2007 - METABOLIC SYNDROME INSTITUTE AWARDS Application deadline: December 1, 2006

"Fighting the Metabolic Syndrome: Original Contributions"

Featured Commentary:
Perinatal and Childhood Origins of Cardiovascular Disease

Rae-Chi Huang, M.B., B.S., D.C.H., FRACP and Lawrie Beilin, M.B.B.S., M.D., FRCP, FRACP, AO, School of Medicine and Pharmacology, Royal Perth Hospital, University of Western Australia (M570), 50 Murray St., Perth, WA 6000, Australia, Tel: 61 8 9224 0258, Fax: 61 8 9224 0246, E-mail: rhuang@meddent.uwa.edu.au

Introduction

Features of the metabolic syndrome comprise a major risk for cardiovascular disease and will increase in prevalence with rising childhood obesity [1,2]. Birthweight and early life influences affect development of obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia in children. Early life influences include maternal smoking during pregnancy, duration of breastfeeding, and postnatal weight gain.

Relationship between Birthweight and the Metabolic Syndrome

The literature in general has shown a linear negative relationship between birthweight and later development of the metabolic syndrome or coronary heart disease [3,4]. We suggest that these relationships should be reviewed in different contemporary populations. An inverse association between birthweight and cardiovascular risk may be influenced by the inclusion of preterm infants and further modified by the rising prevalence of obesity and gestational diabetes in mothers, and overweight and obesity in children in both developed and developing countries.
These issues have been explored in a recent study of the “Raine” longitudinal childhood cohort in Perth, Western Australia in which a subset of children monitored at age 8 showed a U- shaped relationship between birthweight and the risk of exhibiting a cluster of features of the metabolic syndrome (see Figure 1) [5]. A similar U-shaped relationship between birthweight and the risk of diabetes has been observed in two other distinct populations, including Pima Indians [6] and Asians [7]. The results of this Australian birth cohort study need to be taken in the context of an ongoing longitudinal study. These children were analyzed at 8 years old and the larger cohort of 1,800 is being followed through adolescence. As they pass through puberty, changes in the relationships may emerge...

Featured Commentary:
Cardiovascular Disease in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Questioning the Obvious

Anna G Dagre MD 1[*] and John Lekakis MD 2 , 1 Vascular Laboratory and Endocrine Unit, Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Alexandra Hospital, University of Athens, Athens, Greece, 2 2 nd Cardiology Department, Attikon Hospital, University of Athens, Athens, Greece, [*] 23 Ikarias Street, 145 78, Ekali - Athens, Greece, E-mail: annadagre@hotmail.com

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders in young women, affecting as many as 1 in 15 women of reproductive age [1 ]. PCOS is characterized by oligo-and/or anovulation, clinical and/or biochemical signs of hyperadrogenism and/or polycystic ovaries detected by ultrasound [2]. Lately there has been significant scientific interest for PCOS because of its speculated relationship with two major factors of morbidity and mortality: i) metabolic syndrome and ii) cardiovascular disease (CVD).

There is evidence to support that PCOS not only has a negative effect on fertility, but it is also a plurimetabolic syndrome associated with other endocrine disorders such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance as well as hypertension and dyslipidemia [3-6]. Furthermore, insulin resistance has been proposed as the key factor linking hypertension, impaired glucose tolerance, obesity, and lipid abnormalities with CVD in PCOS [7]...

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