Metabolic syndrome is associated with erosive esophagitis

AIM： To clarify whether insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome are risk factors for erosive esophagitis.
METHODS： A case-control study was performed using the database of the Kangbuk Samsung Hospital Medical Screening Center.
RESULTS： A total of 1679 cases of erosive esophagitis and 3358 randomly selected controls were included. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed in 21% of the cases and 12% of the controls （P 〈 0.001）. Multiple logistic regressions confirmed the association between erosive esophagitis and metabolic syndrome （Odds ratio, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.04-1.49）. Among the components of metabolic syndrome, increased waist circumference, elevated serum triglyceride levels and hypertension were significant risk factors for erosive esophagitis （all P 〈 0.01）. Furthermore, increased insulin resistance （Odds ratio, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.85-0.98） and fatty liver, as diagnosed by ultrasonography （odds ratio, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.20-1.60）, were also related to erosive esophagitis even afl：er adjustment for a series of confounding factors.
CONCLUSION： Metabolic syndrome and increased insulin resistance are associated with an increased risk of developing erosive esophagitis.     

Metabolic risk factors associated with erosive esophagitis

Background and Aim:  Our aim was to determine associations between metabolic risk factors and erosive esophagitis.
Methods:  In this retrospective case-control study, diagnosis of erosive esophagitis was based on the Los Angeles classification. Endoscopic findings in subjects with erosive esophagitis were reviewed by two experienced endoscopists and those with agreement of diagnosis were enrolled for study. Body mass index (BMI), abdominal girdle, blood pressure, and serum triglyceride, glucose, and β-lipoprotein levels were compared between individuals with and without erosive esophagitis. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent metabolic risk factors associated with erosive esophagitis.
Results:  Between October 2004 and April 2006, 518 of 4206 subjects who underwent endoscopic examination were diagnosed as having erosive esophagitis. After expert review, 427 (male : female = 365:62) individuals met the study criteria of having erosive esophagitis (10.5%). Compared with age- and gender-matched controls, patients with erosive esophagitis had significantly higher BMI, abdominal girdle, blood pressure, and triglyceride levels, and lower levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ( P  < 0.05). More subjects with metabolic syndrome had erosive esophagitis than without metabolic syndrome (OR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.27–2.44, P  = 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that central obesity (OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 05-1.89, P  = 0.023) and hypertriglyceridemia (OR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.19–2.13, P  = 0.004) were significantly associated with erosive esophagitis.
Conclusions:  Obesity and hypertriglyceridemia, which are key components of metabolic syndrome, are moderate independent risk factors for erosive esophagitis.     

Clinical features associated with improvement of fatty liver disease

BACKGROUND: We presumed that identification of the factors associated with improvement of fatty livers disease (FLD) would support the therapeutic options for FLD. The goal of this study was to clarify what clinical characteristics are associated with biochemical and sonographic improvements in the non-alcoholic population with fatty livers. METHODS: A total of 615 non-alcoholic men had elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (> or = 40 IU/L) levels and sonographic evidence of a fatty liver, and their clinical characteristics were assessed at the beginning of the study and after 1 year of follow up. The improvement was defined as combination of normal ALT level and negative sonography for hepatic fat after 1 year. Programmed intervention or medications were not applied in this study population. RESULTS: The overall rate of improvement of FLD after a 1-year follow up was 37/615 (6.0%). The improvement was strongly associated with decrement of changes in bodyweight, body mass index, waist circumference, gamma-glutamyltransferase, fasting blood sugar, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio and homeostasis model assessment. Multivariate analysis showed that decrement of changes in bodyweight (odds ratio (OR) = 1.56; 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 1.27-1.92) per 1 kg, body mass index (OR = 2.42; 95%CI: 1.58-3.71) per 1 SD (0.8 kg/m2), waist circumference (OR = 2.13; 95%CI: 1.02-4.54) per 1 cm, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR = 1.64; 95%CI: 1.05-2.56) per 1 SD (22 mg/dL) were all independent predictors for improvement of FLD. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the reduction of bodyweight is a major key point for the improvement of FLD.     

Comparative analysis between psychological and endoscopic profiles in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease: a prospective study based on screening endoscopy

BACKGROUND: Associations between psychological and endoscopic profiles are not clearly validated among the heterogeneous patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The purpose of the present paper was therefore to identify any associations by means of cross-sectional study. METHODS: Consecutive participants in a health screening program were enrolled. Definition and severity of erosive esophagitis were assessed with Los Angeles classification. Frequency and severity of psychological symptoms were measured with a 30-item Brief Symptom Rating Scale (BSRS) and personality traits with a short form of the Maudsley Personality Inventory (MPI). Statistic analyses were performed based on the presence of GERD symptoms or endoscopic esophagitis. RESULTS: A total of 4600 participants were recruited. There were 1331 subjects (29%) with manifestations suggesting GERD, including non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) in 488 (10.6%), symptomatic erosive esophagitis (SEE) in 164 (3.6%), and asymptomatic erosive esophagitis (AEE) in 679 (14.8%). The BSRS parameters were significantly higher in symptomatic subjects (i.e. NERD and SEE subjects; P < 0.001); neuroticism scores were also higher (P < 0.001), but extroversion scores (P < 0.001) were lower than those of asymptomatic subjects. Following logistic regression analysis, independent risk factors for GERD symptoms were female gender (odds ratio [OR]: 1.596; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.303-1.955) and higher neuroticism scores (OR: 1.046; 95%CI: 1.032-1.06). For erosive esophagitis, independent risk factors were male gender (OR: 2.943; 95%CI: 2.359-3.671) and higher body mass index scores (OR: 1.098; 95%CI: 1.069-1.127). CONCLUSIONS: Psychological characteristics predict likelihood of GERD symptoms but not structural state of esophagus. Male gender and obesity are risk factors for erosive esophagitis; whereas female gender and neuroticism are more likely to be associated with GERD symptoms.     

中国新疆地区维吾尔族人群缺血性卒中的危险因素

目的：探讨中国新疆维吾尔族人群缺血性卒中的危险因素。方法采用病例对照研究模式,按照民族、性别和年龄进行匹配的原则,对504例首发缺血性卒中维吾尔族患者和507例维吾尔族健康对照者进行调查,筛选缺血性卒中的危险因素。结果多变量logistic回归分析显示,肥胖[优势比（odds ratio, OR）4.82,95％可信区间（confidence interval, CI）1.80~12.94;P=0.002]、高血压（ OR 8.20,95％CI 4.93~13.51;P<0.001）和心脏病（ OR 2.40,95％CI 1.07~5.39;P=0.033）是维吾尔族缺血性卒中的独立危险因素,而初中以上文化程度（ OR ）0.38,95％CI 0.18~0.81;P=0.012）、饮茶习惯（ OR 0.22,95％CI 0.06~0.70;P=0.021）和有午睡习惯（ OR 0.38,95％CI 0.24~0.59;P<0.001）、高水平的高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（ OR 0.34,95％CI 0.20~0.59;P<0.001）和载脂蛋白A（ OR 0.23,95％CI 0.07~0.77;P=0.017）均为缺血性卒中的独立保护因素。结论中国新疆维吾尔族人群缺血性卒中的危险因素较多且典型,调整该民族饮食结构,少进食肉类和高盐饮食,多摄取高纤维食物和鱼类等,并适当加强体育锻炼可能将在维吾尔族人群的卒中预防起着重要的作用。     

血脂指标的比值在预测心脑疾病患者颈动脉内-中膜增厚中的作用

目的评价颈动脉内-中膜厚度（CIMT）与血脂（包括脂质、脂蛋白、载脂蛋白）、超敏C反应蛋白（hs-CRP）、空腹血糖、年龄、性别等因素间的相关性。方法回顾性分析2009年9月—2010年3月在广州市红十字会医院神经内科和心内科住院,年龄≥40岁的833例患者的临床资料,包括采用超声测量的平均CIMT、性别、年龄、血脂水平[脂质、脂蛋白、载脂蛋白,以及脂质比值,包括低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）与高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-C）的比值、载脂蛋白B（Apo-B）与载脂蛋白A-Ⅰ（ApoA-Ⅰ）的比值及总胆固醇（TC）与HDL-C的比值]、hs-CRP、空腹血糖等资料。依据患者的CIMT,分为正常组（平均CIMT〈1.0 mm）172例,增厚组（平均CIMT≥1.0 mm）661例。采用二元Logistic回归分析筛选出CIMT增厚的独立危险因素。结果①增厚组患者的年龄、空腹血糖、hs-CRP、LDL-C/HDL-C比值、TC/HDL-C比值、Apo-B/ApoA-Ⅰ比值的中位数,均高于正常组,而HDL-C、ApoA-Ⅰ的中位数低于正常组。增厚组男性例数要明显多于正常组,差异有统计学意义,均P〈0.05。两组之间其他变量差异无统计学意义。②二元Logistic回归显示,年龄（OR=1.085,95%CI：1.067～1.104）、男性（OR=1.897,95%CI：1.985～2.799）、hs-CRP（OR=1.165,95%CI：1.047～1.296）、LDL-C/HDL-C比值（OR=1.281,95%CI：1.040～1.579）是预测CIMT增厚的独立危险因素。结论 LDL-C/HDL-C比值增高是预测心脑疾病患者CIMT增厚的独立危险因素,其预测作用可能要优于单独检测LDL-C或HDL-C。     

幽门螺杆菌感染与不稳定型心绞痛有关联

目的: 观察幽门螺杆菌（Hp）感染是否与不稳定型心绞痛（UAP）有关联。方法: 152例住院的心绞痛患者分为两组:UAP组患者114例,对照组为稳定型心绞痛（SAP）患者38例。所有患者应用ELISA法测定血清Hp-IgG浓度,测定血清高敏C反应蛋白（hsCRP）、总胆固醇（TC）、三酰甘油（TG）、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-C）和低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）浓度,行冠状动脉造影检查,以Gensini冠状动脉积分评价冠状动脉狭窄程度。结果: UAP组患者的血清Hp-IgG、hsCRP、空腹血糖（FPG）水平和冠状动脉积分均高于SAP组患者（P<0.05）,采用多因素Logistic回归分析表明,血清Hp-IgG（OR=5.13,95%CI 1.91-13.78,P<0.01）、hsCRP（OR=3.58,95%CI 1.32-9.65,P<0.05）和FPG（OR=6.20,95%CI 1.21-31.42,P<0.05）水平升高的3个指标与UAP有关。结论: 血清Hp-IgG水平升高与UAP有关。     

Synergistic effect of fatty liver and smoking on metabolic Syndrome

AIM: To investigate the association of fatty liver and smoking on metabolic syndrome and its components.METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled participants who attended annual health screening at Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital from January to December 2005. A total of 3455 (1981 men and 1474 women) subjects were included in final analyses. Fatty liver was diagnosed using abdominal ultrasonography by trained gastroenterologists. The modified National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III was used to define metabolic syndrome. The associations between smoking, fatty liver and metabolic syndrome were analyzed using multiple logistic regression.RESULTS: Subjects with fatty liver, and who smoked tobacco, had the highest odds ratios (ORs) for high waist circumference [OR, 4.5 (95% CI: 3.3-6.1), P < 0.05], hypertriglyceridemia [OR, 8.1 (95% CI: 6.0-10.9), P < 0.05], low serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) [OR, 8.3 (95% CI: 6.1-11.3), P < 0.05], and metabolic syndrome [OR, 9.5 (95% CI: 6.7-13.4), P < 0.05] compared to subjects without fatty liver who did not smoke tobacco. We also found that the ORs for hypertriglyceridemia, low serum HDL-C, and metabolic syndrome for subjects with fatty liver who smoked tobacco had greater than the sum of the ORs for subjects with fatty liver who did not smoke plus those who did not have fatty liver and who did smoke.CONCLUSION: Fatty liver and smoking had a synergistic effect on metabolic syndrome and its components, especially for hypertriglyceridemia and low serum HDL-C.     

冠心病患者血脂异常与冠状动脉病变的相关性分析

目的探讨冠心病患者冠状动脉病变范围及狭窄程度与血脂的关系。方法 9847例疑诊冠心病并行诊断性冠状动脉造影的住院患者中,确诊冠心病6419例(65.2%),排除3428例(34.8%),以冠状动脉造影阳性(主要血管直径狭窄≥50%)作为诊断冠心病的标准。冠状动脉造影病变程度采用Gensini积分评价。术前进行甘油三酯(TG)、总胆固醇(TC)、高密度脂蛋白(HDL-C)、低密度脂蛋白(LDL-C)检查,对比分析冠心病组冠状动脉狭窄程度及范围与血脂的关系。结果对6419例冠心病患者进行统计学分析显示TC、LDL-C随着冠状动脉病变支数及病变程度(冠状动脉病变Gensini积分)的增加而升高,并与之成明显的负相关(P<0.001);而高密度脂蛋白则随着病变支数和病变程度(冠状动脉病变Gensini积分)的增加而降低,呈明显的负相关(P<0.001),进一步多元线性回归分析显示HDL-C(β=-0.075,OR值-5.580,95%CI:-7.541～-3.618,P<0.001)与冠状动脉病变程度成独立正相关,低密度脂蛋白(β=0.067,OR值2.712,95%CI:0.943～4.481,P=0.003)与冠状动脉病变程度成独立正相关,而与TG(β=0.002,OR值0.067,95%CI:-0.689～0.822,P=0.863)、TC(β=0.034,OR值1.080,95%CI:-0.392～2.553,P=0.150)无独立相关性。结论 TG、TC、LDL-C可以作为冠心病的危险因素,而HDL-C与冠状动脉病变程度成独立负相关,LDL-C与冠状动脉病变程度成独立正相关。虽然TG和TC在本研究中未体现出与冠状动脉病变程度存在独立相关性,但因本研究为横断面研究,研究结果存在一定的局限性,应结合临床具体分析。所以积极控制血脂对防止冠心病有积极意义。     

外周血血脂水平与老年性白内障相关性研究

目的 探讨外周血血脂水平与年龄相关性白内障(age-related cataract,ARC)的相关性.方法 采用回顾性病例对照设计,选取2018年1月-2019年12月于复旦大学附属眼耳鼻喉科医院就诊并确诊为ARC的患者280例作为观察组,其中男性140例,女性140例.同时选取同期217例正常健康体检者作为对照组,...     

Cholecystectomy does not significantly increase the risk of fatty liver disease

AIM: To investigate the relationship between cholecystectomy and fatty liver disease(FLD) in a Chinese population.METHODS: A total of 32428 subjects who had voluntarily undergone annual health checkups in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2011 to May 2013 were included in this study. Basic data collection, physical examination, laboratory examination, and abdominal ultrasound examination were performed.RESULTS: Subjects undergoing cholecystectomy were associated with greater age, female sex, higher body mass index, and higher levels of systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, and triglycerides. However, no significant differences were found in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, gammaglutamyl transpeptidase, albumin, and serum uric acid. The overall prevalence of FLD diagnosed by ultrasonography was high at 38.4%. The prevalence of FLD was significantly higher for subjects who had undergone cholecystectomy(46.9%) than those who had not undergone cholecystectomy(38.1%; χ2 test, P < 0.001). Cholecystectomy was positively associated with FLD(OR = 1.433, 95%CI: 1.259-1.631). However, after adjusting for possible factors associated withFLD, multivariate regression analysis showed that the association between cholecystectomy and FLD was not statistically significant(OR = 1.096; 95%CI: 0.939-1.279). CONCLUSION: According to our study results, cholecystectomy may not be a significant risk factor for FLD.     

Differences in clinical characteristics between patients with endoscopy-negative reflux disease and erosive esophagitis in Japan

OBJECTIVE: Helicobacter pylori infection and atrophic gastritis are inversely related to erosive esophagitis. Whether these factors affect the pathogenesis of endoscopy-negative reflux disease is not clear. We aimed to elucidate the differences in clinical characteristics between endoscopy-negative erosive disease and erosive esophagitis. METHODS: 253 subjects (89 with endoscopy-negative reflux disease and 164 with erosive esophagitis) were studied. Gastric atrophy was assessed by measurement of serum pepsinogen. Logistic regression was used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of endoscopy-negative reflux disease compared with erosive esophagitis. RESULTS: Among GERD patients, female gender (OR = 2.27, 95% CI, 1.25-4.10), smoking (OR = 0.45, 95% CI, 0.22-0.91), and the presence of hiatal hernia (OR = 0.30, 95% CI, 0.17-0.56) were significantly associated with endoscopy-negative reflux disease compared with male gender, not smoking, and absence of hiatal hernia, respectively. Body mass index (BMI) was also significantly associated with a decreased OR for endoscopy-negative reflux disease. Although H. pylori infection and gastric atrophy were significantly more common in patients with endoscopy-negative reflux disease, these associations did not persist in a multiple-adjustment model. After adjustment for gender, BMI, smoking, and hiatal hernia, a decrease in serum pepsinogen I/II ratio was significantly associated with an increased OR for endoscopy-negative reflux disease (p for trend = 0.018). CONCLUSIONS: Female gender, low BMI, not smoking, absence of hiatal hernia, and severity of gastric atrophy were positively associated with endoscopy-negative reflux disease compared with erosive esophagitis among Japanese patients.     

Is Elevated High‐density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Always Good for Coronary Heart Disease?

BACKGROUND: High-density lipoprotein (HDL) could enhance inflammation in atherogenesis when inflammatory response is present, and the activity of paraoxonase and antioxidant in HDL in the elderly is significantly decreased. There might be a different role for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) between different age groups in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS: For this study, 225 inpatients with CHD (coronary atherosclerosis stenosis >/= 50% on >/= 1 major coronary arteries by coronary angiography), and 80 without CHD; 120 resting unstable angina patients, and 68 with stable angina were consecutively recruited. Risk factors were analyzed for CHD and resting unstable angina. RESULTS: High-density lipoprotein cholesterol in resting unstable angina was higher than that in stable angina (1.24 +/- 1.05 versus 1.05 +/- 0.29 mmol/L, p = 0.032). After adjustment for age, sex, physical inactivity, hypertension, diabetes, C-reactive protein, triglycerides, total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) the adjusted odds ratio (OR) (95% CI) of resting unstable angina was 10.19 (2.18-47.6, p = 0.003) for HDL-C. Risk factors were further investigated in different age groups. Adjusted OR of CHD associated with HDL-C in < 55-year-old group was 0.09 (0.01-0.66, p = 0.018), in >/= 55-year-old group it was 0.55 (0.08-3.82, p > 0.05). Adjusted OR of resting unstable angina associated with high HDL-C was 19.24 (2.86-129.4, p = 0.002) in patients aged >/= 55 years. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated HDL-C might be an independent risk factor for resting unstable angina, even though HDL-C could play a much more important role in protection against coronary stenosis in younger or middle-aged persons.     

Comparison between uncut Roux-en-Y and Roux-en-Y reconstruction after distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer: A meta-analysis

AIM To compare uncut Roux-en-Y(U-RY) gastrojejunostomy with Roux-en-Y(RY) gastrojejunostomy after distal gastrectomy(DG) for gastric cancer.METHODS A literature search was conducted in Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, and China Science and Technology Journal Database to identify studies comparing U-RY with RY after DG for gastric cancer until the end of December 2017. Pooled odds ratio or weighted mean difference with 95% confidence interval was calculated using either fixed-or random-effects models. Perioperative outcomes such as operative time, intraoperative blood loss, and hospital stay; postoperative complications such as anastomotic bleeding, stricture and ulcer, reflux gastritis/esophagitis, delayed gastric emptying, and Roux stasis syndrome; and postoperative nutritional status(serum hemoglobin, total protein, and albumin levels) were the main outcomes assessed. Metaanalyses were performed using RevM an 5.3 software.RESULTS Two randomized controlled trials and four nonrandomized observational clinical studies involving 403 and 488 patients, respectively, were included. The results of the meta-analysis showed that operative time [weighted mean difference(WMD):-12.95; 95%CI:-22.29 to-3.61; P = 0.007] and incidence of reflux gastritis/esophagitis(OR: 0.40; 95%CI: 0.20-0.80; P = 0.009), delayed gastric emptying(OR: 0.29; 95%CI: 0.14-0.61; P = 0.001), and Roux stasis syndrome(OR: 0.14; 95%CI: 0.04-0.50; P = 0.002) were reduced; and the level of serum albumin(WMD: 0.71; 95%CI: 0.24-1.19; P = 0.003) was increased in patients undergoing U-RY reconstruction compared with those undergoing RY reconstruction. No differences were found with respect to intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay, anastomotic bleeding, anastomotic stricture, anastomotic ulcer, the levels of serum hemoglobin, and serum total protein. CONCLUSION U-RY reconstruction has some clinical advantages over RY reconstruction after DG.     

中老年人群血脂水平对新发颈动脉斑块的预测作用

目的 了解2002年至2007年中老年人群颈动脉斑块的变化情况,评价基线血脂水平对新发颈动脉斑块的预测作用.方法 研究样本来自中美队列中的石景山人群和多省市队列中的北京大学社区人群.2002年9月对这两个人群进行基线颈动脉超声检查和心血管病危险因素调查,2007年9至10月复查颈动脉超声.以两次颈动脉检查数据完整的2000名中老年人为研究对象,对基线血脂水平与颈动脉斑块的关系进行分析.结果 (1)2002年至2007年,颈动脉斑块患病率男性从30.3%增加到62.2%,女性从21.5%增加到51.5%;新发斑块率男性为41.8%,女性为34.1%.(2)男女两性颈动脉新发斑块率随着基线总胆固醇(TC)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)、非高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(non-HDL-C)及总胆固醇与HDL-C比值(TC/HDL-C)水平的增高而增加,其变化趋势差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05或P＜0.01).(3)交叉分析显示,LDL-C,HDL-C,甘油三酯对斑块发生率有协同作用.(4)多因素分析显示,高LDL-C、高non-HDL-C和高TC/HDL-C是男女两性新发颈动脉斑块的独立影响因素(男性OR值分别为1.44、1.45、1.59,女性OR值分别为1.47、1.35、1.64,均P＜0.05).结论 2002年至2007年,中老年人群颈动脉斑块患病率在快速增长.高LDL-C、nonHDL-C和TC/HDL-C水平是中老年人群新发颈动脉斑块的独立预测指标.     

上海市崇明区老年人成纤维活化蛋白与代谢综合征的相关性分析

目的 探讨老年人血浆成纤维活化蛋白(FAP)水平与代谢综合征的相关性.方法 2011年6月-12月,采取随机整群抽样的方法,以上海市崇明区城桥镇587例常住居民为研究对象,其中男性202例、女性385例.通过问卷调查和体格检查采集人体基本参数,采集标本完成相关实验室检查,分析FAP水平与代谢综合征的相关性.结果 男性血...     

Prevalence and risk factors of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in an adult population of taiwan: metabolic significance of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in nonobese adults

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is rarely reported in Taiwan. GOALS: To determine the prevalence and risk factors of NAFLD in an adult population of Taiwan. STUDY: The cross-sectional community study examined 3245 adults in a rural village of Taiwan. The diagnostic criteria for NAFLD included no excessive alcohol intake, no chronic viral hepatitis, no known etiologies of liver disease, and ultrasonography consistent with fatty liver. RESULTS: The prevalence of NAFLD was 11.5% (372/3245). The risk factors for NAFLD in the general population were male sex [odds ratio (OR), 1.44; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.09-1.90], elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (OR, 5.66; 95% CI, 3.99-8.01), obesity (OR, 7.21; 95% CI, 5.29-9.84), fasting plasma glucose > or =126 mg/dL (OR, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.41-3.05), total cholesterol > or =240 mg/dL (OR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.06-2.13), triglyceride > or =150 mg/dL (OR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.32-2.35), and hyperuricemia (OR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.16-2.01). Age > or =65 years was inversely related to NAFLD (OR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36-0.77). The only NAFLD risk factors among nonobese subjects were age between 40 and 64 years (OR, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.34-4.11, P=0.003), elevated ALT (OR, 15.45; 95% CI, 8.21-29.09, P<0.001), and triglyceride > or =150 mg/dL (OR, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.42-4.32, P=0.001). In subjects with NAFLD, the prevalence of elevated ALT in the presence of each metabolic risk factor, such as obesity, fasting plasma glucose > or =126 mg/dL, total cholesterol > or =240 mg/dL, triglyceride > or =150 mg/dL, and hyperuricemia, did not differ from that of subjects with normal ALT levels. CONCLUSIONS: NAFLD is closely associated with elevated ALT, obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and hyperuricemia. Among the metabolic disorders, only hypertriglyceridemia was related to NAFLD in nonobese subjects. Serum ALT level was not a good predictor of metabolic significance in subjects with NAFLD.     

Prediction of coronary atherosclerotic disease with liver transaminase level.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recent studies have shown that liver transaminases are associated with components of the metabolic syndrome including central obesity, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidaemia and high blood pressure, but their direct influence on coronary atherosclerosis has not been investigated before. We conducted this study to evaluate the predictive value of liver transaminases for angiography-documented coronary atherosclerosis in patients with coronary heart disease. METHODS: Six hundred and thirty consecutive patients with suspicious coronary artery disease (CAD) who were candidates for coronary angiography were enrolled. In addition to coronary angiography, measurements of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) concentrations, C-reactive protein (CRP) level and assessment of the traits of the metabolic syndrome were performed in all patients. RESULTS: ALT and ALT/AST ratios were significantly correlated with angiographic atherosclerosis score in women (r=0.17 and 0.24 respectively). Logistic regression analysis showed that the ALT/AST ratio in women could predict severe CAD [odds ratio (OR) 3.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.76-8.76]. After adjustment for components of the metabolic syndrome and CRP concentration, the OR remained significant (4.00 [1.76-9.14]). Although significant in univariate analysis, neither ALT (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.77-1.15) nor AST (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.72-1.22) could predict severe CAD in men. CONCLUSION: An elevated ALT/AST ratio in women predicts coronary atherosclerosis independently of the metabolic syndrome and serum CRP concentration, and should warrant further diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.     

Metabolic syndrome in patients with schizophrenia: Why should we care

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a serious disease in patients with schizophrenia; it is necessary to evaluate the characteristics and influencing factors of MS to provide reliable evidence for the management of schizophrenia.Patients with schizophrenia treated in our hospital from January 1, 2018, to March 31, 2021, were selected. The characteristics and treatment details of MS and no-MS patients were evaluated. Pearson correlation analyses were applied for analyzing MS and related characteristics. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the risk factors of MS in patients with schizophrenia.A total of 465 patients with schizophrenia were included, the incidence of MS in patients with schizophrenia was 18.06%. Pearson correlation analyses had found that age (r = 0.621), waist circumference (r = 0.744), body mass index (r = 0.691), diabetes (r = 0.598), course of disease (r = 0.504), triglyceride (r = 0.532), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (r = –0.518), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (r = 0.447), and total cholesterol (r = 0.523) were correlated with MS (all P < .05). Logistic regression analyses showed that age ≥55 years (odds ratio [OR]: 2.012, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.425–3.196), waist circumference ≥80 cm (OR: 1.944, 95% CI: 1.081–3.172), body mass index ≥24.5 kg/m² (OR: 2.451, 95% CI: 1.825–3.108), diabetes (OR: 2.301, 95% CI: 1.944–2.881), course of disease ≥15 years (OR: 1.804, 95% CI: 1.236–2.845), triglyceride ≥1.5 mmol/L (OR: 2.032, 95% CI: 1.614–3.079), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ≤0.8 mmol/L (OR: 1.226, 95% CI: 1.102–1.845), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ≥2 mmol/L (OR: 1.759, 95% CI: 1.236–1.987), and total cholesterol ≥4.5 mmol/L (OR: 1.664, 95% CI: 1.422–1.852) were the risk factors of MS in patients with schizophrenia (all P < .05).MS is very common in patients with schizophrenia, which may be associated with many possible risk factors, and early interventions and nursing care targeted at those influencing factors are needed to improve the prognosis of schizophrenia.     

Association of body mass index with heartburn, regurgitation and esophagitis: results of the Progression of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease study

BACKGROUND: Overweight and obesity are believed to be risk factors for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The aim of the present study was to analyze the impact of body mass index (BMI) on the severity and frequency of reflux symptoms and esophagitis in a large cohort of reflux patients. METHODS: As part of the Progression of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (ProGERD) study, 6215 patients with clinically assessed GERD were included in the present investigation (53% male, 52 +/- 14 years; 47% female, 56 +/- 14 years). Heartburn and regurgitation symptoms were assessed using the validated Reflux Disease Questionnaire. Endoscopies were performed and patients were subsequently classified as having non-erosive or erosive disease. To examine the association between BMI, GERD symptoms, and esophagitis, odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated using logistic regression models. RESULTS: In patients with GERD, higher BMI was associated with more frequent and more severe heartburn and regurgitation, as well as with esophagitis. The effects were more pronounced for regurgitation than for heartburn. The strongest association was between obesity and severity of regurgitation symptoms (women: OR 2.11, 95%CI 1.60-2.77; men: OR 2.15, 95%CI 1.59-2.90). Obese women, but not men, had an increased risk of severe esophagitis compared to women with normal weight (OR 2.51, 95%CI 1.53-4.12). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with GERD, higher BMI was associated with more severe and more frequent reflux symptoms and esophagitis.