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Biomedical subjects

Georgios Koliakos

Publications and source records attributed to Georgios Koliakos.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Neurohormonal activation in patients with systemic sclerosis-related pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disease, which may lead to pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH). N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a biologic marker for the diagnosis and treatment of congestive heart failure. The aim of our study was to investigate the potential role of the plasma NT-proBNP assay in the assessment of functional status and right heart performance in systemic sclerosis-related pulmonary hypertension (SScPAH). Systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) assessed by echocardiography, six-minute walk test (SMWT) and plasma NT-proBNP levels were recorded from 45 SSc patients. Mean value of NT-proBNP for SSc patients with PAH (n=14) was 691.7+/-325.7 fmol/L compared to 417.4+/-167.1 fmol/L for patients without PAH (n=31) (p=0.0007). In SSc patients we found a statistically significant correlation between NT-proBNP values and sPAP (r=0.32, p=0.03). Amongst SScPAH patients, NT-proBNP values were significantly correlated with sPAP (r=0.73, p=0.003) and inversely correlated with the SMWT (r=-0.60, p=0.02). These results suggest NT-proBNP as a useful additional biological tool in the evaluation and management of SScPAH patients.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed2005

Comparative study of plasma ghrelin levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, in hyperandrogenic women and in normal controls.

BACKGROUND: Ghrelin is a novel peptide associated with energy balance, obesity, and perhaps gonadal function. The present study was designed in order: (i) to compare plasma ghrelin levels between women with PCOS, women who presented only with hyperandrogenaemia and healthy controls; and (ii) to investigate the relationship between circulating ghrelin and the heterogeneity of clinical and biochemical manifestations of PCOS. METHODS: Two hundred and fifty-nine women with PCOS, 25 women who had only hyperandrogenaemia and 46 controls, were studied. Women with PCOS were further divided, based on the presence of chronic anovulation, biochemical hyperandrogenaemia, clinical hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovary morphology on ultrasound evaluation. In all women, the basal levels of gonadotrophins, androgens, 17-OH-progesterone, sex hormone-binding globulin, glucose, insulin and ghrelin were measured. RESULTS: Women with PCOS had lower ghrelin levels, compared to both women with hyperandrogenaemia and controls; women with hyperandrogenaemia had lower ghrelin levels, compared to controls, but not significantly so. While PCOS-associated hyperandrogenaemia was inversely related to ghrelin levels, anovulation and polycystic ovary morphology were associated with higher concentrations. Ghrelin levels were negatively correlated with 17-OH-progesterone levels. CONCLUSIONS: In PCOS, circulating ghrelin and androgens are inversely related and it is possible that this peptide is involved in steroidal synthesis and/or action. It is also likely that different clinical and biochemical manifestations of the syndrome are also associated with different ghrelin concentrations.

17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone↗
PubMed2005

Resistin levels in hyperthyroid patients before and after restoration of thyroid function: relationship with body weight and body composition.

BACKGROUND: Resistin is a recently discovered peptide hormone that belongs to a family of tissue-specific resistin-like molecules. To date, very few studies have reported on resistin concentrations in hyperthyroid patients, and they present controversial results. OBJECTIVES: To undertake a controlled, prospective study to investigate resistin concentrations in hyperthyroidism before and after restoration of euthyroidism and to correlate the results with body weight, body fat, waist circumference and body mass index (BMI). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 43 hyperthyroid patients (12 men and 31 women) were investigated, in addition to 23 controls. Anthropometric parameters and resistin concentrations were measured. All the patients commenced taking antithyroid drugs and 3-4 months later the same investigations were performed in 36 of the 43 individuals. RESULTS: Hyperthyroid patients exhibited increased resistin concentrations in comparison with controls. Normalization of thyroid hormones was accompanied by a significant decrease in resistin concentration. A sex difference was also found, men showing a significant decrease in resistin concentrations, whereas in women no such difference was found. Resistin concentrations did not correlate with different anthropometric parameters, age and thyroid hormones, either before or after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates for the first time that, although resistin concentrations are increased in hyperthyroidism, they are not associated with body weight, body fat, waist circumference or BMI, which makes it unlikely that resistin plays a crucial part in thermogenesis and energy homeostasis in thyrotoxic patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Serum resistin levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To measure serum resistin levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and assess possible correlations of resistin to the hormonal and metabolic parameters of the syndrome. DESIGN: Clinical study. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENT(S): Ninety selected women were classified as follows: group I: 35 anovulatory women with PCOS (body mass index [BMI] >25 kg/m(2)); group II: 35 anovulatory women with PCOS (BMI <25 kg/m(2)); group III: 20 ovulating women (controls) without hyperandrogenemia (BMI <25 kg/m(2)); women of group III were volunteers. INTERVENTION(S): Blood samples were collected between the 3rd and the 6th day of the menstrual cycle of the ovulating women, and between the 3rd and the 6th day of a spontaneous bleeding of the anovulatory women, at 9 a.m., after an overnight fast. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Serum levels of FSH, LH, PRL, 17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, sex hormone-binding globulin, androgens, insulin, resistin, and glucose. RESULT(S): Resistin levels were found to be significantly increased in group I compared with those of group II and those of group III. No significant difference in resistin levels was found between groups II and III, despite significant differences in insulin levels and the glucose-to-insulin ratio. Multiple regression analysis showed that resistin levels do not correlate with any parameter independent of BMI. CONCLUSION(S): Based on the above findings, we presume that resistin is unlikely to be a major determining factor of PCOS-associated insulin resistance and is not actively involved in the pathogenesis of the syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Serum adiponectin levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Adiponectin is regarded as a possible link between adiposity and insulin resistance. The study aim was to measure serum adiponectin levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and to assess possible correlations between adiponectin and the hormonal or metabolic parameters of the syndrome. METHODS: Eighty-five selected women were classified as: Group I (n = 35) with PCOS + body mass index (BMI) >25 kg/m(2); group II (n = 35) with PCOS + BMI <25 kg/m(2); and group III (controls; n = 15) ovulating without hyperandrogenaemia and BMI <25 kg/m(2). Blood samples were collected between the days 3 and 6 of a spontaneous menstrual cycle, at 09:00, after an overnight fast. Serum levels of FSH, LH, prolactin, 17alpha-OH-progesterone, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), androgens, insulin, adiponectin and glucose were measured. RESULTS: Adiponectin levels were significantly decreased in group I compared with groups II and III. No significant difference in adiponectin levels was found between groups II and III, despite significant differences in insulin levels and glucose:insulin ratio. Multiple regression analysis showed that Delta(4)-androstenedione levels and BMI values were the only significant determinants of serum adiponectin levels. CONCLUSIONS: Serum adiponectin levels are reduced in obese women with PCOS. Although adiponectin does not seem to be actively involved in the pathogenesis of PCOS, there seems to be an interaction between adiponectin and steroid synthesis or action.

Adiponectin↗