Joint Detection of Serum Vitamin D,Body Mass Index,and Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha for the Diagnosis of Crohn’s Disease

Objective Vitamin D(VD)deficiency was reported to contribute to the progression of Crohn’s disease(CD)and affect the prognosis of CD patients.This study investigated the role of serum VD,body mass index(BMI),and tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-α)in the diagnosis of Crohn’s disease.Methods CD patients(n=76)and healthy subjects(n=76)were enrolled between May 2019 and December 2020.The serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D[25(OH)D]levels,BMI,and TNF-αlevels,together with other biochemical parameters,were assessed before treatment.The diagnostic efficacy of the single and joint detection of serum 25(OH)D,BMI,and TNF-αwas determined using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves.Results The levels of 25(OH)D,BMI,and nutritional indicators,including hemoglobin,total protein,albumin,and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol,were much lower,and the TNF-αlevels were much higher in the CD patients than in the healthy subjects(P<0.05 for all).The areas under the ROC curve for the single detection of 25(OH)D,BMI,and TNF-αwere 0.887,0.896,and 0.838,respectively,with the optimal cutoff values being 20.64 ng/mL,19.77 kg/m^(2),and 6.85 fmol/mL,respectively.The diagnostic efficacy of the joint detection of 25(OH)D,BMI,and TNF-αwas the highest,with an area under the ROC curve of 0.988(95%CI:0.968–1.000).Conclusion The joint detection of 25(OH)D,TNF-α,and BMI showed high sensitivity,specificity,and accuracy in CD diagnosis;thus,it would be effective for the diagnosis of CD in clinical practice.

Intraperitoneal hyaline vascular Castleman disease: Three case reports

BACKGROUND Castleman disease(CD)was first reported in 1954.It is a rare non-malignant lymphoproliferative disease with unclear etiology.As the clinical manifestations of CD are different,there are difficulties in its diagnosis and treatment.Therefore,for patients with CD,it is important to establish the diagnosis in order to choose the appropriate treatment.CASE SUMMARY In this report,three patients with intraperitoneal CD treated at our center from January 2018 to June 2023 were reviewed,and the clinical and paraclinical exa-minations,diagnosis,and treatment were analyzed,and all three patients were diagnosed with CD by routine histopathological and immunohistochemical exa-minations.CONCLUSION CD is a complex and rare disease.Because there are no special clinical symptoms and laboratory abnormalities,the diagnosis often depends on routine pathological and immunohistochemical findings.

Diagnostic and surgical challenges of progressive neck and upper back painless masses in Madelung’s disease: A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND Madelung’s disease(MD)is a chronic alcoholism-associated metabolic syndrome characterized by symmetrical subcutaneous deposition of adipose tissue in the head,neck,shoulders,back,trunk,and nerve roots of the upper and lower limbs.It is relatively rare in Asian individuals and is prone to misdiagnosis.Herein,we report a case of a patient with MD who had undergone surgical management at our hospital,and we discuss the pathogenesis,diagnosis,and treatment of MD.CASE SUMMARY We report a case of MD in a 65-year-old man of Han descent.The patient had multiple,painless progressive masses for more than five years in the neck and more than 30 years in the upper back.Because of neck mobility limitations and progressive cosmetic deformities caused by the masses,he was admitted to our hospital.He drank approximately 500 mL of liquor per day and smoked heavily for more than 30 years.Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the neck and chest documented abundant unencapsulated,subcutaneous fatty deposits.We prepared a staged operation plan.The patient was diagnosed with MD;he was advised to abstain from alcohol and was followed up regularly.After a 3-month follow-up,no recurrence of fat accumulation was found in the surgical areas.CONCLUSION This report presents a case of surgical treatment for MD to improve clinicians'understanding of the disease.

Effect of Body Mass Index on All-cause Mortality and Incidence of Cardiovascular Diseases─Report for Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies on Optimal Cut-off Points of Body Mass Index in Chinese Adults

Objective To verify the optimal cut-off points for overweight and obesity in Chinese adults based on the relationship of baseline body mass index (BMI) to all-cause mortality, and incidence of cardiovascular diseases from pooled data of Chinese cohorts. Methods The prospective study data of existing cohort studies in China were collected, and the age-adjusted all-cause mortality stratified by BMI were estimated. The similar analysis was repeated after excluding deaths within the first three years of follow-up and after excluding smokers. The incidence of age-adjusted coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke stratified by BMI were also analyzed. Multiple Cox regression coefficients of BMI for the incidence of CHD and stroke after controlling other risk factors were pooled utilizing the methods of weighting by inverse of variance to reveal whether BMI had independent effect and its strength on the incidence of CHD and stroke. Results The data of 4 cohorts including 76 227 persons, with 745 346 person-years of follow-up were collected and analyzed. The age-adjusted all-cause mortality stratified by BMI showed a U-shaped curve, even after excluding deaths within the first three years of follow-up and excluding smokers. Age-adjusted all-cause mortality increased when BMI was lower than 18.5 and higher than 28. The incidence of CHD and stroke, especially ishemic stroke increased with increasing BMI, this was consistent with parallel increasing of risk factors. Cox regression analysis showed that BMI was an independent risk factor for both CHD and stroke. Each amount of 2 kg/m2 increase in baseline BMI might cause 15.4%, 6.1% and 18.8 % increase in relative risk of CHD, total stroke and ischemic stroke. Reduction of BMI to under 24 might prevent the incidence of CHD by 11% and that of stroke by 15 % for men, and 22 % of both diseases for women. Conclusion BMI ≤18.5, 24-27.9 and ≥28 (kg/m2) is the appropriate cut-off points for underweight, overweight and obesity in Chinese adults.

Crohn’s Disease and Urinary Manifestations: A Crohn’s Intestinal Disease Mimicking a Bladder Mass

We report a rare mode of presentation of Crohn’s Disease (CD) in a 17-year-old boy, who was admitted at our hospital due to abdominal pain, dysuria, polyuria and fever. The ultrasound showed an increased wall thickness of the small bowel and cecum and a vegetating lesion adjoined into the bladder. The histology was not suggestive of CD and it excluded the bladder neoplasm. Based on the biochemical assessment and the imaging, we started the treatment specific for CD (nutritional therapy by Modulen, short courses of steroids, azathioprine and mesalazine during the follow up), These treatments improved the gastrointestinal symptoms and the nutritional status of our patient but also induced the disappearance of the mass adjoined into the bladder. In spite of the severe onset, in this patient, the clinical course of CD was mild and responder to conventional therapy.

Influence of Smoking Status and Body Mass Index on Serum Carcinoembryonic Antigen Concentration in Patients with Thoracic Diseases

BACKGROUND: Although the serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) concentration is the well-known prognostic marker of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), serum CEA concentration has been reported to be affected by smoking status and body mass index (BMI). There are no previous investigations that examined the relationship between BMI and serum CEA concentration in thoracic disease, including NSCLC. METHODS: Consecutive 384 NSCLC patients and 87 patients with benign thoracic disease were enrolled. The relationship between serum CEA concentration and smoking status and BMI in patients with benign thoracic benign disease and NSCLC was examined. RESULTS: In patients with benign thoracic disease, serum CEA concentration significantly increased with smoking status and Brinkman index. However, serum CEA concentration was not related with BMI. Serum CEA concentration of patients with NSCLC was significantly higher than those with benign disease. In NSCLC patients, the relationship between serum CEA concentration and smoking status was also found. A significant relationship between serum CEA concentration and smoking status was also found in patients with adenocarcinoma which is known to have weaker associations with smoking in carcinogenesis. On the other hand, we failed to find the relationship between serum CEA concentration and BMI in NSCLC patients. CONCLUSION: Serum CEA concentration may be affected by smoking status but not BMI in our Japanese patients with thoracic disease.

Prevalence and Incidence of Metabolic Syndrome in a Cohort of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Correlation between Body Mass Index and Disease Activity

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory disease associated with high morbidity and increased cardiovascular disease, and Metabolic Syndrome (MS) is understood as a set of metabolic disorders that correlates with obesity and sedentary lifestyle. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of MS in a cohort of patients with RA and its correlation to specific factors of the disease. A retrospective cohort study was conducted with 283 patients with RA, followed at the Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic of the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA) between 2008 and 2016;187 continued to be followed and agreed to be reevaluated between January and November 2016. MS was defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program and disease activity was assessed using the Disease Activity Score (DAS28). Clinical, biochemical, and anthropometric evaluations were conducted. The prevalence of MS in the first evaluation was 43.9% and, after 8 years, 59.4%. Increased waist circumference and blood pressures, elevated triglycerides and low High-Density Lipoprotein were the most frequent features of MS. The DAS28 was significantly lower in the reevaluation (p = 0.006). The prevalence of MS was higher at the end of 8 years;disease activity, as well as blood pressure, decreased during this period. Steroid use had also decreased at the end of follow-up. There was an increase of 15% of cases with MS in an 8-year follow-up cohort of patients, which was in agreement with the current literature and showed how the inflammatory process in RA is correlated to MS. The parameters of MS that varied the most were blood pressure, cholesterol and triglycerides. Ultimately, these parameters and disease activity must be observed closely in order to improve the prognosis of patients with RA.

Hepcidin-25 negatively predicts left ventricular mass index in chronic kidney disease patients

AIM: To assess the correlation between the serum hepcidin-25 level and left ventricular mass index.METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional study conducted between March 2009 and April 2010. Demo-graphic and biochemical data, including the serum hepcidin-25 level, were collected for chronic kidney disease(CKD) patients. Two-dimensional echocardiography was performed to determine the left ventricle mass(LVM), left ventricular mass index(LVMI), interventricular septum thickness(IVSd), left ventricle posterior wall thickness(LVPW), right ventricular dimension(RVD), left atrium(LA) and ejection fraction(EF).RESULTS: A total of 146 patients with stage 1 to 5 CKD were enrolled. Serum hepcidin-25 levels were 16.51 ± 5.2, 17.59 ± 5.32, 17.38 ± 6.47, 19.98 ± 4.98 and 22.03 ± 4.8 ng/mL for stage 1 to 5 CKD patients, respectively. Hepcidin-25 level was independently predicted by the serum ferritin level(β = 0.6, P = 0.002) and the estimated glomerular filtration rate(β =-0.48, P = 0.04). There were negative correlations between the serum hepcidin level and the LVM and LVMI(P = 0.04 and P = 0.005, respectively). Systolic blood pressure(BP) was positively correlated with the LVMI(P = 0.005). In the multivariate analysis, a decreased serum hepcidin-25 level was independently associated with a higher LVMI(β =-0.28, 95%CI:-0.48--0.02, P = 0.006) after adjusting for body mass index, age and systolic BP. CONCLUSION: A lower serum hepcidin level is associated with a higher LVMI in CKD patients. Low hepcidin levels may be independently correlated with unfavorable cardiovascular outcomes in this population.

Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease is associated with low muscle mass and strength in patients with chronic hepatitis B

BACKGROUND Although the prognostic relevance of sarcopenia has been increasingly recognised in the context of liver disease,there is a paucity of data evaluating body composition in patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB).Beyond virus-related factors,nutritional and metabolic aspects can be associated with skeletal muscle abnormalities in these patients and should not be disregarded.AIM To evaluate the association between components of sarcopenia and demographic,clinical,lifestyle,nutritional,and biochemical variables in CHB patients.METHODS Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry(DXA)was used to assess muscle mass by quantifying appendicular lean mass(ALM)adjusted for body mass index(ALMBMI).Muscle function was evaluated by hand grip strength(HGS)and the timed up and go test.Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD)was defined according to the criteria proposed by an international expert panel.A body shape index and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire were used to assess central obesity and physical activity level,respectively.RESULTS This cross-sectional study included 105 CHB outpatients followed at the tertiary care ambulatory centre(mean age,48.5±12.0 years;58.1%males;76.2%without cirrhosis;23.8%with compensated cirrhosis).The DXA-derived fat mass percentage was inversely correlated with the ALMBMI(r=-0.87)and HGS(r=-0.63).In the multivariable analysis,MAFLD,sedentarism and central obesity were positively and independently associated with low ALMBMI.MAFLD and central obesity were independently associated with low HGS.CONCLUSION MAFLD and central obesity were associated with low muscle mass and strength in patients with chronic hepatitis B,independent of the liver disease stage.

Cerebrospinal fluid diagnostic markers for two-dimensional electrophoresis-mass spectrometry in Parkinson’s disease patients

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have confirmed the existence of specific proteins in body fluid of Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. However, the existing research has contained several interference factors with poor reproducibility and has not focused on patients grouped according to disease duration. OBJECTIVE: To verify differential expression of proteins in cerebrospinal fluid of PD patients grouped in order of disease severity through the use of two-dimensional electrophoresis-mass spectrometry methods. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: The proteomic-based, case-control study was performed between September 2008 and June 2009 at the Key Laboratory of Neurology in the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 52 outpatients and/or inpatients, who were admitted to the Department of Neurology in the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between 2008 and 2009, were randomized into the present study. Among them, 27 PD patients served as the PD group and were assigned to three subgroups according to modified Webster, Hoehn, and Yahr rating scales: 14 = mild, 8 = moderate, and 5 = severe; non-PD group of 16 patients included 5 cases of viral meningitis, 3 cases of acute myelitis, 1 case of Guillain-Barre syndrome, 2 cases of tuberculous meningitis, 2 cases of restless legs syndrome, and 3 cases of essential tremor; control group (n = 9) consisted of muscular tension headache in 6 cases, as well as syncope, trigeminal neuralgia, idiopathic orthostatic hypotension in 1 case. METHODS: Cerebrospinal fluid was collected from the involved patients using the lumbar puncture method. Proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid were separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Characteristics of protein electrophoresis patterns were analyzed, differentially expressed proteins were detected using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry, and protein data were analyzed in the Mascot database. RESULTS: Five protein electropherograms were analyzed by PDQuest 8.0, and (789 ± 32) protein spots were observed. There were significant differences in four protein spots in each of the PD sub-groups compared with the non-disease and control groups. Expression was down-regulated in three protein spots and up-regulated in one protein spot; 100% repetition rate was observed in four protein spots. According to the Mascot database, protein spots with down-regulated expression were as follows: DNA-guided RNA polymerase III subunit RPC5 (score: 50 points); double serine, threonine, and tyrosine protein kinase (score: 64 points, P < 0.05); activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (score: 58 points, P < 0.05). However, G2 mitotic-specific cyclin was up-regulated (score: 84 points, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Differential protein expression in the cerebrospinal fluid of PD patients was detected by two-dimensional electrophoresis-mass spectrometry, revealing changes in DNA-guided RNA polymerase III subunit RPC5, double serine, threonine, and tyrosine protein kinase, activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein, and G2 mitotic cell cyclin, with good reproducibility.

Gastro-esophageal reflux disease and obesity, where is the link?

The confluence between the increased prevalence of gastro-esophageal reflux disease(GERD)and of obesity has generated great interest in the association between these two conditions.Several studies have addressed the potential relationship between GERD and obesity,but the exact mechanism by which obesity causes reflux disease still remains to be clearly defined.A commonly suggested pathogenetic pathway is the increased abdominal pressure which relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter,thus exposing the esophageal mucosal to gastric content.Apart from the mechanical pressure,visceral fat is metabolically active and it has been strongly associated with serum levels of adipocytokines including interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factorα,which may play a role in GERD or consequent carcinogenesis.This summary is aimed to explore the potential mechanisms responsible for the association between GERD and obesity,and to better understand the possible role of weight loss as a therapeutic approach for GERD.

Fatty liver index vs waist circumference for predicting non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

AIM: To determine the discriminatory performance of fatty liver index(FLI) for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD).METHODS: The data of 5052 subjects aged over 18 years were analyzed. FLI was calculated from body mass index, waist circumference(WC), triglyceride, and gamma glutamyl transferase data. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the association between FLI and NAFLD. The discriminatory performance of FLI in the diagnosis of NAFLD was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic analysis. Area under the curves(AUCs) and related confidence intervals were estimated. Optimal cutoff points of FLI in the diagnosis of NAFLD were determined based on the maximum values of Youden's index.RESULTS: The mean age of men and women in the study population were 44.8 ± 16.8 and 43.78 ± 15.43, respectively(P = 0.0216). The prevalence of NAFLD was 40.1% in men and 44.2% in women(P < 0.0017). FLI was strongly associated with NAFLD, so that even a one unit increase in FLI increased the chance of developing NAFLD by 5.8%(OR = 1.058, 95%CI: 1.054-1.063, P < 0.0001). Although FLI showed good performance in the diagnosis of NAFLD(AUC = 0.8656(95%CI: 0.8548-0.8764), there was no significant difference with regards to WC(AUC = 0.8533, 95%CI: 0.8419-0.8646). The performance of FLI was not significantly different between men(AUC = 0.8648, 95%CI: 0.8505-0.8791) and women(AUC = 0.8682, 95%CI: 0.8513-0.8851). The highest performance with regards to age was related to the 18-39 age group(AUC = 0.8930, 95%CI: 0.8766-0.9093). The optimal cutoff points of FLI were 46.9 in men(sensitivity = 0.8242, specificity = 0.7687, Youden's index = 0.5929) and 53.8 in women(sensitivity = 0.8233, specificity = 0.7655, Youden's index = 0.5888).CONCLUSION: Although FLI had acceptable discriminatory power in the diagnosis of NAFLD, WC was a simpler and more accessible index with a similar performance.

Mutations of beta-amyloid precursor protein alter the consequence of Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis

Alzheimer's disease is pathologically defined by accumulation of extracellular amyloid-β(Aβ). Approximately 25 mutations in β-amyloid precursor protein(APP) are pathogenic and cause autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease. To date, the mechanism underlying the effect of APP mutation on Aβ generation is unclear. Therefore, investigating the mechanism of APP mutation on Alzheimer's disease may help understanding of disease pathogenesis. Thus, APP mutations(A673T, A673 V, E682 K, E693 G, and E693Q) were transiently co-transfected into human embryonic kidney cells. Western blot assay was used to detect expression levels of APP, beta-secretase 1, and presenilin 1 in cells. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to determine Aβ_(1–40) and Aβ_(1–42) levels. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass chromatography was used to examine VVIAT, FLF, ITL, VIV, IAT, VIT, TVI, and VVIA peptide levels. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to measure APP and early endosome antigen 1 immunoreactivity. Our results show that the protective A673 T mutation decreases Aβ_(42)/Aβ_(40) rate by downregulating IAT and upregulating VVIA levels. Pathogenic A673 V, E682 K, and E693 Q mutations promote Aβ_(42)/Aβ_(40) rate by increasing levels of CTF99, Aβ_(42), Aβ_(40), and IAT, and decreasing VVIA levels. Pathogenic E693 G mutation shows no significant change in Aβ_(42)/Aβ_(40) ratio because of inhibition of γ-secretase activity. APP mutations can change location from the cell surface to early endosomes. Our findings confirm that certain APP mutations accelerate Aβ generation by affecting the long Aβ cleavage pathway and increasing Aβ_(42/40) rate, thereby resulting in Alzheimer's disease.

Update on nutritional status,body composition and growth in paediatric inflammatory bowel disease

Growth and nutritional status are important issues in paediatric inflammatory bowel disease(IBD).While linear growth is easy to assess,nutritional status is more complicated,with reports often compromised by the use of simple measures,such as weight and the body mass index,to assess nutritional status rather than more appropriate and sophisticated techniques to measure body composition.This review is an update on what is currently known about nutritional status as determined by body composition in paediatric IBD.Further,this review will focus on the impact of biologics on growth in paediatric IBD.Significant lean mass deficits have been reported in children with IBD compared with controls,and there is evidence these deficits persist over time.Furthermore,data imply that gender differences exist in body composition,both at diagnosis and in response to treatment.With respect to growth improvements following treatment with biologics,there are conflicting data.While some studies report enhancement of growth,others do not.The relationship between disease severity,impaired growth and the requirement for biologics needs to be considered when interpreting these data.However,key features associated with improvements in growth appear to be successful clinical response to treatment,patients in early stages of puberty,and the presence of growth failure at the onset of treatment.

Neurotensin receptor 1 overexpression in inflammatory bowel diseases and colitis-associated neoplasia

AIM: To explore the association of neurotensin receptor 1 (NTSR1) with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and colitis-associated neoplasia. METHODS: NTSR1 was detected by immunohistochemistry in clinical samples of colonic mucosa with IBD colitis, colitis-associated raised low-grade dysplasia (LGD) including dysplasia-associated lesions or masses (DALMs, n = 18) and adenoma-like dysplastic polyps (ALDPs, n = 4), colitis-associated high-grade dysplasia (HGD, n = 11) and colitis-associated colorectal carcinoma (CACRC, n = 13), sporadic colorectal adenomatous polyp (SAP, n = 17), and sporadic colorectal carcinoma (SCRC, n = 12). The immunoreactivity of NTSR1 was semiquantitated (as negative, 1+, 2+, and 3+) and compared among different conditions.RESULTS: NTSR1 was not detected in normal mucosa but was expressed similarly in both active and inactive colitis. LGD showed a significantly stronger expression as compared with non-dysplastic colitic mucosa, with significantly more cases showing > 2+ intensity (68.75% in LGD vs 32.26% in nondysplastic mucosa, P = 0.001). However, no significant difference existed between DALMs and ALDPs. CACRC and HGD showed a further stronger expression, with significantly more cases showing 3+ intensity than that in LGD (61.54% vs 12.50% for CACRC vs LGD, P = 0.022; 58.33% vs 12.50% for CACRC/HGD vs LGD, P = 0.015). No significant difference existed between colitis-associated and non-colitic sporadic neoplasia. CONCLUSION: NTSR1 in colonic epithelial cells is overexpressed in IBD, in a stepwise fashion with sequential progress from inflammation to dysplasia and carcinoma.

Risk factors for depression in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BACKGROUND The prevalence of depression in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)ranges from 10%to 42%,but the diagnosis of depression in patients with COPD is often unrecognized and untreated.Unrecognized depression has major implications for compliance with medical treatment,prolonged lengths of stay,increased frequency of hospital admissions,and increased consultations with primary care physicians.Many studies have attempted to identify risk factors for progression,prognosis and response to therapy in patients with depression.However,few studies have examined the risk factors for depression in patients with COPD,and some results remain controversial.AIM To identify the potential risk factors to define patients with COPD who are at“high risk”of depression.METHODS The clinical data of 293 patients with COPD were reviewed from January 2017 to December 2018.The correlations between demographics,clinical characteristics and depression were analyzed.The risk factors for depression in patients with COPD were identified by multivariate logistic regression analysis.The cutoff value,sensitivity and specificity of the independent correlation factors were calculated with a receiver operating characteristic curve.RESULTS Of the 293 patients included,65(22.18%)individuals were identified to have depression.Significant differences were detected between patients with and without depression in terms of body mass index(BMI),forced expiratory volume in 1 s(FEV1),and COPD assessment test(CAT)score(all P<0.05).Low BMI,low FEV1,and high CAT were independent risk factors for depression in patients with COPD and the cutoff values of BMI,FEV1,and CAT scores were 21.373 kg/m2,0.855 L and 12.5,respectively.CONCLUSION Low BMI,low FEV1,and high CAT score were identified as independent risk factors for depression in patients with COPD.

Erythrocyte sphingolipid species as biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease

Diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease(AD)in the early stage is challenging.Informative biomarkers can be of great value for population-based screening.Metabolomics studies have been used to find potential biomarkers,but commonly used tissue sources can be difficult to obtain.The objective of this study was to determine the potential utility of erythrocyte metabolite profiles in screening for AD.Unlike some commonly-used sources such as cerebrospinal fluid and brain tissue,erythrocytes are plentiful and easily accessed.Moreover,erythrocytes are metabolically active,a feature that distinguishes this sample source from other bodily fluids like plasma and urine.In this preliminary pilot study,the erythrocyte metabolomes of 10 histopathologically confirmed AD patients and 10 patients without AD(control(CTRL))were compared.Whole blood was collected post-mortem and erythrocytes were analyzed using ultraperformance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.Over 750 metabolites were identified in AD and CTRL erythrocytes.Seven were increased in AD while 24 were decreased(P<0.05).The majority of the metabolites increased in AD were associated with amino acid metabolism and all of the decreased metabolites were associated with lipid metabolism.Prominent among the potential biomarkers were 10 sphingolipid or sphingolipid-related species that were consistently decreased in AD patients.Sphingolipids have been previously implicated in AD and other neurological conditions.Furthermore,previous studies have shown that erythrocyte sphingolipid concentrations vary widely in normal,healthy adults.Together,these observations suggest that certain erythrocyte lipid phenotypes could be markers of risk for development of AD.

Prevalence and associated factors of obesity in inflammatory bowel disease:A case-control study

BACKGROUND In recent years,an increasing prevalence of obesity in inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)has been observed.Obesity,moreover,has been directly correlated with a more severe clinical course and loss of response to treatment.AIM To assess the prevalence and associated factors of obesity in IBD.METHODS We collected data about IBD disease pattern and activity,drugs and laboratory investigations in our center.Anthropometric measures were retrieved and obesity defined as a body mass index(BMI)>30.Then,we compared characteristics of obese vs non obese patients,and Chi-squared test and Student’s t test were used for discrete and continuous variables,respectively,at univariate analysis.For multivariate analysis,we used binomial logistic regression and estimated odd ratios(OR)and 95%confidence intervals(CI)to ascertain factors associated with obesity.RESULTS We enrolled 807 patients with IBD,either ulcerative colitis(UC)or Crohn’s disease(CD).Four hundred seventy-four patients were male(58.7%);the average age was 46.2±13.2 years;438(54.2%)patients had CD and 369(45.8%)UC.We enrolled 378 controls,who were comparable to IBD group for age,sex,BMI,obesity,diabetes and abdominal circumference,while more smokers and more subjects with hypertension were observed among controls.The prevalence of obesity was 6.9%in IBD and 7.9%in controls(not statistically different;P=0.38).In the comparison of obese IBD patients and obese controls,we did not find any difference regarding diabetes and hypertension prevalence,nor in sex or smoking habits.Obese IBD patients were younger than obese controls(51.2±14.9 years vs 60.7±12.1 years,P=0.03).At univariate analysis,obese IBD were older than normal weight ones(51.2±14.9 vs 44.5±15.8,P=0.002).IBD onset age was earlier in obese population(44.8±13.6 vs 35.6±15.6,P=0.004).We did not detect any difference in disease extension.Obese subjects had consumed more frequently long course of systemic steroids(66.6%vs 12.5%,P=0.02)as well as antibiotics such as metronidazole or ciprofloxacin(71.4%vs 54.7%,P=0.05).No difference about other drugs(biologics,mesalazine or thiopurines)was observed.Disease activity was similar between obese and non obese subjects both for UC and CD.Obese IBD patients suffered more frequently from arterial hypertension,type 2 diabetes,non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.Regarding laboratory investigations,obese IBD patients had higher levels of triglyceridemia,fasting blood glucose,gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase.On multivariate analysis,however,the only factor that appeared to be independently linked to obesity in IBD was the high abdominal circumference(OR=16.3,95%CI:1.03-250,P=0.04).CONCLUSION Obese IBD patients seem to have features similar to general obese population,and there is no disease-specific factor(disease activity,extension or therapy)that may foster obesity in IBD.

Coronary artery disease in Iranian young adults, similarities and differences

Objective: Due to devastating consequences of coronary artery disease (CAD) in young population, this study was designed to evaluate the prevalence of preventable risk factors and severity of atherosclerosis for Iranian young adults (≤45 years) diagnosed with premature CAD. Method: A cross sectional, descriptive study comprised 1093 consecutive patients (≤45 years), with a diagnosis of CAD, who underwent percutaneous intervention (PCI) or coronary bypass graft (CABG) from 2010 to 2012. Data on demographic features, cardiovascular risk factors, and angiographic findings were studied. Result: There were 1093 young patients (234 females, 859 males) with proven CAD;the mean age of 39 ± 3 years and the mean BMI were 28 ± 4.7 kg/m2. According to the treatment plan, patients were classified into two groups: PCI and CABG groups (n = 898,195 respectively). Obesity was the most prevalent risk factor (73.6%). In the risk factor assessment, it was noticed: 27% with diabetes mellitus, 37% with hypertension, 38% with family history, 39% with hyperlipidimia, and 54% smokers. Angiographic study revealed that 10 (1%) had left main coronary disease, 747 (68%) patients had single vessel disease, 181 (17%) had two-vessel disease and that 155 (14%) had three-vessel disease. The most common anatomical involvement was the anterior wall territory. Conclusion: Young CAD patients from Iran have different risk profile. Although atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries is less prominent in young patients, more often it is accompanied by decreased left ventricular function. There is a need for prevention plan to control obesity by targeting young adults in the population.

Skeletal muscle loss is associated with diabetes in middle-aged and older Chinese men without non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

BACKGROUND Skeletal muscle,a key insulin target organ,has been reported to be associated with diabetes mellitus(DM).Compared to non-diabetic patients,diabetic patients have decreased muscle mass and a higher prevalence of sarcopenia,and patients with sarcopenia may be at increased risk of developing diabetes.In individuals with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD),sarcopenia is associated with the severity of fibrosis and steatosis.Previous studies have demonstrated that NAFLD is strongly associated with DM and sarcopenia.AIM To determine the relationship between skeletal muscle mass and DM in Chinese middle-aged and elderly men,and whether the association is affected by NAFLD.METHODS Skeletal muscle mass was calculated as appendicular skeletal muscle mass(ASM)in kg/body weight×100%.Liver fat content(LFC)was measured using a quantitative ultrasound method.RESULTS As the ASM decreased,fasting blood glucose(FBG),2-h postprandial blood glucose(2hBG),and LFC increased in both genders,as did the prevalence of DM and NAFLD.Spearman analysis showed that the ASM was negatively correlated with the FBG,2hBG,and LFC.Stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that after adjustments,the ASM quartile was negatively associated with the presence of DM in males,but not in females.Subgroup analysis showed that the ASM quartiles remained negatively correlated with the presence of DM in the non-NAFLD population(including males and females),but no correlation was found between ASM quartiles and the presence of DM in the NAFLD population.When stratified by LFC quartiles,ASM was negatively correlated with the presence of DM in the first and second LFC quartiles in males.CONCLUSION Skeletal muscle mass loss was shown to be associated with the presence of DM in males,but not in females;NAFLD weakens this association.The results suggested that the stratified management of diabetes mellitus should be considered according to skeletal muscle mass and NAFLD.