Expressions of mRNA and encoded proteins of mitochondrial uncoupling protein genes (UCP1, UCP2, and UCP3) in epicardial and mediastinal adipose tissue and associations with coronary artery disease.

Objective: To evaluate the expression of UCP1, UCP2, and UCP3 mRNA and encoded proteins in epicardial and mediastinal adipose tissues in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Subjects and methods: We studied 60 patients with CAD and 106 patients undergoing valve replacement surgery (controls). Expression levels of UCP1, UCP2, and UCP3 mRNA and encoded proteins were measured by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively. Results: : We found increased UCP1, UCP2, and UCP3 mRNA levels in the epicardial adipose tissue in the CAD versus the control group, and higher UCP1 and UCP3 mRNA expression in the epicardial compared with the mediastinal tissue in the CAD group. There was also increased expression of UCP1 protein in the epicardial tissue and UCP2 protein in the mediastinum tissue in patients with CAD. Finally, UCP1 expression was associated with levels of fasting plasma glucose, and UCP3 expression was associated with levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and low-density cholesterol in the epicardial tissue. Conclusion: Our study supports the hypothesis that higher mRNA expression by UCP genes in the epicardial adipose tissue could be a protective mechanism against the production of reactive oxygen species and may guard the myocardium against damage. Thus, UCP levels are essential to maintain the adaptive phase of cardiac injury in the presence of metabolic disorders.

Expressions of mRNA and encoded proteins of mitochondrial uncoupling protein genes (UCP1, UCP2, and UCP3) in epicardial and mediastinal adipose tissue and associations with coronary artery disease

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the expression of UCP1, UCP2, and UCP3 mRNA and encoded proteins in epicardial and mediastinal adipose tissues in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Subjects and methods: We studied 60 patients with CAD and 106 patients undergoing valve replacement surgery (controls). Expression levels of UCP1, UCP2, and UCP3 mRNA and encoded proteins were measured by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively. Results: We found increased UCP1, UCP2, and UCP3 mRNA levels in the epicardial adipose tissue in the CAD versus the control group, and higher UCP1 and UCP3 mRNA expression in the epicardial compared with the mediastinal tissue in the CAD group. There was also increased expression of UCP1 protein in the epicardial tissue and UCP2 protein in the mediastinum tissue in patients with CAD. Finally, UCP1 expression was associated with levels of fasting plasma glucose, and UCP3 expression was associated with levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and low-density cholesterol in the epicardial tissue. Conclusions: Our study supports the hypothesis that higher mRNA expression by UCP genes in the epicardial adipose tissue could be a protective mechanism against the production of reactive oxygen species and may guard the myocardium against damage. Thus, UCP levels are essential to maintain the adaptive phase of cardiac injury in the presence of metabolic disorders.

Dysfunctional adiposity index as a marker of adipose tissue morpho-functional abnormalities and metabolic disorders in apparently healthy subjects.

Compared to body mass index, waist circumference (WC), and adiposity measurements, adipose tissue (AT) morpho-functionality evaluations are better predictors of cardiometabolic abnormalities (CA). The present study establishes a dysfunctional adiposity index (DAI) as an early marker of CA based on adipocytes morpho-functional abnormalities. DAI was established in 340 subjects without cardiovascular risk factors selected from a cross-sectional study (n=1600). Then, DAI was calculated in 36 healthy subjects who underwent subcutaneous AT biopsy. The correlation of DAI with adipocyte morphology (size/number) and functionality (adiponectin/leptin ratio) was analyzed. The DAI cut-off point was identified and its independent association with CA was determined in 1418 subjects from the cross-sectional study. The constant parameters to calculate the DAI were [WC/[22.79+[2.68*BMI]]]*[triglycerides (TG, mmol/L)/1.37]*[1.19/high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C, mmol/L)] for males, and [WC/[24.02+[2.37*BMI]]]*[TG(mmol/L)/1.32]*[1.43/HDL-C(mmol/L)] for females. DAI correlated with adipocytes mean area, adipocyte number and adiponectin/leptin ratio. DAI ≥1.065 was independently associated with diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, subclinical atherosclerosis, and hypertension. The present study highlights that DAI is associated with early CA independently of adiposity and other risk factors. Since DAI is obtained using accessible parameters, it can be easily incorporated into clinical practice for early identification of AT abnormalities in apparently healthy subjects.

Treatment of choledochal cyst in a pediatric population. A single institution experience of 15-years. Case series.

BACKGROUND: Choledochal cyst (CC) is a rare congenital anomaly of the bile duct that approximately 75% of the patients are diagnosed in childhood. Without a standardized surgical procedure for the biliary reconstruction, we present our experience over the last 15 years and show the differences between the biliary reconstructions techniques in our population. METHODS: We did a retrospective hospital archive search for patients admitted to the pediatric surgery department with the diagnosis of a choledochal cyst from January 2000 to June 2015. RESULTS: We found 15 patients, of which, 1 was excluded because of missing data from the hospital record. Of the remaining 14, eight had hepaticojejunal (HY) anastomosis in Roux-en-Y, with a 25% rate of complications; six had hepatoduodenal (HD) anastomosis with a rate of complications of 16.6%. The average hospital length of stay in the group of HD vs. HY was 14 ± 1.6-days vs. 19 ± 8.2-days respectively. DISCUSSION: There are no standardized surgical reconstruction techniques of the biliary tract after the CC excision, there is literature that supports the biliary reconstruction with an HY and an HD without a distinct advantage over one or the other. CONCLUSION: In our series HD anastomosis represents a safe procedure with fewer complications than HY.

Karewsky syndrome: A case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Gallstone ileus can be a lethal disease, rarely suspected in the clinical scenario. It represents about 25% of all bowel obstruction cases in patients older than 65. There is a classification of gallstone ileus based on the onset time: acute, subacute and chronic (Karewsky syndrome). We describe the first reported case of chronic gallstone ileus. CASE PRESENTATION: A 78-year-old female was admitted to the ER with a 15-day case of consistent bowel obstruction. The subject reported a five-year history of recurrent hospital admissions that resolved spontaneously after non-surgical management. Karewsky syndrome was diagnosed and managed with enterolithotomy. After five days of postoperative evolution the patient was discharged, and at six months follow up, no other hospital admission or relapse has been registered. DISCUSSION: The gallstone ileus diagnosis demands a higher clinical suspicion, there is no biochemical marker, and an abdominal CT is ideal for imaging-based diagnosis. There is no consensus on the optimal surgical approach. CONCLUSION: We describe the first case of Karewsky syndrome and a gastro-jejune and gastric-choledochus double fistula. We emphasize the importance of higher clinical suspicion for patients with bowel obstruction older than 65 years old and make evident that although there are not evidence-based guidelines for this treatment, enterolithotomy is a recommended approach.

Amyand hernia: Case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Amyand Hernia is a rare disease seen in approximately 1% of all hernias, complications of it, like acute appendicitis, or perforated appendicitis are even more rare, about 0.1%. Its diagnosis is very difficult in the pre-operative period; it is usually an incidental finding. PRESENTATION OF CASE: This paper describes the case of a forty-year-old male patient, which was presented to the outpatient clinic of surgery with an incarcerated right side inguinal hernia without any signs of ischemic complications. He was admitted, and an hernioplasty was performed, as an incidental finding we encountered an Amyand hernia treated without appendectomy and placement of a prosthetic mesh without any complications. DISCUSSION: This disease represents a very challenging diagnosis, seven years ago the standardization of management had already been established; in this case we encountered a type 1 Amyand's Hernia so we performed a standard tension free hernioplasty without complications. CONCLUSION: Amyand hernia is a rare condition, which represents two of the most common diseases a general surgeon has to face. Standardization of treatment is still ongoing and more prospective studies need to be done. This case demonstrates that this pathology must remain in the mind of the surgeons especially in the event of a strangulated hernia and offer a comprehensive review.