Objective The association between the neck circumference (NC) and components of metabolic syndrome in different countries and ethnic groups has been insufficiently investigated. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of gender on NC values and to determine whether NC correlates with standard anthropometric measures and blood pressure values in Bosnian young adults. Materials and Methods Study participants were recruited by the snowball method. The NC, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured by trained personnel. Differences between the means were assessed by a Student's t-test. Coefficients of correlation were determined by Pearson's test. Results In young men (n=49), the value of NC was 37.71±1.79 cm, while in young women, (n=62) the value of NC was 32.23±1.83 cm (p<0.001). A significant positive correlation in both genders between the NC and BMI (r=0.70, p<0.001 in men; r=0.53,p<0.001 in women), and between the NC and WC (r=0.48, p<0.001 in men; r=0.38, p=0.01 in women), was found. A significant correlation between the NC and SBP (r=0.08, p=0.57), and DBP (r=0.20, p=0.17), in young men was not determined. Likewise, in young women, a significant correlation between the NC and SBP (r=0.08, p=0.54), and DBP (r=0.09, p=0.49), was not observed. Conclusion Our results suggest that the NC measurement can be used as a valid method in obesity assessment in young adults. A lack of association between the NC and blood pressure requires additional investigation.

Introduction: Poor glycemic control, assessed by higher glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, is associated with greater risk of diabetic complications. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the association of triglyceride - to - HDL cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio and triglyceride glucose (TyG) index with HbA1c and to evaluate their potential role as predictors of glycemic control in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2). Patients and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Health Center Banovici and included a total of 113 patients with DM2 classified according to their HbA1c values in two groups: DM2 HbA1c <7% - DM2 patients with good glycemic control (n=39) and DM2 HbA1c ≥7% - DM2 patients with poor glycemic control (n=74). Anthropometric, biochemical parameters and blood pressure values were measured, while TG/HDL-C ratio and TyG index were calculated. Results: TG/HDL-C ratio and TyG index were significantly higher in DM2 HbA1c≥7% compared to DM2 HbA1c<7% group (p=0.003 and p<0.001; respectively). Both TG/HDL-C ratio and TyG index were positively associated with HbA1c levels (Rho=0.29; p=0.002; Rho=0.37; p<0.001; respectively). In linear regression analysis TG/HDL-C ratio and BMI, and also TyG index and BMI were significantly independently associated with HbA1c even after controlling for age, gender, diabetes duration and smoking. When we stratified patients according to BMI values, independent association between TG/HDL-C ratio and HbA1c remained significant only in normal weight subjects (OR 0.21; 95%CI: 0.05-0.37; β=0.65; p=0.017), while independent association between TyG index and HbA1c remained significant only in overweight and obese subjects (OR 0.063; 95%CI: 0.01- 0.12; β=0.24; p =0.027). Conclusion: TG/HDL-C ratio might be a useful predictor of glycemic control in normal weight, and TyG index in overweight and obese patients with DM2.

AN IMPACT OF DIABETES DURATION ON SERUM ASYMMETRIC DIMETHYLARGININE CONCENTRATION

Background Chagas disease (CD) is a major public health concern in Latin America and a potentially serious emerging threat in non-endemic countries. Although the association between CD and cardiac abnormalities is widely reported, study design diversity, sample size and quality challenge the information, calling for its update and synthesis, which would be very useful and relevant for physicians in non-endemic countries where health care implications of CD are real and neglected. We performed to systematically review and meta-analyze population-based studies that compared prevalence of overall and specific ECG abnormalities between CD and non-CD participants in the general population. Methods Six databases (EMBASE, Ovid Medline, Web of Science, Cochrane Central, Google Scholar and Lilacs) were searched systematically. Observational studies were included. Odds ratios (OR) were computed using random-effects model. Results Forty-nine studies were selected, including 34,023(12,276 CD and 21,747 non-CD). Prevalence of overall ECG abnormalities was higher in participants with CD (40.1%; 95%CIs=39.2-41.0) compared to non-CD (24.1%; 95%CIs=23.5-24.7) (OR=2.78; 95%CIs=2.37-3.26). Among specific ECG abnormalities, prevalence of complete right bundle branch block (RBBB) (OR=4.60; 95%CIs=2.97-7.11), left anterior fascicular block (LAFB) (OR=1.60; 95%CIs=1.21-2.13), combination of complete RBBB/LAFB (OR=3.34; 95%CIs=1.76-6.35), first-degree atrioventricular block (A-V B) (OR=1.71; 95%CIs=1.25-2.33), atrial fibrillation (AF) or flutter (OR=2.11; 95%CIs=1.40-3.19) and ventricular extrasystoles (VE) (OR=1.62; 95%CIs=1.14-2.30) was higher in CD compared to non-CD participants. Conclusions This systematic review and meta-analysis provides an update and synthesis in this field. This research of observational studies indicates a significant excess in prevalence of ECG abnormalities (40.1%) related to T. cruzi infection in the general population from Chagas endemic regions, being the most common ventricular (RBBB and LAFB), and A-V B (first-degree) node conduction abnormalities as well as arrhythmias (AF or flutter and VE). Also, prevalence of ECG alterations in children was similar to that in adults and suggests earlier onset of cardiac disease.

Background: Neck circumference (NC) is an index of subcutaneous adipose tissue distribution in an area of the upper part of the body. The aim of this study was to assess whether NC can be used as an indicator of central obesity and to determine the prevalence of central obesity in apparently healthy Bosnian young adults. Methods: Participants for this cross-sectional study were recruited using the snowball method. NC was measured in horizontal straight position by placing the top edge of a plastic tape only below the laryngeal prominence and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the neck, with the head positioned in the Frankfort horizontal plane. Body mass index, waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-hip ratio were taken following the WHO guidelines. Results: The study included 111 second year University of Sarajevo Dentistry students (49 students of male gender and 62 students of the female gender). Determined the optimal cutoff value of NC in the detection of central obesity based on WC values in healthy young participants of male gender was ≥37.45 cm (P < 0.001), while in healthy young participants of the female gender, it was ≥32.75 cm (P < 0.001). Based on the WHO guidelines for WC, central obesity was determined in 24.49% (n = 12) of male patients, and in 29.03% (n = 18) of female participants included in our investigation (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The results of the present study indicate that NC may be used as a screening tool for central obesity in healthy young adults. Prevalence of central obesity observed among student population suggests that there is a justified need for an implementation of healthy lifestyle programs in this population that would have preventive purposes.

Aim To investigate total homocysteine (tHcy) serum concentration in patients with probable vascular dementia (VD) and in agematched controls, as well as to determine an association between tHcy serum concentration and cognitive impairment in patients with probable VD. Methods Serum concentration of tHcy was determined by the Fluorescence Polarization Immunoassay on the AxSYM System. Cognitive impairment was tested by the Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE) score. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated for each subject included in the study. Results Age, systolic, diastolic blood pressure and BMI did not differ significantly between the two groups. Mean serum tHcy concentration in the control group of subjects was 13.35 µmol/L, while in patients with probable VD it was significantly higher, 19.45 µmol/L (p=0.002). A negative but insignificant association between serum tHcy concentration and cognitive impairment in patients with probable VD was found. Conclusion Increased tHcy concentration in patients with probable VD suggests the possible independent role of Hcy in the pathogenesis of VD.

Introduction Leptin is a cytokine-like hormone which has a complex role in inflammation. However, the importance of leptin in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is far from being fully elucidated. The aim of the study was to determine serum leptin levels in RA patients and to evaluate whether there is an association between disease activity, anthropometric indices and leptin levels. Material and methods This hypothesis-generating study included 55 RA patients and 25 matched healthy subjects. The serum leptin concentration was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results Median serum leptin level in RA patients of 27.4 ng/ml (14.5–54.9 ng/ml) was statistically significantly higher (p = 0.03) compared with the median leptin value of 16.3 ng/ml (9.6–38.8 ng/ml) determined in healthy controls. The serum leptin level in the high disease activity group was significantly higher (p < 0.0005) than that in the low disease activity group and in healthy controls. A significant difference (p = 0.001) in serum leptin level was also found when the high disease activity group was compared with the moderate disease activity group. In the RA group a statistically significant positive correlation (rho = 0.390; p = 0.003) was observed between serum leptin level and disease activity score (DAS28). Conclusions The present results show that serum leptin levels are increased and significantly associated with disease activity in patients with RA and may have a valuable role in the inflammatory reactions and pathogenesis of RA.

Importance Epigenetic modifications of the genome, such as DNA methylation and histone modifications, have been reported to play a role in neurodegenerative diseases (ND) such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). Objective To systematically review studies investigating epigenetic marks in AD or PD. Methods Eleven bibliographic databases (Embase.com, Medline (Ovid), Web-of-Science, Scopus, PubMed, Cinahl (EBSCOhost), Cochrane Central, ProQuest, Lilacs, Scielo and Google Scholar) were searched until July 11th 2016 to identify relevant articles. We included all randomized controlled trials, cohort, case-control and cross-sectional studies in humans that examined associations between epigenetic marks and ND. Two independent reviewers, with a third reviewer available for disagreements, performed the abstract and full text selection. Data was extracted using a pre-designed data collection form. Results Of 6,927 searched references, 73 unique case-control studies met our inclusion criteria. Overall, 11,453 individuals were included in this systematic review (2,640 AD and 2,368 PD outcomes). There was no consistent association between global DNA methylation pattern and any ND. Studies reported epigenetic regulation of 31 genes (including cell communication, apoptosis, and neurogenesis genes in blood and brain tissue) in relation to AD and PD. Methylation at the BDNF, SORBS3 and APP genes in AD were the most consistently reported associations. Methylation of α-synuclein gene (SNCA) was also found to be associated with PD. Seven studies reported histone protein alterations in AD and PD. Conclusion Many studies have investigated epigenetics and ND. Further research should include larger cohort or longitudinal studies, in order to identify clinically significant epigenetic changes. Identifying relevant epigenetic changes could lead to interventional strategies in ND.