Obese Subgroups Research Articles

Decreased vitamin D bio-availability with altered DNA methylation of its metabolism genes in association with the metabolic disorders among the school-aged children with degree I, II, and III obesity

Obesity is strongly associated with disturbances of vitamin D (VD) metabolites in the animal models. However, the related epidemiological evidence is still controversial, especially the different degrees of obesity children. Hence, in this present representative case-control study, 106 obesity school-age children aged 7–12 years were included and divided into different subgroups as degree I (the age- and sex-specific BMI≥95th percentile, n=45), II (BMI ≥120% percentile, n=34) and III (BMI ≥140% percentile, n=27) obesity groups across the ranges of body mass index (BMI). While the age- and sex-matched subjects without obesity were as the control group. Notably, it was significantly different of body composition, anthropological and clinical characteristics among the above four subgroups with the dose-response relationships (P<.05). Moreover, comparing with the control group, the serum VD concentrations were higher, VD metabolites like 25(OH)D, 25(OH)D3 and 1,25(OH)2D, and related hydroxylases as CYP27A1, CYP2R1 and CYP27B1 were lower in the degree I, II, and III obesity subgroups (P<.05), which were more disorder with the anthropological and clinical characteristics as the obesity was worsen in a BMI-independent manner (P<.05). However, there was a significant increase of CYP27B1 in the degree III obesity group than those in the degree I and II obesity subgroups. Furthermore, the methylation patterns on the genome-wide (Methylation/Hydroxymethylation) and VD metabolism genes (CYP27A1, CYP2R1 and CYP27B1) were negatively correlated with the worse obesity and their related expressions (P<.05). In summary, these results indicated that obesity could affect the homeostasis of VD metabolism related genes such as CYP27A1, CYP2R1, CYP27B1 and etc through abnormal DNA methylation, resulting in the disorders of VD related metabolites to decrease VD bio-availability with the BMI-independent manner. In turn, the lower levels of VD metabolites would affect the liver function to exacerbate the progression of obesity, as the Degree II and III obesity subgroups.

Obesity and Native Tissue Repairs: A Secondary Analysis of the OPTIMAL Trial.

The Operations and Pelvic Muscle Training in the Management of Apical Support Loss (OPTIMAL) Trial compared sacrospinous ligament fixation (SSLF) and uterosacral ligament suspension (ULS) surgical outcomes. Increasing body mass index (BMI) is associated with an increased risk of pelvic organ prolapse, and the prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide. The purpose of this study was to better understand the effect of obesity on the results of native tissue vaginal apical suspension procedures. This was a secondary analysis of the OPTIMAL Trial data set. Subgroup analysis was performed to compare surgical failure rates between SSLF and ULS across BMI subgroups after 2 years. There were 75, 120, 63, and 39 patients in the normal, overweight, class 1 obesity, and class 2 obesity or greater BMI subgroups, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in surgical failure rates between SSLF and ULS within BMI subgroups; however, failure rates increased in the ULS group between the nonobese and obese groups (normal, 35.9% SSLF vs 30.6% ULS [P = 0.81]; overweight, 38.6% vs 30.2% [P = 0.44]; class 1 obesity, 38.7% vs 40.6% [P = 0.92]; class 2 obesity or greater, 21.1% vs 45% [P = 0.21]). The risk of surgical failure between SSLF and ULS was not significant across BMI subgroups. Additional investigation is required to further elucidate whether SSLF or ULS is a more reliable option for obese patients.

Abstract P107: The DASH Diet Reduces Markers of Subclinical Cardiac Injury Over an 8-week Period: Results From an Individual Level Meta-Analysis

Introduction: The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet has previously been shown to reduce blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol as compared to the typical American diet. However, direct evidence linking the DASH diet with clinical markers of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is limited. Objectives: To perform a systematic review of trials examining the DASH diet and sensitive markers implicated in CVD: high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTnl), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and high-sensitivity c-reactive protein (hs-CRP) to determine the effects of the DASH diet on subclinical cardiac injury. Methods: We systematically reviewed 1122 abstracts from PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (date range 1997 to 2022). We retrieved data from two trials (DASH and DASH-Sodium, using 8-week biomarker measurements), and combined data from the trials to determine subgroup effects. We used mixed effects tobit models to determine the effects of the DASH diet (versus an isocaloric typical American diet) on hs-cTnl, NT-proBNP, and hs-CRP. Effects were determined overall and in subgroups of age, sex, race, hypertension status, obesity, and smoking status. Results: Of the 632 participants included, mean age (SD) was 47 (10.5); 54% were female and 55% were Black. Compared to an isocaloric control diet, the DASH diet reduced hs-cTnl (β = -17.7%, 95% CI: -26.3, -8.1), NT-proBNP (β = -8.6%, 95% CI: -16.8, 0.4), and hs-CRP (β = -11.1%, 95% CI: -20.7, 0.2). Effects were consistent across demographic groups, although the DASH diet had a larger effect on hs-CRP among men ( P -interaction = 0.016) ( Figure ). Conclusion: The DASH diet reduced subclinical cardiac damage and inflammation over an 8-week period. These data provide evidence of the direct benefits of the DASH diet on cardiac health.

Predictive value of insulin resistance surrogates for the development of diabetes in individuals with baseline normoglycemia: findings from two independent cohort studies in China and Japan

BackgroundInsulin resistance (IR) plays a crucial role in the occurrence and progression of diabetes. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the predictive value of four IR surrogates, including the triglycerides glucose (TyG) index, TyG and body mass index (TyG-BMI), triglycerides/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio, and the metabolic score for IR (MetS-IR) for diabetes in two large cohorts.MethodsA total of 116,661 adult participants from the China Rich Healthcare Group and 15,464 adult participants from the Japanese NAGALA cohort were included in the study. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the standardized hazard ratio (HR) of the TyG index, TyG-BMI, TG/HDL-C ratio, and MetS-IR directly associated with diabetes. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and time-dependent ROC curve analysis were performed to evaluate and compare the predictive value of the four IR surrogates for diabetes.ResultsIn the two independent cohorts, the average follow-up time was 3.1 years in the China cohort, with 2681(2.30%) incident cases of diabetes recorded, and 6.13 years in the Japan cohort, with 373 incident cases (2.41%) of diabetes recorded. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, we found that among the four IR surrogates, TyG-BMI and MetS-IR showed stronger associations with diabetes. The stronger associations persisted even after further stratification by age, sex, hypertension, and obese subgroups. In terms of diabetes prediction, based on ROC analysis, TyG-BMI demonstrated the highest predictive accuracy for diabetes in the Chinese population, while both TyG-BMI and MetS-IR showed the highest predictive accuracy in the Japanese population. The results of further subgroup ROC analysis confirmed the robustness of these findings. Furthermore, the time-dependent ROC results indicated that among the four IR surrogates, MetS-IR exhibited the highest accuracy in predicting future diabetes at various time intervals in the Japanese population.ConclusionOur findings suggest that evaluating TyG-BMI and MetS-IR as IR surrogates may be the most useful for predicting diabetes events and assessing the risk of developing diabetes in East Asian populations.

MALAT1 expression in granulosa cells in PCOS patients with different phenotypes

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common reproductive endocrine metabolic disorders. The lncRNA metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) reportedly can regulate the reproductive system. Despite studies, the alteration of MALAT1 expression in granulosa cells (GCs) from PCOS patients was inconsistent. To evaluate MALAT1 expression in GCs in different PCOS subgroups and its association with PCOS phenotypes, we collected GCs from 110 PCOS cases and 71 controls, and examined MALAT1 expression by quantitative PCR. The results showed MALAT1 expression was upregulated in PCOS cases, especially in insulin resistant (IR) PCOS subgroup, obese PCOS subgroup and non-hyperandrogenic (NHA) PCOS subgroup. MALAT1 expression was positively correlated with BMI and several metabolic parameters in controls. Interestingly, MALAT1 expression was notably associated with some critical endocrine indexes for PCOS, including E2, FSH, LH and LH/FSH ratio. In different PCOS subgroups, we found significant positive correlations with LH/FSH ratio in IR-PCOS and PCOS with normal weight, and with serum T and LH level in NHA-PCOS subgroup. Integrated analysis with lncRNA target databases and PCOS-related databases revealed MALAT1 could participate in PCOS by influencing immune response and lipids metabolism in GCs. In conclusion, MALAT1 was differently expressed in GCs in PCOS, especially in IR, obese and NHA PCOS subgroups. MALAT1 was likely involved in metabolism and immune response in GCs in PCOS. However, more studies are necessary to establish this concept.

Predictive ability of the Chinese visceral adiposity index for incident hypertension in working-aged Koreans.

The Chinese visceral adiposity index (CVAI) was developed to assess visceral adipose tissue in the Asian population. This study evaluated the predictive ability of the CVAI for incident hypertension in Korean adults. The study participants included 128,577 Koreans without hypertension. They were grouped in quartiles according to body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), visceral adipose index (VAI), and CVAI values. The Cox proportional hazard assumption was used to evaluate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for incident hypertension (adjusted HR [95% CI]) according to quartile level across a follow-up period of 6.9 years. Subgroup analyses were conducted by gender and obesity. The area under the curve was calculated to compare the predictive abilities of all indices (BMI, WC, VAI, and CVAI) for incident hypertension. The CVAI was proportionally associated with the risk of hypertension in all participants (quartile 1: reference; quartile 2: 1.71 [95% CI, 1.59 to 1.82]; quartile 3: 2.41 [95% CI, 2.25 to 2.58]; and quartile 4: 3.46 [95% CI, 3.23 to 3.71]). Time dependent receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that the CVAI was superior to BMI, WC, and VAI in predicting hypertension at the 2-year, 4-year, 6-year, and 8-year follow-ups. This finding was also observed in the gender and obesity subgroups. The predictive ability of the CVAI was greater in the women and non-obese subgroups than in the men and obese subgroups. The CVAI was a stronger predictor of hypertension than BMI, WC, and VAI.

The Association Between Daily Intake of Dietary Supplements and Self-Reported Endometriosis: A NHANES-Based Study.

Dietary supplements are gaining recognition as potential influencers of female reproductive health, but their connection to endometriosis risk remains underexplored. This study addressed this gap, examining the impact of daily dietary supplement intake on the initiation and progression of endometriosis. To explore this, a cross-sectional study was conducted involving 3950 participants representative of the US population from the 1999-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Infertility was determined by a question on year-long attempts to become pregnant. Unweighted and weighted multivariate logistic regression analyses assessed the association between dietary supplements and endometriosis risk. Subgroup analysis was conducted based on the participants' body mass index (BMI). The results revealed intriguing patterns. Specifically, higher dietary fiber content (Q4 vs Q1: OR = 0.56, 95% CI = (0.37,0.84), P = 0.0062) and density (Q4 vs Q1: OR = 0.55, 95% CI = (0.38,0.81), P = 0.0035) were linked to reduced risk of endometriosis. Protein content (Q4 vs Q1: OR = 0.47, 95% CI = (0.31,0.74), P = 0.0011) and density (Q4 vs Q1: OR = 0.63, 95% CI = (0.45,0.88), P = 0.0096) similarly exhibited a negative association with endometriosis risk. Interestingly, when stratified by BMI, these effects were pronounced in normal-weight women, whereas they were not evident in the overweight and obese subgroup. Protein content and density showed no significant associations across subpopulations. In conclusion, this study established a negative relationship between dietary fiber and endometriosis, particularly notable in normal-weight women. Future research is essential to validate these findings and establish a causal link between dietary fiber and endometriosis.

Nutrition and outcomes in venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: An observational cohort study.

Overfeeding and underfeeding are associated with negative outcomes during critical illness. The purpose of this retrospective study was to assess the association between nutrition intake and outcomes for patients receiving venovenous (VV) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Adults who received VV ECMO August 2017 to June 2020 were screened. Patients with <3 ECMO nutrition support days were excluded. Age, sex, height, weight, ideal body weight (IBW), body mass index, sequential organ failure assessment score, respiratory ECMO survival prediction score, energy, and protein goals were collected. All nutrition intake was collected for the first 14 days of ECMO or until death, decannulation, or oral diet initiation. Outcomes analyzed included mortality and VV ECMO duration. The relationship between nutrition delivery and outcomes was tested with multivariate analysis. Univariate analyses were conducted on obese and nonobese subgroups. A total of 2044 nutrition days in 178 patients were analyzed. The median estimated needs were 24 (interquartile range: 22.3-28.3) kcal/kg/day and 2.25 (interquartile range: 2.25-2.77) g/kg/day of protein using IBW in patients with obesity and actual weight in patients without obesity. Patients received 83% of energy and 63.3% of protein targets. Patients with obesity who received ≥2 g/kg IBW of protein had a significantly shorter ECMO duration (P = 0.037). Increased protein intake was independently associated with a reduced risk of death(odds ratio: 0.06; 95% confidence interval: 0.01-0.43). Higher protein intake was associated with reduced mortality. Optimal energy targets for patients receiving ECMO are currently unknown and warrant further study.

－75 G/A Polymorphism of Apolipoprotein A1 Gene Promoter Region in Normal Pregnant Women and Patients With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

To investigate the －75 G/A single-nucleotide polymorphism in the promoter region of apolipoprotein A1 gene (apoA1) and its association with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in pregnant women and to provide references for the exploration in the molecular genetic basis of GDM. A total of 626 GDM patients and 1022 normal pregnant women, ie, the controls, were included in the study. The genotyping of apoA1 －75 G/A polymorphism was performed by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and glucose (Glu) were measured by enzymatic methods. Plasma insulin (INS) was measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay. The protein levels of apoA1 and apoB were measured by the turbidimetric immunoassay. Allele frequencies of G and A were 0.718 and 0.282 in the GDM group and 0.713 and 0.287 in the control group, respectively. Distribution of the genotype frequencies was found to be in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in both the GDM and control groups. There was no significant difference in the frequencies of alleles G and A and the genotypes of apoA1 －75 G/A polymorphism between the GDM and the control group (P>0.05). In the GDM group, the carriers with the genotype AA were associated with significantly higher levels of TC, HDL-C, and apoA1 than those with genotypes GG and GA did (all P<0.05). After the GDM patients were divided into obese and non-obese subgroups, the genotype-related apoA1 variation was observed only in obese patients, while the genotype-related TC and HDL-C variations were evident in non-obese patients (P<0.05). In the control group, carriers of genotypes AA and GA had higher systolic blood pressure (SBP) and HDL-C than the carriers of genotype GG did (all P<0.05). Carriers of genotypes AA had significantly lower Glu levels than carriers of genotypes GG and GA did (P<0.05). The control subjects were further divided into subgroups according to their body mass index (BMI). Analysis of the subgroups showed that AA carriers were associated with higher SBP levels in the obese control women only, while lower Glu levels were evident in both obese and non-obese control women. These results suggest that －75 G/A polymorphism in the apoA1 gene is not associated with GDM. However, the genetic variation is closed associated with the plasma apoA1, HDL-C, and TC levels in GDM patients and plasma HDL-C, Glu, and SBP levels in the control subjects. The apoA1 variant-associated lipids and SBP variation is BMI dependent in both groups.

Novel subgroups of obesity and their association with outcomes: a data-driven cluster analysis

BackgroundObesity is associated with various complications and decreased life expectancy, and substantial heterogeneity in complications and outcomes has been observed. However, the subgroups of obesity have not yet been clearly defined. This study aimed to identify the subgroups of obesity especially those for target of interventions by cluster analysis.MethodsIn this study, an unsupervised, data-driven cluster analysis of 9,494 individuals with obesity (body mass index ≥ 35 kg/m2) was performed using the data of ICD-10, drug, and medical procedure from the healthcare claims database. The prevalence and clinical characteristics of the complications such as diabetes in each cluster were evaluated using the prescription records. Additionally, renal and life prognoses were compared among the clusters.ResultsWe identified seven clusters characterised by different combinations of complications and several complications were observed exclusively in each cluster. Notably, the poorest prognosis was observed in individuals who rarely visited a hospital after being diagnosed with obesity, followed by those with cardiovascular complications and diabetes.ConclusionsIn this study, we identified seven subgroups of individuals with obesity using population-based data-driven cluster analysis. We clearly demonstrated important target subgroups for intervention as well as a metabolically healthy obesity group.

The serum uric acid-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio is a predictor for all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality: a cross-sectional study.

The exact relationship between the serum uric acid-to-HDL cholesterol ratio (UHR) and mortality rates remains enigmatic among American adults. This study aims to clarify the association between UHR and both all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in US adults. This study enrolled 48054 patients from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Mortality outcomes were determined by linking to National Death Index (NDI) records up to December 31,2019. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were constructed to analyze explore the associations between UHR and mortality. Dose-response relationships were explored using restricted cubic splines, and stratified analyses were conducted based on gender, age, race, education, PIR, smoking status, alcohol intake, physical activity, BMI, diabetes and hypertension. During the follow-up period, the overall mortality for all-cause and CVD was 10.9% and 2.7%, respectively. The adjusted HRs in the highest quintile were 1.16 (95% CI: 1.05, 1.29) for all-cause mortality and 1.2 (95% CI: 1, 1.45) for CVD mortality. In diabetes, obese, and CVD subgroups, significantly elevated adjusted HRs were observed for both all-cause and CVD mortality. Specifically, diabetes patients had adjusted HRs of 1.32 (95% CI: 1.11, 1.57) and 1.38 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.90), obese individuals had HRs of 1.32 (95% CI: 1.10, 1.58) and 1.55 (95% CI: 1.06, 2.28), and CVD patients had HRs of 1.29 (95% CI: 1.10, 1.50) and 1.38 (95% CI: 1.06, 1.79), respectively. A non-linear relationship between UHR and mortality was identified, with critical thresholds of 12.4 for all-cause mortality and 10.7 for CVD mortality in the general population. Significant interactions were observed between UHR and stratified variables, including gender, BMI, education, smoking, alcohol use, and hypertension for all-cause mortality, while significant interactions were observed based on gender, smoking, and alcohol intake for CVD mortality. Comparable trends were also observed in patient with diabetes, obese and CVD. In this cohort study, we provide novel insights into the association between serum UHR concentrations and mortality in the general population. UHR is a strong predictor of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in the general population.

Association of Human Papillomavirus Vaccination with Risk for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Introduction: The potential association between Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and the onset of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) remains a pivotal point of exploration in immunization safety discourse. Method: This retrospective cohort study aims to ascertain the risk of RA and JIA following HPV vaccination, utilizing the TriNetX database, tracking the health trajectories of 32,165,650 females, from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2022. By applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, we formed a balanced cohort of 344,165 HPV-vaccinated individuals, the propensity score-matched 1:1 with unvaccinated controls based on a range of demographic and clinical parameters. This study used the Cox proportional hazards model to analyze the risk of RA and JIA after HPV vaccination, expressed the results by adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) and 95% confidence interval (CI), and used Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Results: The analysis showed that over a follow-up period of up to 10 years after vaccination, the risks of RA and JIA were significantly reduced in the HPV vaccination group, with aHR of 0.428 (95% CI: 0.372-0.492) and 0.310 (95% CI: 0.262-0.367) respectively. This trend persisted in a sensitivity analysis that replaced the control group with influenza-vaccinated individuals. Subgroup analyses showed that the risk of RA and JIA was significantly reduced in the 9-18 and 19-26 age groups, across ethnic backgrounds, and in the obesity and asthma subgroups, but still among those with a smoking history, the risk reduction was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Our findings highlight the significant protective effect of the HPV vaccine against RA and JIA. Further research is needed to delve deeper into this molecular mechanism.

Efficacy and safety of prucalopride in patients with chronic idiopathic constipation stratified by age, body mass index, and renal function: a post hoc analysis of phase III and IV, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical studies.

Prucalopride (1 or 2 mg once daily) is approved for treating adults with chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC). We determined the effect of age, body mass index (BMI), and renal function on the efficacy and safety of prucalopride in adults with CIC. Data were pooled from six 12-week, phase III-IV clinical studies in adults who received prucalopride (1 or 2 mg once daily) or placebo for CIC. Adults were stratified by age (<50; 50-64; ⩾65 years), BMI (underweight/healthy weight, <25 kg/m2; overweight, 25 to <30 kg/m2; obese, ⩾30 kg/m2), and renal function (normal renal function, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ⩾90 mL/min/1.73 m2; mild renal impairment, eGFR 60 to <90 mL/min/1.73 m2; moderate renal impairment, eGFR 30 to <60 mL/min/1.73 m2). The primary efficacy endpoint was the proportion of patients with a mean of ⩾3 complete spontaneous bowel movements/week over 12 weeks. Safety data were evaluated descriptively. Of 2484 patients stratified by age (prucalopride, n = 1237; placebo, n = 1247), 1402, 708, and 374 were aged <50, 50-64, and ⩾65 years, respectively. Of 2482 patients stratified by BMI (prucalopride, n = 1237; placebo, n = 1245), 1425, 713, and 344 were underweight/healthy weight, overweight, and obese, respectively. Of 2474 patients stratified by renal function (prucalopride, n = 1233; placebo, n = 1241), 1444, 869, and 161 had normal renal function, mild renal impairment, and moderate renal impairment, respectively. More prucalopride-treated than placebo-treated patients achieved the primary efficacy endpoint. The difference was significant for all subgroups, except for the obese and moderate renal impairment subgroups. More prucalopride-treated than placebo-treated patients reported treatment-related adverse events in most subgroups. Prucalopride demonstrated efficacy in adults with CIC, irrespective of age, BMI, and renal function. No unexpected safety concerns were identified. ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers (https://clinicaltrials.gov/): NCT01147926, NCT01424228, NCT01116206, NCT00483886, NCT00485940, NCT00488137.

Influence of Central Obesity on Associations Between Physical Activity, Sitting Time, and Metabolic Syndrome Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in Urban China: A Cross-Sectional Study.

This study assessed possible associations among physical activity (PA), sitting time (ST), metabolic syndrome (MetS), and the individual components thereof. We analyzed the entire study sample and subpopulations stratified by visceral fat area (VFA). We hypothesized that individuals with elevated VFA might respond differently to modifiers of metabolic health, including PA and ST. This cross-sectional study, conducted between March and May 2010, enrolled 957 adults with abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) aged 40-65 years living in the urban communities in Hangzhou, China. PA and ST were recorded using the standard International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and categorized into three levels. The ethnicity-specific cutoff for central obesity was VFA ≥ 80 cm2 on MRI according to Chinese population-based research. Multiple logistic regression models were used to analyze the associations between PA, ST, MetS and its components. In the total subject population, participants reporting high level of PA were at a lower risk of MetS (OR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.25, 0.86) than those declaring low PA. In the subgroup population with VFA ≥ 80 cm2 (ie, with central obesity), moderate-to-high PA levels were associated with a lower risk of MetS (p for trend < 0.05) and a lower risk of decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations (p for trend < 0.05). In addition, ST > 3 h/day was a risk factor for both MetS (p for trend < 0.05) and hypertriglyceridemia (p for trend < 0.05) in the total subject population. While in the central obesity subgroup, ST > 3 h/day was found a stronger risk factor. Our study suggests that moderate-to-high levels of PA may have a role in prevention of MetS, and ST > 3 h/day was associated with a higher risk of MetS, particularly in individuals with central obesity.

Exploring metabolically healthy obesity: prevalence, characteristics, and cardiovascular risk in the Iranian population based on the STEPS 2021.

Regarding the rapidly increasing prevalence of obesity throughout the globe, it remains a serious public health concern. A subgroup of obesity that does not meet metabolic syndrome criteria is called metabolically healthy obesity (MHO). However, whether the MHO phenotype increases cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk is controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of MHO and its 10-year CVD risk in Iranian populations. Based on the STEPS 2021 project in Iran, we collected data on 18119 Iranians 25 years and older from all 31 provinces after applying many statistical factors. Using the Framingham score, we evaluated the 10-year cardiovascular risk associated with the various MHO definition criteria for Iranian populations. The prevalence of MHO was 6.42% (5.93-6.91) at the national level according to the AHA-NHLBI definition, and 23.29% of obese women and 24.55% of obese men were classified as MHOs. Moreover, the MHO group was younger than the metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO) group based on all definitions (p < 0.001). The odds ratio of MUO individuals being classified as high-risk individuals by the Framingham criteria for CVD was significantly higher than that of MHO individuals by all definitions, with a crude odds ratio of 3.55:1 based on AHA-NHLBI definition. This study reveals a significant prevalence of MHO in the Iranian population, with approximately 25% of obese individuals classified as MHO. While MHO is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease compared to MUO, MHO carries the potential for transitioning to an unhealthy state. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40200-023-01364-5.

HEART RATE VARIABILITY DURING PHYSICAL EFFORT IN PATIENTS WITH METASTATIC OVARIAN CANCER AND CONCOMITANT OBESITY

Introduction. One of the main factors affecting postoperative outcomes in patients with advanced ovarian cancer is the cardiopulmonary status. Several studies have reported that preoperative multifactorial rehabilitation and physical fitness can lead to reduced postoperative morbidity, mortality, shorter length of stay, and improved quality of life in cancer patients. The issue of adaptability to physical activity of overweight and obese patients who undergoing debulking surgery is insufficiently studied. The study of compensatory changes that occur in physically inactive obese patients remains relevant, especially against the background of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, in the conditions of preoperative preparation with ERAS-recommended physical activity.&#x0D; The aim of the study is to determine the differences between women with advanced ovarian cancer and obesity compared to women with normal weight in terms of heart rate variability during exercise. To assess the adaptive capabilities to physical activity of patients with advanced ovarian cancer and obesity at the stage of preoperative preparation, who undergoing debulking surgery.&#x0D; Result. Achieved METs, peak HR, CI, and HR recovery were higher in nonobese women, whereas training had no significant effect in obese women. Women who had already received neoadjuvant CT achieved a lower level of MET (6.8 ± 3.2 vs. 8.9 ± 4.1; P &lt; 0.001). Also, peak HR and CI were lower in women after neoadjuvant CT (126±27 vs. 138±20; P = 0.001 and 0.65±0.22 vs. 0.71±0.22; P = 0.001, respectively). BMI was a significant predictor of exercise capacity only in the obese subgroup, whereas age, peak HR, and prior adjuvant HT were always significantly associated with METs achieved.&#x0D; Conclusions. No significant difference was found between trained and untrained women with comorbid obesity in HR behavior or physical capacity. Different heart rate behavior in patients of this group is thus explained by obesity as such, regardless of the degree of physical training.

Clinical characteristics of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease against type 2 diabetes mellitus, depending on the presence of obesity

Objective — to reveal the features of the clinical course in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) depending on anthropometric indicators against the background of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2).&#x0D; Materials and methods. The study involved 100 patients, who were divided into 3 groups: group 1 consisted of 60 patients with DM2 in combination with GERD, group 2 included 20 patients with isolated GERD, and group 3 included DM2 patients. The patients of group 1 were additionally divided into 2 subgroups: 27 subjects with normal weight and 33 subjects with excessive body weight (EBW) or obesity of various degrees. The control group consisted of 20 practically healthy people. The distribution of patients by gender and age was carried out in accordance with the standards of the international classification of age periods of the World Health Organization, revised in 2015. From the total number of patients, 44 (44%) were men and 56 (56%) were women. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated according to the Quetelet formula. Endoscopic examination of the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract with targeted biopsy was performed with an esophagogastroduodenoscope with end optics «Olympus GIF Q 150­03» (manufacturer Olympus Europa SE &amp; CO. KG, Japan). To increase the diagnostic value of esophagogastroduodenoscopy, methods of chromoscopy and pinch biopsy of the esophageal mucosa were used.&#x0D; Results. Comparison of GERD manifestations with account of anthropometric data revealed significant differences in the subgroups with normal weight and obesity (p &lt;0.05). Gastroenterological complaints were not registered in 6 (26.1%) patients of the obesity subgroup (DM2 + GERD + obesity) and 8 (21.6%) patients of the non‑obese subgroup (DM2 + GERD). In the subgroup with obesity (DM2 + GERD + obesity), the significant differences (p &lt;0.001) were detected in heartburn depending on the obesity stage. Heartburn in this subgroup occurred 7.4 times more often than in patients with normal weight compared to the subgroup without obesity (odds ratio 89.13% (95%CI 12.83—137.77) χ2=35.06; р &lt;0.0001). Cardiac symptoms in patients with increased body weight were revealed 12.3 times more often vs. subjects with BMI less than 25 kg/m2 (odds ratio 5.0 (95% CI 1.58 ‑14.10); χ2=6.95; р=0.008).&#x0D; The presence of heartburn complaints at the 2nd stage of obesity (39±5 kg/m2) and its absence at normal body mass (28±2 kg/m2), p &lt;0.001) have been established. Analysis of the dependence of the Helicobacter pylori contamination degree on the BMI value showed no statistically significant differences between the subgroups with normal body weight and subgroup with EBW and obesity. The highest contamination degree was found in group 1 (DM2 + GERD) with the same number of positive results in both subgroups, with and without obesity.&#x0D; Conclusions. It has been established that excessive body weight and obesity significantly affect the development and progression of gastroenterological complaints in patients with DM2 combined with GERD. The heartburn was more often registered in patients with DM2 with obesity, than in those with normal weight. Comparison of GERD findings with anthropometric data revealed significant differences between the subgroups with normal body weight and obesity (р &lt;0.05). Heartburn in the obesity subgroup occurred 7.4 times more often.&#x0D;

Identifying subgroups of childhood obesity by using multiplatform metabotyping.

Introduction: Obesity results from an interplay between genetic predisposition and environmental factors such as diet, physical activity, culture, and socioeconomic status. Personalized treatments for obesity would be optimal, thus necessitating the identification of individual characteristics to improve the effectiveness of therapies. For example, genetic impairment of the leptin-melanocortin pathway can result in rare cases of severe early-onset obesity. Metabolomics has the potential to distinguish between a healthy and obese status; however, differentiating subsets of individuals within the obesity spectrum remains challenging. Factor analysis can integrate patient features from diverse sources, allowing an accurate subclassification of individuals. Methods: This study presents a workflow to identify metabotypes, particularly when routine clinical studies fail in patient categorization. 110 children with obesity (BMI > +2 SDS) genotyped for nine genes involved in the leptin-melanocortin pathway (CPE, MC3R, MC4R, MRAP2, NCOA1, PCSK1, POMC, SH2B1, and SIM1) and two glutamate receptor genes (GRM7 and GRIK1) were studied; 55 harboring heterozygous rare sequence variants and 55 with no variants. Anthropometric and routine clinical laboratory data were collected, and serum samples processed for untargeted metabolomic analysis using GC-q-MS and CE-TOF-MS and reversed-phase U(H)PLC-QTOF-MS/MS in positive and negative ionization modes. Following signal processing and multialignment, multivariate and univariate statistical analyses were applied to evaluate the genetic trait association with metabolomics data and clinical and routine laboratory features. Results and Discussion: Neither the presence of a heterozygous rare sequence variant nor clinical/routine laboratory features determined subgroups in the metabolomics data. To identify metabolomic subtypes, we applied Factor Analysis, by constructing a composite matrix from the five analytical platforms. Six factors were discovered and three different metabotypes. Subtle but neat differences in the circulating lipids, as well as in insulin sensitivity could be established, which opens the possibility to personalize the treatment according to the patients categorization into such obesity subtypes. Metabotyping in clinical contexts poses challenges due to the influence of various uncontrolled variables on metabolic phenotypes. However, this strategy reveals the potential to identify subsets of patients with similar clinical diagnoses but different metabolic conditions. This approach underscores the broader applicability of Factor Analysis in metabotyping across diverse clinical scenarios.

Twenty-four-hour urinary protein excretion in uncomplicated singleton pregnancy

Twenty-four-hour urinary total protein excretion is an essential parameter used for evaluation of renal function and early detection of gestational complications. However, data on reference ranges of 24-hour urinary total protein excretion in normal pregnancy are scarce. This study aimed to determine reference ranges for 24-hour urinary total protein excretion in a population with uncomplicated singleton pregnancies using a standard method for urinary total protein. In addition, the values of 24-hour urinary total protein were stratified by maternal age and prepregnancy body mass index. This study was based on a prospective cohort study in Shenzhen, China. The pregnant women were enrolled at their first prenatal clinical visit. All the participants were instructed to collect 24-hour urine samples during the following successive gestational periods: 6+0 to 13+6, 14+0 to 27+6, and 28+0 to 41+6 weeks. Total urinary protein excretion was analyzed by a colorimetric method. Ultimately, the study encompassed a total of 4844 pregnant women with uncomplicated pregnancies. The nonparametric percentile method was used to determine reference ranges for 24-hour urinary total protein excretion during different trimesters in women with uncomplicated pregnancies (excluding those with previous kidney disorders, gestational or chronic hypertension, preeclampsia, and pregestational diabetes mellitus, among others). The 24-hour urinary total protein levels expressed as medians and percentiles (5th, 95th) for each trimester were as follows: 72.0 (28.4, 165.0), 88.0 (34.0, 185.0), and 108.0 (37.5, 258.0) mg in the first, second, and third trimesters, respectively. A significant increase in 24-hour urinary total protein excretion was observed throughout pregnancy (all P values <.001). Moreover, 24-hour urinary total protein levels were higher in the older (≥35 years) than in the younger (<35 years) group from mid-gestation. Specifically, the median (interquartile range) 24-hour urinary total protein levels by age were 72.2 (50.6-100.0) vs 70.5 (50.5-100.0) mg, 85.8 (62.0-117.0) vs 96.0 (68.0-127.8) mg, and 106.6 (76.0-146.2) vs 114.7 (81.5-153.6) mg in the first, second, and third trimesters, respectively. In addition, 24-hour proteinuria was significantly increased in higher-weight (overweight or obese) subgroups compared with lower-weight (underweight or normal-weight) subgroups (all P values <.05). Our study provides reference values for 24-hour urinary total protein excretion with apparently uncomplicated pregnancies. Understanding these changes in low-risk pregnancies is essential for optimizing maternal management.

Low Muscle Strength as Risk Factor for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Different Metabolic Conditions.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) recently became a leading liver disease that threatens health worldwide. Low muscle strength, obesity, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome are recognized key factors for NAFLD. However, the impact of low muscle strength itself in different metabolic conditions has not been widely studied. A cross-sectional analysis was performed of a sample of 5,427 participants from the 2019 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Relative handgrip strength (rHGS, defined as handgrip strength/body mass index) was used to assess muscle strength. The cut-off values for a low rHGS were 1.405 for men and 0.850 for women. NAFLD was diagnosed if the Hepatic Steatosis Index was >36. Participants were stratified according to insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and central obesity for the subgroup analyses. Complex sample multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association between low muscle strength and NAFLD after the adjustment for other confounders (odds ratio [OR], 1.92; P<0.001). In the insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and central obesity subgroups, a significant association between low muscle strength and NAFLD remained (OR, 1.66-4.19 depending on subgroup; all P<0.05), whereas it did not in the no central obesity group. This study demonstrated that low muscle strength is correlated with a risk of NAFLD. This relationship was independent of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome but was dependent on the presence of central obesity.