Unraveling the connection: visceral adipose tissue and vitamin D levels in obesity

Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are widespread on a global scale, with multiple factors playing a role in their development, such as limited exposure to sunlight, inadequate dietary consumption, as well as obesity and abdominal fat accumulation. Abdominal obesity, assessed with waist circumference (WC), is associated with metabolic syndrome and has been linked to low vitamin D levels. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and vitamin D levels, particularly examining the potential threshold for vitamin D storage and sequestration using adipose tissue. The study was conducted between 2020 and 2022 with 58 patients from an internal medicine outpatient department. Patients with certain medical conditions and those taking medications affecting bone metabolism were excluded. Blood samples were collected at baseline and after 6 months of monthly cholecalciferol supplementation. Ultrasonography was used to evaluate adipose tissue measurements, including subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness, VAT, preperitoneal adipose tissue (PPAT), and prerenal adipose tissue (PRAT). Anthropometric measures such as the waist-to-hip ratio and waist-to-height ratio were also assessed. The results showed that all subjects had significant hypovitaminosis D at baseline. After 6 months of supplementation, the mean increase in vitamin D levels was 9.6 ng/mL, with 55.2% of subjects becoming deficient. The study revealed a significant correlation between follow-up vitamin D levels and waist circumference, hip circumference, and VAT. VAT exhibited a strong correlation not only with vitamin D levels but also with waist circumference. When analyzing gender differences, males showed a higher weight and waist-to-hip ratio, while females had higher body adiposity indexes and subcutaneous adipose tissue measurements. In conclusion, this study highlights the relationship between VAT and vitamin D levels, emphasizing the potential role of adipose tissue in vitamin D availability. Waist circumference was identified as a surrogate measure for VAT evaluation. Furthermore, the study showed variations in vitamin D response to supplementation between genders, with a higher percentage of males reaching normal vitamin D levels. Predictive factors for vitamin D levels differed between genders, with waist circumference being a significant predictor in males and body adiposity index in females

Reduced variability to aspirin antiplatelet effect by the coadministration of statins in high-risk patients for cardiovascular disease

We studied the influence of cardiovascular(CV) risk factors, previous CV events, and co-treatments with preventive medicines, on residual platelet thromboxane(TX)B2production in 182 patients chronically treated with enteric coated(EC)-aspirin(100mg/day). The response to aspirin was also verified by assessing arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation and urinary 11-dehydro-TXB2levels. Residual serum TXB2levels exceeded the upper limit value for an adequate aspirin response in 14% of individuals. This phenomenon was detected at 12h after dosing with aspirin. The co-administration of statins(atorvastatin, used mostly) was an independent predictor of residual serum TXB2levels, and the percentage of patients with enhanced values was significantly lower in statin users vs. nonusers. We provide evidence in vitro that atorvastatin reduced residual TXB2generation by increasing the extent of acetylation of platelet COX-1 by aspirin. In conclusion, the coadministration of statins may counter the mechanisms associated with reduced bioavailability of aspirin detected in some individuals with CV disease. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Plastic pollution in the ocean : what we know and what we don't know about

Production issue d’un séminaire de 2 jours à ‘The Camp’, https://thecamp.fr/en/document/pop2018Plastic pollution is pervasive in world oceans and has gained large attention by the media, the public and the governments. The urgency of this issue was recognized by nearly 200 countries that signed in December 2017 in Nairobi the U.N. draft Resolution on Marine Litter and Microplastics. It encourages Member States and stakeholders to take action but despite acknowledging the problem, the resolution does not contain any legally binding agreement.Meanwhile plastic litter continues to accumulate in world oceans. It has been estimated that 8 million tons (Mt) of plastic waste reaches the ocean each year, and with no action that volume is projected to double by 2030, and double again by 2050. In order to tackle this issue, NGOs, startups, activists, public and private decision makers need correct information about the reality of plastic pollution in the sea, its impacts on marine ecosystems and human health. Among the large quantity of information available, it is difficult to differentiate exaggerated alarms from miracle solutions, while taking into account unknown but potential risks of plastic pollution. Scientific evidence shows a complex reality.In order to increase overall scientific literacy on plastic pollution, the associated risks and the possible solutions, thecamp, the new innovation campus located in Aix-en-Provence, France, has created the Plastic and Ocean Platform with the view of bringing together and promoting collaboration between scientists, NGOs and plastic experts.The goal of the Platform, supported by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, is to facilitate the exchange of information and provide a clear and comprehensible overview of the current scientific knowledge and understanding about plastic pollution and the way to fight it. This information will be shared widely to the media, the general public and the decision makers. As of today, more than 30 international research scientists and 20 NGOs have contributed to the Plastic and Ocean Platform. We are now expanding this network.The first production of the Plastic and Ocean Platform is a state of the art on what is known and what is not known about plastic pollution. Following a collective work with the NGOs, the scientists have produced a scientific summary that gives synthetic answers to the most common questions the public is asking on the reality of plastic pollution and its consequences

Factor XIIIA-V34L and Factor XIIIB-H95R Gene Variants: Effects on Survival in Myocardial Infarction Patients

It has been demonstrated recently that coagulation factor XIII (FXIII) plays an extraordinary role in myocardial healing after infarction, improving survival in a mouse model. Common FXIII gene variants (i.e. FXIIIA-V34L and FXIIIB-H95R) significantly influence the molecular activity. To evaluate whether there is a relationship between the two FXIII gene variants and survival in patients after myocardial infarction (MI), V34L and H95R were PCR-genotyped in a cohort of 560 MI cases and follow-up was monitored. Cases with ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI) were 416 (74.3%) and 374 of these were treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (89.9%). The remaining 144 patients showed non-ST-segment elevation MI (NSTEMI) at enrollment. The combined endpoint was the occurrence of death, re-infarction, and heart failure. Kaplan-Meier analysis at one year yielded an overall rate for adverse events of 24.5% with a lower incidence in the L34-carriers (28.8% vs 17.1%; log-rank, P = 0.00025), similar to that of the 416 STEMI (23.8%) being (28.0% and 16.9%; VV34- and L34-carriers respectively; log-rank, P = 0.001). Primary PCI-group had a slight lower incidence (22.9%) of adverse events (26.8% and 17.1%; VV34- and L34-carriers respectively; log-rank, P = 0.009). During hospitalization, 506 patients received PCI (374 primary PCI and 132 elective PCI). Significance was conserved also in the overall PCI-group (28.6% and 17.8%; VV34- and L34-carriers respectively; log-rank, P = 0.001). Similar findings were observed at 30 days follow-up. Cases carrying both FXIII variants had improved survival rate (log-rank, P = 0.019). On the other hand, minor bleeding complications were found increased in L34-carriers (P = 0.0001) whereas major bleeding complications were not. Finally, more direct evidence on the role of FXIII molecule on survival might come from the fact that despite significant FXIII antigen reductions observed in cases after MI, regardless the FXIII genotype considered, L34-carriers kept almost normal FXIII activity (VV34- vs L34-carriers; P < 0.001). We conclude that FXIII L34-allele improves survival after MI in all the groups analyzed, possibly through its higher activity associated with assumable positive effects on myocardial healing and recovered functions. Genetically determined higher FXIII activity might influence post-MI outcome. This paves the way for using FXIII molecules to improve myocardial healing, recovery of functions, and survival after infarction