Sarcopenia Prevalence among Hospitalized Patients with Severe Obesity: An Observational Study.

Background: Sarcopenic obesity (SO) is the combination of excess fat, skeletal muscle and muscular strength/function deficit. The ESPEN/EASO have proposed new diagnostic criteria, but the SO prevalence in patients with severe obesity remains to be established. The aim of this study was to establish the SO prevalence in a large cohort of inpatients with obesity, considering sex, age, BMI, type, and number of concomitant diseases. Methods: Patient data of both genders aged between 18 and 90 years with a body mass index (BMI) of ≥30 kg/m2 underwent hospital evaluation including bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and handgrip strength (HS). QoL scores were obtained by the Psychological General Well-Being Index questionnaire. The study was approved by the institutional Ethic Committee. Results: Among the 3858 patients, 444 (11.51%) exhibited a strength deficit, while 3847 (99.71%) had skeletal muscle mass deficit. The prevalence of SO was then 11.48%, with higher rates in women (12.39%), in individuals aged >70 years (27%), and in those reporting a 'poor' QoL (12.6%). No significant difference in SO prevalence was found when stratifying by BMI (30-40 kg/m2 vs. >40 kg/m2, p = 0.1710). In SO patients, osteoarticular diseases (57%), hypertension/heart failure (38%), type 2 diabetes mellitus (34%), and obstructive sleep apnea (32%) were the more frequent comorbidities. Conclusions: The application of ESPEN/EASO-SO criteria in a cohort of inpatients with severe obesity revealed 11.48% SO prevalence, which was associated with age (particularly > 70 years), gender (women), but not BMI, as determinants. Disease staging and QoL screening may improve the identification of SO high-risk patients.

Comparative efficacy of three Bayesian variable selection methods in the context of weight loss in obese women.

The use of high-dimensional data has expanded in many fields, including in clinical research, thus making variable selection methods increasingly important compared to traditional statistical approaches. The work aims to compare the performance of three supervised Bayesian variable selection methods to detect the most important predictors among a high-dimensional set of variables and to provide useful and practical guidelines of their use. We assessed the variable selection ability of: (1) Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR), (2) Bayesian Semiparametric Regression (BSR), and (3) Bayesian Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (BLASSO) regression on simulated data of different dimensions and under three scenarios with disparate predictor-response relationships and correlations among predictors. This is the first study describing when one model should be preferred over the others and when methods achieve comparable results. BKMR outperformed all other models with small synthetic datasets. BSR was strongly dependent on the choice of its own intrinsic parameter, but its performance was comparable to BKMR with large datasets. BLASSO should be preferred only when it is reasonable to hypothesise the absence of synergies between predictors and the presence of monotonous predictor-outcome relationships. Finally, we applied the models to a real case study and assessed the relationships among anthropometric, biochemical, metabolic, cardiovascular, and inflammatory variables with weight loss in 755 hospitalised obese women from the Follow Up OBese patients at AUXOlogico institute (FUOBAUXO) cohort.

Comparison of Protein- or Amino Acid-Based Supplements in the Rehabilitation of Men with Severe Obesity: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Weight loss is associated with a reduction in all body compartments, including muscle mass (MM), and this effect produces a decrease in function and muscle strength. Our objective was to assess the impact of protein or amino acid supplements on MM loss in middle-aged men (age < 65 years) with severe obesity (BMI > 35 kg/m2) during weight loss. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a single-site randomized controlled trial (Clinicaltrials.gov NCT05143398) with 40 in-patient male subjects with severe obesity. Participants underwent an intervention program consisting of a low-calorie balanced diet and structured physical activity. They were randomly assigned to 4-week treatment groups: (1) control (CTR, N = 10), (2) protein (P, N = 10), (3) branched-chain amino acid (BCAA, N = 10), and (4) essential amino acid mixture with tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates (PD-E07, N = 10) supplementation. RESULTS: Following 4 weeks of intervention, all groups showed similar reductions in body weight compared to baseline. When examining the delta values, a notable increase in muscle mass (MM) was observed in the PD-E07 intervention group [MM (kg): 2.84 ± 3.57; MM (%): 3.63 ± 3.14], in contrast to the CTR group [MM (kg): -2.46 ± 3.04; MM (%): -0.47 ± 2.28], with a statistical significance of p = 0.045 and p = 0.023, respectively. However, the MM values for the P group [MM (kg): -2.75 ± 5.98, p = 0.734; MM (%): -0.44 ± 4.02, p = 0.990] and the BCAA group [MM (kg): -1 ± 3.3, p = 0.734; MM (%): 0.34 ± 2.85, p = 0.956] did not exhibit a statistically significant difference when compared to the CTR group. CONCLUSIONS: Amino acid-based supplements may effectively mitigate the loss of MM typically observed during weight reduction. Further validation through large-scale studies is necessary.

Phase angle (PhA) in overweight and obesity: evidence of applicability from diagnosis to weight changes in obesity treatment.

Phase angle (PhA) is a recently proposed marker of nutritional status in many clinical conditions. Its use in patients with obesity presents different critical concerns due to the higher variability of the two measured parameters (resistance, R, and reactance, Xc) that contribute to the determination of PhA. Controversial is the relation between PhA and BMI that might vary with graded levels of obesity due to the variation in fat and free fat mass. Obesity is frequently associated with metabolic, hepatic, cardiovascular and kidney diseases that introduce variations in PhA values, in relation to multimorbidity and severity degree of these diseases. It is reported that the improvement of clinical condition is associated with a positive change in PhA. Also, the treatment of obesity with weight loss might confirm this effect, but with different responses in relation to the type and duration of the intervention applied. In fact, the effect appears not only related to the percentage of weight loss but also the possible loss of free fat mass and the nutritional, metabolic and structural modifications that might follow each therapeutic approach to decrease body weight. We can conclude that the PhA could be used as marker of health status in patients with obesity supporting an appropriate weight loss intervention to monitor efficacy and fat free mass preservation.

A Pilot Study on Attentional Focus in Prescribing Physical Exercise in Outpatients with Obesity.

This pilot study compared the effects of two attentional focus strategies on fitness parameters and body composition in outpatients with obesity. This was a randomized, controlled study that enrolled 94 obese individuals and allocated them into an internal focus group (IF) or an external focus group (EF) while performing six weeks of a home-based training program. The home-based exercise program was the same for both groups except for the instructions that shifted the attention to an external or an internal condition. At the beginning and after the intervention period, participants were assessed for functional performance using the Functional Movement Screen (FMS), body balance using the Modified Balance Error Scoring System (M-BESS) and muscular strength with the Handgrip Strength Test (HST) and the Five-Repetition Sit-To-Stand (FRSTS) test. Concerning body composition and anthropometric parameters, the body mass index (BMI) and fat mass percentage (FM%) were calculated. Significant improvements, main interactions and effects of time and groups were highlighted in the EF group as compared to the IF group in FMS (35% vs. 21%), M-BESS (42% vs. 18%), HST (13% vs. 7%) and FRSTS (23% vs. 12%) measures, while FM% (5%) and BMI (6% vs. 5%) showed a similar improvement overtime (p < 0.001). In conclusion, our findings provide initial evidence that a 6-week training program performed following external focus instruction is able to promote significant enhancements in movement efficiency, balance and muscular strength as compared to an internal focus cue. Fitness coaches and therapists might consider integrating a specific attentional focus strategy when designing rehabilitation programs in subjects with obesity.

Telomere Length and Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number Variations in Patients with Obesity: Effect of Diet-Induced Weight Loss-A Pilot Study.

Background: Telomere length (TL) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number shifts are linked to metabolic abnormalities, and possible modifications by diet-induced weight loss are poorly explored. We investigated the variations before (T0) and after a 1-year (T12) lifestyle intervention (diet + physical activity) in a group of outpatients with obesity. Methods: Patients aged 25−70 years with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 were enrolled. Clinical and biochemical assessments (including a blood sample for TL, mtDNA copy number and total antioxidant capacity, and TAC determinations) were performed at T0 and T12. Results: The change in TL and the mtDNA copy number was heterogeneous and not significantly different at T12. Patients were then divided by baseline TL values into lower than median TL (L-TL) and higher than median TL (H-TL) groups. The two groups did not differ at baseline for anthropometric, clinical, and laboratory characteristics. At T12, the L-TL group when compared to H-TL showed TL elongation (respectively, +0.57 ± 1.23 vs. −2.15 ± 1.13 kbp, p = 0.04), higher mtDNA copy number (+111.5 ± 478.5 vs. −2314.8 ± 724.2, respectively, p < 0.001), greater weight loss (−8.1 ± 2.7 vs. −6.1 ± 4.6 Kg, respectively, p = 0.03), fat mass reduction (−1.42 ± 1.3 vs. −1.22 ± 1.5%, respectively, p = 0.04), and increased fat-free mass (+57.8 ± 6.5 vs. +54.9 ± 5.3%, respectively, p = 0.04) and TAC levels (+58.5 ± 18.6 vs. +36.4 ± 24.1 µM/L, respectively, p = 0.04). Conclusions: TL and the mtDNA copy number significantly increased in patients with obesity and with lower baseline TL values after a 1-year lifestyle intervention. Larger longitudinal studies are needed to confirm the results of this pilot study.

Are People with Obesity Attracted to Multidisciplinary Telemedicine Approach for Weight Management?

The forced isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted the lifestyle intervention programs for people with obesity. This study aimed to assess: (1) the behaviors of subjects with obesity towards medical care during the pandemic and (2) their interest in following a remotely delivered multidisciplinary program for weight loss. An online self-made survey addressed to subjects with obesity was linked to the official website of our institute. Four hundred and six subjects completed the questionnaire (90% females, 50.2 ± 11.6 years). Forty-six percent of the subjects cancelled any scheduled clinical assessments during the pandemic, 53% of whom had chronic disease. Half of the subjects were prone to following a remotely delivered lifestyle intervention, especially with a well-known health professional. About 45% of the respondents were favorable towards participating in remote psychological support and nutritional intervention, while 60% would practice physical activity with online tools. Male subjects and the elderly were more reluctant than those female and younger, especially for online psychological support. Our survey showed an interest on the part of the subjects with obesity to join a multidisciplinary weight loss intervention remotely delivered. Male subjects and the elderly seem less attracted to this intervention, and this result highlights that, even with telemedicine, the approach to weight management should be tailored.

RNA-seq dataset of subcutaneous adipose tissue: Transcriptional differences between obesity and healthy women.

In this data article, we present the dataset from the RNA-Seq analysis of subcutaneous adipose tissue collected from 5 healthy normal weight women (NW, age 37 ± 6.7 years, BMI 24.3 ± 0.9 kg/m2) and 5 obese women (OBF, age 41 ± 12.5 years, BMI 38.2 ± 4.6 kg/m2). Raw data obtained from Illumina NextSeq 500 sequencer were processed through BlueBee® Genomics Platform while differential expression analysis was performed with the DESeq2 R package and deposited in the GEO public repository with GSE166047 as accession number. Specifically, 20 samples divided between NW (control), OBF (obese women), OBM (obese male) and OBT2D (obese women with diabetes) are deposited in the GSE166047. We hereby describe only 10 samples (5 healthy normal weight women reported as NW and 5 obese women reported as OBF) because we refer to the data published in the article "Transcriptional characterization of Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue in obesity affected women highlights metabolic dysfunction and implications for lncRNAs" (DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2021.09.014). Pathways analyses were performed on g:Profiler, Enrichr, ClueGO and GSEA to gain biological insights on gene expression. Raw data reported in GEO database along with detailed methods description reported in this data article could be reused for comparisons with other datasets on the topic to obtain transcriptional differences in a wider co-hort. Moreover, detailed pathways analysis along with cross-referenced data with other datasets will allow to identify novel dysregulated pathways and genes responsible for this regulation. The biological interpretation of this dataset, along with related in vitro experiments, is reported by Rey et al., in Genomics (DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2021.09.014).

Transcriptional characterization of subcutaneous adipose tissue in obesity affected women highlights metabolic dysfunction and implications for lncRNAs.

Obesity is a complex disease with multifactorial causes, and its prevalence is becoming a serious health crisis. For this reason, there is a crucial need to identify novel targets and players. With this aim in mind, we analyzed via RNA-sequencing the subcutaneous adipose tissue of normal weight and obesity-affected women, highlighting the differential expression in the two tissues. We specifically focused on long non-coding RNAs, as 6 of these emerged as dysregulated in the diseased-tissue (COL4A2-AS2, RPS21-AS, PELATON, ITGB2-AS1, ACER2-AS and CTEPHA1). For each of them, we performed both a thorough in silico dissection and in vitro validation, to predict their function during adipogenesis. We report the lncRNAs expression during adipose derived stem cells differentiation to adipocytes as model of adipogenesis and their potential modulation by adipogenesis-related transcription factors (C/EBPs and PPARγ). Moreover, inhibiting CTEPHA1 expression we investigated its impact on adipogenesis-related transcription factors, showing its significative dysregulation of C/EBPα expression. Lastly, we dissected the subcellular localization, pathway involvement and disease-correlation for coding differentially expressed genes. Together, these findings highlight a transcriptional deregulation at the basis of obesity, impacted by both coding and long non-coding RNAs.

Body composition assessment using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) in a wide cohort of patients affected with mild to severe obesity.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Obesity is characterized by fat mass excess (FM), extra cellular water increase (ECW) and, with ageing, decrease in fat free mass (FFM). The validity of body impedance analysis (BIA) in patients with mild to severe obesity is still debated. The purpose of this study is to describe the Resistance (Rz) and Reactance (Xc) values obtained by Body Impedance Analysis (BIA) in a wide cohort of Italian patients with mild to severe obesity. The secondary endpoint is to describe the resulting body composition values (as percentage and indexes) in this population. METHODS: The study enrolled adult in-patients with mild to severe obesity (classified with class I, II and III obesity) undergoing clinical care rehabilitation program for obesity complications and weight loss. BIA values were grouped by sex, BMI and age classes. RESULTS: A total of 8303 patients with obesity, aged 18 to 90 y, were studied. The Resistance (Rz) and Reactance (Xc) were reported by sex, age and BMI classes. In women and men both, the phase angle (PhA) decreases with increasing BMI (kg/m2) and the resulting BIA vector was significantly shifted. The FM index (FMI) was higher (p < 0.0001) in women while FFM index (FFMI) was higher in men (p < 0.0001) and significantly associated with BMI. FFMI decreased with age in both sex (p < 0.0001). Skeletal mass (SM) presents a progressive reduction in relation to age and gender both. CONCLUSIONS: The present BIA-based body composition analysis in a wide cohort of mild to severe obese patients revealed a significantly decreased Rz and Xc values with a consequent significant decrease of PhA in a BMI-dependent manner. The body compartments estimation with available equations was BMI, sex and age dependent. These observational results could be the basis for the development of new equations adapted for patients suffering from obesity.

RNA-seq Characterization of Sex-Differences in Adipose Tissue of Obesity Affected Patients: Computational Analysis of Differentially Expressed Coding and Non-Coding RNAs.

Obesity is a multifactorial disease presenting sex-related differences including adipocyte functions, sex hormone effects, genetics, and metabolic inflammation. These can influence individuals' risk for metabolic dysfunctions, with an urgent need to perform sex-based analysis to improve prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation programs. This research work is aimed at characterizing the transcriptional differences present in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) of five obesity affected men versus five obesity affected women, with an additional focus on the role of long non-coding RNAs. Through RNA-sequencing, we highlighted the presence of both coding and non-coding differentially expressed RNAs, and with numerous computational analyses we identified the processes in which these genes are implicated, along with their role in co-morbidities development. We report 51 differentially expressed transcripts, 32 of which were coding genes and 19 were non-coding. Using the WGCNA R package (Weighted Correlation Network Analysis, version 1.70-3), we describe the interactions between coding and non-coding RNAs, and the non-coding RNAs association with the insurgence of specific diseases, such as cancer development, neurodegenerative diseases, and schizophrenia. In conclusion, our work highlights a specific gender sex-related transcriptional signature in the SAT of obesity affected patients.

Patients with Severe Obesity during the COVID-19 Pandemic: How to Maintain an Adequate Multidisciplinary Nutritional Rehabilitation Program?

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic is spreading all over the world, particularly in developed countries where obesity is also widespread. There is a high frequency of increased BMI in patients admitted to intensive care for SARS-CoV-2 infection with a major severity in patients with an excess of visceral adiposity. Patients at risk of severe SARS-CoV-2 acute respiratory syndrome are characterised by the high prevalence of pre-existing diseases (high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, or cancer), most of them typically present in severely obese patients. Indeed, the biological role of adipose tissue in sustaining SARS-CoV-2 infection is not completely elucidated. SUMMARY: The forced isolation due to pandemic containment measures abruptly interrupted the rehabilitation programs to which many patients with severe obesity were enrolled. People affected by obesity, and especially those with severe obesity, should continue clinical rehabilitation programs, taking extra measures to avoid COVID-19 infection and reinforcing the adoption of preventive procedures. In this review, the available data on obesity and COVID-19 are discussed along with evidence-based strategies for maintaining the necessary continuous rehabilitation programs. Key Messages: Greater attention is needed for obese and severely obese patients in the face of the current COVID-19 pandemic, which represents a huge challenge for both patients and healthcare professionals. The adoption of new strategies to guarantee adequate and continuous multidisciplinary nutritional rehabilitation programs will be crucial to control the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection in high-risk populations as well as the worsening of obesity-linked complications. Health authorities should be urged to equip hospitals with tools for the diffusion of telemedicine to maintain physician-patient communication, which is fundamental in chronic and complicated obese patients.

Transcriptome Analysis of Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue from Severely Obese Patients Highlights Deregulation Profiles in Coding and Non-Coding Oncogenes.

Obesity is a major risk factor for a large number of secondary diseases, including cancer. Specific insights into the role of gender differences and secondary comorbidities, such as type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cancer risk, are yet to be fully identified. The aim of this study is thus to find a correlation between the transcriptional deregulation present in the subcutaneous adipose tissue of obese patients and the oncogenic signature present in multiple cancers, in the presence of T2D, and considering gender differences. The subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) of five healthy, normal-weight women, five obese women, five obese women with T2D and five obese men were subjected to RNA-sequencing, leading to the identification of deregulated coding and non-coding RNAs, classified for their oncogenic score. A panel of DE RNAs was validated via Real-Time PCR and oncogene expression levels correlated the oncogenes with anthropometrical parameters, highlighting significant trends. For each analyzed condition, we identified the deregulated pathways associated with cancer, the prediction of possible prognosis for different cancer types and the lncRNAs involved in oncogenic networks and tissues. Our results provided a comprehensive characterization of oncogenesis correlation in SAT, providing specific insights into the possible molecular targets implicated in this process. Indeed, the identification of deregulated oncogenes also in SAT highlights hypothetical targets implicated in the increased oncogenic risk in highly obese subjects. These results could shed light on new molecular targets to be specifically modulated in obesity and highlight which cancers should receive the most attention in terms of better prevention in obesity-affected patients.

Role of long non-coding RNAs in adipogenesis: State of the art and implications in obesity and obesity-associated diseases.

Obesity is an evolutionary, chronic, and relapsing disease that consists of a pathological accumulation of adipose tissue able to increase morbidity for high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnea in adults, children, and adolescents. Despite intense research over the last 20 years, obesity remains today a disease with a complex and multifactorial etiology. Recently, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as interesting new regulators as different lncRNAs have been found to play a role in early and late phases of adipogenesis and to be implicated in obesity-associated complications onset. In this review, we discuss the most recent advances on the role of lncRNAs in adipocyte biology and in obesity-associated complications. Indeed, more and more researchers are focusing on investigating the underlying roles that these molecular modulators could play. Even if a significant number of evidence is correlation-based, with lncRNAs being differentially expressed in a specific disease, recent works are now focused on deeply analyzing how lncRNAs can effectively modulate the disease pathogenesis onset and progression. LncRNAs possibly represent new molecular markers useful in the future for both the early diagnosis and a prompt clinical management of patients with obesity.

Nutrition knowledge is associated with greater weight loss in obese patients following a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program.

BACKGROUND: A major objective of the metabolic-nutritional-psychological multidisciplinary rehabilitation of obese subjects is providing a nutritional education aimed at achieving a weight loss and the improvement of obesity-related cardio-metabolic diseases. The impact of nutrition knowledge in healthy eating patterns and weight loss is still debated. The aim of this study was to identify whether the increase in nutrition knowledge is associated with weight loss. METHODS: Two hundred fifty-six obese patients (80% women, mean age 57.5±12.4 years) were consecutively recruited among those referred for a three-month metabolic-nutritional-psychologic rehabilitation program. Education level and time of the onset of obesity were collected. Before and at the end of the intervention, anthropometric measures and body composition were assessed and the Moynihan Questionnaire (MQ) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire administered. The weight loss maintenance was evaluated in patients who attended the 6-month follow-up visit. RESULTS: Nutrition knowledge was poor/sufficient in 97 out of 256 obese patients. The MQ Score was associated with the education level but not with age, gender and Body Mass Index. After rehabilitation, there was an increase in nutrition knowledge (mean score change -12±10.5%, P<0.0001) in the whole group of patients as well as in those with poor knowledge, 77% of whom reached a good/high level of knowledge on healthy diet. The improvement in knowledge was greater in patients with a weight loss ≥5% (P<0.05 vs. patients with a lower weight loss). Weight maintenance at follow-up, was associated with a better improvement in the nutritional knowledge during the previous rehabilitation. CONCLUSIONS: Weight-management programs should include a strong component of nutrition education to alleviate knowledge inequalities and promote more effective weight loss and control. The MQ may be a useful tool to verify the nutritional education carried out during the rehabilitation of obese subjects.

Determinants of the Lifestyle Changes during COVID-19 Pandemic in the Residents of Northern Italy.

BACKGROUND: The confinement recommended during COVID-19 pandemic could affect behavior and health. METHODS: We conducted a self-reported survey in northern Italy to observe the lockdown effects on lifestyle changes and to assess their determinants. Prevalence Odds Ratio and Prevalence Risk Ratio were determined. RESULTS: 490 adults (84% female) completed the survey: 13% and 43% reported improved and unchanged sleep quality, respectively, while 43% had insomnia symptoms. Among the 272 active subjects in pre-lockdown, 14% continued habitual exercising, 18% increased it and 68% reduced it; 27% of sedentary subjects started physical exercise; 34% reported an improvement in diet quality; 42% increased food intake and 13% decreased it; and 38% of the smokers increased cigarette consumption. Age and the pre-lockdown habit of regular physical exercising were the mainly determinants of lifestyle changes whereas BMI, gender, and the presence of chronic diseases did not. Living with other people increased the likelihood of increasing the food intake (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: More than a third of people were able to positively reorganize their lives during the forced home confinement. It is worth to disseminate information to preserve a healthy lifestyle even when confined at home.

Expanding the role of bitter taste receptor in extra oral tissues: TAS2R38 is expressed in human adipocytes.

Increasing evidence indicates that taste receptors mediate a variety of functions in extra-oral tissues. The present study investigated the expression of bitter taste receptor TAS2R38 in human adipocytes, the possible link with genetic background and the role of TAS2R38 in cell delipidation and lipid accumulation rate in vitro. Subcutaneous (SAT) and visceral (VAT) adipose tissues were collected in 32 obese and 18 lean subjects. The TAS2R38 gene expression and protein content were examined in whole tissues, differentiated adipocytes and stroma-vascular fraction cells (SVF). The P49A SNP of TAS2R38 gene was determined in each collected sample. The effect of two bitter agonists (6-n-propylthiouracil and quinine) was tested. TAS2R38 mRNA was more expressed in SAT and VAT of obese than lean subjects and the expression/protein content was greater in mature adipocytes. The expression levels were not linked to P49A variants. In in vitro differentiated adipocytes, bitter agonists induced a significant delipidation. Incubation with 6-n-propylthiouracil induced an inhibition of lipid accumulation rate together with an increase in TAS2R38 and a decrease in genes involved in adipocyte differentiation. In conclusion, TAS2R38 is more expressed in adipocytes of obese than lean subjects and is involved in differentiation and delipidation processes.

Effect of Short-Term Dietary Intervention and Probiotic Mix Supplementation on the Gut Microbiota of Elderly Obese Women.

Accumulating literature is providing evidence that the gut microbiota is involved in metabolic disorders, but the question of how to effectively modulate it to restore homeostasis, especially in the elderly, is still under debate. In this study, we profiled the intestinal microbiota of 20 elderly obese women (EO) at the baseline (T0), after 15 days of hypocaloric Mediterranean diet administered as part of a nutritional-metabolic rehabilitation program for obesity (T1), and after a further 15 days of the same diet supplemented with a probiotic mix (T2). Fecal samples were characterized by Illumina MiSeq sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. The EO microbiota showed the typical alterations found in obesity, namely, an increase in potential pro-inflammatory components (i.e., Collinsella) and a decrease in health-promoting, short-chain fatty acid producers (i.e., Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae members), with a tendency to reduced biodiversity. After 15 days of the rehabilitation program, weight decreased by (2.7 ± 1.5)% and the gut microbiota dysbiosis was partially reversed, with a decline of Collinsella and an increase in leanness-related taxa. During the next 15 days of diet and probiotics, weight dropped further by (1.2 ± 1.1)%, markers of oxidative stress improved, and Akkermansia, a mucin degrader with beneficial effects on host metabolism, increased significantly. These findings support the relevant role of a correct dietetic approach, even in the short term, to modulate the EO gut microbiota towards a metabolic health-related configuration, counteracting the increased risk of morbidity in these patients.

Resting energy expenditure in argininosuccinic aciduria and in other urea cycle disorders.

No data are available on the specific energy needs of patients affected with Urea Cycle disorders (UCD) and especially argininosuccinic aciduria (ASA). In our experience, ASA patients tend to develop central adiposity and hypertriglyceridemia when treated with apparently adequate energy intake, while the other UCD do not. The aim of this study was to evaluate anthropometric parameters, body composition, risk of metabolic syndrome (MS) and resting energy expenditure (REE), both by indirect calorimetry (IC) and predictive equations, in UCD patients. Hypertension (5/13), pathological waist circumference-to-height ratio (WtHr) (6/13), hypertriglyceridemia (12/13), reduced HDL cholesterol (12/13), and MS (5/13) were found in ASA group. In the ASA cohort, the mean and median IC-REE were 88% of what was predicted by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and Harris-Benedict equations. The "other UCD" cohort did not show hypertension, dyslipidaemia nor MS; IC-REE was similar to the REE predicted by equations. A significant difference was seen for the presence of hypertension, dyslipidaemia, pathological WtHr, MS and IC-REE/predictive equations-REE in the two cohorts. ASA patients have a risk of overfeeding if their energy requirement is not assessed individually with IC. Excessive energy intake might increase the cardiovascular risk of ASA patients. We suggest to test ASA individuals with IC every year if the patient is sufficiently collaborative. We speculate that most of the features seen in ASA patients might depend on an imbalance of Krebs cycle. Further studies are needed to verify this hypothesis.