Orthorexia nervosa: relationship with obsessive-compulsive symptoms, disordered eating patterns and body uneasiness among Italian university students.

INTRODUCTION: The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between ORTO-15 score and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, disordered eating patterns and body uneasiness among female and male university students and to examine the predictive model of ORTO-15 in both groups. METHODS: One hundred and twenty students participated in the present study (mean age 22.74 years, SD 7.31). The ORTO-15 test, the Maudsley Obsessive-Compulsive Questionnaire, the Eating Attitudes Test-26 and the Body Uneasiness Test were used for the present study. RESULTS: Our results revealed no gender differences in ORTO-15 score. Our results show, rather unexpectedly, that in female students lower scores, corresponding to greater severity, were related to less pathological body image discomfort and obsessive-compulsive signs, while in male students, lower ORTO-15 scores were related to less pathological eating patterns, as behaviors and symptoms. CONCLUSION: Further studies regarding the relationship between ON and anorexia nervosa, as well as obsessive-compulsive symptoms, are needed to better understand the causality. Level of Evidence Level V, descriptive study.

Association of a history of childhood-onset obesity and dieting with eating disorders.

This was a retrospective, observational chart review conducted on a convenience sample of 537 outpatients, aged 16-60 years, referred to an Italian Dietetic and Nutrition University Center. The study aimed to look at the association between a history of childhood obesity and dieting behaviors with development of eating disorders (EDs) at a later age. Subjects with a history of EDs (n = 118), assessed using both self-report and health records, were compared with those with no EDs (n = 419), who were attending the clinic mainly for primary prevention of metabolic and cardiovascular risk. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association of childhood-onset obesity with development of an ED at a later age. Childhood-onset obesity, gender, maternal history of eating disorders, and dieting were associated with a positive history of EDs at a later age (p < .05). It is important to raise professional awareness of early symptoms of EDs in children with a history of obesity and treat them accordingly.

Nutritional management of a patient with obesity and pulmonary embolism: a case report.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this case report is to discuss the issue of nutritional therapy in patients taking warfarin. Patients are often prescribed vitamin K free diets without nutritional counseling, leading to possible health consequences. CASE PRESENTATION: A 52-year-old woman with obesity and hypertension was prescribed a low calorie diet by her family doctor in an effort to promote weight loss. After a pulmonary embolism, she was placed on anticoagulant therapy and on hospital discharge she was prescribed a vitamin K free diet to avoid interactions. Given poor control of her anticoagulant therapy, she was referred to our Nutritional Unit outpatients' service. CONCLUSIONS: This case illustrates the importance of a thorough medical nutrition assessment in the management of patients with obesity and the need for a change in the dietary approach of nutritional therapy in the management of vitamin K anticoagulant therapy. In patients taking warfarin, evidence suggest that the aim of nutritional therapy should be to keep dietary intake of vitamin K constant.

Systemic cardiac amyloidoses: disease profiles and clinical courses of the 3 main types.

BACKGROUND: Most studies of amyloidotic cardiomyopathy consider as a single entity the 3 main systemic cardiac amyloidoses: acquired monoclonal immunoglobulin light-chain (AL); hereditary, mutated transthyretin-related (ATTRm); and wild-type transthyretin-related (ATTRwt). In this study, we compared the diagnostic/clinical profiles of these 3 types of systemic cardiac amyloidosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted a longitudinal study of 233 patients with clear-cut diagnosis by type of cardiac amyloidosis (AL, n=157; ATTRm, n=61; ATTRwt, n=15) at 2 large Italian centers providing coordinated amyloidosis diagnosis/management facilities since 1990. Average age at diagnosis was higher in AL than in ATTRm patients; all ATTRwt patients except 1 were elderly men. At diagnosis, mean left ventricular wall thickness was higher in ATTRwt than in ATTRm and AL. Left ventricular ejection fraction was moderately depressed in ATTRwt but not in AL or ATTRm. ATTRm patients less often displayed low QRS voltage (25% versus 60% in AL; P<0.0001) or low voltage-to-mass ratio (1.1+/-0.5 versus 0.9+/-0.5; P<0.0001). AL patients appeared to have greater hemodynamic impairment. On multivariate analysis, ATTRm was a strongly favorable predictor of survival, and ATTRwt predicted freedom from major cardiac events. CONCLUSIONS: AL, ATTRm, and ATTRwt should be considered 3 different cardiac diseases, probably characterized by different pathophysiological substrates and courses. Awareness of the diversity underlying the cardiac amyloidosis label is important on several levels, ranging from disease classification to diagnosis and clinical management.

Determinants of Binge Eating Symptoms in Children with Overweight/Obesity.

BACKGROUND: Examining binge eating symptoms before the diagnosis of binge eating disorder in children with obesity could provide important information on prevention of future eating disorders. METHODS: We examined the prevalence and multilevel determinants of three binge eating symptoms: (1) sneaking, hiding, or hoarding food; (2) eating in the absence of hunger, and (3) inhibition or embarrassment when eating in front of others among 817 children aged 5-12 years old with overweight/obesity receiving primary care in eastern Massachusetts. We examined the associations of child and parent/household characteristics with the prevalence ratios (PRs) of these three binge eating symptoms. RESULTS: Approximately one-third of parents reported that their children would sneak, hide, or hoard food; 40% ate large amounts in the absence of hunger; and 8% were inhibited/embarrassed when eating in front of others. In multivariate analyses, greater screen time was associated with a higher prevalence of sneaking, hiding, or hoarding (PR 1.06, 95% CI: 1.01-1.11). We found that children with severe obesity (PR 1.50, 95% CI: 1.24-1.81 vs. nonsevere obesity) had higher prevalence of eating in the absence of hunger. Increased hours of screen time were associated with higher prevalence of eating in the absence of hunger, (PR: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.03-1.11), whereas longer sleep duration (PR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.82-0.99) was associated with lower prevalence of eating in the absence of hunger. CONCLUSIONS: Eating in the absence of hunger was the most common symptom in our sample and was associated with screen time and sleep. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01537510.

Long-term Outcome after Robotic-assisted Gastroplication in Adolescents: Hunger Hormone and Food Preference Changes Two Case Reports.

Weight loss surgery (WLS) is efficacious for long-term weight reduction and decreases overall mortality in severely obese patients. The mechanisms implicated in long-term weight loss are not fully understood. Proposed mechanisms include changes in gut hormones and brain regulation of appetite and satiety. We aimed to investigate the long-term ghrelin and leptin profiles and changes in food preference and eating behavior after WLS in adolescent patients. Two obese females aged 15 years and 14 4/12 years, who did not respond to lifestyle changes, including dietary intervention and physical exercise in combination with medical therapy, underwent robotic-assisted gastroplication. Anthropometric measurements, food habits and eating behavior, as well as metabolic and hormonal changes during long-term post-surgical follow-up were monitored. Long-term weight reduction was obtained in both patients, with a significant decrease in waist circumference. Resting energy expenditure showed a decrease over time, with a respiratory quotient that increased showing a shift from oxidation of a high-fat diet before surgery to oxidation of a mixed diet two and three years later. Both subjects improved their eating habits and lifestyle. Co-morbidity resolution was also noted. Increased pre-prandial ghrelin levels as well as higher post-prandial ghrelin and a leptin drop compared with pre-surgery values were observed in both patients. Persistent weight loss after gastroplication is associated with a favorable change in gut hormones and food preferences. The role of hormonal and sensory components in long-term results seems crucial. Particularly in adolescent patients, a multidisciplinary approach and continuous nutritional care is mandatory for weight maintenance and consolidation of changes.

Prevalence of upper gastrointestinal symptoms and their influence on nutritional state and performance status in patients with different primary tumors receiving palliative care.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between gastrointestinal symptoms, nutritional balance, and performance status in patients receiving palliative care for advanced cancers originating in different sites. We studied a total of 105 patients. Upper gastrointestinal symptoms, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status score (ECOG-PS), dietary intakes, anthropometric measures, and some serum proteins were determined. Unintentional weight loss, alterations in anthropometric measures, and highest number of symptoms were greater in patients with lung and stomach cancer. No differences were found in ECOG-PS according to cancer site. Patients with gastric or lung cancer have most evidence of protein-calorie malnutrition and a higher prevalence of upper gastrointestinal symptoms. The performance status is not affected by tumor site. Early nutritional support should be planned for all patients with cancer, especially for patients with gastric or lung cancer.

Hunger hormone profile monitoring after gastroplication in an adolescent.

INTRODUCTION: Gut and adipose tissue hormones play an important role in energy balance control, particularly through the regulation at either short- or long-term food intake after bariatric surgery. CASE: A 15-year-old obese female (BMI 42.2) who was unresponsive to medical treatment underwent gastroplication. Hunger hormone levels (leptin, ghrelin and insulin), weight loss and eating behavior were monitored at 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery. RESULTS: Weight loss was obtained, progressively achieving a loss of 45.6 kg 1 year after surgery. A strong reduction in insulin concentration and insulin resistance was documented. At 3 months after the operation, a surprising leptin level drop was observed. During the following months a progressive increase in leptin levels and leptin/kg of fat mass were documented. Fasting ghrelin levels increased in the first 3 months, then fell over the next 6 months. Up to 6 months after gastroplication, we observed a less marked drop in plasma ghrelin after meal ingestion, while the values after 1 year showed a substantial fall in the postprandial period despite a further fasting ghrelin increased level. Early achievement of satiety was found. CONCLUSION: Hunger hormones level changes seem to be involved in weight loss and eating behavior after gastroplication in adolescents.

Relationship between smoking and metabolic syndrome.

Obesity and smoking are important causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The diseases and conditions associated with smoking make tobacco use one of the leading causes of death worldwide. In the World Health Organization European region, overweight and obesity are responsible for many chronic diseases, causing more than one million deaths each year. Smoking cessation is associated with a significantly reduced mortality risk in every body-mass-index group. Reductions in smoking and obesity would increase both the psychophysical well-being of the population and its economic productivity; it would also reduce the direct costs of pharmacological therapies and other forms of treatment. The aim of this review is to critically evaluate how tobacco smoking and obesity interact to reduce life expectancy, and to offer a comprehensive view of this issue that should be useful for clinical practice.

Prevention of recurrent lone atrial fibrillation by the angiotensin-II converting enzyme inhibitor ramipril in normotensive patients.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to verify whether angiotensin-II converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition is also effective in preventing relapses of lone atrial fibrillation (LAF), that is, in the absence of hypertension and/or heart disease. BACKGROUND: Several studies have shown that ACE inhibitors are effective in preventing atrial fibrillation (AF) relapses in patients with arterial hypertension or several forms of heart disease, that is, in the presence of clinical conditions that are recognized as causing a higher risk of atrial arrhythmias. METHODS: Sixty-two patients admitted to the emergency department of our institution for a first-ever episode of LAF were enrolled in the study after excluding the presence of cardiac or extracardiac conditions known to be associated with an increased risk of AF, by medical history, physical examination, complete echocardiographic study, and the evaluation of blood pressure, thyroid function, urinary catecholamines, serum electrolytes, blood glucose, red blood cell count, and arterial blood gases. After cardioversion to sinus rhythm by intravenous propafenone, patients were randomized to either ramipril 5 mg/day (n = 31) or placebo (n = 31). Holter monitoring and clinical examination were performed every 3 months. RESULTS: After a 3-year follow-up, AF relapses were observed in 3 patients treated with ramipril and in 10 patients allocated to placebo (p < 0.03, Kaplan-Meier, log-rank test). During follow-up, none of the patients developed arterial hypertension or other cardiac or extracardiac condition known to be associated with increased risk of AF, that is, in all patients the diagnosis of LAF was confirmed. CONCLUSIONS: Ramipril is effective in preventing relapses of LAF.