Internal medicine
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The effect of pioglitazone on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) has been attracting attention. However, there are limited data on the characteristics of patients who are likely to respond to pioglitazone in terms of the improvement in HDL-C levels (lipid responders). In the present study, the characteristics of lipid responders were investigated. ⋯ Pioglitazone could be beneficial especially for patients with young age, low HbA1c, low HDL-C or low LDL-C levels at baseline in terms of the improvement in HDL-C levels. Use of sulfonylureas at baseline could attenuate the effect of pioglitazone on HDL-C.
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Fever is a common symptom of acute aortic dissection. The beginning time and duration of fever after percutaneous endovascular stent-graft in patients with aortic dissection is not well known. The present study was undertaken to investigate the characteristics of fever after percutaneous endovascular stent-graft in patients with type B aortic dissection. ⋯ The results of this study could provide important reference information for the evaluation of fever before and after interventional treatment in patients with acute aortic dissection.
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High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is a marker for low-grade inflammation, as well as atherosclerosis, obesity, hyperglycemia and hypertension. Because the factor showing the strongest association with inflammation is currently unknown, we investigated the associations between hs-CRP and clinical and biochemical characteristics in Japanese subjects with mild obesity or impaired glucose tolerance. ⋯ Visceral fat mass was a significant and independent predictor for serum hs-CRP levels in Japanese subjects with mild obesity and/or impaired glucose tolerance.
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Aortic dissection is an age-related and lethal vascular disease. Aging, which is associated with degeneration, is the major risk factor of aortic dissection. Telomeres are specialized DNA structures located at the end of eukaryotic chromosomes, the telomere length could be considered as an index of vascular aging. The purpose of present study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between the leukocyte telomere length and aortic dissection. ⋯ Leukocyte telomere length could be an independent predictor of aortic dissection. Measurement of the leukocyte telomere length may be valuable for patients with a high risk of aortic dissection.