Search

OBJECTIVE--Diabetes is associated with hemodynamic instability during different situations involving acute circulatory stress in daily life. Young men with type 1 diabetes have been shown to have impaired circulatory response to hypovolemic stress. The effect of type 1 diabetes on cardiovascular response to hypovolemia in young women is unknown, however. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS--Lower body negative pressure of 30 cm H2O was used to create rapid hypovolemic stress in 15 young women with type 1 diabetes (DW) and 16 healthy women (control subjects [C]). Compensatory mobilization of venous capacitance blood (capacitance response) and net fluid absorption from tissue to blood were measured with a volumetric technique. Overall cardiovascular responses and plasma norepinephrine levels were measured. RESULTS--Capacitance response was reduced (DW, 0.67 ± 0.05; C, 0.92 ± 0.06) and developed slower in DW (P, 0.01). Capacitance response was further reduced with increasing levels of HbA1c. Fluid absorption was almost halved in DW (P, 0.01). The initial vasoconstrictor response was reduced and developed slower in DW (P, 0.05). Arterial vasoconstriction was further reduced in the presence of microvascular complications (P, 0.05). CONCLUSIONS--DW present with decreased and slower mobilization of venous capacitance blood and decreased net fluid absorption from tissue to blood during hypovolemic circulatory stress. Collectively, this indicates that DW are prone to hemodynamic instability, especially in the presence of microvascular complications and poor glycemic control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scand J Caring Sci; 2010; 24; 565–571 Young healthy individuals develop lack of energy when adopting an obesity provoking behaviour for 4 weeks: a phenomenological analysis During the past 20 years, a sedentary lifestyle has become more common and simultaneously the consumption of energy-dense food has increased. These are two major risk factors associated with the increase of overweight and obesity, which is found in all ages over the world. The low well-being reported by obese individuals could be associated with increased food intake or it might be a specific consequence of obesity and lack of physical fitness. The aim of this study was to describe the experience of the phenomenon, adopting an obesity provoking behaviour, by increasing energy intake and simultaneously having a sedentary lifestyle for 4 weeks in healthy, normal-weight individuals of both genders. Eighteen healthy individuals (12 men and 6 women; median age 23, range 21–44 years) were included in an intervention, with a doubled energy intake and a maximum physical activity of 5000 steps per day during 4 weeks. After completing this intervention the participants were interviewed and asked to describe their experience during the past 4 weeks. A phenomenological approach was used to gain understanding of the phenomenon and analyses of the transcripts were performed in four steps according to Giorgis′ method. The main essence of the phenomenon, adopting an obesity provoking behaviour, was found to be lack of energy, related to emotional life, relations and life habits. Lack of energy emerged from five structures: influenced self-confidence, commitment to oneself and others, managing eating, feelings of tiredness and physical impact. These five structures were manifested through 12 constituents. These lifestyle changes decreased the sense of well-being in nonobese healthy individuals of both genders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our aim was to study, at the same glycemic control, how treatment with either the insulin secretagogue repaglinide or exogenous insulin aspart affects endogenous insulin secretion, plasma insulin and IAPP (islet amyloid polypeptide) levels, GH-IGF (growth hormone-insulin-like growth factor) axis and plasma lipoprotein concentrations in patients with type 2 diabetes. Five patients, age 65.0 ± 4.1 years (mean ± SE), body weight 82.5 ± 5.0 kg, BMI (body mass index) 27.7 ± 1.5 kg/m2 were treated for 10 weeks with repaglinide or insulin aspart in a randomized, cross-over study. At the end of each treatment a 24-h metabolic profile was performed. Blood glucose, C-peptide, free human insulin, free total (human and analogue) insulin, proinsulin, IAPP, IGF-I, IGFBP-1 (IGF binding protein-1), GHBP (growth hormone binding protein) and plasma lipoprotein concentrations were measured. Similar 24-h blood glucose profiles were obtained with repaglinide and insulin aspart treatment. During the repaglinide treatment, the meal related peaks of C-peptide and free human insulin were about twofold higher than during treatment with insulin aspart. Proinsulin, GHBP were higher and IAPP levels tended to be higher during repaglinide compared to insulin aspart. Postprandial plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides and apolipoprotein B concentrations were higher on repaglinide than on insulin aspart treatment. Our results show that, at the same glycemic control, treatment with exogenous insulin aspart in comparison with the insulin secretagogue repaglinide result in a lower endogenous insulin secretion, and a tendency towards a less atherogenic postprandial lipid profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To study circulating adiponectin concentrations in relation to diabetes duration and endogenous insulin secretion in patients with type 1 diabetes. Patients Patients with haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) < 6% (reference range 3·6–5·4%) were selected for the study. Twenty-two men and 24 women [age 41·3 ± 13·8 years (mean ± SD), diabetes duration 4 months to 52 years] participated. Healthy controls (15 women and nine men, age 41·3 ± 13·0 years) were also included. Overnight fasting serum samples were analysed for adiponectin, HbA1c, C-peptide and lipoproteins. Results Significant positive associations were found between adiponectin concentrations and diabetes duration in univariate and multiple regression analyses. Serum adiponectin averaged 9·7 ± 5·3 [median 8·1, interquartile range (IQR) 3·6] mg/l in patients with diabetes duration less than 10 years and 17·8 ± 10·7 (median 14·7, IQR 7·5) mg/l in patients with longer duration ( P = 0·0001). Among the patients, 24 were without detectable (< 100 pmol/l) and 22 with detectable C-peptide levels (185 ± 91 pmol/l). C-peptide levels in controls averaged 492 ± 177 pmol/l. HbA1c was 5·7 ± 0·6% in patients without detectable C-peptide and 5·6 ± 0·4% in patients with detectable C-peptide (ns). Serum adiponectin was higher in patients without detectable C-peptide than in patients with detectable C-peptide [17·3 ± 11·1 vs. 10·6 ± 5·8 mg/l ( P < 0·005)] and in the controls [10·1 ± 2·9 mg/l ( P < 0·001 vs. patients without detectable C-peptide)]. Conclusions The increase in circulating adiponectin concentrations in patients with type 1 diabetes appears to be strongly associated with long diabetes duration, irrespective of the metabolic control. Among other factors, a putative role for residual β-cell function in the regulation of circulating adiponectin levels can be considered but we did not find sufficient evidence for this in the present study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Type 1 diabetes ( T1 D) is associated with low IGF-I and altered levels of IGF-binding proteins ( IGFBPs) in plasma. This may be of importance for insulin sensitivity and the risk of developing diabetic complications. We hypothesized that IGF-I bioactivity is affected by the route of insulin administration and that continuous intraperitoneal insulin infusion ( CIPII) has a more pronounced effect than continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion ( CSII). Design and methods We compared 10 patients with T1 D on CIPII with 20 age- and sex-matched patients on CSII. Blood sampling was carried out 7-9 am after an overnight fast. All patients were C-peptide negative. IGF-I bioactivity was measured in vitro using a specific IGF-I kinase receptor activation ( KIRA) assay. IGF-I was also measured by immunoassay together with IGF- II, IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-2. Results When compared with subcutaneous insulin, intraperitoneal insulin resulted in ( CIPII vs CSII) higher IGF-I bioactivity (1·83 ± 0·76 vs 1·16 ± 0·24 μg/l; P = 0·02), IGF-I (120 ± 35 vs 81 ± 19 μg/l; P = 0·01) and IGF- II (1050 ± 136 vs 879 ± 110 μg/l; P = 0·02). By contrast, log-transformed IGFBP-1 was reduced ( P = 0·013), whereas log-transformed IGFBP-2 was not different ( P = 0·12). There was a positive correlation between IGF bioactivity and IGF-I ( r = 0·69; P < 0·001) and an inverse correlation between IGF-I bioactivity and log10 IGFBP-1 ( r = −0·68, P < 0·001). Conclusion The in vitro IGF-I bioactivity was higher in patients treated with CIPII compared with CSII supporting the theory that the route of insulin administration is of importance for the activity of the IGF system. Intraperitoneal insulin administration may therefore be beneficial by correcting the alterations of the IGF system in T1 D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aim: To explore risk factors for peripheral arterial disease (PAD) as well as the association between toe blood pressure and subclinical and clinical central vascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes. Method: Toe brachial index (TBI) was cross-sectionally analyzed in 742 middle-aged (54–66 years) patients with type 2 diabetes as well as non-diabetic controls and related to other vascular measures (e.g. carotid intima media thickness (IMT), presence of carotid plaque, central arterial stiffness and left ventricular mass index) and previous cardiovascular events. Results: A TBI≤0.7 was seen in 22% of the patients but only one patient had severe TBI reduction (TBI≤0.3). The corresponding figures in the controls were 13% and 0%, respectively. Mean TBI was significantly lower in patients with type 2 diabetes than in controls (0.81±0.14 vs. 0.87±0.15, p <0.001). In patients with diabetes, a lower TBI was associated with increased central arterial stiffness (p <0.001), IMT (p <0.001) and carotid plaque (p <0.001) as well as with decreasing glomerular filtration rate (p <0.001). Lower TBI was found in patients with previous macrovascular ischemic events. Furthermore, TBI was negatively correlated with age (p <0.001), diabetes duration (p <0.001) and HbA1c (p =0.01). Conclusion: PAD, assessed with TBI, is common in a Swedish middle-aged diabetes type 2 cohort, affecting about one-fifth. As ankle pressure may be confounded by falsely high values in patients with diabetes due to media calcification we conclude that information about TBI may improve the risk evaluation regarding arteriosclerotic disease in both small and large vessels in type 2 diabetes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Context Current guidelines on how to divide the daily cortisol substitution dose in patients with primary adrenal insufficiency ( PAI) are controversial and mainly based on empirical data. Objective To assess how an equal dose of hydrocortisone ( HC) given either four times daily or twice daily influence diurnal profiles of cortisol and ACTH, patient preferences and health-related quality of life ( HRQo L). Design Double blind, crossover. Methods Fifteen patients with PAI (six women) were included. Capsules of HC or placebo were given at 07:00, 12:00, 16:00 and 22:00 h in 4-week treatment periods: either one period with four doses (10 + 10 + 5 + 5 mg) or one period with two doses (20 + 0 + 10 + 0 mg). Diurnal profiles of cortisol and ACTH were collected, and area under the curve ( AUC) was calculated. Questionnaires were used to evaluate patient preferences and HRQo L. Results The four-dose regimen gave a higher serum cortisol before tablet intake in the morning ( P = 0·027) and a higher 24-h cortisolAUC ( P < 0·0001) compared with the two-dose period. In contrast, a lower median plasma ACTH in the morning before tablet intake ( P = 0·003) and a lower 24-h ln( ACTHAUC) were found during the four-dose period. The patients preferred the four-dose regimen ( P = 0·03), and the HRQo L scores tended to be higher (high score indicates better HRQo L) for the four-dose period. In summary, a four-dose regimen gives increased availability of cortisol and an enhanced effect with a less elevated ACTH in the morning in comparison with a two-dose regimen but the effect on HRQo L remains inconclusive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A sedentary lifestyle and increased consumption of energy dense food have become more common in many parts of the world. The aim of this study was to study long term effects on body composition after a four week intervention with fast food based hyper-alimentation and limited physical activity in young normal weight subjects. Methods: Eighteen subjects, mean age 26 (6.6) years, increased their energy intake with in average 70% and physical activity were not to exceed 5000 steps/day. Body composition was measured by Dual energy x-ray (DXA) at baseline, after the intervention and after 12 months. A matched control group was also included. ANOVA and Student's paired and unpaired t-test were used. Results: During the intervention body weight increased with 6.4 (2.8) kg and DXA measurements showed increases of both fat free mass and fat mass. Six months after the intervention the subjects had lost most of the weight gain, - 4.7 (3.1) kg. Twelve months after the intervention body weight had increased with 1.5 (2.4) kg compared to baseline (p = 0.018). DXA measurements at 12 months showed unchanged fat free mass compared to baseline but higher fat mass, + 1.4 (1.9) kg (p = 0.01). After 2.5 years the increase of body weight was 3.1 (4.0) kg (p = 0.01) while there was no change in controls compared to baseline, + 0.1(2.5) kg (p = 0.88). Conclusion: One year after a short term intervention with increased fast food based hyper-alimentation there was an increase of fat mass but unchanged fat free mass. As the change of fat mass was larger than expected from prospective epidemiological studies and as there was no increase of body weight in controls it raises the issue whether there is a long-term effect to increase fat mass of a short period of hyper-alimentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research studied the effects of a lifestyle intervention on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and metabolic risk factors in persons with psychosis, using a longitudinal intervention design with a matched reference sample. In participants in the intervention group, scores on the EQ-VAS, which measured HRQoL, improved from 57.6 to 63.3 (SD = 17.8) (p = 0.05), and HDL cholesterol concentration increased from 1.03 to 1.11 (0.19) mmol/l. (p = 0.02). There was no significant change in body weight among participants. The results of this study indicate that a lifestyle intervention based on group meetings improves HRQoL in patients with psychosis and provides small improvements in metabolic risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Aims and objectives To describe how persons with psychosis perceive participation in a lifestyle intervention, and use these perceptions to present factors to for consideration in future interventions. Background Metabolic syndrome is common in persons with psychosis. A healthy lifestyle is the primary option for preventing and treating metabolic syndrome, which is why the importance of lifestyle interventions has come into focus among health care professionals. Identifying perceptions of participation in a lifestyle intervention can increase the understanding of how to design future interventions. Design A qualitative, phenomenographic approach was selected, using semi-structured interviews. Methods The sample consisted of 40 participants with a psychotic disorder, who had undergone a lifestyle intervention focusing on theoretical education in healthy eating and physical activities. The interviews were conducted in 2011 and 2012, six to seven months after the intervention had been completed. Results The findings comprise three categories that emphasise the need for a moderate intervention level that facilitates participation and thereby social interactions among group members. The experience of success in the intervention supported the perception of oneself as a capable individual. However, it could also be the opposite, another experience of failure. Conclusion Content in moderation can facilitate participation, and participants can thereby achieve health benefits and find social contacts. In addition to physical activity and lifestyle habits, interventions should have a social focus and be continuous. Professional support is a prerequisite and should facilitate the participants' ability to mirror themselves against healthy people in society by introducing activities that ordinary people do. Relevance for clinical practice Identifying perceptions of participation in a lifestyle intervention can increase the understanding of how to design and manage future interventions. This is also an aspect that is important to consider in everyday clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Low levels of vitamin D have been related to increased mortality and morbidity in several non-diabetic studies. We aimed to prospectively study relationships between serum 25-OH vitamin D3 (vitamin D) and of serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) to total mortality in type 2 diabetes. We also aimed to compare the levels of these potential risk-factors in patients with and without diabetes. Methods: The main study design was prospective and observational. We used baseline data from 472 men and 245 women who participated in the "Cardiovascular Risk factors in Patients with Diabetes--a Prospective study in Primary care" study. Patients were 55-66 years old at recruitment, and an age-matched non-diabetic sample of 129 individuals constituted controls for the baseline data. Carotid-femoral pulse-wave velocity (PWV) was measured with applanation-tonometry and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) with ultrasound. Patients with diabetes were followed for all-cause mortality using the national Swedish Cause of Death Registry. Results: Levels of vitamin D were lower in patients with diabetes than in controls, also after correction for age and obesity, while PTH levels did not differ. Nine women and 24 men died during 6 years of median follow up of the final cohort (n = 698). Vitamin D levels were negatively related to all-cause mortality in men independently of age, PTH, HbA1c, waist circumference, 24-h systolic ambulatory-blood pressure (ABP) and serum-apoB (p = 0.049). This finding was also statistically significant when PWV and IMT were added to the analyses (p = 0.028) and was not affected statistically when medications were also included in the regression-analysis (p = 0.01). In the women with type 2 diabetes, levels of PTH were positively related with all-cause mortality in the corresponding calculations (p = 0.016 without PWV and IMT, p = 0.006 with PWV and IMT, p = 0.045 when also adding medications to the analysis), while levels of vitamin D was without statistical significance (p >0.9). Conclusions: Serum vitamin D in men and serum PTH in women give prognostic information in terms of total-mortality that are independent of regular risk factors in addition to levels of ABP, IMT and PWV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: New and clinically useful markers of cardiovascular risk are of essence in type 2 diabetes since ischemic heart disease is a major cause of death in these patients. Methods: We analyzed baseline data from 476 men and 244 women who participated in "Cardiovascular Risk factors in Patients with Diabetes -a Prospective study in Primary care" study. All participants had type 2 diabetes and were 55-66 years old at recruitment during year 2005 to 2008. Except for established traditional risk markers for vascular disease, we also estimated vascular complications non-invasively by performance of carotid-femoral pulse-wave velocity (PWV, with applanation-tonometry) and intima-media thickness of carotid arteries (IMT, with B-mode ultrasound). Patients were followed for incidence of ischemic heart disease mortality and morbidity until end of the year 2012, using the national Swedish Cause of Death and Hospitalization Registries. Results: During the follow-up period of a median of 6 years 47 men and 10 women died or were hospitalized for ischemic heart disease including myocardial infarction. Leptin levels were positively related to the hazard ratio (HR) in men (HR for each log 10 unit 4.9, CI 1.99 to 11.8) and women (HR 11.5, CI 1.47 to 89.7). Leptin predicted ischemic heart disease independently of age, HbA1c, BMI, systolic blood pressure and LDL-cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio (men: HR 12.9 CI 3.2-53, women: HR 19.9, CI 1.2-327) This finding of increased risk related to high leptin levels was also statistically significant when carotid-femoral PWV and IMT were both added to the equations in men (hazard ratio 9.2 CI 2.1-41). Conclusions: Our data support the use of serum leptin in type 2 diabetes to add independent prognostic information in terms of ischemic heart disease when compared with traditional cardiovascular risk factors. In the men of the cohort this prognostic information was in addition also to data on IMT and PWV, two non-invasive measurements of the extent of vascular disease. The power to detect a similar relationship in women was less strong due to lower incidence of cardiovascular disease. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01049737. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Improved Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is an alternative treatment goal for individuals with psychosis, who have up to two times greater prevalence of type 2 diabetes, hypertension and obesity than the general population. Aim: to compare HRQoL in patients with psychosis, especially schizophrenia, with a reference sample and explore the relationship between HRQoL and metabolic risk factors in these patients. Methods: a prospective cohort study was carried out in specialized psychiatric outpatient departments in Sweden. The patients were invited consecutively. A prospective population-based study of public health in the south-east of Sweden served as reference group. Patients were assessed with psychiatric questionnaires that included Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF). Health-related quality of life was assessed using the questionnaire EQ5D, both for patients and the population, and several other health status outcomes were used. Results: At 73%, schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder were the most common diagnoses in the patient group. The results in patients (n=903) and population (n=7238) showed significant differences in lower EQ5D among patients. According to the definition by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), elevated blood pressure was the only metabolic risk associated with lower HRQoL in patients. Raised LDL-cholesterol levels were also significantly related to lower HRQoL. Conclusion: patients suffering from psychosis had significantly lower HRQoL regarding all components in EQ5D, except for the pain/discomfort component. Almost half of the patient group met the criteria for metabolic syndrome. According to the IDF criteria, elevated blood pressure was the only metabolic risk factor that had an impact on HRQoL. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background. The improvement of insulin sensitivity by exercise has been shown to be inhibited by supplementation of vitamins acting as antioxidants. Objective. To examine effects of exercise with or without blueberries, containing natural antioxidants, on cardio-metabolic risk factors. Methods. Fifteen healthy men and 17 women, 27.6 ± 6.5 years old, were recruited, and 26 completed a randomized cross-over trial with 4 weeks of exercise by running/jogging 5 km five times/week and 4 weeks of minimal physical activity. Participants were also randomized to consume 150 g of blueberries, or not, on exercise days. Laboratory variables were measured before and after a 5 km running-race at maximal speed at the beginning and end of each period, i.e. there were four maximal running-races and eight samplings in total for each participant. Results. Insulin and triglyceride levels were reduced while HDL-cholesterol increased by exercise compared with minimal physical activity. Participants randomized to consume blueberries showed an increase in fasting glucose levels compared with controls, during the exercise period (blueberries: from 5.12 ± 0.49 mmol/l to 5.32 ± 0.29 mmol/l; controls: from 5.24 ± 0.27 mmol/l to 5.17 ± 0.23 mmol/l, P = 0.04 for difference in change). Triglyceride levels fell in the control group (from 1.1 ± 0.49 mmol/l to 0.93 ± 0.31 mmol/l, P = 0.02), while HDL-cholesterol increased in the blueberry group (from 1.51 ± 0.29 mmol/l to 1.64 ± 0.33 mmol/l, P = 0.006). Conclusions. Ingestion of blueberries induced differential effects on cardio-metabolic risk factors, including increased levels of both fasting glucose and HDL-cholesterol. However, since it is possible that indirect effects on food intake were induced, other than consumption of blueberries, further studies are needed to confirm the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to explore prerequisites for a healthy lifestyle as described by individuals diagnosed with psychosis. Forty participants who had performed a lifestyle intervention focusing on physical activities and lifestyle education were interviewed. Conventional content analysis was used. The results are described in two categories: (1) Individual Prerequisites and (2) Being a Part of Society. The individuals said that they got stuck in a state of planning without taking action. It was pointless to make a bigger effort because the psychotic disorder could, at any time, worsen the prerequisites. They also said that they wanted to live like everybody else and therefore tried to adopt a normal lifestyle. Future interventions or professional support by mental health nurses and other health care givers should target the transition from planning to action to achieve a healthy lifestyle, and should help the individual to taking part in society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To prospectively evaluate the effects of resistance training combined with increased energy intake or protein-supplementation on lean body-mass, resting metabolic-rate (RMR) and cardiovascular risk factors. Methods. Twenty-four healthy males (aged 19-32 years) performed resistance exercise for 12 weeks aiming for at least 1 hour training-sessions 3 times a week. The participants were randomized to consume extra protein (33 g whey protein/day) or a meal of fast-food/day (1350 kcal, 41 g protein). Body-composition was measured with Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) and RMR by indirect calorimetry. Fasting blood samples were drawn before and after the 3-month training period and after 12 months. Results. The body weight increased from 75.1 ± 6.9 kg to 78.7 ± 7.2 kg ( p < 0.0001), without differences between the groups. RMR increased from 1787 ± 143 kcal/24 h to 1954 ± 187 kcal/24 h ( p < 0.0001, N = 24), which was more than expected from the increase in lean body-mass (increase from 59.7 ± 4.3 kg to 61.8 ± 4.1 kg p = 0.004). Fasting serum-insulin levels increased in the fast-food group compared with the extra-protein group ( p = 0.03). ApoB increased from 0.691 ± 0.14 g/L to 0.768 ± 0.17 g/L, p = 0.004, in the fast-food group only. Long-term follow up after 12 months showed that RMR, body weight, total fat and lean body-masses did not differ from baseline ( n = 19). Conclusions. Resistance training for 12 weeks increased RMR and lean body-mass similarly when based on either an increased energy-intake or protein supplement. However, the increase in RMR was higher than expected from the increase in lean body-mass. Thus resistance training could potentially decrease the risk of obesity by induction of increased RMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction of the PPARγ Pro12Ala polymorphism with diabetes and cardiovascular risk is controversial. We studied 173 women and 309 men in the observational CARDIPP trial in which determination of left ventricular mass, carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were performed. Blood pressures were measured with 24-h ambulatory technique (ABP). Heterozygotes and homozygotes of Ala were defined as Ala in the analyses. Men with Ala-isoform displayed higher waist circumference (Ala: 107 ± 14 cm, Pro: 104 ± 11 cm, p = 0.045) and body weight (Ala: 95.7 ± 18 kg, Pro: 91.6 ± 14 kg, p = 0.042) than Pro-homozygotes. Men with ALA-isoform also showed higher systolic ABP levels (Ala: 134 ± 15 mmHg, Pro: 130 ± 14 mmHg, p = 0.004), whereas left ventricular mass index, IMT and PWV were unrelated to isoforms. In contrast, carotid-radial PWV was lower in women with the Ala-isoform (Ala: 7.9 ± 1.0 m/s, Pro: 8.5 ± 1.3 m/s, p = 0.01) and levels of apolipoprotein A1 were higher (Ala: 1.43 ± 0.27 g/l, Pro: 1.35 ± 0.17 g/l, p = 0.03). In conclusion, we found that men with type 2 diabetes having the Ala-isoform of PPARγ Pro12Ala had an unfavorable cardiovascular risk profile, whereas women with this isoform had lower carotid-radial PWV and higher apolipoprotein A1 levels suggesting a beneficial prognosis. These differences according to gender of the ALA isoform in type 2 diabetes deserve further attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In many parts of the world the prevalence of a sedentary lifestyle in combination with high consumption of food has increased, which contributes to increased risk for becoming overweight. Our primary aim was, in an intervention, to examine the influence on health related quality of life (HRQoL) and mood in young normal weight subjects of both sexes, when adopting an obesity provoking behaviour by increasing the energy intake via fast food and simultaneously adopting a sedentary lifestyle. A secondary aim was to follow-up possible long-term effects on HRQoL and mood 6 and 12months after this short-term intervention. In this prospective study, 18 healthy normal weight subjects (mean age 26±6.6years), mainly university students were prescribed doubled energy intake, and maximum 5000 steps/day, during 4weeks. An age and sex matched control group (n =18), who were asked to have unchanged eating habits and physical activity, was recruited. Before and after the intervention questionnaires including Short Form-36, Hospital Anxiety Depression scale, Center of Epidemiological Studies Depression scale, Sense of Coherence and Mastery scale were completed by the subjects in the intervention group and by the controls with 4weeks interval. Six and 12months after the intervention the subjects underwent the same procedure as at baseline and the controls completed the same questionnaires. During the intervention, subjects in the intervention group increased their bodyweight and developed markedly lower physical and mental health scores on Short Form-36 as well as depressive symptoms while no changes appeared in the controls. The increase of depressive symptoms was associated with increases of energy intake, body weight and body fat. When followed up, 6 and 12months after the intervention, physical and mental health had returned completely to baseline values, despite somewhat increased body weight. In conclusion, adopting obesity provoking behaviour for 4weeks decreases HRQoL and mood in young normal weight subjects. The effect is temporary and when followed up 6 and 12months after the short-term intervention no remaining influence is found. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We studied the effect of increased water intake on ambulatory blood pressure (BP) in healthy individuals. Blood pressure was recorded after 2 weeks of either regular (RWI) or extra water intake (EWI, an additional 30 ml water/kg body weight per day) in 20 healthy subjects (10 males, 10 females). The extra water intake (RWI: 1.7 ± 0.59 l, EWI: 3.7 ± 0.84 l, respectively, p < 0.0001, i.e., an increase of 2 liters) induced an increase in mean arterial daytime BP from 89.0 ± 5.5 mmHg during RWI to 91.4 ± 6.4 mmHg during the EWI phase (p = 0.005), while night-time BP was unchanged by the intervention. The visual-analogue-scale (VAS, maximum score of 10) score corresponding to the statement 'I often experience vertigo' was 3.1 ± 2.6 during RWI and decreased to 2.1 ± 2. 1 during EWI phase (p = 0.008). In conclusion,two liters of extra water intake for 2 weeks significantly increased daytime blood pressure and reduced a sense of vertigo in healthy individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To study the effects of snacking based on fast acting carbohydrates (candy) or fat and protein (peanuts) in a prospective randomized, parallel intervention study. Methods: Basal metabolic rate (BMR) and cardiovascular risk factors were measured before and after hyper-alimentation by addition of 20 kcal/kg (84 kJ/kg) body weight of either candy or roasted peanuts, to the regular caloric intake, for two weeks in healthy subjects. Eleven men and 14 women completed the randomized study. Results: Energy-intake increased similarly in the groups (candy:+46.1±35%, peanuts:+46.8±28%, p=0.96). Body-weight (candy: from 67.3±7.6 kg to 68.1±7.3 kg, p=0.01, nuts: from 68.7±6.1 kg to 69.0±5.7 kg, p=0.3) and waist circumference increased significantly only in the candy group. At the end of the study LDL cholesterol (candy: 2.6±0.4 mmol/L, peanuts: 2.1±0.4 mmol/L, p=0.005) and ApoB/ApoA-1-ratio (candy: 0.68±0.16, peanuts: 0.53±0.11, P=0.01) were higher in the candy group than in the peanut group. On the other hand, BMR increased only in the peanut group (candy: from 6.657±1.1 MJ/24 h to 6.762±1.1 MJ/24 h, p=0.3, nuts: from 6.896 _ 0.98 MJ/24 h to 7.256±1.1 MJ/24 h, p=0.02). Conclusion: Two weeks of snacking based on peanuts does not cause the same negative metabolic effects as an isocaloric diet in which the snacking is based on short acting carbohydrates in the form of candy in non-obese healthy subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary objective To study the effects of individualized recombinant GH substitution, aiming at normal circulating IGF-I levels, in GH-deficient adults on blood pressure, the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS), natriuretic peptides and urine free cortisol. study design Open study with control group. The patients were titrated in dose steps of 0·17 mg GH/day every 6–8 weeks until an IGF-I level around the mean + 1 SD was attained (Tmax ). After another month the dose was reduced by 0·17 mg (minimum dose 0·17 mg/day) to produce IGF-I levels at or slightly below the age-related mean (T end ), and this maintenance dose was held constant for 6 months. subjects Eighteen patients (11 males and seven females) with GH deficiency participated. For comparison we also prospectively evaluated 17 matched control subjects. measurements Blood pressure and heart rate, circulating levels of IGF-I, plasma renin activity (PRA), immunoreactive active renin (IRR), angiotensin II, aldosterone, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and 24-h urine aldosterone and urine free cortisol levels. results Blood pressure was unchanged by GH substitution but heart rate increased significantly (P < 0·03). PRA was elevated on the highest GH dose (T max ) compared to baseline ( P < 0·01), but returned to baseline and levels of controls at T end . Four patients developed transient oedema and tended to have higher PRA levels than the rest of the subjects ( P = 0·09). The circulating levels of IRR, angiotensin II, aldosterone, BNP and 24-h urine aldosterone and urine free cortisol levels were unchanged by GH substitution, and did not differ from the levels in the control subjects. Baseline ANP levels in the patients were lower than in the controls ( P < 0·01), but increased after GH substitution ( P < 0·01) to levels found in with the controls. conclusions We... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]