Carotid and femoral plaques are strong independent predictors of CV mortality in CHPs. The HR risk of femoral artery plaques is more predictable than HR risk of carotid artery plaques.

Osteoporosis and increased arterial stiffness independently have been found to be associated with higher cardiovascular events rates in the general population (GP). We examined 558 patients from GP by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) measurements at baseline, with 36-month follow-up period. DXA assessed bone mineral density of femoral neck (BMD FN) and lumbar spine (BMD LS). Carotid-femoral PWV was assessed by pulsed-Doppler. The aim of our study is to find correlation between bone strength and arterial stiffness and their impact on cardiovascular mortality in GP. The mean ± SD of BMD FN, BMD LS, and PWV was 0.852 ± 0.1432 g/cm2, 0.934 ± 0.1546 g/cm2, and 9.209 ± 1.9815 m/s. In multiple regression analysis we found BMD FN (βst = −6.0094, p < 0.0001), hypertension (βst = 1.7340, p < 0.0091), and diabetes (βst = 0.4595, p < 0.0046). With Cox-regression analysis, after 17 cardiovascular events, the significant covariates retained by the backward model were BMD FN (b = −2.4129, p = 0.015) and PWV (b = 0.2606, p = 0.0318). The cut-off values were PWV = 9.4 m/s, BMD FN = 0.783 g/cm2, and BMD LS = 0.992 g/cm2. The results for BMD FN and PWV hazard ratio risk were 1.116 and 1.297, respectively. BMD FN as a measure of bone strength and PWV as a measure of arterial stiffness are strong independent predictors of cardiovascular mortality in GP.

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Objective:Osteoporosis and abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) are associated with increased morbidity and mortality in postmenopausal women. The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy of anterior-posterior (AP) dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) compared with that of X-ray lateral lumbar radiography (LLR) in detecting and scoring AAC.Methods:In this cross-sectional study conducted in 56 postmenopausal asymptomatic females aged 59.0±9.3 years and who never used medications to treat osteoporosis before, we determined femoral neck and lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) by AP DXA and AAC by X-ray LLR. We hypothesized that the subtracted femoral neck BMD (BMDFN) from lumbar spine BMD (BMDLS) presented as ΔBMD=BMDLS–BMDFN would have a diagnostic value in detecting abdominal vascular calcification.Results:The mean BMDFN was 0.744±0.184 g/cm2, and the mean BMDLS was 0.833±0.157 g/cm2 (p<0.0001); the mean ΔBMD was 0.089±0.077 g/cm2, and the mean AAC score was 2.182±1.982. Bivariate Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between AAC and ΔBMD (r=0.449, p=0.0006); by linear regression analysis, R2=0.2019, and by multiple regression analysis, βst=13.5244 (p<0.0001). We found a sensitivity of 64.3% and specificity of 82.9% by receiver operating characteristic [ROC; area under the ROC curve (AUC=0.759)] in the prediction of AAC by ΔBMD.Conclusion:This AP subtracting BMD DXA method provides a useful tool for detecting and scoring subclinical and extensive AAC in postmenopausal women using a simple, semiquantitative, and accurate scoring system with minimal radiation exposure and low cost.

Objective Thyroid diseases are the second most common endocrine disorders in the reproductive period of women. They can be associated with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), preterm delivery, low Apgar score, low birthweight (LBW) or fetal death. The aim of the present study is to explore thyroid dysfunction and its relationship with some poor perinatal outcomes (Apgar Score, low birthweight, and preterm delivery). Methods Dried blood spot samples from 358 healthy pregnant women were analyzed for thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), total thyroxine (TT4), and thyroglobulin (Tg). Neonatal data were collected upon delivery. Four groups were formed based on thyroid function tests (TFTs). Results Of the 358 tested women, 218 (60.72%) were euthyroid. Isolated hypothyroxinemia was present in 132 women (36.76%), subclinical hyperthyroidism in 7 women (1.94%), and overt hypothyroidism in 1 (0.28%). The perinatal outcomes IUGR (p = 0.028) and Apgar score 1 minute (p = 0.015) were significantly different between thyroid function test [TFT]-distinct groups. In the multiple regression analysis, TT4 showed a statistically significant inverse predictive impact on LBW (p < 0.0001), but a positive impact of Tg on LBW (p = 0.0351). Conclusion Thyroid hormones alone do not have a direct impact on neonatal outcomes, but the percentage of their participation in the total process cannot be neglected. Based on the regression analysis, we can conclude that TT4 and Tg can be used as predictors of neonatal outcome, expressed through birthweight and Apgar score. The present study aims to contribute to determine whether a test for thyroid status should become routine screening during pregnancy.

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Introduction. The most common risk factor for intraepithelial lesions and cervical carcinoma is infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), especially with high-risk HPV genotypes. Only persistent, high-risk HPV infections represent a major risk factor for intraepithelial lesions and cervical cancer. The aims of the study were: detection and typisation of HPV genotypes, which are the most common causes of intraepithelial lesions and cervical cancer, determination of the correlation between HPV infection and histopathological diagnosis, and the correlation between the grade of lesion of the cervix and oncogenic potential of the virus as well as determination of the most affected age group of patients. Methods. This cross-sectional study included 100 sexually active patients with an abnormal Pap test at the age from 20 to 69 years (39±10.77), and was conducted at the University Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics in Skopje and University Clinic of Radiotherapy and Oncology in Skopje in the period from January 2014 to August 2014. In all patients colposcopic cervical biopsy was made with endocervical curettage for histopathological analysis and cervical biopsy for detection and HPV typisation. HPV detection and typisation were done using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse hybridization. Results. HPV DNA was detected in 81.0% (81/100) of the examined women. The relationship between the prevalence of high-risk and low-risk HPV DNA genotypes was 72.0%:9.0%. The frequency of high-risk HPV DNA genotypes ranged from: 54.5% (12/22) in productive HPV infection-mild dysplasia, 86.4% (19/22) with moderate dysplasia, 91.2% (21/23) in severe dysplasia