Effect of confinement by SARS-CoV-2 on the degree of steatohepatitis in university students from Reynosa, Tamaulipas

Introduction: Healthy lifestyles are relevant for several diseases, steatohepatitis, although little known, is common in young people. There are reasons to be concerned about homebound college youth who are at risk for steatohepatitis. By restricting the mobility of the population, the risk factors for weight gain and the intake of calorie-dense foods increase, which are elements associated with steatohepatitis. Objective: To determine the effect of confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic on the degree of steatohepatitis by comparing transient elastography results taken before and after confinement. Method: Longitudinal study. A sample of 114 young university students of random sex was included. The transient elastography technique (FibroScan) was implemented, determining the degrees of steatosis and hepatic fibrosis by performing the test before and after the confinement of the participants. Student´s t-test was used to analyse the differences in the degrees of steatohepatitis before and after confinement. Results: the degrees of steatosis during the first sampling were S0 (52.6%), S1 (14.9%), S2 (5.3%) and S3 (27.2%) (m = 250.89, DE= ± 56.91), in the second sampling were presented S0 (56.1%), S1 (13.2%), S2 (5.3%) and S3 (5.4%) (m = 243.81, DE = ± 52.330), the relation of both samples was (p = 0.131). The results in the degrees of fibrosis in the first sampling were F0 (91.4%), F1 (6.1%). F2 (2.6%) (m= 4.80, DE = ±1.11), in the second F1 (95.6%), F2 (3.5) and F2 (0.9%) (m = 4.33, DE = ±1.16) and the relation of the two sampling was (p= 0.000). Conclusions: The degrees of hepatic fibrosis presented significant changes, on the other hand, steatosis tends to decrease, but the change is not significant, however, it is necessary to investigate with third variables to detect other factors involved in the changes

Fat Distribution and Differential Effects on Metabolic Liver Fat Infiltration in Young Mexicans in Reynosa, Mexico: A Collaborative Study across the U.S.-Mexico Border

Introduction: Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a descriptive term for NAFLD (Non-alcoholic) physiopathology associated with obesity. The age of onset linked to body fat distribution is poorly studied. Therefore, we aimed to assess the body fat effect on liver fat infiltration and stiffness (LSt) mediated by insulin resistance (IR). Methods: After obtaining informed consent, five hundred freshmen from two universities in Reynosa, Mexico (UMAN & UAT) were enrolled in the study. They completed a questionnaire focused on familial cardiometabolic risk and provided anthropometric measurements. In a subset of N=200, we obtained blood samples for biochemical measurements, body fat percentage (BF%) by bioimpedance, LSt (kPa), and fat infiltration (Continued Attenuation Parameter, CAP) by elastography. We used mediation analysis with structural equation models (Stata v16.1) to determine the relationship between BMI, BF%, and abdominal obesity with IR and liver stiffness and fat infiltration. The term “-\u3e” means ‘explain’ or ‘cause’. Results: We found that AO-\u3eIR (standardized values b=0.53, p=0.005), AO-\u3eCAP (b=0.69, pIR (b=0.23, p=0.007). BMI did not have an effect on CAP or IR. Also, BMI-\u3eLS (b=0.47, p=0.05) but AO-\u3eLS was absent. Finally, there was a bidirectional relationship between LS and IR [LS-\u3eIR (b=0.18, p=0.001), and IR-\u3eLS (b=0.27, p=0.001)]. Conclusion: Our findings suggest the adipose tissue measured as AO or BMI showed different phenotypic effects on liver fat infiltration or stiffness. Visceral fat had a direct effect on IR, meanwhile, subcutaneous adipose tissue was associated with liver stiffness. Our findings suggest that early age interventions should be focused on reducing visceral fat deposition

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

La diabetes y la alimentación determinantes en la progresión de aterosclerosis

El propósito de esta revisión es analizar la progresión bioquímica de la placa aterosclerótica y la relación que presenta con la diabetes y la alimentación. Se exponen las evidencias científicas de pacientes con diabetes, que a diferencia de pacientes no diabéticos presentan niveles más elevados de algunos ácidos grasos en la placa de ateroma (como el palmítico, linoleico y oleico), elevada incidencia de trombosis coronaria relacionada con el incremento en el tama˜no de la base necrótica y la disminución del tama˜no de la capa fibrosa de los ateromas. Entre ambos grupos de pacientes se expone la diferencia en el perfil de lípidos de la placa aterosclerótica, así como los cambios celulares involucrados en la formación de la misma y la influencia de la alimentación sobre su desarrollo. - The purpose of this review is to analyze the biochemical progression of atherosclerotic plaque and its association with diet and diabetes. This study shows the scientific evidence of demonstrating that diabetic patients present high levels of fatty acids like palmitic acid and linoleic acid in their atheroma plaques in comparison with non-diabetic patients. This study also establishes how patients with diabetes mellitus have a higher prevalence of atherosclerotic heart diseases in the form of Coronary Thrombosis and have different anatomopathological appearance like higher necrotic core and thin fibrotic layer than the general population. Furthermore this review describes the different anatomopathological appearance and cellular changes involved in the formation of these plaques and how diet can affect the development of these plaques

Effect of Insulin Resistance on Abdominal Obesity, Liver Fat Infiltration, and Body Mass Index in Youngsters

Aim: Evaluate insulin resistance (IR) as a mediator of the effect of body fat distribution on liver fat infiltration and stiffness (LSt) in young adults using structural equation modeling (SEM). Methods: We invited 500 first year students from two universities and evaluated their family history to determine the risk for cardiometabolic disease. Of these, 174 students (age 19 ± 1 years) were assessed for total body fat percentage (BF%), LSt, fat infiltration (Coefficient attenuated parameter CAP), and serum biochemical analysis. We performed a mediation analysis using two different structural equation models to determine the relationship between BMI, BF%, abdominal obesity (AO), IR, LSt, and fat infiltration using standardized β coefficients. The symbol -\u3e means explains/causes . Results: Model#1 supported that mediation analysis and had a better fit than the direct effect. AO-\u3eIR (b = 0.62, p = 0.005), AO-\u3eCAP (b = 0.63, pIR (b = 0.23, p = 0.007), with negligible effect of BMI on CAP and IR. Model#2 showed direct effect of BMI on LSt was a better fit than mediation. BMI-\u3eLSt (b = 0.17, p = 0.05) but no effect AO-\u3eLSt. Interestingly, LSt-\u3eIR (b = 0.18, p = 0.001), but bi-directional IR-\u3eLSt (b = 0.23, p = 0.001). Conclusions: AO and BMI in young adults have differential phenotypic effects on liver CAP and LSt. Visceral fat had a direct effect on IR and CAP. Meanwhile, BMI was associated with LSt. Our findings shed light on the complex interplay of factors influencing liver stiffness, particularly in young individuals. Further research is needed to elucidate the precise mechanisms underlying these associations and their implications for liver health

Underlying Event measurements in pp collisions at s=0.9 \sqrt {s} = 0.9 and 7 TeV with the ALICE experiment at the LHC

We present measurements of Underlying Event observables in pp collisions at s√=0.9 and 7TeV. The analysis is performed as a function of the highest charged-particle transverse momentum p T,LT in the event. Different regions are defined with respect to the azimuthal direction of the leading (highest transverse momentum) track: Toward, Transverse and Away. The Toward and Away regions collect the fragmentation products of the hardest partonic interaction. The Transverse region is expected to be most sensitive to the Underlying Event activity. The study is performed with charged particles above three different p T thresholds: 0.15, 0.5 and 1.0 GeV/c. In the Transverse region we observe an increase in the multiplicity of a factor 2–3 between the lower and higher collision energies, depending on the track p T threshold considered. Data are compared to Pythia 6.4, Pythia 8.1 and Phojet. On average, all models considered underestimate the multiplicity and summed p T in the Transverse region by about 10–30%

Heavy flavour decay muon production at forward rapidity in proton–proton collisions at √s=7 TeV

The production of muons from heavy flavour decays is measured at forward rapidity in proton–proton collisions at √s=7 TeV collected with the ALICE experiment at the LHC. The analysis is carried out on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity Lint=16.5 nb−1. The transverse momentum and rapidity differential production cross sections of muons from heavy flavour decays are measured in the rapidity range 2.5<y<4, over the transverse momentum range 2<pt<12 GeV/c. The results are compared to predictions based on perturbative QCD calculations