Plasma Levels of Bile Acids Are Related to Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Young Adults.

CONTEXT: Bile acids (BA) are known for their role in intestinal lipid absorption and can also play a role as signaling molecules to control energy metabolism. Prior evidence suggests that alterations in circulating BA levels and in the pool of circulating BA are linked to an increased risk of obesity and a higher incidence of type 2 diabetes in middle-aged adults. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the association between plasma levels of BA with cardiometabolic risk factors in a cohort of well-phenotyped, relatively healthy young adults. METHODS: Body composition, brown adipose tissue, serum classical cardiometabolic risk factors, and a set of 8 plasma BA (including glyco-conjugated forms) in 136 young adults (age 22.1 ± 2.2 years, 67% women) were measured. RESULTS: Plasma levels of chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) and glycoursodeoxycholic acid (GUDCA) were higher in men than in women, although these differences disappeared after adjusting for body fat percentage. Furthermore, cholic acid (CA), CDCA, deoxycholic acid (DCA), and glycodeoxycholic acid (GDCA) levels were positively, yet weakly associated, with lean body mass (LBM) levels, while GDCA and glycolithocholic acid (GLCA) levels were negatively associated with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake by brown adipose tissue. Interestingly, glycocholic acid (GCA), glycochenodeoxycholic acid (GCDCA), and GUDCA were positively associated with glucose and insulin serum levels, HOMA index, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin (IL)-2, and IL-8 levels, but negatively associated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, ApoA1, and adiponectin levels, yet these significant correlations partially disappeared after the inclusion of LBM as a confounder. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that plasma levels of BA might be sex dependent and are associated with cardiometabolic and inflammatory risk factors in young and relatively healthy adults.

Todani Ic cystic dilatation of the bile duct.

The congenital dilation of the bile duct is an infrequent pathology in western countries and is associated with the female sex. It is usually diagnosed clinically with complementary tests and evaluated at an early age and also appears frequently in adults. These dilatations are grouped into five types according to Todani's classification, including type Ic (Figure 1). The treatment of choice for dilatations of the biliary duct Todani type I is the complete excision of the biliary tract due to the susceptibility of malignant degeneration. A reconstruction is performed via a hepaticojejunostomy with a Roux-en-Y loop. Although in non-malignant cases, a papillotomy with prophylactic stent placement using ERCP can be performed as an alternative. We present the case of a 54-year-old female with a history of high blood pressure, she was examined due to generalized abdominal pain which was unrelated to food intake. The blood test did not identify any alterations of interest. Ultrasound identified a fusiform dilation of the common bile duct occupied by lithiasis. ERCP was attempted due to choledocholithiasis, but the procedure was abandoned as it was not feasible to channel the duodenal papilla. The study was completed with NMR cholangiography (transverse plane [Figure 2] and coronal plane [Figure 3]), identifying a diffuse fusiform dilatation of the common bile duct and common hepatic duct, compatible with congenital cystic lesion Todani type Ic. Finally, the patient underwent a hepaticojejunostomy after sectioning of the main bile duct and extraction of choledocholithiasis.

Adenomiomatosis de la vía biliar, incidencia de 10 años y revisión de la bibliografía actual / Adenomyomatosis of the biliary tree, ten-year incidence and review of current literature

Introducción. La adenomiomatosis es una entidad anatomo-clínica de difícil diagnóstico. Se puede clasificar en generalizada, segmentaria y localizada. Suele presentarse con síntomas de colelitiasis, aunque puede variar desde ser completamente asintomática hasta sugerir una lesión maligna. El objetivo de este estudio fue revisar la afectación adenomiomatosa de la vesícula biliar y los conductos biliares intrahepáticos y extrahepáticos, así como su diagnóstico y tratamiento. Materiales y métodos. Se llevó a cabo un estudio retrospectivo de 10 años de duración en los servicios de Cirugía Digestiva y Anatomía Patológica del Hospital Universitario San Cecilio en Granada, España. Se incluyeron todos los pacientes que presentaban afectación adenomiomatosa de la vesícula biliar y del sistema biliar intrahepático y extrahepático. Resultados, Entre los años 2000 y 2010, se identificaron 24 pacientes, 19 mujeres y 5 hombres, con adenomiomatosis de un total de 5.141 piezas quirúrgicas. Las manifestaciones clínicas fueron de colelitiasis en 20 (83,3 %) pacientes, de colecistitis en 2 (8,35 %) y de obstrucción (ictericia) en 2 (8,35 %), y correspondieron con los hallazgos histopatológicos: se encontraron 20 lesiones localizadas en el fondo de la vesícula, dos en el conducto cístico y dos en el colédoco distal. En la mayoría de los casos se practicó colecistectomía laparoscópica simple; los últimos dos se sometieron a duodenopancreatectomía cefálica u operación de Whipple, por sospecharse afectación maligna. Conclusión. Esta enfermedad puede presentarse con ausencia completa de síntomas, o con manifestaciones de colelitiasis, colecistitis o de síndrome colestásico. En los casos en que se sospeche una afectación maligna, lo adecuado es hacer un examen histopatológico intraoperatorio, antes de practicar cirugías complejas.

Introduction: Adenomyomatosis of the gallbladder and biliary ducts is an anatomic and medical entity of difficult diagnosis. It can be classified as generalized, segmentary or localized. Typical clinical presentation includes symptoms of cholelithiasis, but it can range from completely asymptomatic to suspicion of malignancy. The aim of this study was to review the gallbladder and intra and extrahepatic biliary ducts affectation by adenomyomatosis, its diagnosis and treatment. Patients and Method: Ten-year retrospective study, held at San Cecilio University Hospital's Digestive Surgery and Pathology Services in Granada, Spain. All patients with gallbladder and intra and extrahepatic biliary ducts adenomyomatosis were included. Results: 24 patients with adenomyomatosis were identified out of 5,141 surgical specimen in the ten-year period 2000-2010; 19 were female and five male. Twenty (83.3%) patients presented with symptoms of cholelithiasis, two (8.35%) with symptoms of cholecystitis, and two (8.35%) with obstructive signs (jaundice),all of which were consistent with the pathology findings: 20 lesions were located in the gallbladder fundus, two in the cystic duct, and two in the distal common bile duct. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed in all but the last two cases, in which a cephalic pancreatico-duodenectomy, or Whipple procedure, was perfomed for suspected malignancy. Conclusion: This entity's clinical condition can present as totally asymptomatic, or with symptoms of cholelithiasis, cholecystitis, or cholestatic syndrome. When malignancy is suspected, intra-operative pathological confirmation is recommended before undertaking a complex surgical procedure.