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Abstract Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is an important cause of global mortality and morbidity. Body mass index (BMI) is the measure of adiposity that is used most frequently in CVD risk algorithms. Aims We aimed to assess the relationship between several CVD risk factors (RFs) and percent body fat (PBF), and to compare the predictive values obtained using PBF for these cardiovascular RFs with the values obtained using BMI. The CVD RFs included, hypertension (HTN), diabetes mellitus (DM) and the presence of dyslipidemia (DLP). Methods and materials The data were derived from the MASHAD study, a cohort study of 9704 volunteers, aged 35–65 years and living in the city of Mashhad. Based on BMI and PBF values, subjects were classified into 4 groups; group 1 (low or normal BMI and PBF, N = 1670), group 2 (low or normal BMI but high PBF, N = 992), group 3 (high BMI and low or normal PBF, N = 837), and group 4 (high BMI and PBF, N = 6245). Chi-square, covariance and logistic regression were used to analyze the data at a significance level of 0.05. Results There was an increasing trend from group 1 to group 4 for the mean values of all CVD RFs and their prevalence. There were significant differences in the frequency of a low HDL-C, this was substantially higher in Group 3 (38.6% in Group 3 versus 12.2% in Group 2); the frequency of a high serum TG (24% in Group 3 versus 9.9% in Group 2) and the frequency of dyslipidemia overall (56.2% in Group 3 and 28.8% in Group 2) (P-value<0.001 for all comparisons). The frequency of hypertension (22.9% in Group 3 versus 16.2% in Group 2) and IFG (8.5% in Group 3 versus 5.0% in Group 2) were also substantially higher in Group 3 compared to Group 2 (P-value<0.001 for both comparisons). All the mean values for the RFs were higher in group 3 from group 2 except HDL-C. When Group 1 was used as a reference and calculated OR of any RF for any group 2–4 rather than group 1, OR for all RF in group 3 was higher from group 2. Conclusion The differences in frequency, means and OR of RFs between Groups 2 and 3 showed a differential impact of a high BMI or high PBF. Compared to PBF, BMI may be a better predictor for several RFs for CVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypertension is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease and there is increasing evidence that inflammation and abnormal immune responses are involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension. However, the data on the association between specific cytokine concentrations and hypertension are inconsistent. We have evaluated the association between 12 cytokines/growth factors and the presence of different degrees of hypertension, comparing these concentrations to values in a healthy group of subjects. The concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1α, -1β, -2, -4, -6, -8, -10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP-1), epidermal growth factor, and vascular endothelial growth factor were measured in 155 hypertensive patients and 148 healthy subjects, using EV-3513 cytokine biochip arrays, a competitive chemiluminescence immunoassay. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to evaluate the association of specific cytokines and growth factors with systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Hypertensive subjects had higher serum concentrations of IL-1α, -2, -8, vascular endothelial growth factor, IFN-γ, TNF-α, MCP-1, and epidermal growth factor; and lower concentrations of anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10 ( P < .05), compared with the healthy individuals. The serum concentrations of IL-4, -6, and -1β did not differ between the hypertensive subjects and control group. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that IL-1α and IFN-γ were independent predictors of a high SBP, while IFN-γ, IL-1α, TNF-α, and MCP-1 remained statistically significant for DBP after correction for age, gender, Body mass index, smoking, fasting blood glucose, and triglycerides. There was a significant association between the concentrations of several cytokines and hypertension. These associations may either be related to common underlying factors that cause hypertension and may also be proinflammatory or because these inflammatory cytokines might directly be involved in the etiology of hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified common variants at the Vascular-Endothelial-Growth-Factor ( VEGF ) gene locus, which appear to be associated with plasma VEGF concentrations. These factors are among the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome (MetS). We have investigated the association between serum VEGF concentrations and a VEGF genetic variant (rs6921438 A

Background Heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) is an intracellular molecular chaperone that is expressed at high levels following the exposure of cells to environmental stressors such as heat, toxins, and free radicals. High levels of HSP antigens and antibody titers have been reported in several conditions including cardiovascular disease and cancers. We measured serum anti-HSP27 antibody levels in 993 subjects and assessed the associations between serum anti-HSP27 antibody levels and demographic characteristics including coronary risk factors. Methods A total of 993 subjects were recruited as part of the Mashhad Stroke and Heart Atherosclerotic Disorders (MASHAD) cohort study. Demographic, clinical, and biochemical parameters and serum anti-HSP27 antibody titers were determined in all the subjects. Results Serum anti-HSP27 antibody levels increased with increasing age in men. No significant differences in levels were detected between men and women. Serum anti-HSP27 antibody levels were significantly higher in obese subjects than in nonobese subjects (P = 0.046); however, no significant influence of smoking status was observed. Moreover, serum anti-HSP27 antibody titers were positively associated with age, body mass index, waist/hip ratio, the presence of diabetes mellitus, nonsmoking habit, serum triglycerides, cholesterol, and high-sensitivity c-reactive protein. Conclusion We have found that serum anti-HSP27 antibody titers are related to several cardiovascular risk factors, necessitating further studies on the value of this emerging marker for risk stratification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• IL-10 1082 (rs1800896) gene polymorphism was associated with the increased risk of cervical cancer in HPV infected women. • AA genotype of IL-10 1082 (rs1800896) gene polymorphism conferred higher risk of cervical cancer in HPV infected women. • Higher level of IFN-γ, TGF-β, and TNF-α in cervical tissue from patients was noticed. • IL-10 1082 (rs1800896) gene polymorphism was associated with the increased tissue level of IFN-γ, TGF-β, and TNF-α in cervical cancer patients. Cervical-cancer is among the most commonly diagnosed cancers in women, and infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) is associated with an increased risk of cervical cancer and altered serum concentrations of inflammatory cytokines. We have explored the association between a genetic variation in the Interleukin-10 (IL-10) gene (rs1800896) and cervical cancer risk and its relationship with tissue Interferon gamma (IFN-γ), Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) concentrations in women with cervical cancer. A total of 315 women with, or without cervical cancer, were recruited into the study. DNA was extracted from cervical cells, and genotyping was undertaken using Taq-man real-time PCR. The genotype frequency and allele distribution were analyzed together with their association with pathological data. The association of the rs1800896 gene variation with tissue levels of the inflammatory cytokines was also investigated. Our data showed a significant association between the A allele of the rs1800896 gene variant and the presence of cervical cancer. In particular, patients with AG/AA genotypes had an increased risk of cervical cancer with an odds ratio of 1.929 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.879–4.23, P < 0.001) in a recessive model, compared with the GG genotype. Also, the tissue concentrations of IFN-γ, TGF-β, and TNF-α in cervical tissues were significantly higher in women with cervical cancer (P < 0.001) and were associated with the AA genotype. We have found an association between the polymorphism rs1800896 in the IL-10 gene and an increased risk of cervical cancer as well as a higher level of tissue inflammatory cytokines. Further investigations are necessary on the value of emerging biomarkers for the risk stratification for the management of cervical cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]