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OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the associations of short stature with coronary heart disease (CHD) risk or overall mortality, which vary with sex and ethnicity/race. METHODS: Such associations were studied prospectively at a mean 13.5-years' follow-up in a population-based sample of 3394 Turkish adults (mean age 44±11 years) using Cox proportional hazards models. Covariates of height were sought in sex-specific tertiles. RESULTS: Height averaged 162.7±6.5 cm. Age-adjusted estimated marginal means for serum triglycerides, C-reactive protein and complement C3 in women (but not men) were significantly higher with decreasing height tertiles. In sex- and age-adjusted models, height was associated in men with neither incident CHD, nor death. In women, 1-SD increment (6.5 cm) in height only tended to marginal inverse association with CHD, but predicted significantly all-cause death (HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.59-0.98); HR attenuated only marginally after further adjustment for family income bracket, smoking status, alcohol usage, systolic blood pressure, serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL)- and non HDL-cholesterol. A threshold below 160 cm of female height doubled the adjusted risk of death compared to taller women. CONCLUSION: In contrast to men, short stature in Turkish women tends to be an independent risk marker for CHD, and height below 160 cm is a strong marker of death. Gender-specific early-life influences enhancing pro-inflammatory state may affect death and future CHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In this study, our aim was to investigate the association of cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP) TaqIB polymorphism with the likelihood of metabolic syndrome (MetS).Methods: Study was designed as a cross-sectional analysis of the Turkish Adult Risk Factor follow-up study. Randomly selected sample of 1585 persons were included in the analyses. Genomic DNAs were isolated and the genotyping was performed using TaqMan system. ANOVA, Chi-square, univariate analyses and logistic regression models were used to investigate the association of genotypes with clinical and biochemical measurements.Results: The frequencies of the B1B1, B1B2 and the B2B2 genotypes were 33.3%, 46.4% and 20.3%, respectively. The B2B2 genotype was associated with elevated high-density lipoprotein -cholesterol (HDL-C) levels (p<0.0001). After adjusting for sex and age B2B2 individuals had 15.9% higher HDL-C levels than B1B1 individuals. Furthermore, the likelihood of dyslipidemia was lower in the presence of the B2B2 genotype (30.9% non-dyslipidemic vs. 69.1% dyslipidemic, p=0.001) when compared to the other genotypes. Moreover, in a logistic regression model comprising age and environmental factors, B1 allele carriers showed higher odds ratios of 1.49 (OR=1.49, 95% CI; 1.03-2.14, p=0.032) for MetS only in females.Conclusions: These results suggest that B1 allele is associated with MetS in adult females. However, TaqIB polymorphism appears not associated with the components of MetS other than atherogenic dyslipidemia in adult Turkish population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate systolic and diastolic ventricular functions, aortic elastic properties and the presence of pericardial effusion in familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) patients. Methods: A case-controlled, cross-sectional study was performed on 44 FMF patients and 27 controls. Subjects with hypertension, diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia were excluded. Left and right ventricular functions were measured using echocardiography including two-dimensional, M-mode, and conventional Doppler as well as pulsed wave tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). Aortic elasticity was analyzed using M-mode tracing guided by the two-dimensional echocardiography. Statistical analysis was performed using Mann Whitney U, Spearman rho correlation and Fisher's exact tests. Results: Age, sex, body mass index, smoking status and lipids were comparable in patients and controls (p>0.05). None of the subjects had pericarditis and/or pericardial effusion. Aortic wall properties were similar between groups (p>0.05). The TDI parameters of mitral lateral annulus revealed significantly lower Em/Am ratios in patients compared to controls [1.77 (0.6-3.4) vs. 1.79 (0.9-4.8), p=0.02]. Mitral flow propagation velocity was significantly lower in patients than healthy subjects [63 (39-100) vs. 74 (40-94) cm/s, p=0.008]. Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) was significantly reduced in FMF group than in controls [2 (1.3-2.5) vs. 2.5 (1.7-3.2) cm; p<0.001]. Eight of the patients and one control had impaired TAPSE (<2 cm; p=0.025). There was no difference regarding right ventricular diastolic dysfunction (RVDD) as assessed by using standard Doppler echocardiography (p>0.05). However, pronounced RVDD was observed in FMF patients documented by TDI (Em/Am<1; 19 patients vs. 0 controls, p<0.001). Conclusion: Subclinical myocardial involvement is present in a cohort of relatively young FMF patients who were also free of classical cardiovascular risk factors. Pericardium and aorta seem to be spared during attack free periods of FMF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Anatolian Journal of Cardiology / Anadolu Kardiyoloji Dergisi is the property of KARE Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Anatolian Journal of Cardiology / Anadolu Kardiyoloji Dergisi is the property of KARE Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)