Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Gianluca Iacobellis
Summary: Patients with obesity are at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. However, regional and organ specific adiposity appear to play a stronger role than obesity itself. Epicardial adipose tissue, located around the heart, is directly involved in major obesity-related cardiovascular complications. Current imaging techniques can assess epicardial fat to predict cardiovascular risk. Pharmacological modulation of epicardial fat can reduce cardiovascular risk. Assessing epicardial fat could change the traditional paradigm linking obesity to heart disease.
PROGRESS IN CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
(2023)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hidekatsu Fukuta, Toshihiko Goto, Takeshi Kamiya
Summary: Epicardial fat is associated with cardiac structure, function, and cardiovascular outcomes. This study aims to investigate the association between epicardial fat and cardiac structure, function, and cardiovascular outcomes through systematic review and meta-analysis. Assessing the clinical usefulness of epicardial fat assessment.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Maya Hioki, Nana Kanehira, Teruhiko Koike, Akira Saito, Kiyoshi Shimaoka, Hisataka Sakakibara, Yoshiharu Oshida, Hiroshi Akima
Summary: This study found that intramuscular adipose tissue is negatively correlated with adiponectin levels in normal-weight older adults, independent of waist circumference. Additionally, the dynamics of adiponectin differ from other circulating biochemical parameters in older men and women.
Article
Cell Biology
Pernille Heimdal Holm, Louise Hindso, Kristine Boisen Olsen, Jytte Banner
Summary: The study explores the associations between obesity, myocardial fat, visceral adipose tissue, and cardiovascular disease. It finds that myocardial fat is correlated with obesity and epicardial adipose tissue, but not with waist-hip ratio or visceral adipose tissue measures. The findings suggest that myocardial fat plays a role in cardiovascular health, particularly in the right ventricle.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wei-Shiung Lian, Re-Wen Wu, Yu-Shan Chen, Jih-Yang Ko, Shao-Yu Wang, Holger Jahr, Feng-Sheng Wang
Summary: The study demonstrated that miR-29a attenuated high-fat diet-induced body overweight, hyperglycemia, and hypercholesterolemia by controlling adipose tissue metabolism and bone homeostasis. It also promoted brown/beige adipocyte formation and inhibited white adipocyte markers, providing a potential new target for treating obesity-related diseases.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Manuel Monti, Roberto Marchetti, Giovanni Maria Vincentelli
Summary: The study investigates the relationship between CRP concentrations and EF in patients with metabolic syndrome at risk for coronary artery disease. The findings show a strong positive correlation between CRP levels and EF area in women, while no correlation was found in men. This suggests a potential gender difference in the role of EF in the development of atherosclerotic plaque.
ITALIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Jaelim Cho, Seongho Seo, Woo-Ram Kim, Changsoo Kim, Young Noh
Summary: The study found that a high level of visceral fat is associated with reduced cortical thickness in the elderly, while subcutaneous fat level is not significantly associated with cortical thickness.
FRONTIERS IN AGING NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Riccardo Cau, Pierpaolo Bassareo, Filippo Cademartiri, Christian Cadeddu, Antonella Balestrieri, Lorenzo Mannelli, Jasjit S. Suri, Luca Saba
Summary: The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of Epicardial Fat Volume (EFV) and distribution in patients with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). Our findings showed that patients with TTC had significantly increased EFV compared to healthy controls, and this increase in epicardial fat was associated with CMR markers of myocardial inflammation and sub-clinical contractile dysfunction.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF RADIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Haishan Huang, Xiaobin Zheng, Xiaoming Wen, Jingyi Zhong, Yanting Zhou, Lingling Xu
Summary: This study found that visceral fat affects insulin secretion and sensitivity in Chinese patients with T2DM, and the impact is more significant in overweight/obese individuals. This suggests that visceral fat plays a crucial role in diabetes.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Zhong-Yan Ma, Hui Duan, Dan Han, Bo He, Xiao-Jie Xie, Lin Lu, Jie Jiang, Rui-Hong Li
Summary: This study suggests that there is a significant increase in epicardial fat volume and thickness in patients with metabolic syndrome, which may be associated with the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events. Differences were observed between different ethnic and age subgroups.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF RADIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Sheng-Hsiung Chang, Po-Hua Chu, Cheng-Ting Tsai, Jen-Yuan Kuo, Jui-Peng Tsai, Ta-Chuan Hung, Charles Jia-Yin Hou, Yau-Hui Lai, Chia-Yuan Liu, Wei-Ming Huang, Chun-Ho Yun, Hung- Yeh, Chung-Lieh Hung
Summary: This study found that excessive visceral adiposity, whether proximal or distal to the heart, may modulate the autonomic response by lowering the rate of heart rate recovery from exercise. This finding is important for explaining the increase in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Alexander J. Moody, Marjorie Molina-Wilkins, Geoffrey D. Clarke, Aurora Merovci, Carolina Solis-Herrera, Eugenio Cersosimo, Robert J. Chilton, Patricia Iozzo, Amalia Gastaldelli, Muhammad Abdul-Ghani, Ralph A. DeFronzo
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effects of pioglitazone on epicardial and paracardial adipose tissue, as well as diastolic function and insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The results showed that pioglitazone reduced the areas of epicardial and paracardial adipose tissue, improved left ventricular diastolic function, and increased insulin sensitivity.
DIABETES OBESITY & METABOLISM
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Christian A. Unger, Ahmed K. Aladhami, Marion C. Hope, Sahar Pourhoseini, Mitzi Nagarkatti, Owen P. McGuinness, E. Angela Murphy, Kandy T. Velazquez, Reilly T. Enos
Summary: Research suggests that women are less susceptible to type II diabetes than men due to the protective effects of estrogen. However, epidemiological data shows that men are more prone to developing diabetes after menopause compared to women. This study aims to investigate if adiponectin serves as a protective factor for women.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Yau-Huei Lai, Lawrence Yu-min Liu, Kuo-Tzu Sung, Jui-Peng Tsai, Wen-Hung Huang, Chun-Ho Yun, Jiun-Lu Lin, Ying-Ju Chen, Cheng-Huang Su, Ta-Chuan Hung, Chung-Lieh Hung, Jen-Yuan Kuo
Summary: Obesity has heterogeneous effects on the heart, with different obesity phenotypes exhibiting varying levels of atrial dysfunction. Epicardial adipose thickness is independently associated with worse heart function, particularly in non-obese phenotypes. Over a median follow-up period of 5.3 years, BMI/EAT improved the reclassification for atrial fibrillation incidence, primarily in individuals with normal weight phenotypes.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Rosa Peiro, Maria-Jose Argente, Maria-Luz Garcia
Summary: In this study, changes in body weight, perirenal fat thickness, and concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and leptin were examined in female rabbits under a semi-intensive reproductive rhythm. The results showed that body weight reached its highest point at the 12th day of gestation, around 4280 g, and decreased to around 4030 g at delivery. Perirenal fat thickness increased until the third mating. NEFA and leptin concentrations exhibited a cyclical pattern throughout the reproductive lifespan, with the highest NEFA concentration at delivery and the highest leptin concentration at mating. There were low or null correlations between body weight, perirenal fat thickness, and NEFA and leptin concentrations at mating, 12th day of gestation, and delivery.
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Agostino Di Ciaula, Leonilde Bonfrate, Marica Noviello, Piero Portincasa
Summary: Thyroid diseases, including congenital hypothyroidism, thyroiditis, and childhood thyrotoxicosis, are increasing, and thyroid cancer in children and adolescents has also been on the rise. These trends are associated with rising costs and both genetic and environmental factors. Toxic chemicals in the environment can impair thyroid function and worsen thyroid cancer.
ENDOCRINE METABOLIC & IMMUNE DISORDERS-DRUG TARGETS
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Luca Liberale, Simon Kraler, Yustina M. Puspitasari, Nicole R. Bonetti, Alexander Akhmedov, Stefano Ministrini, Fabrizio Montecucco, Nikolaus Marx, Michael Lehrke, Niels Ulrik K. Hartmann, Jurg H. Beer, Florian A. Wenzl, Francesco Paneni, Thomas F. Luscher, Giovanni G. Camici
Summary: The study showed that SGLT-2 inhibition by empagliflozin does not impact experimental arterial thrombus formation, neither under baseline conditions nor during sustained low-grade inflammation. The results suggest that the beneficial effects of empagliflozin are likely independent of pathways mediating arterial thrombosis.
CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Maddalena Toffali, Federico Carbone, Enrico Fainardi, Andrea Morotti, Fabrizio Montecucco, Luca Liberale, Alessandro Padovani
Summary: Intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) has high mortality and poor functional outcome. Recurrence of ICH is a major concern, and ICH patients are at high risk of future ischaemic vascular events. This narrative review provides an overview of diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies for secondary prevention in ICH survivors.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Giuseppe Armentaro, Federico Carbone, Velia Cassano, Luca Liberale, Silvia Minetti, Maria Bianca Bertolotto, Gaia Mannino, Teresa V. Fiorentino, Maria Perticone, Elena Succurro, Giorgio Sesti, Fabrizio Montecucco, Francesco Andreozzi, Angela Sciacqua
Summary: Our study reveals a significant association between circulating PCSK9 levels and arterial stiffness in diabetic subjects without previous CV events. Serum PCSK9 could serve as a valuable biomarker for cardiovascular risk stratification in diabetic patients, even after adjusting for established cardiovascular risk factors and medications.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION
(2023)
Letter
Medicine, General & Internal
Federico Carbone, Alessandro Casaleggio, Martina Fiannacca, Fabio Borda, Stefano Ministrini, Giulia Vischi, Valeria Carpaneto, Matteo Sobrero, Chiara Monti, Daria De Stefano, Benedetta Saccomanno, Marcella Massone, Arianna Piccardo, Alessandro Calvia, Federica Vischi, Maddalena Bagnasco, Ottavia Magnani, Matteo Caiti, Elisabetta Cenni, Paola Ballarino, Patrizia Giuntini, Alessandra Barreca, Chiara Tognoni, Federica Pirisi, Paolo Canepa, Domenico Cerminara, Lisa Pelanconi, Michele Strozzi, Amedeo Thneibat, Mario Stabile, Edineia Felix, Selena Dasso, Cecilia Casini, Alberto Minetti, Andrea Lorenzo Poggi, Roberta Gonella, Fabio Ferrando, Andrea Bellodi, Alberto Ballestrero, Paolo Barbera, Eleonora Arboscello, Aldo Pende, Paolo Moscatelli, Giuseppe Cittadini, Fabrizio Montecucco
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Giovanni Marasco, Cesare Cremon, Maria Raffaella Barbaro, Giulia Cacciari, Francesca Falangone, Anna Kagramanova, Dmitry Bordin, Vasile Drug, Egidia Miftode, Pietro Fusaroli, Salem Youssef Mohamed, Chiara Ricci, Massimo Bellini, Mohammed Masudur Rahman, Luigi Melcarne, Javier Santos, Beatriz Lobo, Serhat Bor, Suna Yapali, Deniz Akyol, Ferdane Pirincci Sapmaz, Yonca Yilmaz Urun, Tugce Eskazan, Altay Celebi, Huseyin Kacmaz, Berat Ebik, Hatice Cilem Binicier, Mehmet Sait Bugdayci, Munkhtsetseg Banzragch Yagci, Husnu Pullukcu, Berrin Yalinbas Kaya, Ali Tureyen, Ibrahim Hatemi, Elif Sitre Koc, Goktug Sirin, Ali Riza Caliskan, Goksel Bengi, Esra Ergun Alis, Snezana Lukic, Meri Trajkovska, Keren Hod, Dan Dumitrascu, Antonello Pietrangelo, Elena Corradini, Magnus Simren, Jessica Sjoelund, Navkiran Tornkvist, Uday C. Ghoshal, Olga Kolokolnikova, Antonio Colecchia, Jordi Serra, Giovanni Maconi, Roberto De Giorgio, Silvio Danese, Piero Portincasa, Antonio Di Sabatino, Marcello Maggio, Elena Philippou, Yeong Yeh Lee, Daniele Salvi, Alessandro Venturi, Claudio Borghi, Marco Zoli, Paolo Gionchetti, Pierluigi Viale, Vincenzo Stanghellini, Giovanni Barbara
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms and post-COVID-19 disorders of gut-brain interaction among hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The results showed that patients with COVID-19 had higher rates of gastrointestinal symptoms on hospital admission and lower rates of constipation and hard stools at 12 months post-infection compared to the control group. Additionally, the rate of irritable bowel syndrome was significantly higher in patients with COVID-19 than in controls.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Leonilde Bonfrate, Agostino Di Ciaula, Mohamad Khalil, Ilaria Farella, Roberta Chirico, Gemma Vilahur, Piero Portincasa
Summary: The first COVID-19 lockdown led to enforced quarantine and social isolation measures to slow down the spread of the disease. This study aimed to evaluate the metabolic and psychological effects of lifestyle changes during COVID-19 self-isolation among an overweight/obese cohort. The results showed that after lockdown, there was a significant increase in obesity rates, worsening of glycemic and lipid profiles, altered dietary habits, and higher psychological distress, especially in females.
INTERNAL AND EMERGENCY MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Hala Abdallah, Mohamad Khalil, Ilaria Farella, Stephy JohnBritto, Elisa Lanza, Sergio Santoro, Gabriella Garruti, Piero Portincasa, Agostino Di Ciaula, Leonilde Bonfrate
Summary: This study assessed the effects of Ramadan intermittent fasting on anthropometric and metabolic indices, gastrointestinal symptoms, and motility. The results showed that Ramadan fasting decreased body weight, BMI, and waist circumference, improved gastrointestinal symptoms and motility, and also improved metabolic profile and insulin resistance.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Agostino Di Ciaula, Leonilde Bonfrate, Harshitha Shanmugam, Susanne N. Weber, Marcin Krawczyk, Piero Portincasa
Summary: This study found that the homozygous MBOAT7 rs641738 polymorphism is associated with a reduced extraction efficiency of (C-13)-methacetin from the portal flow, indicating the presence of early liver dysfunction independently from liver fibrosis. Moreover, liver steatosis worsens (C-13)-methacetin extraction efficiency. The mechanisms of interaction between external factors and multiple gene polymorphisms (including MBOAT7) need to be further explored for primary prevention and novel therapeutic strategies.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Amedeo Tirandi, Eleonora Arboscello, Stefano Ministrini, Luca Liberale, Aldo Bonaventura, Alessandra Vecchie, Maria Bertolotto, Daniele Roberto Giacobbe, Luca Castellani, Michele Mirabella, Silvia Minetti, Matteo Bassetti, Fabrizio Montecucco, Federico Carbone
Summary: In this pilot study, SOST levels were found to be associated with age, cardiovascular comorbidities, and early death in septic patients. SOST showed a high predictive value for 30-day mortality and outperformed validated scoring scales for critically ill patients. The variation in SOST levels also predicted long-term mortality.
INTERNAL AND EMERGENCY MEDICINE
(2023)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Agostino Di Ciaula, Leonilde Bonfrate, Mohamad Khalil, Gabriella Garruti, Piero Portincasa
Summary: Obesity is a global epidemic caused by a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental factors. Gut microbiota plays a critical role in regulating energy metabolism, fat production and storage, as it serves as a major interface between external factors and internal mechanisms. Changes in microbiota composition are associated with overweight and obesity, leading to alterations in metabolic homeostasis, insulin resistance and chronic inflammation. Animal studies have identified specific genera and microbial-derived metabolites associated with different obesity phenotypes, but more longitudinal studies are needed in humans to confirm their effectiveness.
REVIEWS IN ENDOCRINE & METABOLIC DISORDERS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Fabrizio Montecucco, Thomas H. Schindler
EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL
(2023)
Editorial Material
Medicine, General & Internal
Amedeo Tirandi, Fabrizio Montecucco, Luca Liberale
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION
(2023)
Editorial Material
Medicine, General & Internal
Rachele Ciccocioppo, Piero Portincasa
INTERNAL AND EMERGENCY MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Piero Portincasa, Gema Fruhbeck
Summary: This article discusses the importance of phenotyping and personalized approaches in addressing obesity. It emphasizes the need for comprehensive information and analysis of potential barriers and opportunities.
REVIEWS IN ENDOCRINE & METABOLIC DISORDERS
(2023)