Biomedical subjects

S Toker

Publications and source records attributed to S Toker.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Increased erythropoiesis and subclinical inflammation as part of the metabolic syndrome.

Recent studies have suggested the insulin resistance might be accompanied by enhanced erythropoiesis. We have examined this association in individuals with the metabolic syndrome (MS) who in addition to insulin resistance harbor a chronic low grade inflammation. This study is relevant because chronic inflammation might have a suppressive effect on erythropoiesis. 280 and 554 non-smoking women and men with respective age of 46.4+/-9.3 (mean+/-S.D.) and 44.0+/-11.0 years are included. A significant correlation was noted between the numbers of the components of the MS and the inflammatory biomarkers including the white blood cell count, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, fibrinogen concentrations and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. In addition, a significant correlation (r=0.157, p=0.008) was noted between the number of components of the MS and the number of red blood cells in the peripheral blood in women. The same was true for men (r=0.192, p<0.0005). We conclude that enhanced erythropoiesis could be a new, hitherto unrecognized component of the MS. The enhanced erythropoiesis could give an erroneous impression of general "good" health in these individuals.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Oral temperature in daily life. A new look in the era of microinflammation.

It has been repeatedly shown that apparently healthy individuals and those with atherothrombotic risk factors harbor a low grade subclinical internal inflammation (microinflammation). This low grade acute phase response is relevant for the presence of atherothrombosis and future vascular events. Since these events are associated with a febrile response, we thought that it is relevant to clarify whether the microinflammatory response has an influence on the oral temperature. Included were 2,340 men and 1,280 women in whom the white blood cell count (WBCC) and differential, as well as the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), quantitative fibrinogen and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were determined in addition to the oral temperature in quiescent conditions. There was no association between these inflammatory biomarkers, except from a weak association with the absolute number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes. This association could be, however, related to the stress of the examination itself. Thus, it is unlikely that the microinflammatory response in daily life is associated, to a significant degree, with an enhanced oral temperature. The results are relevant for the findings of elevated oral temperature during conditions of acute ischemia/infarction where the temperature is probably related to the event itself and not to the patient's background microinflammation.

Acute-Phase Reaction↗

PubMed2005

Obesity-related correlation between C-reactive protein and the calculated 10-y Framingham Coronary Heart Disease Risk Score.

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the role of body mass index (BMI, kg/m(2)) adjustment in predictive models for cardiovascular events that add high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) to the 10-y Framingham Coronary Heart Disease Risk Score (FCRS). DESIGN: A cross-sectional study in a group of apparently healthy individuals. SUBJECTS: In all, 1512 apparently healthy individuals (955 men and 557 women) at a respective age of 49.7+/-10.6 and 50.6+/-9.6 y. RESULTS: The Pearson correlation between hs-CRP and the calculated 10-y FCRS was lower when adjusted for BMI. This reduction was especially noted in women where it dropped from 0.247 to 0.09. The dominant role of hs-CRP concentrations was also noted in a linear regression model, again, especially noted in women (drop of the standardized coefficient from 0.517 for BMI to 0.08 for the FCRS). CONCLUSIONS: The correlation between hs-CRP and the 10-y FCRS is partly related to the presence of obesity. We raise the possibility that the addition of BMI to the predictive model of FCRS might attenuate the cost-effectiveness of CRP measurements for this specific risk assessment.

Biomarkers↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Non-traumatic colorectal perforations.

Over a 6 year period, between January 1992 and December 1997, 30 patients with non-traumatic colorectal perforations undergoing laparotomy were reviewed. The aim of this study was to evaluate predictions on the prognosis using the Mannheim Peritonitis Index (MPI) and to evaluate the risk of this complication. The mean age of the patients was 56.4 years (range 16-88 years). The male:female ratio was 19:11. All patients showed signs of peritonitis and underwent emergency operations. In 50% (15) of the patients, tumor was the cause. According to the MPI scoring, there were 18 patients with an MPI score of 26 or less and 12 patients with an MPI score of 27 or more. For patients with a score less than 27 the mortality rate was zero (0/18) and for score greater than 26, 66.6% (8/12). Overall mortality was 26.6% (8/30). Of 15 patients with perforated colorectal cancers, four patients died (26.6%). The mortality rate for benign perforations was 26.6% (4/15) also. In conclusion, colorectal cancers are the most common cause of the non-traumatic colorectal perforations. Patients with an MPI score greater than 26 represent the highest risk group.

Adolescent↗