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Epicardial fat is associated with duration of antiretroviral therapy and coronary atherosclerosis.
Brener, M, Ketlogetswe, K, Budoff, M, Jacobson, LP, Li, X, Rezaeian, P, Razipour, A, Palella, FJ, Kingsley, L, Witt, MD, et al
AIDS (London, England). 2014;(11):1635-44
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE Cytokines released by epicardial fat are implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. HIV infection and antiretroviral therapy have been associated with changes in body fat distribution and coronary artery disease. We sought to determine whether HIV infection is associated with greater epicardial fat and whether epicardial fat is associated with subclinical coronary atherosclerosis. DESIGN We studied 579 HIV-infected and 353 HIV-uninfected men aged 40-70 years with noncontrast computed tomography to measure epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) volume and coronary artery calcium (CAC). Total plaque score (TPS) and plaque subtypes (noncalcified, calcified, and mixed) were measured by coronary computed tomography angiography in 706 men. METHODS We evaluated the association between EAT and HIV serostatus, and the association of EAT with subclinical atherosclerosis, adjusting for age, race, and serostatus and with additional cardiovascular risk factors and tested for modifying effects of HIV serostatus. RESULTS HIV-infected men had greater EAT than HIV-uninfected men (P=0.001). EAT was positively associated with duration of antiretroviral therapy (P=0.02), specifically azidothymidine (P<0.05). EAT was associated with presence of any coronary artery plaque (P=0.006) and noncalcified plaque (P=0.001), adjusting for age, race, serostatus, and cardiovascular risk factors. Among men with CAC, EAT was associated with CAC extent (P=0.006). HIV serostatus did not modify associations between EAT and either CAC extent or presence of plaque. CONCLUSION Greater epicardial fat volume in HIV-infected men and its association with coronary plaque and antiretroviral therapy duration suggest potential mechanisms that might lead to increased risk for cardiovascular disease in HIV.
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Adiponectin levels in circulation and breast milk and mRNA expression in adipose tissue of preeclampsia women.
Liu, Y, Zhu, L, Pan, Y, Sun, L, Chen, D, Li, X
Hypertension in pregnancy. 2012;(1):40-9
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Physiological insulin resistance occurs in normal pregnancy and is exaggerated in women with preeclampsia (PE). Adiponectin is a hormone with insulin-sensitizing, anti-atherogenic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Reports published on association between adiponectin levels and PE risk have been conflicting. This study sought to better determine the circulating adiponectin levels and its mRNA expression in adipose tissue in women with PE. METHODS This report includes a cross-sectional study at a Chinese clinical research center and meta-analysis. The cross-sectional study included normal pregnancy women (n = 28) and PE women (n = 20) who underwent cesarean operation. Adiponectin concentrations in maternal serum, cord blood, and colostrums were determined by ELISA. Adiponectin mRNA expression levels in adipose tissue were measured by quantitative real-time PCR. Meta-analysis was done on 13 studies, including 302 PE women and 385 normal pregnancy women. RESULTS In comparison with controls, PE women had higher serum adiponectin concentrations in maternal blood and breast milk, but lower adiponectin concentration in cord blood. Adiponectin mRNA expression in the subcutaneous (Sc) and omental adipose tissues (OM) did not differ between the two groups of women. Meta-analysis confirms that the circulating adiponectin levels were elevated in PE women (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS PE women had a higher adiponectin concentration in the maternal blood as well as breast milk but lower adiponectin concentration in umbilical cord blood when compared to women with normal pregnancy. The elevated circulating adiponectin levels in PE women are probably because of a reduced degradation/elimination rather than an increased synthesis of this hormone.