Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue Research Articles

Frequency of weight and body composition increases in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients during first line therapy.

The primary objective of this study was to assess the frequency of body composition increases and their relationships to changes in body weight in two cohorts of real world, treatment-naïve, advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. One cohort received the current standard of care (CSOC), which consisted of immunotherapy and newer chemotherapy regimens, and the other cohort was treated with the former standard of care (FSOC), consisting only of older platinum-containing regimens. CSOC (n=106) and FSOC (n=88) cohorts of advanced NSCLC patients were included in this study. Weights were collected at each clinical visit, and body composition analysis from routine chest computed tomography via automated segmentation software assessed at baseline and at 6 and 12weeks. Standard statistical methods were used to calculate relationships between changes in weight and in body composition. The CSOC cohort contained 106 stage IV NSCLC patients treated between 16/12/2014 and 22/10/2020 while the FSOC cohort contained 88 stage III/IV NSCLC patients treated between 16/6/2006 and 18/11/2014. While each cohort exhibited decreases in median weight, body mass index (BMI), mean skeletal muscle index (SMI) and subcutaneous adipose tissue index (SATI) at the 6 and 12week time points, a subset of patients experienced increases in these parameters. Using a threshold of ≥2.5% increase for weight, BMI, SMI, and SATI at the 12week time point, both cohorts showed similar (20.5% and 27.3%) increases in these parameters. With a cut point of ≥5% increase at 12weeks follow-up, 8.0% to 25.0% of the patients gained ≥5% in weight, BMI, SMI and SATI. Comparing these results in each cohort showed no significant differences. Pearson coefficients for weight change related to changes in SMI and SATI at 6 and 12weeks ranged from 0.31 to 0.58 with all P values <0.02. Pearson coefficients for weight change at 12weeks related to changes in VATI and IMATI ranged from 0.26 to 0.47 with all P values <0.05. Comparison of Pearson coefficients for each cohort showed no significant differences. Although decreases in median weight, BMI, SMI and SATI were observed in both cohorts, similar percentage of patients in each cohort experienced increases in these parameters. These findings, plus the positive correlations between longitudinal measurements of weight, muscle mass and adipose tissue, indicate that weight gain in these patients involves increases in both muscle mass and adipose tissue. Upon validation, these findings could have implications for clinical trial design and for translational research in cancer cachexia.

External validation of a deep learning model for automatic segmentation of skeletal muscle and adipose tissue on abdominal computed tomography images.

Body composition assessment using computed tomography (CT) images at the L3-level is increasingly applied in cancer research. Robust high-throughput automated segmentation is key to assess large patient cohorts and to support implementation of body composition analysis into routine clinical practice. We trained and externally validated a deep learning neural network (DLNN) to automatically segment L3-CT images. Expert-drawn segmentations of visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue (VAT/SAT) and skeletal muscle (SM) of L3-CT-images of 3,187 patients undergoing abdominal surgery were used to train a DLNN. The external validation cohort was comprised of 2,535 patients with abdominal cancer. DLNN performance was evaluated with (geometric) Dice Similarity (DS) and Lin's Concordance Correlation Coefficient. There was a strong concordance between automatic and manual segmentations with median DS for SM, VAT, and SAT of 0.97 (interquartile range, IQR: 0.95-0.98), 0.98 (IQR: 0.95-0.98), and 0.95 (IQR: 0.92-0.97), respectively. Concordance correlations were excellent: SM 0.964 (0.959-0.968), VAT 0.998 (0.998-0.998), and SAT 0.992 (0.991-0.993). Bland-Altman metrics indicated only small and clinically insignificant systematic offsets; SM radiodensity: 0.23 hounsfield units (0.5%), SM: 1.26 cm2.m-2 (2.8%), VAT: -1.02 cm2.m-2 (1.7%), and SAT: 3.24 cm2.m-2 (4.6%). A robustly-performing and independently externally validated DLNN for automated body composition analysis was developed. CT-based body composition analysis is highly prognostic for long-term overall survival in oncology. This DLNN was succesfully trained and externally validated on several large patient cohorts and will therefore enable large scale population studies and implementation of body composition analysis into clinical practice.

The pleural gradient does not reflect the superimposed pressure in patients with class III obesity

BackgroundThe superimposed pressure is the primary determinant of the pleural pressure gradient. Obesity is associated with elevated end-expiratory esophageal pressure, regardless of lung disease severity, and the superimposed pressure might not be the only determinant of the pleural pressure gradient. The study aims to measure partitioned respiratory mechanics and superimposed pressure in a cohort of patients admitted to the ICU with and without class III obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2), and to quantify the amount of thoracic adipose tissue and muscle through advanced imaging techniques.MethodsThis is a single-center observational study including ICU-admitted patients with acute respiratory failure who underwent a chest computed tomography scan within three days before/after esophageal manometry. The superimposed pressure was calculated from lung density and height of the largest axial lung slice. Automated deep-learning pipelines segmented lung parenchyma and quantified thoracic adipose tissue and skeletal muscle.ResultsN = 18 participants (50% female, age 60 [30–66] years), with 9 having BMI < 30 and 9 ≥ 40 kg/m2. Groups showed no significant differences in age, sex, clinical severity scores, or mortality. Patients with BMI ≥ 40 exhibited higher esophageal pressure (15.8 ± 2.6 vs. 8.3 ± 4.9 cmH2O, p = 0.001), higher pleural pressure gradient (11.1 ± 4.5 vs. 6.3 ± 4.9 cmH2O, p = 0.04), while superimposed pressure did not differ (6.8 ± 1.1 vs. 6.5 ± 1.5 cmH2O, p = 0.59). Subcutaneous and intrathoracic adipose tissue were significantly higher in subjects with BMI ≥ 40 and correlated positively with esophageal pressure and pleural pressure gradient (p < 0.05). Muscle areas did not differ between groups.ConclusionsIn patients with class III obesity, the superimposed pressure does not approximate the pleural pressure gradient, which is higher than in patients with lower BMI. The quantity and distribution of subcutaneous and intrathoracic adiposity also contribute to increased pleural pressure gradients in individuals with BMI ≥ 40. This study introduces a novel physiological concept that provides a solid rationale for tailoring mechanical ventilation in patients with high BMI, where specific guidelines recommendations are lacking.

Effect of sarcopenia on liver cirrhosis with complicating oesophageal and gastric varices after endoscopic therapy

Several investigators have reported that sarcopenia is common in patients with liver cirrhosis. However, few studies have probed the association between sarcopenia and liver cirrhosis complicated with oesophageal and gastric variceal bleeding (LC-EGVB). We aimed to investigate the impact of sarcopenia on rebleeding after endoscopic therapy in patients with LC-EGVB. Computed tomography (CT) radiographs from the third lumbar vertebra were selected to analyse body composition, including skeletal muscle tissue, visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue using SliceOmatic software. Sarcopenia was defined using validated cutoff values for patients with liver cirrhosis: 44.77 cm2/m2 for men and 32.50 cm2/m2 for women. A total of 187 patients with LC-EGVB and 309 controls were included in this study. The rate of sarcopenia in controls (17.4 %) was significantly lower than that in patients with LC-EGVB (41.2 %). Patients with LC-EGVB exhibiting sarcopenia showed a high prevalence of portal vein thrombosis and rebleeding rate at 1 year. The rate of sarcopenia in the rebleeding group was significantly higher than that in the non-rebleeding group. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that sarcopenia was an independent risk factor for rebleeding within 1 year in patients with LC-EGVB. Patients with LC-EGVB displayed a high prevalence of sarcopenia. Sarcopenia was observed to be an independent risk factor for rebleeding within 1 year.

The effect of hydrogen gas on the oxidative stress response in adipose tissue

Oxidative stress in adipose tissue may alter the secretion pattern of adipocytokines and potentially promote atherosclerosis. However, the therapeutic role of hydrogen in adipose tissue under oxidative stress remains unclear. In this study, subcutaneous adipose tissue (SCAT) was collected from the mid-thoracic wounds of 12 patients who underwent open-heart surgery with a mid-thoracic incision. The adipose tissue was then immersed in a culture medium dissolved with hydrogen, which was generated using a hydrogen-generating device. The weight of the adipose tissue was measured before and after hydrogenation, and the tissue was immunostained for nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), which are markers of oxidative stress. The immunostaining results showed that HO-1 and Nrf2 expression levels were significantly decreased in the hydrogenated group, whereas SOD expression levels increased, but did not attain statistical significance. Image analysis of adipose tissue revealed that a reduction in adipocyte size. Furthermore, hydrogenated adipose tissue showed a trend toward increased gene expression levels of adiponectin and decreased gene expression levels of chemerin, an adipocytokine involved in adipogenesis. These results demonstrated the therapeutic potential of hydrogen gas for oxidative stress in adipose tissue and for reducing adipocyte size.

139 Metabolic regulation of intramuscular adipose tissue development

Abstract Acetate arguably is the most important substrate for de novo fatty acid biosynthesis in bovine adipose tissue. However, including glucose in incubation media in vitro strongly stimulates fatty synthesis from acetate; additionally, glucose carbon is essential for triacylglycerol synthesis from acetate. Our laboratory is unique in that we utilize bovine intramuscular (i.m.) and subcutaneous (s.c.) adipose tissue explants dissected from beef longissimus muscle immediately post-exsanguination to study bovine adipose tissue metabolism. Four decades ago, using this experimental technique, we established that glucose is a primary substrate for fatty acid biosynthesis in i.m. adipose tissue. Recent research in our laboratory has addressed the hypothesis that acetate and/or long-chain fatty acids (LCFA) differentially affect lipid filling of i.m. and s.c. adipose tissue. We had previously demonstrated that, whereas s.c. adipose tissue is highly responsive to isoproterenol (a non-selective ß-adrenergic agonist), i.m. adipose tissue is relatively refractory to isoproterenol. This subsequently was confirmed in our laboratory utilizing primary cultures of bovine s.c. and i.m. adipocytes. We currently are focusing on the G-coupled protein receptors-43 (GPR43) and GPR120. Several previous studies from our laboratory have documented GPR43 expression in i.m. and s.c. adipose tissue, and we more recently demonstrated GPR120 expression in bovine adipose tissues. Acetate is a ligand for GPR43, whereas LCFA are ligands for GPR120. The binding of ß-adrenergic agonists to ß-adrenergic receptors increases the production of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), whereas binding of acetate and LCFA to GPR43 and GPR120, respectively, decreases cAMP production. Thus, binding of circulating acetate and LCFA to their respective GPR receptors putatively should lead to increase lipid filling of bovine adipose tissues. A current study from our laboratory demonstrated that acetate had no effect on forskolin-stimulated cAMP production in i.m. or s.c. adipose tissue explants unless the culture medium also included oleic acid (18:1n-9). A subsequent study confirmed that oleic acid and palmitic acid (16:0), but not acetate, strongly depressed forskolin-stimulated cAMP production in s.c. adipose tissue explants; oleic and palmitic acid were much less effective in depressing cAMP production in i.m. adipose tissue explants. Unusually, GPR43 expression was detected in neither s.c. adipose tissue nor i.m. adipose tissue in our most recent study, whereas GPR120 expression was readily detected in both adipose tissue types. We conclude the following from these recent studies: LCFA binding to GPR120 is more effective than acetate binding to GPR43 in promoting lipid filling in bovine adipose tissue; and LCFA binding to GPR120 putatively would promote greater lipid filling in s.c. adipose tissue than in i.m. adipose tissue.

Cytokine and chemokine receptor profiles in adipose tissue vasculature unravel endothelial cell responses in HIV.

Chronic systemic inflammation significantly increases myocardial infarction risk in people living with HIV (PLWH). Endothelial cell dysfunction disrupts vascular homeostasis regulation, increasing the risk of vasoconstriction, inflammation, and thrombosis, contributing to cardiovascular disease. We aimed to characterize endothelial cell (EC) chemokines, cytokine, and chemokine receptors of PLWH, hypothesizing that in our cohort, glucose intolerance contributes to their differential expression implicated in endothelial dysfunction. Using single-cell transcriptomic analysis, we phenotyped chemokine and cytokine receptor expression on arterial ECs, capillary ECs, venous ECs, and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in subcutaneous adipose tissue of 59 PLWH with and without glucose intolerance. Our results show that arterial and capillary ECs express significantly higher interferon and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptors than venous ECs and VSMCs. Venous ECs exhibited more interleukin (IL)1R1 and ACKR1 receptors, and VSMCs showed significant IL6R expression than arterial and capillary ECs. When stratified by group, arterial ECs from PLWH with glucose intolerance expressed significantly higher IL1R1, IL6R, CXCL12, CCL14, and ICAM2 transcripts than arterial ECs from PLWH without diabetes. Of the different vascular cell types studied, arterial ECs as a proportion of all ECs in adipose tissue were positively correlated with plasma fasting blood glucose. In contrast, venous ECs and VSMCs were positively correlated with plasma IL6. To directly assess the effect of plasma from PLWH on endothelial function, we cultured human arterial ECs (HAECs) in plasma-conditioned media from PLWH and performed bulk RNA sequencing. Plasma from PLWH stimulated ECs with the upregulation of genes that enrich for the oxidative phosphorylation and the TNF-α via NFK-β pathways. In conclusion, ECs in PLWH show heterogeneous cytokine and chemokine receptor expression, and arterial ECs were the most influenced by glucose intolerance. Further research must explicate cytokine and chemokine roles in EC dysfunction and identify biomarkers for disease progression and therapeutic response.

The dual nature of DNA damage response in obesity and bariatric surgery-induced weight loss

This novel study applies targeted functional proteomics to examine tissues and cells obtained from a cohort of individuals with severe obesity who underwent bariatric surgery (BS), using a Reverse-Phase Protein Array (RPPA). In obese individuals, visceral adipose tissue (VAT), but not subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), shows activation of DNA damage response (DDR) markers including ATM, ATR, histone H2AX, KAP1, Chk1, and Chk2, alongside senescence markers p16 and p21. Additionally, stress-responsive metabolic markers, such as survivin, mTOR, and PFKFB3, are specifically elevated in VAT, suggesting both cellular stress and metabolic dysregulation. Conversely, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), while exhibiting elevated mTOR and JNK levels, did not present significant changes in DDR or senescence markers. Following BS, unexpected increases in phosphorylated ATM, ATR, and KAP1 levels, but not in Chk1 and Chk2 nor in senescence markers, were observed. This was accompanied by heightened levels of survivin and mTOR, along with improvement in markers of mitochondrial quality and health. This suggests that, following BS, pro-survival pathways involved in cellular adaptation to various stressors and metabolic alterations are activated in circulating PBMCs. Moreover, our findings demonstrate that the DDR has a dual nature. In the case of VAT from individuals with obesity, chronic DDR proves to be harmful, as it is associated with senescence and chronic inflammation. Conversely, after BS, the activation of DDR proteins in PBMCs is associated with a beneficial survival response. This response is characterized by metabolic redesign and improved mitochondrial biogenesis and functionality. This study reveals physiological changes associated with obesity and BS that may aid theragnostic approaches.

Effectiveness of first trimester maternal fat tissue measurement in prediction of gestational diabetes: a prospective cohort study.

The aim was to find a cost-effective, more practical method to be used in the early gestational weeks as an alternative to the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) for predicting gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The method selected was adipose tissue measurements made in the first trimester. The study was designed as a prospective, cohort study. Ultrasound images were used to calculate abdominal visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) thicknesses of the first trimester pregnant women. Two groups were formed: those who were diagnosed with GDM and those who were not, based on the results of the OGTT performed in the same patients at 24th-28th weeks of gestation. Ultrasonographic records were examined and compared between these two groups using received operator characteristic curves and logistic regression analyses. A total of 292 pregnant women were included, of whom 21.2% were diagnosed with GDM. In the group diagnosed with GDM, SAT, VAT and total adipose tissue (TAT) values were significantly higher than the women who did not have GDM. Threshold values for SAT, VAT and TAT were 18 mm, 55 mm and 55 mm. First trimester SAT, VAT and TAT measurements of pregnant women with GDM were significantly higher than those without GDM diagnosis. Although our results showed that adipose measurements cannot be an alternative to OGTT; they may be a powerful aid in identify at-risk pregnant women, suggesting early OGTT in the first trimester.

Years of endurance exercise training remodel abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue in adults with overweight or obesity.

Abnormalities in the structure and metabolic function of abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (aSAT) underlie many obesity-related health complications. Endurance exercise improves cardiometabolic health in adults with overweight or obesity, but the effects of endurance training on aSAT are unclear. We included male and female participants who were regular exercisers with overweight or obesity who exercised for >2 years, and cross-sectionally compared them with well-matched non-exercisers with overweight or obesity. Here we show aSAT from exercisers has a higher capillary density, lower Col6a abundance and fewer macrophages compared with non-exercisers. This is accompanied by a greater abundance of angiogenic, ribosomal, mitochondrial and lipogenic proteins. The abundance of phosphoproteins involved in protein translation, lipogenesis and direct regulation of transcripts is also greater in aSAT collected from exercisers. Exploratory ex vivo experiments demonstrate greater angiogenic capacity and higher lipid-storage capacity in samples cultured from aSAT collected from exercisers versus non-exercisers. Regular exercise may play a role in remodelling aSAT structure and proteomic profile in ways that may contribute to preserved cardiometabolic health.

Adipose tissue senescence: Biological changes, hallmarks and therapeutic approaches

Adipose tissue (AT), the largest energy storage reservoir and endocrine organ, plays a crucial role in regulating systemic energy metabolism. As one of the most vulnerable tissues during aging, the plasticity of AT is impaired. With age, AT undergoes redistribution, characterized by expansion of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and reduction of peripheral subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT). Additionally, age-related changes in AT include reduced adipogenesis of white adipocytes, decreased proliferation and differentiation capacity of mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs), diminished thermogenic capacity in brown/beige adipocytes, and dysregulation of immune cells. Specific and sensitive hallmarks enable the monitoring and evaluation of the biological changes associated with aging. In this study, we have innovatively proposed seven characteristic hallmarks of AT senescence, including telomere attrition, epigenetic alterations, genomic instability, mitochondrial dysfunction, disabled macroautophagy, cellular senescence, and chronic inflammation, which are intricately interconnected and mutually regulated. Finally, we discussed anti-aging strategies targeting AT, offering insights into mitigating or delaying metabolic disturbances caused by AT senescence.

MRI-measured periprostatic to subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness ratio as an independent risk factor in prostate cancer patients undergoing radical prostatectomy

The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether the periprostatic adipose tissue thickness (PPATT) is an independent prognostic factor for prostate cancer patients after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP). This retrospective cohort study included consecutive prostate cancer patients who underwent LRP treatment at Wuhan Union Hospital from June 2, 2016, to September 7, 2023. PPATT was defined as the thickness of periprostatic fat and was obtained by measuring the shortest vertical distance from the pubic symphysis to the prostate on the midsagittal T2-weighted MR images. Subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness (SATT) was obtained by measuring the shortest vertical distance from the pubic symphysis to the skin at the same slice with PPATT. The primary outcome of the study was biochemical recurrence (BCR), and the secondary outcome was overall survival (OS). Multivariable Cox regression analysis was used to identify independent prognostic factors for prostate cancer survival and prognosis. Based on the optimal cutoff value, 162 patients were divided into a low PPATT/SATT group (n = 82) and a high PPATT/SATT group (n = 80). During the entire follow-up period (median 23.5 months), 26 patients in the high PPATT/SATT group experienced BCR (32.5%), compared to 18 in the low PPATT/SATT group (22.0%). Kaplan–Meier curve analysis indicated that the interval to BCR was significantly shorter in the high PPATT/SATT group (P = 0.037). Multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that an increase in the PPATT/SATT ratio was associated with BCR (hazard ratio: 1.90, 95% CI, 1.03–3.51; P = 0.040). The PPATT/SATT ratio is a significant independent risk factor for BCR after LRP for prostate cancer patients.

Association between muscle mass and overall survival among colorectal cancer patients at tertiary cancer center in the Middle East

Recent reports have shown that pre-treatment low muscle mass may lead to poorer outcomes for cancer patients. We explored the correlation between Visceral Adipose Tissue (VAT), Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue (SAT), and Muscle Mass (MM) as measured by CT scans, and overall survival (OS) following diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC). We conducted a retrospective review of medical records and CT scans of patients diagnosed with CRC between 2007 and 2018. Demographics, pathology, and clinical parameters were collected. Using Image-J software, we measured VAT, SAT, and MM. Survival rates were analyzed using Kaplan–Meier curves, and prognostic factors were assessed using multivariate Cox regression. Analysis included 408 patients with a mean age of 56.9 years and a median follow-up of 93.3 months. Colon and rectum/rectosigmoid colon cancers were equally distributed. The 5-year OS rate was 67.8%. There was no significant difference in OS rates based on SAT or VAT. However, higher MM was associated with a improved 5-year OS rate. Factors such as age, stage, grade, and surgery were also associated to OS rates. These findings suggest that higher muscle mass may lead to better outcomes for CRC patients, highlighting the potential impact of exercise and nutritional interventions on patient outcomes.

Interaction between adipocytes and macrophages participates in chick subcutaneous adipose tissue angiogenesis under cold stress conditions

Previous studies have shown that subcutaneous adipose tissue is an important energy supply organ for chicks before and after birth, except yolk. So far, the significance of large deposits of subcutaneous adipose tissue in chicks is unclear. Therefore, this study takes the information interaction between adipocytes and macrophages as the starting point to explore whether adipocytes and macrophages could participate in adipose tissue fibrosis, angiogenesis, adaptive thermogenesis and other related functions in a specific metabolic environment. Under cold stress, the expression levels of genes related to lipidolysis, lipid transport and fatty acid oxidation in adipose tissue of chicks were significantly increased, but the expression levels of genes related to mitochondrial uncoupling were not significantly changed. Through Masson staining of adipose tissue of chicks under cold stress, it was found that the level of vascularization in adipose tissue of chicks was significantly increased. We found that the interaction between adipocyte and macrophage could participate in the angiogenesis related process of adipocytes in chicks through the HIF1A–VEGFA pathway. The analysis of lipid metabolism in subcutaneous adipose tissue of chicks from the perspective of cell heterogeneity will expand the understanding of lipid metabolism in chicks and provide a theoretical basis for chick rearing.

Choke Anastomosis: A Key Element Acting as a Shunt Converter Between Adjacent Angiosomes.

Choke anastomosis is commonly recognized as a resistance factor that detrimentally affects the hemodynamics of the skin flap; however, its additional potential physiological roles in normal skin function are currently not fully understood. Ten cadaveric forehead flap specimens pedicled with unilateral STAs were perfused with lead oxide-gelatin mixture, and then dissected into 3 layers, including the super temporal fascia-frontalis-galea aponeurotica layer, the subcutaneous adipose tissue layer, and the "super-thin flap" layer. The forehead flap and stratified specimens underwent molybdenum target x-ray and subsequent transparent processing to effectively visualize the microscopic spatial architecture of arterial vessels across all levels. Based on the different anastomoses near the midline area of the flap, 2 types of arterial perfusion were identified: choke anastomosis type (8/10) and true anastomosis type (2/10). The former formed multiple choke anastomoses near the midline. In the "super-thin flap" layer, arterial perfusion density on the ipsilateral side was significantly higher compared to that on the contralateral side. The arterioles on the ipsilateral side exhibited a dense and uninterrupted distribution, whereas those on the contralateral side appeared sparse and dispersed. The latter exhibited an alternative perfusion pattern; the bilateral arterial vessels were connected with 3 to 5 true anastomoses near the midline. Furthermore, the microscopic architecture confirmed a uniform distribution of arterioles that remained continuous from ipsilateral to contralateral sides in the "super-thin flap" layer. This study demonstrated that choke anastomosis not only impairs blood perfusion in the adjacent angiosomes but also acts as a shunt converter to impact the blood supply of distal skin flaps at different levels through the "trans-territory diversion phenomenon." This results in necrosis of the superficial dermis while preserving survival of the deep subcutaneous adipose tissue.

Lespedeza homoloba enhances the immunosuppressive milieu of adipose tissue and suppresses fasting blood glucose.

Immune cells migrate to hypertrophied adipocytes and release proinflammatory cytokines, leading to adipocyte dysfunction and diabetes. Numerous species of Lespedeza, which are members of the plant family Fabaceae and distributed primarily in temperate Asia and North America, exhibit binding to peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ, a target nuclear receptor for treating diabetes. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine which species of Lespedeza plants exert an anti-inflammatory effect in adipose tissue and suppression of blood glucose increase through PPARγ ligand and radical scavenging activity. PPARγ binding and DPPH radical scavenging assays of L. homoloba (LH), L. thunbergii (LT), L. maximowiczii (LM) and L. thunbergii (LT) were performed. LH and LT showed significant ligand activity towards PPARγ and notable radical scavenging activity. LH exhibited a stronger DPPH radical scavenging activity than LT and thus was measured adiponectin secretion from 3T3-L1-derived adipocytes and IL-10 secretion from murine splenocytes. LH increased the adiponectin and the IL-10 secretions. In flow cytometric analysis, BALB/c male mice administered LH exhibited an increase in regulatory T cells (Tregs) and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein (CTLA)-4+ Tregs as well as a decrease in T helper (Th)17, Th17/Treg ratio and CD8+ and CD4+ T cells in subcutaneous adipose tissue. Conversely, in the spleen, LH decreased Tregs and increased Th17 cells, Th17/Treg ratio and CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. These findings indicated that LH activated immunoreaction in the spleen and Treg cells that migrate to subcutaneous adipose tissue may suppress inflammation. In fasting blood glucose and adiponectin assays, LH-exposed mice exhibited suppression of fasting glucose levels. Therefore, LH may prevent type 2 diabetes by suppressing adipose tissue inflammation.

Metabolic benefits afforded by estradiol and testosterone in both sexes: clinical considerations.

Testosterone (T) and 17β-estradiol (E2) are produced in male and female humans and are potent metabolic regulators in both sexes. When E2 and T production stops or decreases during aging, metabolic dysfunction develops and promotes degenerative metabolic and vascular disease. Here, we discuss the shared benefits afforded by E2 and T for metabolic function human females and males. In females, E2 is central to bone and vascular health, subcutaneous adipose tissue distribution, skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity, antiinflammatory immune function, and mitochondrial health. However, T also plays a role in female skeletal, vascular, and metabolic health. In males, T's conversion to E2 is fundamental to bone and vascular health, as well as prevention of excess visceral adiposity and the promotion of insulin sensitivity via activation of the estrogen receptors. However, T and its metabolite dihydrotestosterone also prevent excess visceral adiposity and promote skeletal muscle growth and insulin sensitivity via activation of the androgen receptor. In conclusion, T and E2 are produced in both sexes at sex-specific concentrations and provide similar and potent metabolic benefits. Optimizing levels of both hormones may be beneficial to protect patients from cardiometabolic disease and frailty during aging, which requires further study.

An Analysis of Age-Related Body Composition Changes and Metabolic Patterns in Korean Adults Using FDG-PET/CT Health Screening Data.

F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET)/computed tomography (CT) can be used to measure bone mineral density (BMD), cross-sectional muscle area (CSMA), Hounsfield units (HU) of liver and muscle, subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and glucose metabolism. The present study aimed to identify age-related changes in body composition and glucose metabolism in Korean using opportunistic FDG-PET/CT imaging. We analyzed FDG-PET/CT, clinical history, and laboratory data abstracted from the medical records of patients who underwent health screening at a single institute between 2017 and 2022. In total, 278 patients were included in the analysis (male:female=140:138). Age and body mass index were positively correlated in female, but negatively correlated in male. BMD decreased with age more in female, and CSMA decreased with age more in male. Muscle HU decreased with age for both sexes. In female, SAT and VAT increased with age; and in male, SAT decreased slightly while VAT remained stable. Muscle glucose metabolism showed no association with age in male but increased with age in female. CSMA correlated positively with BMD overall; and positively correlated with VAT and SAT in male only. In female only, both SAT and VAT showed negative correlations with glucose metabolism and correlated positively with muscle glucose metabolism. Liver HU values were inversely correlated with VAT, especially in female; and positively correlated with muscle glucose metabolism in female only. FDG-PET/CT demonstrated distinct patterns of age-related changes in body composition and glucose metabolism, with significant differences between sexes.

Body composition between obstructive and non-obstructive bladder cancer: A retrospective study

Background: Body composition measurement during cancer follow-up would increase its role in improving nutritional status. Using a CT scan for nutritional evaluation with scheduled cancer screening or follow-up would add other useful information to help the physician gain a better understanding of the patient’s nutritional status, especially in adipose tissue. Objective: To evaluate the correlation of measured adipose tissue and skeletal muscle between obstructive and non-obstructive uropathy in bladder cancer on a CT scan. Background: Body composition measurement during cancer follow-up would increase its role in improving the nutritional status. Using a CT scan for nutritional evaluation with scheduled cancer screening or follow-up would add other useful information to help the physician gain a better understanding of the patient’s nutritional status, especially in adipose tissue. Objective: To compare the measured adipose tissue and the skeletal muscle between obstructive and non-obstructive uropathy in bladder cancer on a CT scan. Materials and Methods: A total of 69 patients, who underwent a CT scan of the abdomen including the pelvis before surgery and/or chemotherapy between January 2013 and December 2022, were enrolled. Analyses of the volume of visceral adipose tissue (VAT), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), and skeletal muscle tissue (SMT) calculated based on CT images were performed. Results: There was significantly lower VAT (p = 0.012) in the obstructive group than in the non-obstructive group. SAT, SMT, age, weight, height, BMI, and tumor size were not significantly different between both groups. Conclusion: In patients with bladder cancer, those with obstructive uropathy showed lower VAT than non-obstructive uropathy.

Embryonic heat conditioning increases lipolytic gene expression in broiler chicks at day 4 post-hatch.

Exposure to elevated temperatures during incubation is known to induce epigenetic changes that are associated with immunological and stress-response differences at a later age. Reports on its effects on the adipose tissue are still scarce. In this experiment, we investigated the effect of embryonic heat conditioning (EHC) on growth, adipose tissue mRNA and global DNA methylation in broiler chicks at day 4 post-hatch. Fertile eggs were divided into two groups: control and EHC. Eggs in the control group were incubated at 37.8°C and 80% relative humidity from day 0 to day 18.5 (E0 to E18.5). The EHC eggs were subjected to an intermittent increase in temperature to 39.5°C and 80% relative humidity from E7 to E16 for 12h (07:30-19:30) per day. On day 4 post-hatch, control and EHC chicks were subjected to 36°C using three time points: 0 (no heat challenge serving as the control), and 2 and 12h relative to start of the heat challenge. Fifteen chicks were sampled from each group for every timepoint. Body weight was recorded before euthanasia and subcutaneous adipose tissue was collected. Body weights were similar in control and EHC groups. Diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2) mRNA was lower in the EHC group at time 0 relative to control. Hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) mRNA was greater in the EHC than control group at the 0h timepoint. Heat challenge affected adipose tissue DNA methylation, with methylation highest at 12h into the heat challenge. These findings highlight the dynamic molecular responses of chicks to heat stress during early post-hatch development and suggest that EHC may affect heat stress responses and adipose tissue development through mechanisms involving lipid remodeling and DNA methylation.