Serum C-reactive protein levels correlates better to metabolic syndrome defined by International Diabetes Federation than by NCEP ATP III in men

Associations of serum CRP levels with demographics, health behaviors, and risk of cancer among the Mexican American Mano A Mano Cohort

C-Reactive protein (CRP) is a well-known inflammatory marker, and elevated CRP levels has been reported to be associated with the risk of various cancers. To date, no study has investigated the association between elevated CRP and incidents of cancer among Mexican Americans. In the current prospective cohort study, we measured pre-diagnostic CRP levels in serum samples and evaluated their relationships with demographic characteristics and health behaviors associated with cancer risk among 2753 Mexican Americans selected from the Mano-A-Mano Mexican American Cohort Study. At baseline, median levels of serum CRP significantly differed by demographics (sex, age category, marital status, and education levels) and health behaviors (cigarette smoking status, alcohol drinking status, BMI category, and physical activity levels). In the multivariable analysis, the study participants who were women, older, never drinking alcohol, overweight or obese, and physically inactive had increased likelihood of having high CRP levels (≥ median levels among all study participants) compared to their counterparts. A total of 177 cancer cases were identified during the follow-up with a median follow-up time of 127 months. In the quartile analysis, study participants in the 4^th quartile with highest CRP levels had significantly 1.88 fold increased risk of cancer (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.88, 95%CI: 1.12, 3.13) compared to those in the 1^st quartile with lowest CRP levels. The association was further confirmed in analyses using clinical CRP levels. In summary, our findings suggested that serum CRP levels have potential to serve as a predictive marker of cancer risk in Mexican Americans.

MTP genetic variants associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver in metabolic syndrome patients

This study was performed for investigation the relationship between variants of MTP gene polymorphism and the development of NAFLD in patients with and without MS. The study was included 174 NAFLD patients (106 with MS and 68 without MS), and 141 healthy control subjects. The 493 G/T polymorphism of MTP gene was evaluated by PCR-RFLP method. The frequency of MTP TT genotype and T allele were significantly higher in NAFLD patients when compared to healthy controls. Moreover, a significant association in MTP gene polymorphism was observed in NAFLD patients with MS compared to NAFLD patients without MS and controls. Our study suggested that MTP 493 G/T gene polymorphism may act as susceptibility biomarker for NAFLD and MS.

A Smartphone-Based Colorimetric Reader for Human C-Reactive Protein Immunoassay

A smartphone-based colorimetric reader (SBCR), comprising a Samsung Galaxy SIII mini, a gadget (iPAD mini, iPAD4, or iPhone 5s) and a custom-made dark hood and base holder assembly, is used for human C-reactive protein (CRP) immunoassay. A 96-well microtiter plate (MTP) is positioned on the gadget's screensaver to provide white light-based bottom illumination only in the specific regions corresponding to the well's bottom. The images captured by the smartphone's back camera are analyzed by a novel image processing algorithm. Based on one-step kinetics-based human C-reactive protein immunoassay (IA), SBCR is evaluated and compared with a commercial MTP reader (MTPR). For analysis of CRP spiked in diluted human whole blood and plasma as well as CRP in clinical plasma samples, SBCR exhibits the same precision, dynamic range, detection limit, and sensitivity as MTPR for the developed IA (DIA). Considering its compactness, low cost, advanced features and a remarkable computing power, SBCR is an ideal point-of-care (POC) colorimetric detection device for the next-generation of cost-effective POC testing (POCT).

Surface plasmon resonance-based immunoassay for human C-reactive protein

A rapid and highly-sensitive surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based immunoassay (IA) has been developed and validated for detecting human C-reactive protein (CRP), a specific biomarker for inflammatory and metabolic disorders, and infections.

Magnetic chemiluminescent immunoassay for human C-reactive protein on the centrifugal microfluidics platform

Schematic of the LabDisk-based hCRP MCIA. The antibody-coated dynabeads are sequentially transported through the immunoassay buffers by magnetic actuation. Finally the chemiluminescence signal is acquired from a detection cavity.

Testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin have significant association with metabolic syndrome in Taiwanese men

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the relationship between sex hormones and metabolic syndrome (MS) in an Asian population.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 237 men aged 20-88 years (mean age 52 years). Serum lipids, glucose, insulin, total testosterone (TT), estradiol (E2), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), and dehydroepiandosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) were measured along with body height, weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure. Free testosterone (FT) and bioavailable testosterone (BT) were calculated. Correlations were determined using univariate and multivariate regression analyses.

RESULTS

Men with MS had lower levels of TT, BT, FT, SHBG and DHEA-S than men without MS. Multivariate analysis, after adjusting for age and smoking status, indicated that TT (OR: 0.909, 95% CI: 0.836-0.988, p = 0.003) and SHBG (OR: 0.948, 95% CI: 0.913-0.985, p = 0.006) were significantly associated with MS (R(2) = 0.314). TT was associated with waist circumference (p = 0.008) and abnormal triglycerides level (p = 0.006); SHBG was associated with blood pressure (p = 0.003), blood glucose (p = 0.043) and abnormal triglycerides (p = 0.048). A significant trend was observed between decreasing levels of TT, BT, FT, and SHBG and increasing numbers of MS components.

CONCLUSION

Results show that serum testosterone and SHBG levels inversely correlate with MS in an Asian population applying the Asian MS definition.

Impact of the metabolic syndrome on high-sensitivity C reactive protein levels in patients with acute coronary syndrome

OBJECTIVE

Underlying predisposition for a heightened inflammatory response is postulated as one of the mechanisms for elevated high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). It is unclear whether metabolic syndrome (MetS) may cause a predisposition for heightened hs-CRP response in patients with ACS. The aim of this study is to investigate the interaction between hs-CRP levels and presence of MetS in patients with and without ACS.

METHODS

Two hundred and seventy-three consecutive patients presenting with a first ACS event and 261 MetS patients without any ACS event were included to the study. The study participants were divided into three groups as MetS (+) ACS (-) [n=261], MetS (-) ACS (+) [n=110], and MetS (+) ACS (+) [n=163]. Median levels of hs-CRP were compared between and within the three groups.

RESULTS

Hs-CRP levels were lowest in MetS (+) ACS (-) subjects and highest in MetS (+) ACS (+) patients. Factors associated with hs-CRP levels were troponin elevation, presence of ACS, body mass index (BMI), and presence of MetS (R(2)=0.26, p<0.01). Predictors of elevated hs-CRP levels (>0.3mg/dl) were the presence of ACS (OR=3.6, 95% CI=1.9-6.5, p<0.01), presence of MetS (OR=2.1, 95% CI=1.0-4.0, p=0.02), troponin elevation (OR=5.7, 95% CI=2.8-11.5, p<0.01) and BMI (OR=1.1, 95% CI=1.0-1.1, p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of MetS had an impact on the increase in hs-CRP levels observed with an ACS event in the study population. These findings suggested that a heightened baseline inflammatory status of MetS may predispose ACS patients to an augmented hs-CRP response.

Association of C-reactive protein, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist and adiponectin with the metabolic syndrome

This Finnish population-based study, mean age 46 years, evaluates the association of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), and adiponectin with the NCEP and IDF definitions of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Adiponectin levels were higher, hs-CRP and IL-1Ra levels lower in subjects without MetS compared to subjects with MetS. If MetS was present according to both IDF and NCEP criteria, BMI, waist, triglycerides, hs-CRP, and IL-1Ra were significantly higher compared to subjects who had MetS according to either only IDF or only NCEP criteria. The hs-CRP, IL-1Ra, and adiponectin linearly correlated with the number of the components of MetS according to both definitions. Decreased levels of adiponectin and increased levels of hs-CRP and IL-1Ra are tightly associated with the components of MetS. Individuals who had MetS according to both criteria had the most adverse changes in cardiovascular risk factors.