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Biomedical subjects

Pilar García-Lorda

Publications and source records attributed to Pilar García-Lorda.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Systemic inflammation, adipose tissue tumor necrosis factor, and leptin expression.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the links between tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) and leptin adipose tissue expression and low-grade systemic inflammation and to determine the relationship between inflammation and the degree of adiposity, the presence of type 2 diabetes, and other cardiovascular risk factors. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Ninety-one women (BMI 19 to 65 kg/m(2)) were divided into tertiles of CRP. Insulin resistance was calculated using the HOMA method. Albumin, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6, sTNFR1, sTNFR2, and leptin levels were measured in serum and plasma samples. TNFalpha and leptin expression were measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue samples. RESULTS: CRP was positively related to BMI and upper distribution of adiposity. TNFalpha and leptin adipose tissue expression were higher in the upper tertile of CRP. Also, peripheral levels of both soluble TNFRs and leptin were higher in patients with the greatest inflammation degree. Diabetes, dislipidemia, and hypertension were most prevalent in patients in the upper CRP tertile. Inflammatory markers of diabetic women were significantly different from those of nondiabetic women, even after adjusting for differences in body fat. BMI, type 2 diabetes, and adipose TNFalpha mRNA levels were significant predictors of serum CRP levels (r(2) = 0.28, p < 0.001). DISCUSSION: These results are in agreement with the hypothesis that the synthesis of adipose tissue TNFalpha and leptin could induce the production of interleukin-6, CRP, and other acute-phase reactants, thus contributing to the maintenance of chronic low-grade inflammation state involved in the progression of obesity and its associated comorbidities.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2003

Bakery products enriched with phytosterol esters, alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene decrease plasma LDL-cholesterol and maintain plasma beta-carotene concentrations in normocholesterolemic men and women.

The hypocholesterolemic effects of phytosterols have not been evaluated in bakery products, and the addition of liposoluble antioxidants to the carrier has never been tested. We investigated the effects of consuming croissants and magdalenas (Spanish muffins) enriched with sterol esters, alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene on plasma lipid and fat-soluble antioxidant concentrations in normocholesterolemic, habitual consumers of bakery products following their usual diet and lifestyle. Using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design, the control (C) group (n = 29) received two pieces daily (standard croissant and muffin) and the sterol ester (SE) group (n = 28), the same products with sterol esters added (3.2 g/d) for 8 wk. Total and LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) decreased in the SE group by 0.24 mmol/L (P < 0.01) and 0.26 mmol/L (P < 0.005), respectively, whereas these variables did not change in the control group. The total difference in total and LDL-C changes between groups was 0.38 mmol/L (8.9%) and 0.36 mmol/L (14.7%), respectively (P < 0.001). Within-group changes in HDL cholesterol, triacylglycerol or lipoprotein(a) concentrations did not differ. Similarly, within-group changes over time in plasma tocopherol and carotenoid concentrations did not differ between groups. Our findings suggest that bakery products are excellent carriers for phytosterols, and their consumption is associated with a decrease in total and LDL-C concentrations, with no changes in alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene. The ability of bakery products to include sufficient quantities of beta-carotene to compensate for a potential deficiency, and the fact that their efficacy was not associated with the time of day at which they were consumed, are interesting findings.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Prevalence of co-morbidities in obese patients before bariatric surgery: effect of race.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the prevalence of co-morbidities, in particular diabetes, in a diverse population of morbidly obese patients who underwent gastric bypass surgery at our institution in New York City. METHODS: A retrospective study of 300 patients who had bariatric surgery between January 2001 and April 2002 was conducted. RESULTS: 57% of the patients had at least one metabolic complication, 30% had diabetes, 38% hypertension and 35% dyslipidemia. Our population was ethnically diverse, with 40% Hispanic, 34% Caucasian, 25% African-American and 1% Asian. There was no difference in the prevalence of diabetes among races. However, Caucasians had the highest prevalence of hyperlipidemia, and the Hispanic patients were the least hypertensive. Among patients with diabetes, one-third were undiagnosed and 50% untreated. Similarly, 45% of the hypertensive patients and 51% of those with hyperlipidemia remained undiagnosed. Men had more co-morbidities than women. CONCLUSION: These results suggest a high prevalence of co-morbid conditions in severely obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery. Age, ethnicity and gender influence the type of co-morbid conditions. More research is needed to understand why diabetes and other metabolic complications remain undiagnosed and untreated in a large number of these high risk patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

[Micronutrients in HIV-infection and the relationship with the inflammatory response].

BACKGROUND: Our aim was to measure the plasma concentrations of various vitamins and micronutrients involved in the immune response and antioxidant systems of an HIV+ population and to determine how they are related to the inflammatory response. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We studied 86 subjects with known HIV-infection who were divided into three groups (asymptomatic HIV+; AIDS without opportunistic infection; and AIDS with active opportunistic infection) which were compared with a control group. Serum concentrations of vitamin A, vitamin E, copper and zinc were measured, as well as several inflammatory parameters. Absorption tests for fat and sugar were performed in all patients. RESULTS: Serum vitamin A and E levels were below the reference range in 36.4% and 14.3% patients, respectively, but not in controls subjects. The prevalence of vitamin A deficiency increased with the severity of the disease. Fewer patients than controls had values below the reference range regarding serum copper. AIDS patients with active opportunistic infection showed significantly lower serum concentrations of vitamin A (p < 0.001) and significantly higher serum concentrations of copper (p < 0.0001). Both serum concentrations of vitamin A and copper were correlated with various inflammatory parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Micronutrient deficiencies are prevalent in HIV-infected patients including asymptomatic patients. Vitamin A and copper were significantly correlated with inflammatory parameters, suggesting that their serum concentrations have more to do with the inflammatory response than with the nutritional status.

Adult↗