Circulating SIRT1 inversely correlates with epicardial fat thickness in patients with obesity

Background and aim: Obesity is increasing worldwide and is related to undesirable cardiovascular outcomes. Epicardial fat (EF), the heart visceral fat depot, increases with obesity and correlates with cardiovascular risk. SIRT1, an enzyme regulating metabolic circuits linked with obesity, has a cardioprotective effect and is a predictor of cardiovascular events. We aimed to assess the relationship of EF thickness (EFT) with circulating SIRT1 in patients with obesity. Methods and results: Sixty-two patients affected by obesity and 23 lean controls were studied. Plasma SIRT1 concentration was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). EFT was measured by echocardiography. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, heart rate (HR), blood pressure, and laboratory findings (fasting glucose, insulin, HbA1c, cholesterol, and triglycerides) were assessed. SIRT1 was significantly lower (P = 0.002) and EFT was higher (P < 0.0001) in patients with obesity compared with lean controls. SIRT1 showed a negative correlation with EFT and HR in the obesity group (rho = -0.350, P = 0.005; rho = -0.303, P = 0.008, respectively). After adjustment for obesity-correlated variables, multiple linear regression analysis showed that EFT remained the best correlate of SIRT1 (beta = -0.352, P = 0.016). Conclusions: Circulating SIRT1 correlates with the visceral fat content of the heart. Serum SIRT1 levels might provide additional information for risk assessment of coronary artery disease in patients with obesity. (C) 2016 The Italian Society of Diabetology, the Italian Society for the Study of Atherosclerosis, the Italian Society of Human Nutrition, and the Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Smartphone and social network addiction in early adolescents: The role of self-regulatory self-efficacy in a pilot school-based intervention

Background: Youths' online problematic behaviors, such as smartphone or social network sites (SNS) addiction, gained increasing attention nowadays, due to their impact on concurrent and later adjustment, such as emotional and/or behavioral problems, academic impairments, or relational issues. Aims: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a pilot school-based intervention to contrast online addictive behaviors while fostering adolescents' self-regulative abilities. Materials &amp; Methods: The intervention started in January 2022 in an Italian junior high school located in Rome, and consisted of four meetings with students. A total sample of 462 15-year-old adolescents (Mage = 15.2; SD = 0.50; 41% females; Ncontrol = 214; Nintervention = 248) was considered. Within the latent difference score framework, we examined short-term changes from the pre-to-the-postintervention levels of SNS and smartphone addiction, and self-regulatory self-efficacy (SRSE) beliefs as a possible booster of the intervention's effectiveness. Results: Results showed a significant decrease in both online addictions (SNS and smartphone addiction), controlling for age, gender, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status, because of the short-term efficacy of the project. The buffering effect of SRSE beliefs was further supported. Conclusion: These findings emphasized the usefulness of promoting youths' self-regulative beliefs to contrast problematic tendencies, according to a Positive Youth Development perspective which focused on resources rather than only on the prevention of negative outcomes for youths' adjustment

Values and Pro-environmental behavior: the mediating role of Self-regulatory efficacy beliefs

An extensive literature on pro-environmental behavior (PEB) highlighted the inconsistency between individual goals and actual behavior (Nielsen &amp; Hofmann, 2021). People embracing self-transcendence values (i.e., assigning priority to social welfare and nature) are more likely to perform PEBs (Steg et al., 2014). Since PEBs can be demanding in terms of personal resources (Nielsen, 2017), to align PEBs with long-term goals or values (e.g., Nielsen &amp; Hofmann, 2021), namely to sustain one’s motivation in the face of difficulties, self-regulation processes may be pivotal (e.g., Wyss et al., 2021). Among others, self-efficacy may represent a central mechanism in supporting motivation (Caprara &amp; Steca, 2007; Bandura, 1997) and PEB (Tabernero &amp; Hernández, 2011). Consistent with these premises, the present study aims to examine to what extent self-transcendence values (i.e., universalism) exert their influence over PEBs (i.e., green consumerism, recycling, energy saving) through pro-environmental self-regulatory efficacy beliefs (beliefs about one’s ability to overcome internal or external contingent barriers to PEBs). Data used for the present study were part of an ongoing intensive longitudinal study. The study sample consisted of 180 Italian surveyed participants (age range=18-35; mean age=25.3, SD=3.4). Preliminary results on a partial sub-sample (n=56) showed that the relationship between self-transcendence values and PEBs, after controlling for gender and perceived usefulness of PEBs, was partially mediated by self-regulatory efficacy (β=.185; p= .032). This study shed new light on the motivational mechanisms underlying PEBs, highlighting the potential positive role of self-regulatory efficacy beliefs in enacting PEBs in young individuals. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed

Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Acute Fulminant Myocarditis in Adult Patients: A 5-Year Multi-Institutional Experience

Acute fulminant myocarditis (AFM) may represent a life-threatening event, characterized by rapidly progressive cardiac compromise that ultimately leads to refractory cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest. Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) provides effective cardiocirculatory support in this circumstance, but few clinical series are available about early and long-term results. Data from a multicenter study group are reported which analyzed subjects affected by AFM and treated with VA-ECMO during a 5-year period