Biomedical subjects

Rong Tang

Publications and source records attributed to Rong Tang.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2005

[Treatment of polycystic ovarian syndrome with anovulatory infertility by ultrasound-guided immature follicle aspiration].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of ultrasound-guided immature follicle aspiration (IMFA) on polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in women with anovulatory infertility, such as the endocrinology of the patients and the basic follicles number in the ovaries, and to observe the ovarian response to human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) stimulation and pregnancy after the therapy. METHODS: Seventy-one PCOS patients were involved in this trial, and divided into 2 groups. Thirty-seven patients of group I were primed with slight amount of hMG, the other 34 patients did not use hMG. Ultrasound-guided IMFA was performed 36 hour after human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration. In the next cycle, the basal endocrinology and the basic number of follicles were checked, then IMFA were performed continuously until the basic number of follicles were under 10 per ovary. Afterwards, hMG were used to stimulate ovulation and the pregnant results were followed up. RESULTS: There were 37 cases (88 cycles) of PCOS patients in group I and 34 cases (87 cycles) in group II. After 2 to 3 treatment cycles, the testosterone level became normal in all of patients. The basic follicle number decreased to less than 10 per ovary in 33 cases (89%) in group I and 28 cases (82%) in group II. After hCG stimulation, all of them ovulated. Only 2 patients developed slight ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). Within 3 months after the procedure, 36 patients (51%) became pregnant by controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) protocol after IMFA. CONCLUSIONS: Immature follicle aspiration treatment can improve the abnormal endocrinology, decrease the basic follicle number of the ovary, and achieve pregnancy in following COH cycles, meanwhile, avoid OHSS in PCOS patients.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

[Correlation between 4G and 5G genetypes distribution of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 gene polymorphism in its promoter region with polycystic ovarian syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation of 4G and 5G genetypes distribution of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) gene polymorphism in its promoter region with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: In 101 Chinese PCOS patients and 42 women as control, 4G and 5G polymorphisms of PAI-1 gene were detected with PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Pregnant history, body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR) were collected and Homastasis Model Assessment score for insulin resistant (Homa-IR) and insulin sensitive index (ISI) in PCOS groups were calculated. RESULTS: The distributions of PAI-1 gene polymorphisms 4G type (4G/4G genetype) and 5G type (5G/5G, 4G/5G genetype) were different between the PCOS group and the control. The PCOS group had higher 4G type 57% (58/101) distribution than that of the control group 38% (16/42); 5G type is vise verse (P < 0.05). PCOS patients were divided into obese and non-obese sub-groups according to BMI. There were significant lower Homa-IR and higher ISI in non-obese subgroup than that in obese group (P < 0.05; P < 0.01). 68% (36/53) 4G type distribution in the non-obese is higher than that [48% (23/48)] in obese sub-group (P < 0.05). There were higher 4G type distribution 79% (11/14) and lower 5G type distribution 21% (3/14) in spontaneous miscarriage group than that of in non-spontaneous miscarriage group 38% (5/13) and 62% (8/13) among patients who impregnated at least once (n = 27, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: PAI-1 gene polymorphism 4G genetype may be correlated with PCOS in Chinese women, especially in PCOS patients with non-obese PCOS and spontaneous miscarriage.

Blood Glucose↗

PubMed2005

[Study on the (TAAAA)n repeat polymorphism in sex hormone-binding globulin gene and the SHBG serum levels in putative association with the glucose metabolic status of Chinese patients suffering from polycystic ovarian syndrome in Shandong province].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship of (TAAAA)n repeat polymorphism in the promoter of the sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) gene and SHBG serum levels to the glucose metabolic status of Chinese polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients in Shandong province. METHODS: GeneScan method was used to detect and identify (TAAAA)n repeat number (alleles) and genotypes for 156 controls and 157 patients who were divided into normal glucose tolerance without hyperinsulinemia (NIR group) and with hyperinsulinemia (HI group) and abnormal glucose metabolic (AGM) group according to the results of oral glucose test and insulin resistant test; IRMA was used to measure serum SHBG for part of them. RESULTS: Five alleles containing (TAAAA) 6-10 repeats and 14 genotypes including 6/6, 6/7, 6/8, 6/9, 6/10, 7/7, 7/8, 7/9, 7/10, 8/8, 8/9, 8/10, 9/9, 9/10 repeats genotypes were present in the subjects. Genotype distribution of 6/10 repeats genotype is lower in PCOS than that in control, and 8/9 repeats genotype vice versa (P < 0.01); among PCOS subgroups, the eight repeat genotypes in NIR group is more frequent than that in HI group (P < 0.01), and 7/9 genotype distribution in AGM group is higher than that in NIR group and HI group(P < 0.05-0.01). The serum SHBG levels in homozygous genotype groups exhibit a sequence of 8/8 > 9/9 > 6/6, 7/7 repeats and the fall of serum SHBG trend is in reversed relation with the increase in body mass index (BMI), Homa-IR, and blood pressure. Serum SHBG levels in AGM exhibit a sequence of HI group < NIR group < control but show no statistical difference between both groups. CONCLUSION: This study reveals that the repeat number, alleles, genotypes and their distributions in Chinese women are very different from these in foreigners. Some special genotypes and low serum SHBG levels may be associated with PCOS and its glucose metabolic status; some special genotypes may influence Chinese serum SHBG and need more studies, but both SHBG gene polymorphism genotype and serum SHBG are not good indicators to find out the PCOS individual at high risk.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Distribution and cross-sectional age-related increases of carotid artery intima-media thickness in young adults: the Bogalusa Heart Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Reference values and age-related changes of carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) have not been described in a community-based sample of young asymptomatic adults. CIMT measurements from the Bogalusa Heart Study, a study of the natural history of atherosclerosis in young adults and children, were used to characterize age-, race-, and sex-specific CIMT distributions and yearly rates of change. METHODS: Age-, sex-, and race-specific CIMT percentile values and cross-sectional changes with age were estimated using B-mode carotid ultrasound images from 519 young adults (mean age 32 years, 61% female, 29% black). Nomograms of CIMT percentiles between the ages of 25 and 40 years are provided in 5-year increments. RESULTS: CIMT was thickest in the carotid bulb and increased linearly with age, most rapidly in the bulb. With age, composite CIMT increased most slowly in white females and most rapidly in white males. Sample size estimates projected that 268 to 462 subjects are needed to detect CIMT changes > or =0.010 mm/year. CONCLUSIONS: These estimated CIMT distributions and percentiles can serve as reference values for assessment of subclinical atherosclerosis in young adults. The observed age-related differences in CIMT can be used to plan epidemiological and clinical trials investigating atherosclerosis and anti-atherosclerotic interventions.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

[Cluster analysis and identify significance of novel genes related to glioma in molecule classification].

OBJECTIVE: To screen differentially expressed genes in the development of human glioma and establish molecular classification of glioma preliminary based on gene expression using cDNA microarray. METHODS: Brain specimens were obtained from 18 patients with glioma, 10 males and 8 females, aged 14 approximately 62 with an average age of 44.4. The total RNAs of these glioma specimens and 2 specimens of donated brain of normal adults were extracted. BioStarH140S microarray (including 8347 old genes and 5592 novel genes) were adopted and hybridized with probes which were prepared from the total RNAs. Differentially expressed genes between the normal tissues and glioma tissues were assayed after scanning cDNA microarray with ScanArray 4000. Northern hybridization, and in situ hybridization (ISH) were used to identify the functions of novel genes. Those differentially expressed genes were studied with Hierarchical method and molecular classification of glioma was preliminarily carried out. RESULTS: Among the 13 939 target genes, there were 1200 (8.61%) differentially expressed genes and 395 (2.83%) novel genes. 348 genes were up-regulated and 852 genes were down-regulated in glioma. The results of bioinformatical analysis, Northern hybridization and ISH revealed that those novel genes were highly associated with glioma. There were multiple genes which were relevance to classification by Hierarchical method, such as MAP gene, cytoskeleton and matrix motility genes, etc. Molecular classification of glioma with Hierarchical cluster was in accordance with pathology and revealed internal essence in tumorigenesis and development. CONCLUSION: Multiple genes play important roles in development of glioma. cDNA microarray technology is a powerful technique in screening for differentially expressed genes between two different kinds of tissues.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphism (G894T) influences arterial stiffness in adults: The Bogalusa Heart Study.

The endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene is known to influence the regulation of blood pressure (BP) levels. However, whether the eNOS gene locus influences arterial stiffness independently of BP is unknown. This study examines the independent effect of the eNOS gene polymorphism (G894T) on arterial stiffness in 118 African American and 285 white young adults, aged 25 to 37 years. Arterial stiffness was measured from M-mode ultrasounds of common carotid artery using Peterson's (Ep) and Young's (YEM) elastic modulus. African Americans displayed a lower frequency of the T allele than did whites (0.131 v 0.321, P <.001). The T allele was associated with lower systolic BP in African Americans (P =.04) but not in whites. African Americans showed significantly higher values of Ep (that is, increased stiffness) than did whites (49.9 kPa vs 45.5 kPa, P =.003), whereas no such difference in ethnicity was found for YEM, a measure of elasticity adjusted for relative wall thickness. After controlling for sex, age, body mass index, insulin, heart rate, and mean arterial pressure, the T allele was associated with significantly lower values of Ep (P =.037) and YEM (P =.068) in African Americans. Although the genotype effect on Ep and YEM was not significant in whites, trends were similar to those in African Americans. In the total sample, including ethnicity as an additional covariate, the G894T genotype was significantly associated with Ep (P =.046) and YEM (P =.035). These results suggest that the allelic variation (G894T) of the eNOS gene or a locus closely linked to it is associated with lower arterial wall stiffness, adjusting for BP levels, in young adults.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Q192R polymorphism of the paraoxanase 1 gene and its association with serum lipoprotein variables and carotid artery intima-media thickness in young adults from a biracial community. The Bogalusa Heart Study.

Paraoxanase (PON 1), a high-density lipoprotein-associated enzyme, exerts an antiatherogenic effect by protecting low-density lipoproteins (LDL) against oxidation. A common polymorphism at codon 192(Q/R) of the PON 1 gene has been shown to be associated with an adverse lipoprotein profile and increased coronary artery disease (CAD) risk. However, these observations are based mostly on case-control studies involving relatively older adults. This study examined the frequency and phenotypic (lipoprotein variables) effect of the Q192R variant in a community-based sample of 1786 black and white young adults (mean age: 32.5 years; 69% white, 44% males). In addition, the genotypic effect of this polymorphism on ultrasonographically measured carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), a surrogate measure of CAD risk, was examined in a subsample of 436 young adults (mean age: 32.6 years; 70% white, 42% male). The frequency of the variant allele (R192) was higher in blacks than in whites (0.668 versus 0.297, P <0.001). After adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, and smoking status, the R versus Q allele was associated with increased HDL cholesterol in whites (P=0.041), whereas the opposite was true in blacks (P=0.008). Neither the Q nor the R allele was associated with LDL cholesterol and triglycerides in both races. The genotypic effect on the carotid IMT adjusted for the covariates including lipoprotein variables was not apparent in whites or blacks. However, among whites, the carotid IMT was lower in carriers (QR + R) versus non-carriers (QQ) of the variant allele among females (P=0.008) and non-smokers (P=0.026). In addition, the variant allele negated the adverse positive relationship between the carotid IMT and triglycerides among whites (P=0.212 for carriers versus P <0.001 for non-carriers). These results indicate a differential effect of the Q192R variant on HDL cholesterol in whites versus blacks and a beneficial interaction effect of the variant allele with individual's sex, smoking status or triglyceride levels on the carotid IMT among whites.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Inhibiting effect of selenium on oxysterols-induced apoptosis of rat vascular smooth muscle cells.

To evaluate the cytoprotection mechanism of selenium against cholestane-3beta,5alpha,6beta-triol (3-triol)-induced vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) damage, cell viability was analyzed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2 -yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and cell count, the percentage release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) from the cell was assessed, and apoptosis was detected by DNA laddering and flow cytometric analysis. Meanwhile, the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) of VSMCs was measured. The results showed that 3-triol could inhibit proliferation of VSMCs time-dependently and dose-dependently, increase the percentage release of LDH and induce VSMCs apoptosis. While the cytotoxicity and cells apoptosis induced by 3-triol was attenuated by pretreatment of cells with low concentration of sodium selenite, and the longer the pretreated time was, the stronger the inhibition was. Preincubation of cells with sodium selenite (50 nM) for 12 or 24 h before 1, 5, 10, 25, or 50 microM 3-triol exposure, the cell viabilities increased 28.5% (P<0.05), 18.3%, 197.6% (P<0.01), 66.7%, 50.0% or 35.1% (P<0.05), 62.3% (P<0.05), 329.6% (P<0.01), 221.3% (P<0.05), 74.0% compared with the control cells, respectively. When the cells were preincubated with sodium selenite (50 nM) for 12 or 24 h before exposure to 3-triol (10 microM), the percent of apoptotic cells reduced from 30.47+/-15.34% to 26.88+/-17.32% or 7.41+/-5.46% (P<0.05). With preincubation of sodium selenite (50 nM) for 24 h, the GPx activity of VSMCs increased 18.5% compared with control (P<0.05). In conclusion, the results suggested that incubated VSMCs could absorb and transfer selenite as selenoprotrein, such as GPx, if the time is long enough and VSMCs selenoproteins can protect markedly against apoptosis and damage induced by 3-triol in VSMCs.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Characterization of a human Sec14-like protein cDNA SEC14L3 highly homologous to human SPF/TAP.

Supernatant protein factor (SPF) and alpha-tocopherol-associated protein (TAP) both belong to a widespread lipid-binding Sec 14-like protein family. All the members of the family have the lipid-binding motif called CRAL_TRIO. SPF is showed to stimulate the conversion of squalene to lanosterol and enhance cholesterol biosynthesis. TAP is identified to be involved in the intracellular distribution of alpha-tocopherol. Recently TAP is identified as SPF though they have very different functions. Here we report a human SPF/TAP homology SEC14L3 with 2082 base pairs in length and contains an open reading frame encoding a 400 amino acids protein. Analysis shows that SEC14L3 is mapped to 22q12 and expresses only in the liver among the used sixteen tissues in the test.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗

PubMed2004

Absolute and relative changes in carotid intima-media thickness and atherosclerotic plaques during long-term antihypertensive treatment: further results of the European Lacidipine Study on Atherosclerosis (ELSA).

BACKGROUND: In ELSA, a randomized, double-blind trial in 2334 hypertensives, 4-year antihypertensive treatment with lacidipine slowed down progression of carotid atherosclerosis significantly more than atenolol treatment. To avoid bias, the primary outcome was measured blindly at study-end on a randomized sequence of scans, but measurements were limited to the four far walls of common carotids and bifurcations (CBMmax) and to one of each couple of duplicate scans recorded yearly. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: Secondary outcomes included measurements made on all duplicate scans of both near and far walls, not only of common carotids and bifurcations, but also of internal carotids (12 walls). These measurements were made blindly during the 4-year study, shortly after recording. To avoid possible readers' drift or bias, 250 duplicate baseline scans were re-read at yearly intervals (longitudinal on-line quality control) and a correction factor calculated. RESULTS: Measurements during the 4-year study showed a trend toward decreased values, with the lacidipine effect significantly greater than the atenolol one. A trend toward lower values was also observed in the longitudinal quality control of baseline scans. After applying a correction factor calculated from this longitudinal control, all measurements no longer decreased with time, but significantly increased, with progression being significantly smaller in lacidipine than in atenolol patients. Corrected values were quite similar to those calculated on measurements carried out at study-end. CONCLUSION: The relative benefit of lacidipine over atenolol could be measured precisely by reading scans either during the study or at study-end. However, absolute treatment-related changes (progression versus regression) cannot safely be judged by readings made during a long-term study, unless a longitudinal quality control of readings is performed.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

[Time-dependent increase of interleukin-8 production in endothelial cells exposed to fluid shear stress].

Fluid shear stress plays an important role in many physiological and pathological processes of the cardiovascular system. Being constantly exposed to mechanical shear stress, vascular endothelial cells can sense the changes of blood flow forces and regulate vascular structure and function. Previous studies demonstrated that IL-8 mRNA expression in endothelial cells was modulated by fluid shear stress. To identify the effect of fluid shear stress on IL-8 protein production of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), we employed quantitative sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure the IL-8 protein. It was found that the HUVECs not treated with fluid shear stress secreted very little IL-8 in culture media. However, after 1 hour of exposure to shear stress, the secretion of IL-8 increased; at 5 hours of exposure, the seceretion reached the summit; at 8 hours of exposure, the secretion of IL-8 decreased and then remained at a constant level till the end (12 hours) of the experiment. The increase of IL-8 secretion induced by shear stress was time-dependent. The biphasic response of IL-8 protein production was found in experiments in which the shear stress applied was 2.09 dyne/cm2, 4.61 dyne/cm2, and 6.19 dyne/cm2. The IL-8 protein production in response to shear stress was very similar to the IL-8 gene expression in response to shear stress, and had the obvious delay. The induction of IL-8 protein production by fluid shear stress is probably due to the gene expression. This in vitro study demonstrates that the production of IL-8 can be regulated by fluid shear stress. Fluid shear stress induces a biphasic response of human HUVECs' production of IL-8 protein. These observations suggest that the process of the fluid shear stress induced HUVECs' production of IL-8 may play an important role in the genesis and development of both inflammation and atherosclerosis.

Cells, Cultured↗

PubMed2004

[Force-dependent effects of interleukin-8 production in endothelial cells exposed to fluid shear stress].

Fluid shear stress plays a key role in many physiological activities and pathological processes of the cardiovascular diseases. In vivo, endothelial cells (ECs) are constantly exposed to hemodynamic force which can modulate structure and function of ECs. Previous studies have demonstrated that IL-8 protein production in endothelial cells was modulated by fluid shear stress, and IL-8 protein production induced by fluid shear stress was time-dependent. In order to identify the role of intensity of fluid shear stress on IL-8 protein production of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), we had HUVECs exposed to shear stress 2.09, 4.61, 6.19, 8.51, 10.50, 12.59, 14.41, 17.22, 18.32 dyne/cm2 respectively and employed quantitative sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure the IL-8 protein. Here we show that HUVECs untreated with fluid shear stress secreted very little IL-8 in culture media. The IL-8 protein production induced by shear stress was force intensity-dependent. After HUVECs being subjected to low fluid shear stress (2.09 dyne/cm2) for 5 h or 6 h, IL-8 protein production increased and was nearly 6 times or 7 times over that of HUVECs subjected to high fluid shear stress (18.32 dyne/cm2). The linear regression equations between IL-8 protein production (y) and shear stress (dyne/cm2, x) are y=760.12-36.06x, gamma=-0.978 (for 5 h); y=781.87-36.66x, gamma=-0.980 (for 6 h). This in vitro study demonstrates that the production of IL-8 can be regulated by fluid shear stress, and the production of IL-8 induced by shear stress is not only time-dependent but also force intensity-dependent. These observations suggest that the low fluid shear stress induces much more IL-8 secretion, which may play an important role in the pathogenesis and development of both inflammation and atherosclerosis.

Cells, Cultured↗

PubMed2004

[Correlation between single nucleotide polymorphism of insulin receptor gene with polycystic ovary syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation of C/T single nucleotide polymorphism at exon 17 in tyrosine kinase domain of insulin receptor gene with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: One hundred and twenty patients with PCOS (PCOS group) and 40 normal females (control group) were included and the 1058 site single nucleotide polymorphism at exon 17 of insulin receptor gene (INSR) was detected with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The baseline parameters including levels of serum follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL), estradiol (E(2)), testosterone (T) and lipid, as well as the body mass index (BMI) and waist/hip ratio (WHR) were measured. Glucose tolerance and insulin releasing before and after loading with 75 g of glucose were also assayed. RESULTS: (1) BMI (25 +/- 4 vs. 23 +/- 3, P < 0.01), WHR (0.82 +/- 0.06 vs. 0.79 +/- 0.07, P < 0.05), LH [(9.2 +/- 6.1) U/L vs. (4.4 +/- 1.6) U/L, P < 0.01], T [(1.9 +/- 0.9) nmol/L vs. (1.0 +/- 0.6) nmol/L, P < 0.01] and E(2) [(205 +/- 119) pmol/L vs. (143 +/- 75) pmol/L, P < 0.01] of PCOS group were higher than those of control group. (2) The blood sugar and insulin levels of fasting, 30 min, 60 min, 120 min after glucose loading in obese PCOS (BMI >/= 25 kg/m(2)) were significantly higher than those in the non-obese PCOS (BMI < 25 kg/m(2)). (3) C/T single nucleotide polymorphism frequency at exon 17 of INSR in patients with PCOS was significantly higher than that in normal female (41% vs. 12.5%, P < 0.01). There was a significant difference between the frequency in non-obese PCOS (52.2%) and obese PCOS (25.5%, P < 0.01). (4) BMI in patients with T allele 23 +/- 3 of INSR single nucleotide polymorphism was lower than that with C allele (26 +/- 4, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: (1) The body weight and gene single nucleotide polymorphism of INSR may play an important role in the occurrence of insulin resistance in patients with PCOS. (2) The 1058 site nucleotide polymorphism of insulin receptor gene is one of the susceptibility genes in patients with PCOS, especially in non-obese PCOS patients.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

[Construct tissue-engineered bone by co-seeding marrow stromal cells and endothelial cells].

To identify the role of co-seeding marrow stromal cells (MSCs) and endothelial cells (ECs) onto biocomposite in constructing tissue-engineered bone for promoting osteogenesis and angiogenesis, we seeded rat marrow stromal cells (rMSCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (hUVECs) onto poly (L-lactic acid)/beta-tricalcium phosphate (PLLA/beta-TCP) macroporous composite (the test group), and seeded rMSCs onto the same kind of composite (the control group). We implanted these biocomposites into the thighs of nude mice intramuscularly and sacrificed these mice at 1, 4, 8, 12, 16 weeks after implantation, respectively. Biocomposites were taken out and histomorphometry was performed. Image manipulation technology was used to calculate the percentages of new bone area and material area in the test group and control group. We found that the percentage of new bone area of test group increased faster than that of control group, the percentage of material of test group decreased faster than that of control group, and the growth of capillary network of test group was much better than that of control group. These results suggest that co-seeding MSCs and ECs onto scaffold for constructing tissue-engineered bone is beneficial to osteogenesis, to angiogenesis in the prosthesis, and to the degradation of scaffold, and it is of significance in the research of bone tissue engineering.

Absorbable Implants↗

PubMed2003

Childhood cardiovascular risk factors and carotid vascular changes in adulthood: the Bogalusa Heart Study.

CONTEXT: Carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) is associated with cardiovascular risk factors and is recognized as an important predictive measure of clinical coronary atherosclerosis events in middle-aged and elderly populations. However, information on the association of carotid IMT in young adults with different risk factors measured in childhood, adulthood, or as a cumulative burden of each of the risk factors measured serially from childhood to adulthood is limited. OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between carotid IMT in young adults and traditional cardiovascular risk factors measured since childhood. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A cohort study of 486 adults aged 25 to 37 years from a semirural black and white community in Bogalusa, La (71% white, 39% men), who had at least 3 measurements of traditional risk factors since childhood, conducted between September 1973 and December 1996. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Association of carotid IMT with risk factors, including systolic blood pressure, lipoprotein levels, and body mass index. RESULTS: Male vs female (0.757 mm vs 0.719 mm) and black vs white (0.760 mm vs 0.723 mm) participants had increased carotid IMT (P<.001 for both). In multivariable analyses, significant predictors for being in top vs lower 3 quartiles of carotid IMT in young adults were childhood measures of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level (odds ratio [OR], 1.42, corresponding to 1-SD change specific for age, race, and sex; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14-1.78) and body mass index (BMI; OR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.01-1.54); adulthood measures of LDL-C level (OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.16-1.82), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level (OR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.51-0.88), and systolic blood pressure (OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.08-1.72); and long-term cumulative burden of LDL-C (OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.24-2.01) and HDL-C (OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.58-0.97) levels measured serially from childhood to adulthood. An increasing trend in carotid IMT across quartiles of LDL-C level measured in childhood was observed, with a mean value of 0.761 mm (95% CI, 0.743-0.780 mm) for those at the top quartile vs 0.724 mm (95% CI, 0.715-0.734 mm) for those in the lower 3 quartiles (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Childhood measures of LDL-C level and BMI predict carotid IMT in young adults. The prevention implications of these findings remains to be explored.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Carotid arterial structure in patients with documented coronary artery disease and disease-free control subjects.

BACKGROUND: Although atherosclerosis often leads to lumen narrowing and symptomatic cardiovascular disease, it is now recognized that arteries have the potential to compensate by enlarging in response to atherosclerosis. We tested the hypotheses that carotid arterial interadventitial (IA) and lumen diameters were related to wall thickness and that carotid arterial diameters of individuals with coronary artery disease (CAD) differed from those of CAD-free controls. METHODS AND RESULTS: We measured lumen diameter, IA diameter, and intima-media thickness (IMT) using B-mode ultrasound in the common and internal carotid arteries of 141 CAD case patients and 139 disease-free control subjects. Common carotid IA diameter was greater in CAD cases than controls after adjustment for age, height, and sex (P<0.01). Common carotid lumen diameter was marginally larger in individuals with greater IMT (P=0.06) but was not associated with case status. Conversely, mean internal carotid IA and lumen diameters were smaller in CAD cases than controls in both univariable and multivariable models (both P<0.001), and lumina were smaller in individuals with greater IMT. Despite these cross-sectional differences in carotid artery dimensions, we were unable to detect any statistically significant interactive effects of CAD case status on the association of IMT with arterial dimensions. CONCLUSIONS: Internal carotid artery lumen and IA diameters are both smaller in CAD cases than controls. The association of increased IMT with arterial dimensions varies in a manner that is segment-specific for the common and internal carotid arteries.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2003

Framingham risk score is related to carotid artery intima-media thickness in both white and black young adults: the Bogalusa Heart Study.

The Framingham risk score (FRS), developed in a white cohort aged 30-74 years, is increasingly used in the early risk identification for coronary artery disease (CAD). This study examines the relationship between FRS and carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), a surrogate marker of coronary atherosclerosis, in black and white individuals aged 20-37 years. Five hundred seventeen young adults (aged 20-37 years; 71% white, 39% male) enrolled in the Bogalusa Heart Study had carotid artery ultrasonography. Age, gender, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol ratio, cigarette smoking habit, type 2 diabetes, and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) were used to calculate FRS. Results indicated a significant, positive linear relationship between tertiles of FRS and IMT of the common, bulb, and internal carotid segments in blacks and whites alike. In a multivariate analysis including FRS, race, BMI, parental history of CAD, stroke, type 2 diabetes, or hypertension, logtriglycerides, loginsulin, alcohol consumption (ml/week), and regular physical activity, the FRS was independently associated with all three carotid segments. Further, the FRS as a main predictor variable explained relatively more of the variance in the IMT of the carotid bulb (9%) than in the common (5%) or internal (3%) carotid segments. These results support the use of FRS in both white and black young adults and underscore the importance of prevention and control of multiple risk factors in youth.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Cloning, expression and genomic structure of a novel human GNB2L1 gene, which encodes a receptor of activated protein kinase C (RACK).

During a large-scale screen of a human fetal brain cDNA library, a novel human gene GNB2L1 encoding a novel RACK (receptor of activated protein kinase C) protein was isolated and sequenced. The cDNA is 1142 bp long and has a predicted open reading frame encoding 316 aa. The predicted protein shows higher similarity to rat RACK1 and many RACK proteins of different organisms including Drosophila, C. elegans, mouse, rat, human, C. fasciculata, zebrafish, A. thaliana, S. cerevisiae and so on, suggesting it is conserved during evolution. The gene was mapped to human chromosome 5q35.3, the telomer position of chromosome 5q, in which the disease gene for early-onset primary congenital lymphedema was mapped. Also, 5q35.3 is a frequently reported location for cytogenetic and molecular abnormalities in renal cell carcinomas. The gene has 8 exons and 7 introns. It is expressed ubiquitously in many human tissues detected by northern blot analysis and RT-PCR.

Chromosome Mapping↗