Fatty liver with metabolic disorder,such as metabolic dysfunction‐associated fatty liver disease,indicates high risk for developing diabetes mellitus

IntroductionNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is diagnosed after excluding other liver diseases. The pathogenesis of NAFLD when complicated by other liver diseases has not been established completely. Metabolic dysfunction‐associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) involves more metabolic factors than NAFLD, regardless of complications with other diseases. This study aimed to clarify the effects of fatty liver occurring with metabolic disorders, such as MAFLD without diabetes mellitus (DM), on the development of DM.Materials and MethodsWe retrospectively assessed 9,459 participants who underwent two or more annual health check‐ups. The participants were divided into the MAFLD group (fatty liver disease with overweight/obesity or non‐overweight/obesity complicated by metabolic disorders), simple fatty liver group (fatty liver disease other than MAFLD group), metabolic disorder group (metabolic disorder without fatty liver disease), and normal group (all other participants).ResultsThe DM onset rates in the normal, simple fatty liver, metabolic disorder, and MAFLD groups were 0.51, 1.85, 2.52, and 7.36%, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, the MAFLD group showed a significantly higher risk of DM onset compared with other three groups (P < 0.01). Additionally, the risk of DM onset was significantly increased in fatty liver disease with overweight/obesity or pre‐diabetes (P < 0.01).ConclusionsFatty liver with metabolic disorders, such as MAFLD, can be used to identify patients with fatty liver disease who are at high risk of developing DM. Additionally, patients with fatty liver disease complicated with overweight/obesity or prediabetes are at an increased risk of DM onset and should receive more attention.     

血管生成在疾病治疗中的应用与展望

血管生成与新生参与了许多疾病的发生、演变和进展,包括最常见和致命性心血管疾病、癌症、糖尿病、炎症及眼科疾病等。促进或抑制血管生成已经成为上述疾病的重要治疗策略。截至撰写本文时,许多靶向血管生成的药物已经获得了不同国家食品药品监督管理局的批准,用于治疗恶性疾病和眼科疾病。本文将介绍血管生成参与疾病进展的机制、靶向血管生成的新型治疗策略及其在临床应用中的挑战与展望。     

阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征与代谢综合征的关系

阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征(obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome,OSAHS)是由多种致病因素引起的发病率高、危险性大的一种慢性睡眠呼吸疾病.OSAHS患者常常与代谢综合征(metabolic syndrome,MS)大家族中的多种疾病,如肥胖、胰岛素抵抗、高血压、糖尿病等伴发或先后出现.其最终结果导致心血管事件发生和死亡的危险性增加.本文对OSAHS和MS的相互关系作一综述.     

吡格列酮对代谢综合征患者超敏C反应蛋白的影响

目的观察吡格列酮对糖耐量受损(IGT)合并代谢综合征(MS)患者超敏C反应蛋白(hsC-RP)的影响。方法对2005年1月至2007年12月厚街医院内科门诊50例新诊断IGT(7.8mmol/L≤餐后2h血糖<11.1mmol/L)合并MS患者,采用吡格列酮干预,比较治疗前和治疗12周后超敏C反应蛋白(hsC-RP)浓度变化。结果治疗前后空腹血糖、HbAlc、胰岛素、HOMA-IR、TG及hsC-RP水平均有明显降低(P<0.01),HDL-C明显升高(P<0.01)。结论吡格列酮改善胰岛索抵抗,降低hs-CRP浓度,改善MS患者的血管炎症反应。     

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with intestinal,pulmonary or skin diseases: Inflammatory cross-talk that needs a multidisciplinary approach

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is currently considered the most common cause of liver disease. Its prevalence is increasing in parallel with the obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) epidemics in developed countries. Several recent studies have suggested that NAFLD may be the hepatic manifestation of a systemic inflammatory metabolic disease that also affects other organs, such as intestine, lungs, skin and vascular endothelium. It appears that local and systemic proinflammatory/anti-inflammatory cytokine imbalance, together with insulin resistance and changes in the intestinal microbiota, are pathogenic mechanisms shared by NAFLD and other comorbidities. NAFLD is more common in patients with extrahepatic diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), obstructive syndrome apnea (OSA) and psoriasis than in the general population. Furthermore, there is evidence that this association has a negative impact on the severity of liver lesions. Specific risk characteristics for NAFLD have been identified in populations with IBD (i.e. age, obesity, DM2, previous bowel surgery, IBD evolution time, methotrexate treatment), OSA (i.e. obesity, DM2, OSA severity, increased transaminases) and psoriasis (i.e. age, metabolic factors, severe psoriasis, arthropathy, elevated transaminases, methotrexate treatment). These specific phenotypes might be used by gastroenterologists, pneumologists and dermatologists to create screening algorithms for NAFLD. Such algorithms should include non-invasive markers of fibrosis used in NAFLD to select subjects for referral to the hepatologist. Prospective, controlled studies in NAFLD patients with extrahepatic comorbidities are required to demonstrate a causal relationship and also that appropriate multidisciplinary management improves these patients’ prognosis and survival.     

The relationship between occupational exposure to organic solvents and metabolic syndrome in petroleum refinery workers in Tehran,Iran

AimsThe rising prevalence of metabolic syndrome has made it a major health concern. Chronic occupational exposure to organic solvents affects different systems of the body. This study aimed to investigate the association between exposure to organic solvents and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in petroleum refinery workers.MethodThis study was conducted in 2019–2020 on workers employed in an Iranian petroleum refinery. The demographic and occupational information on the participants was obtained using the interview method. Their height, weight, and blood pressure were measured by the occupational health team, and fasting blood samples were taken from them to measure the paraclinical parameters.ResultsIn this study, 1009 petroleum refinery workers were analyzed. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in workers was 20.1% and it was about two times higher in exposed workers (CI 95%: 1.61–3.35) compared to non-exposed ones. Factors associated with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome include age, higher BMI, exercise, and longer exposure to organic solvents.ConclusionFindings of this study suggested that exposure to organic solvents is associated with increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome (the highest association was observed with elevated serum triglycerides). Besides, longer exposure to organic solvents increased the risk of developing metabolic syndrome.     

Prevalence and risk factors of steatosis and advanced fibrosis using transient elastography in the United States' adolescent population

BACKGROUND Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) is the leading cause of chronic liver disease in children and adolescents.AIM To determine the prevalence and risk factors of steatosis and advanced fibrosis using transient elastography(TE) in the United States' adolescent population.METHODS Using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017-2018, adolescent participants aged 13 to 17 years who underwent TE and controlled attenuation parameter(CAP) were included in this study. Forty-one factors associated with liver steatosis and fibrosis were collected. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analysis were used to identify statistically significant predictors.RESULTS Seven hundred and forty participants met inclusion criteria. Steatosis(S1-S3), based on CAP, and advanced fibrosis(F3-F4), based on TE, were present in 27% and 2.84% of the study population, respectively. Independent predictors of steatosis grade included log of alanine aminotransferase, insulin resistance, waistto-height ratio, and body mass index. Independent predictors of fibrosis grade included steatosis grade, non-Hispanic black race, smoking history, and systolic blood pressure.CONCLUSION This study demonstrated a high prevalence of steatosis in the United States' adolescent population. Almost 3% of United States' adolescents had advanced fibrosis. These findings are concerning because a younger age of onset of NAFLD can lead to an earlier development of severe disease, including steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver decompensation.     

Metabolic syndrome is associated with hearing disturbance

Background: Although metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been associated with various diseases, few studies to date have addressed the association between MetS and hearing loss.

Aims/Objectives: This cross-sectional review of health examination center data sought to determine the association between MetS and hearing disturbance.

Material and methods: This study involved 28,866 subjects. Height, weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure were measured, and basic blood tests and pure-tone audiometry (PTA) were performed. Other factors analyzed included body mass index, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and hyperlipidemia.

Results: Age and gender did not differ between subjects with and without MetS. PTA was slightly higher in subjects with than without MetS, but the difference was not statistically significant (p?=?.47). The incidence of hearing loss was no higher in subjects who met three of the five diagnostic criteria of MetS than in those who met 0–2 criteria, but was significantly higher in subjects who met four (p?=?.04) and five (p?<?.01) criteria.

Conclusions and Significance: MetS may be associated with hearing loss, especially in subjects who meet four or five of the diagnostic criteria for MetS.     

The association of metabolic health obesity with incidence of carotid artery plaque in Chinese adults

Background and aimsWe aimed to evaluate the association between different obese phenotypes with carotid artery plaque (CAP) event.Method and resultsThe current retrospective cohort study was performed in 32,778 Chinese adults (19,221 men and 13,557 women, aged 41.9 ± 11.0 years). Obese phenotypes were assessed based on baseline body mass index (<24.0 vs. ≥24.0 kg/m²) and metabolic characteristics (health vs. unhealth). All the participants were further classified into four groups: metabolic health and normal weight (MHNW), metabolic unhealth and normal weight (MUHNW), metabolic health and overweight (MHO), and metabolic unhealth and overweight (MUHO). Ultrasound B-mode imaging was annually performed to evaluate CAP throughout the study. We have identified 2142 CAP cases during 5-year follow-up. Comparing with the MHNW group, the hazard ratios for the risk of incident CAP was 2.44 (95% CI:1.92 and 3.09) for the MUHNW group, 1.52 (95% CI:1.06 and 2.18) for the MHO group, and 1.8 (95% CI:1.4 and 2.33) for the MUHO group. The association was more pronounced in young adults (<65 y) than that in aged adults (≥65 y). Sensitivity analysis generated similar results with the main analysis.ConclusionMUHNW, MHO, and MUHO were associated with the risk of CAP.