Body mass index does not affect the survival of pancreatic cancer patients

AIM to evaluate the association of body mass index(b MI) with the overall survival of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC) patients.METHODS A retrospective analysis of PDAC patients diagnosed in the National Cancer Center of China between January 1999 and December 2014 was performed. these patients were categorized into four b MI groups(< 18.5, 18.5-22.9, 23-27.4 and ≥ 27.5 kg/m2). χ2 tests for comparison of the proportions of categorical variables, and Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney test for continuous variables were employed. Survival analysis was performed with the Kaplan-Meyer method. their HRs of mortality and 95%CIs were estimated using the Cox proportional hazards model.RESULTS With a median age of 59.6 years(range: 22.5-84.6 years), in total 1783 PDAC patients were enrolled in this study. their mean usual b MI was 24.19 ± 3.53 for the whole cohort. More than half of the patients(59.3%) experienced weight loss during the disease onset and progression. Compared with healthy-weight individuals, newly diagnosed patients who were overweight or obese had more severe weight loss during their disease onset and progression(P < 0.001). Individuals who were overweight or obese were associated with positive smoking history(P < 0.001). A significant difference in comorbidity of diabetes(P = 0.044) and coronary artery disease(P < 0.001) was identified between high b MI and normal-weight patients. After a median follow-up of 8 mo, the survival analysis showed no association between b MI and the overall survival(P = 0.90, n = 1783). When we stratified the whole cohort by pancreatic cancer stage, no statistically significant association between b MI and overall survival was found for resectable(P = 0.99, n = 217), unresectable locally advanced(P = 0.90, n = 316) and metastatic patients(P = 0.88, n = 1250), respectively. the results did not change when we used the b MI at diagnosis.CONCLUSION Our results showed no significance of b MI for the overall survival of PDAC patients.

Prevalence of obesity and diabetes in patients with schizophrenia

AIM To compare the prevalence of diabetes in patients with schizophrenia treated at a community mental health center with controls in the same metropolitan area and to examine the effect of antipsychotic exposure on diabetes prevalence in schizophrenia patients. METHODS The study was a comprehensive chart review of psychiatric notes of patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder treated at a psychosis program in a community mental health center. Data collected included psychiatric diagnoses, diabetes mellitus diagnosis, medications, allergies, primary care status, height, weight, body mass index(BMI), substance use and mental status exam. Local population data was downloaded from the Centers for Disease Control Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Statistical methods used were χ~2 test, Student's t test, general linear model procedure and binary logistic regression analysis.RESULTS The study sample included 326 patients with schizophrenia and 1899 subjects in the population control group. Demographic data showed control group was on average 7.6 years older(P = 0.000), more Caucasians(78.7% vs 38.3%, P = 0.000), and lower percentage of males(40.7% vs 58.3%, P = 0.000). Patients with schizophrenia had a higher average BMI than the subjects in the population control(32.11, SD = 7.72 vs 27.62, SD = 5.93, P = 0.000).Patients with schizophrenia had a significantly higher percentage of obesity(58.5% vs 27%, P = 0.000) than the population group. The patients with schizophrenia also had a much higher rate of diabetes compared to population control(23.9% vs 12.2%, P = 0.000). After controlling for age sex, and race, having schizophrenia was still associated with increased risk for both obesity(OR = 3.25, P = 0.000) and diabetes(OR = 2.42, P = 0.000). The increased risk for diabetes remained even after controlling for obesity(OR = 1.82, P = 0.001). There was no difference in the distribution of antipsychotic dosage, second generation antipsychotic use or multiple antipsychotic use within different BMI categories or with diabetes status in the schizophrenia group. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates the high prevalence of obesity and diabetes in schizophrenia patients and indicates that antipsychotics may not be the only contributor to this risk.

Interaction of obesity and inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD) is a chronic inflammatory condition of unknown etiology that is thought to result from a combination of genetic, immunologic and environmental factors. The incidence of IBD has been increasing in recent decades, especially in developing and developed nations, and this is hypothesized to be in part related to the change in dietary and lifestyle factors associated with modernization. The prevalence of obesity has risen in parallel with the rise in IBD, suggesting a possible shared environmental link between these two conditions. Studies have shown that obesity impacts disease development and response to therapy in patients with IBD and other autoimmune conditions. The observation that adipose tissue produces pro-inflammatory adipokines provides a potential mechanism for the observed epidemiologic links between obesity and IBD, and this has developed into an active area of investigative inquiry. Additionally, emerging evidence highlights a role for the intestinal microbiota in the development of both obesity and IBD, representing another potential mechanistic connection between the two conditions. In this review we discuss the epidemiology of obesity and IBD, possible pathophysiologic links, and the clinical impact of obesity on IBD disease course and implications for management.

Predictors for difficult cecal insertion in colonoscopy: The impact of obesity indices

AIM To identify the factors influencing cecal insertion time(CIT) and to evaluate the effect of obesity indices on CIT. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the data for participants who received both colonoscopy and abdominal computed tomography(CT) from February 2008 to May 2008 as part of a comprehensive health screening program. Age, gender, obesity indices [body mass index(BMI), waist-to-hip circumference ratio(WHR), waist circumference(WC), visceral adipose tissue(VAT)volume and subcutaneous adipose tissue(SAT) volume on abdominal CT], history of prior abdominal surgery, constipation, experience of the colonoscopist, quality of bowel preparation, diverticulosis and time required to reach the cecum were analyzed. CIT was categorized as longer than 10 min(prolonged CIT) and shorter than or equal to 10 min, and then the factors that required a CIT longer than 10 min were examined.RESULTS A total of 1678 participants were enrolled. The mean age was 50.42 ± 9.931 years and 60.3% were men. The mean BMI, WHR, WC, VAT volume and SAT volume were 23.92 ± 2.964 kg/m2, 0.90 ± 0.076, 86.95 ± 8.030 cm, 905.29 ± 475.220 cm3 and 1707.72 ± 576.550 cm3, respectively. The number of patients who underwent abdominal surgery was 268(16.0%). Colonoscopy was performed by an attending physician alone in 61.9% of cases and with the involvement of a fellow in 38.1% of cases. The median CIT was 7 min(range 2-56 min, IQR 5-10 min), and mean CIT was 8.58 ± 5.291 min. Being female, BMI, VAT volume and involvement of fellow were significantly associated with a prolonged CIT in univariable analysis. In multivariable analysis, being female(OR = 1.29, P = 0.047), lower BMI(< 23 kg/m2)(OR = 1.62, P = 0.004) or higher BMI(≥ 25 kg/m2)(OR = 1.80, P < 0.001), low VAT volume(< 500 cm3)(OR = 1.50, P = 0.013) and fellow involvement(OR = 1.73, P < 0.001) were significant predictors of prolonged CIT. In subgroup analyses for gender, lower BMI or higher BMI and fellow involvement were predictors for prolonged CIT in both genders. However, low VAT volume was associated with prolonged CIT in only women(OR = 1.54, P = 0.034).CONCLUSION Being female, having a lower or higher BMI than the normal range, a low VAT volume, and fellow involvement were predictors of a longer CIT.

Predictors of vitamin D deficiency in inflammatory bowel disease and health: A Mississippi perspective

AIM To identify the predictors of vitamin D deficiency in patients with and without inflammatory bowel disease(IBD).METHODS Patients with ulcerative colitis(UC) or Crohn's disease(CD) related diagnostic codes who received medical care at University of Mississippi Medical Center between July 2012 and 2015 were identified. After thorough chart review, we identified patients with biopsy proven IBD who had also been tested for serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration. We compared these patients to a previously studied cohort of healthy controls who also had vitamin D concentration checked. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the association between vitamin d deficiency and UC, CD, race, age, gender and body mass index(BMI).RESULTS We identified 237 patients with confirmed IBD. Of these, only 211 had a serum 25(OH)D concentrations available in the medical record. The group of healthy controls consisted of 98 individuals with available serum 25(OH)D concentration. 43% of IBD patients were African American(AA). Patients with CD were more likely to have vitamin D concentration checked. Bivariate analysis showed that AA(51% vs 21%, P= 0.00001), subjects with BMI > 30 kg/m^2(39% vs 23% P = 0.01) and CD(40% vs 26%, P = 0.04) were more likely to be vitamin D deficient than vitamin D sufficient. Those with Age > 65 were more likely to be vitamin D sufficient(46% vs 15%, P = 0.04). Multiple regression showed that only BMI > 30 kg/m^2 and AA race are associated with vitamin D deficiency. CONCLUSION BMI > 30 kg/m^2 and AA race are predictive of vitamin D deficiency. Gender, age and diagnosis of IBD are not predictive of vitamin D deficiency.

Body mass index,waist circumference,and cardiometabolic risk factors in young and middle-aged Chinese women

Objective: To assess the associations between body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and cardiometabolic risk factors in young and middle-aged Chinese women. Methods: A total of 3011 women (1938 young women, 1073 middle-aged women), who visited our health care center for a related health checkup, were eligible for study. BMI and WC were measured. The subjects were divided into normal and overweight/obesity groups based on BMI, and normal and abdominal obesity groups based on WC. Cardiometabolic variables included triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), fasting blood glucose (FBG), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and blood pressure (BP). Results: The prevalence of overweight/obesity was significantly higher in middle-aged women (32.4%) than in young women (12.0%). The prevalence of abdominal obesity was also higher in middle-aged women (60.3%) than in young women (36.2%). There were significant differences in the comparison of all related cardiometabolic variables between different BMI (or WC) categories in young and middle- aged women groups, respectively. After adjustment for age, partial correlation analysis indicated that both BMI and WC were correlated significantly with all related cardiometabolic variables. After adjustment for age and WC, although the correlation coefficient r′was attenuated, BMI was still correlated significantly with all related cardiometabolic variables in young and middle-aged women. After adjustment for age and BMI, partial correlation analysis showed that WC was correlated significantly with TG, FBG, HOMA-IR, and HDL-C in young women and significantly with TG, HOMA-IR, and HDL-C in middle-aged women. Conclusions: The prevalence of overweight/obesity and abdominal obesity was high in Chinese young and middle-aged women. BMI was a better predictor of cardiovascular disease and diabetes than WC in young and middle-aged women, and moreover, measurement of both WC and BMI may be a better predictor of cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus than BMI or WC alone.