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Cesare Tripolino,1 Concetta Irace,2 Antonio Cutruzzolà,2 Martina Parise,1 Milena Barone,1 Caterina Scicchitano,1 Claudio Cortese,3 Agostino Gnasso1 1Metabolic Diseases Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Magna Graecia, Catanzaro, Italy; 2Department of Health Science, University Magna Graecia, Catanzaro, Italy; 3Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Tor Vergata University, Rome, ItalyCorrespondence: Agostino GnassoMetabolic Diseases Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Mater Domini Hospital, Magna Græcia University, Catanzaro, ItalyTel +39 9613697039Fax +39 9613697250Email gnasso@unicz.itIntroduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with an increased risk of complications in type 1 diabetes (T1DM) patients. To date, several biochemical indexes of NAFLD have been developed. Among these, hepatic steatosis index (HSI) strongly relates with the results of magnetic resonance.Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible association between HSI and complications in T1DM.Methods: Medical records of patients with T1DM were evaluated. Macro- and micro-vascular complications were evaluated by a combination of instrumental (ECG, carotid artery echo-Doppler, fundus examination, vibration threshold at biothesiometry) and laboratory examination. HSI was calculated based on gender, body mass index and transaminases level.Results: Of the 124 patients evaluated, 71 were free of complications and 53 had at least one complication. The prevalence of diabetes complications was: 27% for retinopathy, 15% for carotid atherosclerosis, 16% for neuropathy. HSI was directly correlated with age, disease duration, triglycerides, total daily insulin and inversely with HDL and eGFR. In logistic regression analysis, HSI was independently associated with diabetic complications.Conclusion: These findings show that HSI is independently associated with the presence of complications in subjects with T1DM. This can be of clinical utility, allowing a better diagnostic classification of the patient and possibly guiding the therapeutic choice.Keywords: fatty liver, type 1 diabetes, diabetes complications

Objective: Alterations of blood and plasma viscosity can promote atherosclerosis. The relationship between viscosity and aging is still controversial. The present study evaluated the influence of aging on blood and plasma viscosity in a group of subjects followed for 11.6 years. Methods: Forty-five subjects have been evaluated twice 11.6 years apart for hemorheological parameters and coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors. Plasma viscosity and blood viscosity have been measured with a cone-plate viscometer. Tk has been calculated as index of red blood cell rigidity. CHD risk factors, i.e. obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and diabetes, have been evaluated by routine methods. Results: Hematocrit and plasma viscosity did not change during the study, whereas blood viscosity (shear rate 225/sec: 4.46 ± 0.49 vs. 4.81 ± 0.54 cP, p < 0.0001; shear rate 45/sec: 6.19 ± 0.67 vs. 6.65 ± 0.79 cP, p < 0.0001) and Tk (0.80 ± 0.05 vs. 0.83 ± 0.06, p < 0.005) significantly increased. The percent variation in blood viscosity was not associated with the percent variation in any of the CHD risk factors. Furthermore, the increase in blood viscosity was similar in males and females and in subjects with CHD risk profile worsening or not. Conclusion: The present findings demonstrate that blood viscosity increases with age. This increase seems independent of classical CHD risk factors and is disjoined from haematocrit and plasma viscosity, suggesting a possible direct effect of aging on red blood cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]