Monogenetic osteoporosis: Does the risk of fall matter?

We introduce an adult male case report with a history of osteogenesis imperfecta related fractures without specific medication against osteoporosis until the age of 50 years; however, within the first year he was offered anti-osteoporotic medication, he suffered a fall and a consecutive fracture was registered despite improved of bone mineral density parameters at DXA (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry), proving the importance of life style intervention to minimize the dramatic impact on bone fragility due to a genetic condition. Despite the fact that the risk of fracture on a subject with a genetic condition that directly impacts the bone status represents a game changer, the everyday circumstantial situations that cause an increased risk of fall represent strong players that need to be taken into consideration as part of patients’ education.

Inflammatory cytokines and sleep parameters response to life style intervention in subjects with obese chronic insomnia syndrome

Background: Chronic primary insomnia is a prevalent sleep disorder that is associated with adverse effects on health out- comes. Sleep disturbance is usually associated with abnormal level of systemic inflammation biomarkers. Objective: The aim of this study was to detect changes in sleep quality and inflammatory markers following weight loss among subjects with chronic primary insomnia. Material and Methods: Eighty previously sedentary subjects with chronic primary insomnia subjects enrolled in this study, their age ranged from 32-51 year were randomly assigned to life style intervention group (group A, n=40) or control group (group B, n=40). Polysomnographic recordings for sleep quality assessment, IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α were measured before and at the end of the study after six months. Results: There was a significant increase in the total sleep duration, sleep efficiency, sleep onset latency and IL-10 in addi- tion to significant reduction in awake time after sleep onset, REM latency, IL-6 and TNF-α after 6 months of in group(A) as a result of weight loss program; while the results of the control group (group B) were not significant. Also, there were significant differences between both groups at the end of the study. Conclusion: Life style intervention modulates systemic inflammatory parameters and sleep quality among subjects with chronic primary insomnia. Keywords: Chronic primary insomnia; inflammatory cytokines; life style intervention; sleep quality.

The Effect of a Life-Style Intervention Program of Diet and Exercise on Irisin and FGF-21 Concentrations in Children and Adolescents with Overweight and Obesity

Overweight and obesity in childhood and adolescence represent major public health problems of our century, and account for increased morbidity and mortality in adult life. Irisin and Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF-21) have been proposed as prognostic and/or diagnostic biomarkers in subjects with obesity and metabolic syndrome, because they increase earlier than other traditional biomarkers. We determined the concentrations of Irisin and FGF-21 in children and adolescents with overweight and obesity before and after one year of a life-style intervention program of diet and physical exercise and explored the impact of body mass index (BMI) reduction on the concentrations of Irisin, FGF-21 and other cardiometabolic risk factors. Three hundred and ten (n = 310) children and adolescents (mean age ± SD: 10.5 ± 2.9 years) were studied prospectively. Following one year of the life-style intervention program, there was a significant decrease in BMI (p = 0.001), waist-to-hip ratio (p = 0.024), waist-to-height ratio (p = 0.024), and Irisin concentrations (p = 0.001), and an improvement in cardiometabolic risk factors. There was no alteration in FGF-21 concentrations. These findings indicate that Irisin concentrations decreased significantly as a result of BMI reduction in children and adolescents with overweight and obesity. Further studies are required to investigate the potential role of Irisin as a biomarker for monitoring the response to lifestyle interventions and for predicting the development of cardiometabolic risk factors.

Effect of weight loss on cardiometabolic risk factors in obese patients

Background Central obesity and dyslipidemia are a cardinal features of the metabolic syndrome and represents increased cardiometabolic risk. It has been shown that weight loss is capable to improve insulin sensitivity and lipid parameters. The aim of our study was to analyze the effect of a weight-lowering program (diet and physical activity) on LDL- and HDL-cholesterol subfractions and cardiometabolic risk factors (waist circumference, blood pressure, insulin sensitivity, physical fitness). Methods We studied 2 groups of obese subjects, group A composed of 43 patients with obesity grade 1 and 2 (30F/13M; age: 43.2 ±12.4 years; BMI 31.3 ± 6.1 kg/m2); group B composed of patients with obesity grade 3 (6F/7M; age: 34.7 ±9.8 years; BMI 51.7 ± 7.9 kg/m2). The weight loss interventional program (NCT02325804) in duration of 8-week (group A) or 24 weeks (group B) consisted of hypocaloric diet and physical activity. Body composition, physical fitness, blood lipids profile (using the Lipoprint system (Quantimetrix Corp., CA, USA), and insulin sensitivity were measured. Results The average weight loss was 7.3±1.9 kg in group A and 35.3±16.0 kg in group B. Systolic, diastolic blood pressure (BP) as well as heart rate decreased in group A, in group B only systolic BP. Fasting plasma glucose and insulin decreased as well as insulin sensitivity and physical fitness has been improved after intervention. Total, LDL2, HDL2 cholesterol, as well as triglycerides (TG) decreased with weight in group A and total, LDL, TG, VLDL, LDL2 large, and small HDL subfractions decreased and intermediate HDL increased in group B. Conclusions Short term life style intervention (diet and physical activity) in patients with obesity lead to notable improvement of cardiometabolic parameters (decreased body fat mass, improved insulin sensitivity, lipid profile) as well as atheroprotective changes in LDL subfractions. Funding Supported by grants APVV 17-0099; VEGA 2/0129/20; VEGA 2/0072/18 Key messages Short term life style intervention in patients with obesity lead to notable improvement of cardiometabolic parameters. Weight-lowering program (diet and physical activity) lead to positive changes in LDL- and HDL-cholesterol subfractions.

Treating Dyslipidemia in Adults: An Update

Dyslipidemia is an important risk for the promotion of atherosclerosis and the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Currently available drugs can effectively lower the increased levels of blood cholesterol in most patients and prevent the development and progression of CVD. This paper focuses on the adverse cardiovascular effects produced by high blood cholesterols and the overall management of dyslipidemia in adults. Relevant guidelines and research papers published mainly after the year 2000 on the management of dyslipidemia were reviewed. High levels of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), or low levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), combined or independently are associated with increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Apolipoprotein B (ApoB), an atherogenic lipoprotein has emerged recently as the key factor in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. High triglyceride (TG) levels are associated with acute and recurrent pancreatitis. The purpose of treating lipid disorders is to prevent the development of ASCVD and pancreatitis. The treatment of dyslipidemia includes multifactorial life style intervention and pharmacotherapy with lipid modifying drugs. Reduction of LDL-C is substantially associated with reduction of risk of ASCVD and evidences show that “lower is better” for LDL-C reduction.