Journal of Metabolic Syndrome

Objective: To assess the effects of a Physical Exercise Program (PEP) on the components of MetS in women assisted in a primary health care unit.
Methods: We conducted a 16-week lifestyle intervention study with physical activity for patients at high risk of developing MetS. 42 patients (21 with MetS and 21 controls) volunteered to take part in a Physical Exercise Program (PEP), a structured and supervised aerobic and resistance exercise program, 4 times/week, 60 minutes/session. Main Outcome Measures: Prevalence of MetS components, Framingham’s Cardiovascular Risk (CR), and physical fitness.
Results: MetS presented higher values of CR, Body Weight (BW), BMI, waist circumference, body fat percentage (%BF), blood glucose, Triglycerides (TG) and VLDL-Cholesterol. Experimental group also brought up lower values of Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) and Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV1). After the PEP there was a decrease in the CR, in the prevalence of MetS components, BW, BMI, %BF, TG, and VLDL-C, resting blood pressure, increase in lean body mass, exercise heart rate, functional capacity, maximum oxygen consumption (VO2 max.), FVC, FEV1 and maximum voluntary ventilation.
Conclusion: Physical activity was successful in reducing the components of the MetS and CR, highlighting the potential of exercise in primary health care.

Methods are described to obtain adipose tissue for cell isolation, under adverse isolation conditions whereby no scientific controls were in place. Such methods could be used by laboratories of institutions where controlled environments (surgery rooms, abattoirs) are not available. While not ideal, we show that a variety of adipocytes and adipocyte-like cells may be isolated from such methods. These types of procedures may facilitate a greater number of persons entering into the research arena with adipocytes, and are easily adaptable to other animal models.

Objective: To examine maternal serum levels of leptin at 11-13 weeks gestation in normal and pathological pregnancies.
Methods: Serum leptin, PAPP-A and uterine artery pulsatility index (PI) at 11-13 weeks were measured in 480 singleton pregnancies, including 240 with normal outcome, 60 that subsequently developed preeclampsia (PE), 60 that developed Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM), 60 that delivered Large for Gestational Age (LGA) neonates and 60 that delivered small(SGA) neonates. Regression analysis was used to determine factors affecting maternal serum leptin concentration and from this model each value was expressed as Multiples of the Median (MoM). The median MoM values in the outcome groups were compared.
Results: In the normal group serum leptin levels increased with maternal weight and decreased with maternal height. In the PE group, the median leptin (1.18 MoM, p=0.027) and uterine artery PI (1.25 MoM, p<0.0001) were increased and serum PAPP-A (0.72 MoM, p<0.0001) was decreased. There was no significant association between serum leptin and either uterine artery PI (p=0.983) or serum PAPP-A (p=0.403). In the SGA, LGA and GDM groups serum leptin MoM was not significantly different from the controls (p=0.621, p=0.385 and p=0.722, respectively).
Conclusion: In conclusion, in pregnancies that develop PE, maternal serum leptin concentration at 11-13 weeks is increased in a manner not related to altered placental perfusion or function. In pregnancies complicated by the development of GDM or delivery of SGA or LGA neonates, serum leptin is not significantly altered.

Background: Metabolic syndrome is a major health problem worldwide, increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Modern lifestyles have decreased physical activity which is a leading cause of obesity, a major determinant of metabolic syndrome. The present study was done to assess the association of obesity, metabolic syndrome and physical activity in 1500 urban adults.
Methods: Anthropometric measurements were taken and blood pressure was measured. Blood lipid profile and blood glucose levels were assessed. Physical activity assessment was done by a suitable structured questionnaire and Physical Activity Level (PAL) was calculated.
Results: By NCEP (ATPIII) criteria, 750 subjects (44.9% males and 55.1% females) with metabolic syndrome (MS) and 750 non-metabolic syndrome (NMS) subjects were identified. The major components of MS were low HDL levels in 85% and elevated waist circumference in 80% of the MS subjects. Elevated blood glucose levels were found in 65%, elevated triglycerides in 50% and elevated blood pressure in 55% of the MS subjects. There was a significant difference (p<0.01) in the PAL value of MS and NMS subjects, indicative of MS subjects being less active as compared to NMS. The odds ratio indicated that physical inactivity can increase the risk of MS by 3.34 times.
Conclusion: Regular physical activity would help curb the growing menace of obesity and co morbidities of metabolic syndrome.