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Abstract Background Rapid progression of symptoms and development of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) frequently occurred during COVID-19 pandemic, while CT-Scan was useful to assess severity of lung damage, with classic patterns like early Ground Glass Opacity and/or late consolidation. Likewise, lung injury has been related to activation of the coagulation-fibrinolysis systems and pro-inflammatory mediators; where D-Dimer acquires prognostic relevance. The present study aimed to evaluate whether the extent of lung involvement and pattern of lung injury, as determined by chest CT-scan, are related with D-Dimer; and further impact clinical prognosis in patients with ARDS due to COVID-19. Methods Longitudinal, prospective, observational, multi-center study. Patients diagnosed with ARDS due to COVID-19, without previous lung damage, clotting disorder and/or anticoagulants use, who were attended at the Intensive Care Unit and Internal Medicine Department from March to June 2020. Tomographic extent of lung involvement was analyzed by image software, as well as damage patterns, assessed by experienced radiologists. Endpoints included relation of lung injury with coagulopathy markers like D-Dimer, and prognostic outcome including mortality, mechanical ventilation and hospitalization time. Results One-hundred and four patients mean aged 55 years old, 66% males, main comorbidities obesity, hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Larger lung damage was associated with older age, male gender and higher pro-inflammatory mediators like leukocytes and ferritin; whilst consolidation pattern was related to higher Body Mass Index. Higher values of D-Dimer were related either to a larger extent of lung involvement or late consolidation pattern. In addition, the extent of lung involvement was related with longer hospital stay, higher requirement of mechanical ventilation (HR 0.12, p

Abstract Background Cardiac myofibrillary dysfunction, which can be measure by echocardiographical strain value, represents an early subclinical manifestation of heart failure. Epicardial Adipose tissue (EAT) is related to low degree inflammation and oxidative damage in the adjacent tissue. Aim To explore whether EAT affects early myocardial dysfunction, as assessed strain values. Methods Case–Control design. Patients lacking clinical significant heart failure, thyroid or renal disease or malignant abnormalities were included. Clinical-demographic and biochemical data were collected. EAT and myofibril deformation were measured by echocardiography. Results A total of 71 patients were analyzed, and further subdivided according to type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (t2DM). Higher strain value (higher than -22.4%cut-off value) was associated with male sex and higher anthropometric and metabolic risk measures; particularly those with t2DM. Higher EAT was also associated higher strain value (AUC = 0.92 ± 0.06, p = 0.004), and further correlation was evidenced (rho = 0.488, p

Objectives To determine whether metabolic phenotype is associated with the change in carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in patients undergoing bariatric /metabolic surgery (BMS). Methods We performed a case-control study of BMS candidates who had metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO) or metabolically healthy obesity (MHO). We measured the change in CIMT during the 9 months following BMS. The plasma tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, adiponectin, leptin, nitric oxide (NO), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), and malondialdehyde concentrations were determined, adipocyte area was measured histologically, and adipose tissue area was estimated using computed tomography. Results Fifty-six patients (mean age 44.5 years, mean body mass index 44.9 kg/m 2 , 53% women, and 53% had MUO) were studied. Nine months following BMS, the MUO phenotype was not associated with a significant reduction in CIMT, and that of the MHO group was larger. In addition, fewer participants achieved a 10% reduction in CIMT in the MUO group. A CIMT reduction was associated with lower VEGF-A and NO in the MUO group, while that in the MHO group was associated with a higher NO concentration. Conclusion The metabolic phenotype of patients may influence their change in CIMT following BMS, probably through circulating vasodilatory and pro-inflammatory molecules.

Abstract Morphological characteristics and source of adipose tissue as well as adipokines may increase cardiometabolic risk. This study aimed to explore whether adipose tissue characteristics may impact metabolic and atherogenic risks. Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue (SAT), Visceral Adipose Tissue (VAT) and peripheral blood were obtained from obese patients submitted to bariatric surgery. Adipose tissue (morphometry), plasma adiponectin, TNF-α, resistin (multiplexing) and biochemical chemistry were analyzed; as well as endothelial dysfunction (Flow Mediated Dilation, FMD) and atherogenesis (Carotid Intima Media Thickness, CIMT). Subgroups divided by adipocyte size and source were compared; as well as correlation and multivariate analysis. Sixty patients 36.6% males, aged 44 years-old, BMI 46.7 kg/m2 were included. SAT’s adipocytes showed a lower range of size expandability than VAT’s adipocytes. Independent from their source, larger adipocytes were associated with higher glucose, lower adiponectin and higher CIMT. Particularly, larger adipocytes from SAT were associated with higher blood pressure, lower insulin and HDL-cholesterol; and showed positive correlation with glucose, HbA1c, systolic/diastolic values, and negatively correlated with insulin and adiponectin. VAT’s larger adipocytes particularly associated with lower resistin and lower FMD values. Gender and Diabetes Mellitus significantly impacted the relation of adipocyte size/source with the metabolic and atherogenic risk. Multivariable analysis suggested hypertension-resistin-HbA1c interactions associated with SAT’s larger adipocytes; whereas potential insulin-adiponectin associations were observed for VAT’s larger adipocytes. Adipocyte morphology and source are differentially related with cardiometabolic and atherogenic risk in population with obesity, which are potentially affected by gender and Diabetes Mellitus.

Objectives We aimed to determine whether parameters associated with adipose tissue (adipocyte density and the circulating concentrations of markers of adipose tissue pathology) predict cardiovascular risk (CVR) modification after metabolic surgery (MS). Methods We performed a case–control study of patients with morbid obesity who were candidates for MS. CVR was defined using flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT), which were measured during the 9 months following MS. Subgroups of CVR reduction were defined using the following cut-offs: CIMT 10% and/or a two-fold increase in FMD. Results We studied 40 patients with morbid obesity (mean age 44.5 years, 75% women, mean body mass index 46.4 kg/m 2 ) and high prevalences of the metabolically unhealthy obesity phenotype, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. A significant reduction in CVR was associated with lower vascular endothelial growth factor-A concentration (6.20 vs. 1.59 pg/mL, respectively), low adipocyte density in visceral adipose tissue (100 vs. 80 cells/field), low infiltration with CD68+ cells (18 vs. 8 cells/field) and higher concentrations of lipid peroxidation markers and malondialdehyde (313.7 vs. 405.7 ng/mL). Conclusion The characteristics of adipose tissue and the circulating concentrations of markers of adipose pathology might represent useful predictors of the reduction in CVR following MS. Clinical trial registration number : NCT0356198 ( https://clinicaltrials.gov )