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Objective: Statin treatment compliance and achieving target levels differ between populations. This study aimed to determine the status of achieving the lipid targets and evaluate patients' compliance to statin treatment in type 2 diabetic patients with dyslipidemia. Method: This cross-sectional study included type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with dyslipidemia who applied for treatment at our polyclinics. Statin compliance was evaluated using the Modified Morisky Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) through a face-to-face interview. Cardiovascular (CV) risk was calculated according to the 2019 ESC (European Society of Cardiology) criteria by evaluating the patients' individual risk factors. LDL targets were determined according to risk categories with the same criteria. Results: A total of 504 patients (F/M: 274/230) were included. The serum LDL levels were 102.6 ± 39.2 mg/dL. Of the patients, 56.1% were under statin treatment. CV risk was very high in 73.6% of patients. LDL levels were significantly lower in users than in non-users (91.2 ± 26.0, 117.3 ± 38.4, p < 0.0001). The rate of reaching the LDL target was 14.8% in statin users. Treatment compliance was low for 40.6% of statin users. Discontinuation of statin treatment due to side effects was 15.7% (n = 14). N = 49 patients willingly discontinued statin treatment. They reported that 40.8% considered the treatment unnecessary. Conclusion: It was observed that 56.1% of type 2 diabetic patients were on statin therapy. A small percentage of them 14.8% (n = 42) reached the LDL target. Statin non-compliance and a lack of awareness of the statin treatment are the main reasons for high LDL levels in type 2 diabetic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To study the association of pro-inflammatory markers with incident diabetes in India. Methods: We did a nested case–control study within the CARRS (Centre for Ardiometabolic Risk Reduction in South Asia) cohort. Of the 5739 diabetes-free individuals at the baseline, 216 participants with incident diabetes and 432 age-, gender- and city-matched controls at 2-year follow-up were included. We measured high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), adiponectin, leptin and fetuin-A in the stored baseline blood samples. We did multivariate conditional logistic regression to estimate association of inflammatory markers (as quartiles) and incident diabetes. Covariates were baseline fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and lipids, body mass index (BMI), family history of diabetes, smoking and alcohol use. Results: Baseline hsCRP and TNF-α were higher, and IL-6 and adiponectin were lower among cases vs. controls. In multivariate conditional logistic regression models, only quartile-3 (odds ratio [OR]: 2.96 [95% CI:1.39, 6.30]) and quartile-4 (OR: 2.58 [95% CI: 1.15, 5.79]) of TNF-α and quartile-4 of MCP-1 (OR: 2.55 [95% CI: 1.06, 6.16]) were positively associated with diabetes after adjusting for baseline FPG and BMI. These associations did not remain after adjusting for family history. High level (quartile-4) of IL-6 was negatively associated with diabetes after adjusting for all factors (OR: 0.18 [95% CI: 0.06, 0.55]). Conclusions: Higher TNF-α and MCP-1 levels and lower IL-6 were associated with higher risk of developing diabetes. Better understanding and potential methods of addressing these biomarkers, especially in relation to family history, are needed to address diabetes in South Asians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Coffee intake and apolipoprotein B levels have been linked to gastric, colorectal, and esophageal cancers in numerous recent studies. However, whether these associations are all causal remains unestablished. This study aimed to assess the potential causal associations of apolipoprotein B and coffee intake with the risk of gastric, colorectal, and esophageal cancers using Mendelian randomization analysis. Methods: In this study, we utilized a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis to access the causal effects of coffee intake and apolipoprotein B on gastric, colorectal, and esophageal cancers. The summary statistics of coffee intake (n = 428,860) and apolipoprotein B (n = 439,214) were obtained from the UK Biobank. In addition, the summary statistics of gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, and esophageal cancer were obtained from the FinnGen biobank (n = 218,792). Inverse variance weighted, MR–Egger, weighted median, and weighted mode were applied to examine the causal relationship between coffee intake, apolipoprotein B and gastric, colorectal, and esophageal cancers. MR–Egger intercept test, Cochran's Q test, and leave-one-out analysis were performed to evaluate possible heterogeneity and pleiotropy. Steiger filtering and bidirectional mendelian randomization analysis were performed to evaluate the possible reverse causality. Results: The result of the inverse variance weighted method indicated that apolipoprotein B levels were significantly associated with a higher risk of gastric cancer (OR = 1.392, 95% CI 1.027–1.889, P = 0.0333) and colorectal cancer (OR = 1.188, 95% CI 1.001–1.411, P = 0.0491). Furthermore, multivariable Mendelian randomization analysis also revealed a positive association between apolipoprotein B levels and colorectal cancer risk, but the effect of apolipoprotein B on gastric cancer risk disappeared after adjustment of coffee intake, body mass index or lipid-related traits. However, we did not discover any conclusive evidence linking coffee intake to gastric, colorectal, or esophageal cancers. Conclusions: This study suggested a causal association between genetically increased apolipoprotein B levels and higher risk of colorectal cancer. No causal relationship was observed between coffee intake and gastric, colorectal, or esophageal cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate erectile dysfunction and associated factors in diabetic patients. Three hundred two patients aged 30–69 and diagnosed with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) at the internal diseases clinic of a Turkish hospital between January and July 2023 were included in this descriptive, cross-sectional study. The patients' anthropometric and demographic characteristics, blood lipid and glucose levels, and blood testosterone values were examined. All patients completed the shortened version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were applied. The incidence of erectile dysfunction in the patients with type 2 DM was 54.3%. The patients' mean age was 48.89 ± 7.87 years. The majority were obese (53.0%) and had comorbidities (66.2%). Duration of diabetes was longer among the patients with erectile dysfunction than in those without (mean duration of DM 84.86 ± 42.49 years and 71.05 ± 25.58 years, respectively, p: 0.001). No diabetes-related complications were observed in 67.2% of the patients, while glycemic control was weak in 44.4% (HbA1c < 7%). Increased body mass index (p = 0.009), lack of physical activity, HbA1C elevation, and low testosterone levels (p < 0.001) emerged as independent indicators of erectile dysfunction (p < 0.05). Erectile dysfunction is very prevalent in diabetic men. The Condition is also increasingly significant as an early clinical indicator for patients with cardiovascular disease. Erectile dysfunction evaluation and management should constitute a standard component in addition to routine laboratory investigation in internal diseases clinics. Clinicians should screen patients with longer durations of diabetes more frequently and refer them for treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circadian rhythms, which are governed by a circadian clock, regulate important biological processes associated with obesity. SNPs in circadian clock genes have been linked to energy and lipid homeostasis. The aim of our study was to evaluate the associations of CLOCK and REV-ERBα SNPs with BMI and plasma lipid levels in pre-pubertal boys and girls. The study sample population comprised 1268 children aged 6–8 years. Information regarding anthropometric parameters and plasma lipid concentrations was available. Genotyping of CLOCK SNPs rs1801260, rs4580704, rs3749474, rs3736544 and rs4864548 and REV-ERBα SNPs rs2017427, rs20711570 and rs2314339 was performed by RT-PCR. The CLOCK SNPs rs3749474 and rs4864548 were significantly associated with BMI in girls but no in boys. Female carriers of the minor alleles for these SNPs presented lower BMI compared to non-carriers. A significant association of the REV-ERBα SNP rs2071570 with plasma total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and Apo B in males was also observed. Male AA carriers showed lower plasma levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and Apo B levels as compared with carriers of the C allele. No significant associations between any of the studied REV-ERBα SNPs and plasma lipid levels were observed in females. In summary, CLOCK and REV-ERBα SNPs were associated with BMI and plasma lipid levels respectively in a sex-dependent manner. Our findings suggest that sex-related factors may interact with Clock genes SNPs conditioning the effects of these polymorphisms on circadian alterations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess the relationship of early pregnancy maternal diet quality (DQ) with maternal plasma lipids and indicators of cardiometabolic health, including blood pressure (BP), gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and gestational weight gain (GWG). Methods: Women (n = 215) aged 18–40 years with singleton pregnancies were recruited at 10–20 weeks gestation. Diet quality was assessed by the Dietary Guideline Index, calculated at early ([mean ± SD]) (15 ± 3 weeks) and late (35 ± 2 weeks) pregnancy. Lipidomic analysis was performed, and 698 species across 37 lipid classes were measured from plasma blood samples collected at early (15 ± 3 weeks) and mid (27 ± 3 weeks)-pregnancy. Clinical measures (BP, GDM diagnosis, weight) and blood samples were collected across pregnancy. Multiple linear and logistic regression models assessed associations of early pregnancy DQ with plasma lipids at early and mid-pregnancy, BP at three antenatal visits, GDM diagnosis and total GWG. Results: Maternal DQ scores ([mean ± SD]) decreased significantly from early (70.7 ± 11.4) to late pregnancy (66.5 ± 12.6) (p < 0.0005). At a false discovery rate of 0.2, early pregnancy DQ was significantly associated with 13 plasma lipids at mid-pregnancy, including negative associations with six triglycerides (TGs); TG(54:0)[NL-18:0] (neutral loss), TG(50:1)[NL-14:0], TG(48:0)[NL-18:0], TG(52:1)[NL-18:0], TG(54:1)[NL-18:1], TG(50:0)[NL-18:0]. No statistically significant associations were found between early pregnancy DQ and BP, GDM or GWG. Conclusion: Maternal diet did not adhere to Australian Dietary Guidelines. Diet quality was inversely associated with multiple plasma TGs. This study provides novel insights into the relationship between DQ, lipid biomarkers and cardiometabolic health during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 disease (COVID-19) pandemic affected lifestyles and resulted in significant weight gain in the general population. Its impact on children after kidney transplantation (KTx) is unknown. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated body mass index (BMI) z-scores during the COVID-19 pandemic in 132 pediatric KTx patients, followed-up at three German hospitals. Among those, serial blood pressure measurements were available for 104 patients. Lipid measurements were available from 74 patients. Patients were categorized according to gender and age group, i.e., children versus adolescents. Data were analyzed by a linear mixed model approach. Results: Before the COVID-19 pandemic, female adolescents presented with higher mean BMI z-scores compared to male adolescents (difference: − 1.05, 95% CI − 1.86 to − 0.24, p = 0.004). No other significant differences could be observed among the other groups. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the mean BMI z-score increased in adolescents (difference: male, 0.23, 95% CI 0.18 to 0.28; female 0.21, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.29, each p < 0.001), but not in children. The BMI z-score was associated with adolescent age, and with the combination of adolescent age, female gender, and the duration of the pandemic (each p < 0.05). During the COVID-19 pandemic, the mean systolic blood pressure z-score significantly increased in female adolescents (difference: 0.47, 95% CI 0.46 to 0.49). Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, adolescents in particular showed a significant increase in their BMI z-score after KTx. Additionally, an increase in systolic blood pressure was associated with female adolescents. The findings suggest additional cardiovascular risks in this cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity and chronic disease are increasing problems in refugee populations. Afghani refugees undergoing hepatitis B vaccination between January 2015 and December 2017 at a general practice clinic received dietary counselling sessions in Dari by native speaking clinicians. Anthropometry, blood pressure, fasting lipids and liver function tests were measured at both visits with results compared over time. 110/119 refugees requiring hepatitis B vaccination were recruited into the study. Mean BMI was lower at follow up visits (25.4 vs 26.1 by wilcoxon signed rank test p 0.04) with 72 of 110 participants losing a median of 2 kg between visits (range 0.5–14 kg) a mean of 206 days after the initial consultation. Median triglyceride levels were lower at the second visit than the first (1.4 vs 1.3 mmol/L Wilcoxon signed rank test Z = 3.5, p 0.0004). This cohort of refugees lost weight and showed a small improvement in triglyceride levels between visits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: It has been hypothesized that lipid profiles are associated with bone mineral density (BMD), but previous results have been controversial. In this study, serum triglycerides showed a significant inverse association with BMD, and the relationship is thought to correlate with vitamin D status among older adults. Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between lipid profiles and bone mineral density (BMD) in older adults using data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Methods: We enrolled men older than 50 years and postmenopausal women who participated in the KNHANES 2008–2011. Subjects with liver cirrhosis, thyroid disease, or renal dysfunction and those receiving treatment for hyperlipidemia or osteoporosis were excluded. Results: A total of 4323 subjects (2286 men and 2037 women) was analyzed. The prevalence of osteoporosis was 8.7% in men older than 50 years and 38.4% in postmenopausal women. Osteopenia and osteoporosis groups were generally older and tended to have a lower body mass index compared to the normal group (p for trend < 0.001). The correlation between each lipid profile and BMD was analyzed in the linear model adjusted for age and body mass index. Total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol showed a negative correlation with BMD in the total population, but there was no significant correlation when analyzed separately for men and women. Triglycerides had a negative association with whole-body BMD in both men and women (p < 0.05). The adjusted odds ratio of logarithmic triglyceride level for osteoporosis was 2.50 (95% confidence interval 1.13–5.51) in women older than 65 years. Conclusion: Serum triglycerides showed a significant inverse association with BMD, and the relationship is thought to correlate with vitamin D status among older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study determined the relationship between physical activity (PA), circulating lipids throughout pregnancy and infant anthropometric outcomes at birth and 2 weeks of age. Methods: Women (N = 234) with normal weight (NW, BMI 18.5–24.9 kg/m2) and with overweight and class I obesity (OW/OB, BMI 25–35 kg/m2) were categorized into high and low PA based on average cohort steps during pregnancy (8099 steps/day). Circulating fasting lipids were measured at each trimester. Standardized methods were used to obtain anthropometrics measures. Infant body composition was estimated by quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (EchoMRI-AH small; ECHO Medical Systems). Results: Women with NW who had higher activity had lower circulating triglycerides (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) levels at 12 weeks compared to women with NW and low activity (p < 0.05). Women with OW/OB and high activity level throughout pregnancy had lower circulating TG, and low density lipoprotein (LDL), at 12 weeks, lower LDL at 24 weeks, and lower TG at 36 weeks compared to the women with OW/OB who had low activity levels (p < 0.05). For children born to women with OW/OB, maternal circulating TG and LDL were most associated with infant anthropometrics at 2 weeks of age. Conclusion: This study supports that higher PA during pregnancy is associated with lower lipid levels throughout pregnancy with a greater effect size in women with OW/OB. Maternal lipids were associated with anthropometrics and infant body composition at two weeks of life in women with OW/OB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to assess the correlation between body mass index (BMI) and plasma lipid profile levels in mild and severe COVID-19 patients. Method: This was a prospective, observational, cohort study, conducted in a medical referral center specializing in management of COVID-19 cases. Patients were divided into two groups according to infection severity (mild and severe). Blood samples were obtained from all patients who tested positive to a PCR test for measuring biochemical and inflammatory markers such as lactate dehydrogenase, ferritin, C-reactive protein, and d-dimer, as well as lipid profile, including total cholesterol, triacylglycerols, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), which were analyzed and compared between the two groups. Pearson's correlation was used to assess the correlation between BMI and plasma lipid profile among mild and severe cases. Results: The levels of plasma triacylglycerols, d-dimer, lactate dehydrogenase, ferritin, and C-reactive protein with severe infection were significantly different between patients with mild and severe COVID-19 symptoms (p = 0.036, 0.03, 0.001, 0.014, and 0.006, respectively). A positive correlation between BMI and triglyceride levels was observed only in the severe infection group. However, HDL-C was negatively correlated with BMI. Conclusion: A routine lipid profile test might help as a marker of inflammation and risk stratification in patients with COVID-19. Especially in middle- or low-income countries, the test can rapidly help clinicians to delineate prognostic measures and hence management and treatment plans for this disease as the levels of the lipid profile were correlated with the patients' BMI and infection severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This cross-sectional research was undertaken to determine the serum levels of asprosin, a novel white adipose tissue-derived glucogenic adipokine, in epileptic patients on valproic acid treatment. Methods: Sixty-six patients diagnosed with idiopathic tonic–clonic generalized epilepsy were divided into three groups: those treated with valproic acid (n = 22), those treated with lamotrigine (n = 22), and twenty-two newly diagnosed or untreated patients. A control group was twenty-two, healthy volunteers with a similar distribution of gender and age. Body mass index (BMI) and fasting serum levels of asprosin, glucose, glycohemoglobin (HbA1c), insulin, and lipid profile were measured for both patients and control groups. Additionally, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was also calculated for the investigated groups. Results: The mean BMI values and fasting serum levels of glucose, HbA1c, insulin, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglyceride were much higher in subjects treated with valproic acid than those in the other study groups. Furthermore, a higher number of participants in the valproic acid group fulfilled the insulin resistance criterion (defined as HOMA-IR > 2.5) compared with those in other study groups. The mean fasting serum asprosin concentration was also significantly higher in the valproic acid group than in other study groups. This was while the values of the study parameters were comparable in the healthy, un-treated, and lamotrigine groups. Conclusions: Our finding suggested that elevated asprosin level might be one of the pathological mechanisms involved in the development of obesity, insulin resistance, and metabolic disturbances related to valproic acid treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social inequalities in health and disease are well studied. Less information is available on inequalities in biomarker levels indicating subclinical stages of disease such as cystatin C, an early diagnostic marker of renal dysfunction and predictor for cardiovascular disease. We evaluated the relationship between cystatin C, socioeconomic position (SEP) and established cardiovascular risk factors in a population-based study. In 4475 men and women aged 45–75 years participating in the baseline examination of the Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study cystatin C was measured from serum samples with a nephelometric assay. SEP was assessed by education and household income. Linear regression models were used to analyse the association between SEP and cystatin C as well as the impact of cardiovascular risk factors (i.e., body mass index, blood pressure, blood glucose, diabetes mellitus, blood lipids, C-reactive protein, smoking) on this association. After adjustment for age and sex cystatin C decreased by 0.019 mg/l (95% confidence interval (CI) − 0.030 to − 0.008) per five years of education. While using a categorical education variable cystatin C presented 0.039 mg/l (95% CI 0.017–0.061) higher in men and women in the lowest educational category (≤ 10 years of education) compared to the highest category (≥ 18 years). Concerning income, cystatin C decreased by 0.014 mg/l (95% CI − 0.021 to − 0.006) per 1000 € after adjustment for age and sex. For men and women in the lowest income quartile cystatin C was 0.024 mg/l (95% CI 0.009–0.038) higher compared to the highest income quartile. After adjusting for established cardiovascular risk factors the observed associations were substantially diminished. Social inequalities seem to play a role in subclinical stages of renal dysfunction, which are also related to development of cardiovascular disease. Adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors showed that these risk factors largely explain the association between SEP and cystatin C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]