Food intake regulation in humans is a complex process controlled by the dynamic interaction of homeostatic and hedonic systems. Homeostatic regulation is controlled by appetitive signals from the ...gut, adipose tissue, and the vagus nerve, while conscious and unconscious reward processes orchestrate hedonic regulation. On the one hand, sight, smell, taste, and texture perception deliver potent food-related feedback to the central nervous system (CNS) and influence brain areas related to food reward. On the other hand, macronutrient composition stimulates the release of appetite signals from the gut, which are translated in the CNS into unconscious reward processes. This multi-level regulation process of food intake shapes and regulates human ingestive behavior. Identifying the interface between hormones, neurotransmitters, and brain areas is critical to advance our understanding of conditions like obesity and develop better therapeutical interventions. Neuroimaging studies allow us to take a glance into the central nervous system (CNS) while these processes take place. This review focuses on the available neuroimaging evidence to describe this interaction between the homeostatic and hedonic components in human food intake regulation.
We retrospectively identified autism spectrum disorder (ASD) incident cases among 31,220 individuals in a population-based birth cohort based on signs and symptoms uniformly abstracted from medical ...and educational records. Inclusive and narrow research definitions of ASD (ASD-R
I
and ASD-R
N
, respectively) were explored, along with clinical diagnoses of ASD (ASD-C) obtained from the records. The incidence of ASD-R
I,
ASD-R
N
, and ASD-C increased significantly from 1985 to 1998, then ASD-R
I
and ASD-R
N
plateaued while the rate of ASD-C continued to increase during 1998–2004. The rising incidence of research-defined ASD may reflect improved recognition and documentation of ASD signs and symptoms. Although the frequency of threshold ASD symptoms stabilized, the rate of ASD-C continued to increase, narrowing the gap between clinical ascertainment and symptom documentation.
Despite advances in understanding the roles of adiposity, food intake, GI and adipocyte-related hormones, inflammatory mediators, the gut-brain axis and the hypothalamic nervous system in the ...pathophysiology of obesity, the effects of different therapeutic interventions on those pathophysiological mechanisms are controversial. There are still no low-cost, safe, effective treatments for obesity and its complications. Currently, bariatric surgical approaches targeting the GI tract are more effective than non-surgical approaches in inducing weight reduction and resolving obesity-related comorbidities. However, current guidelines emphasise non-surgical approaches through lifestyle modification and medications to achieve slow weight loss, which is not usually sustained and may be associated with medication-related side effects. This review analyses current central, peripheral or hormonal targets to treat obesity and addresses challenges and opportunities to develop novel approaches for obesity.
Obese patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are at risk for cirrhosis if significant weight loss is not achieved. The single fluid-filled intragastric balloon (IGB) induces meaningful ...weight loss and might be used in NASH treatment. We performed an open-label prospective study to evaluate the effects of IGB placement on metabolic and histologic features of NASH.
Twenty-one patients with early hepatic fibrosis (81% female; mean age, 54 years; average body mass index, 44 kg/m
) underwent magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) and endoscopic ultrasound with core liver biopsy collection at time IGB placement and removal at a single center from October 2016 through March 2018. The primary outcome measure was the changes in liver histology parameters after IGB, including change in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease activity score (NAS) and fibrosis score. We also evaluated changes in weight, body mass index, waist to hip ratio, aminotransaminases, fasting levels of lipids, fasting glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, and MRE-detected liver stiffness.
Six months after IGB, patients' mean total body weight loss was 11.7% ± 7.7%, with significant reductions in HbA1c (1.3% ± 0.5%) (P = .02). Waist circumference decreased by 14.4 ± 2.2 cm (P = .001). NAS improved in 18 of 20 patients (90%), with a median decrease of 3 points (range, 1-4 points); 16 of 20 patients (80%) had improvements of 2 points or more. Fibrosis improved by 1.17 stages in 15% of patients, and MRE-detected fibrosis improved by 1.5 stages in 10 of 20 patients (50%). Half of patients reached endpoints approved by the Food and Drug Administration of for NASH resolution and fibrosis improvement. Percent total body weight loss did not correlate with reductions in NAS or fibrosis. Other than post-procedural pain (in 5% of patients), no serious adverse events were reported.
In a prospective study, IGB facilitated significant metabolic and histologic improvements in NASH. IGB appears to be safe and effective for NASH management when combined with a prescribed diet and exercise program. ClinicalTrials.gov no: NCT02880189.
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