Hernandez, M. (Marta)
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- Dissimilar Impact of a Mediterranean Diet and Physical Activity on Anthropometric Indices: A Cross-Sectional Study from the ILERVAS Project(MDPI AG, 2019) Rius, F. (Ferran); Hernandez, M. (Marta); Farràs-Sallés, C. (Cristina); Sánchez, M. (Marta); ILERVAS project collaborators; Gutiérrez-Carrasquilla, L. (Liliana); Purroy, F. (Francesc); Sánchez, E. (Enric); Bermúdez-López, M. (Marcelino); Fernandez, E. (Elvira); Salvador, J. (Javier); Pamplona, R. (Reinald); Lecube, A. (Albert); González, J. (Jessica); Salas-Salvado, J. (Jordi)There is a close relationship between lifestyle behaviors and excess adiposity. Although body mass index (BMI) is the most used approach to estimate excess weight, other anthropometric indices have been developed to measure total body and abdominal adiposity. However, little is known about the impact of physical activity and adherence to a Mediterranean diet on these indices. Here we report the results of a cross-sectional study with 6672 middle-aged subjects with low to moderate cardiovascular risk from the Ilerda Vascular (ILERVAS) project. The participants' adherence to physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire short form) and MedDiet (Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener) was evaluated. Measures of total adiposity (BMI, Clínica Universidad de Navarra-Body Adiposity Estimator (CUN-BAE), and Deurenberg's formula), central adiposity (waist and neck circumferences, conicity index, waist to height ratio, Bonora's equation, A body adiposity index, and body roundness index), and lean body mass (Hume formula) were assessed. Irrespective of sex, lower indices of physical activity were associated with higher values of total body fat and central adiposity. This result was constant regardless of the indices used to estimate adiposity. However, the association between MedDiet and obesity indices was much less marked and more dependent on sex than that observed for physical activity. Lean body mass was influenced by neither physical activity nor MedDiet adherence. No joint effect between physical activity and MedDiet to lower estimated total or central adiposity indices was shown. In conclusion, physical activity is related to lower obesity indices in a large cohort of middle-aged subjects. MedDiet showed a slight impact on estimated anthropometric indices, with no joint effect when considering both lifestyle variables.
- Quinapril inhibits c-Myc expression and normalizes smooth muscle cell proliferation in spontaneously hypertensive rats(Nature publishing group, 1997) Hernandez, M. (Marta); Diez-Martinez, J. (Javier); Panizo, A. (Ángel); Pardo-Mindan, F.J. (Francisco Javier); Galindo, M.F. (María F.); Cenarruzabeitia, E. (Edurne)A number of data suggest that angiotensin II-dependent activation of the protooncogene c-myc participates in the proliferative response of smooth muscle cells (SMC) of rats with spontaneous hypertension (SHR). We therefore investigated the effects of chronic treatment with the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor quinapril on the oncoprotein c-Myc and the proliferating cell nuclear antigen cyclin A in SMC of small intramyocardial arteries from the left ventricle of SHR. The expression of c-Myc and cyclin A was assessed by immunocytochemical analysis. The number of smooth muscle cells was assessed by morphometrical analysis. As compared to normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats, untreated SHR exhibited an increased percentages of cells expressing c-Myc (33% +/- 4% v 19% +/- 2%, mean +/- SEM, P < .005) and cyclin A (25 +/- 2 v 11% +/- 1%, P < .001). In quinapril-treated SHR compared with untreated SHR, we found decreased expression of c-Myc (22% +/- 2%, P < .005) and cyclin A (13% +/- 1%, P < .001). No significant differences were found between WKY rats and quinapril-treated SHR in the above parameters. Cyclin A was directly correlated with the number of SMCs in each group of rats. These results suggest that an enhanced expression of c-Myc may be involved in the increased proliferation seen in SMCs from small arteries of SHR. Quinapril administration normalizes proliferation in the SMCs of SHR, possibly by inhibiting the expression of the oncoprotein c-Myc and its effects on the cell cycle.
- Are obesity indices useful for detecting subclinical atheromatosis in a middle-aged population?(Karger, 2020) Rius, F. (Ferran); Hernandez, M. (Marta); Sánchez, M. (Marta); Purroy, F. (Francesc); Sánchez, E. (Enric); Bueno, M. (Marta); Ortega, M. (Marta); López-Cano, C. (Carolina); Fernandez, E. (Elvira); Salvador, J. (Javier); Pamplona, R. (Reinald); Torres, G. (Gerard); Betriu, À. (Àngels); Lecube, A. (Albert)Objective: There is a close relationship between excess adiposity and cardiovascular disease. Although body mass index (BMI) is the most used approach to estimate excess weight, other anthropometric indices have been developed to measure total body and abdominal adiposity. Here, our objective was to assess the usefulness of these anthropometric indices to detect subclinical atheromatous disease. Methods: A cross-sectional study with 6,809 middle-aged subjects (mean age, 57 [53–63] years) with low to moderate cardiovascular risk from the ILERVAS project. Measures of total body fat (BMI, Clínica Universidad de Navarra – Body Adiposity Estimator [CUN-BAE], and Deurenberg’s formula) and central adiposity (waist and neck circumferences, conicity index, waist-to-height ratio, Bonora’s equation, the A body adiposity index, and body roundness index) were performed in all participants. Bilateral carotid and femoral ultrasound vascular studies allowed the identification of subjects with plaque. Results: All measured indices were significantly higher in males with subclinical carotid or femoral plaques (p ≤ 0.021 for all). Also, a positive and significant correlation between all indices and the number of affected territories was found (p ≤ 0.013 for all). From the ROC analysis, all measurements identified patients with asymptomatic atheromatosis but none of them helped make clinical decisions. Regarding females, the results were less conclusive. Conclusion: Obesity indices are related to subclinical atheromatosis, especially in men, in a large cohort of middle-aged subjects. However, the indices could not detect the presence of arterial plaque, so, when used in isolation, are unlikely to be decisive.
- Are mast cells involved in hypertensive heart disease?(lippincott williams and wilkins, 1995) Hernandez, M. (Marta); Diez-Martinez, J. (Javier); Panizo, A. (Ángel); Pardo-Mindan, F.J. (Francisco Javier); Galindo, M.F. (María F.); Cenarruzabeitia, E. (Edurne)OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the potential relationship of mast cells with myocardial fibrosis in the cardiac ventricles of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). DESIGN: Experiments were performed on hearts from 36-week-old SHR with established left ventricular hypertrophy (n = 12) and from 36-week-old normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats (n = 12). Furthermore, to evaluate whether antihypertensive treatment with the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor quinapril interferes with the potential relationship between mast cells and fibrosis in SHR, we treated 16-week-old SHR (n = 12) with oral quinapril (10 mg/kg body weight per day) for 20 weeks. METHODS: Mast cells were counted in 25 high-power fields. Toluidine blue-stained sections and avidin staining were used to detect mast cells. The extent of myocardial fibrosis was analysed in samples stained with Masson's trichrome. The amount of collagen was evaluated morphometrically, using an automatic image analyser, and biochemically, using myocardial hydroxyproline concentration. RESULTS: In the left ventricle of untreated SHR compared with age- and sex-matched normotensive WKY rats we found more extensive interstitial and perivascular fibrosis, an increased collagen volume fraction, an increased hydroxyproline concentration and an increased number of mast cells. Similar but less intense abnormalities were observed in the right ventricles of untreated SHR compared with the left ventricles of the same rats. In the left ventricles of quinapril-treated SHR compared with those of untreated SHR we found a marked decrease in fibrosis, a lower collagen volume fraction, a lower hydroxyproline concentration and fewer mast cells. Treatment with quinapril was also accompanied by normalization in the myocardial structure of the right ventricles of SHR. A positive correlation was found between the density of mast cells and the collagen volume fraction in the left ventricles of all of the rats. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings suggest that mast cells can play a part in the development of the myocardial fibrosis that occurs in the cardiac ventricles with hypertensive cardiac hypertrophy. In addition, the present results suggest that the ability of quinapril to interfere with mast cells might be involved in its cardioreparative properties.