INTROduCTION The beneficial effect of obesity on bone mineral density (BMD) has not been definitely established. ObjECTIvEs The aim of the study was to evaluate changes in BMD in obese perimenopausal women during a 5-year follow-up. PATIENTs ANd mEThOds The study involved 54 obese women. The group was divided into 2 subgroups according to the menopausal status: postmenopausal women-M (n = 35) and premenopausal women-P (n = 19). Laboratory tests (parathyroid hormone, 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 , C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen, osteocalcin, and osteoprotegerin), anthropometric measurements, and densitometry were performed twice during the 5-year follow-up. The control group consisted of 19 healthy women of the same age and with normal body weight. REsuLTs Obese postmenopausal women were characterized by lower BMD in the proximal femur and lumbar spine, higher fracture risk, and higher serum osteocalcin levels at baseline. During the 5-year follow-up, there was a 1.52% and 6.86% decrease in proximal femur BMD and 2.34% and 5.17% in lumbar spine BMD (in premenopausal and postmenopausal women, respectively). In postmenopausal controls, BMD reduction was 2.36% and 4.3%, respectively. In the combined analysis including all postmenopausal women, there was an inverse correlation between the initial body mass index and the changes in proximal femur BMD (r =-0.25; P <0.05) and lumbar spine BMD (r =-0.28; P = 0.08) that occurred during the 5-year follow-up.
A b s t r a c tIntroduction: Urotensin II (UII) is a vasoactive peptide secreted by endothelial cells. Increased plasma UII concentration was observed in patients with heart failure, liver cirrhosis, diabetic nephropathy and renal insufficiency. In patients with myocardial infarction both increased and decreased plasma UII concentrations were demonstrated. The aim of this study was to analyze whether plasma UII concentration reflects the severity of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Material and methods: One hundred and forty-nine consecutive patients with ACS, without age limit, were enrolled in the study. In all patients plasma concentration of creatinine, creatine kinase isoenzyme MB (CK-MB), troponin C, N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro BNP), and UII were assessed, and echocardiography was performed in order to assess the degree of left ventricular hypertrophy, ejection fraction (EF) and mass (LVM). Results: In patients with the highest risk (TIMI 5-7) plasma UII concentration was significantly lower than in those with low risk (TIMI 1-2): 2.61 ±1.47 ng/ml vs. 3.60 ±2.20 ng/ml. Significantly lower plasma UII concentration was found in patients with increased concentration of troponin C (2.60 ±1.52 ng/ml vs. 3.41 ±2.09 ng/ml). There was a significant negative correlation between plasma UII concentration and TIMI score or concentration of troponin C, but not CK-MB. Borderline correlation between plasma UII and ejection fraction (R = 0.157; p = 0.063) or NT-proBNP (R = -0.156; p = 0.058) was found. Conclusions: Decreased plasma urotensin II concentration in patients with ACS could be associated with more severe injury of myocardium.
IntroductIon It is widely recognized that obesity has a protective effect on the bone tissue. 1 An increase in the body mass index (BMI) is followed by an increase in bone mineral content and bone mineral density (BMD). Obese women have a lower risk of low-energy fractures compared with normal-weight women. 2,3 Ravn et al., 4 when comparing the populations of obese and lean women of similar age, showed that increased body weight significantly reduces the risk of osteoporosis. In elderly people, obesity exerts a protective effect against fractures of the proximal
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