Colchicine effects on the gut microbiome in adults with metabolic syndrome.

Obesity-induced inflammation plays a substantial role in the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. The altered gut flora in obesity can also contribute to metabolic dysregulation and systemic inflammation. However, it remains unclear how dysregulation of systemic inflammation in obesity affects the gut microbiome. We hypothesized that colchicine's systemic anti-inflammatory effects in obesity would be associated with improvements in gut microbial diversity. We conducted a secondary analysis of a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial, in which 40 adults with obesity, high C-reactive protein (CRP) (≥2.0 mg/L), insulin resistance (homeostatic model of insulin resistance: HOMA-IR ≥2.6 mg/L), and metabolic syndrome (MetS) were randomized to three months of colchicine 0.6 mg or placebo tablets twice daily. Serum and stool samples were collected at baseline and final visit. Gut microbiota composition was characterized from stool DNA by dual-index amplification and sequencing of 16S ribosomal RNA. Pre- and post-intervention stool samples were available for 15 colchicine- and 12 placebo-treated subjects. Circulating high sensitivity CRP (hsCRP), interleukin-6, resistin, white blood count, and neutrophils were significantly decreased in the colchicine arm as compared to placebo. However, changes in stool microbiome alpha diversity, as assessed by the Chao1, Shannon, and Pielou indices, were not significant between groups. Amplicon sequence variant counts were unchanged among all examined phyla or families. Oscillibacter was the only genus to demonstrate even a nominally significant change. Among adults with obesity and MetS, colchicine significantly improved systemic inflammation. However, this anti-inflammatory effect was not associated with significant changes in the gut microbiome. Further studies are warranted to investigate this relationship.

A comparison of negative affect and disinhibited eating between children with and without parents with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Children whose parents have type 2 diabetes (T2D) are at high-risk for developing T2D. In youth, negative affect has been shown to predict insulin resistance (IR), and disinhibited-eating behaviors have been linked to IR. It is unknown if youth with a parent with T2D (P-T2D) report greater psychological and behavioral symptoms than those without a P-T2D. OBJECTIVE: To compare youth with and without a P-T2D on symptoms of negative affect and disinhibited-eating. METHODS: Nine-hundred thirty-two youth (13.3 ± 2.6 years; BMIz 1.06 ± 1.06; 67.8% female; 53.6% people of color; 10.7% with a P-T2D) completed questionnaires of anxiety and depressive symptoms, eating in the absence of hunger, and emotional-eating. Loss-of-control (LOC)-eating was assessed by interview. In two separate subsamples, energy intake was explored using laboratory test meals simulating eating in the absence of hunger and LOC-eating, respectively. Analyses were adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity. In follow-up analyses, fat mass (kg) and height, and IR were included as covariates, respectively. RESULTS: Adjusting for all covariates including adiposity and IR, compared to youth without a P-T2D, youth with a P-T2D reported more anxiety and depression symptoms, greater eating in the absence of hunger, and emotional-eating (ps < 0.05). No significant differences were found for LOC-eating, or in exploratory analyses of energy intake for either test meal (ps > 0.16). CONCLUSIONS: Self-reported negative affect and disinhibited-eating may be higher among youth with P-T2D compared to those without P-T2D. Prospective studies should examine, among those with a P-T2D, what role such symptoms may play for their subsequent risk for T2D.

Thyroid storm as an early presentation of hCG-producing metastatic choriocarcinoma: a case report and review of the literature.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-induced hyperthyroidism has been previously reported as a rare paraneoplastic syndrome in non-seminomatous germ cell tumours and usually presents with mild symptoms or subclinical thyrotoxicosis. We present a case of a young adult man who consulted with abdominal pain, nausea and emesis. On admission, he was found to be tachycardic, febrile, anxious and with icteric sclera and tenderness to palpation in the right upper abdomen. A right scrotal mass was also noted. Initial studies revealed transaminitis, hyperbilirubinaemia, suppressed thyroid-stimulating hormone and elevated free T4. Scrotal biopsy confirmed diagnosis of testicular choriocarcinoma with an elevated hCG level of 6074 mIU/mL, which was corrected to 6 760 713 mIU/mL when reassessed with dilution. The clinical scenario reflected hCG-induced thyrotoxicosis concerning for thyroid storm. Euthyroid state was restored after initiation of chemotherapy and a short course of methimazole. Unfortunately, the patient passed away due to progression of his malignant disease. This case suggests that when choriocarcinoma is suspected, the use of iodinated contrast agents should be limited to avoid precipitation of thyroid storm or worsening of hCG-induced hyperthyroidism. Moreover, if the clinical picture does not support a primary aetiology of hyperthyroidism and hCG is not concordantly elevated, reassessment of hCG by dilution should be considered as hCG assays are subject to prozone effect.

Bridging executive function and disinhibited eating among youth: A network analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Poorer executive function (EF) has been linked to disinhibited eating in youth, suggesting poor EF predisposes toward obesity, yet the specific nature and extent of interconnections between facets of these domains is unclear. Network analysis provides a promising framework for elucidating the relationship between poor EF and disinhibited eating, and offers insights into potential maintenance processes. METHOD: Among youth ages 8-17 years, a regularized partial correlation network of EF and disinhibited eating facets was estimated to examine expected influence centrality and bridge expected influence. Computerized neurocognitive tasks assessed EF variables, including decision-making, general and food-related inhibitory control, delayed gratification, cognitive flexibility, and working memory. Disinhibited eating variables included total carbohydrate-fat intake at a laboratory test meal and self-reported eating in the absence of hunger, emotional eating, and loss-of-control eating severity. RESULTS: In the current sample (N = 248; Mage = 12.5; 54.8% female; 43.5% non-Hispanic White; 25.8% non-Hispanic Black; BMI %ile = 65.8 ± 27.8), emotional eating in response to depressive symptoms emerged as a central symptom in the network. Carbohydrate-fat intake had the highest bridge expected influence and was most strongly connected to general inhibitory control (part r = .14). DISCUSSION: The link between general inhibitory control and objective palatable food intake may be particularly salient in maintaining maladaptive eating behavior. Interventions targeting behavioral disinhibition may disrupt associations among a network of disinhibited eating facets in youth and should be targets for longitudinal research.