Endothelial Function in Obese Adolescents

Following informed consent, a detailed history and physical examination will be performed including supine blood pressure taken twice after a 20 minute period of rest, height (using Harpenden stadiometer) to the nearest 0.1 cm and weight will be measured to the nearest 0.1 kg with a balance scale, pubertal staging using the method of Marshall and Tanner, waist measurement obtained at the minimal circumference of the abdomen, hip measurements with a plastic tape while the subject is standing and recorded at the widest diameter over the greater trochanters. BMI (kg/m2) and waist to hip ratio will be calculated. Screening labs in all recruited subjects: A fasting laboratory evaluation will include chemistry panel (basic metabolic, liver function tests), Complete Blood Count (CBC), lipid profile, urinalysis and HbA1c. All obese recruited subjects after a 12 hour fast will undergo an OGTT using a glucose load of 1.75 g/kg body weight with a maximum of 75 g. Blood samples will be collected for insulin, glucose, leptin, adiponectin, High sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and Free Fatty Acids (FFA). Serum and urine will be stored at -70 (degree Centigrade)C for measuring markers of oxidative stress and adipocytokines (including Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-α, Plasminogen Acivator Inhibitor (PAI)-1) for future studies depending on the funding availability.

Subjects who fulfill the study criteria would be admitted to Clinical Research Center to evaluate endothelial function by RH-PAT.

RH-PAT for endothelial function Reactive hyperemia peripheral arterial tonometry (RH-PAT) is a noninvasive technique used to assess peripheral microvascular endothelial function by measuring changes in digital pulse volume during reactive hyperemia (Bonetti, Kuvin). Pulse volume is measured by a finger plethysmographic device that allows isolated detection of pulsatile arterial volume changes, which are sensed by a pressure transducer and transferred to a computer where the signal is amplified, displayed and stored (EndoPAT, Itamar Medical). Studies are performed with the patient at rest, in a comfortable, thermo neutral environment. Fingertip probes are placed on the index finger of both hands and 5 minutes of baseline recording are obtained. Blood flow is then occluded in one arm for 5 minutes, using a standard blood pressure cuff. Recording continues in both fingers during occlusion and for 5 minutes after release of the cuff. The RH-PAT index is calculated as the ratio of the average pulse amplitude in the post-hyperemic phase divided by the average baseline amplitude, with normalization to the signal in the control arm to compensate for any systemic changes.

Inclusion criteria

• Children in the age range of 12-18 years
• For the lean group, age and sex matched subjects with BMI between 5th-85th percentiles
• Obese group defined as BMI ≥95th percentile. These will further be subgrouped into those with normal and those with abnormal glucose tolerance normal glucose tolerance (NGT) defined as fasting glucose level<100mg/dl and a 2 hour postprandial glucose level<140mg/d and abnormal OGTT defined as fasting level ≥100mg/dl and/or 2hr ≥140 using a glucose load of 1.75 g/kg body weight (max 75 g).Hence, we will

Exclusion criteria

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