Vascular Reactivity in Hypogonadal Men Is Reduced by Androgen Substitution

Abstract The effect of testosterone (T) substitution therapy on blood vessel functions in relation to cardiovascular disease has not been fully elucidated. In 36 newly diagnosed nonsmoking hypogonadal men (37.5 ± 12.7 yr) endothelium-dependent flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD; decreased in atherosclerosis) of the brachial artery was assessed before treatment and after 3 months of T substitution therapy (250 mg testosterone enanthate im every 2 wk in 19 men, human chorionic gonadotropin sc twice per week in 17 men). Twenty nonsmoking controls matched for age, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), body height, and baseline diameter of the artery were selected for repeated measurements from a larger eugonadal control group (n = 113). In hypogonadal men, basal FMD (17.9 ± 4.5%) was significantly higher than in the large (11.9 ± 6.4%) and matched control (11.8 ± 7.1%, both P < 0.001) groups. Grouped multiple linear regression analysis revealed a significant negative association of T levels with FMD within the hypogonadal range, but no significant association was seen within the eugonadal range. During substitution therapy, T levels increased from 5.8 ± 2.3 to 17.2 ± 5.1 nmol/liter and FMD decreased significantly to 8.6 ± 3.1% (P < 0.001, analysis for covariance for repeated measurements including matched controls). LDL-C and advanced age contributed significantly to decrease FMD (P = 0.01, P = 0.04, respectively). Because T substitution adversely affects this important predictor of atherosclerosis, other contributing factors (such as smoking, high blood glucose, and LDL-C) should be eliminated or strictly controlled during treatment of hypogonadal men.

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The Association of Circulating MiR-29b and Interleukin-6 with Subclinical Atherosclerosis

Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry ◽

10.1159/000485649 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 44 (4) ◽

pp. 1537-1544 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Yu-qing Huang ◽

Jie Li ◽

Ji-yan Chen ◽

Ying-ling Zhou ◽

An-ping Cai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Regression Analysis ◽

Linear Regression ◽

Multiple Linear Regression ◽

Interleukin 6 ◽

Subclinical Atherosclerosis ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Multiple Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Control Group ◽

Study Group ◽

Circulating Levels

Background/Aims: Although it is widely acknowledged that atherosclerosis is mainly a chronic inflammatory process, in which both miR-29b and interleukin-6 (IL-6) play multifaceted roles, the association between miR-29b and IL-6 remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between miR-29b and IL-6 and to test whether circulating levels of miR-29b and IL-6 could predict atherosclerosis. Methods: A total of 170 participants were divided into two groups according to carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT): study group (CIMT ≥ 0.9mm) and control group (CIMT < 0.9mm). Levels of circulating miR-29b and IL-6 were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. The association of miR-29b and IL-6 levels with CIMT was assessed using Spearman correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis. Results: The study group showed higher miR-29b levels (31.61 ± 3.05 vs. 27.91 ± 1.71 Ct, p < 0.001) and IL-6 levels (3.40 ± 0.67 vs. 2.99 ± 0.37 pg/ml, p < 0.001), compared with the control group. CIMT was positively correlated with miR-29b (r = 0.587, p < 0.001) and IL-6 (r = 0.410, p < 0.001), and miR-29b levels were also correlated with IL-6 (r = 0.242, p = 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis also showed that CIMT was positively correlated with miR-29b and IL-6. After adjustment for age, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol and C-reactive protein, CIMT was still closely correlated with miR-29b and IL-6. The combination of miR-29b and IL-6 (AUC = 0.901, p < 0.001) offered a better predictive index for atherosclerosis than either miR-29b (AUC = 0.867, p < 0.001) or IL-6 (AUC = 0.747, p < 0.001) alone. Conclusion: Circulating levels of miR-29b and IL-6 may be independently correlated with subclinical atherosclerosis, and may serve as novel biomarkers for the identification of atherosclerosis.

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Effect of rosiglitazone on plasma adiponectin levels and arterial stiffness in subjects with prediabetes or non-diabetic metabolic syndrome

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/eje.1.02100 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 154 (3) ◽

pp. 433-440 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Sin Gon Kim ◽

Ohk Hyun Ryu ◽

Hee Young Kim ◽

Kye Won Lee ◽

Ji A Seo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Arterial Stiffness ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

High Sensitivity ◽

Multiple Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Control Group ◽

Oral Glucose ◽

Diabetic Patients ◽

Plasma Adiponectin ◽

Rosiglitazone Treatment

Objective: Thiazolidinediones have favorable influences on surrogate markers of atherosclerosis such as adiponectin, and arterial stiffness in diabetic patients. However, it is not well known whether these beneficial effects occur in subjects without diabetes, such as prediabetes or the non-diabetic metabolic syndrome (MetS). The present study was therefore designed to evaluate the effectiveness of the insulin-sensitizing agent rosiglitazone on circulating adipocytokine levels and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) in non-diabetics. Design and methods: Ninety-nine subjects with prediabetes or non-diabetic MetS were randomly assigned to either rosiglitazone or an untreated control group (50 and 49 subjects respectively). The rosiglitazone group was treated daily for 12 weeks with 4 mg rosiglitazone. All subjects received a 75 g oral glucose test (OGTT) before and after treatment. In addition, baPWV, together with the levels of adiponectin, resistin, and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were determined. Results: Rosiglitazone treatment significantly increased circulating adiponectin levels (P < 0.001) relative to the control group (P = 0.21). Plasma resistin levels were unchanged in both the rosiglitazone-treated and -untreated groups, but baPWV and hsCRP were significantly decreased (P < 0.001 and P = 0.003 respectively) in the rosiglitazone group only. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that changes in plasma adiponectin and baPWV were significantly affected by rosiglitazone treatment. Conclusions: These data suggest that rosiglitazone may have an anti-atherogenic effect in subjects with prediabetes or non-diabetic MetS.

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Physical Fitness and Performance in Talented & Untalented Young Chinese Soccer Players

Healthcare ◽

10.3390/healthcare10010098 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 98

Author(s):

Alfredo Irurtia ◽

Víctor M. Torres-Mestre ◽

Álex Cebrián-Ponce ◽

Marta Carrasco-Marginet ◽

Albert Altarriba-Bartés ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Fitness ◽

Racial Differences ◽

Body Mass ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Body Height ◽

Multiple Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Step Test ◽

Competitive Performance ◽

Youth Soccer ◽

And Performance

Sports performance is a complex process that involves many factors, including ethnic and racial differences. China’s youth soccer is in a process of constant development, although information about the characteristics of its players and their methodological systems is scarce. The aim of this retrospective study was to characterize the physical fitness and the competitive performance of 722 Chinese players of three sports categories (8.0–9.9, 10.0–11.9 and 12.0–13.9 years), who were classified by their coaches as talented (n = 204) or untalented (n = 518). Players were assessed for anthropometry (body height, body mass, body mass index), lung capacity (Forced Vital Capacity), jumping performance (Squat Jump, Countermovement Jump and Abalakov tests), sprinting performance (10 m and 30 m Sprint tests), agility performance (Repeated Side-Step test) and flexibility (Sit & Reach test). A descriptive, comparative, correlational and multivariate analysis was performed. Competitive ranking was created in order to act as dependent variable in multiple linear regression analysis. Results indicate that Chinese players classified as talented have better motor performance than untalented ones. However, these differences are neither related nor determine the competitive performance of one group or the other.

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Effect of Gamified Mobile Applications and the Role of Player Types on the Achievement of Students

Journal of Educational Computing Research ◽

10.1177/07356331211065679 ◽

2022 ◽

pp. 073563312110656

Author(s):

Feray Ugur-Erdogmus ◽

Recep Çakır

Keyword(s):

Undergraduate Students ◽

Design Research ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Multiple Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Mobile App ◽

Control Group ◽

Achievement Scores ◽

Control Group Design ◽

Significant Difference ◽

And Control

The purpose of this study was to examine a gamified mobile application’s effect on students’ achievement, and whether the player types of the students predicted their achievement scores. A “pretest-posttest control group design” research was conducted with 65 undergraduate students taking a compulsory online course. In the study, a gamified mobile app was developed by the researchers and then applied within an online History I course. The results of the study showed no significant difference between the achievement scores of the Experimental Group and Control Group students. However, multiple linear regression analysis results showed that the Experimental Group’s students’ achievement scores were significantly predicted by the player types they used and their mobile app performance. It is argued, therefore, that this result underlines the importance of player type in designing effective mobile gamification apps for the purpose of learning. Suggestions for further studies are also provided.

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Reference Values For Forced Expiration Parameters In Bulgarian Children And Adolescents Aged 7 To 18 Years

Folia Medica ◽

10.2478/v10153-012-0003-7 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 54 (4) ◽

pp. 29-36 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Stoilka K. Mandadzhieva ◽

Blagoi I. Marinov ◽

Stefan S. Kostianev

Keyword(s):

Children And Adolescents ◽

Reference Values ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Body Height ◽

Multiple Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Forced Expiratory Volume ◽

Fat Free Mass ◽

Forced Expiration ◽

Data Set ◽

Reference Equations

Abstract INTRODUCTION: A diagnosis of lung function impairment in childhood is highly dependent on the respective reference values. Population differences in the pulmonary function of children have been frequently reported. The AIM of this study was to derive normal spirometric reference values for Bulgarian children and adolescents and to compare these results with other data set including our own reference equations developed 20 years ago. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), and parameters of maximum expiratory flow-volume curves were measured in 671 healthy Bulgarian school children (339 males and 332 females) aged 7-18 years. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed for each spirometric parameter against age, height, weight, chest circumferences and fat free mass in both sexes. RESULTS: Excluding ratios, all measured spirometric parameters increased nonlinearly with age and height, and were significantly higher in boys than girls in adolescence. Height (H) explained the maximum variance for spirometric parameters and the best-fit regression equation relating functional parameters and body height was a power function (Y = a.Hb). FVC and FEV1 showed close correlations with height (r2 between 0.85 and 0.92), whereas the coefficients of determination for the flows were less close (r2 from 0.85 for PEF to 0.67 for MEF25%; always higher in boys). CONCLUSIONS: The developed prediction equations can be used in clinical practice. In comparison with reference equations based on European or USA populations, regional reference values are biologically more suitable for the interpretation of spirometric data.

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The Role of Fasting LDL-C Levels in Their Non-fasting Reduction in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease

Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine ◽

10.3389/fcvm.2021.686234 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Qiuzhen Lin ◽

Yan Fu ◽

XueYan Zang ◽

Qiming Liu ◽

Ling Liu

Keyword(s):

Coronary Heart Disease ◽

Heart Disease ◽

Influencing Factor ◽

Low Density Lipoprotein ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Density Lipoprotein ◽

Blood Lipid ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Multiple Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Lipoprotein Cholesterol

The level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) decreases to a certain extent after daily meals; however, the influencing factor of this phenomenon has not been fully elucidated. This study included 447 patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Serum levels of blood lipid parameters at 0, 2, and 4 hours (h) after a daily breakfast were monitored in all subjects. The levels of total cholesterol (TC), LDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and non-HDL-C significantly decreased, while those of triglycerides (TG) and remnant cholesterol (RC) significantly increased from baseline to 4 h in both male and female patients (P < 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that fasting LDL-C level, the non-fasting change in RC level at 4 h and fasting TG level were significant predictors of the non-fasting change in LDL-C level at 4 h in patients with CHD, and fasting LDL-C level was the most significantly associated with the non-fasting change in LDL-C level. Patients with lower levels of fasting LDL-C had smaller non-fasting changes in LDL-C levels. When the fasting LDL-C level was <1.4 mmol/L, both absolute reduction and percent reduction in LDL-C level at 4 h were almost zero, which means that the non-fasting LDL-C level at 4 h was approximately equivalent to its fasting value (P < 0.05). This result indicated that the non-fasting changes in LDL-C levels were influenced by fasting LDL-C levels in patients with CHD. When the fasting LDL-C level was <1.4 mmol/L, the non-fasting LDL-C level could replace the fasting value to guide treatment.

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Personal values in adolescence and their associations with metabolic biomarkers in adulthood: a population-based study in Japan

10.21203/rs.3.rs-17741/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Natsu Sasaki ◽

Kazuhiro Watanabe ◽

Norito Kawakami

Keyword(s):

Cluster Analysis ◽

Waist Circumference ◽

Personal Values ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Density Lipoprotein ◽

Hdl Cholesterol ◽

Multiple Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Population Based ◽

Z Score ◽

Self Reporting Questionnaire

Abstract Background: Personal values, which are formed in early life, can have an impact on the health outcome later in life. Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between personal values in adolescence and bio-indicators related to metabolic syndrome (MetS) in adulthood.Participant and Methods: The longitudinal data was used from the Japanese Study on Stratification, Health, Income, and Neighborhood (J-SHINE) in 2012 and 2017. Personal values in adolescence were retrospectively obtained in 2017 from a self-reporting questionnaire, composed of value priorities and commitment to the values. Venous samples were collected in 2012 for low and high-density lipoprotein (LDL, HDL) cholesterol and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP) were also measured. The associations of each variable were examined by partial correlation analysis. In addition, multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to examine overall associations between personal values and the sum of standardized scores (Z-score) of the biomarkers as a proxy of MetS. Furthermore, cluster analysis was conducted to identify groups of the participants who have some specific values and to examine their associations with the Z-score. Results: The total population (n=668) included 261 men and 407 women. Among men, the personal value priority of “Having influence on society” was associated with high HDL cholesterol (partial r=0.13, p=0.032) and “Cherishing familiar people” with low waist circumference (r=-0.129, p=0.049), low SBP, and high DBP (r=-0.135, p=0.039; r=0.134, p=0.041). In women, “Not bothering others” was associated with high SBP and low DBP (r=0.125, p=0.015; r=-0.123, p=0.017). "Economically succeeding" were associated with worse outcome (β=0.162, p=0.042). In the cluster analysis, both in men and women, the cluster which had highest openness to change value; “Having and keeping a belief”, “Exploring what you were interested in” and “Actively challenging” with the highest commitment showed worst proxy outcomes although there were no significant differences.Conclusions: Although some significant associations were found between personal values in adolescence and MetS-related markers in adulthood, overall associations were not strong. Culturally prevailing values were likely to be associated with a good outcome of metabolic health.

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Effect of Recycling Protocol on Mechanical Strength of Used Mini-Implants

International Journal of Dentistry ◽

10.1155/2014/424923 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-5 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Sérgio Estelita ◽

Guilherme Janson ◽

Kelly Chiqueto ◽

Eduardo Silveira Ferreira

Keyword(s):

Weight Loss ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Multiple Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Control Group ◽

Recycling Process ◽

Mini Implants ◽

Before And After ◽

Screw Surface ◽

Screw Diameter ◽

Group 1

Purpose. This study evaluated the influence of recycling process on the torsional strength of mini-implants.Materials and Methods. Two hundred mini-implants were divided into 4 groups with 50 screws equally distributed in five diameters (1.3 to 1.7 mm): control group (CG): unused mini-implants, G1: mini-implants inserted in pig iliac bone and removed, G2: same protocol of group 1 followed by sonication for cleaning and autoclave sterilization, and G3: same insertion protocol of group 1 followed by sonication for cleaning before and after sandblasting (Al2O3-90 µ) and autoclave sterilization. G2 and G3 mini-implants were weighed after recycling process to evaluate weight loss (W). All the screws were broken to determine the fracture torque (FT). The influence of recycling process on FT and W was evaluated by ANOVA, Mann-Whitney, and multiple linear regression analysis.Results. FT was not influenced by recycling protocols even when sandblasting was added. Sandblasting caused weight loss due to abrasive mechanical stripping of screw surface. Screw diameter was the only variable that affected FT.Conclusions. Torsional strengths of screws that underwent the recycling protocols were not changed. Thus, screw diameter choice can be a more critical step to avoid screw fracture than recycling decision.

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Altered pain perception in children with chronic tension-type headache: Is this a sign of central sensitisation?

Cephalalgia ◽

10.1177/0333102413476371 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 33 (7) ◽

pp. 454-462 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Ann-Britt L Soee ◽

Lise L Thomsen ◽

Svend Kreiner ◽

Birte Tornoe ◽

Liselotte Skov

Keyword(s):

Pain Sensitivity ◽

Pain Perception ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Area Under The Curve ◽

Multiple Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Tension Type Headache ◽

Outcome Variable ◽

Control Group ◽

Central Sensitisation ◽

Type Headache

Aim The aim of this article is to investigate if children (7–17 years) with frequent episodic tension-type headache (FETTH) or chronic TTH (CTTH) have an altered pain perception compared to healthy controls. Methods We applied a pressure of five increasing intensities to m. trapezius and m. temporalis with a Somedic Algometer II. Visual analogue scale-score was rated and area under the curve (AUC) calculated. An average AUC in each person was used as an outcome variable in further univariate multiple linear regression analysis because factor analysis showed that AUC represents only one dimension underlying both muscles. Results Participants included 22 children with FETTH, 36 children with CTTH and 57 controls. The CTTH group had a significantly higher AUC compared to the control group ( p < 0.001). The FETTH group represented an intermediate state. AUC did not change with increasing age, headache years, headache intensity, headache frequency or sex. Conclusion Children with CTTH show significantly increased pain sensitivity in a range of pressures compared to the FETTH group and the controls. Since AUC in m. trapezius and m. temporalis represents only one general latent tenderness, it might indicate that the altered pain perception is mainly due to central sensitisation.

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P1266SERUM MALONDIALDEHYDE-MODIFIED LOW-DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN LEVEL IS A RISK FOR AORTIC STIFFNESS IN MAINTENANCE HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS

Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation ◽

10.1093/ndt/gfaa142.p1266 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 35 (Supplement_3) ◽

Author(s):

Jia-Sian Hou ◽

Chia-Wen Lu ◽

Bang-Gee Hsu

Keyword(s):

Regression Analysis ◽

Aortic Stiffness ◽

Low Density Lipoprotein ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Density Lipoprotein ◽

High Serum ◽

Maintenance Hemodialysis ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Control Group ◽

Multivariable Logistic Regression Analysis

Abstract Background and Aims Circulating oxidized malondialdehyde LDL (MDA-LDL) induced macrophage apoptosis, the release of higher levels of matrix metalloproteinases and TNF-α, therefore, act as a marker of oxidative stress and are associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. We evaluated the association between serum MDA-LDL levels and aortic stiffness in patients with hemodialysis (HD). Method A total of 155 patients with HD were enrolled in this study. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) value was measured by a validated tonometry system (SphygmoCor). Patients with cfPWV >10 m/s were used to define the aortic stiffness group, while values ≤ 10 m/s were regarded as the control group, according to the ESH-ESC 2013. Serum MDA-LDL levels were measured using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results 68 patients (43.9%) had aortic stiffness and higher percentages of diabetes (p < 0.001), hypertension (p = 0.017), and had older age (p = 0.038), higher systolic blood pressure (P = 0.021), serum MDA-LDL level (p < 0.001) compared to subjects with control group. After adjusting for factors significantly associated with aortic stiffness by multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that serum MDA-LDL levels (odds ratio (OR): 1.014, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.007–1.021, p < 0.001), diabetes (OR: 2.893, 95% CI: 1.300–6.437, p = 0.009), and hypertension (OR: 2.408, 95% CI: 1.066–5.436, p = 0.034) were the independent predictors of aortic stiffness in HD patients. Multivariable forward stepwise linear regression analysis also showed that serum logarithmically transformed MDA-LDL level (log-MDA-LDL, β = 0.404, adjusted R2 change = 0.265, p < 0.001), diabetes (β = 0.233, adjusted R2 change = 0.055, p = 0.001), and hypertension (β = 0.132, adjusted R2 change = 0.014, p = 0.048) were the independent predictors of cfPWV values in HD patients. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve predicting aortic stiffness by serum MDA-LDL level in HD patients was 0.721 (95% CI: 0.643-0.790, p < 0.001). Conclusion In this study, high serum MDA-LDL level was positively associated with cfPWV values and thus was related to aortic stiffness in HD patients.

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