The impact of visceral obesity on chronic constipation, inflammation, immune function and cognitive function in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

OBJECTIVE: Obesity has gained attention among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The impact of visceral obesity on chronic constipation, inflammation, immune function and cognition after diagnosis of IBD is still unknown. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of 150 IBD patients. Patients' visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) were measured and were grouped according to visceral obesity. The potential impact of visceral obesity on cognitive function were evaluated using Mini-Mental State Examination. We evaluated patients' incidence of chronic constipation, levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), T cells and body mass index in two groups. RESULTS: The prevalence of visceral obesity was 51% (37 out of 72) for Crohn's disease (CD) patients and 26% for UC patients (20 out of 78 patients). CD patients with visceral obesity has higher incidence of chronic constipation (81% vs. 57%, P = 0.028), higher IL-6 levels (15.28 pg/ml vs. 9.429 pg/ml, P = 0.007) and lower CD4+ T cells (32.7% vs. 44.0%, P < 0.001). VAT/SAT ratio is associated with BMI (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: IBD patients had high risks of visceral obesity. CD Patients with visceral obesity had higher prevalence of chronic constipation, higher inflammation levels, decreased immune function.

Design and Stereochemical Research (DFT, ECD and Crystal Structure) of Novel Bedaquiline Analogs as Potent Antituberculosis Agents.

A series of bedaquiline analogs containing H-bond donors were designed as anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis drugs. A pair of diastereoisomers (R/S- and S/S-isomers) was selected from these designed compounds for synthetic and stereochemical research. The title compounds were synthesized from chiral precursors for the first time and the absolute configurations (ACs) were determined by electronic circular dichroism (ECD) with quantum chemical calculations. Moreover, a single crystal of the S/S compound was obtained for X-ray diffraction analysis, and the crystal structure showed high consistency with the geometry, confirming the reliability of ACs obtained by ECD analyses and theoretical simulation. Furthermore, the effect of stereochemistry on the anti-tuberculosis activity was investigated. The MICs of the R/S- and S/S-isomers against Mycobacterium phlei 1180 are 9.6 and 32.1 µg·mL(-1), respectively. Finally, molecular docking was carried out to evaluate the inhibitory nature and binding mode differences between diastereoisomers.