Biomedical subjects

Eduardo Farinaro

Publications and source records attributed to Eduardo Farinaro.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Genetic variation in the renin-angiotensin system and abdominal adiposity in men: the Olivetti Prospective Heart Study.

BACKGROUND: The renin-angiotensin system is involved in adipocyte growth and differentiation and possibly in adipose tissue metabolism. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of polymorphism in the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) I/D gene, angiotensinogen M235T gene, and angiotensin II type 1 receptor A1166C gene with body mass index, body fat pattern, and obesity-associated hypertension. DESIGN: Cross-sectional longitudinal study. SETTING: The Olivetti factories in Marcianise and Pozzuoli, suburbs of Naples, Italy. PARTICIPANTS: 959 adult men, 25 to 75 years of age. MEASUREMENTS: Renin-angiotensin system polymorphism, anthropometric indexes, blood pressure, and serum glucose and insulin levels. RESULTS: No association was detected between angiotensinogen or angiotensin II type 1 receptor gene polymorphism and anthropometric indexes or blood pressure. For ACE I/D polymorphism, significant age-genotype interaction was detected on cross-sectional observation; the relation of body mass index, waist circumference, and diastolic blood pressure to age was significantly greater in persons with the DD genotype than in those with the ID or II genotype. Overweight and abdominal adiposity were more common in men with the DD genotype, particularly among older participants (51.1% vs. 36.5% and 33.1% vs. 22.0%, respectively). Odds ratios were 1.82 (95% CI, 1.16 to 2.87) for overweight and 1.76 (CI, 1.06 to 2.90) for abdominal adiposity. Among 314 untreated men first examined 20 years earlier, those with the DD genotype had greater age-adjusted weight gain (1.45 kg [CI, 0.12 to 2.78 kg]) and change in diastolic blood pressure (2.83 mm Hg [CI, 0.39 to 5.28 mm Hg]). The relative risk for overweight was 2.34 (CI, 1.32 to 4.15) among participants with the DD genotype versus those with the ID or II genotype. CONCLUSIONS: The ACE I/D polymorphism was a significant predictor of overweight and abdominal adiposity in men. DD homozygosity was associated with larger increases in body weight and blood pressure in aging persons, as well as with higher incidence of overweight.

Abdomen↗

PubMed2003

Plasma leptin and blood pressure in men: graded association independent of body mass and fat pattern.

OBJECTIVE: The role of leptin in the association between body mass, central adiposity, and blood pressure (BP) is controversial. This study evaluated the relationship between leptin and BP in relation to body mass index (BMI) and fat distribution in a large sample of untreated male adults. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: The study population was made up of 457 untreated male employees of the Olivetti factory in Naples. Plasma leptin, complete anthropometry, BP, and relevant biochemical variables were measured. RESULTS: Log-transformed plasma leptin levels were directly associated with BMI (r = 0.661, p < 0.001) and waist circumference (r = 0.630; p < 0.001). Leptin also correlated with systolic (r = 0.258) and diastolic (r = 0.277) BP (p < 0.001). The association between leptin and BP was maintained after accounting for age, BMI (or waist circumference), log-insulin, and serum creatinine (p < 0.01); this association was stronger than that with BMI. Logistic regression analysis showed that an increased prevalence of hypertension (BP >or= 140 and/or 90 mm Hg) was associated with high plasma leptin levels when controlling for age and waist circumference (odds ratio, 1.99; 95%CI, 1.06 to 3.72) or for age and BMI (odds ratio, 1.92; 95%CI, 1.02 to 3.61). DISCUSSION: A graded positive relationship between plasma leptin levels and BP was observed in this sample of untreated male adults. This association was independent of age, BMI, abdominal adiposity, and fasting plasma insulin. Moreover, elevated plasma leptin concentrations were associated with greater probability of hypertension, again independently of potential confounders.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed2002

The relationship of waist circumference to blood pressure: the Olivetti Heart Study.

BACKGROUND: The association between overweight, high blood pressure (BP), and insulin resistance is well established, but the role of body fat distribution in this association has yet to be fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of central adiposity in the association between overweight, high BP, and insulin resistance. METHODS: A total of 1,079 men participated in the follow-up of the Olivetti Heart Study from 1994 to 1995. The present analysis includes 768 men, after the exclusion of 184 participants on pharmacological treatment for hypertension. In 65 men fasting blood glucose was >7 mmol/L; in 48, age was below or above 2 standard deviations from the mean of the population; and in 14 the data set was incomplete. Anthropometric indices of adiposity, metabolic variables (including fasting serum insulin and homeostasis model assessment [HOMA] index of insulin sensitivity), and BP were measured. RESULTS: In univariate analysis, waist circumference was the anthropometric index that best correlated with BP (P < .001). In multiple regression analysis, waist circumference remained the strongest independent predictor of BP after adjustment for confounders. Significant increase of systolic (P value for trend analysis < .001) and diastolic (P < .001) pressure, heart rate (P = .003), fasting and postload serum insulin (P < .001), and HOMA index of insulin sensitivity (P < .001) were observed across age-adjusted quintiles of waist circumference. Greater degrees of central adiposity were associated with higher prevalence of elevated BP values and insulin resistance (P value < .001, chi2 for linear trend). CONCLUSIONS: In middle-aged men, a central distribution of body fat is associated with increased BP, independently of body mass index and insulin resistance, thus suggesting a key role of central adiposity in the full expression of the "metabolic syndrome."

Abdomen↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Transient decrease of exhaled nitric oxide after acute exposure to passive smoke in healthy subjects.

Nitric oxide (NO) is produced and detected in the exhalate from the respiratory tract where it plays important regulatory functions. Exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) concentrations are reduced in active cigarette smokers between cigarettes and in nonsmoking subjects during short-term exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. In this study, the authors evaluated eNO before and after an acute exposure to environmental tobacco smoke in healthy, nonsmoking subjects (n = 12). Baseline eNO levels were measured by chemiluminescence at baseline (1 hr before exposure), shortly after the end of exposure, and 10 and 30 min after the end of exposure. Mean room air NO concentration increased from 3 ppb to 4 ppm (range, 560 ppb-8.5 ppm) during the exposure period. Carboxyhemoglobin levels were assessed before and after the exposure with spectrophotometry. All subjects had decreased eNO with exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (mean +/- standard error of the mean: 16.65 +/- 1.35 ppb to 13.86 +/- 1.33 ppb; p < .001). These concentrations remained significantly decreased at 10 min and recovered within 30 min. No modifications in airway resistance or increase in carboxyhemoglobin levels were observed. Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke transiently--but consistently--decreased eNO concentration in healthy, nonsmoking subjects, suggesting that second-hand smoke can directly affect NO in the airway environment.

Acute Disease↗