Frank B. Hu

Bio: Frank B. Hu is an academic researcher from Harvard University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Type 2 diabetes & Diabetes mellitus. The author has an hindex of 250, co-authored 1675 publications receiving 253464 citations. Previous affiliations of Frank B. Hu include Southwest University & Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Elevated Heat Shock Protein 60 Levels Are Associated With Higher Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in Chinese

Abstract: Background— Although heat shock protein 60 (Hsp60) is implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, its role in coronary heart disease (CHD) is uncertain. This study explored the influence of ...

Exposure to the Chinese famine in early life and the risk of hypertension in adulthood.

Abstract: Objectives: Maternal famine exposure has been associated with higher blood pressure in the offspring. The aim of the present study was to examine the associations of early life exposure to the 1959-1961 Chinese famine with the risk of hypertension in later life, and to examine whether a nutritional 'rich' environment in later life modifies this association. Methods: We used data of 7874 adults born between 1954 and 1964 from the 2002 China National Nutrition and Health Survey. Excess death rate was used to determine the severity of the famine. Results: In severely affected famine areas, as compared to adults who were not exposed to famine, those exposed during fetal life had a significantly higher SBP [SBP difference 2.2 mmHg, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3-3.0, P < 0.0001], DBP (DBP difference 0.9 mmHg, 95% CI 0.3-1.5, P = 0.003) and a marginally higher risk of hypertension (odds ratio 1.88, 95% CI 1.00-3.53, P = 0.05), after adjustment of age, sex, socioeconomic status, lifestyle, dietary factors and family history of hypertension, which was not observed in less severely affected famine areas (P for interaction was 0.08 for SBP, 0.03 for DBP and 0.03 for hypertension). These associations were more pronounced in participants who had a western dietary pattern or who were overweight as adult. Conclusion: Our results suggest that fetal famine exposure is associated with higher blood pressure and an increased risk of hypertension in adulthood. These associations are stronger in participants who have a western dietary pattern or who are overweight as adults.

A Prospective Study of Soluble Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Receptor II (sTNF-RII) and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease Among Women With Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract: OBJECTIVE —Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), a cytokine secreted by adipose tissue and other cells, might play a role in insulin resistance. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS —Of 32,826 women from the Nurses’ Health Study who provided blood at baseline, we followed 929 women with type 2 diabetes. During 10 years of follow-up, we documented 124 incident cases of coronary heart disease (CHD). RESULTS —After adjustment for age, smoking, BMI, and other cardiovascular risk factors, the relative risks (RRs) comparing extreme quartiles of soluble TNF-α receptor II (sTNF-RII) were 2.48 (95% CI 1.08–5.69; P = 0.034) for myocardial infarction (MI) and 2.02 (1.17–3.48; P = 0.003) for total CHD. The probability of developing CHD over 10 years was higher among diabetic subjects with substantially higher levels of both sTNF-RII (>75th percentile) and HbA 1c (>7%), compared with diabetic subjects with lower levels (25% vs. 7%, P 1c had similar (16–17%) risk. In a multivariate model, diabetic subjects with higher levels of both sTNF-RII and HbA 1c had an RR of 3.66 (1.85–7.22) for MI and 3.03 (1.82–5.05) for total CHD, compared with those with lower levels of both biomarkers. CONCLUSIONS —Increased levels of sTNF-RII were strongly associated with risk of CHD among diabetic women, independent of hyperglycemia.

Vitamin D Deficiency

Abstract: Once foods in the United States were fortified with vitamin D, rickets appeared to have been conquered, and many considered major health problems from vitamin D deficiency resolved. But vitamin D deficiency is common. This review considers the role of vitamin D in skeletal and nonskeletal health and suggests strategies for the prevention and treatment of vitamin D deficiency.

Diagnosis and Management of the Metabolic Syndrome An American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Scientific Statement

Abstract: The metabolic syndrome has received increased attention in the past few years. This statement from the American Heart Association (AHA) and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is intended to provide up-to-date guidance for professionals on the diagnosis and management of the metabolic syndrome in adults. The metabolic syndrome is a constellation of interrelated risk factors of metabolic origin— metabolic risk factors —that appear to directly promote the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).1 Patients with the metabolic syndrome also are at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. Another set of conditions, the underlying risk factors , give rise to the metabolic risk factors. In the past few years, several expert groups have attempted to set forth simple diagnostic criteria to be used in clinical practice to identify patients who manifest the multiple components of the metabolic syndrome. These criteria have varied somewhat in specific elements, but in general they include a combination of both underlying and metabolic risk factors. The most widely recognized of the metabolic risk factors are atherogenic dyslipidemia, elevated blood pressure, and elevated plasma glucose. Individuals with these characteristics commonly manifest a prothrombotic state and a pro-inflammatory state as well. Atherogenic dyslipidemia consists of an aggregation of lipoprotein abnormalities including elevated serum triglyceride and apolipoprotein B (apoB), increased small LDL particles, and a reduced level of HDL cholesterol (HDL-C). The metabolic syndrome is often referred to as if it were a discrete entity with a single cause. Available data suggest that it truly is a syndrome, ie, a grouping of ASCVD risk factors, but one that probably has more than one cause. Regardless of cause, the syndrome identifies individuals at an elevated risk for ASCVD. The magnitude of the increased risk can vary according to which components of the syndrome are …