In conclusion, our study confirmed in vivo that atorvastatin reduces serum A-FABP by a pleiotropic mechanism and supports the hypothesis that A-FABP is involved in atherosclerotic actions.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the recently defined simple insulin sensitivity check index QUICKI (Katz et al. 2000) for insulin resistance diagnostics in common clinical and epidemiological practice. Both the QUICKI (1/log insulin + log glycemia in mg/dL) and HOMA (insulin * glycemia in micromol/L/22.5) indexes were calculated from fasting values in 259 adult healthy volunteers and patients, and in 47 healthy and obese children of prepubertal age of both sexes. In adults, a fall in the QUICKI index (mean +/- SEM in healthy subjects = 0.366 +/- 0.029) as well as an increase in the HOMA index (in healthy subjects 1.57 +/- 0.87) corresponded to metabolic and clinical manifestations of insulin resistance in various groups of outpatients. The QUICKI index had lower dispersion variances and the 95% confidence limits displayed a higher discrimination capacity. Patients with glucose intolerance or diabetes, hyperlipidemia typical for insulin resistance, or with combination of these metabolic disorders were characterized by QUICKI index values that were significantly lower than those of healthy volunteers. The QUICKI index in healthy prepubertal children indicated a higher insulin resistance compared to adults (mean 0.339 +/- 0.020); an increase in the QUICKI index in obese children with BMI over 25 was not significant, although obese children showed a significant increase of serum leptin and triglycerides and a decrease of HDL-cholesterol. Adult patients with QUICKI index below 0.357 (which is at the lower limit of 95% confidence limits in healthy persons) represented a group with typical manifestations of metabolic syndrome, differing in these parameters significantly from the group of patients of comparable age with a QUICKI index greater than 0.357. The present study suggests suitability of the QUICKI index for diagnosis of insulin resistance in clinical and epidemiological practice. However, a normal QUICKI index range needs to be established for each laboratory with an appropriate control group because of significant interlaboratory variations in insulin determinations and/or possible differences in various populations.

Background: A comparison of fetal ultrasonographic biometric parameters of the head (head circumference -HC, biparietal diameter -BPD) in breech presented fetuses.Methods: Ultrasound biometry was performed in accordance with the method presented in the reference tables. In all breech presented fetuses, the HC, BPD and FL (femur length) were measured. High-risk and multiple pregnancies were excluded from the study.Results: A total of 111 ultrasonographic biometries were performed between the 31 st -38 th week of gestation. Fetuses in the breech position had a signifi cantly lower BPD compared to HC and FL. The diff erence between BPD and HC was 16.2 days (95%Cl 14.3-18.1; p = 0.001). Maternal age at delivery was 20 -36 years (average 28.1; median 28.0).Conclusions: According to our results, fetuses in the breech position have a signifi cantly lower BPD compared to HC or FL. HC and FL parameters correlate with gestational age. In cases of ultrasonographic biometric discrepancy between BPD and FL, the fetal position should be taken into account. Breech-presented fetuses have an elongated head shape and ultrasound biometrics should evaluate its circumference (HC). It is important to responsibly interpret the results so as not to stress the expecting mother with suspicions of fetal pathology.

Excess body weight was shown to be associated with risk of several types of cancer. In the Czech Republic, malignant tumors are the second leading cause of death. The aim of this study was to assess the association between the most frequent types of cancer and obesity. Methods: A case-control study was accomplished, using data from the National Cancer Registry and from a preventive oncologic checkup database. Cases were defined as persons from the studied population who developed skin, breast, colorectal, prostate, lung, cervical, endometrial, kidney, ovarian, urinary bladder, stomach, pancreatic, or gallbladder cancers from 1987 to 2002. Controls were cancer-free men and women from the population. Among the cancer patients and healthy controls, proportions of obese, overweight, and nonobese individuals were compared, and odds ratios (OR) were computed. Results: After adjustment for confounders, obese men had a significantly increased risk of colorectal cancer (OR: 2.07, 95% CI: 1.56-2.76) and kidney cancer (OR: 1.92, 95% CI: 1.14-3.24). Obese women were at higher risk of endometrial cancer (OR: 3.25, 95% CI: 1.65-6.37). An inverse association was observed between obesity and lung cancer (in men: OR: 0.49, 95% CI: 0.37-0.66; in women: OR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.21-0.80). Conclusion: Obesity is associated with several frequent types of tumors and represents an important preventable cause of cancer in the population of the District Sumperk, Czech Republic.

Obesity is a serious risk factor for insulin resistance leading to diabetes and other disorders. As it is also occurring at ever younger age groups the aim of this study was to compare average levels of the homeostatic indices HOMA and QUICKI in obese compared to healthy children in an effort to find convenient markers for insulin sensitivity in clinical pediatric practice. Twenty one obese and 29 healthy children were selected. The average level of HOMA in obese children was 3,6, in healthy children 1,7 while the average level of QUICKI in obese children was 0,33 and in healthy children 0,36. The results demonstrate the possibility of insulin sensitivity assessment using these indices in pediatric practice. QUICKI has a narrower confidence interval and thus lower variability.