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M Nematy,
A Sakhdari,
P Ahmadi-Moghaddam,
M Aliabadi,
M Kimiagar,
A A Ilaty,
M Azimi-Nezhad,
M T Shakeri,
M Ghayour-Mobarhan,
A Sahebkar, G A A Ferns
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ABSTRACT: There are few data regarding the prevalence of obesity and its socioeconomic determinants among elderly individuals, particularly in Iran. We wished to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in free-living elderly people and the relationship to nutritional and socioeconomic factors in the Razavi-Khorasan province of Iran. Free-living elderly persons (917 males/1045 females), aged > or =60 years, were recruited using cluster sampling. Overweight and obesity were evaluated using body mass index (BMI) and subjects were categorized as thin (BMI <18.5 kg/m2), normal (18.5-24.9 kg/m2), overweight (25-29.9 kg/m2), and obese (> or =30 kg/m2). The association between the prevalence of overweight or obesity with socioeconomic and demographic factors, including gender, place of residence, literacy, type of living, source of income, use of supplements during the past 3 months, and employment status, was examined using regression analysis. The distribution of BMI values indicated that 13, 46.5, 28.9, and 11.7% of the total population were thin, normal, overweight, and obese, respectively. The prevalence of central obesity was higher among Iranian women than men (63.1 vs. 18.6%, respectively). Regression analysis results indicated that gender (p < 0.001), place of residence (p < 0.001), literacy (p = 0.01), and source of income (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with the incidence of overweight or obesity. This study showed that 40.6% of elderly subjects were overweight or obese. Results reinforce the need to plan strategies for primary prevention of this fast-growing public health problem.
TheScientificWorldJOURNAL 01/2009; 9:1286-93. · 1.66 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The heat shock proteins (HSPs) are highly conserved families of proteins expressed by a number of cell types following exposure to stressful environmental conditions. These conditions include several known risk factors for cardiovascular disease. A number of the HSPs have been shown to be molecular chaperones that are involved in the refolding of other damaged protein molecules. Over the past two decades there has been an increasing interest in the relationship between HSPs and cardiovascular disease, and particularly whether an autoimmune response may be implicated. The fact that microorganisms also produce HSPs, and that these are homologous to human HSPs has given rise to concept of molecular mimicry. While most of the past studies have focused on HSP 65 and 70, there has been recent interest and investigations of the possible role of the smaller HSPs, such as HSP27, in atherogenesis. Furthermore, the possibility that autoimmunity may be mediating the deleterious effects of HSPs has led some investigators to explore tolerization as a potential therapeutic approach.
Advances in clinical chemistry 01/2009; 48:27-72. · 3.20 Impact Factor
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N Yaghoobi,
Noori Al-Waili,
M Ghayour-Mobarhan,
S M R Parizadeh,
Z Abasalti,
Z Yaghoobi,
F Yaghoobi,
H Esmaeili,
S M R Kazemi-Bajestani,
R Aghasizadeh,
Khelod Y Saloom, G A A Ferns
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ABSTRACT: It has been found that honey ameliorates cardiovascular risk factors in healthy individuals and in patients with elevated risk factors. The present study investigated the effect of natural honey on total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triacylglycerole, C-reactive protein (CRP), fasting blood glucose (FBG), and body weight in overweight individuals. There were 55 patients, overweight or obese, who were randomly recruited into the study and assigned into two groups: control group (17 subjects) and experimental group (38 subjects). Patients in the control group received 70 g of sucrose daily for a maximum of 30 days and patients in the experimental group received 70 g of natural honey for the same period. In the control and experimental groups, body weight, body mass index, body fat weight, total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, triacylglycerole, FBG, and CRP were measured before treatment and at day 31 after the commencement of treatment. Results showed that honey caused a mild reduction in body weight (1.3%) and body fat (1.1%). Honey reduced total cholesterol (3%), LDL-C (5.8), triacylglycerole (11%), FBG (4.2%), and CRP (3.2%), and increased HDL-C (3.3%) in subjects with normal values, while in patients with elevated variables, honey caused reduction in total cholesterol by 3.3%, LDL-C by 4.3%, triacylglycerole by 19%, and CRP by 3.3% (p < 0.05). It is our conclusion that consumption of natural honey reduces cardiovascular risk factors, particularly in subjects with elevated risk factors, and it does not increase body weight in overweight or obese subjects.
TheScientificWorldJOURNAL 01/2008; 8:463-9. · 1.66 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We have previously shown that antibody titres to several heat-shock proteins (Hsps) are elevated in dyslipidaemic patients and subjects with established vascular disease. Obesity is known to be associated with raised serum inflammatory markers suggesting a state of heightened immune activation. Hence, we have investigated the association between indices of obesity and several Hsp antibody titres in healthy subjects. Subjects (n=170) were recruited from among employees at the University of Surrey and the Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford, UK. Of these subjects, 35 were obese with a body mass index (BMI)>/=30 kg/m(2) (19 male and 16 female subjects), 58 were overweight with 30>BMI>/=25 kg/m(2) (36 male and 22 female subjects) and 77 were of a normal weight with BMI<25 kg/m(2) (31 male and 46 female subjects). Overall, obese subjects had significantly higher plasma anti-Hsp-60 (P<0.001), anti-Hsp-65 (P<0.05) and anti-Hsp-70 (P<0.05) compared with overweight and normal weight subjects.
International Journal of Obesity 02/2007; 31(1):197-200. · 4.69 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We have investigated the association between serum copper, zinc and selenium concentrations, dietary intake, and demographic characteristics, including individual coronary risk factors, in healthy subjects.
Serum copper, zinc and selenium were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry in 189 healthy subjects. Serum glutathione peroxidase and caeruloplasmin were also determined for each subject. A previously validated food frequency questionnaire was used to estimate the dietary trace element intake.
Male subjects had significantly lower serum copper (P<0.001) and caeruloplasmin (P<0.001), and higher serum zinc (P<0.05) and zinc:copper ratio (P<0.001) than female subjects. Significant differences were observed in serum copper and caeruloplasmin concentrations (P<0.01) with age. Weak but significant associations between dietary trace elements and their serum concentrations were observed for zinc (r=0.18, P=0.02), copper (r=0.17, P=0.03) and selenium (r=0.19, P=0.02). Obese subjects had significantly lower serum concentrations of zinc (P<0.05). In multifactorial analysis, dietary zinc (P<0.05), serum high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) (P<0.05), diastolic blood pressure (P<0.05) and age (P=0.05) emerged as major predictors of serum zinc concentrations. The corresponding predictors for serum copper were C-reactive protein (CRP) (P<0.001), serum HDL-C (P<0.001), gender (P=0.01), physical activity levels (P<0.05) and dietary copper (P<0.05). Serum selenium concentrations were predicted by serum total cholesterol (P<0.01), serum CRP concentrations (P<0.05) and dietary selenium (P<0.03).
Serum copper, zinc and selenium concentrations are influenced by physiological conditions such as age, diet and gender. Their serum concentrations are also associated with coronary risk factors, including body mass index, levels of physical activity, serum HDL-C and CRP.
Annals of Clinical Biochemistry 09/2005; 42(Pt 5):364-75. · 2.17 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Although studies have reported the effects of the menstrual cycle on melatonin rhythmicity, none has investigated the effects of menopause on the melatonin rhythm. The circadian rhythm in melatonin and its relationship to subjective alertness was investigated in pre- and postmenopausal women under constant routine conditions (controlled posture, dim lighting, calorie intake, temperature, and prolonged wakefulness). Eleven healthy pre-menopausal (42+/-4 yr) and 10 postmenopausal women (55+/-2 yr) participated in the study. Salivary melatonin samples and subjective measures of alertness and sleepiness were assessed hourly during the 22 h constant routine protocol. Postmenopausal women had a significantly earlier melatonin acrophase (1.1+/-0.5 h clock time in decimal h; mean+/-SEM, p<0.05) compared to the pre-menopausal women (2.3+/-0.3 h). There was no significant difference between melatonin onset and amplitude between the pre-menopausal and postmenopausal women. Self-rated alertness declined in both study groups as the length of sleep deprivation increased. Melatonin onset preceded the onset of self-rated sleepiness in both groups. The time interval between melatonin onset and the onset of sleepiness and alertness offset was significantly greater in the postmenopausal women compared to the pre-menopausal women. In conclusion, under controlled experimental conditions the timing of the melatonin rhythm was advanced in postmenopausal women altering its phase relationship to subjective alertness and sleepiness.
Chronobiology International 01/2005; 22(5):859-72. · 4.03 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To investigate the factors that may affect antibody titres to heat shock proteins (Hsp)-60, -65 and -70, and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations in patients with dyslipidaemia and other features of the metabolic syndrome as defined by ATPIII criteria.
The study comprised 237 dyslipidaemia patients and 135 healthy individuals recruited from amongst university and hospital employees.
Compared to the healthy individuals, the dyslipidaemic patients had higher antibody titres to Hsp-60 (p<0.01), Hsp-65 (p<0.001) and Hsp-70 (p<0.05), and higher serum CRP concentrations (p<0.001). The best-fitting multifactorial models revealed that known coronary risk factors explained little of the variation in Hsp antibody titres: 3 % for Hsp-60, 1 % for Hsp-65 and 4 % for Hsp-70 amongst the dyslipidaemic subjects. The corresponding values for the subgroup with the metabolic syndrome were 8 %, 3 % and 1 %, respectively. In contrast, the best-fitting model explained 13.5 % of the variation in serum CRP concentrations among the dyslipidaemic patients, obesity being a major determinant; and 14 % in the subgroup with metabolic syndrome.
The higher antibody titres to Hsp-60, -65, and -70 in the dyslipidaemic patients may be related to a heightened state of immunoactivation associated with atherosclerosis in this group. Our data indicate that antibody titres to these Hsps are not associated with the classical coronary risk factors, although serum high sensitivity (hs)CRP concentrations were significantly related to obesity.
Scandinavian Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation 01/2005; 65(7):601-14. · 1.38 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The evidence that oxidative lipid modification may be involved in the genesis of common diseases, such as atherosclerosis, is persuasive, but it was, until recently, conjecture based on in vitro findings, or investigation using experimental animal models. Recent clinical intervention studies in patients at high risk of cardiovascular events have been, at best, inconclusive. This has led to a general consensus that antioxidant supplements are of no value in the prevention of cardiovascular disease in subjects at high risk. However, epidemiological studies have demonstrated that the protective effects of antioxidant supplements, specifically vitamin E, were particularly evident amongst healthy subjects taking supplements. The picture is further clouded by the uncertain mechanism of lipoprotein modification within the artery wall, the possibility that some antioxidants may, under certain conditions, become pro-oxidants, the complex interactions between lipid- and water-soluble antioxidants, and the fact that free-radical-mediated events may only be important in the early stages of atherogenesis. Recent results also suggest that the biological efficacy of antioxidants, such as alpha-tocopherol, may be compromised by the conditions extant within the plaque. It is evidently important that the position on the benefits of antioxidants, whether in food or as supplements, in disease prevention is clarified.
Biochemical Society Transactions 03/2004; 32(Pt 1):160-3. · 3.71 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: It has been proposed that aluminium toxicity may be mediated, at least in part, by free radical generation. We have investigated the effects of aluminium lactate administration on indices of hepatic oxidant stress, and the consequences of concomitant dietary vitamin E, in male albino Wistar rats. Aluminium lactate was administered for 4 weeks, by ip injection at 10 mg aluminium/kg body weight. Groups of animals received a chow diet containing 0, 5, 15, or 20 mg vitamin E/g of food. A control group of rats received a normal chow diet, without being injected with aluminium. The rats were killed after 4 weeks, and blood and liver tissue removed for the measurement of aluminium and markers of oxidative stress. Plasma and liver aluminium levels were increased in all groups of animals receiving aluminium lactate (P < 0.01), although these levels were significantly reduced in rats receiving concomitant vitamin E (P < 0.05). Aluminium treatment was associated with significantly increased levels of hepatic reactive oxygen species (ROS) (P < 0.01) that were attenuated by concomitant vitamin E (P < 0.05). Hepatic catalase and reduced glutathione levels were both reduced in animals treated with aluminium (P < 0.05).
International Journal of Experimental Pathology 02/2003; 84(1):49-54. · 2.57 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Antibody titers to heat shock protein (Hsp)-60 and -65 are positively related to risk of vascular disease and cardiovascular endpoints. There are few data on the factors that regulate the levels of these antibodies. It is known that the statins have antiinflammatory and immunoregulatory properties. The authors examined the effects of 2 statins, simvastatin (Zocor) and atorvastatin (Lipitor) on antibody titers to Hsp-60, -65, and -70 in a group of dyslipidemic patients. Twenty patients attending a lipid clinic, and previously not receiving lipid-lowering treatment, were treated with 10 mg of simvastatin (n = 11) or atorvastatin (n = 9) for 4 months. An additional 14 patients were recruited from the same clinic at the same hospital as a control group. The medication of these latter patients was unaltered for 4 months and the same parameters were measured as for the statin group. Antibody titers to Hsp-60, -65, and -70 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and lipoprotein profile and highly sensitive serum C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured by routine methods before and after treatment. Pretreatment and posttreatment data were compared by paired t or Mann-Whitney tests. Overall statin treatment was associated with a significant reduction in median antibody titers to Hsp-60 (17.2%, p = 0.03), Hsp-65 (15.9%, p = 0.003) and Hsp-70 (8.3%, p = 0.006), but not in control patients. Both statins caused a reduction in median serum CRP concentrations (45% overall, p < 0.05), but significant changes were not observed in the control patients. The effects on Hsp antibody titers were not related to changes in serum CRP concentrations (p > 0.05). However, there was a significant correlation between changes in antibody titers to Hsp-60 vs Hsp-65 (p < 0.01), Hsp-60 vs Hsp-70 (p < 0.05), and Hsp-65 vs Hsp-70 (p < 0.001). Statin treatment was associated with a reduction in antibody titers to Hsp-60, -65, and -70. This reduction is not fully explained by the antiinflammatory effects of the statins but may be due to their other immunomodulatory properties.
Angiology 56(1):61-8. · 1.51 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Atherosclerosis is the predominant underlying pathology responsible for coronary heart disease (CHD). It bears all the hallmarks of a chronic inflammatory disease and typical atherosclerotic lesions contain activated macrophages and T-cells. There have been several reports of possible associations between prior exposure to a number of specific micro-organisms and subsequent CHD, and prospective epidemiological studies have reported that elevated plasma levels of particular acute phase reactants (APRs) are predictors of future cardiac events. Investigators have also shown that immunisations exacerbate atherosclerosis in experimental animal models. These data raise the possibility that immunostimulation associated with natural infection by certain organisms, or vaccination, may promote atherosclerosis. A hypothesis which may explain all these findings, is that the cellular – and perhaps humoral – responses associated with immune stimulation may enhance atherogenesis.
Vaccine.
