1,721,024 research outputs found
Higher Body Mass Index, Uric Acid Levels, and Lower Cholesterol Levels are Associated with Greater Weight Loss
No full textBackground: Identifying predictive factors that contribute to changes in body weight may well be an interesting approach to the management of obesity.
Objective: This study was firstly aimed at examining the effect of a one-year lifestyle program based on improvements of the habitual diet and increased levels of physical activity on weight loss. Secondly, it was focused on identifying anthropometric, and serum hormonal, metabolic and haematochemical factors which can be associated with the degree of weight loss in Kg.
Methods: 488 overweight or obese subjects, 383 women and 105 men, aged 18-67 years, were enrolled in the study. Body mass index, waist circumference, serum blood glucose, lipids, uric acid, creatinine, insulin, TSH, FT3, FT4, and 24-h urine catecholamines were measured.
Results: Weight loss was positively associated with BMI (P < 0.01), waist circumference (P < 0.01), uric acid (P < 0.01), creatinine (P < 0.05), smoking (P < 0.01), and negatively correlated with age (P < 0.01), total cholesterol (P < 0.05), LDL-cholesterol (P < 0.01), HDL cholesterol (P < 0.05). In a multiple regression model considering weight loss as a dependent variable, and smoking, age, BMI, uric acid, creatinine, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and HDL cholesterol as independent variables, weight loss maintained a direct independent relationship with BMI (P < 0.001), uric acid (P < 0.05), LDL-cholesterol (P < 0.05), and HDL-cholesterol (P < 0.05), and an inverse independent association with cholesterol (P < 0.01).
Conclusions: This study suggests that higher BMI and uric acid levels, and lower total cholesterol concentrations are associated with a greater potential to lose weight
Metabolic-associated enthesitis: a review on pathophysiology, clinical relevance, diagnostic challenges, and perspective on target treatments
No full textEntheses are specialized tissues that connect ligaments and tendons to the bone surface and are frequently involved in seronegative spondyloarthritis. Enthesitis can also be detected in patients with metabolic disorders (MD), regardless of baseline autoimmune rheumatic disease, posing real diagnostic challenges. The present review discusses the pathophysiology of enthesitis and metabolic-associated enthesitis, the clinical relevance of metabolic disorders on enthesitis-related outcomes, diagnostic challenges for adequate differential diagnosis, and possible therapeutic strategies to improve clinical outcomes. PubMed/MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library were searched for original articles, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses. References were screened according to a hierarchical analysis of studies by title, abstract, and full text, collected, presented, and discussed. Metabolic-associated enthesitis is attributable to mechanical stress/overload due to weight excess typically observed in metabolic disorders (MD), such as overweight/obese comorbid patients, metabolic syndrome (MS), and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Interleukin 1β, 6, 17, 18, and 23 and tumor necrosis factor-α play a crucial role in initiating and maintaining entheseal inflammation. Chronic hyperglycemia and insulin resistance lead to a vicious circle as they stimulate, upon activated, specialized T cells to produce these specific cytokines, thus maintaining entheseal inflammation chronically. MD is associated with more severe clinical presentation, worse response to pharmacological treatments, and poor entheseal outcomes also in patients with existing seronegative spondyloarthritis. Non-immune-mediated metabolic-associated enthesitis poses a real diagnostic challenge, possibly underestimating cases and potential misdiagnoses. From a therapeutic viewpoint, glucose control improvement and weight loss are associated with relevant amelioration of entheseal-related outcomes. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions aiming to reduce body weight, improve glucose control and insulin sensitivity, and attenuate inflammation are desirable to achieve the therapeutic target. Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose co-transporter type 2 inhibitors, in add-on to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and immunomodulators when necessary, may have a therapeutic rationale in patients with metabolic-associated enthesitis. Awareness of metabolic-associated enthesitis is essential to improve the accuracy of differential diagnosis in patients with MD and prescribe appropriate therapeutic strategies. However, basic and clinical research is needed to understand the role of “antihyperglycemic” agents in better managing metabolic-associated enthesitis
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Relationship of para- and perirenal fat and epicardial fat with metabolic parameters in overweight and obese subjects
No full textBackground: The accumulation of visceral body fat, has been shown to be associated with higher risk of metabolic and cardiovascular disease. This study was addressed to examine whether para- and perirenal fat thickness and epicardial fat thickness were correlated with anthropometric- and cardiometabolic risk factors. Methods: A cohort of 102 uncomplicated overweight and obese patients was examined. BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting insulin, glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol serum levels, and insulin resistance (assessed by HOMAIR) were measured. Para- and perirenal fat thickness (PUFT) and epicardial fat thickness (EUFT) were measured by ultrasounds. Results: PUFT was positively correlated with BMI (p < 0.001), waist circumference (p < 0.001), insulin (p < 0.001), HOMAIR(p < 0.001), triglycerides (p < 0.05), systolic (p < 0.05) and diastolic (p < 0.05) blood pressure, and negatively correlated with HDL-cholesterol (p < 0.01). EUFT was positively associated with age (p < 0.01), BMI (p < 0.001), waist circumference (p < 0.001), systolic (p < 0.01) and diastolic (p < 0.001) blood pressure, and LDL-cholesterol (p < 0.05). A multivariate analysis by multiple linear regression was performed, and the final model showed a direct association of waist circumference with both PUFT and EUFT, a correlation of PUFT with HOMAIR(positive) and HDL-cholesterol (negative), and a direct association of EUFT (both long axis and short axis) with LDL-cholesterol. All these correlations were independent of other anthropometric, metabolic and hemodynamic parameters. Conclusions: This study shows that accumulation of central fat in apparently healthy overweight and obese subjects is associated to a simultaneous increase of pararenal, perirenal and epicardial fat. Moreover, it shows that only para- and perirenal fat is independently associated to insulin resistance and lower HDL-cholesterol, and only epicardial fat is independently associated to higher LDL cholesterol. Level of evidence Level V, cross-sectional descriptive study
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
25 Hydroxyvitamin D Levels Are Negatively And Independently Associated With Fat Mass In A Cohort Of Healthy Overweight And Obese Subjects
Full text linkObesity is associated with lower serum vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels through several mechanisms. The aim of the study was to examine the possibility of a negative association between fat mass and 25(OH)D levels in a cohort of otherwise healthy overweight and obese subjects, independently of age, sex, blood pressure levels and anthropometric and metabolic parameters
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Eating Disorders in the Time of the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Perspective
Full text linkBackground: Current epidemiological conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic may exacerbate the risk of new onset, recurrence and relapse of eating disorders. The aim of this perspective is to better analyse the phenomenon.
Results: Some data suggest that new onset and recurrence/relapse of eating disorders are increasing due to the ongoing pandemic. Government restrictions, self-confinement, social isolation, restriction to healthcare facilities access, delayed access to diagnosis and cure, fear of contagion, distress and difficulties related to telemedicine approach are believed to contribute to this burden. Immune system dysfunction usually observed in undernourishment (e.g., anorexia nervosa) could play a role in delaying the diagnosis of respiratory infections, including COVID-19, and predisposing to possible bacterial superinfection. Conversely, patients with binge eating, obesity or metabolic syndrome are susceptible to high-grade systemic inflammation and poor prognosis once the infection has occurred.
Discussion: Despite some evidence, more detailed data combining research in the field of eating disorders and COVID-19 are required. Many data show that telemedicine has some beneficial aspects, but its impact on long-term mental health is still poorly understood. Short- and long-term consequences of COVID-19 in patients with eating disorders are unknown, but it is likely that they will become more apparent over time.
Conclusion: Working on emotion regulating strategies in a post-pandemic world, when people have inadequate control over the background of negative emotions, could be a strategy for treatment in the future. Long-term studies with a larger sample size are essential to assess long-term consequences of blockade on patients and their healthcare providers and identify useful strategies to improve clinical management
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