The present study was carried out to evaluate systolic and diastolic parameters in overweight and moderately obese, but otherwise healthy subjects, and in a lean control group, to determine whether degree and duration of obesity can influence left ventricular function. A total of 27 subjects, 17 overweight or with moderate obesity and 10 lean, healthy subjects were included. Patients were divided into three groups according to their body mass index (BMI) and to Garrow's criteria as follows: lean control group (BMI less than 25 kg.m-2); overweight subjects (BMI from 25 to 30 kg.m-2); moderately obese subjects (BMI greater than 30 less than 40 kg.m-2). Systolic and diastolic parameters were measured using blood pool gated radionuclide angiography. Left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF), peak ejection rate (PER), time to PER (tPER), peak filling rate (PFR) and time to PFR (tPFR) were evaluated. PER and PFR values were normalized for end-diastolic volume (EDV). EF and PFR were significantly lower (P less than 0.05) both in moderately obese and in overweight subjects and tPFR was significantly (P less than 0.05) prolonged in both groups in comparison to lean controls. Only in moderately obese subjects was PER significantly (P less than 0.05) decreased and tPER significantly (P less than 0.05) prolonged in comparison to lean controls. As compared to overweight individuals, moderately obese subjects were characterized by a significant decrease (P less than 0.05) in LVEF and PER and by a significant increase (P less than 0.05) in tPER, without relevant change in PFR and in tPFR.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

No abstract

No abstract

Thyroid function, basal serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and prolactin concentrations, and the effects of 200 micrograms TSH-releasing hormone (TRH) given intravenously on TSH (delta TSH) and prolactin (delta prolactin) were investigated in 25 euthyroid obese subjects and 20 lean controls. No significant differences in serum thyroid hormone concentrations, glucose metabolism parameters, or basal TSH and prolactin concentrations were detected between groups, but a significant (P less than 0.01) increase in delta TSH and a significant (P less than 0.01) decrease in delta prolactin were observed in obese subjects. No significant differences in basal TSH and prolactin were observed in obese men and women compared with corresponding lean controls, but delta prolactin decreased significantly (P less than 0.01) in obese men and women compared with lean controls and TSH increased significantly (P less than 0.01) in obese men and women. No correlation was found between delta TSH or delta prolactin and body mass index. The study suggests that hyper-responsiveness of TSH and hyporesponsiveness of prolactin to TRH in obese subjects can be related to changes in the central serotoninergic system.

No abstract