Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and components of metabolic syndrome (MetS) are inextricably connected. Considering the increasing burden of MetS and OSA, in the present review, we aimed to collate ...and summarise the potential pathophysiological mechanisms linking these pathologies. In short, obesity appears to promote OSA development via multiple pathways, some of which are not directly related to mass but rather to metabolic complications of obesity. Simultaneously, OSA promotes weight gain through central mechanisms. On the other hand, diabetes mellitus contributes to OSA pathophysiology mainly through effects on peripheral nerves and carotid body desensitization, while intermittent hypoxia and sleep fragmentation are the principal culprits in OSA-mediated diabetes. Apart from a bidirectional pathophysiological relationship, obesity and diabetes mellitus together additively increase cardiovascular risk in OSA patients. Additionally, the emergence of new drugs targeting obesity and unequivocal results of the available studies underscore the need for further exploration of the mechanisms linking MetS and OSA, all with the aim of improving outcomes in these patients.
Since the initial coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in China in December 2019, the infection has now become the biggest medical issue of modern medicine. Two major contributors that ...amplified the impact of the disease and subsequently increased the burden on health care systems were high mortality among patients with multiple co-morbidities and overcapacity of intensive care units. Within the gastroenterology-related community, particular concern was raised with respect to patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), as those patients are prone to opportunistic infections mainly owing to their immunosuppressive-based therapies. Hence, we sought to summarize current knowledge regarding COVID-19 infection in patients with IBD. Overall, it seems that IBD is not a comorbidity that poses an increased risk for COVID-19 acquisition, except in patients treated with 5-aminosalicylates. Furthermore, outcomes of the infected patients are largely dependent on therapeutic modality by which they are treated, as some worsen the clinical course of COVID-19 infection, whereas others seem to dampen the detrimental effects of COVID-19. Finally, we discussed the present and the future impact of COVID-19 pandemic and concomitantly increased health care burden on IBD-management.
Gap junctions (GJs) are important in the regulation of cell growth, morphology, differentiation and migration. However, recently, more attention has been paid to their role in the pathogenesis of ...different diseases as well as tumorigenesis, invasion and metastases. The expression pattern and possible role of connexins (Cxs), as major GJ proteins, under both physiological and pathological conditions in the adrenal gland, were evaluated in this review. The databases Web of Science, PubMed and Scopus were searched. Studies were evaluated if they provided data regarding the connexin expression pattern in the adrenal gland, despite current knowledge of this topic not being widely investigated. Connexin expression in the adrenal gland differs according to different parts of the gland and depends on ACTH release. Cx43 is the most studied connexin expressed in the adrenal gland cortex. In addition, Cx26, Cx32 and Cx50 were also investigated in the human adrenal gland. Cx50 as the most widespread connexin, along with Cx26, Cx29, Cx32, Cx36 and Cx43, has been expressed in the adrenal medulla with distinct cellular distribution. Considerable effort has recently been directed toward connexins as therapeutically targeted molecules. At present, there exist several viable strategies in the development of potential connexin-based therapeutics. The differential and hormone-dependent distribution of gap junctions within adrenal glands, the relatively large gap junction within this gland and the increase in the gap junction size and number following hormonal treatment would indicate that gap junctions play a pivotal role in cell functioning in the adrenal gland.
With the rising prevalence of Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) worldwide, and the rising cost of treatment with novel biological drugs, there is an increasing interest in various diets and natural ...foods as a potential way to control/modulate IBD. As recent data indicates that diet can modify the metabolic responses essential for the resolution of inflammation, and as wine compounds have been shown to provide substantial anti-inflammatory effect, in this review we aimed to discuss the current evidence concerning the impact of biological compounds present in wine on IBD. A number of preclinical studies brought forth strong evidence on the mechanisms by which molecules in wine, such as resveratrol or piceatannol, provide their anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, anti-tumor, and microbiota-modulation effects. However, concerning the effects of alcohol, it is still unclear how the amount of ethanol ingested within the framework of moderate wine consumption (1–2 glasses a day) affects patients with IBD, as human studies regarding the effects of wine on patients with IBD are scarce. Nevertheless, available evidence justifies the conductance of large-scale RCT trials on human subjects that will finally elucidate whether wine can offer real benefits to the IBD population.
With the rising global burden of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and the rising costs of novel biological drugs, there is an increasing need for dietary approaches and functional foods that could ...modulate the course of IBD. The Mediterranean diet has proven to be efficacious in managing chronic inflammatory diseases, and recent studies have also shown its benefits in the setting of IBD. Since olive oil and its compounds have been shown to provide a considerable anti-inflammatory effect, in this review, we aim to discuss the latest evidence concerning the impact of olive oil and its bioactive compounds on IBD. Numerous preclinical studies have exhibited solid evidence on the mechanisms by which polyphenol-rich extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) or specific polyphenols like hydroxytyrosol (HT) provide their anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, antitumour, and microbiota-modulation effects. Accordingly, several human studies that explored the effects of olive oil on patients with IBD further confirmed the evidence brought forward by preclinical studies. Nevertheless, there is a need for larger-scale, multicentric, randomized control trials that would finally elucidate olive oil's level of efficacy in modulating the course of IBD.
Purpose
Primary aim of the study was to investigate the status of different health-related quality of life (HRQoL) domains in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and osteopenia, and to explore ...possible associations with bone microarchitecture and nutritional status.
Methods
This was a single-center cross-sectional study that included 232 postmenopausal women, from which they were divided into three groups—osteoporosis (OP,
N
= 63), osteopenia (OPIA,
N
= 123), and control group (
N
= 46). Detailed medical history data and anthropometric measurements were taken from all women. Bone structure parameters were taken with DXA device, with additional analysis of bone microarchitecture status with Trabecular Bone Score (TBS). Nutritional status was assessed with Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) questionnaire, and HRQoL with Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire.
Results
Nutrition evaluation analysis have shown that patients in OP group had significantly lower values of MNA score compared to the OPIA group and control group (
P
= 0.005). Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was found between all of the SF-36 domains and MNA scores, while significant positive correlation was found between TBS values and Physical functioning (
P
< 0.001), Bodily pain (
P
= 0.027), Social functioning (
P
= 0.029), and Vitality domains (
P
= 0.041) in total investigated population. Further analyses were performed only in OP and OPIA groups, and TBS score showed significant positive correlation with Physical functioning (
r
= 0.248,
P
< 0.001) and Bodily pain domains as well (
r
= 0.180,
P
= 0.014), while MNA score positively correlated with each of the SF-36 domains. Multiple regression models have shown that MNA score retained significant association with each SF-36 domains, and TBS value with Physical functioning (
P
= 0.003), Social functioning (
P
= 0.012), and Vitality domains (
P
= 0.014).
Conclusion
This study highlights the associations that TBS has with some domains of HRQoL in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and osteopenia. Moreover, nutritional status could play a role in the complex interplay between TBS and HRQoL.
Introduction: Catestatin (CST) is a peptide with immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial activities. There are only a few studies that have investigated plasma CST levels in COVID-19 ...patients (mostly in ICU patients). In our work, the aim was to demonstrate serum CST levels and their correlation with clinical outcomes in a group of severe COVID-19 patients admitted to the non-ICU department. Methods: The subjects were 32 patients (25 females, 7 males) admitted to the non-ICU unit for COVID-19 patients. Results: CST levels in our cohort were higher (8.91 ± 7.00) than previously reported CST levels in control subjects. We found a significant positive correlation between serum CST levels and C-reactive protein (r = 0.423, p = 0.008), D-dimers (r = 0.395, p = 0.013), hsTNT (high-sensitivity troponin T) (r = 0.603, p < 0.001), proBNP (N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide) (r = 0.569, p < 0.001), and hospitalization days (r = 0.388, p = 0.014). There was a difference between groups of participants with SOFA <3 (n = 18) and SOFA >=3 (n = 14) in catestatin serum levels (7.25 ± 3.66 vs. 11.05 ± 9.52 ng/mL), but the difference was statistically insignificant (p = 0.065). Conclusion: We considered plasma CST level at hospital admission as a possible tool for early risk assessment in non-critical COVID-19 patients. This study is an attempt to clarify the complex pathophysiological mechanisms present in the development of severe forms of SARS-CoV2 infection.
Vascular calcification contributes to the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease while matrix Gla protein (MGP) was recently identified as a potent inhibitor of vascular calcification. MGP ...fractions, such as dephosphorylated-uncarboxylated MGP (dp-ucMGP), lack post-translational modifications and are less efficient in vascular calcification inhibition. We sought to compare dp-ucMGP levels between patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), stratified by ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) status. Physical examination and clinical data, along with plasma dp-ucMGP levels, were obtained from 90 consecutive ACS patients. We observed that levels of dp-ucMGP were significantly higher in patients with NSTEMI compared to STEMI patients (1063.4 ± 518.6 vs. 742.7 ± 166.6 pmol/L,
< 0.001). NSTEMI status and positive family history of cardiovascular diseases were only independent predictors of the highest tertile of dp-ucMGP levels. Among those with NSTEMI, patients at a high risk of in-hospital mortality (adjudicated by GRACE score) had significantly higher levels of dp-ucMGP compared to non-high-risk patients (1417.8 ± 956.8 vs. 984.6 ± 335.0 pmol/L,
= 0.030). Altogether, our findings suggest that higher dp-ucMGP levels likely reflect higher calcification burden in ACS patients and might aid in the identification of NSTEMI patients at increased risk of in-hospital mortality. Furthermore, observed dp-ucMGP levels might reflect differences in atherosclerotic plaque pathobiology between patients with STEMI and NSTEMI.
Obesity is a disorder identified by an inappropriate increase in weight in relation to height and is considered by many international health institutions to be a major pandemic of the 21st century. ...The gut microbial ecosystem impacts obesity in multiple ways that yield downstream metabolic consequences, such as affecting systemic inflammation, immune response, and energy harvest, but also the gut-host interface. Metabolomics, a systematized study of low-molecular-weight molecules that take part in metabolic pathways, represents a serviceable method for elucidation of the crosstalk between hosts' metabolism and gut microbiota. In the present review, we confer about clinical and preclinical studies exploring the association of obesity and related metabolic disorders with various gut microbiome profiles, and the effects of several dietary interventions on gut microbiome composition and the metabolome. It is well established that various nutritional interventions may serve as an efficient therapeutic approach to support weight loss in obese individuals, yet no agreement exists in regard to the most effective dietary protocol, both in the short and long term. However, metabolite profiling and the gut microbiota composition might represent an opportunity to methodically establish predictors for obesity control that are relatively simple to measure in comparison to traditional approaches, and it may also present a tool to determine the optimal nutritional intervention to ameliorate obesity in an individual. Nevertheless, a lack of adequately powered randomized trials impedes the application of observations to clinical practice.
Primarily a consequence of sedentary lifestyle, atherosclerosis has already reached pandemic proportions, and with every year the burden of it is only increasing. As low-density lipoprotein ...cholesterol (LDL-C) represents a crucial factor in atherosclerosis formation and progression, stringent lipid-lowering therapy could conceivably be the key to preventing the unfavorable outcomes that arise as a consequence of atherosclerosis. The use of statins in lipid-lowering is often burdened by adverse events or is insufficient to prevent cardiovascular events as a monotherapy. Therefore, in the present review, the authors aimed to discuss the underlying mechanisms of dyslipidemia and associated atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and preclinical and clinical trials of novel therapeutic approaches to its treatment, some of which are still in the early stages of development. Apart from novel therapies, a novel change in perspective is needed. Specifically, the critical objective in the future management of ASCVD is to embrace emerging evidence in the field of atherosclerosis, because clinicians are often burden by common practice and personal experience, both of which have so far been shown to be futile in the setting of atherosclerosis.
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