Upcoming Italian clinical practice guidelines on endoscopic bariatric treatment of overweight and obesity: design and methodological aspects.

Obesity/overweight and its complications are a growing problem in many countries. Italian Society of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery for Obesity (Società Italiana di Chirurgia dell'Obesità e delle Malattie Metaboliche-SICOB) decided to develop the first Italian guidelines for the endoscopic bariatric treatment of obesity. The creation of SICOB Guidelines is based on an extended work made by a panel of 44 members and a coordinator. Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) methodology has been used to decide the aims, reference population, and target health professionals. Clinical questions have been created using the PICO (patient, intervention, comparison, outcome) conceptual framework. We will perform systematic reviews, formal meta-analyses, and network meta-analyses for each PICO and critical outcomes aimed at assessing and rating the efficacy and safety of endoscopic bariatric procedures in comparison with either no interventions, lifestyle interventions, or approved anti-obesity treatments in trials with a follow-up of at least 52 weeks. For PICO on temporary endoscopic bariatric treatments, we will also consider RCT with a minimum duration of 6 months. The panel proposed 8 questions, organized into four domains: A. Indication for endoscopic bariatric surgery; B. Revisional surgery; C. Temporary gastric and duodenal-jejunal procedures; D. Endoscopic diagnosis/treatment of bariatric and metabolic surgery complications. These guidelines will apply to patients aged ≥ 14 years) with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 27 kg/m2 and requiring endoscopic bariatric surgery or endoscopic diagnostic and/or therapeutic procedures. The areas covered by the clinical questions included indications of endoscopic bariatric surgery, types of surgery, revisional surgery, and management of bariatric and metabolic surgery complications.

Obesity in Prediabetic Patients: Management of Metabolic Complications and Strategies for Prevention of Overt Diabetes.

Obesity and prediabetes affect a substantial part of the general population, but are largely underdiagnosed, underestimated, and undertreated. Prediabetes differs from diabetes only in the degree of hyperglycaemia consequent to the progressive decline in residual beta-cell function. Both prediabetes and diabetes occur as a consequence of insulin resistance that starts several years before the clinical onset of overt diabetes. Macrovascular complications in patients with diabetes are mainly caused by insulin resistance. This is why in prediabetes, the overall cardiovascular risk is, by all means, similar to that in patients with diabetes. It is important, therefore, to identify prediabetes and treat patients not only to prevent or delay the onset of diabetes, but to reduce the cardiovascular risk associated with prediabetes. This review provides an overview of the pathophysiology of prediabetes in patients with obesity and the progression toward overt diabetes. We have reviewed nutritional and pharmacological approaches to the management of obesity and reduced glucose tolerance, and the treatment of the major comorbidities in these patients, including hypertension, dyslipidaemia, and Metabolic dysfunction-associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD), has also been reviewed. In patients with obesity and prediabetes, the nutritional approach is similar to that adopted for patients with obesity and diabetes; treatments of dyslipidaemia and hypertension also have the same targets compared to patients with diabetes. MASLD is a critical issue in these patients; in the prediabetic state, MASLD rarely progresses into fibrosis. This highlights the importance of the early recognition of this pathological condition before patients become diabetic when the risk of fibrosis is much higher. It is necessary to raise awareness of the clinical relevance of this pathological condition in order to prompt early intervention before complications occur. The single most important therapeutic goal is weight loss, which must be early and persistent.

Novel Treatments for Obesity: Implications for Cancer Prevention and Treatment.

It is now established that obesity is related to a higher incidence of cancer during a lifespan. The effective treatment of obesity opens up new perspectives in the treatment of a relevant modifiable cancer risk factor. The present narrative review summarizes the correlations between weight loss in obesity and cancer. The current knowledge between obesity treatment and cancer was explored, highlighting the greatest potential for its use in the treatment of cancer in the clinical setting. Evidence for the effects of obesity therapy on proliferation, apoptosis, and response to chemotherapy is summarized. While more studies, including large, long-term clinical trials, are needed to adequately evaluate the relationship and durability between anti-obesity treatment and cancer, collaboration between oncologists and obesity treatment experts is increasingly important.

Unrecognized Pseudohypoparathyroidism Type 1A as a Cause of Hypocalcemia and Seizures in a 64-Year-Old Woman.

Pseudohypoparathyroidism type 1A (PHP1A) is usually diagnosed in childhood or early adulthood. We describe the case of a 64-year-old woman admitted to the Neurological Unit for recurrent episodes of loss of consciousness and seizures. Glycemia and ECG were normal, while hypocalcemia was noted. Clinical history revealed carpo-pedal spasm since the age of 30 years, cognitive impairment, hypothyroidism since early adulthood, and menopause at 30 years. She was taking oral calcium and cholecalciferol for chronic hypocalcemia. Physical features suggested Albright's osteodystrophy. Blood calcium was confirmed low, with increased parathyroid hormone, moderate 25OH-vitamin D deficiency, and normal creatinine. Brain CT scan revealed calcifications of the basal ganglia, cortical and subcortical white matter, and cerebellum. Therapy was switched to oral calcitriol, with normalization of calcium levels; levetiracetam was started and no further seizures occurred. The clinical diagnosis of PHP1A was confirmed by molecular analysis, which demonstrated the heterozygous c.568_571del mutation of the GNAS gene. Our report illustrates the natural history of a patient with PHP1A, which went undiagnosed until the age of 64 years, with multi-hormonal resistance and clinical sequelae evolving throughout life, and underlines the importance of diagnosing this rare disease, which has a great impact on patients and their family life.

[Thyrotoxic hypokalemic periodic paralysis: a rare complication of a common disease]. / Paralisi periodica ipopotassiemica tireotossica: una rara complicanza di una malattia comune.

Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP) is an uncommon but potentially lethal manifestation of hyperthyroidism characterized by muscle paralysis and hypokalemia. We have reported 3 cases of TPP in male patients, which manifested with morning muscle weakness evolved into paralysis. In all patients were found severe hypokalemia, abnormalities on electrocardiogram, and Graves' hyperthyroidism. Intravenous potassium administration led to normalization of potassium levels, and resolution of neurological symptoms. In addition, beta blockers and methimazole were started. Two patients required total thyroidectomy for poor control of hyperthyroidism with antithyroid drug. In patients presenting with periodic paralysis or diffuse muscle weakness thyroid function should be investigated in order to find out the cases secondary to unknown hyperthyroidism and to start an early appropriate combined therapy. The correct management of TPP can prevent serious cardiopulmonary complications.