No description available.

Thesis (M. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 168-215). Also available in print.

Background Metabolic syndrome refers to a cluster of metabolic dysfunctions denoting a high risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes. The key risk factors include insulin resistance and obesity. In recent decades psychological factors, including Type A personality, Type D personality, anxiety, and depression, have been found to be additional risk factors of metabolic syndrome. As people‘s behaviours and personalities are often influenced by cultural values, it would seem to be necessary to examine the associations between Type A and Type D personalities and metabolic syndrome within the context of culture. This study specifically examines the issue in the context of Chinese culture. In addition, people with Type A personality who tend to feel impatience or time urgency, anger or hostility, and competitiveness, were reported to be positively associated with anxiety. People with Type D personality who would easily have negative affectivity and social inhibition were reported to be positively associated with anxiety as well as depression. Therefore, anxiety or depression might have an effect on the associations between Type A and Type D personalities. However, to my best knowledge, no previous studies have examined the associations among Type A and Type D personalities, metabolic syndrome, and anxiety/depression. Objective This study examines associations among Type A and Type D personalities, metabolic syndrome, and anxiety/depression. It includes: 1) validating the Chinese versions of the Type A personality scale (Adolescent/Adult Type A Behaviour Scale, AATABS-3) and Type D personality scale (DS-14); 2) assessing the associations between Type A and Type D personalities with metabolic syndrome; 3) investigating the associations between anxiety/depression and metabolic syndrome; 4) measuring the association between Type A personality and anxiety; 5) testing the association between Type D personality and anxiety, as well as depression; and 6) determining the associations among Type A and Type D personalities, metabolic syndrome, and anxiety/depression. Methods A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted on a random community sample of 741 adults in Hong Kong recruited by cluster sampling. Participants meeting the screening criteria of metabolic syndrome were offered further physical examination for confirming the diagnosis. Results For the Chinese version AATABS-3 scale (revised-AATABS-3), exploratory factor analysis (EFA) produced an 11-item 3-factor solution. The three factors were: 1) impatience/time urgency; 2) hostility/anger; and 3) competitiveness. The revised-AATABS-3 scale showed satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach‘s alpha = 0.74). For the Chinese version DS-14 scale (revised-DS-14), EFA provided a 10-item 2-factor solution. The two factors were: negative affectivity and social inhibition. The revised-DS-14 scale showed good internal consistency (Cronbach‘s alpha = 0.90). Gender differences appeared in the associations between Type A and Type D personalities and metabolic syndrome. In the total population and female participants, there were no significant associations between Type A personality and metabolic syndrome. However, male participants with Type A personality were positively associated with metabolic syndrome. In the total participants, there were no significant associations between Type D personality and metabolic syndrome. However, female participants with Type D personality were positively associated with metabolic syndrome; whereas male participants with Type D personality were negatively associated with metabolic syndrome. Anxiety affected the association between Type A personality and metabolic syndrome in males only, whereas it affected the association between Type D personality and metabolic syndrome both in females and males. Depression affected the association between Type D personality and metabolic syndrome both in females and males. Conclusion and Discussion The revised-AATABS-3 and revised-DS-14 scales showed satisfactory psychometric properties. They might be more convenient and acceptable than the original scales for measuring Type A and Type D personalities in future research. Since EFA was a preliminary method for scale validation, further validation studies for these two scales are needed, for examples, on concurrent and discriminant validity. Gender differences occurred in the associations between Type A and Type D personalities and metabolic syndrome. The key findings were: *Type A personality was a risk factor of metabolic syndrome in male participants. *Type D personality was a risk factor of metabolic syndrome in female participants, but it exhibited a protective effect for preventing metabolic syndrome in male participants. *Anxiety played a protective effect in the associations between Type A and Type D personalities and metabolic syndrome in male participants. *Depression had a protective effect on Type D personality for developing metabolic syndrome in female participants, and it reduced the protective effect of Type D personality for preventing metabolic syndrome in male participants. The results of this study may give directions to future studies pursuing further investigations on metabolic syndrome, particularly in regard to personality traits, lifestyles, mental health issues, and coping strategies in cultural and social contexts, as well as gender differences related to the endocrine system. / published_or_final_version / Social Work and Social Administration / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

No description available.

Diet plays an important role in the development of chronic metabolic diseases (diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease) and as dietary fat consumption has increased, so has the incidence of these disorders. Metabolic syndrome, a clustering of risk factors that includes central obesity, increased plasma triacylglycerol (TG), elevated fasting glucose and glucose intolerance is perhaps the most notorious and aggressive. Animal and human studies indicate that bioactive fatty acids can influence cellular energy metabolism. Using susceptible rodent models (apoE-/- and LDLr-/- mice and Syrian Golden hamsters) this project investigated whether supplementation of a western type diet (WD) with bioactive fatty acids could improve hepatic lipid metabolism, plasma lipoprotein profiles or liver markers of lipogenesis. In mice, dietary supplementation with t-10, c-12 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) decreased the weight gain induced by high fat diet compared with WD (p<0.01) and was accompanied by hyperinsulinemia (p<0.05) in the ApoE-/- and hypoadiponectinemia (p<0.01) in both mice strains. Although t-10, c-12 CLA supplementation increased plasma lipids and was associated with profound liver steatosis there was a reduction in atherosclerotic lesions in both mouse models (p<0.05). Analysis of mRNA and protein levels in the liver suggested that the differences in liver and plasma lipids may reflect inappropriate lipogenic response to t-10,c-12 CLA. In the high fat and fructose-fed hamster, the modulating role of fish fatty acids was investigated. The addition of DHA increased weight gain and adiposity compared to EPA and c-9, t-11 CLA supplementation. However, glucose tolerance was improved after 6 weeks of DHA supplementation (p? 0.01). Using [35S]methionine radiolabelling, DHA supplementation decreased apolipoprotein B100 synthesis and secretion. Newly synthesized cellular and secreted TG, as measured by [3H]glycerol incorporation, were also decreased with DHA supplementation. Although the effects of EPA were similar to those with DHA, the magnitude was generally lower. These results suggest that supplementation with fish fatty acids can improve several of the risk factors of the metabolic syndrome. Taken together, these observations indicate that some, but not all, bioactive fatty acids may be useful supplements for mediating cardiovascular risk factors.

No description available.

Abstract not available. / Thesis (M.Med.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2008.

Self-reported health (SRH) tends to decline slower as people age compared to the decline of their objective health. If individuals believe they are in good health but actually are in poor health, their perceived susceptibility to disease may be low. Consequently, those individuals may feel less compelled to improve their health, which would make them a higher risk population. This project aims to examine the association of SRH and Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) in senior women, and whether personal and interpersonal dimensions help explain the degree to which SRH corresponds with MetS. Data are from the Kingston Senior Women Study (KSWS, n=100, 65 years of age and older). KSWS participants completed a questionnaire on their social background, psychosocial conditions, health behaviours, and SRH. Participants also provided physiological measures and medical information, so that MetS could be assessed, following the harmonized definition. MetS is a cluster of at least three of the following criteria: obesity, elevated blood pressure, low level of HDL cholesterol, raised triglycerides, and fasting plasma glucose. Two categories represented the correspondence between SRH and MetS: those who have a congruent perception of their health and those who overestimated it. Greater physical activity was associated with higher SRH (OR: 1.10; 95%CI: 1.01 – 1.20) and lower odds of MetS (OR: 0.64, 95%CI: 0.47 – 0.88) among the participants. However, only social network size was associated with lower odds of health overestimation (OR: 0.46, 95%CI: 0.26 – 0.80). Larger social networks may give access older women to a greater source of information about their own health, leading possibly to more accurate assessments of health. Such information can be conveyed as feedback from close ties. This information can also be conveyed as a more accurate perception of the health of their reference group when self-assessing their own health. Findings of this study may help identify women who are at greater risk of cardiovascular disease but who may be less likely to participate in health promotion programs. / Thesis (Master, Kinesiology & Health Studies) -- Queen's University, 2014-05-21 00:14:26.427

Motivation: The detrimental effects of obesity and insulin resistance in Caucasians and African-Americans have been the focus of many recent publications, and the association between PAI-1act and markers of the metabolic syndrome is well established but data on African subjects are still lacking. Objectives: To investigate possible differences between the association of PAI-1act with markers of the metabolic syndrome in Caucasian and African women. Methods We used cross-sectional data from the POWIRS I and II studies, involving 95 African and 114 Caucasian women respectively in the Potchefstroom district of the North West Province, South Africa. Results: Mean plasma PAI-1act was significantly higher in the Caucasian than in the African subjects (p < 0.001). Markers for the metabolic syndrome explained 60% of the variance of PAI-1act in the Caucasian group, but only 2.8% of the variance of PAI-1act in the African group. Waist circumference emerged as the strongest independent predictor of PAI-1act in the Caucasian (34%) as well as the African subjects (11%). Conclusion: This study showed clear differences in PAI-1act between African and Caucasian subjects, along with differences in the association of PAI-1act with markers of the metabolic syndrome. Apparent genetic differences between the two groups (especially the role of the 4G/5G genotype) may have an important influence on PAI-1act The role of PAI-1act in the metabolic syndrome may differ between Caucasians and Africans. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Nutrition))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.

Background Physical inactivity causes obesity, a condition which is related to insulin resistance, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia and the metabolic syndrome (MS). MS is the collective description of lifestyle diseases associated with significant morbidity and premature mortality. MS has recently been observed in youth, and if left untreated could lead to cardiovascular diseases. Regular physical activity (PA) and exercise training appear to modify the independent risk factors for MS and cardiovascular diseases, and has a positive effect on waist circumference, blood pressure, body fat percentage, insulin sensitivity and arterial compliance. Aims The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between body composition and selective markers of the MS, and the extent to which a PA intervention programme will influence selective markers of the MS, body composition and markers of vascular function in black adolescents. Methods Grade 9 classes from two high schools, in a low socio-economic status area near Potchefstroom, participated as the experimental and control group respectively. The experimental group consisted of 194 participants and the control group of 57 participants. The experimental group participated in a 10-week P A intervention. Body mass index, stature, body mass, waist-hip ratio, waist circumference, hip circumference, body fat percentage, fasting serum insulin, fasting plasma glucose, plasma leptin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), Windkessel arterial compliance (Cw), total peripheral resistance, Tannerstage and habitual physical activity were measured. The data were analysed by means of descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U-tests, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), Pearson's correlation analyses and multiple regression models. HOMA-IR and leptin were log transformed before analyses because of the skewed distribution. The Statistica for Windows and SAS computer programmes were used to analyse the data according to the above-mentioned aims of the study. Results and conclusions Firstly, a significant positive association was found between body fat percentage and both SBP (p=O.02) and HOMA-IR (p=O.02) respectively. Girls with a high body fat percentage had higher SBP (p=O.004), DBP (p=O.03), plasma insulin (p=O.004) and HOMA-IR (p=O.004) than girls with normal body fat percentage. Secondly, a 10-week PA intervention led to a significant decrease in SBP (p=O.000061), a trend of decreasing HOMA-IR, and a trend of increasing Cw in black adolescents. Lastly, no significant differences were found in body composition and vascular function variables for the normal-and over-fat group in this study after the 10-week PA intervention. In conclusion, the results of this study showed firstly, that there was a positive association between body fat percentage and SBP and HOMA-IR respectively; and secondly, that PA had a positive effect on some MS markers, namely: SBP and HOMA-IR. Further research regarding PA intervention's influence on the MS in black adolescents should be conducted, as there is clearly a shortage of literature that focuses on this research theme within this South African ethnic group. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Human Movement Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.