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1.
Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis ; 34(3): 618-623, 2024 Mar.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38151435

RESUMO

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Visceral fat is an independent predictor of the cardiovascular risk in subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2DM), but it is rarely assessed during an outpatient visit. Epicardial fat (EAT), the visceral fat of the heart, plays a role in coronary artery disease (CAD). EAT thickness can be clinically assessed with standard ultrasound. In this study we sought to evaluate the association of ambulatory ultrasound measured EAT thickness with CAD in asymptomatic well controlled T2DM subjects on metformin monotherapy during outpatient visits. METHODS AND RESULTS: This was single center, pragmatic study in 142 T2DM patients. Each subject underwent baseline ultrasound EAT thickness measurement, anthropometric and biomarkers. The incidence of CAD was detected after 1 year. At baseline, HbA1c was 6.7 % and BMI 34.9 kg/m2, EAT thickness was 8.3 ± 2.3 in women and 9.4 ± 2.4 mm in men, higher than threshold values for high cardiovascular risk. In multivariate models, EAT was the only statistically significant correlate of CAD at 1-year f/u (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Point of care ultrasound measured EAT thickness is a good correlate of CAD in well controlled and asymptomatic T2DM subjects on metformin monotherapy. EAT thickness predicted CAD better than traditional risk factors, such as BMI, HbA1c, age, blood pressure or duration of diabetes.


Assuntos
Doença da Artéria Coronariana , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2 , Metformina , Masculino , Humanos , Feminino , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/complicações , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/diagnóstico , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/tratamento farmacológico , Tecido Adiposo Epicárdico , Hemoglobinas Glicadas , Doença da Artéria Coronariana/diagnóstico por imagem , Doença da Artéria Coronariana/epidemiologia , Metformina/uso terapêutico , Assistência Ambulatorial
2.
Vaccines (Basel) ; 11(2)2023 Feb 17.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36851340

RESUMO

Accurate studies on the dynamics of Pfizer-Biontech BNT162b2-induced antibodies are crucial to better tailor booster dose administration depending on age, comorbidities, and previous natural infection with SARS-CoV-2. To date, little is known about the durability and kinetics of antibody titers months after receiving a booster dose. In this work, we studied the dynamic of anti-Trimeric Spike (anti-TrimericS) IgG titer in the healthcare worker population of a large academic hospital in Northern Italy, in those who had received two vaccine doses plus a booster dose. Blood samples were collected on the day of dose 1, dose 2, then 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after dose 2, the day of the administration of the booster dose, then 1 month and 3 months after the booster dose. The vaccination immunogenicity was evaluated by dosing anti-TrimericS IgG titer, which was further studied in relation to SARS-CoV-2 infection status, age, and sex. Our results suggest that after the booster dose, the anti-TrimericS IgG production was higher in the subjects that were infected only after the completion of the vaccination cycle, compared to those that were infected both before and after the vaccination campaign. Moreover, the booster dose administration exerts a leveling effect, mitigating the differences in the immunogenicity dependent on sex and age.

4.
J Pers Med ; 11(6)2021 Jun 03.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34204911

RESUMO

Pulmonary parenchymal and vascular damage are frequently reported in COVID-19 patients and can be assessed with unenhanced chest computed tomography (CT), widely used as a triaging exam. Integrating clinical data, chest CT features, and CT-derived vascular metrics, we aimed to build a predictive model of in-hospital mortality using univariate analysis (Mann-Whitney U test) and machine learning models (support vectors machines (SVM) and multilayer perceptrons (MLP)). Patients with RT-PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and unenhanced chest CT performed on emergency department admission were included after retrieving their outcome (discharge or death), with an 85/15% training/test dataset split. Out of 897 patients, the 229 (26%) patients who died during hospitalization had higher median pulmonary artery diameter (29.0 mm) than patients who survived (27.0 mm, p < 0.001) and higher median ascending aortic diameter (36.6 mm versus 34.0 mm, p < 0.001). SVM and MLP best models considered the same ten input features, yielding a 0.747 (precision 0.522, recall 0.800) and 0.844 (precision 0.680, recall 0.567) area under the curve, respectively. In this model integrating clinical and radiological data, pulmonary artery diameter was the third most important predictor after age and parenchymal involvement extent, contributing to reliable in-hospital mortality prediction, highlighting the value of vascular metrics in improving patient stratification.

5.
Radiology ; 300(2): E328-E336, 2021 08.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33724065

RESUMO

Background Lower muscle mass is a known predictor of unfavorable outcomes, but its prognostic impact on patients with COVID-19 is unknown. Purpose To investigate the contribution of CT-derived muscle status in predicting clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Materials and Methods Clinical or laboratory data and outcomes (intensive care unit [ICU] admission and death) were retrospectively retrieved for patients with reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, who underwent chest CT on admission in four hospitals in Northern Italy from February 21 to April 30, 2020. The extent and type of pulmonary involvement, mediastinal lymphadenopathy, and pleural effusion were assessed. Cross-sectional areas and attenuation by paravertebral muscles were measured on axial CT images at the T5 and T12 vertebral level. Multivariable linear and binary logistic regression, including calculation of odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs, were used to build four models to predict ICU admission and death, which were tested and compared by using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Results A total of 552 patients (364 men and 188 women; median age, 65 years [interquartile range, 54-75 years]) were included. In a CT-based model, lower-than-median T5 paravertebral muscle areas showed the highest ORs for ICU admission (OR, 4.8; 95% CI: 2.7, 8.5; P < .001) and death (OR, 2.3; 95% CI: 1.0, 2.9; P = .03). When clinical variables were included in the model, lower-than-median T5 paravertebral muscle areas still showed the highest ORs for both ICU admission (OR, 4.3; 95%: CI: 2.5, 7.7; P < .001) and death (OR, 2.3; 95% CI: 1.3, 3.7; P = .001). At receiver operating characteristic analysis, the CT-based model and the model including clinical variables showed the same area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for ICU admission prediction (AUC, 0.83; P = .38) and were not different in terms of predicting death (AUC, 0.86 vs AUC, 0.87, respectively; P = .28). Conclusion In hospitalized patients with COVID-19, lower muscle mass on CT images was independently associated with intensive care unit admission and in-hospital mortality. © RSNA, 2021 Online supplemental material is available for this article.


Assuntos
COVID-19/complicações , Radiografia Torácica/métodos , Sarcopenia/complicações , Sarcopenia/diagnóstico por imagem , Tomografia Computadorizada por Raios X/métodos , Idoso , Feminino , Humanos , Itália , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Músculo Esquelético/diagnóstico por imagem , Valor Preditivo dos Testes , Estudos Retrospectivos , SARS-CoV-2
6.
Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis ; 31(5): 1613-1621, 2021 05 06.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33741212

RESUMO

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Recently, it has been hypothesized that Tri-Ponderal Mass Index (TMI) may be a valid alternative to Body Mass Index (BMI) when measuring body fat in adolescents. We aimed to verify whether TMI has better accuracy than BMI in discriminating central obesity and hypertension in adolescents with overweight. METHODS AND RESULTS: This monocentric and retrospective cross-sectional study included 3749 pupils, 1889 males and 1860 females, aged 12-13. BMI (kg/m2) was calculated and expressed as percentiles and as z-scores. TMI (kg/m3) was calculated, and we used pre-defined cut-off previously proposed by Peterson et al.. For central obesity we adopted the Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR) discriminatory value of 0.5. Hypertension was defined as blood pressure ≥95th percentile of age- sex-, and height-specific references recommended by NHBPEP Working Group. The discriminant ability of TMI, BMI and BMI z-score, with respect to central obesity and hypertension, was investigated using non-parametric receiver operating characteristic analysis. The overall misclassification rate for central obesity was 8.88% for TMI vs 14.10% for BMI percentiles and vs 14.92% for BMI z-scores (P < 0.001). The overall misclassification rate for hypertension was 7.50% for TMI vs 22.03% for BMI percentiles and vs 25.19% for BMI z-scores (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: TMI is a superior body fat index and it could discriminate body fat distribution more accurately than BMI. This supports the use of TMI, in association with WHtR, to characterize adolescents with overweight and high cardio-metabolic risk. Our analysis needs to be extended to other ethnic groups and replicated in a wider age range and in longitudinal studies.


Assuntos
Adiposidade , Pressão Sanguínea , Índice de Massa Corporal , Hipertensão/diagnóstico , Obesidade Abdominal/diagnóstico , Obesidade Infantil/diagnóstico , Adolescente , Fatores Etários , Fatores de Risco Cardiometabólico , Criança , Estudos Transversais , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Feminino , Humanos , Hipertensão/epidemiologia , Hipertensão/fisiopatologia , Itália/epidemiologia , Masculino , Obesidade Abdominal/epidemiologia , Obesidade Abdominal/fisiopatologia , Obesidade Infantil/epidemiologia , Obesidade Infantil/fisiopatologia , Valor Preditivo dos Testes , Prevalência , Reprodutibilidade dos Testes , Estudos Retrospectivos , Medição de Risco , Relação Cintura-Quadril
7.
Int J Cardiol ; 292: 218-224, 2019 10 01.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31023563

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Glucagon-like peptide 1 analogs (GLP-1A) may have beneficial cardiovascular effects and reduce EAT, possibly throughout targeting GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R). Nevertheless, the role of EAT GLP-1R, GLP-2R and their interplay with EAT genes involved in adipogenesis and fatty acid (FA) metabolism are unknown. We analyzed whether EAT transcriptome is related to GLP-1R/GLP-2R gene expression, and GLP-1/GLP-2 plasma levels in coronary artery disease patients (CAD). METHODS: EAT was collected from 17 CAD patients undergoing CABG for microarray analysis of GLP-1R, GLP-2R and genes involved in FA metabolism and adipogenesis. EAT thickness was measured by echocardiography. GLP-1 and GLP-2 levels were quantified by ELISA in CAD and healthy subjects (CTR). RESULTS: EAT GLP-1R was directly correlated with genes promoting beta-oxidation and white-to-brown adipocyte differentiation, and inversely with pro-adipogenic genes. GLP-2R was positively correlated with genes involved in adipogenesis and lipid synthesis, and inversely with genes promoting beta-oxidation. GLP-1 and GLP-2 levels were higher in CAD than CTR and in patients with greater EAT thickness. CONCLUSIONS: GLP-1 analogs may target EAT GLP-1R and therefore reduce local adipogenesis, improve fat utilization and induce brown fat differentiation. As EAT lies in direct contiguity to myocardium and coronary arteries, the beneficial effects of GLP-1 activation may extent to the heart. The increased levels of circulating GLP-1 and GLP-2 and EAT GLP-2R may be compensatory mechanisms related to CAD and also EAT expansion, but the meaning of these observations needs to be further investigated.


Assuntos
3-Hidroxiacil-CoA Desidrogenases/metabolismo , Acetil-CoA C-Aciltransferase/metabolismo , Tecido Adiposo Marrom/metabolismo , Tecido Adiposo Branco/metabolismo , Isomerases de Ligação Dupla Carbono-Carbono/metabolismo , Doenças Cardiovasculares/sangue , Enoil-CoA Hidratase/metabolismo , Receptor do Peptídeo Semelhante ao Glucagon 1/sangue , Pericárdio/metabolismo , Racemases e Epimerases/metabolismo , 3-Hidroxiacil-CoA Desidrogenases/genética , Acetil-CoA C-Aciltransferase/genética , Tecido Adiposo Marrom/diagnóstico por imagem , Tecido Adiposo Branco/diagnóstico por imagem , Adulto , Idoso , Antropometria/métodos , Isomerases de Ligação Dupla Carbono-Carbono/genética , Doenças Cardiovasculares/diagnóstico por imagem , Doenças Cardiovasculares/genética , Enoil-CoA Hidratase/genética , Feminino , Receptor do Peptídeo Semelhante ao Glucagon 1/genética , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Pericárdio/diagnóstico por imagem , Racemases e Epimerases/genética , Fatores de Risco
8.
Obes Surg ; 28(4): 900-906, 2018 04.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29080041

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Type II obesity represents a major pandemic and public health threat in high-income countries. Type II obesity increases the risk of all-cause and specific-cause mortality, and it is widely acknowledged that bariatric surgery represents the only effective therapeutic option in these patients. The aim of the present study was to estimate US population attributable risk for all-cause and cause-specific mortality in type II obese subjects undergoing weight loss as resulting from bariatric surgery alone and supplemented with behavioral intervention. METHODS: The American National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey linked to the US death registry updated to 2011 was used to estimate type II obesity prevalence and all-cause and specific cause of death for type II obese adults undergoing weight loss. Multivariate adjusted proportional hazard Cox models were used to estimate mortality risks. Statistical analyses were performed on the most updated version of the database (June 2017). RESULTS: A monotone positive trend for type II obesity was observed during the period 1999-2014 (p < 0.001). According to trend analysis, the rate of type II obesity in US adults is expected to rise up to 8.5%. Two- to sevenfold increased risk of all-cause and specific-cause mortality was observed for type II obese participants when compared to type I obese and overweight participants. Population attributable risk for all-cause and specific-cause mortality for type II obese subjects undergoing weight loss was ranging between 6 and 34%. CONCLUSIONS: Bariatric surgery supplemented with behavioral intervention can result in a relevant reduction of mortality if extensively applied to the US population.


Assuntos
Cirurgia Bariátrica , Obesidade Mórbida/mortalidade , Obesidade Mórbida/cirurgia , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Cirurgia Bariátrica/métodos , Cirurgia Bariátrica/estatística & dados numéricos , Causas de Morte , Comorbidade , Bases de Dados Factuais , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Inquéritos Nutricionais , Sistema de Registros , Estados Unidos/epidemiologia , Redução de Peso/fisiologia
9.
Eur J Nutr ; 56(8): 2557-2564, 2017 Dec.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27522371

RESUMO

PURPOSE: Soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) is a decoy receptor which sequesters RAGE ligands and acts as a cytoprotective agent. To date, it is unclear whether the lower sRAGE levels observed in obesity are a marker of increased overall adiposity or reflect increases in particular fat depots. Therefore, we evaluated in healthy women the relationship among sRAGE and indicators of adiposity, including abdominal visceral (VAT) and epicardial visceral (EAT) adipose tissues, to explore the potential role of sRAGE as an earlier biomarker of cardiometabolic risk. METHODS: Plasma sRAGE levels were quantified by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 47 healthy women. Total fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass were estimated with bioimpedance analysis. Anthropometric measures and biochemical data were recorded. Subcutaneous adipose tissue, VAT and EAT volumes were measured by magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: Obese women had lower sRAGE levels compared to normal-weight women. sRAGE levels were also lower in women with a waist circumference (WC) larger than 80 cm. Correlation analyses indicated an inverse association of sRAGE with body mass index and FM. Concerning adipose tissue distribution, sRAGE inversely correlated with WC, EAT and VAT depots. In a multiple stepwise regression analysis, performed to emphasize the role of fat distribution, EAT volume was the only predictor of sRAGE. CONCLUSIONS: Lower sRAGE levels reflect accumulation of visceral fat mainly at the epicardial level and are present in advance of metabolic complications in adult women. sRAGE quantification might be an early marker of cardiometabolic risk.


Assuntos
Composição Corporal , Distribuição da Gordura Corporal , Receptor para Produtos Finais de Glicação Avançada/sangue , Adiposidade , Adulto , Biomarcadores/sangue , Glicemia/metabolismo , Índice de Massa Corporal , Colesterol/sangue , Feminino , Humanos , Obesidade/sangue , Triglicerídeos/sangue , Circunferência da Cintura , Saúde da Mulher
10.
Obesity (Silver Spring) ; 24(3): 687-95, 2016 Mar.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26833570

RESUMO

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether a school-based multicomponent educational program could improve adiposity measures in middle-school adolescents. METHODS: A non-randomized controlled pilot study was conducted in six state middle schools (487 adolescents, 11-15 years) in townships in an urban area around Milan, three schools (n = 262 adolescents) being assigned to the intervention group and three schools (n = 225 adolescents) to the control group. The two-school-year intervention included changes in the school environment (alternative healthy vending machines, educational posters) and individual reinforcement tools (school lessons, textbook, text messages, pedometers, re-usable water bottles). The main outcome measure was change in BMI z-score. The secondary outcomes were changes in waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and behavioral habits. RESULTS: The intervention was associated with a significant difference in BMI z-score (-0.18 ± 0.03, P<0.01) and in WHtR (-0.04 ± 0.002, P < 0.001), after controlling for baseline covariates. Subgroup analysis showed the maximum association between the intervention and the difference in BMI z-score for girls with overweight/obesity. Physical activity increased and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and high-energy snacks decreased in adolescents after the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: A school-based multicomponent intervention conducted at both environmental and individual levels may be effective for reducing adiposity measures mainly in adolescents with overweight/obesity.


Assuntos
Adiposidade/fisiologia , Comportamento do Adolescente/psicologia , Promoção da Saúde/métodos , Obesidade Infantil/prevenção & controle , Adolescente , Bebidas/estatística & dados numéricos , Feminino , Humanos , Itália , Obesidade Infantil/epidemiologia , Projetos Piloto , Serviços de Saúde Escolar/organização & administração , Instituições Acadêmicas/organização & administração , Lanches/psicologia , Estudantes/estatística & dados numéricos
11.
J Clin Biochem Nutr ; 57(3): 217-22, 2015 Nov.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26566307

RESUMO

We studied the effect of soluble fiber-enriched products on anthropometric and biochemical variables in 30 healthy non-obese, non-diabetic subjects. This was a randomized, controlled crossover, single-blind, dietary intervention study performed for 8 weeks. Subjects received an isocaloric diet with fiber-enriched products for the first 4 weeks and with regular flour products for the following 4 weeks, or vice versa. Weight, height, measures of fat distribution (waist, hip circumference), glucose, insulin and triglycerides were measured at baseline, after 4 and 8 weeks of intervention. BMI and insulin sensitivity indices were calculated. Weight and BMI decreased in the first period of isocaloric diet in both groups, regardless of the type of flour consumed (weight p<0.01, p<0.001 respectively; BMI p = 0.01, p<0.001 respectively). At the end of the 8 weeks, weight and BMI further decreased in the group consuming the fiber-enriched diet (p<0.01). Insulin resistance, estimated with the Homeostasis Model Assessment index and the Lipid Accumulation Product index, improved in all subjects after the fiber-enriched flour diet (p = 0.03, p = 0.02, respectively). In conclusion, an isocaloric diet supplemented with fiber-enriched products may improve measures of fatness and insulin sensitivity in healthy non-obese non-diabetic subjects. We might hypothesize a similar effect also in subjects with metabolic abnormalities.

14.
J Sex Med ; 9(9): 2370-7, 2012 Sep.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22616653

RESUMO

INTRODUCTION: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is often associated with metabolic disorders. Leptin and adiponectin are adipose tissue-derived hormones involved in the regulation of metabolic homeostasis and considered important players in the relationship among obesity and cardiovascular diseases. AIM: Leptin, adiponectin, leptin to adiponectin ratio (L/A), and their correlation with hormonal and metabolic parameters were examined in male with arteriogenic- (A-ED) and nonarteriogenic-ED (NA-ED). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Biochemical, metabolic, and hormonal parameters of men with A-ED were compared with those of male with NA-ED. METHODS: Diagnosis of ED was based on the International Index of Erectile Function Score. Its etiology was classified with penile echo-color Doppler at baseline and after intracavernous injection of prostaglandin E1. Leptin and adiponectin were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: In A-ED subjects, increased levels of insulin, glycated hemoglobin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index, body mass index (BMI), leptin, and L/A and decreased levels of total, free, and bioavailable testosterone were observed compared with NA-ED subjects. A trend toward lower estradiol level was also present in A-ED patients, even if not statistically significant. Reduced levels of adiponectin have been observed in both groups compared with patients without ED. Leptin and L/A correlated similarly with several parameters (negatively with testosterone/estradiol ratio and positively with BMI, insulin, HOMA-IR, and 17-beta estradiol). L/A resulted further correlated negatively with high-density lipoprotein and positively with triglycerides. CONCLUSIONS: Not all ED cases are similar. In fact, A-ED patients display a more complicated metabolic status characterized by overweight and obesity and associated to sexual hormone alteration. Whether changes in body composition and modulation of adipokine levels can improve local endothelial function need further investigation.


Assuntos
Adiponectina/sangue , Impotência Vasculogênica/sangue , Impotência Vasculogênica/epidemiologia , Leptina/sangue , Testosterona/sangue , Adulto , Índice de Massa Corporal , Estradiol/sangue , Hemoglobinas Glicadas/análise , Humanos , Insulina/sangue , Resistência à Insulina , Lipoproteínas HDL/sangue , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Sobrepeso/epidemiologia , Triglicerídeos/sangue
15.
J Clin Biochem Nutr ; 50(3): 195-8, 2012 May.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22573920

RESUMO

Imbalance between reactive oxygen species generation and antioxidant capacity induces a condition known as oxidative stress which is implicated in numerous pathological processes. In this study we evaluated whether natural zeolites chabazite/phillipsite/analcime may affect the levels of different antioxidant enzymes (gluthatione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, gluthatione reductase), total antioxidant status and oxidative stress in 25 clinically healthy men, both non-smokers and smokers. Measurements were performed on whole blood or on plasma samples before (T0) and after 4-weeks zeolites intake (T1). At T1, gluthatione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and gluthatione reductase increased compared to T0 levels, both considering all subjects as joint and after subdivision in non-smokers and smokers. Differently, a reduction in total antioxidant status was observed at T1. Anyway, total antioxidant status resulted higher than the reference values in both groups at each time point. A decrease in lipid peroxidation, a major indicator of oxidative stress assessed by monitoring thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, was also observed in all subjects at T1. Our results suggested that chabazite/phillipsite/analcime may help to counteract oxidative stress in apparently healthy subjects exposed to different oxidative stress risk factors, such as smoking, thus representing a particular kind of food with potential antioxidant properties.

16.
In Vivo ; 25(6): 1013-8, 2011.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22021699

RESUMO

BACKGROUND/AIM: The purpose of this study was to assess the oxidative stress of aircraft pilots by evaluating different markers of oxidative stress and any imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in plasma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A group of 13 supersonic aircraft pilots, following regular exercise and personalized diet, were compared with a group of 40 healthy controls. Oxidative stress indicators, such as reactive oxidative metabolites, carbonyl proteins, 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine and total antioxidant status, were evaluated after three months of intense flight. RESULTS: Reactive oxygen metabolites, carbonyl protein and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine plasma levels did not differ in supersonic aircraft pilots and healthy controls. The two groups also had similar total antioxidant status levels. CONCLUSION: We suggest that supersonic aircraft pilots working at high altitude, even if exposed to physiological stresses, can, with proper diet, regular exercise and periodical medical examinations, maintain a healthy balance between oxidant and antioxidant status.


Assuntos
Aviação , Militares , Estresse Oxidativo , Humanos , Itália , Masculino , Recursos Humanos
17.
Int J Biochem Cell Biol ; 43(12): 1651-4, 2011 Dec.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21967993

RESUMO

Epicardial fat is the visceral fat depot of heart. It is a metabolically active organ with anatomical and functional contiguity to the myocardium. A dichotomous role has been attributed to the epicardial fat. Under physiological conditions, epicardial fat displays biochemical and thermogenic cardio-protective properties. Under pathological circumstances epicardial fat can locally affect the heart and coronary arteries through vasocrine or paracrine secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Epicardial fat can be measured with imaging techniques. Epicardial fat thickness reflects intra-abdominal and myocardial fat and correlates with metabolic syndrome and coronary artery disease. Epicardial fat measurement may play a role in the stratification of the cardio-metabolic risk and serve as therapeutic target. Weight loss and anti-inflammatory drugs targeting the fat may modulate epicardial fat. Because epicardial and myocardial tissues share the same coronary arterial supply it is reasonable to hypothesize that improved local vascularisation may resume epicardial fat to its physiological role.


Assuntos
Tecido Adiposo/fisiologia , Pericárdio/fisiologia , Tecido Adiposo/metabolismo , Tecido Adiposo/patologia , Tecido Adiposo Marrom/fisiologia , Animais , Anti-Inflamatórios/farmacologia , Anti-Inflamatórios/uso terapêutico , Aterosclerose/tratamento farmacológico , Aterosclerose/metabolismo , Aterosclerose/fisiopatologia , Citocinas/metabolismo , Humanos , Inflamação/tratamento farmacológico , Inflamação/metabolismo
18.
Public Health Nutr ; 14(10): 1813-22, 2011 Oct.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21338554

RESUMO

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the awareness and knowledge about weight status and its management. DESIGN: A 1 d cross-sectional survey. Basic anthropometric assessments (weight, height, BMI and waist circumference) and a self-administered questionnaire were considered. SETTING: Nineteen Clinical Nutrition or Endocrinology and Metabolic Disorders Units or Dietetics Services in the Italian region of Lombardy. SUBJECTS: All adults attending the 'Obesity Day' initiative. RESULTS: A total of 914 participants (605 female and 309 male) were recruited. Although most of the participants (83·5 %) considered obesity to be a disease, 38·5 % were likely to misperceive their weight status. In particular, 38·8 % of normal-weight adults believed themselves to be overweight, whereas 71·1 % and 37·5 % of classes I and II/III obese adults classified themselves as being overweight and mildly obese, respectively. However, most of the overweight (90·2 %), mildly (96·8 %) and moderately/severely obese adults (99·1 %) recognized the need to lose weight. In all, 37·8 % of the sample underestimated the role of physical activity in weight management. Interestingly, only 17·2 % of dieters (previous or current) declared being advised by their doctor to lose weight. Multivariate models revealed that higher age, low education and higher BMI were important determinants of poor weight control and management. In addition, previous dieting appeared not to provide better knowledge, whereas the role of physical activity was recognized mainly by those practising it. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that in Italy knowledge about weight management should be improved not only in the general population but also among health-care professionals. To confirm this finding, there is now the rationale for a nationally representative survey. New educational programmes can be designed on the basis of the information collected.


Assuntos
Índice de Massa Corporal , Peso Corporal , Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Prática em Saúde , Nível de Saúde , Obesidade/prevenção & controle , Adulto , Idoso , Estudos Transversais , Dieta , Dietética , Gerenciamento Clínico , Feminino , Humanos , Itália/epidemiologia , Modelos Logísticos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Análise Multivariada , Estado Nutricional , Inquéritos e Questionários , População Branca
19.
Arch Gerontol Geriatr ; 48(1): 106-9, 2009.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18207581

RESUMO

Down's syndrome (DS) is the most frequent chromosomal aberration in men. Moreover DS is considered an atheroma-free model. Plasma levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha high sensitivity (hsTNF-alpha), leptin and adiponectin from non-demented DS subjects of three different age cohorts (2-14, 20-50 and above 60 years) and healthy controls were measured. No clinical and sub-clinical inflammation was apparent in DS patients. Plasma levels of hsTNF-alpha, IL-6 and leptin were higher in children than in adult and old DS subjects. Instead, serum levels of adiponectin were increased in older DS patients than in DS children and adults. High levels of circulating adiponectin might protect DS from clinical complications of atherosclerosis.


Assuntos
Adiponectina/sangue , Envelhecimento/sangue , Aterosclerose/sangue , Síndrome de Down/sangue , Modelos Cardiovasculares , Adipocinas/sangue , Adolescente , Adulto , Aterosclerose/etiologia , Aterosclerose/prevenção & controle , Biomarcadores/sangue , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Síndrome de Down/complicações , Síndrome de Down/epidemiologia , Humanos , Técnicas Imunoenzimáticas , Incidência , Interleucina-6/sangue , Itália/epidemiologia , Leptina/sangue , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Fatores de Risco , Fator de Necrose Tumoral alfa/sangue , Adulto Jovem
20.
Clin Chem Lab Med ; 46(2): 250-2, 2008.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18324908

RESUMO

Regular exercise offers protection against all-cause mortality, primarily by protection against atherosclerosis and insulin resistance. There is evidence that physical training is effective as a treatment in patients with chronic heart diseases and type 2 diabetes. With excessive repetition of the training stimulus, local inflammation can generate a systemic inflammatory response. Cytokines play an important role in these processes. Our data confirm that cytokines that are considered to induce systemic bioactivity following exercise are not alone, but also growth factors and chemokines, which are secreted in exercise without the involvement of traditional proinflammatory cytokines, could be potent angiogenic factors.


Assuntos
Quimiocinas/sangue , Peptídeos e Proteínas de Sinalização Intercelular/sangue , Esforço Físico , Esportes , Adulto , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Humanos
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