Correlates of Intimate Partner Violence, Including Psychological Partner Violence, in a Multisite U.S. Cohort of People in HIV Care.

We examined past-year intimate partner violence (IPV), including psychological violence without physical/sexual violence, and health outcomes among people with HIV (PWH) in care in a multi-site U.S. cohort. Between 2016 and 2022, PWH reported 12-month psychological, physical, and sexual IPV in a routine assessment. We used linear and logistic regression models adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, and site to examine relationships with health outcomes. Among 9748 PWH (median age 50 years, 81% cisgender male/16% cisgender female/1% transgender female; 44% non-Hispanic white/36% non-Hispanic Black/15% Hispanic), 9.3% (n = 905) reported any IPV in the past 12 months; half reported psychological IPV without physical/sexual IPV (n = 453). PWH reporting any type of IPV were on average younger than those who did not experience IPV. In adjusted models, any IPV was associated with increased likelihood of unstable housing, HIV viral load detection (HIV viral load ≥ 75 copies/mL), moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms, anxiety with panic symptoms, substance use (methamphetamines, cocaine/crack, illicit opioids, marijuana, heavy episodic/hazardous drinking), and concern about exposure to sexually transmitted infection. PWH reporting any IPV in the past 12 months had 4.2% lower adherence to antiretroviral therapy, 2.4 more HIV-related symptoms, a 1.9 point higher HIV stigma score, and a 9.5% lower quality of life score than those without IPV. We found similar associations among PWH reporting only psychological IPV, without physical/sexual IPV. IPV was common among PWH. Half reporting IPV reported only psychological IPV and had similarly poor outcomes as those reporting physical/sexual IPV, demonstrating the need to assess psychological as well as physical and sexual IPV.

RESUMEN: Examinamos la violencia de la pareja íntima (intimate partner violence, IPV) del año anterior, incluida la violencia psicológica sin violencia física y sexual, así como los resultados sanitarios entre las personas con VIH (people with HIV, PWH) que reciben atención en una cohorte multicéntrica de los Estados Unidos. Entre 2016 y 2022, las PWH informaron situaciones de IPV psicológica, física y sexual durante los 12 meses en una evaluación de rutina. Se utilizaron modelos de regresión lineal y logística ajustados por edad, raza/etnia y centro para examinar las relaciones con los resultados sanitarios. Entre 9748 PWH (mediana de edad de 50 años, 81% de hombres cisgénero/16% de mujeres cisgénero/1% de mujeres transgénero; 44% de blancos no hispanos/36% de negros no hispanos/15% de hispanos), el 9,3% (n = 905) informaron haber sufrido algún tipo de IPV en los últimos 12 meses; la mitad informó situaciones de IPV psicológica sin IPV física y sexual (n = 453). Las PWH que informaron de cualquier tipo de IPV fueron, en promedio, más jóvenes que las que no sufrieron IPV. En los modelos ajustados, cualquier IPV se asoció con una mayor probabilidad de vivienda inestable, detección de carga viral del VIH (carga viral del VIH ≥ 75 copias/ml), síntomas depresivos de moderados a graves, ansiedad con síntomas de pánico, consumo de sustancias (metanfetaminas, cocaína/crack, opioides ilícitos, marihuana, consumo excesivo episódico/peligroso de alcohol) y preocupación por la exposición a infecciones de transmisión sexual. Las PWH que informaron alguna situación de IPV en los últimos 12 meses tuvieron un 4,2% menos de cumplimiento de la terapia antirretrovírica, un 2,4% más de síntomas relacionados con el VIH, una puntuación de estigma del VIH 1,9 puntos más alta y una puntuación de calidad de vida un 9,5% más baja que las que no sufrieron IPV. Se encontraron asociaciones similares entre las PWH que informaron solo IPV psicológica, sin IPV física y sexual. La IPV fue común entre las PWH. La mitad de las personas que informaron IPV solo informaron IPV psicológica y tuvieron resultados igualmente deficientes que los que informaron IPV física y sexual, lo que demuestra la necesidad de evaluar la IPV psicológica, al igual que la IPV física y sexual.

Alcohol and drug use severity are independently associated with antiretroviral adherence in the current treatment era.

Substance use in people with HIV (PWH) negatively impacts antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence. However, less is known about this in the current treatment era and the impact of specific substances or severity of substance use. We examined the associations of alcohol, marijuana, and illicit drug use (methamphetamine/crystal, cocaine/crack, illicit opioids/heroin) and their severity of use with adherence using multivariable linear regression in adult PWH in care between 2016 and 2020 at 8 sites across the US. PWH completed assessments of alcohol use severity (AUDIT-C), drug use severity (modified ASSIST), and ART adherence (visual analogue scale). Among 9400 PWH, 16% reported current hazardous alcohol use, 31% current marijuana use, and 15% current use of ≥1 illicit drugs. In multivariable analysis, current methamphetamine/crystal use, particularly common among men who had sex with men, was associated with 10.1% lower mean ART adherence (p < 0.001) and 2.6% lower adherence per 5-point higher severity of use (ASSIST score) (p < 0.001). Current and more severe use of alcohol, marijuana, and other illicit drugs were also associated with lower adherence in a dose-dependent manner. In the current HIV treatment era, individualized substance use treatment, especially for methamphetamine/crystal, and ART adherence should be prioritized.

Associations of food insecurity and psychosocial measures with diet quality in adults aging with HIV.

People aging with HIV face social stressors which may negatively affect their overall nutrition. Here, we assess relationships between self-reported measures of depression, perceived stress, social support, and food insecurity with diet quality in older adults with HIV. A retrospective analysis of self-reported data from parent study at The University of Alabama at Birmingham 1917 HIV Clinic was performed. The study sample consisted of sixty people living with HIV (PLWH) with controlled HIV infection (<50 copies/mL), aged 50 years or older who participated in a cross-sectional microbiome study. Dietary intake was measured using the NHANES 12-month Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and three Automated Self-Administered (ASA) 24-hr diet recalls to calculate diet quality scores using the Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS); alternative Healthy Eating Index (aHEI); and the Recommended Food Score (RFS) indices. Food insecurity was measured with the Food Security Questionnaire (FSQ). Participants completed the following psychosocial scales: (1) depression - Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ8); (2) perceived stress - Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10); (3) social support - Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Linear regression models were used to investigate relationships among variables controlling for gender and income. The cohort was characterized as follows: Mean age 56 ± 4.6 years, 80% African-American, and 32% women. Mean body mass index (BMI) was 28.4 ± 7.2 with 55% reporting food insecurity. Most participants reported having post-secondary education (53%), although 77% reported annual incomes <$20,000. Food insecurity was independently associated with measures of poor dietary intake: aHEI (ß = -0.08, p = .02) and MDS (ß = -0.23, p < 0.01) and with low dietary intake of fibre (ß = -0.27, p = .04), vitamin E (ß = -0.35, p = .01), folate (ß = -0.31, p = .02), magnesium (ß = -0.34, p = .01) and copper (ß = -0.36, p = .01). These data indicate food insecurity is associated with poor diet quality among PLWH. Clinical interventions are needed to improve food access for PLWH of low SES.

Body mass index and early CD4 T-cell recovery among adults initiating antiretroviral therapy in North America, 1998-2010.

OBJECTIVES: Adipose tissue affects several aspects of the cellular immune system, but prior epidemiological studies have differed on whether a higher body mass index (BMI) promotes CD4 T-cell recovery on antiretroviral therapy (ART). The objective of this analysis was to assess the relationship between BMI at ART initiation and early changes in CD4 T-cell count. METHODS: We used the North American AIDS Cohort Collaboration on Research and Design (NA-ACCORD) data set to analyse the relationship between pre-treatment BMI and 12-month CD4 T-cell recovery among adults who started ART between 1998 and 2010 and maintained HIV-1 RNA levels < 400 copies/mL for at least 6 months. Multivariable regression models were adjusted for age, race, sex, baseline CD4 count and HIV RNA level, year of ART initiation, ART regimen and clinical site. RESULTS: A total of 8381 participants from 13 cohorts contributed data; 85% were male, 52% were nonwhite, 32% were overweight (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m(2) ) and 15% were obese (BMI > 30 kg/m(2) ). Pretreatment BMI was associated with 12-month CD4 T-cell change (P < 0.001), but the relationship was nonlinear (P < 0.001). Compared with a reference of 22 kg/m(2) , a BMI of 30 kg/m(2) was associated with a 36 cells/µL [95% confidence interval (CI) 14, 59 cells/µL] greater CD4 T-cell count recovery among women and a 19 cells/µL (95% CI 9, 30 cells/µL) greater recovery among men at 12 months. At a BMI > 30 kg/m(2) , the observed benefit was attenuated among men to a greater degree than among women, although this difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: A BMI of approximately 30 kg/m(2) at ART initiation was associated with greater CD4 T-cell recovery at 12 months compared with higher or lower BMI values, suggesting that body composition may affect peripheral CD4 T-cell recovery.

African genetic admixture is associated with body composition and fat distribution in a cross-sectional study of children.

OBJECTIVE: Although differences in body composition parameters among African American (AA), Hispanic American (HA) and European American (EA) children are well documented, the factors underlying these differences are not completely understood. Environmental and genetic contributors have been evaluated as contributors to observed differences. This study evaluated the extent to which African or European ancestral genetic background influenced body composition and fat distribution in 301 peripubertal AA (n = 107), HA (n = 79) and EA (n = 115) children aged 7-12. DESIGN: Estimates of African admixture (AFADM) and European admixture (EUADM) were obtained for every subject using 142 ancestry informative DNA markers. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and computed tomography scanning were used to determine body composition and abdominal fat distribution, respectively. Multiple regression models were conducted to evaluate the contribution of admixture estimates to body composition and fat distribution. RESULTS: Greater AFADM was associated with lower fat mass (P = 0.0163), lower total abdominal adipose tissue (P = 0.0006), lower intra-abdominal adipose tissue (P = 0.0035), lower subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue (P = 0.0115) and higher bone mineral content (BMC) (P = 0.0253), after adjusting for socio-economic status, sex, age, height, race/ethnicity and pubertal status. Greater EUADM was associated with lower lean mass (LM) (P = 0.0056). CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that ancestral genetic background contributes to racial/ethnic differences in body composition above and beyond the effects of racial/ethnic classification and suggest a genetic contribution to total body fat accumulation, abdominal adiposity, LM and BMC.

Racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 disease incidence independent of comorbidities, among people with HIV in the US.

OBJECTIVES: To define the incidence of clinically-detected COVID-19 in people with HIV (PWH) in the US and evaluate how racial and ethnic disparities, comorbidities, and HIV-related factors contribute to risk of COVID-19. DESIGN: Observational study within the CFAR Network of Integrated Clinical Systems cohort in 7 cities during 2020. METHODS: We calculated cumulative incidence rates of COVID-19 diagnosis among PWH in routine care by key characteristics including race/ethnicity, current and lowest CD4 count, and geographic area. We evaluated risk factors for COVID-19 among PWH using relative risk regression models adjusted with disease risk scores. RESULTS: Among 16,056 PWH in care, of whom 44.5% were Black, 12.5% were Hispanic, with a median age of 52 years (IQR 40-59), 18% had a current CD4 count < 350, including 7% < 200; 95.5% were on antiretroviral therapy, and 85.6% were virologically suppressed. Overall in 2020, 649 PWH were diagnosed with COVID-19 for a rate of 4.94 cases per 100 person-years. The cumulative incidence of COVID-19 was 2.4-fold and 1.7-fold higher in Hispanic and Black PWH respectively, than non-Hispanic White PWH. In adjusted analyses, factors associated with COVID-19 included female sex, Hispanic or Black identity, lowest historical CD4 count <350 (proxy for CD4 nadir), current low CD4/CD8 ratio, diabetes, and obesity. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the presence of structural racial inequities above and beyond medical comorbidities increased the risk of COVID-19 among PWHPWH with immune exhaustion as evidenced by lowest historical CD4 or current low CD4:CD8 ratio had greater risk of COVID-19.

Phospholipid abnormalities in early Alzheimer's disease. In vivo phosphorus 31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether changes in phosphomonoester and phosphodiester levels could be detected in vivo with phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the early stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD). DESIGN: Survey-type of case-control study using neuropsychological testing as criterion standard with blinded data analysis. SETTING: Patients were from a neurology clinic in Paris, France. The controls were from the community. Magnetic resonance measurements were performed in the prefrontal region of the brain with a clinical 1.5-T scanner. Blinded data analysis. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-four patients with mild AD and 15 age-matched healthy volunteers. Subjects were separated into two groups, both composed of patients with AD and healthy volunteers. Two successive acquisition protocols were used in the two groups. RESULTS: A significant increase in the phosphomonoester-total phosphorus ratio was found in patients with AD compared with controls. In this series, use of a ratio above 11% as a threshold to test our sample yielded an 83.3% sensitivity and a 73.3% specificity test for AD. Other metabolite ratios (inorganic phosphate, phosphodiesters, phosphocreatine, and nucleotide phosphates to total phosphorus) were not significantly different between patients and controls. No metabolite ratio correlated with the neuropsychological status as assessed by the Mini-Mental State Examination. CONCLUSION: Changes in phospholipid metabolism can be detected in vivo in the early stage of AD. Discrepancies in the literature may be due to differences in technical setting or in subject population types.

Use of magnetic resonance imaging for noninvasive characterization and follow-up of an experimental injury to normal mouse muscles.

A magnetic resonance imaging protocol was tested in a cardiotoxin-induced myonecrosis of hindlimb muscles of three normal mice to assess the usefulness of data provided by longitudinal follow-up of a few individuals. Magnetic resonance imaging examinations were performed sequentially at 4 T between days 1 and 11 post-injury. Axial T1-weighted images after injection of a paramagnetic contrast agent were used to determine the volume of lesions from regions of increased signal intensity. T2 measurements were performed from a single-slice ten-echo acquisition centered upon the largest section of lesion. Early after injury, a very large T2 increase was observed. As recovery proceeded, T2 values progressively decreased toward normal values. Similarly, the volumes of lesions decreased to virtually zero by days 10-11. The evolution of these indices followed the same time scheme observed in histological studies. The use of a volume probe allowed accurate measurement of T2 values, and the acquisition of volumetric data. Such magnetic resonance imaging follow-up should help gather valuable information using few animals.

Assessing gene and cell therapies applied in striated skeletal and cardiac muscle: is there a role for nuclear magnetic resonance?

Gene and cell therapies convey high hopes for treatment of skeletal and heart muscle diseases. In the experimental protocols under development as well as in the first clinical trials, longitudinal control by an atraumatic procedure is needed. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), via its two modalities, imaging or spectroscopy, should play a major role both for in vivo animal and human studies, because of the great number of parameters that can be measured, sequentially or simultaneously, and because of its aptitude to monitor several steps of protocols, in particular to detect physiological modifications induced by therapies. We review here the many possible applications of nuclear magnetic resonance in gene/cell therapies where muscle is the target organ, with emphasis on the application of nuclear magnetic resonance to functional studies.

Muscular transverse relaxation time measurement by magnetic resonance imaging at 4 Tesla in normal and dystrophic dy/dy and dy(2j)/dy(2j) mice.

Muscular transverse relaxation times values were measured in vivo in normal mice (strain C57BL6/J, n=14) and in murine models of human congenital muscular dystrophy (dy/dy, n=9; dy(2j)/dy(2j), n=8). A single-slice multi-echo sequence was used. Gastrocnemius/soleus complex, thigh and buttock muscles were studied. Muscular transverse relaxation times values were compared between different muscle groups in each type of animal and between animal groups. Differences were observed between normal and dy(2j)/dy(2j) mice from 3 to 12 weeks of age, and between normal and dy/dy mice at 6 weeks. In specific age ranges, the values of muscular transverse relaxation times in two dystrophic models are different from those in normal mice, and could thus be used as an index of modifications in dystrophic muscle to evaluate therapies.

Cortical areas activated by bilateral galvanic vestibular stimulation.

The brain areas activated by bilateral galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) were studied using functional magnetic resonance imaging. In six human volunteers, GVS led to activation in the region of the temporoparietal junction, the central sulcus, and the anterior interior intraparietal sulcus, which may correspond to macaque areas PIVC, 3aV, and 2v, respectively. In addition, activation was found in premotor regions of the frontal lobe, presumably analogous to areas 6pa and 8a in the monkey. Since these areas were not detected in previous studies using caloric vestibular stimulation, they could be related to the modulation of otolith afferent activity by GVS. However, the simple paradigm used did not allow separation of the otolithic and semicircular canal effects of GVS. Further studies must be performed to clarify the question of cortical representation of the otolithic information in the human and monkey brain.

A comparison of voluntary and electrically induced contractions by interleaved 1H- and 31P-NMRS in humans.

Skeletal muscle voluntary contractions (VC) and electrical stimulations (ES) were compared in eight healthy men. High-energy phosphates and myoglobin oxygenation were simultaneously monitored in the quadriceps by interleaved (1)H- and (31)P-NMR spectroscopy. For the VC protocol, subjects performed five or six bouts of 5 min with a workload increment of 10% of maximal voluntary torque (MVT) at each step. The ES protocol consisted of a 13-min exercise with a load corresponding to 10% MVT. For both protocols, exercise consisted of 6-s isometric contractions and 6-s rest cycles. For an identical mechanical level (10% MVT), ES induced larger changes than VC in the P(i)-to-phosphocreatine ratio [1.38 +/- 1.14 (ES) vs. 0.13 +/- 0.04 (VC)], pH [6.69 +/- 0.11 (ES) vs. 7.04 +/- 0.07 (VC)] and myoglobin desaturation [43 +/- 15.9 (ES) vs. 6.1 +/- 4.6% (VC)]. ES activated the muscle facing the NMR coil to a greater extent than did VCs when evaluated under identical technical conditions. This metabolic pattern can be interpreted in terms of specific temporal and spatial muscle cell recruitment. Furthermore, at identical levels of energy charge, the muscle was more acidotic and cytoplasm appeared more oxygenated during ES than during VC. These results are in accordance with a preferential recruitment of type II fibers and a relative muscle hyperperfusion during ES.

Opioid receptor types for endogenous enkephalin in the thoracic ganglion of the crab, Carcinus maenas.

In crustaceans, the endogenous opioid peptides, enkephalins, are known to be concentrated in the thoracic ganglion, although they have been demonstrated in all parts of the nervous system. Bmax and Kd measurements have been obtained for the binding of ligands used to characterize delta- and kappa-type opioid receptors in vertebrates. High- and low affinity binding of [3H] [2-D-Pen5-D Pen] enkephalin ([3H]DPDPE) has been measured with a Kd = 9.2 +/- 2.4 nM, Bmax = 153 fmol/mg, and Kd = 243 +/- 27 nM, Bmax = 1.785 pmol/mg, respectively. In addition a kappa-type receptor with Kd 85.5 +/- 12.6 nM and Bmax = 21.138 pmol/mg protein has been recorded. Binding characteristics of several ligands were monitored. Electrophoretic studies of affinity chromatographically purified receptor fractions revealed a molecular mass of 60 kDa. Isoelectric focusing showed a specific binding of [3H]DPDPE to thoracic ganglion membranes at a pl of 5.5.

Delta and kappa opioid receptors in eyestalk ganglia of a crustacean.

Crustacean eyestalk ganglia are part of the protocerebrum and have been demonstrated to produce numerous neurohormones. 3H(2-D-Pen, 5-D-Pen)-enkephalin, 3H-(-)-ethylketocyclazocine and 3H(D-Ala2-NMePhe-Glyol5)-enkephalin were used as ligands for opioid receptors on neuronal membrane preparations of eyestalk ganglia under consideration of their stereospecific binding properties. In context with saturation binding isotherms, association and dissociation plots, we demonstrate here two opioid receptors; a delta-type receptor with high affinity (Bmax 68.5 fmol/mg protein, Kd = 4.0 nM) and low affinity (Bmax 493 fmol/mg, Kd = 83.6 nM) and a second receptor of kappa-type with Bmax of 3.1 pmol/mg protein and Kd = 68.6 nM.

Isolation and purification of calmodulin from the shrimp, Crangon crangon.

Calmodulin was isolated and purified from shrimp abdominal muscle by heat precipitation, ion exchange and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. The purified calmodulin was homogeneous when evaluated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A still remaining contaminant was eliminated by high performance liquid chromatography on a phenyl column. The biological and physicochemical properties of shrimp calmodulin such as amino acid composition, molecular weight and the ability to activate calmodulin-deficient bovine heart phosphodiesterase were compared to those of other invertebrate calmodulins.

Sex pheromones in marine polychaetes: steroids from ripe Nereis succinea.

A number of neutral marine steroids such as desmosterol, campesterol, brassicasterol, gorgosterol, and other trace steroids were isolated from the coelomic fluid of ripe Nereis succinea and checked for biological activity as sex pheromones on swarming specimens of Platynereis dumerilii and Nereis succinea. No significant influence of synthetic gorgosterol or a natural extract of gorgosterol or the other identified steroids on the swarming behavior was observed.

Fat suppression techniques in MRI: an update.

Due to short relaxation times, fat has a high signal on magnetic resonance images (MRI). This high signal, easily recognized on MRI, may be useful to characterize a lesion. However, small amounts of lipids are more difficult to detect on conventional MRI. In addition, the high signal due to fat may be responsible for artifacts such as ghosting and chemical shift. Lastly, a contrast enhancing tumor may be hidden by the surrounding fat. These problems have prompted development of fat suppression techniques in MRI. Fat may be suppressed on the basis of its difference in resonance frequency with water by means of frequency selective pulses or phase contrast techniques, or on the basis of its short T1 relaxation time by means of inversion recovery sequences. Lastly, hybrid techniques combining several of these fat suppression techniques are also possible. The aim of this paper is to review the basic principles of all these fat suppression techniques and to exemplify their clinical use.

Simultaneous measurements of diffusion and transverse relaxation in exercising skeletal muscle.

The aim of this study was to compare proton T2 and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) variations induced by exercise in skeletal muscle, to provide some more information on the source of their variations. T2 and ADC were measured in the forearm flexor digitorum muscles in 12 healthy volunteers at rest and after an exercise, using a sequence allowing simultaneous measurements of both parameters. At rest, T2 was 30.6 +/- 1.8 ms (mean +/- 1 SD) and ADC was 1.82 +/- 0.11 x 10(-9) m2/s. With exercise, T2 varied by +2.8 +/- 12% (p < .001 vs. rest) and ADC varied by +12 +/- 3% (p < .001). The recovery of T2 after exercise was faster than that of ADC, with half-times of 7 +/- 2 min and of 15 +/- 8 min (p < .01), respectively. It is concluded that both T2 and ADC with exercise are probably different, T2 mostly reflecting changes in water content and ADC reflecting temperature variations.

Simultaneous measurement of perfusion and oxygenation changes using a multiple gradient-echo sequence: application to human muscle study.

We have developed a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique based on a multiple gradient-echo sequence designed to probe perfusion and oxygenation simultaneously within skeletal muscle. Processing of the images acquired at successive echo times (TEs) generates two functional maps: one of the signal intensity (SI) extrapolated to zero echo time, which is sensitive to perfusion; and a second one of R2*, which reflects oxygenation. An advantage of the processing procedure lies in the selection of tissue of interest through the profile of T2* decay, leading to automatic rejection of pixels containing small vessels. This allows a more specific assessment of tissue perfusion and oxygenation. This technique was demonstrated successfully during post-ischemic reactive hyperemia in human calf. A perfusion peak of 123 mL x 100 g(-)1 x min(-1) was measured immediately after ischemia, whereas R2* value showed an 11.5% decrease at the same time, essentially reflecting blood oxygenation changes. Differences in the time courses of reperfusion and re-oxygenation were observed, oxygenation presenting a slower recovery. The mechanisms responsible for such a differential dynamic response are discussed.

In vitro adrenal cortex lesions characterization by NMR spectroscopy.

Percentage of lipid content of 22 adrenal cortex lesions and their water proton longitudinal relaxation time were measured in vitro at 60 MHz. Although water relaxation times obtained on benign and malignant samples overlap each other, measurements of the percentage of lipids performed on the same tissues allow us to distinguish the two pathologies. The specific tool of characterization should be possible to obtain through in vivo spectroscopic imaging techniques.