Chemerin Blood Levels are Associated with MRI Measured Volumes of Abdominal Adipose Tissue Compartments and Lifestyle Choices.

Obesity is a low-grade chronic inflammatory state, in which a cytokine chemerin with its immunometabolic modulation has an important role. We aimed to study in a healthy population relationships between serum chemerin levels, lifestyle choices and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessed volumes of abdominal visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous (SAT) adipose tissues, which have different cytokine expression profiles. Overall, 73 healthy participants undertook lifestyle questionnaire and underwent anthropometric measurements along with MRI scanning of abdominal SAT and VAT. Furthermore, complete blood count was determined along with chemerin and fibrinogen serum levels. Regression model for prediction of chemerin serum levels was built after controlling for sex, age and anthropometric measures. Median serum chemerin was 141 (125-195) ng/mL. Serum chemerin had a moderate positive correlation with SAT and VAT volumes. The two most important predictors of chemerin levels were MRI detected SAT and thigh circumference. Independently, chemerin levels were associated with smoking, preference of salty food, and favoring flavor/simplicity of preparation over nutritional value of the food. Serum chemerin seems to be more strongly correlated with the volume of abdominal SAT than VAT, with certain lifestyle choices influencing chemerin levels independently of abdominal fat.

Transcardial gradient of adiponectin, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α in overweight coronary artery disease patients.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is associated with coronary artery disease (CAD), where epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) express proatherogenic cytokines (i.e., interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)) and decreases production of beneficial adiponectin. Studies on endocrine role of EAT are mostly based on assessing cytokines' mRNAs, whereas cytokine blood levels might not readily correlate. In order to get better insight into the endocrine role of thickened EAT in CAD, we assessed transcardial gradient of adiponectin, IL-6 and TNF-α. METHODS: We assessed anthropometric and ultrasound measures in cohort of fifty nondiabetic subjects (21 CAD and 29 non-CAD). Blood sampled from aortic root and coronary sinus was assayed for adiponectin, IL-6 and TNF-α, using ELISA. RESULTS: Except thicker EAT in CAD subjects, anthropometric measures were similar (overweight), with higher adiponectin in coronary sinus than in aortic root (p<0.001) in both groups. CAD subjects had lower adiponectin in aortic root (p<0.001) and higher levels of TNF-α in coronary sinus than in aortic root (p=0.05). EAT thickness positively correlated with hip circumference (p=0.038) and negatively correlated with adiponectin levels (for both p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Transcardial gradient of adiponectin in non-CAD and CAD overweight subjects was similar, while latter had lower systemic adiponectin level and thicker EAT. EAT with thickening reaches the threshold level of near-maximal down-regulation of adiponectin and its further thickening is not associated with continued decrease of adiponectin production. In CAD patients levels of TNF-α were higher, but IL-6 were not, and these cytokines might be flush out by lymphatic route.

Extended Eversion Carotid Endarterectomy: Computation of Hemodynamics.

BACKGROUND: Stroke prevention includes surgery for significant stenosis of internal carotid artery (ICA). Consensus on a standard approach lacks and one alternative approach is eversion carotid endarterectomy (eCEA). To overcome disadvantages of eCEA, we developed extended-eversion carotid endarterectomy (exeCEA). Aiming to investigate hemodynamics after different surgical approaches, we created computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models of exeCEA and eCEA with included progressing lumen narrowing, representation of artery restenosis at the incision line. METHODS: Blood flow velocities, volume flow rates, and wall shear stress (WSS) were established in carotid arteries from models of eCEA and exeCEA with included increasing groove (1, 1.5, 2, and 2.5 mm) at the "incision line", under input pressure of 120 and 150 mm Hg. RESULTS: For the corresponding restenosis grade, models of exeCEA had a larger orifice toward ICA, lower blood flow velocities and higher volume flow rates in ICA, with lower volume flow rates in external carotid artery. WSS values in ICA of exeCEA models were lower than in eCEA models, later reaching the thrombotic range. CONCLUSIONS: CFD showed better hemodynamic properties in exeCEA models, indicating presented approach might be better at preserving brain perfusion.

Proton pump (H+/K+-ATPase) expression in human larynx.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of our study was to investigate and to identify the existence of proton pump in different parts of larynx. The presence of acidic content in this area is known to be connected to several laryngeal diseases. It is mostly developed by upward recurrence of acidic gastric content, but there are some signs that the acid can be produced in the larynx as well, because of the proton pump activity in laryngeal mucosa. METHODS: The study was performed on two types of specimens: (1) 50 cadaver larynges and (2) 11 surgical larynges obtained after laryngectomy. Samples were taken from supraglottis, glottis and subglottic areas and immunohistochemistry for the beta subunit of the proton pump was done. RESULTS: The presence of proton pump was proved in seromucous glands in laryngeal supraglottic area, but it was also, for the first time, found in human chondrocytes in the thyroid and epiglottic cartilage. CONCLUSION: These new findings could encourage further research that would illuminate better the etiopathogenesis not only of laryngopharyngeal reflux, but also the pathophysiology of cartilaginous disorders.