several endothelial-cell specific markers. von Willebrand factor was demonstrated by polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies, a lectin-specific ligand by Ulex europaeus I, and an endothelial-cell specific surface epitope by the monoclonal antibody, PAL-E. These markers were not found positive with mesothelial cells of native omentum. Mesothelial cells were identified by monoclonal antibodies against the intermediate filaments, cytokeratin and vimentin. After having demonstrated the specificity of the methods for the distinction between endothelial and mesothelial cells within native omentum, these methods were applied to omentum-derived cells previously claimed to be microvascular endothelial cells. These cultured cells proved to be negative for von Willebrand factor, Ulex europaeus I ligand and PAL-E epitope. In contrast to this, the cultivated cells stained positive to cytokeratin and vimentin. Furthermore, it was shown by immunoprecipitation studies that omentum-derived cells did not synthesize and secrete vWF, indicating the nonendothelial nature of these cells. Finally, electron microscopy demonstrated microvilli on the surface of cultivated omentum-derived cells indicative for the mesothelial origin of these cells. The data presented demonstrate that the cells obtained using the previously published methods for the isolation and cultivation of "microvascular endothelial cells" from omental tissue are of mesothelial and not of endothelial origin. Thus, a great number of data obtained with this type of omentum-derived cells thought to be microvascular endothelial cells need re-evaluation.