M Iqbal Arslan

Serum soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) is independently associated with cigarette smoking in non-diabetic healthy subjects

This study was designed to explore the relationship between serum levels of soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) and cigarette smoking in non-diabetic healthy subjects. A total of 98 non-diabetic, otherwise healthy male subjects were recruited. A fasting blood sample and medical history including detail history of cigarette smoking was collected. The serum sRAGE levels were found significantly higher (p=0.002) in cigarette smokers (1475±422 pg/ml, n=45) compared with non-smokers (1165±350 pg/ml, n=53). Moreover, among the cigarette smokers, serum sRAGE levels were found significantly correlated with number of cigarettes smoked per day (r=0.60, p<0.001). In bivariate analysis in the total population, sRAGE positively correlated with smoking habit (r=0.37, p=0.002) and negatively correlated with systolic (r=−0.32, p=0.01) and diastolic blood pressure (r=−0.36, p=0.003). However, in stepwise multivariate linear regression model, sRAGE showed a significant independent association with smoking habit (b=0.32, p=0.007, R2=0.23). In conclusion, this study for the first time shows a significant elevation of serum sRAGE in cigarette smokers compared with non-smokers, a strong correlation between sRAGE and number of cigarettes smoked per day and an independent association of sRAGE with smoking habit in non-diabetic healthy subjects.

Biomarkers of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases in otherwise healthy overweight subjects in Bangladesh

Biomarkers of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases were assessed in Bangladeshi overweight subjects categorized by Asian BMI criteria. After screening 300 people, 90 apparently healthy subjects were enrolled and grouped into normal weight, overweight and obese. Compared to normal weight, the overweight and obese groups showed significant elevation of serum triglyceride, insulin, homocysteine, insulin resistance/sensitivity, and atherogenic index of plasma. Cardiometabolic biomarkers did not differ between overweight and obese groups. Some biomarkers showed correlation with BMI in overweight but not in obese group. It was concluded that cardiometabolic biomarkers are elevated in Bangladeshi overweight subjects categorized by Asian BMI criteria.