Interrelationship between platelet count, red cell count, white cell count and weight in men

In 83 healthy normotensive males aged 20-55 years the platelet count is positively correlated with the red cell count (r = 0.371; P = 0.0006), the white cell count (r = 0.358; P = 0.0009), and with weight (r = 0.252; P = 0.0269). The red cell count is also positively related with the white cell count (r = 0.242; P = 0.0278) and with weight (r = 0.326; P = 0.0039); while the white cell count is slightly correlated with weight (r = 0.210; P = 0.067). These findings provide further indirect evidential support for a haemopoetic growth factor acting on a single pluripotent stem cell.     

Association between serum leptin concentration and white blood cell count in middle-aged Japanese men and women

BACKGROUND: Leptin's hematopoietic or proinflammatory role has been experimentally reported. We investigated whether serum leptin concentrations are associated with white blood cell (WBC) counts in humans. METHODS: Serum leptin concentrations of Japanese civil servants aged 40 to 59 years (1082 men and 200 women) were analyzed in relation to their WBC count. Serum leptin concentrations and WBC counts were measured by radioimmunoassay and automated particle counter respectively, using samples obtained at the time of the participants' annual health checkups. RESULTS: The geometric mean (+/-geometric standard deviation) leptin concentrations were 3.25 +/- 1.82 ng/mL and 6.25 +/- 3.99 ng/mL, and the geometric mean WBC counts, 5770 +/- 1269/mm(3) and 5107 +/- 1228/mm(3), in men and women respectively. The WBC count adjusted for age, body mass index (BMI), physical activity, and drinking and smoking habits increased together with the increase in leptin concentration. Multiple linear regression against WBC count by the leptin concentration and those covariates revealed a significant and independent association with serum leptin concentration especially in women (standardized beta = 0.31, p < 0.001), and also in men (standardized beta = 0.17, p < 0.001). BMI was not significantly associated with WBC counts in the multivariate model adjusting for leptin levels in both sexes. CONCLUSIONS: Our results are in line with leptin's hematopoietic or proinflammatory functions. The increased WBC counts often observed in obese people would be mediated by the increased leptin concentration.     

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its relationship to white blood cell count in a population of Thai men and women receiving routine health examinations

BACKGROUND: Patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) are at increased risk for developing diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. Limited information is available about the prevalence of MetS among Thai men and women. In this study we sought to estimate the prevalence of MetS among a population of patients receiving annual health exams. We also studied the relationship between MetS and elevated white blood cell (WBC) count. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of 1,383 patients (375 men and 1,008 women) who participated in annual health examinations at the Preventive Medicine Clinic of the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, from July 1999 through February 2000. The presence of MetS was defined using the modified criteria of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III. RESULTS: Overall, the prevalence of the MetS was 12.8% and was more common among men than women (15.7% v 11.7%). Advanced age and elevated WBC counts were the only statistically significant risk factors of MetS in this population. The WBC count was statistically significantly correlated with high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and triglyceride (P = .05). Men with highest WBC count (>or=7.50 x 10(3) cell/microL) had a 2.98-fold increased in risk of MetS (odds ratio 2.98, 95% confidence interval 1.29 to 6.87), as compared with men in the lowest quartile (<5.40 x 10(3) cell/microL). Among women, the risk of MetS increased across successive quartiles of WBC counts (1.00, 2.26, 2.88, and 4.30, with the lowest quartile as the referent group). CONCLUSIONS: In this study of Thai men and women receiving routine health examinations, MetS was found to be prevalent. In addition, WBC count (indicative of systemic chronic inflammation) is positively associated with MetS.     

Differential leucocyte count and the risk of future coronary artery disease in healthy men and women: the EPIC-Norfolk Prospective Population Study

Abstract. Rana JS, Boekholdt SM, Ridker PM, Jukema JW, Luben R, Bingham SA, Day NE, Wareham NJ, Kastelein JJP, Khaw K‐T. (Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands; and Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK). Differential leucocyte count and the risk of future coronary artery disease in healthy men and women: the EPIC‐Norfolk Prospective Population Study. J Intern Med 2007; 262 : 678–689. Background: We examined the relationship between granulocyte, lymphocyte and monocyte counts and risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in men and women. There is paucity of data on the differential leucocyte count and its relationship with the risk of CHD and CVD. Methods: This prospective study comprised 7073 men and 9035 women who were 45–79 years of age and were residents of Norfolk. United Kingdom. Results: During an average of 8 years of follow‐up we identified 857 incident CHD events and 2581 CVD incident events. Increased total leucocyte count was associated with increased risk for both CHD and CVD. The highest quartile of granulocyte count was associated with increased risk when compared to lowest quartile for CHD (men HR 1.70 95% CI: 1.30–2.21; women HR 1.24 95% CI: 0.91–1.69) and for CVD (men HR 1.46 95% CI: 1.24–1.71; women HR 1.20 95% CI: 1.02–1.42). The association remained unchanged when the analyses were restricted to nonsmokers and when risk was assessed for every 1000 cells L^?1 increase in cell count. In multivariable models, despite adjusting for C‐reactive protein (CRP), the granulocyte count remained an independent predictor of CHD and CVD risk, especially amongst men. Lymphocyte or monocyte counts were not significantly associated with increased risk. In all analyses, additionally adjusting for CRP did not affect the results materially. Conclusions: In conclusion, we found that the higher risk for CHD and CVD associated with increased total leucocyte count seems to be accounted for by the increased granulocyte count.     

重庆市老年男性外周血白细胞计数与常见病的相关性

目的通过对重庆市60岁以上老年男性人群外周血白细胞(WBC)计数与体重指数(BMI)、血压(BP)、空腹血总胆固醇(FBTC)、甘油三酯(FBTG)及血糖(FBG)含量等指标的比较,探讨该人群WBC水平与其常见病的关系。方法筛选体检项目完整的3 468例60岁以上老年男性,根据体重指数分为超重组(1 234例)和对照组(2 234例);按血压高低分为高血压组(1 841例)和对照组(1 627例);根据血脂水平分为高脂组(1 953例)和对照组(1 515例);根据血糖水平分为高血糖组(769例)和对照组(2 692例);对各组参数值进行统计学分析。结果各观察组与对照组比较WBC计数均明显升高。经相关性分析,WBC计数与BMI、SBP、FBTG、FBG均为正相关(P<0.05);与DBP和FBTC无相关性(P>0.05)。结论老年男性中肥胖、高血压、高血糖及血脂异常人群WBC计数较正常人群明显升高,说明WBC与肥胖、高血压、高血糖及血脂异常等疾病均有一定的关系,提示WBC计数的升高提示可能伴随高血压、高血糖及血脂异常的发生,可作为临床监测血压、血糖及血脂异常的指征之一。     

Fibrinogen and cigarette smoking in men and women in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer in Norfolk (EPIC-Norfolk) population.

BACKGROUND: Plasma fibrinogen may be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Cigarette smoking is a well-recognized determinant of plasma fibrinogen however it remains unclear how fibrinogen levels relate to the degree and duration of smoking, or to time since smoking cessation. METHODS: In a population-based study of 11 059 men and women aged 45-74 years, we examined the cross-sectional relationship between plasma fibrinogen and cigarette smoking habit. RESULTS: Mean fibrinogen concentrations were higher in current smokers compared to non-current smokers (men: 3.13+/-0.77 versus 2.80+/-0.71 g/l, P<0.0001; women: 3.03+/-0.72 versus 2.95+/-0.71 g/l, P=0.01), independent of age, body mass index and hormone replacement therapy in women In men, fibrinogen concentrations declined with years since stopping smoking but remained higher than in life-long non-smokers for 15 years. No relationship between fibrinogen and duration of smoking cessation was observed in women. On multivariate analysis, age, body mass index, use of hormone-replacement therapy, smoking status and pack-years of smoking were independent predictors of plasma fibrinogen. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma fibrinogen is strongly associated with cigarette smoking with a dose-response relationship with total pack-years of smoking. In men who stop smoking plasma fibrinogen may remain elevated for several years after cessation.     

Platelet count is positively correlated with white cell count and red cell count

Platelet count is positively correlated with the white cell count in healthy males aged 20-68 years (p less than 0.002) and in healthy medical students of both sexes aged 18-22 years (p less than 0.0001). Platelet count is also positively correlated with red cell count in healthy males (p less than 0.02). Red cell count is positively correlated with white cell count in the older healthy males (p less than 0.02) and in the male medical students (p less than 0.003). These findings provide support for the concept of a single hormone-dependent pluripotent stem cell whose effect is seen concomitantly in all circulating blood cells. The white cell count and platelet count correlation is less significant in the males aged 35 or above which may represent the development of pathological mechanisms.     

老年人颈动脉粥样硬化与外周血白细胞及分类计数的关系

目的探讨老年人颈动脉粥样硬化(CAS)与外周血白细胞(WBC)及分类计数、C-反应蛋白(CRP)的关系。方法收集192名健康体检老年人的颈动脉、实验室检测、人体学指标及骨密度检测数据,根据有无CAS进行分组,进行统计对比分析。结果老年人CAS的总体患病率为61.98%。CAS组与无CAS组比较,年龄、脉压(PP)、WBC计数、中性粒细胞(N)计数、CRP、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)、空腹血糖(FBG)、骨质疏松等因素差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。Logistic回归分析显示年龄、LDL-C、FBG、N计数等因素为CAS的独立危险因素。结论 WBC计数、N计数及CRP等炎症标志物对CAS有一定预测作用,具有一定的临床意义。     

Smoking status among a group of morbidly obese men and women referred for gastroplasty

The smoking habits of all morbidly obese patients referred for possible gastroplasty (between January 1, 1983 and December 31, 1985) were assessed. There were 240 patients, 198 women 83 percent) and 42 men (17 percent). Mean age for women was 38 +/- 9 years and weight 121 +/- 17 kg. Men were 36 +/- 9 years old and weighed 154 +/- 24 kg. Forty percent of each group smoked cigarettes daily and 10 percent of women and 12 percent of men were ex-smokers. Twenty percent of the females and 47 percent of the males were heavy smokers (greater than 25 cigarettes per day). Female ex-smokers were much more apt to be on treatment for hypertension than non-smokers (55 vs 10 percent, P less than 0.001). These morbidly obese patients in Southern Ontario smoked more heavily and in higher proportion than reported for adults in Ontario or Canada. Low socioeconomic status may partially explain these results. Better methods of controlling smoking and eating are needed for the morbidly obese.     

Relationship between smoking, white blood cell count and metabolic syndrome in Japanese women

We found that cigarette smoking increased white blood cell count, and individuals which increased white blood cell count more likely to have metabolic syndrome in Japanese men. We investigated whether similar relationship can be observed also in women. We analyzed the data from 16,383 Japanese women who underwent general health screening. Age-adjusted logistic regression analysis showed that current smoking was positively associated with a highest white blood cell count quartile with an odds ratio of 2.40 (95% CI: 2.16-2.68, P<0.0001). The white blood cell count showed a graded association with metabolic syndrome. On the other hand, the association between current smoking and metabolic syndrome was no longer significant after subdividing the individuals into groups according to the white blood cell quartile. These data collectively suggested that the association between current smoking and metabolic syndrome is heavily confounded by certain factors that increase the circulating white blood cell count in Japanese women, as in men.     

Smoking, leukocyte count, and ventilatory lung function in working men

Results of a cross-sectional study of ventilatory lung function (VLF) in a group of 307 working men showed that the leukocyte count in peripheral blood is more closely associated with the relative position (percentile) of a person in the frequency distribution of VLF than is smoking intensity. Leukocyte count is significantly (and inversely) correlated with VLF in nonsmokers as well as in smokers. A multiple regression analysis indicated that, after accounting for the effect of height and age, white blood cell (WBC) count explains more of the VLF variance than many other health determinants. Moreover, WBC count is the only variable, apart from height and age, that contributes significantly to the regression. Current smokers with elevated leukocyte count in peripheral blood may constitute a defined high-risk group because they demonstrate more negative regression age coefficients when compared with smokers without elevated WBC or with nonsmokers. Mechanisms that may explain these findings are discussed.     

Association of white blood cell count and clustered components of metabolic syndrome in Japanese men.

BACKGROUND: The role of inflammation in the genesis of cardiovascular disease has attracted attention and in the present study the association among metabolic syndrome (MS), white blood cell (WBC) count, and insulin concentration was investigated. METHODS AND RESULTS: A cross-sectional study of 3,594 Japanese men aged 34-69 years evaluated the MS components (high blood pressure, hypo-high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hyperglycemia), as defined by the criteria given in the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults, except for obesity [body mass index (BMI) >/=25 kg/m(2)]. WBC count had a positive correlation with BMI, blood pressure, triglyceride, glucose and insulin, and a negative correlation with HDL-cholesterol. The multi-adjusted means of WBC count and insulin concentration were significantly higher in MS subjects defined as having 3 or more of the components than in non-MS subjects with no more than 2 components. Both means also increased with the number of MS components (p<0.001 for trend). In the multiple linear regression analysis, BMI, HDL-cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, glucose and triglyceride had a significant and independent association with WBC count, but the insulin concentration did not. CONCLUSIONS: The cluster of MS components based on insulin resistance may cause low-grade inflammation.     

C-reactive protein levels and coronary artery disease incidence and mortality in apparently healthy men and women: the EPIC-Norfolk prospective population study 1993-2003

INTRODUCTION: Measurement of C-reactive protein (CRP) levels has been proposed as a useful marker to improve the prediction of future coronary artery disease (CAD) risk, but this notion has been challenged recently. METHODS AND RESULTS: We performed a prospective case-control study among apparently healthy men and women. The odds ratio (OR) for future CAD incidence was 2.49 (95% CI=2.02-3.08, p for linearity <0.0001) unadjusted, and 1.66 (95% CI=1.31-2.12, p for linearity <0.0001), after adjustment for classical cardiovascular risk factors, for top versus bottom quartile of the CRP distribution. Notably, the risk factor adjusted predictive value was substantially stronger for fatal CAD (OR=2.92, 95% CI=1.83-4.67, p for linearity <0.0001) than for non-fatal CAD (OR=1.25, 95% CI=0.93-1.66, p for linearity=0.06). CRP levels were among the strongest predictors of CAD incidence and mortality. CRP levels remained a statistically significant predictor of future CAD, even after adjustment for the Framingham risk score. CONCLUSIONS: In this British cohort with risk factor levels representative of a contemporary Western population, CRP concentration was among the strongest predictors of CAD incidence and mortality. We suggest that current guidelines on CRP measurement in clinical practice should be based on contemporary and representative populations.     

Total and differential white blood cell count and cause-specific mortality in 436 750 Taiwanese adults

Background and aimsWhite blood cell (WBC) count is an easily obtainable biomarker of systematic inflammation. Our study aimed to investigate the associations of differential WBC count with all-cause and cause-specific mortality in a general Asian population.Methods and resultsCox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate the associations of WBC count with mortality separately for men and women, with adjustment for multiple variables including age, smoking, and other lifestyle factors. Stratified analyses by age, smoking, diabetes, and hypertension were conducted to explore potential effect modification.Elevated WBC count was significantly associated with increased mortality risk. The adjusted hazard ratios of total WBC (10th decile compared to decile of lowest risk) for all-cause mortality were 1.42 (95% CI: 1.33, 1.53) for men and 1.54 (95% CI: 1.42, 1.68) for women. Similar risks were observed for neutrophils, monocytes, and neutrophil/lymphocyte (NL) ratio. The highest deciles of neutrophils, monocytes, and NL ratio were also positively associated with risk of cardiovascular/cerebrovascular, cancer, and respiratory mortality after adjusting for covariates. Results for all-cause mortality remained statistically significant for participants who were <60 years old, non-smokers, non-diabetic, and non-hypertensive.ConclusionsTotal and differential WBC counts (neutrophils, monocytes, and NL ratios) are positively associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular, cancer, and respiratory mortality among Taiwanese adults.