NLRP3 inflammasome in metabolic syndrome

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a serious health problem worldwide; it is characterized by a group of metabolic disorders, including central obesity, insulin resistance/type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia with accelerated atherosclerosis, hypertension, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and elevated uric acid with increased risk of gout. The incidence of MS has increased considerably in recent decades and has attracted considerable attention. A number of clinical and translational laboratory studies have implicated the activation of nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in the development of MS, therefore establishing a strong link between chronic inflammation and metabolic diseases. This paper aims to review new developments on NLRP3 inflammasome in MS for better understanding of chronic inflammation in metabolic diseases. We will also provide new insights into using NLRP3 inflammasome as an innovative therapeutic target.

Correlação entre indicadores de obesidade abdominal e lipídeos séricos em idosos / Correlation between indicators of abdominal obesity and serum lipids in the elderly

OBJETIVO: Verificar a correlação entre os indicadores antropométricos de obesidade abdominal e lipídeos séricos em idosos. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal, descritivo e analítico realizado com idosos, de ambos os sexos, cadastrados na Estratégia Saúde da Família de Campina Grande, PB. A obesidade abdominal foi verificada por meio da circunferência da cintura (CC), circunferência do abdome (CA) e razão cintura/quadril (RCQ). O perfil lipídico foi verificado por meio das frações triglicerídeo (TG), colesterol total (CT), lipoproteína de alta densidade (HDL), lipoproteína de baixa densidade (LDL) e lipoproteína de não alta densidade (não HDL). RESULTADOS: Foram avaliados 321 idosos (67,6% mulheres). Verificaram-se correlações significativas entre os indicadores de obesidade abdominal e as frações lipídicas apenas no grupo das mulheres. A CC, CA e RCQ se correlacionaram com TG e HDL. Apenas a RCQ apresentou correlação com não HDL. Os maiores coeficientes foram entre RCQ e TG (r = 0,292; p < 0,01) e entre CC e HDL (r = -0,281; p < 0,01). A CC foi preditora de 9,2% da variação do HDL e a RCQ de 7,3 % da variação do TG. CONCLUSÃO: Os indicadores de obesidade abdominal que melhor se correlacionaram com lipídeos séricos em mulheres idosas foram CC e RCQ. Os mesmos foram preditores de alterações nos níveis de HDL e TG das mulheres, respectivamente.

OBJECTIVE: To verify the correlation between anthropometric indicators of abdominal obesity and serum lipids in the elderly. METHODS: Cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study conducted with elderly individuals of both genders enrolled in the Family Health Strategy Program of Campina Grande, PB, Brazil. Abdominal obesity was assessed by waist circumference (WC), abdominal circumference (AC), and waist/hip ratio (WHR). Lipid profile was verified by levels of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and non-high density lipoprotein (non-HDL). RESULTS: A total of 321 elderly patients were evaluated (67.6% women). There were significant correlations between abdominal obesity indicators and lipid levels only in the group of women. WC, AC, and WHR correlated with TG and HDL. Only WHR showed correlation with non-HDL. The highest correlations were observed between WHR and TG (r = 0.292, p < 0.01) and between WC and HDL (r = -0.281, p < 0.01). WC was a predictor of 9.2% of the variation in HDL, and WHR was a predictor of 7.3% of the variation in TG. CONCLUSION: The indicators of abdominal obesity that best correlated with serum lipids in elderly women were WC and WHR. They were predictors of alterations in HDL and TG levels in women, respectively.

Effect of exercise dosages on adiposity indices in overweight girls / Efecto de programas de ejercicio en los índices de adiposidad en niñas con sobrepeso

Objective. The primary purpose of this study was to determine the impact of two exercise dosages on reducing adiposity in minority girls. Materials and methods. Sixty-two overweight Hispanic and African-American girls participated in one of two intense summer interventions in Houston, TX: Intervention A (exposure to about 40 hours physical activities) or Intervention B (exposure to 60 hours of physical activities). Adiposity indices (percent body fat, waist circumference, body mass index) were taken pre- and post-intervention. Results. Intervention B had a significantly greater decrease in adiposity indicators (p= 0.006) when compared to Intervention A. Waist circumference displayed the most significant decrease (p = 0.001). Both interventions significantly increased daily minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (p= 0.020). Conclusions. Intense physical activity interventions may effectively reduce abdominal fat in minority girls.

Objetivo. Determinar el impacto de dos programas de ejercicio en la reducción de los índices de adiposidad en niñas de grupos minoritarios. Material y métodos. Sesenta y dos niñas latinas y africano-americanas participaron en una de dos intervenciones intensivas durante el verano: la intervención A (exposición a aproximadamente 40 horas de actividad física) o la intervención B (exposición a 60 horas de actividad física) en Houston, TX. Los indicadores de adiposidad (índice de masa corporal, porcentaje de grasa corporal y grasa abdominal) se midieron antes y después de cada intervención. Resultados. La intervención B tuvo una disminución más significativa en el nivel de adiposidad (p=0.006) comparado con la intervención A. La circunferencia abdominal fue la que más disminuyó (p=0.001). Ambas intervenciones aumentaron significativamente la actividad física moderada a intensa (p=0.020). Conclusiones. Las intervenciones cortas e intensas pueden ser efectivas en la reducción de la grasa abdominal en niñas de grupos minoritarios.

Associação de diferentes medidas e índices antropométricos com a carga aterosclerótica coronariana / Association of different anthropometric measures and indices with coronary atherosclerotic burden

FUNDAMENTO: A associação entre parâmetros antropométricos e carga aterosclerótica ainda não está bem estabelecida e poucos estudos na literatura abordam esse tema. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a associação de diferentes parâmetros antropométricos com a carga aterosclerótica coronariana. MÉTODOS: Participaram do estudo pacientes adultos submetidos à cineangiocoronariografia. Dados sociodemográficos e fatores de risco cardiovasculares foram coletados em um questionário padronizado. Foram medidos peso, altura, circunferência da cintura (CC), circunferência abdominal (CABD), circunferência do quadril (CQ) e circunferência do pescoço (CP), com o cálculo do índice de massa corporal (IMC) e das relações cintura-quadril (RCQ), circunferência abdominal-quadril (RCABDQ) e cintura-altura (RCALT). A carga aterosclerótica coronariana na cineangiocoronariografia foi medida pelo Escore de Friesinger (EF). Aterosclerose significativa foi considerada quando o EF > 5. RESULTADOS: A amostra foi constituída por 337 pacientes, dos quais 213 eram homens (63,2 por cento). A idade média foi de 60,1 ± 10 anos. Somente a RCQ (r = 0,159 e p = 0,003) apresentou correlação linear significativa com a carga aterosclerótica coronariana medida pelo EF. Quando separamos a amostra por gênero, nas mulheres encontramos correlação significativa da RCABDQ (r = 0,238 e p = 0,008) e da RCQ (r = 0,198 e p = 0,028) com o EF. Não se encontrou nos homens correlação entre parâmetros antropométricos e EF. Após os ajustes para as variáveis sexo, idade, HAS, tabagismo e DM, nenhum parâmetro antropométrico foi associado com a carga aterosclerótica coronariana medida pelo EF na amostra total ou separada por gênero. CONCLUSÃO: Nenhum parâmetro antropométrico foi fator de risco independente para a carga aterosclerótica coronariana.

BACKGROUND: The association between anthropometric parameters and atherosclerotic burden is not well established and few studies have addressed this issue. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association of different anthropometric parameters with the coronary atherosclerotic burden. METHODS: Adult patients undergoing coronary angiography were enrolled in the study. Sociodemographic characteristics and cardiovascular risk factors were collected through a standardized questionnaire. Weight, height, waist circumference (WC), abdominal circumference (AbC), hip circumference (HC) and neck circumference (NC) were measured and body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), abdominal circumference-hip ratio (AbCHR) and waist-height ratio (WHtR) were calculated. The atherosclerotic burden at the coronary angiography was measured through Friesinger score (FS). Significant atherosclerosis was considered when FS > 5. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 337 patients, of whom 213 were men (63.2 percent). The mean age was 60.1 ± 10 years. Only WHR (r = 0.159 and p = 0.003) showed a significant linear correlation with the coronary atherosclerotic burden as measured by FS. When the sample was stratified by gender, we found a significant correlation between women's AbCHR (r = 0.238 and p = 0.008) and WHR (r = 0.198 and p = 0.028) with FS. Men showed no correlation between anthropometric parameters and FS. After adjusting for gender, age, hypertension, smoking and DM, no anthropometric parameter was associated with coronary atherosclerotic burden as measured by FS in the total sample or when separated by gender. CONCLUSION: No anthropometric parameter was an independent risk factor for coronary atherosclerotic burden.

Atherosclerosis in relation to fat penniculus [obesity] between xiphoid and umbilicus

It has been shown that possible influence of body weight is more evident for coronary than aortic atherosclerosis; and more in men than women. Coronary heart disease due to obesity in males becomes significant when body mass index [BMI] exceeds 30 [30% overweight] and does not affect the life expectancy particularly in women. This study was conducted to asses the relation of thickness of fat penniculus [obesity] between xiphoid and umbilicus to different atherosclerotic lesions; and to collect basic data about age and sex distribution of this relation. It was prospective descriptive study and conducted at mortuary of King Edward Medical University, and Department of Pathology, Allama Iqbal Medical College, Lahore. A total of 130 human autopsies were carried out in one-and-a-half year of study duration. The ages of the deceased ranged between 8 and 85 years. Heart aorta and its major branches were included in this study. In addition, fat penniculus between xiphoid and umbilicus was measured and atherosclerosis lesions were categorised and correlated with this parameter. Haematoxylin and Eosin, and different special stains were done in Pathology Department of Allama Iqbal Medical College, Lahore to asses to severity of atherosclerosis lesions. The fatty streaks were present in predominantly more cases with Fat Penniculus <20 mm than in asses with Fat Penniculus <10 mm and <30 mm. The fibrolipid plaques, complicated and calcified lesions were present in a dominant number of cases with Fat Penniculus <30 mm on percentage basis. Raised lesions were seen more frequently in cases with Fat Penniculus 20 mm to <30 mm than in cases with Fat Penniculus <10 mm and <20 mm thickness