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A Kafatos

Publications and source records attributed to A Kafatos.

65 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Coronary-heart-disease risk-factor status of the Cretan urban population in the 1980s.

The traditional Cretan diet has been associated with low coronary-heart-disease (CHD) mortality rates. This study reports on the prevalence of CHD risk factors among 387 Cretan bank employees. Mean cholesterol concentration has risen by 36% over 26-y; dietary intake has changed: consumption of meat, fish, and cheese has increased and consumption of bread, fruit, and potatoes has decreased. Although the percentage contribution of fat to total energy intake has decreased from 40% to 36%, there has been a reduction in monounsaturated fatty acid consumption and an increase in the consumption of saturated fatty acids whereas the consumption of polyunsaturates has not been altered. Exception for diminished physical activity, the prevalence of other risk factors (smoking, blood pressure, and body mass index) remained relatively stable over this period. These changes in the CHD risk-factor status of the Cretan urban population occurred over a period in which CHD mortality rates are reported to have increased.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Nutritional status: serum lipids. Euronut SENECA investigators.

Serum lipid levels are considered to be one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in middle-aged men and women. The significance, however, of serum lipid metabolism as a cardiovascular disease risk factor in the elderly has yet to be clarified. This paper focuses upon the serum lipid levels of groups of elderly people from 18 centres with diversified socioeconomic backgrounds in 11 European countries. Serum cholesterol was measured with an enzymatic colorimetric method by autoanalyser in one laboratory and accuracy was checked by participation in the quality control programme of the Centre for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA, USA. Mean (+/- SD) serum cholesterol levels ranged from 6.56 +/- 0.66 mmol/l (Bellinzona, Switzerland) to 5.22 +/- 0.68 mmol/l (Coimbra, Portugal) in men, and in women from 7.77 +/- 1.61 mmol/l (Elverum, Norway) to 5.86 +/- 1.07 mmol/l (Anogia-Archanes/Greece). The mean levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ranged from 1.40 +/- 0.58 mmol/l (Chateau Renault-Amboise, France) to 1.05 +/- 0.28 mmol/l (Elverum, Norway) in men and from 1.62 +/- 0.41 mmol/l (Padua, Italy) to 1.23 +/- 0.29 mmol/l (Anogia-Archanes, Greece; Vila Franca de Xira, Portugal) in women. The highest median serum triglyceride values were found in Norway (Elverum) (men: 1.50 mmol/l, women: 1.75 mmol/l), and one of the French groups (Chateau Renault-Amboise) had the lowest median values (men: 1.07 mmol/l, women: 1.15 mmol/l). Significant differences between participating centres and between sexes were found for the following variables: serum cholesterol, HDL, and the ratio total HDL cholesterol/total cholesterol. For triglycerides the differences were significant only between centres, not between the sexes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Serum lipids, apoproteins and nutrient intake in rural Cretan boys consuming high-olive-oil diets.

A high intake of olive oil has produced high levels of high-density and low levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in short-term dietary trials. To investigate long-term effects of olive oil we have studied the diet and serum lipids of boys in Crete, where a high olive oil consumption is the norm. Seventy-six healthy rural Cretan boys aged 7-9 years were studied. The diet was assessed by a 2-day dietary recall. Blood was collected according to a standardized protocol and sera were analyzed in a rigidly standardized laboratory. The mean daily intake of energy was 11.0 MJ (2629 kcal). The intake of fat (45.0% of energy) and oleic acid (27.2% of energy) was high, and that of saturated fat low (10.0% of energy), reflecting a high consumption of olive oil. The high consumption of olive oil was confirmed by a high proportion of oleic-acid (27.1%) in serum cholesteryl fatty acids. Mean concentration of serum total cholesterol was 4.42 mmol l-1 (171 mg dl-1), of HDL-cholesterol 1.40 mmol l-1 (54 mg dl-1), of serum triglycerides 0.59 mmol l-1 (52 mg dl-1), of apo-AI 1210 mg l-1 and of LDL apo-B 798 mg l-1. The body mass index of the Cretan boys (18.2 kg m-2) was on average 2 kg m-2 higher than that of boys from other countries. Contrary to our expectation, the Cretan boys did not show a more favourable serum lipoprotein pattern than boys from more westernized countries studied previously using the same protocol. Our hypothesis that a typical, olive-oil-rich Cretan diet causes a relatively high HDL- to total cholesterol ratio is not supported by the present findings.

Anthropometry↗
PubMed1987

The cross-cultural study of U.S. and Greek adolescents: blood pressure data.

Blood pressures (BP) were determined in 1409 boys aged 8-16 years at three one-year intervals in New York City (NYC) and in Greece, areas of high and low incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD), respectively. Non-Greek American boys had significantly lower systolic and diastolic BP than all the Greek boys from NYC and from Greece. The boys residing in Crete and in Athens had higher BP than all other cohorts. After covariance adjustment for height, ponderal index and age, significant differences among the cohorts showed the non-Greek American cohort to have the lowest and the Cretan cohorts the highest BP levels. The Cretans lead a lifestyle noted for the absence of other risk factors for CHD. Thus, while the incremental increase in blood pressure might have a corresponding increase in CHD risk among individuals, there are fewer individuals in Crete at elevated risk overall based on the CHD experience of the U.S. and Greece.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Cross-cultural validity of the Miami Structured Interview--1 for type A in children: the American-Hellenic Heart Study.

The Miami Structured Interview--1 was developed (1) to assess Type A behaviour in a broader age range of children than tested with previous interviews, and (2) for cross-cultural studies. This study examined the validity of the Miami Structured Interview--1 for assessing Type A behavior in 507 American and Greek preadolescent (ages 7-11) and adolescent (ages 12-16) boys. The interview was scored on voice stylistics such as speed of speech, word emphasis, and latency of response. Validity was tested using the Matthews Youth Test for Health (MYTH), a teacher rating scale of Type A behaviors. Interview determined Type A's received significantly higher MYTH scores than non Type A's for American adolescents (p less than 0.05), Greek preadolescents (p less than 0.01), and Greek adolescents (p less than 0.05). The interview also identified extreme groups of Type A's and Type B's for American adolescents (p less than 0.01) and Greek preadolescents (p less than 0.05). The findings support the cross-cultural validity of the Miami Structured Interview--1 and the Type A construct for children. Limitations of the Miami Structured Interview--1 are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Cord blood serum in newborns of diabetic mothers.

Serum cholesterol, triglycerides and lipoprotein cholesterol were measured in cord bloods from 117 newborns. Group I consisted of 39 infants of diabetic mothers and Group II (control) consisted of 78 newborns of non-diabetic mothers. The most significant difference in serum lipids between the two groups was the higher levels of LDL cholesterol and lower levels of HDL cholesterol in the newborns of diabetic mothers. Cord blood serum cholesterol was slightly, but not significantly, higher in children born of diabetic mothers. Serum triglycerides were also not significantly different between the groups. While it remains to be established whether elevated levels of LDL cholesterol and decreased levels of HDL cholesterol at birth in these infants represent a transient phenomenon, this study suggests that newborns of diabetic mothers may be predisposed early in life to LDL hypercholesterolemia and thus may be at a greater risk of developing coronary heart disease later in life.

Cholesterol↗
PubMed1983

Adipose tissue fatty acid composition of adolescents in a U.S.--Greece cross-cultural study of coronary heart disease risk factors.

Adipose tissue fatty acid composition was studied in 139 boys, a subgroup of 1521 subjects aged 8-16 participating in the United States (New York City)--Greece cross-cultural study of coronary heart disease risk factor development. Adipose tissue was obtained by an aspiration technique, followed by transmethylation of fatty acids and gas-liquid chromatographic analysis. Statistically significant differences were found among different cohorts in their adipose tissue content of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. All United States cohorts had significantly higher (p less than 0.0001) levels of saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids and significantly lower (p less than 0.0001) monounsaturated fatty acids compared to the Greece cohorts. These relationships held for all three types of fatty acids whether the non-Greek cohort from New York City or the cohorts of adolescents of Greek descent who reside in New York City alone, were compared to the cohorts residing in Greece. The differences in the adipose tissue fatty acids between the cohorts may be an important expression of the biochemical milieu which contributes to the development of relatively low coronary heart disease rates in Greece compared to those in the United States.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prostate cancer vs hyperplasia: relationships with prostatic and adipose tissue fatty acid composition.

The objective of the present study was to study whether adipose tissue and prostatic tissue fatty acid composition differentiates between prostate cancer and benign hyperplasia patients. In addition, the present investigation aimed at exploring the extent to which prostatic tissue fatty acid composition differentiates between prostate-confined cancer and extraprostatic disease including possible metastasis. The subjects were 71 male patients from the island of Crete. Half the patients (n=35) had been diagnosed with benign hyperplasia of the prostate, half with prostatic malignancy (n=36). Patients were examined at the outpatient clinic of the urology unit, University Hospital, Medical School, University of Crete. Relative to benign hyperplasia patients, cancer patients had elevated adipose tissue saturated and reduced monounsaturated fatty acid levels. Cancer patients had reduced prostate tissue stearic to oleic acid ratios and stearic acid levels as opposed to hyperplasia patients. The most pronounced difference between cancer patients and hyperplasia patients was a 3-fold elevated prostatic palmitoleic acid in the former group. Relative to benign hyperplasia patients, cancer patients had reduced prostate tissue arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acid levels. Finally, there was a significantly reduced omega-3/omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio in the prostate cancer patient as opposed to the benign hyperplasia group. The pronounced elevations in prostatic tissue palmitoleic acid in cancer patients highlight a possible role of this fatty acid in neoplastic processes. The decreased arachidonic acid levels in cancer patients possibly stem from enhanced metabolism of arachidonic acid via lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase pathways, and the formation of derivatives such as 5-HETE, 15-HETE, 12(S)-HETE and PGE(2).

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Adipose tissue fatty acid composition, serum lipids, and serum alpha-tocopherol in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients living on the island of Crete.

OBJECTIVE: A pilot study to explore diet-related atherogenic patterns in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients on the island of Crete. Cretans are well known for their high olive consumption and low atherosclerotic heart disease mortality, in general. DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: This was a hospital-based study initiated in 1991. Catchment area was the island of Crete, Greece. PARTICIPANTS: Seventeen patients admitted for treatment to the General State Hospital of Rethimnon. Controls were selected from the general population of the island and consisted of a random sample of 27 subjects from a total of 168 healthy subjects who visited the Preventive Medicine Clinic of the University Hospital for routine check-up. The control group was age- and sex-matched with patients. Both CAPD patients and controls had been residents of Crete for at least the last 10 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Adipose tissue was aspirated, and a 12-hour fasting blood sample was collected for determination of serum lipid parameters and serum alpha-tocopherol levels; dietary data from a 3-day recall were recorded. RESULTS: No significant differences between the two groups were observed with respect to the mean macronutrient intake. The mean levels of serum triglycerides (p = 0.016) and serum alpha-tocopherol (p = 0.001) were significantly higher in CAPD patients compared to controls. Mean levels of total serum cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol were not significantly different. In CAPD patients the mean total percentage of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) was significantly higher (p = 0.006) than in controls. The mean total percentage of saturated fatty acids (p = 0.004), along with the mean percentage of omega-6 (p = 0.002), the mean value of the ratio omega-6/omega-3 (p < 0.0001), and the percentage of linoleic acid (p = 0.001) were significantly lower in CAPD patients than in the controls. Among subjects with higher levels of MUFA in the adipose tissue, the CAPD patients were twice as likely to have high serum alpha-tocopherol (p < 0.001), and 2.6 times more likely to be in high risk of high total cholesterol (TC)/HDL (p = 0.08) compared to the controls. However, CAPD patients with high levels of MUFA in the adipose tissue (above the average of 65%) were unlikely [odds ratio (OR) = 0.001, p < 0.001] to be at risk of high TC/HDL (above the average of 4.1), and maybe unlikely (OR = 0.08, but p = 0.1) to have low serum alpha-tocopherol, when compared with the CAPD patients with low levels of MUFA. CAPD patients with high TC/HDL are 0.15 times less likely (p = 0.1) to have high levels of serum alpha-tocopherol compared to those with low TC/HDL. CONCLUSION: Cretan CAPD patients demonstrate an interesting profile consisting of unexpectedly positive aspects when atherogenesis-related factors such as those of adipose tissue fatty acid composition, serum lipids, and serum antioxidant alpha-tocopherol are considered.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Teaching of clinical nutrition at the University of Crete, School of Medicine, Greece.

The prevalence of malnutrition in hospitalized patients is reported to be unacceptably high, and lack of nutrition awareness among physicians/surgeons and medical students is considered an important contributory factor. We report our experience with the recently instituted clinical nutrition course at the medical school of the University of Crete, Greece. The course was designed with a bias in favor of the clinical application of nutrition at the patient and community level rather than in the format of formalized lectures. The students' answers to a questionnaire regarding the course indicated that 90% enjoyed it in terms of learning, 97% benefited from it, and 79% would like to see it adopted as the mode of teaching in the future. It is suggested that, in keeping with emerging evidence, such courses may have an important role in the teaching, application, and increased awareness of nutrition among medical students and practicing physicians.

Curriculum↗