Left atrial remodeling in adolescents with obesity evaluated by speckle-tracking echocardiography.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: In adolescents with obesity, a left atrial (LA) enlargement has been reported. However, data regarding its function and its stiffness are missing. The aim of this study was to describe LA morphology and function, using speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) and to explore their potential determinants in adolescents with obesity. METHODS: Twenty-eight adolescent women with obesity (13.2 ± 1.4 yr) with an illness duration of 130 ± 27 months and 33 controls (14.1 ± 2.0 yr) underwent a resting echocardiography including an analysis of left ventricular (LV) and LA morphologies and strains. A fasting venous blood sample was performed to biochemical determinations including inflammation markers. RESULTS: LA volume and stiffness index were increased in adolescents with obesity compared to controls. LA reservoir, conduit and booster pump functions were not different between groups. By stepwise forward multivariate regression analyses, systolic blood pressures, cardiac output and sedimentation rate were the independent determinants of LA volume (p < 0.0001, ß-coefficient = 0.460) whereas only the body mass index was an independent determinant of LA stiffness (p = 0.003, ß-coefficient = 0.413). CONCLUSION: In adolescents with obesity, we observed a specific LA remodeling, including higher volume and lower stiffness, which could constitute early signs of an altered LV diastolic function.

Anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity on regional myocardial work and left ventricular mechanical dispersion in adolescents and young adults in post-lymphoma remission.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial work (MW) is a new echocardiographic tool with a high sensitivity to detect early and subtle alterations of myocardial function. We aimed to evaluate the late effects of anthracyclines by assessing the global and segmental MW and intraventricular mechanical dispersion from speckle tracking echocardiography in childhood lymphoma survivors (CLS). METHODS: Thirty-one young adults including CLS and age-matched healthy controls were enrolled. All underwent echocardiography including an evaluation of left ventricular (LV) morphology and regional function. We assessed LV longitudinal (differentiating sub-endocardial and sub-epicardial layers), circumferential strains and twist, global and regional MW index (MWI). LV mechanical dispersion was assessed from the time dispersion of LV longitudinal strain, from myocardial wasted work (MWW) and myocardial work efficiency (MWE). RESULTS: The longitudinal strains both at the level of the sub-endocardium and sub-epicardium were reduced in CLS compared to controls. The global MWI was also decreased (1668 ± 266 vs 1870 ± 264%.mmHg in CLS patients and controls, respectively, p < 0.05), especially on the apical segments. An increase of LV intraventricular mechanical dispersion was observed in CLS. MWW and MWE remained unchanged compared to controls. CONCLUSION: Our results strongly support that cardiac remodeling is observed in CLS, characterized by a decrease in MW and an increase in LV mechanical dispersion. The apex is specifically altered, but its clinical significance remains uncertain. MW as a complement to strain seems interesting in cancer survivors to detect myocardial dysfunction at early stage and adapt their follow-up.

Impact of BMI z-score on left ventricular mechanics in adolescent girls.

Background: Adolescent weight disorders ranging from anorexia nervosa (AN) to obesity (OB) can impact the heart by causing opposite alterations in its morphology, suggesting a direct impact of body mass index (BMI) on the heart. Cardiac function is relatively preserved as assessed by standard echocardiography. However, few studies have used 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography (2D-STE), which can detect subtle alterations of left ventricular (LV) function by evaluating deformations. This study aimed to assess the link between the BMI z-score of adolescent girls and myocardial function. Methods: Ninety-one adolescent girls comprising 26 AN patients (age 14.6 ± 1.9 years), 28 OB patients (age 13.2 ± 1.4 years), and 37 controls (age 14.0 ± 2.0 years) underwent 2D-STE to assess LV morphology and myocardial global and regional deformations. Results: The BMI z-score of our population ranged from -4.6 to 5.2. LV morphological remodeling was significantly and positively correlated with the BMI z-score (R2 = 0.456, p < 0.0001 for LV mass). Global longitudinal strain (LS) and regional LS recorded at the mid and apical levels were significantly correlated with the BMI z-score (R2 = 0.196, p = 0.0001 and R2 = 0.274, p < 0.0001, respectively, for apical and medial LS). Circumferential strains and twisting mechanics were not correlated with the BMI z-score. Fibrinogen and systolic blood pressure were the main variables explaining the alteration of LS. Conclusion: We observed that the BMI z-score had an impact on LV mechanics, especially on medial and apical LS. Neither circumferential nor twisting mechanics were altered by the BMI z-score in adolescent girls.

Influence of Perinatal Factors on Blood Tryptase and Fecal Calprotectin Levels in Newborns.

BACKGROUND: Blood tryptase and fecal calprotectin levels may serve as biomarkers of necrotizing enterocolitis. However, their interpretation may be hindered by the little-known effects of perinatal factors. The aim of this study was to compare the tryptase and calprotectin levels in newborns according to their term, trophicity, and sex. METHOD: One hundred and fifty-seven premature newborns and 157 full-term newborns were included. Blood tryptase and fecal calprotectin were assayed. RESULTS: Blood tryptase levels were higher in premature than in full-term newborns (6.4 vs. 5.2 µg/L; p < 0.001). In situations of antenatal use of corticosteroids (p = 0.007) and non-exclusive use of human milk (p = 0.02), these levels were also higher. However, in multiple linear regression analyses, only prematurity significantly influenced tryptase levels. Fecal calprotectin levels were extremely wide-ranging and were much higher in female than in male newborns (300.5 vs. 110.5 µg/g; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The differences in tryptase levels according to term could be linked to early aggression of the still-immature digestive wall in premature newborns, in particular, by enteral feeding started early. The unexpected influence of sex on fecal calprotectin levels remains unexplained.

Cardiac Remodeling and Its Determinants in Anorexia Nervosa Adolescents: Impact of Weight Recovery.

Cardiovascular alterations in anorexia nervosa (AN) adolescents include bradycardia and decreased systolic blood pressure and left ventricular mass. However, their determinants remain poorly understood. We assessed the associations between morphological and functional left ventricular (LV) remodeling, autonomic control by heart rate variability (HRV) analysis, thyroid hormones and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels in AN female adolescents without or with weight recovery (WR). Fifty-nine female adolescents including 16 AN patients without WR (mean age 13.9 years (10−16)), 10 AN patients with WR (15.7 years (12−18)) and 33 controls (14.1 years (10−18)) underwent night heart rate (HR) recording to measure HRV (and especially SD1/SD2, the ratio between instantaneous (SD1) and long-term (SD2) standard deviation of R-R intervals, reflecting sympatho-vagal balance), speckle tracking echocardiography to assess LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) and blood test for dosage of tri-iodothyronine (T3) hormone and NT-proBNP. Compared to controls, AN patients without WR presented with lower HR (55 ± 7 vs. 68 ± 6 bpm; p < 0.001), parasympathetic hyperactivity, and higher GLS (−19.2 ± 1.8 vs. −16.9 ± 2.8%; p = 0.009). These alterations were partly abolished in AN patients with WR. In a multivariate regression analysis, T3 was the main factor explaining the variance of SD1/SD2, a sympatho-vagal balance marker. NT-proBNP levels were not correlated with cardiac alterations. AN patients had parasympathetic hyperactivity linked with their rate of T3, and a higher GLS. These alterations were partly restored in AN patients with WR.

Corrigendum: Left Ventricular Strains and Myocardial Work in Adolescents With Anorexia Nervosa.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.798774.].

Global and Regional Myocardial Work in Female Adolescents with Weight Disorders.

BACKGROUND: Anorexia nervosa (AN) and obesity (OB) lead to changes in SBP (i.e., loading conditions) that may affect left ventricular (LV) myocardial work (MW). The novel concept of LV pressure-strain loops allows non-invasive estimation of MW, this latter being correlated with cardiac energy metabolism. In addition, the study of regional MW can detect subtle alterations in cardiac function by highlighting an abnormal distribution of MW. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the cardiac function of AN and OB patients by evaluating global and regional LV strains and MW. METHODS: Eighty-seven female adolescents, comprising 26 with AN (14.6 ± 1.9 yrs. old), 28 with OB (13.2 ± 1.4 yrs. old), and 33 controls (14.0 ± 2.0 yrs. old) underwent speckle-tracking echography to assess global and regional LV strains and MW. RESULTS: SBP was higher in adolescents with obesity than in AN patients or controls. Global MW was similar between groups. In AN patients and controls, longitudinal strains were higher at the apex than at the base of the LV, whereas they were similar in obesity patients, owing to a decrease in their apical longitudinal strain. Consequently, their MW was higher at the basal level than either of the other two groups (1854 ± 272 vs. 1501 ± 280 vs. 1575 ± 295 mmHg% in OB patients, AN patients, and controls, respectively. CONCLUSION: Despite altered SBP, the global MW of adolescents with weight disorders was unaffected. However, in adolescents with obesity, the distribution of their regional LV MW was altered, which might reflect specific regional remodeling.

Impaired Muscular Fat Metabolism in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis in Inactive Disease.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate muscular metabolic function in children with inactive juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Methods: Fifteen children with inactive JIA and fifteen healthy controls were matched by sex, biological age, and Tanner stage. Participants completed a submaximal incremental exercise test to determine their fat and carbohydrate oxidation rates. Results: Between the two groups, heart rate values and carbohydrate oxidation rates were the same, regardless of the relative intensity of exercise. Lipid oxidation rates were lower in JIA patients, regardless of the percentage of VO2 peak (p < 0.05). Respiratory exchange ratios beyond 50% of VO2 peak were higher in patients with JIA (p < 0.05). Respective maximal fat oxidation rates (MFO) for controls and children with JIA were 218.7 ± 92.2 vs. 157.5 ± 65.9 mg ⋅ min-1 (p = 0.03) and 4.9 ± 1.9 vs. 3.4 ± 1.2 mg ⋅ min-1 ⋅ kg-1 (p = 0.04). There was no difference between the two groups in heart rate, percentage of VO2 peak, or power of exercise to achieve MFO. Controls reached their MFO at an exercise power significantly higher than did JIA subjects (42.8 ± 16.8 and 31.9 ± 9.8 W, p = 0.004). Conclusion: Children with JIA show metabolic disturbance during exercise, even when the disease is considered inactive. This disturbance is seen in a lower lipid oxidation rate during submaximal exercise.