Lipid profile, random blood glucose and carotid arteries thickness in human male subjects with different ages and body mass indexes

Mechanistic correlation of molecular pathways in obesity-mediated stroke pathogenesis

Obesity, a prominent risk factor for the development of heart attacks and several cardiovascular ailments. Obesity ranks as the second most significant avoidable contributor to mortality, whereas stroke stands as the second leading cause of death on a global scale. While changes in lifestyle have been demonstrated to have significant impacts on weight management, the long-term weight loss remains challenging, and the global prevalence of obesity continues to rise. The pathophysiology of obesity has been extensively studied during the last few decades, and an increasing number of signal transduction pathways have been linked to obesity preclinically. This review is focused on signaling pathways, and their respective functions in regulating the consumption of fatty food as well as accumulation of adipose tissue, and the resulting morphological and cognitive changes in the brain of individuals with obesity. We have also emphasized the recent progress in the mechanisms behind the emergence of obesity, as elucidated by both experimental and clinical investigations. The mounting understanding of signaling transduction may shed light on the future course of obesity research as we move into a new era of precision medicine.

Prevalence of overweight and obesity in patients with major depressive disorder with anxiety: Mediating role of thyroid hormones and metabolic parameters

BACKGROUNDS

Anxiety is a common comorbidity in major depressive disorder (MDD); however, its role in overweight and obesity in MDD patients remains unclear. We examined the relationship between severe anxiety and overweight and obesity, as well as the mediating role of thyroid hormones and metabolic parameters in MDD patients.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study recruited 1718 first-episode drug-naïve MDD outpatients. All participants were rated on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale for depression and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale for anxiety and measured in thyroid hormones and metabolic parameters.

RESULTS

A total of 218 (12.7 %) individuals had severe anxiety. The prevalence of overweight and obesity in patients with severe anxiety was 62.8 % and 5.5 %, respectively. Severe anxiety symptoms were associated with overweight (Odds Ratio [OR]: 1.47, 95 % CI: 1.08, 2.00) and obesity (OR: 2.10, 95 % CI: 1.07, 4.15). The association between severe anxiety and overweight was mainly attenuated by thyroid hormones (40.4 %), blood pressure (31.9 %), and plasma glucose (19.1 %). For obesity, the association with severe anxiety was mainly attenuated by thyroid hormones (48.2 %), blood pressure (39.1 %), and total cholesterol (28.2 %).

LIMITATIONS

Due to the cross-sectional design, no causal relationship could be derived.

CONCLUSIONS

Thyroid hormones and metabolic parameters can explain the risk of overweight and obesity associated with severe anxiety in MDD patients. These findings add to the knowledge of the pathological pathway of overweight and obesity in MDD patients with comorbid severe anxiety.