Myocardial Geometry and Dysfunction in Morbidly Obese Adolescents (BMI 35-40 kg/m2)

PM2.5, component cause of severe metabolically abnormal obesity: An in silico, observational and analytical study

Obesity is currently one of the most alarming pathological conditions due to the progressive increase in its prevalence. In the last decade, it has been associated with fine particulate matter suspended in the air (PM2.5). The purpose of this study was to explore the mechanistic interaction of PM2.5 with a high-fat diet (HFD) through the differential regulation of transcriptional signatures, aiming to identify the association of these particles with metabolically abnormal obesity. The research design was observational, using bioinformatic methods and an explanatory approach based on Rothman's causal model. We propose three new transcriptional signatures in murine adipose tissue. The sum of transcriptional differences between the group exposed to an HFD and PM2.5, compared to the control group, were 0.851, 0.265, and -0.047 (p > 0.05). The HFD group increased body mass by 20% with two positive biomarkers of metabolic impact. The group exposed to PM2.5 maintained a similar weight to the control group but exhibited three positive biomarkers. Enriched biological pathways (p < 0.05) included PPAR signaling, small molecule transport, adipogenesis genes, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, and HIF-1 signaling. Transcriptional regulation predictions revealed CpG islands and common transcription factors. We propose three new transcriptional signatures: FAT-PM2.5-CEJUS, FAT-PM2.5-UP, and FAT-PM2.5-DN, whose transcriptional regulation profile in adipocytes was statistically similar by dietary intake and HFD and exposure to PM2.5 in mice; suggesting a mechanistic interaction between both factors. However, HFD-exposed murines developed moderate metabolically abnormal obesity, and PM2.5-exposed murines developed severe abnormal metabolism without obesity. Therefore, in Rothman's terms, it is concluded that HFD is a sufficient cause of the development of obesity, and PM2.5 is a component cause of severe abnormal metabolism of obesity. These signatures would be integrated into a systemic biological process that would induce transcriptional regulation in trans, activating obesogenic biological pathways, restricting lipid mobilization pathways, decreasing adaptive thermogenesis and angiogenesis, and altering vascular tone thus inducing a severe metabolically abnormal obesity.

Association between lifestyle modifications and improvement of early cardiac damage in children and adolescents with excess weight and/or high blood pressure

BACKGROUND

It is not known whether, in children and adolescents with alterations in weight and/or blood pressure (BP), lifestyle modifications are associated with an improvement of early cardiac damage.

METHODS

In a pediatric population referred for excess weight, high BP, or both (n = 278, 10.6 (2.3) years), echocardiography was performed at enrollment and after 15 months of follow-up, during which participants received nonpharmacological treatment, based on correcting unhealthy lifestyles and improving dietary habits. Left ventricular mass was indexed for height (g/m2.7, LVMI), and an LVMI value higher than or equal to age- and gender-specific 95th percentile was the criterion for defining left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Multiple linear and logistic regression analyses were carried out to determine associations between changes in BMI and BP z-scores and changes of LVMI values and LVH prevalence, from baseline to follow-up.

RESULTS

At baseline, 33.1% of study participants were hypertensive, 52.9% obese, and 36.3% had LVH. At follow-up, the prevalence of hypertension, obesity, and LVH was 18.7%, 30.2%, and 22.3%, respectively (p < 0.001 for all). A decrease in LVMI from 37.1 to 35.2 g/m2.7 (p < 0.001) was observed. Only delta BMI z-score positively related to an improvement of LVMI. Reductions of BMI (OR = 0.22, 95% CI 0.07-0.64) and diastolic BP (OR = 0.64, 95% CI 0.42-0.93) z-scores from baseline to follow-up and family history of hypertension (OR = 0.36, 95% CI 0.16-0.78) were associated with a lower prevalence of LVH.

CONCLUSIONS

In a pediatric population at cardiovascular risk, changing incorrect lifestyle and dietary habits is associated with both reduction of BMI and BP values and regression of early cardiac damage. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.

Assessment of myocardial function and cardiac performance using left ventricular global longitudinal strain in athletes after COVID-19: a follow-up study

Background

It has not yet been conclusively determined whether reduced left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV GLS) after COVID-19 contributes to a reduction in exercise capacity. Our own studies showed a possible mild myocardial involvement in the form of reduced LV GLS in athletes after COVID-19 compared with healthy athletes. The aims of this prospective follow-up study were to investigate the development of LV GLS over a 3-month period in athletes after COVID-19 and the possible relationship between LV GLS and physical performance.

Methods

LV GLS was determined in four-, two-, and three-chamber views and assessed offline by a blinded investigator in 96 recreational athletes (mean age 33.15 ± 12.40 years, 53 male, peak VO2 38.82 ± 11.14 ml/min/kg) at a median of two (t0) and five months (t1) after COVID-19. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) was performed on a bicycle ergometer on both examination dates.

Results

LV GLS improved significantly between t0 and t1 (t0 -18.82 ± 2.02 vs. t1 -19.46 ± 2.05, p < 0.001). Echocardiographic and spiroergometric parameters were within the normal clinical reference range. Maximum power increased significantly from t0 to t1 (t0 283.17 ± 83.20 vs. t1 286.24 ± 85.22 Watt, p = 0.009) and there was a trend toward increased peak oxygen uptake (t0 36.82 ± 11.14 vs. t1 38.68 ± 10.26 ml/min/kg, p = 0.069). We found no correlation between LV GLS and performance parameters, except for the respiratory exchange ratio (RER) [ρ -0.316, (-0.501; -0.102), p < 0.050].

Conclusions

Significant improvement in LV GLS approximately five months after COVID-19 may be due to mild myocardial involvement during or shortly after COVID-19, which seems to recover. There was no correlation between LV GLS and performance parameters, except for an inverse correlation of LV GLS and RER, suggesting insufficient exercise intolerance at lower GLS values. Further studies on the development of GLS in athletes or in the general population with moderate and severe disease courses would be informative as well as the comparison of pre-COVID-19 with post-COVID-19 echocardiography to evaluate the effects of COVID-19 on cardiac function.

Effect of hypertriglyceridemia on left ventricular global longitudinal strain in patients with coronary heart disease in Jilin Province, China: a cross-sectional study

Aims

Using speckle tracking technology to investigate the effect of hypertriglyceridemia on the global longitudinal strain(GLS) of the left ventricle in patients with coronary heart disease in the early stage, and to explore the value of myocardial strain in early identification of cardiac dysfunction in patients with coronary heart disease in the pre-heart failure stage.

Methods

A cross-sectional study of 138 participants was conducted in Jilin Province, China. Basic clinical, biochemical, and echocardiographic data were obtained for all patients. Myocardial strain parameters were compared between the hypertriglyceridemia and normal triglyceride level groups and the effect of hypertriglyceridemia on early left ventricular global longitudinal strain impairment in coronary heart disease patients was evaluated.

Results

The overall longitudinal strain of the left ventricle was smaller in the hypertriglyceridemia group than in the normal triglyceride group. After the multivariate Logistic regression model adjusting for the influence of confounding factors, the results remained stable.

Conclusions

The risk of impairment of global longitudinal strain of the left ventricle in patients with coronary heart disease is positively correlated with triglyceride levels, and hypertriglyceridemia maybe an independent risk factor affecting early cardiac dysfunction in the pre-heart failure stage of patients with coronary heart disease.

Left Ventricular Global Longitudinal Strain as a Parameter of Mild Myocardial Dysfunction in Athletes after COVID-19

Whether symptoms during COVID-19 contribute to impaired left ventricular (LV) function remains unclear. We determine LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) between athletes with a positive COVID-19 test (PCAt) and healthy control athletes (CON) and relate it to symptoms during COVID-19. GLS is determined in four-, two-, and three-chamber views and assessed offline by a blinded investigator in 88 PCAt (35% women) (training at least three times per week/>20 MET) and 52 CONs from the national or state squad (38% women) at a median of two months after COVID-19. The results show that the GLS is significantly lower (GLS -18.53 ± 1.94% vs. -19.94 ± 1.42%, p < 0.001) and diastolic function significantly reduces (E/A 1.54 ± 0.52 vs. 1.66 ± 0.43, p = 0.020; E/E'l 5.74 ± 1.74 vs. 5.22 ± 1.36, p = 0.024) in PCAt. There is no association between GLS and symptoms like resting or exertional dyspnea, palpitations, chest pain or increased resting heart rate. However, there is a trend toward a lower GLS in PCAt with subjectively perceived performance limitation (p =0.054). A significantly lower GLS and diastolic function in PCAt compared with healthy peers may indicate mild myocardial dysfunction after COVID-19. However, the changes are within the normal range, so that clinical relevance is questionable. Further studies on the effect of lower GLS on performance parameters are necessary.

Myocardial tissue characterization by cardiovascular magnetic resonance T1 mapping and pericardial fat quantification in adolescents with morbid obesity. Cardiac dimorphism by gender

PURPOSE

Changes in the myocardial extracellular matrix (ECM) identified using T1 mapping cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) have been only reported in obese adults, but with opposite conclusions. The objectives are to assess the composition of the myocardial ECM in an obese pediatric population without type 2 diabetes by quantifying native T1 time, and to quantify the pericardial fat index (PFI) and their relationship with cardiovascular risk factors.

METHODS

Observational case-control research of 25 morbidly obese adolescents and 13 normal-weight adolescents. Native T1 and T2 times (ms), left ventricular (LV) geometry and function, PFI (g/ht³) and hepatic fat fraction (HFF, %) were calculated by 1.5-T CMR.

RESULTS

No differences were noticed in native T1 between obese and non-obese adolescents (1000.0 vs. 990.5 ms, p0.73), despite showing higher LV mass values (28.3 vs. 22.9 g/ht³, p0.01). However, the T1 mapping values were significantly higher in females (1012.7 vs. 980.7 ms, p < 0.01) while in males, native T1 was better correlated with obesity parameters, particularly with triponderal mass index (TMI) (r = 0.51), and inflammatory cells. Similarly, the PFI was correlated with insulin resistance (r = 0.56), highly sensitive C-reactive protein (r = 0.54) and TMI (r = 0.77).

CONCLUSION

Female adolescents possess myocardium peculiarities associated with higher mapping values. In males, who are commonly more exposed to future non-communicable diseases, TMI may serve as a useful predictor of native T1 and pericardial fat increases. Furthermore, HFF and PFI appear to be markers of adipose tissue infiltration closely related with hypertension, insulin resistance and inflammation.

Diabesity in Elderly Cardiovascular Disease Patients: Mechanisms and Regulators

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the world. In 2019, 550 million people were suffering from CVD and 18 million of them died as a result. Most of them had associated risk factors such as high fasting glucose, which caused 134 million deaths, and obesity, which accounted for 5.02 million deaths. Diabesity, a combination of type 2 diabetes and obesity, contributes to cardiac, metabolic, inflammation and neurohumoral changes that determine cardiac dysfunction (diabesity-related cardiomyopathy). Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is distributed around the myocardium, promoting myocardial inflammation and fibrosis, and is associated with an increased risk of heart failure, particularly with preserved systolic function, atrial fibrillation and coronary atherosclerosis. In fact, several hypoglycaemic drugs have demonstrated a volume reduction of EAT and effects on its metabolic and inflammation profile. However, it is necessary to improve knowledge of the diabesity pathophysiologic mechanisms involved in the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases for comprehensive patient management including drugs to optimize glucometabolic control. This review presents the mechanisms of diabesity associated with cardiovascular disease and their therapeutic implications.

Cardiac remodeling and subclinical left ventricular dysfunction in adults with uncomplicated obesity: a cardiovascular magnetic resonance study

BACKGROUND

Obesity often exists alongside comorbidities and increases the risk of heart failure and cardiovascular mortality. However, the specific effects of obesity on cardiac structure and function have not been clarified. This study set out to evaluate left ventricular (LV) geometric and functional changes using cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) in adults with uncomplicated obesity.

METHODS

Forty-eight patients with uncomplicated obesity [body mass index (BMI) mean ± SD: 29.8±2.1 kg/m²] and 25 healthy controls were included in this study. CMR was used to assess LV geometry, global systolic function, and strains, and to quantify epicardial adipose tissue (EAT). Body composition was measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry.

RESULTS

Compared with healthy controls, patients with obesity had increased LV size, mass, and myocardial thickness, and impaired myocardial contractility, with lower global radial, circumferential, and longitudinal peak strains (PS), and circumferential and longitudinal peak diastolic strain rates (PDSR; all P<0.05). Multivariable linear regression showed that BMI was independently associated with LV maximum myocardial thickness (LVMMT) (β=0.197, P=0.016). Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) was independently associated with LV global longitudinal PS (β=-2.684, P=0.001), and both longitudinal (β=-0.192, P=0.002) and circumferential (β=-0.165, P=0.014) PDSR. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was mildly correlated with BMI (r=0.327) and body fat percentage (BF%) (r=0.295) in patients with obesity (all P<0.05). HOMA-IR was independently associated with LV global circumferential PS (β=-0.276, P=0.04) and PDSR (β=-0.036, P=0.026).

CONCLUSIONS

Extensive LV geometric remodeling and marked changes in cardiac strains were observed in adults with obesity. Tissue tracking with CMR can reveal subclinical impaired ventricular function with preserved LV ejection fraction in such patients. BMI was independently related to LV remodeling in obesity. HOMA-IR and VAT are potentially superior to BMI as predictors of subclinical dysfunction, assessed by strain, in obesity.

TRIAL REGISTRY

This study has been registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ID: ChiCTR1900026476; Effect of lifestyle intervention on metabolism of obese patients based on smart phone software).

Different profiles of lipoprotein particles associate various degrees of cardiac involvement in adolescents with morbid obesity

INTRODUCTION

Dyslipidemia secondary to obesity is a risk factor related to cardiovascular disease events, however a pathological conventional lipid profile (CLP) is infrequently found in obese children. The objective is to evaluate the advanced lipoprotein testing (ALT) and its relationship with cardiac changes, metabolic syndrome (MS) and inflammatory markers in a population of morbidly obese adolescents with normal CLP and without type 2 diabetes mellitus, the most common scenario in obese adolescents.

METHODS

Prospective case-control research of 42 morbidly obese adolescents and 25 normal-weight adolescents, whose left ventricle (LV) morphology and function had been assessed. The ALT was obtained by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and the results were compared according to the degree of cardiac involvement - normal heart, mild LV changes, and severe LV changes (specifically LV remodeling and systolic dysfunction) - and related to inflammation markers [highly-sensitive C-reactive protein and glycoprotein A (GlycA)] and insulin-resistance [homeostatic model assessment for insulin-resistance (HOMA-IR)]. A second analysis was performed to compare our results with the predominant ALT when only body mass index and metabolic syndrome criteria were considered.

RESULTS

The three cardiac involvement groups showed significant increases in HOMA-IR, inflammatory markers and ALT ratio LDL-P/HDL-P (40.0 vs. 43.9 vs. 47.1, p 0.012). When only cardiac change groups were considered, differences in small LDL-P (565.0 vs. 625.1 nmol/L, p 0.070), VLDL size and GlycA demonstrated better utility than just traditional risk factors to predict which subjects could present severe LV changes [AUC: 0.79 (95% CI: 0.54-1)]. In the second analysis, an atherosclerotic ALT was detected in morbidly obese subjects, characterized by a significant increase in large VLDL-P, small LDL-P, ratio LDL-P/HDL-P and ratio HDL-TG/HDL-C. Subjects with criteria for MS presented overall worse ALT (specially in triglyceride-enriched particles) and remnant cholesterol values.

CONCLUSIONS

ALT parameters and GlycA appear to be more reliable indicators of cardiac change severity than traditional CV risk factors. Particularly, the overage of LDL-P compared to HDL-P and the increase in small LDL-P with cholesterol-depleted LDL particles appear to be the key ALT's parameters involved in LV changes. Morbidly obese adolescents show an atherosclerotic ALT and those with MS present worse ALT values.

Obesity and clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients without comorbidities, a post-hoc analysis from ORCHID trial

OBJECTIVE

Large body of studies described individuals with obesity experiencing a worse prognosis in COVID-19. However, the effects of obesity on the prognosis of COVID-19 in patients without comorbidities have not been studied. Therefore, the current study aimed to provide evidence of the relationship between obesity and clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients without comorbidities.

METHODS

A total of 116 hospitalized COVID-19 patients without comorbidities from the ORCHID study (Patients with COVID-19 from the Outcomes Related to COVID-19 Treated with Hydroxychloroquine among Inpatients with Symptomatic Disease) were included. Obesity is defined as a BMI of ≥30 kg/m². A Cox regression analysis was used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) for discharge and death after 28 days.

RESULTS

The percentage of obesity in COVID-19 patients without comorbidities was 54.3% (63/116). Discharge at 28 days occurred in 56/63 (84.2%) obese and 51/53 (92.2%) non-obese COVID-19 patients without comorbidities. Four (3.4%) COVID-19 patients without any comorbidities died within 28 days, among whom 2/63 (3.2%) were obese and 2/53 (3.8%) were non-obese. Multivariate Cox regression analyses showed that obesity was independently associated with a decreased rate of 28-day discharge (adjusted HR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.35-0.83) but was not significantly associated with 28-day death (adjusted HR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.18-7.06) in COVID-19 patients without any comorbidities.

CONCLUSIONS

Obesity was independently linked to prolonged hospital length of stay in COVID-19 without any comorbidity. Larger prospective trials are required to assess the role of obesity in COVID-19 related deaths.