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Comparative Study 2013; 34(1): 18-26 PubMed PMID: 23524620 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Adult, Age Factors, Aging:blood, Alanine Transaminase:blood, Aspartate Aminotransferases:blood, Biomarkers:blood, Female, Human Growth Hormone:blood, Humans, Insulin-Like Growth Factor I:metabolism, Male, Middle Aged, Opioid-Related Disorders:.   

OBJECTIVE: To compare IGF1 levels in opiate dependent and general patients both absolutely and by age.

DESIGN: A naturalistic observational study was undertaken of opiate dependent and general medical patients.

SETTING: Primary care.

PATIENTS: 74 opiate substance use dependent (SUD) patients were compared with 262 non-SUD (NSUD) patients.

RESULTS: (1) Comparative IGF1 levels; (2) age and sex corrected IGF1 levels; (3) IGF1 levels corrected for age, sex, and hepatic and immune biomarkers.

MAIN FINDINGS: The SUD patients were younger (32.60+0.89 vs. 42.49+0.96 years, mean+S.E.M., p<0.0001) and had more males (72.9% and 39.3%, p<0.0001) than the NSUD patients. Restriction of the age range to 15-45 years (70 vs. 153 patients) made the difference in ages non-significant (31.27+0.71 vs. 32.32+0.61 years, p=0.47) but IGF1 remained elevated in SUD (26.56+1.21 vs. 22.65+0.57nmol/L, p=0.0039). When multiple regression was used to correct for the age and sex disparities, the age: addiction interaction remained significantly elevated (p=0.0003). In an additive model opiate dependence showed a 23.8% elevation in IGF1. When the interactive model was further adjusted by the inclusion of ALT and CRP as indices of hepatic inflammation and immune activation respectively, addictive status remained significant both alone (p=0.0134) and in 2-, 3- and 4-way interactions with age, male sex, and ALT (all p<0.0255).

CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate that serum IGF1 is elevated in opiate dependence both absolutely and after adjustment for age, sex, and markers of immune and hepatic activation....

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Journal Article 2011; 32(3): 322-327 PubMed PMID: 21712784 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Aged, Aging:blood, Atherosclerosis:blood, Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel, Female, Humans, Hypercholesterolemia:blood, Hyperlipoproteinemias:blood, Lipoproteins:blood, Lipoproteins, HDL:blood, Lipoproteins, LDL:blood, Male, Middle Aged, Risk Fa.   

OBJECTIVE: The identification of a non-atherogenic and an atherogenic lipoprotein profile, non-athero phenotype A vs. athero phenotype B, in a group of hypercholesterolemic subjects reveals newly discovered non-atherogenic hypercholesterolemia. Individuals with this type of hypercholesterolemia, or hyper-betalipoproteinemia LDL1,2, are probably not at increased risk to develop a premature atherothrombosis or a sudden cardiovascular event. Examined individuals with hyper-betalipoproteinemia LDL1,2 were divided into two subgroups: individuals under 40 years of age, and older individuals between 46 and 71 years of age. Subjects in the under 40 years of age group did not have any apparent clinical or laboratory-proven impairment of the cardiovascular system. The older subjects with hyper-betalipoproteinemia and a non-atherogenic lipoprotein profile had only mild signs of clinically irrelevant aortic valve sclerosis.

METHODS: A quantitative analysis of the lipoprotein spectrum in plasma in a group of hypercholesterolemic subjects was performed. An innovative electrophoresis method on polyacrylamide gel (PAG) was used for the analysis of plasma lipoproteins and for the identification of atherogenic vs. non-atherogenic lipoproteins in plasma. With regard to lipids, total cholesterol and triglycerides in plasma were analyzed with an enzymatic CHOD PAP method (Roche Diagnostics, FRG). A new parameter, the score for anti-atherogenic Risk (SAAR), was calculated as the ratio between non-atherogenic to atherogenic plasma lipoproteins in the examined subjects.

RESULTS: There was a high concentration of LDL1, and LDL2 subfractions (p<0.0001), and an extremely low concentration of LDL3-7 (p<0.0001) in the non-atherogenic lipoprotein profile of hyper-betalipoproteinemia LDL1,2 compared to the control group. Higher concentrations (p<0.0001) of lipids and lipoproteins in the non-atherogenic hypercholesterolemia, compared to the control group, were also found. The hyper-betalipoproteinemia LDL1,2 was also characterized by high SAAR values. There was found a higher concentration of HDL large and HDL intermediate subfractions in hypercholesterolemic subjects.

CONCLUSIONS: The advantages of this new diagnostic method include: (i) identification of the existence of a non-atherogenic hyper-betalipoproteinemia LDL1,2 in examined hypercholesterolemic subjects with untreated hypercholesterolemia (ii) introduction of a new risk measure, the score for anti-atherogenic risk (SAAR), for the estimation of atherogenic/anti-atherogenic risk. (iii) the presence of small dense LDL in plasma is decisive for the declaration of an atherogenic lipoprotein profile. It is valid for hyperlipidemia and for normolipidemia as well....

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Journal Article 2008; 29(2): 201-204 PubMed PMID: 18404141 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging:blood, Alopecia:blood, Child, Child, Preschool, Cohort Studies, Czech Republic, Dihydrotestosterone:blood, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Longevity:physiology, Male, Middle Aged, Prostatic Diseases:blood.   

OBJECTIVE: The dihydrotestosterone:testosterone ratio seems to be an important factor in the expression of androgenic activity, especially in the prostate and pilosebaceous unit. Whereas the decline of testosterone (T) in aging men is well known, controversial data can be found in literature concerning the age dependence of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels. Data from the database of the Institute of Endocrinology served as the basis for the definition of the life span curve for the ratio dihydrotestosterone : testosterone.

METHODS: The results of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone obtained immunoassays from 10 251 male patients were used in the construction of the curve.

RESULTS: The data show that after a peak of DHT:T in infancy and a subsequent decrease in puberty, the ratio of both androgens remains practically without change from approx. 20 years of age till old age.

CONCLUSION: High DHT:T ratio in infancy decreases at puberty and throughout the entire reproductive period of life this ration remains practically constant....

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Clinical Trial 2008; 29(1): 100-106 PubMed PMID: 18283260 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aging:blood, Blood Glucose:metabolism, Body Weight:physiology, Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate:blood, Estradiol:blood, Ghrelin:blood, Growth Hormone:blood, Humans, Insulin:blood, Insulin-Like Growth Factor I:metabolism, Leptin:bloo.   

OBJECTIVES: Ghrelin, a natural ligand of the growth-hormone secretagouges receptor is the peptide known because of its growth hormone (GH)-releasing as well as orexigenic actions. THE AIM of the study was to examine the relationship between ghrelin levels and age, weight, glucose metabolism markers, GH, IGF-1 and androgens in men.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 19 healthy men aged 16-73 yrs, mean 46,8 +/-18,5 (mean +/- SD). The height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) of the study subjects were assessed and serum concentration of fasting ghrelin, leptin, GH, IGF-1, glucose, insulin, estradiol, testosterone and DHA-S were measured.

RESULTS: The negative correlation between age and serum ghrelin levels (r=-0,52; p<0,04) in men was found. In men under 30 years old serum ghrelin levels were significantly higher compared to men over 60 years old (p<0,02). Serum ghrelin levels in men were significantly lower compared to healthy women aged 43,5 +/- 12 years old (p<0,008). Serum insulin levels correlated negatively with ghrelin levels (r= -0,87; p<0,0006) and serum testosterone concentrations correlated with ghrelin levels (r= 0,69; p<0,00006).

CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that the serum ghrelin levels in men decline with age, is lower than in women and correlate negatively with fasting insulin levels. We demonstrated, for the first time, that serum testosterone levels in men correlate with total ghrelin levels....

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Comparative Study 2006; 27(6): 773-778 PubMed PMID: 17187019 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Adult, Age Factors, Aged, Aging:blood, Atherosclerosis:blood, Case-Control Studies, Chemokine CCL2:blood, Child, Child, Preschool, Down Syndrome:blood, Female, Humans, Interleukin-6:blood, Male, Middle Aged, Nerve Growth Factor:blood, Statisti.   

OBJECTIVES: Down's syndrome (DS) is the most frequent chromosomal aberration in men and it is invariably associated with mental retardation.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Plasma levels of nerve growth factor (NGF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) from non demented DS subjects of three different age-cohorts (2-14 years; 20-50 yrs; >60 yrs) and healthy controls were measured. No clinical and sub-clinical inflammation was apparent in DS patients.

RESULTS: Plasma levels of NGF were higher in children, adult and old DS subjects than in controls. However, a significant age-related decrease of NGF levels was present in DS subjects. Serum levels of IL-6 and MCP-1 were also increased in DS children and adults, but not in older DS patients.

CONCLUSIONS: High levels of circulating NGF might protect DS from clinical complications of atherosclerosis. However, the striking decrement of peripheral NGF levels with advancing age may predispose DS to clinical manifestation of dementia after adulthood....

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