PURPOSE: High-Sensitivity C-reactive protein(hs-CRP) has been recognized as a very useful and sensitive predictor of the future risk of myocardial infarction. But the clinical significance of hs-CRP in children remains uncertain. To confirm the existence of obesity-induced vascular inflammation and the association between metabolic syndromes and elevation of CRP in children, we investigated the relationship among CRP, obesity, blood pressure(BP), and serum lipids in schoolboys. METHODS: Twenty-eight obese(BMI 29.61+/-3.29 kg/m2) and 93 non-obese(BMI 18.99+/-2.21 kg/m2) boys aged 14 years were examined. Serum CRP levels was measured by the high sensitive latex turbidimetric immunoassay and subjects with CRP levels below 0.3 mg/dL were adopted to avoid the influence of acute infection. RESULTS: Obese children had significantly higher hs-CRP levels than their non-obese group(0.104+/-0.075 vs. 0.054+/-0.005 mg/dL). In the obese group, BMI, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, apolipoprotein B, atherogenic index, and triglyceride were significantly higher than in non-obese. The BMI, diastolic blood pressure, apolipoprotein E, atherognic index, and triglyceride showed positive correlation with log CRP by simple regression. Multiple regression analysis indicated that BMI and apolipoprotein E were strongly related to CRP. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that obese children tended to have higher levels of serum hs-CRP, BP elevation and dyslipidemia than the control group and that BMI and apolipoprotein E were strongly related to CRP. These results indicate that obesity related metabolic syndrome can be developed in children.
Apolipoproteins ; Blood Pressure ; C-Reactive Protein* ; Child ; Dyslipidemias ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; Inflammation ; Latex ; Myocardial Infarction ; Obesity ; Triglycerides

BACKGROUND: Increased low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level and the presence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) are important risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Recent studies demonstrated apolipoprotein B (apoB), a protein mainly located in LDL-C, was an independent predictor of the development of CVD especially in patients with T2DM. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between apoB and MetS in T2DM patients. METHODS: We analyzed 912 patients with T2DM. Fasting blood samples were taken for glycated hemoglobin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL-C, and apoB. MetS was defined by the modified National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. We performed a hierarchical regression analysis with apoB as the dependent variable. Age, sex, the number of components of MetS and LDL-C were entered at model 1, the use of lipid-lowering medications at model 2, and the individual components of MetS were added at model 3. RESULTS: Seventy percent of total subjects had MetS. ApoB level was higher in subjects with than those without MetS (104.5+/-53.3 mg/dL vs. 87.7+/-33.7 mg/dL, P<0.01) even after adjusting for LDL-C. ApoB and LDL-C were positively correlated to the number of MetS components. The hierarchical regression analysis showed that the increasing number of MetS components was associated with higher level of apoB at step 1 and step 2 (beta=0.120, P<0.001 and beta=0.110, P<0.001, respectively). At step 3, TG (beta=0.116, P<0.001) and systolic blood pressure (beta=0.099, P<0.05) were found to significantly contribute to apoB. CONCLUSION: In patients with T2DM, apoB is significantly related to MetS independently of LDL-C level. Of the components of MetS, TG, and systolic blood pressure appeared to be determinants of apoB.
Adult ; Apolipoproteins B ; Apolipoproteins* ; Blood Pressure ; C-Reactive Protein ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Cholesterol, LDL* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Education ; Fasting ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated ; Humans ; Risk Factors ; Triglycerides

Many patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) requiring hemodialysis present with hypertriglyceridemia (HTG). But the exact cause of HTG in CRF is still unknown. Genetic variation of the apo AI-CIII-AIV gene cluster was reported to be associated with primary HTG, atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. This study was designed to evaluate the association between the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the apo AI-CIII-AIV gene cluster and HTG in patients with CRF undergoing hemodialysis. Genetic variations of the apo AI-CIII-AIV gene cluster were analysed in peripheral leukocyte samples from 59 patients with CRF undergoing hemodialysis: 17 patients with HTG (CRF-HTG) and 42 patients without HTG (CRF-NTG). The RFLP was achieved through the digestion of PCR products by two restriction enzymes, SstI and MspI. The frequency of SstI minor allele (S2) in CRF-HTG was 0.44, which was significantly higher than that in CRF-NTG (0.17). Frequencies of MspI minor allele (M2) in CRF-HTG and CRF-NTG were not significantly different (0.5 vs 0.32) (p=0.07). Frequencies of S2-M2 genotype were 0.65 in CRF-HTG, and 0.27 in CRF-NTG (p>0.005). These data indicate that genetic variation of the apo AI-CIII-AIV gene cluster may serve as one of the causes of HTG in CRF.
Apolipoprotein A-I/genetics* ; Apolipoproteins A/genetics* ; Apolipoproteins C/genetics* ; Apolipoproteins C/blood ; Cholesterol/blood ; Female ; Human ; Hypertriglyceridemia/genetics* ; Hypertriglyceridemia/complications ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/genetics* ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/complications ; Lipoproteins, HDL Cholesterol/blood ; Male ; Middle Age ; Multigene Family* ; Renal Dialysis ; Triglycerides/blood ; Variation (Genetics)*

Many patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) requiring hemodialysis present with hypertriglyceridemia (HTG). But the exact cause of HTG in CRF is still unknown. Genetic variation of the apo AI-CIII-AIV gene cluster was reported to be associated with primary HTG, atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. This study was designed to evaluate the association between the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the apo AI-CIII-AIV gene cluster and HTG in patients with CRF undergoing hemodialysis. Genetic variations of the apo AI-CIII-AIV gene cluster were analysed in peripheral leukocyte samples from 59 patients with CRF undergoing hemodialysis: 17 patients with HTG (CRF-HTG) and 42 patients without HTG (CRF-NTG). The RFLP was achieved through the digestion of PCR products by two restriction enzymes, SstI and MspI. The frequency of SstI minor allele (S2) in CRF-HTG was 0.44, which was significantly higher than that in CRF-NTG (0.17). Frequencies of MspI minor allele (M2) in CRF-HTG and CRF-NTG were not significantly different (0.5 vs 0.32) (p=0.07). Frequencies of S2-M2 genotype were 0.65 in CRF-HTG, and 0.27 in CRF-NTG (p>0.005). These data indicate that genetic variation of the apo AI-CIII-AIV gene cluster may serve as one of the causes of HTG in CRF.
Apolipoprotein A-I/genetics* ; Apolipoproteins A/genetics* ; Apolipoproteins C/genetics* ; Apolipoproteins C/blood ; Cholesterol/blood ; Female ; Human ; Hypertriglyceridemia/genetics* ; Hypertriglyceridemia/complications ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/genetics* ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/complications ; Lipoproteins, HDL Cholesterol/blood ; Male ; Middle Age ; Multigene Family* ; Renal Dialysis ; Triglycerides/blood ; Variation (Genetics)*

BACKGROUNDIncreased triglyceride (TG) occurs in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and apolipoprotein AV (apoAV) has been shown to lower TG levels. In the present study, we investigated plasma apoAV level and its relationship with TG and C-reactive protein (CRP) in ACS patients.

METHODSA total of 459 subjects were recruited and categorized into control group (n = 116), stable angina (SA) group (n = 115), unstable angina group (n = 116) and acute myocardial infarction group (n = 112). Plasma apoAV level was measured by a sandwich ELISA assay.

RESULTSCompared with controls ((100.27 +/- 22.44) ng/ml), plasma apoAV was decreased in SA patients ((76.54 +/- 16.91) ng/ml) but increased in patients with unstable angina ((330.89 +/- 66.48) ng/ml, P < 0.05) or acute myocardial infarction ((368.66 +/- 60.53) ng/ml, P < 0.05). Inverse correlations between apoAV and TG were observed in the control or stable angina groups (r = -0.573 or -0.603, respectively, P < 0.001), whereas positive correlations were observed in the patients with unstable angina or acute myocardial infarction (r = 0.696 or 0.690, respectively, P < 0.001). Furthermore, a positive relationship between apoAV and CRP was observed in the ACS patients but not in the non-ACS subjects.

CONCLUSIONThe plasma apoAV concentration is increased and positively correlates with TG and CRP in ACS patients.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; blood ; metabolism ; Adult ; Aged ; Apolipoprotein A-V ; Apolipoproteins A ; blood ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Triglycerides ; blood

OBJECTIVETo study the genetic association of apolipoprotein (apo) E and apoCI gene polymorphisms with coronary heart disease (CHD) in China.

METHODSapoE genotypes were identified by multiplex amplification refractory mutation system (multi-ARMS) and the apoCI promoter polymorphisms were detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in 186 cases with CHD (age: 65.0 +/- 10.5 years) and 350 controls (age: 63.6 +/- 8.3 years). The haplotype frequencies were estimated.

RESULTSThe frequencies of apoE E4/3 genotype (26.9%) and epsilon4 (14.5%) in CHD group were significantly higher than that in the control group (12.6%, 7.0%), P <0.05. The significant difference was also found for the apoCI locus and the CHD group showed higher rate of both for the H2 allele and genotypes, carrying this allele. Estimation of the haplotype frequencies indicated that the association between the apoE-CI haplotype and CHD was significantly strong. The apoE-epsilon4/apoCI-H2 was estimated to be responsible for 9.86% of CHD.

CONCLUSIONWhen the subjects carrying both epsilon4 and H2 alleles, they would have higher risk of suffering from CHD than controls.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alleles ; Apolipoproteins C ; genetics ; Apolipoproteins E ; genetics ; China ; epidemiology ; Coronary Disease ; blood ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Risk Factors

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine whether school-aged children with Kawasaki disease (KD) have an increased risk for early atherosclerosis. METHODS: The study included 98 children. The children were divided into the following groups: group A (n=19), KD with coronary arterial lesions that persisted or regressed; group B (n=49), KD without coronary arterial lesions; and group C (n=30), healthy children. Anthropometric variables and the levels of biochemical markers, including total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), apolipoprotein A, apolipoprotein B, homocysteine, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and brachial artery stiffness using pulse wave velocity were compared among the three groups. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in blood pressure and body index among the three groups. Additionally, there was no sex-specific difference. Moreover, the levels of triglyceride, HDL-C, apolipoprotein A, and hs-CRP did not differ among the three groups. However, the levels of total cholesterol (P=0.018), LDL-C (P=0.0003), and apolipoprotein B (P=0.029) were significantly higher in group A than in group C. Further, the level of homocysteine and the aortic pulse wave velocity were significantly higher in groups A and B than in group C (P=0.0001). CONCLUSION: School-aged children after KD have high lipid profiles and arterial stiffness indicating an increased risk for early atherosclerosis.
Apolipoproteins ; Atherosclerosis* ; Biomarkers ; Blood Pressure ; Brachial Artery ; C-Reactive Protein ; Child* ; Cholesterol ; Homocysteine ; Humans ; Lipoproteins ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Pulse Wave Analysis ; Risk Factors* ; Triglycerides ; Vascular Stiffness

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between the -1131T/C and 56C/G polymorphism in the APOA5 gene as well as the -482C/T in the APOC3 gene and susceptibility to coronary artery disease (CAD) in a Chinese Han population.

METHODSUsing polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) methods, we analyzed the genotypes in 312 CAD patients diagnosed by angiography and 317 healthy controls. The levels of serum lipid profiles were also studied by biochemical methods.

RESULTSThe frequency of the APOA5 -1131 C allele in CAD patients was significantly higher than that of the control group (39.9% vs. 33.3%, P = 0.02). Compared with the wild type TT, CC homozygotes had a significantly increased CAD risk (OR = 1.93 and OR = 1.80 using unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models, respectively). This association still existed after adjustment for the APOC3-482 variant. The APOA5-1131C allele also showed a correlation with increasing plasma TG levels (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe APOA5-1131T/C polymorphism but not APOC3-482C/T might contribute to an increased risk of CAD among Chinese accompanied by an elevation of serum TG levels; this effect was found to be independent of the APOC3-482C/T variant.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alleles ; Apolipoprotein A-V ; Apolipoprotein C-III ; genetics ; Apolipoproteins A ; genetics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Coronary Artery Disease ; blood ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Triglycerides ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of several protein markers in a metastatic colorectal carcinoma model by serum proteomic analysis.

METHODSThe pEGFP-N1 plasmid with enhanced expression of green fluorescence protein (EGFP) was transfected into human colon carcinoma cell line SW480 to obtain a stable SW480-EGFP cell line, the SW480-EGFP cells were then injected subcutaneously into nude mice. The harvested tumor cells were implanted orthotopically into the colon of the nude mice. Real-time tumor growth and metastasis formation were visualized by whole-body fluorescent imaging system. Serum samples at different metastatic stages were collected and differential proteomic profiles were investigated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) and matrix-assisted laser absorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS).

RESULTSThe SW480- EGFP cells enabled to express EGFP stably. The rates of subcutaneous and orthotropic tumor formation were 100%. The metastasis rates to local lymph nodes, liver and lung were 100%, 40% and 30%, respectively. Furthermore, 5 differentially expressed proteins were analyzed by serum proteome technologies, including haptoglobin alpha chain, apolipoprotein E, apolipoprotein A-IV, Ig kappa chain V region chain L and transferrin.

CONCLUSIONSVisualized metastatic model of colorectal carcinoma was successfully established. Several differentially expressed serum proteins collected at different stages after the occurrence of metastasis were identified. These differentially expressed proteins may be candidate serum biomarkers for diagnosis and therapeutic evaluation of colorectal carcinoma metastasis.

Animals ; Apolipoproteins A ; blood ; Apolipoproteins E ; blood ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Blood Proteins ; analysis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; blood ; genetics ; pathology ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Haptoglobins ; analysis ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains ; blood ; Liver Neoplasms ; secondary ; Lung Neoplasms ; secondary ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Neoplasms, Experimental ; blood ; genetics ; pathology ; Proteomics ; methods ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; Transfection ; Transferrin ; analysis ; Transplantation, Heterologous

BACKGROUND: Several reports document Asians have a strong tendency of developing insulin resistance. We aimed to evaluate the relative effects of insulin resistance and obesity on coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors and to clarify whether insulin resistance accentuates the effect of obesity on CHD risk factors in apparently healthy men. METHODS: We conducted the cross-sectional survey of 4,067 apparently healthy Korean men aged 20-83 years, with a body mass index (BMI) ranging from 15.19 to 40.29 kgm-2. Insulin resistance was defined as the highest decile of homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) in the lean group (BMI<23 kgm-2; 1,438 subjects). RESULTS: The prevalence of insulin resistance was 24.7% in the overweight subgroup (23blood pressure (SBP and DBP), and C-reactive protein (CRP). HOMA-IR was the strongest predictor for fasting blood sugar (FBS), triglyceride (TG), decreasing high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) and apolipoprotein A-I (Apo A-I), and TC/HDL. The presence of insulin resistance accentuates CHD risk factors except LDL and Apo A-I in the obese. CONCLUSION: WC is closely associated with non-traditional markers for CHD, such as raised Apo B, hypertriglyceridaemia, and TC/HDL ratio predicting small, dense LDL particles. Insulin resistance in the obese men is more prevalent than would be expected and accentuates the effect of obesity on CHD risk factors.
Apolipoprotein A-I ; Apolipoproteins ; Apolipoproteins B ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; C-Reactive Protein ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Coronary Disease ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Fasting ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance* ; Insulin* ; Male ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 ; Obesity* ; Overweight ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Triglycerides ; Waist Circumference