Background
Erythropoietin (EPO), which is associated with anemia, exerts neuroprotective effects in ischemic stroke. In cases of stenosis or narrowing of the main cerebral blood vessel, the prognosis is favorable if collateral blood circulation is well developed in acute stroke. Several studies have investigated the relationship between EPO administration and stroke outcomes. The present study investigated the correlation between serum EPO level and cerebral collateral circulation, which could result in favorable clinical outcomes.
Methods
The study subjects were patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke who underwent initial brain magnetic resonance imaging between January 2020 and March 2022. Following brain computed tomography perfusion for collateral flow, serum EPO levels were measured. Collaterals were assessed according to the Mass system and divided into good collateral (GC) or poor collateral (PC) groups. Serum EPO levels were determined using a chemiluminescence immunoassay method. A correlation coefficient analysis was conducted to determine the correlation between serum EPO levels and GC. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis determined the cutoff value of EPO for GC.
Results
Serum EPO levels were significantly higher in the GC than that in the PC group (P<0.05). The cut-off level of serum EPO for a good outcome was 9.1 mIU/mL.
Conclusion
A high serum EPO (>9.1 mIU/mL) could be a marker of GC in patients with acute ischemic stroke that predicts good clinical outcomes.

Citations

• Reinforcement of Transdural Angiogenesis: A Novel Approach to Treating Ischemic Stroke With Cerebral Perfusion Impairment
  Ji Man Hong, Hee Sun Shin
  Journal of Stroke.2025; 27(1): 30.     CrossRef
• Dexmedetomidine Promotes Angiogenesis After Ischemic Stroke Through the NRF2/HO-1/VEGF Pathway
  Zhenxing Tao, Pengpeng Li, Yushi Tang, Wenhui Yang, Yilu Li, Jieqiong Yang, Jiajia Tian, Yating Zhang, Yan Zou, Bai Xu, Xudong Zhao
  Neurochemical Research.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Albumin levels and cerebral collateral circulation in patients with acute ischemic stroke due to intracranial arteriosclerotic: A propensity score-matched analysis
  Le Wang, Qiang Shi, Yi-dong Xue, Chan Cao, Ying-Ying Zheng
  Medicine.2024; 103(21): e38254.     CrossRef

Background
Cigarette smoking increases the risk of atherosclerosis, which often develops as vascular calcification on radiologic examinations. This study evaluated the relationship between smoking-related factors and incidental abdominal aorta calcification (AAC) detected by computed tomography (CT) among middle-aged and elderly men.
Methods
We assessed the abdominal CT findings of 218 men aged 40 to 81 years who underwent health checkups. The associations between smoking factors and AAC were analyzed using logistic regression analysis to adjust for confounding variables such as age, lifestyle factors, and chronic diseases.
Results
Adjusting for confounding variables, the risk of AAC was significantly increased in association with smoking for at least 20 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 5.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.82–14.93), smoking 10+ pack-years (10–20 pack-years: AOR, 4.54; 95% CI, 1.07–5.68; >20 pack-years: AOR, 5.28; 95% CI, 2.10–13.31), and a history of smoking (former smoker: AOR, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.07–5.68; current smoker: AOR, 5.05; 95% CI, 2.08–12.26). In terms of the daily smoking amount, even a low smoking level increased the risk of AAC.
Conclusion
These findings suggest that smoking for 20+ years, smoking 10+ pack-years, and even a low level of smoking daily increases the likelihood of developing AAC. Clinicians should recommend that patients quit smoking and stress the importance of smoking duration when promoting health in middle-aged and elderly patients.

Citations

• Association of Smoking and Alcohol with Abdominal Aortic Calcification in the General Middle-Aged and Elderly Populations
  Yinze Ji, Naqiang Lv, Aimin Dang
  Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Vascular calcification in kidney stone formers: the impact of age and stone composition
  Alon Bnaya, Ilan Z Kafka, Hezi Barhoum, Linda Shavit
  Urolithiasis.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Association of Life's Essential 8 with abdominal aortic calcification and mortality among middle‐aged and older individuals
  Gehui Ni, Qinfeng Jia, Ying Li, Iokfai Cheang, Xu Zhu, Haifeng Zhang, Xinli Li
  Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.2024; 26(11): 5126.     CrossRef
• Can smoking cause impotence? a radiological retrospective cohort study comparing internal pudendal artery calcification on CT in male smokers versus non-smokers
  Emma Tong, Caoimhe McDonnell, Kate Hunter, Kevin Sheahan, William C. Torreggiani
  Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971 -).2023; 192(1): 377.     CrossRef
• Imaging Early Life Cardiovascular Phenotype
  Vinithra Varadarajan, Samuel S. Gidding, Colin Wu, J. Jeffrey Carr, Joao A.C. Lima
  Circulation Research.2023; 132(12): 1607.     CrossRef
• Nicotine promotes vascular calcification via intracellular Ca2+-mediated, Nox5-induced oxidative stress, and extracellular vesicle release in vascular smooth muscle cells
  Ploingarm Petsophonsakul, Mathias Burgmaier, Brecht Willems, Sylvia Heeneman, Nadina Stadler, Felix Gremse, Sebastian Reith, Kathrin Burgmaier, Florian Kahles, Nikolaus Marx, Ehsan Natour, Elham Bidar, Michael Jacobs, Barend Mees, Chris Reutelingsperger,
  Cardiovascular Research.2022; 118(9): 2196.     CrossRef
• Calcified Abdominal aortic occlusion: Treatment using Intravascular Lithotripsy
  Pratik Shah, Vimal Someshwar, Krishna Mundada, Abhijit Raut
  Journal of Clinical Interventional Radiology ISVIR.2022; 06(02): 141.     CrossRef
• Relationship between blood cadmium and abdominal aortic calcification: NHANES 2013–2014
  Nuozhou Liu, Ying Feng, Yuejuan Zhan, Fang Ma
  Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology.2022; 72: 126975.     CrossRef
• Prevalence and Predictors of Abdominal Aorta Calcification in Patients With Psoriasis—A Case Control Study
  Sofia Ramos, Sheetal Daya, Nigel J. Crowther, Lushen Pillay, Mohammed Tikly, Nasrin Goolam Mahyoodeen
  Frontiers in Medicine.2022;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Association between body mass index and fragility fracture in postmenopausal women: a cross-sectional study using Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008–2009 (KNHANES IV)
  Jihan Kim, Sami Lee, Sung Soo Kim, Jong-Pyo Lee, Jong Sung Kim, Jin Gyu Jung, Seok Jun Yoon, Kyu Pil Kim, Chan-Keol Park, Yong-Hwan Kim
  BMC Women's Health.2021;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Modified effect of active or passive smoking on the association between age and abdominal aortic calcification: a nationally representative cross-sectional study
  Luyan Lv, Shixian Wu, Yungui Yang, Xiongli Yue
  BMJ Open.2021; 11(10): e047645.     CrossRef
• Association Between Serum Cotinine and Severe Abdominal Aortic Calcification in US Adults
  Xiaoxiao Wen, Yanjie Xia, Min Guo, Liancheng Zhao, Long Zhou
  Angiology.2020; 71(4): 333.     CrossRef
• Role of Advanced Glycation End Products on Aortic Calcification in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
  Pilar Sanchis, Rosmeri Rivera, Regina Fortuny, Carlos Río, Miguel Mas-Gelabert, Marta Gonzalez-Freire, Felix Grases, Luis Masmiquel
  Journal of Clinical Medicine.2020; 9(6): 1751.     CrossRef

Citations

• The impact of serum testosterone level to reflect age-related multi-organ functions
  Tomoya Shirakawa, Julius Fink, Zen-u Hotta, Yosuke Shimada, Yan Lu, Junhua Du, Kazuhito Matsushita, Satoshi Hori, Hisamitsu Ide, Shigeo Horie
  Endocrine Journal.2024; 71(3): 265.     CrossRef
• Visceral Fat Area and Subcutaneous Fat Area Increase in Hyperthyroidism Patients After Treatment—A Single-Group Repeated-Measures Trial
  Mengnan Li, Xifeng Yang, Ru Li, Baofeng Wu, Jinxuan Hao, Yijie Qi, Tao Bai, Luyang Yang, Yi Zhang, Yunfeng Liu
  Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity.2024; Volume 17: 2165.     CrossRef
• Prognostic nomograms integrating preoperative serum lipid derivative and systemic inflammatory marker of patients with non-metastatic colorectal cancer undergoing curative resection
  Dimei Huang, Shaochu Zheng, Fang Huang, Jingyu Chen, Yuexiang Zhang, Yusha Chen, Bixun Li
  Frontiers in Oncology.2023;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Is non-high-density lipoprotein associated with metabolic syndrome? A systematic review and meta-analysis
  Parham Mardi, Fatemeh Abdi, Amir Ehsani, Ehsan Seif, Shirin Djalalinia, Javad Heshmati, Ehsan Shahrestanaki, Armita Mahdavi Gorabi, Mostafa Qorbani
  Frontiers in Endocrinology.2022;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Factors associated with hypertriglyceridemia among the hill tribe people aged 30 years and over, Thailand: a cross-sectional study
  Panupong Upala, Tawatchai Apidechkul, Chanyanut Wongfu, Siriyaporn Khunthason, Niwed Kullawong, Vivat Keawdounglek, Chalitar Chomchoei, Fartima Yeemard, Ratipark Tamornpark
  BMC Public Health.2021;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Independent association between the visceral adiposity index and microalbuminuria in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes
  Jia Wen, Hong Yuan
  Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews.2020;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Triglyceride to HDL-cholesterol ratio and the incidence risk of type 2 diabetes in community dwelling adults: A longitudinal 12-year analysis of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study
  Tae-Kyeong Lim, Hye Sun Lee, Yong-Jae Lee
  Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice.2020; 163: 108150.     CrossRef
• Association of triglycerides to high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol ratio with risk of incident hypertension
  Dechen Liu, Li Guan, Yang Zhao, Yu Liu, Xizhuo Sun, Honghui Li, Zhaoxia Yin, Linlin Li, Yongcheng Ren, Bingyuan Wang, Cheng Cheng, Leilei Liu, Xu Chen, Qionggui Zhou, Quanman Li, Chunmei Guo, Gang Tian, Ming Zhang, Dongsheng Hu, Jie Lu
  Hypertension Research.2020; 43(9): 948.     CrossRef
• Visceral adiposity index is associated with increased urinary albumin excretion: A population-based study
  Kan Sun, Diaozhu Lin, Feng Li, Yiqin Qi, Wanting Feng, Meng Ren, Li Yan, Dan Liu
  Clinical Nutrition.2019; 38(3): 1332.     CrossRef
• The correlation between triglyceride to HDL cholesterol ratio and metabolic syndrome, nutrition intake in Korean adults: Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2016
  Youngjon Kim, A Lum Han
  Journal of Nutrition and Health.2019; 52(3): 268.     CrossRef
• An in-depth prognostic analysis of baseline blood lipids in predicting postoperative colorectal cancer mortality: The FIESTA study
  Feng Peng, Dan Hu, Xiandong Lin, Gang Chen, Binying Liang, Ying Chen, Chao Li, Hejun Zhang, Yan Xia, Jinxiu Lin, Xiongwei Zheng, Wenquan Niu
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• Prediction of three lipid derivatives for postoperative gastric cancer mortality: the Fujian prospective investigation of cancer (FIESTA) study
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• Risk for metabolic diseases in normal weight individuals with visceral fat accumulation: a cross-sectional study in Japan
  Yukako Tatsumi, Yoko M Nakao, Izuru Masuda, Aya Higashiyama, Misa Takegami, Kunihiro Nishimura, Makoto Watanabe, Takayoshi Ohkubo, Tomonori Okamura, Yoshihiro Miyamoto
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  Sandra Maria Barbalho, Élen Landgraf Guiguer, Paulo Sérgio Marinelli, Patrícia Cincotto do Santos Bueno, Leticia Maria Pescinini-Salzedas, Mirele Cristine Batista dos Santos, Marie Oshiiwa, Claudemir Gregório Mendes, Manoel Lima de Menezes, Cláudia Cristi
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• Effects of 8-Year Treatment of Long-Acting Testosterone Undecanoate on Metabolic Parameters, Urinary Symptoms, Bone Mineral Density, and Sexual Function in Men with Late-Onset Hypogonadism
  Sompol Permpongkosol, Kalayanee Khupulsup, Supatra Leelaphiwat, Sarawan Pavavattananusorn, Supranee Thongpradit, Thanom Petchthong
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Background
Platelet has been known as an implicating factor in the pathophysiology of atherosclerotic disease. Larger platelets are more reactive and produce more prothrombotic factors. Several studies have shown relationship between mean platelet volume (MPV) and coronary artery disease. The present study has been designed to investigate association of MPV and subclinical CAD (coronary artery disease; abnormal finding in coronary multidetector computed tomo-graphy [MDCT] in asymptomatic individual). Methods: This cross sectional study was carried out in 103 men and 72 women (over 40 years old) who underwent coronary MDCT as screening test for disease prevention in the health examination center of Hanyang University Medical Center in Korea from January 1 to April 30, 2009. Subclinical CAD was defined when either of the following findings are present in asymptomatic patients: 1) plaque or calcification, 2) stenosis of any level. After adjustment for age, gender, hypertension, diabetes, BMI, smoking (pack-years), LDL cholesterol, odds ratios (ORs) for the prevalence of the subclinical CAD were calculated for quintiles of MPV using logistic regression analysis. Results: After adjustment for age, gender, hypertension, diabetes, BMI, smoking (pack-years), LDL cholesterol, the OR for subclinical CAD, comparing the fifth quintile of MPV with the first quintile, was 5.83 (95% confidence interval, 1.51 to 22.42; P = 0.010). Conclusion: Highest level of MPV is independently associated with the prevalence of the subclinical CAD after adjusting for other risk factors.

Citations

• Association of mean platelet volume-to-platelet count ratio for 24-hour mortality in patients with severe trauma
  Seokjin Ryu, Donghun Lee, Jiho Lee, Byungkook Lee
  Medicine.2025; 104(35): e44165.     CrossRef
• A Study of the Mean Platelet Volume and Plasma Fibrinogen in Type Two Diabetes Mellitus Patients Versus Healthy Controls and Their Role as Early Markers of Diabetic Microvascular Complications
  Sindhuri Goud Nimmala, Vijayashree S Gokhale, Ponvijaya Yadav, Sangram Mangudkar, Satbir Malik
  Cureus.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Predictive Effects of Platelet Indices in Cirrhotic Patients with or without Portal Vein Thrombosis
  Filiz Araz, Barış Soydaş
  European Journal of Therapeutics.2023; 29(4): 838.     CrossRef
• Relation Between Oxidative Stress and Hematologic Abnormalities in Children With Type 1 Diabetes
  Adel Abdel-Moneim, Mohamed I. Zanaty, Amr El-Sayed, Rehab G. Khalil, Hanan Abdel Rahman
  Canadian Journal of Diabetes.2020; 44(3): 222.     CrossRef
• Mean Platelet Volume as a Marker of Vasculogenic Erectile Dysfunction and Future Cardiovascular Risk
  Andrea Crafa, Rosita A. Condorelli, Laura M. Mongioì, Rossella Cannarella, Federica Barbagallo, Antonio Aversa, Giulia Izzo, Anna Perri, Aldo E. Calogero, Sandro La Vignera
  Journal of Clinical Medicine.2020; 9(8): 2513.     CrossRef
• Simple hematological parameters before detailed glycemic investigations: An easy approach for pre-assessment of diabetic complications in Indian scenario
  Manoj Saluja, Yogesh Kumar Swami, Saurabh Chittora, Hemant Vimlani
  Current Medicine Research and Practice.2019; 9(3): 89.     CrossRef
• A Study of Platelet Indices in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients
  Kumari Shilpi, R. M. Potekar
  Indian Journal of Hematology and Blood Transfusion.2018; 34(1): 115.     CrossRef
• Platelet function in diabetic and nondiabetic patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a case control study
  Hoda Ahmed Makhlouf, Samiaa Hamdy Sadek, Asmaa Abdel Hakim Nafady
  The Clinical Respiratory Journal.2018; 12(1): 48.     CrossRef
• Can mean platelet volume levels of trauma patients predict severity of trauma?
  Sadiye Yolcu, Gokben N. Beceren, Önder Tomruk, Duygu Kumbul Doguç, Ozlem Balbaloglu
  Platelets.2014; 25(4): 279.     CrossRef
• Mean platelet volume and coronary artery disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis
  Nakarin Sansanayudh, Thunyarat Anothaisintawee, Dittaphol Muntham, Mark McEvoy, John Attia, AmmarinThakkinstian
  International Journal of Cardiology.2014; 175(3): 433.     CrossRef
• Evaluation of mean platelet volume (MPV) levels in patients with synovitis associated with knee osteoarthritis
  Ozlem Balbaloglu, Murat Korkmaz, Sadiye Yolcu, Fatih Karaaslan, N. Gökben Çetin Beceren
  Platelets.2014; 25(2): 81.     CrossRef
• Lack of association of the mean platelet volume with plasma lipids in a general population of unselected outpatients
  Giuseppe Lippi, Elisa Danese, Camilla Mattiuzzi, Martina Montagnana
  La Rivista Italiana della Medicina di Laboratorio - Italian Journal of Laboratory Medicine.2014; 10(2): 97.     CrossRef
• Effects of Glucose Control on Hematological Indices in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus
  Ceyhun Varım, Tezcan Kaya, Ahmet Nalbant, Ayşenur Uçar, Ali Tamer
  Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences.2014; 2(1): 83.     CrossRef
• Normal range of mean platelet volume in healthy subjects: Insight from a large epidemiologic study
  Hilmi Demirin, Hakan Ozhan, Taner Ucgun, Ahmet Celer, Sule Bulur, Habip Cil, Cemalettin Gunes, Hayriye Ak Yildirim
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Background
: InBody 4.0, a bioelectrical impedance analyser (BIA) has an automatic function of printing out the measurement data of visceral fat area. The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of the visceral obesity measured by the InBody 4.0 and the waist circumference

Methods : A total of 124 participants who visited an obesity clinic in a university hospital were measured their waist circumference, height, weight and the visceral fat area by the InBody 4.0 and CT scan. The mean difference and agreement between the two visceral fat areas by the two methods had been analyzed according to sex, age and BMI groups. The accuracy of the visceral obesity by the BIA and the waist circumference was respectively compared with the visceral obesity by the CT scan.

Results : There was no significant difference between visceral fat area measured by the CT and the BIA in women participants under 46 years of age and below BMI 30. When comparing visceral fat area obtained from the CT with those obtained from the BIA, the 95% confidence interval for the limit agreement was higher in male subjects than in females. The waist circumference was the more sensitive method to diagnose visceral obesity than the BIA (91.80% vs. 77.94%), but the BIA method showed a higher specificity than the waist circumference (76.79% vs 52.38%).

Conclusion : Waist circumference turned out to be more useful than the BIA as a screening tool for visceral obesity. In the group of males, BMI of over 30, or the age over 46 years, it is recommended that the CT rather than the BIA for measurement of visceral fat area be utiliged.