This study looks at the possible role of some non-traditional risk factors for premature coronary artery disease (CAD) and assesses the presence of relationship between these factors and the traditional cardiovascular risk factors. The study subjects (n=45) are divided into three groups comprising 15 premature CAD patients without traditional cardiovascular risk factors (group I); 15 premature CAD patients with one or more traditional cardiovascular risk factors (group II); and 15 healthy normal control subjects matched for age and sex (group III). Estimation of plasma homocysteine (Hcy) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); plasma folic acid by radioimmunoassay; plasma lipoprotein a (Lpa) by turbidimetry; and plasma lipids by colorimetry. Results showed a significant association between elevated Hcy and low folate levels and premature CAD in both patient groups. Also, a significant association was seen between elevated PAI-1 and CAD in the two patient groups, and between CAD and high levels of Hcy and triglycerides, as well as a low level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Lpa showed significant association with premature CAD only in group II. Thus, Hcy, folic acid and PAI-1 might serve as independent risk factors for premature CAD in patients both with and without traditional coronary risk factors. However, Lpa might confer an additional coronary risk factor only in the presence of traditional risk factors.

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The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of an acute bout of different exercise intensities on modifying the inflammatory markers in overweight and obese subjects.Sixty adult males divided into: a control group (n=30) included normal weight subjects (BMI < 25 kg/m 2 ) and an overweight (OW) and obese group (n=30) included subjects with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m 2 . Each group was randomly subdivided into three groups (n=10 each): low, moderate and high intensity exercise groups. Anthropometric measurements obtained and plasma C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels were measured before and thirty minutes after twenty minutes incremental exercise, at 45%, 60% or 80% of predicted maximum heart rate, on a motor driven treadmill. Following an acute bout of moderate or high intensity exercise, OW and obese subjects showed significant increase in CRP and IL-6 levels; however, TNF-α levels significantly decreased. Nevertheless, an acute low intensity exercise induced no significant changes in any of the measured markers in the OW and obese subjects. In conclusion, an acute bout of moderate or high intensity exercise, but not low intensity exercise, induces an inflammatory response, characterized by a rise in levels of CRP and IL-6, and a decrease in TNF-α level in overweight and obese subjects.

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