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Query: UMLS:C0004153 (atherosclerosis)
 77,401 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are often assumed, a priori, to be at increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), given the high prevalence of the metabolic syndrome X among them. There is, however, no single definition of PCOS, and for that reason a comparison of studies that have analyzed its association with CVD is compromised from the start. Long-term studies of well characterized women with PCOS are lacking, and the link to primary cardiovascular events such as stroke or myocardial infarction remains more speculative than substantive. Epidemiological studies that have focused on isolated signs and stigmata of PCOS, such as polycystic ovaries, hyperandrogenism, or chronic anovulation, have found mixed results. There are studies that suggest a slight increase in cardiovascular events in women with polycystic ovaries, with perhaps stronger evidence between an increased risk of cardiovascular events in women with menstrual irregularity. However, there is little evidence for an association between hyperandrogenism per se and cardiovascular events. Furthermore, there are less data to substantiate an increased risk of events in women with PCOS identified on the basis of a combination of signs and symptoms, such as hyperandrogenic chronic anovulation. The existing data suggest that PCOS may adversely affect or accelerate the development of an adverse cardiovascular risk profile, and even of subclinical signs of atherosclerosis, but it does not appear to lower the age of clinical presentation to a premenopausal age group. Future studies to identify the risk of cardiovascular events in women with PCOS will benefit from clear and extensive phenotyping of PCOS abnormalities at baseline, from a prospective design, from larger sample sizes, and from longer follow-up.
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PMID:Polycystic ovary syndrome and cardiovascular disease: a premature association? 1278 1

In previous publications, we presented the hypothesis that repeated episodes of acute or chronic psychological stress could induce an acute phase response (APR) and subsequently a chronic inflammatory process such as atherosclerosis. In this paper, that hypothesis, namely that such stress can induce an APR and inflammation, has been extended to include a chronic inflammatory process(s), characterized by the presence of certain cytokines and acute phase reactants (APR), which is associated with certain metabolic diseases. The loci of origin of these cytokines, particularly interleukin 6 (IL-6), and their induction, has been considered. Evidence is presented that the liver, the endothelium, and fat cell depots are the primary sources of cytokines, particularly IL-6, and that IL-6 and the acute phase protein (APP), C-reactive protein (CRP), are strongly associated with, and likely play a dominant role in, the development of this inflammatory process which leads to insulin resistance, non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus type II, and Metabolic syndrome X. The possible role of psychological stress and the major stress-related hormones as etiologic factors in the pathogenesis of these metabolic diseases, as well as atherosclerosis, is discussed. The fact that stress can activate an APR, which is part of the innate immune inflammatory response, is evidence that the inflammatory response is contained within the stress response or that stress can induce an inflammatory response. The evidence that the stress, inflammatory, and immune systems all evolved from a single cell, the phagocyte, is further evidence for their intimate relationship which almost certainly was maintained throughout evolution.
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PMID:The inflammatory response is an integral part of the stress response: Implications for atherosclerosis, insulin resistance, type II diabetes and metabolic syndrome X. 1294 57

Obesity, atherosclerosis, insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia, hyperlipidemia, essential hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and coronary heart disease (CHD) are the components of metabolic syndrome X and are associated with elevated plasma levels of C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, which are markers of inflammation. This suggests that metabolic syndrome X is a low-grade, systemic, inflammatory condition. Hence, instituting anti-inflammatory measures might be beneficial in preventing or halting the progress of metabolic syndrome X in high-risk populations.
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PMID:Metabolic syndrome X: an inflammatory condition? 1497 97

Metabolic syndrome represents a cluster of clinical, biochemical and humoral abnormalities associated with impaired insulin action in glucose metabolism. In the literature also the term syndrome of insulin resistance, dysmetabolic syndrome X, Reaven syndrome or Kaplans dead quartet can be found. Hyperinsulinaemia, central obesity, essential hypertension, dyslipidaemia, impaired glucose homeostasis or type 2 diabetes, hyperuricaemia, hypercoagulable state, endothelial dysfunction and increased markers of inflammation such as C-reactive protein, selectines, adhesion molecules, pro-inflammatory cytokines are the typical components of metabolic syndrome increasing the risk of cardiovascular complications. List of currently recognized clinical and biochemical manifestations continues to expand and include also non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, polycystic ovaric syndrome (PCOS), hyperhomocysteinaemia and others. No standard definition of metabolic syndrome has been routinely used. The WHO initially proposed a definition of metabolic syndrome in 1998, and more recently NCEP-ATP III provided a new working definition in 2001, which is more suitable for clinical practice. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome is very high, about 25-30% in Caucasians, depending on diagnostic criteria used. The clinical significance of metabolic syndrome is augmented by its association with increased and accelerated atherosclerosis. Whether IR predicts cardiovascular disease (CVD) independently of diabetes and other CVD risk factors is still a matter of controversy. Recently there is a growing evidence that metabolic syndrome increases also the risk of all-cause mortality and risk of certain tumors.
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PMID:[The metabolic syndrome]. 1504 Jan 52

Metabolic syndrome X and type 2 diabetes share many metabolic and morphological similarities with Cushing's syndrome, a rare disorder caused by systemic glucocorticoid excess. Pathologies frequently associated with these diseases include insulin resistance, atherosclerosis, susceptibility to infection, poor wound healing, and hypertension. The similarity of the clinical profiles associated with these disorders suggests the influence of a common molecular mechanism for disease onset. Interestingly, numerous studies identify ceramides and other sphingolipids as potential contributors to these sequelae. Herein we review studies demonstrating that aberrant ceramide accumulation contributes to the development of the deleterious clinical manifestations associated with these diseases.
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PMID:A role for sphingolipids in producing the common features of type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome X, and Cushing's syndrome. 1573 32

Fenofibrate, a selective (1)PPAR-alpha activator, is prescribed to treat human dyslipidemia. The aim of this study was to delineate the mechanism of fenofibrate-mediated reductions in adiposity, improvements in insulin sensitivity, and lowering of triglycerides (TG) and free fatty acids (FFA) and to investigate if these favorable changes are related to the inhibition of lipid deposition in the aorta. To test this hypothesis we used male LDLr deficient mice that exhibit the clinical features of metabolic syndrome X when fed a high fat high cholesterol (HF) diet. LDLr deficient mice fed HF diet and simultaneously treated with fenofibrate (100 mg/kg body weight) prevented development of obesity, lowered serum triglycerides and cholesterol, improved insulin sensitivity, and prevented accumulation of lipids in the aorta. Lowering of circulating lipids occurred via down-regulation of lipogenic genes, including fatty acid synthase, acetyl CoA carboxylase and diacyl glycerol acyl transferase-2, concomitant with decreased liver TG and cholesterol, and TG output rate. Fenofibrate also suppressed liver apoCIII mRNA levels and markedly increased lipoprotein lipase mRNA levels, known to enhance serum TG catabolism. In addition, fenofibrate profoundly reduced epididymal fat and mesenteric fat mass to the levels seen in lean mice. The reductions in body weight were associated with elevation of hepatic uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) mRNA, a concomitant increase in the ketone body formation, and improved insulin sensitivity associated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha reductions and phosphoenol pyruvate carboxykinase down-regulation. These results demonstrate that fenofibrate improves lipid abnormalities partly via inhibition of TG production and partly via clearance of TG-rich apoB particles by elevating LPL and reduced apoCIII. The prevention of obesity development occurred via energy expenditure. Fenofibrate-mediated hypolipidemic effects together with improved insulin sensitivity and loss of adiposity led to the reductions in the aortic lipid deposition by inhibiting early stages of atherosclerosis possibly via vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) modulation. These results suggest that potent PPAR-alpha activators may be useful in the treatment of syndrome X.
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PMID:Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha selective ligand reduces adiposity, improves insulin sensitivity and inhibits atherosclerosis in LDL receptor-deficient mice. 1647 80

Gout refers to heterogeneous group of metabolic diseases characterized by production of deposits of sodium urate crystals in tissues. Gout manifests as acute gouty arthritis with classic clinical picture, or as chronic gouty arthropathy with periarticular and subcutaneous deposits of sodium urate crystals, i.e. tophi. As for kidney, gout is manifested as acute or chronic gouty nephropathy and urolithiasis. These manifestations occur separately or they are combined. Hyperuricemia of primary gout is caused rather by impaired renal secretion than overproduction of uric acid. Secondary hyperuricemia is associated with many pathological conditions; it is also connected with the use of various medicaments. Pathogenesis of gouty arthritis is critically influenced by sodium urate crystals and inflammatory processes they induce. Hyperuricemia is part of metabolic syndrome X which is associated with unanswered question of the relationship between uric acid and atherosclerosis. Although gouty arthritis is the most frequent inflammatory disease of joints in men over 50 years of age, it is often diagnosed and treated inadequately. On that account, the indication of long-term hypouricemic therapy should be always based on the following criteria: secondary causes of hyperuricemia have to be excluded first; frequency of gout attacks and the risk of their recurrence should be taken into consideration; then it is necessary to search for renal manifestations of gout; and last but not least, we should check whether there are any associated diseases classified in metabolic syndrome X.
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PMID:[Pathogenesis, diagnostics and therapy of gout]. 1696 17

The association of elevated serum uric acid (hyperuricemia, gout) with the presence of classical coronary risk factors and coronary artery disease (CAD) or myocardial infarction (MI) has been analysed in many epidemiological studies. Numerous studies have revealed that hypertension, high body mass index (BMI), lipid disorders (especially raised triglycerides--TG level and low high dense lipoprotein cholesterol HDL-C level), increased creatinine or insulin levels have caused hyperuricemia. No association has been observed between hyperuricemia and diabetes type 2 and uricemia and glicemia. But in some studies the relationship between cholesterol and uric acid levels has been not confirmed. Hyperuricemia has been observed in patients with non-treated hypertension. Gout has often occurred with typical disorders for the metabolic syndrome X. Significant correlation of the serum uric level and the CAD presence and severity of coronary atherosclerosis confirmed by coronary angiography has been observed in women. Hyperuricemia has also indirect influence on progress of CAD by physical activity restriction, what causes sedentary mode of life and lead to obesity. Obesity is a known risk factor diabetes, lipid disorders and hypertension. To recapitulate, it is a matter of controversy as to whether uric acid is an independent cardiovascular risk factor or rather it only represents reinforcement of typical risk factor.
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PMID:[Is hyperuricemia a cardiovascular risk factor?]. 1701 83


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