Changes in body mass, appetite-related hormones, and appetite sensation in women during 4 days of hypobaric hypoxic exposure equivalent to 3,500-m altitude.

Altitude exposure may suppress appetite and hence provide a viable weight-loss strategy. While changes in food intake and availability as well as physical activity may contribute to altered appetite at altitude, herein we aimed to investigate the isolated effects of hypobaric hypoxia on appetite regulation and sensation. Twelve healthy women (age: 24.0 ± 4.2 years, body mass: 60.6 ± 7.0 kg) completed two 4-day sojourns in a hypobaric chamber, one in normoxia [PB = 761 mmHg, 262 m (NX)] and one in hypobaric hypoxia [PB = 493 mmHg (HH)] equivalent to 3,500-m altitude. Energy intake was standardized 4 days prior and throughout both sojourns. Plasma concentrations of leptin, acylated ghrelin, cholecystokinin (CCK), and cytokine growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) were determined every morning. Before and after breakfast, lunch, and dinner, appetite was assessed using visual analog scales. Body mass was significantly decreased following HH but not NX (-0.71 ± 0.32 kg vs. -0.05 ± 0.54 kg, condition: P < 0.001). Compared to NX, acylated ghrelin decreased throughout the HH sojourn (condition × time: P = 0.020), while leptin was higher throughout the entire HH sojourn (condition: P < 0.001). No differences were observed in CCK and GDF15 between the sojourns. Feelings of satiety and fullness were higher (condition: P < 0.001 and P = 0.013, respectively), whereas prospective food consumption was lower in HH than in NX (condition: P < 0.001). Our findings suggest that hypoxia exerts an anorexigenic effect on appetite-regulating hormones, suppresses subjective appetite sensation, and can induce weight loss in young healthy women. Among the investigated hormones, acylated ghrelin and leptin most likely explain the observed HH-induced appetite suppression.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study investigated the effects of hypoxia on appetite regulation in women while strictly controlling for diet, physical activity, menstrual cycle, and environmental conditions. In young women, 4 days of altitude exposure (3,500 m) decreases body weight and circulating acylated ghrelin levels while preserving leptin concentrations. In line with the hormonal changes, altitude exposure induces alterations in appetite sensation, consisting of a decreased feeling of hunger and prospective food intake and an increased feeling of fullness and satiety.

A Comprehensive Examination of Vegan Lifestyle in Italy.

The popularity of veganism and plant-based diets is rapidly increasing worldwide, including in Italy, where more individuals and families are adopting this lifestyle. However, medical and health professionals often lack the necessary knowledge and are skeptical about this diet despite the scientific evidence. It is important for them to provide support and expertise to those following this diet. The survey evaluated various aspects of the lifestyle of Italian vegans living in Italy and abroad, including food frequency, vitamin and mineral supplementation, relationship with medical and health professionals, and perceived difficulties in daily life. The emphasis was on potentially critical aspects for those following this dietary choice. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Italy between March and April 2022. A questionnaire was distributed through social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and Telegram, and 2180 Italian adults who follow a vegan diet completed it. The survey found that most of the vegan population surveyed were female, showed a greater sensitivity to ethical issues, were aware of the need for vitamin B12 supplementation, and followed healthy-eating guidelines. It is evident that despite the increasing popularity of plant-based diets, many medical and health professionals remain cautious and hesitant to recommend them.

Hypoxia briefly increases diuresis but reduces plasma volume by fluid redistribution in women.

We have recently reported that hypobaric hypoxia (HH) reduces plasma volume (PV) in men by decreasing total circulating plasma protein (TCPP). Here, we investigated whether this applies to women and whether an inflammatory response and/or endothelial glycocalyx shedding could facilitate the TCCP reduction. We further investigated whether acute HH induces a short-lived diuretic response that was overlooked in our recent study, where only 24-h urine volumes were evaluated. In a strictly controlled crossover protocol, 12 women underwent two 4-day sojourns in a hypobaric chamber: one in normoxia (NX) and one in HH equivalent to 3,500-m altitude. PV, urine output, TCPP, and markers for inflammation and glycocalyx shedding were repeatedly measured. Total body water (TBW) was determined pre- and postsojourns by deuterium dilution. PV was reduced after 12 h of HH and thereafter remained 230-330 mL lower than in NX (P < 0.0001). Urine flow was 45% higher in HH than in NX throughout the first 6 h (P = 0.01) but lower during the second half of the first day (P < 0.001). Twenty-four-hour urine volumes (P ≥ 0.37) and TBW (P ≥ 0.14) were not different between the sojourns. TCPP was lower in HH than in NX at the same time points as PV (P < 0.001), but inflammatory or glycocalyx shedding markers were not consistently increased. As in men, and despite initially increased diuresis, HH-induced PV contraction in women is driven by a loss of TCPP and ensuing fluid redistribution, rather than by fluid loss. The mechanism underlying the TCPP reduction remains unclear but does not seem to involve inflammation or glycocalyx shedding.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study is the first to investigate the mechanisms underlying plasma volume (PV) contraction in response to hypoxia in women while strictly controlling for confounders. PV contraction in women has a similar time course and magnitude as in men and is driven by the same mechanism, namely, oncotically driven redistribution rather than loss of fluid. We further report that hypoxia facilitates an increase in diuresis, that is, however, short-lived and of little relevance for PV regulation.

Food and Nutrition in the Pathogenesis of Liver Damage.

The liver is an important organ and plays a key role in the regulation of metabolism and in the secretion, storage, and detoxification of endogenous and exogenous substances. The impact of food and nutrition on the pathophysiological mechanisms of liver injury represents a great controversy. Several environmental factors including food and micronutrients are involved in the pathogenesis of liver damage. Conversely, some xenobiotics and micronutrients have been recognized to have a protective effect in several liver diseases. This paper offers an overview of the current knowledge on the role of xenobiotics and micronutrients in liver damage.

Regulation of plasma volume in male lowlanders during 4 days of exposure to hypobaric hypoxia equivalent to 3500 m altitude.

KEY POINTS: Acclimatization to hypoxia leads to a reduction in plasma volume (PV) that restores arterial O2 content. Findings from studies investigating the mechanisms underlying this PV contraction have been controversial, possibly as experimental conditions were inadequately controlled. We examined the mechanisms underlying the PV contraction evoked by 4 days of exposure to hypobaric hypoxia (HH) in 11 healthy lowlanders, while strictly controlling water intake, diet, temperature and physical activity. Exposure to HH-induced an ∼10% PV contraction that was accompanied by a reduction in total circulating protein mass, whereas diuretic fluid loss and total body water remained unchanged. Our data support an oncotically driven fluid redistribution from the intra- to the extravascular space, rather than fluid loss, as the mechanism underlying HH-induced PV contraction. ABSTRACT: Extended hypoxic exposure reduces plasma volume (PV). The mechanisms underlying this effect are controversial, possibly as previous studies have been confounded by inconsistent experimental conditions. Here, we investigated the effect of hypobaric hypoxia (HH) on PV in a cross-over study that strictly controlled for diet, water intake, physical activity and temperature. Eleven males completed two 4-day sojourns in a hypobaric chamber, one in normoxia (NX) and one in HH equivalent to 3500 m altitude. PV, urine output, volume-regulating hormones and plasma protein concentration were determined daily. Total body water (TBW) was determined at the end of both sojourns by deuterium dilution. Although PV was 8.1 ± 5.8% lower in HH than in NX after 24 h and remained ∼10% lower thereafter (all P < 0.002), no differences were detected in TBW (P = 0.17) or in 24 h urine volumes (all P > 0.23). Plasma renin activity and circulating aldosterone were suppressed in HH during the first half of the sojourn (all P < 0.05) but thereafter similar to NX, whereas no differences were detected for copeptin between sojourns (all P > 0.05). Markers for atrial natriuretic peptide were higher in HH than NX after 30 min (P = 0.001) but lower during the last 2 days (P < 0.001). While plasma protein concentration was similar between sojourns, total circulating protein mass (TCP) was reduced in HH at the same time points as PV (all P < 0.03). Despite transient hormonal changes favouring increased diuresis, HH did not enhance urine output. Instead, the maintained TBW and reduced TCP support an oncotically driven fluid redistribution into the extravascular compartment as the mechanism underlying PV contraction.

Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) of the tongue and of the oral cavity: a large retrospective study.

Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) causes severe mucositis, impairs feeding and favors infection. The objective of this study was to identify the impact of GvHD in the oral cavity. We reviewed all consecutive patients who developed oral GvHD after HSCT. The study period was over 14 years. 53 patients were identified. M/F = 1.4; median age was 48.6 years; the median follow-up was for up to 3 years and 6 months. Conditioning regimens included several drugs (e.g., busulfan, cyclophosphamide and fludarabine). In 11 cases, radiotherapy (RT) was also used. Patients treated with RT were more likely to have tooth decay requiring fillings (p = 0.029), to need canal root interventions (p = 0.005) and to have tartar requiring oral hygiene interventions (p = 0.011). Patients with a lymphoma diagnosis were more likely to develop perioral scleroderma and chronic oral GvHD (cGvHD) (p = 0.045). Oral acute GvHD (aGvHD) was seen in 26 patients (49.1%). 21 (39.6%) patients developed cGvHD. GvHD of the tongue was seen in 21 (40%) patients. Oral mucositis was seen in only 5 patients (9.4%). Conditioning regimens with RT are more likely to induce oral aGvHD. The tongue is often affected by GvHD.

Effects of a whey protein supplementation on oxidative stress, body composition and glucose metabolism among overweight people affected by diabetes mellitus or impaired fasting glucose: A pilot study.

Obesity and diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) are characterized by chronic inflammation and oxidative stress [Donath et al. 2013] and this leads to cardiovascular diseases [Hulsmans & Holvoet 2010]. Whey proteins (WP) have antioxidant [Chitapanarux et al. 2009], anti-inflammatory [Sugawara et al. 2012] and hypoglycemic activities [Mignone et al. 2015], while data on weight, body composition [Frestedt et al. 2008; Aldrich et al. 2011] and blood pressure are conflicting [Kawase et al. 2000; Lee et al. 2007]. WP have unpleasant taste and smell [Patel 2015], but a new WP isolate (ProLYOtin®) seems to be more palatable. 40 g/die of ProLYOtin® were supplemented to overweight people (n=31) with impaired fasting glucose/DM2 for 12 weeks. Markers of antioxidant status (total antioxidant status, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, uric acid), oxidative damage (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, advanced oxidation protein products, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine), inflammation (interleukin-6, high sensitive reactive protein C) and glicemic status (fasting glucose, insulin, glycated hemoglobin), anthropometric data (weight, height, waist circumference), body composition (body cell mass, fat mass), blood pressure, hand grip strength and skin autofluorescence were measured before and at the end of supplementation. Isolate palatability was evaluated. An increase in glutathione peroxidase, a decrease in uric acid and no change in glutathione reductase, total antioxidant status, oxidative damage, inflammation and glucose markers were found. Significant improvements in anthropometric parameters and fat mass were detected. There wasn't any change in blood pressure, skin autofluorescence and physical performance. Two-thirds of subjects judged the supplement positively. ProLYOtin® seems suitable for treatment of OS and overweight.

Impressive tissue regeneration of severe oral mucositis post stem cell transplantation using cord blood platelet gel.

BACKGROUND: Platelet gel from cord blood (CBPG) is a recently developed blood component for topical use. We report a case of life-threatening mucositis after high-dose chemotherapy with fotemustine and cytarabine that was successfully treated with CBPG. CASE REPORT: A patient with non-Hodgkin lymphoma who was undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation developed severe oral and esophageal mucositis with severe bacterial sepsis and cytomegalovirus infection, causing prolonged neutropenia. CBPG was topically administered daily to the oral cavity. The CBPG was partially reabsorbed and partially swallowed. RESULTS: After 8 consecutive days of administration, the patient's oral mucosa markedly improved, showing restitutio ad integrum, and the patient's clinical status progressively improved. No side effects were seen after CBPG application. CONCLUSION: This case supports the need to conduct controlled studies comparing the efficacy of autologous and allogeneic platelet gel from adult and umbilical cord blood for the topical treatment of severe oral mucositis occurring after high-dose chemotherapy.

Digital clubbing in primary intestinal lymphangiectasia: a case report.

Primary intestinal lymphangiectasia (PIL), also known as Waldmann's disease, is a rare disorder characterized by dilated intestinal lacteals resulting in lymph leakage into the small bowel lumen and responsible for protein-losing enteropathy leading to lymphopenia, hypoalbuminemia and hypogammaglobulinemia. The symptoms usually start in early infancy. We report a case of secondary hyperparathyroidism, osteopenia, monoclonal gammopathy and digital clubbing in a 57-year-old patient with a 12-year history of discontinuous diarrhea. Malabsorption with inability to gain weight, and finally weight loss and formation of leg edema were associated with protein-losing enteropathy. A low-fat diet associated with medium-chain triglyceride supplementation was clinically effective as medical management in reducing diarrhea and leg edema, and promoting weight gain. Double-balloon enteroscopy and small bowel biopsy histopathology confirmed dilated intestinal lacteals. Digital clubbing associated with primary intestinal lymphangiectasia which may causally be related to chronic platelet excess has not been reported before.