Figure 1

Hexagonal binning of MCP1, MMP3, PAI1, SAA, and sICAM1 against NCEP MetS categories (0–5). BMI was added in the figure only for comparison. At each sub-graph the following information is provided: top of the graph: n – the sample size studied for the particular biomarker; q₂₅ – the raw value of biomarker at the 25th percentile, q₅₀ – the 50th percentile, and q₇₅ – the 75th percentile; bottom of the graph: regression equation of the fitted model for a biomarker on MetS NCEP categories; NCEP MetS categories: 0 – none of the 5 categories reached beyond the NCEP thresholds (see Metabolic syndrome paragraph in the Methods section); 1 – at least one of the 5 categories passed the NCEP thresholds; similarly, 5 – all 5 categories passed the MetS NCEP thresholds. Three horizontal dashed lines represented the 25% (gray color), 50% (green color), and the 75% (red color) quartiles of a biomarker distribution. (Details provided in the Results and in the Appendix). For presentation clarity, 1 data point above 2500 pg/ml for MCP1, and 3 data points above 100 mg/l for SAA were removed from the graph.