Metabolic Syndrome (MS) is recognized as a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors. All components of MS have a genetic base. Genes of the renin angiotensin system are potential candidate genes for MS. We investigated whether angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism increases susceptibility to MS as an entity in a Mexican population. In a cross-sectional study, 514 individuals were studied including 245 patients with MS and 269 subjects without MS criteria. ACE gene polymorphism was detected using PCR. MS was defined according to The National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III) criteria, except that the raised fasting plasma glucose >or=100 mg/dl criterion for identification of intolerance fasting glucose was modified in accordance with the suggestion of the American Diabetes Association. Patients with MS were significantly different from subjects without MS in relation to mean body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, glucose, total cholesterol (C), triglycerides, HDL-C, and LDL-C (P<0.0001). The differences in the mean BMI, WC, glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, and HDL-C were maintained in patients with the MS and DD genotypes (P<0.01). The DD genotype was strongly associated with MS (adjusted OR=5.48, 95% CI 3.20-9.38, P<0.0001). We concluded that the DD genotype increases susceptibility to MS in a Mexican population. These results indicate that pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment and a reduction in body fat will have important therapeutic implications in this disease.
Aged ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; *Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome X/*genetics ; Mexico ; Middle Aged ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A/*genetics ; *Polymorphism, Genetic ; Population Groups/genetics ; Risk Factors

A main symptom of equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) in ponies is pathological obesity characterized by abnormal accumulation of fat deposits and inflammation. In this study, we analyzed the expression of two pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), in subcutaneous adipose tissue and the correlation with serum concentrations in peripheral blood of Welsh ponies. Based on clinical examination findings, the animals were divided into two groups: ponies affected with EMS (n = 8) and obese ponies (n = 8). The adipose tissue was examined using immunohistochemical analysis while concentrations IL-6 and TNF-alpha were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Additionally, histological characterization of the adipose tissue was performed. The results obtained showed that IL-6 expression in adipose tissue biopsies derived from animals with EMS was enhanced while TNF-alpha levels of both groups were comparable. Compared to the obese ponies, EMS animals also had significantly elevated levels of serum IL-6 and TNF-alpha. Histological analysis revealed macrophage infiltration and fibrosis in adipose tissue preparations from the EMS group. These data suggest that IL-6 may play a key role in the course of EMS in Welsh ponies. Our findings also demonstrated that analysis of pro-inflammatory cytokines levels in serum may serve as an additional tool for diagnosing EMS.
Adipose Tissue/*metabolism ; Animals ; Female ; Horse Diseases/blood/*metabolism ; Horses ; Interleukin-6/blood/genetics/*metabolism ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome X/metabolism/*veterinary ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/blood/genetics/*metabolism

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease worldwide, and is commonly associated with obesity. The spectrum of NAFLD ranges from simple steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and cirrhosis. Fructose ingestion, visceral obesity, and metabolic syndrome are risk factors for liver fibrosis. NAFLD is characterized by two steps of liver injury: intrahepatic lipid accumulation in the setting of insulin resistance, and inflammatory progression to NASH by oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators. Noninvasive methods (e.g., abdominal ultrasonography) are safe ways to support a diagnosis of hepatic steatosis, but liver biopsy remains the gold standard for accurate diagnosis and staging of NASH. Pediatric NASH often displays a histologic pattern distinct from that found in adults. Lifestyle modification through diet and exercise should be attempted in patients diagnosed with NAFLD.
Diet ; Fatty Liver/*diagnosis/therapy/ultrasonography ; Humans ; Inflammation Mediators/metabolism ; Insulin Resistance ; Lipase/genetics ; Membrane Proteins/genetics ; Metabolic Syndrome X/complications ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Risk Factors

This research analyzes the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in Korea and examines how the presence of a familial history of diseases related to MS, such as hypertension/stroke, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes, affect the development of MS in Koreans. The prevalence of MS and its components, as defined by the Nation-al Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel guidelines, were evalu-ated in nationally representative samples of non-institutionalized civilian Koreans. This analysis is based on the 2001 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examina-tion Survey, which used a stratified multistage probability sampling design. The final study included 5, 742 adults who had completed the necessary health examinations and met the diagnosis of MS. The prevalence of MS was 25.5% in men and 28.7% in women. Odds ratio for MS among men with a familial history of hypertension/stroke was higher than that among men who did not have this history. The OR for MS among women with a familial history of hypertension/stroke or diabetes was higher than that among women who had no familial history of these diseases. These results show that familial history of hypertension/stroke and diabetes was significantly related to the presence of MS in both young men and women.
Sex Factors ; Prevalence ; Odds Ratio ; Middle Aged ; Metabolic Syndrome X/epidemiology/*genetics ; Male ; Korea/epidemiology ; Hypertension/*genetics ; Humans ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease/*genetics ; Female ; Family Health ; Diabetes Mellitus/*genetics ; Cerebrovascular Accident/*genetics ; Cardiovascular Diseases/*genetics ; Aged ; Age Factors ; Age Distribution ; Adult