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10 pages, 1005 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Plaque Instability Index Calculated by Histological Marker Analysis of the Endarterectomy Carotid Artery

by Doina Butcovan, Veronica Mocanu, Mihai Enache, Beatrice Gabriela Ioan and Grigore Tinica

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(16), 8040; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12168040 - 11 Aug 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1947

Abstract

(1) Background: Atherosclerosis is a pandemic condition that causes the development of ischemic syndromes including myocardial infarctions and many strokes, in addition to disabling peripheral artery disease. Progression of atheroma plaques has been associated with an increased risk of mortality. It is a [...] Read more.

(1) Background: Atherosclerosis is a pandemic condition that causes the development of ischemic syndromes including myocardial infarctions and many strokes, in addition to disabling peripheral artery disease. Progression of atheroma plaques has been associated with an increased risk of mortality. It is a challenge to determine in advance if atherosclerotic plaque will become unstable by calculating an index of instability. We proposed a score of ten parameters for the assessment of high-risk plaques, by quantification of 10 risk factors for acute cardiovascular events, most of them representing histological variables. (2) Methods: Carotid endarterectomy samples were collected from 10 highly symptomatic patients who matched for gender, age, risk factors, and plaque morphology. Samples were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, elastic van Gieson, Perls, and Mallory. Immunohistochemistry was performed using specific antibodies, such as CD31 for endothelial cells, CD68 for macrophages, and CD3 for T cells. (3) Results: For each plaque, the presence and/or number of histological features (fibrous cap thickness, lipid core size, plaque and cap infiltration with macrophages and lymphocytes, neovessels, intraplaque hemorrhage, parietal thrombi, and calcium deposits) were recorded on a simple semi-quantitative one- or two-grade scale. The study identified four stable plaques (SPs), two vulnerable plaques (VPs), and four unstable plaques (USPs). We found significantly more macrophages and neovessels in unstable plaques compared with stable plaques. The score for unstable plaques was higher than that for VP. (4) Conclusions: The study showed that symptomatic carotid disease is associated with an increased index score. The proposed algorithm for carotid plaque assessment may be useful for an imaging application. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends and Prospects in Pathophysiology of Diet-Related Diseases)

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10 pages, 269 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Eating Habits and Perceived Benefits of Physical Activity and Body Attractiveness among Adolescents from Northeastern Romania

by Dana-Teodora Anton-Păduraru, Ioan Gotcă, Veronica Mocanu, Veronica Popescu, Maria-Liliana Iliescu, Egidia-Gabriela Miftode and Vasile-Lucian Boiculese

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(22), 11042; https://doi.org/10.3390/app112211042 - 22 Nov 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3044

Abstract

The purpose of this paper was to present the results of the evaluation of 1320 adolescents from 4 high schools in Iaşi, Romania regarding their eating habits and perceived benefits of physical activity and body attractiveness after they completed an anonymous questionnaire. The [...] Read more.

The purpose of this paper was to present the results of the evaluation of 1320 adolescents from 4 high schools in Iaşi, Romania regarding their eating habits and perceived benefits of physical activity and body attractiveness after they completed an anonymous questionnaire. The data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS version 18. The analysis of the nutritional status showed that over 70% of adolescents were of a normal weight. Most of them (63.56%) consumed 3–4 meals/day, with breakfast being the most skipped meal (60.53%). Compared with the boys, the girls consumed fewer whole grains, dairy products, and meat, but the girls consumed fruits and vegetables in approximately the same percentage. The adolescents studied consumed more fruits than vegetables, but the servings of fruits and vegetables consumed were not sufficient in the diets of many adolescents (39.31%). Among the adolescents, 5.68% consumed at least 2 alcoholic drinks daily, and 37.87% consumed caffeine products one or more times per week. Among the boys, 95.20% practiced regular physical activity, and 97.20% of the girls considered that the right nutrition plays a role in the prevention of obesity. The study of the self-perception profile showed that 89.8% of boys and 79.5% of girls considered that they had attractive bodies. According to the BMI, 86.7% of normal-weight adolescents and 84.8% of underweight adolescents considered themselves as having attractive bodies, while this was only considered by 73.5% of overweight and 56.7% of obese adolescents. It is necessary to introduce nutritional education in schools for the improvement of eating habits in children and adolescents. More studies are needed to appreciate the social behaviors (e.g., food intake, physical activity, and recreation time) and then develop interventions and national health programs to promote a healthy lifestyle, particularly healthy eating habits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends and Prospects in Pathophysiology of Diet-Related Diseases)

10 pages, 965 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Cortisol Reactivity to a Digital Version of Trier Social Stress Test and Eating Behavior in Non-Overweight and Overweight Adolescents: A Pilot Study

by Ioan Gotca, Andrada Druica, Daniel V. Timofte, Cristina Preda, Dana-Teodora Anton-Paduraru, Cristina Mihaela Ghiciuc, Maria Christina Ungureanu, Letitia Leustean and Veronica Mocanu

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(20), 9683; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11209683 - 17 Oct 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2164

Abstract

(1) Background: In the present pilot study, we examined the response of cortisol to a digital version of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) and corresponding eating preferences in non-overweight and overweight adolescents. (2) Methods: The experimental study group included 35 adolescents aged [...] Read more.

(1) Background: In the present pilot study, we examined the response of cortisol to a digital version of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) and corresponding eating preferences in non-overweight and overweight adolescents. (2) Methods: The experimental study group included 35 adolescents aged 15.7 ± 0.5 years (16 boys and 19 girls). The participants were split into two groups: non-overweight (N = 24) and overweight (N = 11), according to the Body Mass Index (BMI). We induced acute stress in all participants, using a digital version of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), with three different digital tasks. We measured salivary cortisol before the test (T0), during the stress induction by digital tasks (T5, T10, T15), and 25 min after the stress test (T40). The Health Behavior in School-Aged Children Questionnaire (HBSC) was administered to assess the influence of stress on eating behavior: the consumption of fruit, vegetables, sweets, and soft drinks and the frequency of snacks. (3) Results: Among the entire group of adolescents, we observed a significant difference between the sexes in terms of cortisol response, girls being predominantly hyperreactive (13 girls compared to 5 boys, p = 0.03). In overweight adolescents, the cortisol reactivity was lower in boys and higher in girls (p = 0.05). The overweight hyperreactive adolescents, as compared to the hyporeactive ones, had a higher frequency of daily consumption of sweets (25% vs. 0%) and soft drink (25% vs. 0). (4) Conclusions: The individual patterns of cortisol reactivity to laboratory-induced stress could be associated with an increased risk of unhealthy eating behavior in adolescents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends and Prospects in Pathophysiology of Diet-Related Diseases)

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9 pages, 1226 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

The Role of Prediabetes as a Predictive Factor for the Outcomes in Patients with STEMI. Which Is the Right Range of Glycated Hemoglobin to Adopt in This Setting?

by Kyriazoula Chatzianagnostou, Letizia Guiducci, Umberto Paradossi, Alberto Ranieri De Caterina, Annamaria Mazzone, Sergio Berti and Cristina Vassalle

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(12), 5518; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11125518 - 15 Jun 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1885

Abstract

Background: Prediabetes (preT2D) is considered a subtle adverse cardiovascular (CV) risk factor after acute myocardial infarction. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) ranges to identify preT2D are different between ADA and WHO guidelines (5.7–6.4 vs. 6.0–6.4%, respectively). Aim: To evaluate the prognostic value of HbA1c [...] Read more.

Background: Prediabetes (preT2D) is considered a subtle adverse cardiovascular (CV) risk factor after acute myocardial infarction. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) ranges to identify preT2D are different between ADA and WHO guidelines (5.7–6.4 vs. 6.0–6.4%, respectively). Aim: To evaluate the prognostic value of HbA1c different preT2D-ranges and their correlation with demographic, instrumental, and laboratory parameters in STEMI. Methods: A total of 1681 patients (mean age 67 ± 13 years; 1217 males) were enrolled. Admission HbA1c was used to identify patients with no-T2D (<5.7%), HbA1c 5.70–5.99%, and WHO-preT2D with HbA1c 6–6.49%, and T2D (HbA1c ≥ 6.5). Results: HbA1c 5.7–5.99, WHO-preT2D, and T2D progressively correlated with an increasing number of CV risk factors. However, only T2D, but not preT2D, was significantly associated with adverse prognosis (in-hospital and one-year death). Conclusions: PreT2D is correlated with CV risk factors, but not with adverse prognosis as compared to no-T2D. Nonetheless, routine HbA1c testing in the STEMI population and HbA1c-5.7–5.99 patient inclusion in the preT2D category may help to identify those who may benefit from intervention and lifestyle strategies to early prevent preT2D progression. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends and Prospects in Pathophysiology of Diet-Related Diseases)

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Review

Jump to: Research

9 pages, 235 KiB

Open AccessReview

Perivascular Adipose Tissue Inflammation: The Anti-Inflammatory Role of Ghrelin in Atherosclerosis Progression

by Sorin Nicolae Peiu, Radu Florin Popa, Fawzi Akad, Iustina S. Cretu-Silivestru, Bogdan Mircea Mihai, Anatolie Visnevschi, Lorina Vudu, Bogdan Tamba, Teodor Oboroceanu, Daniel Timofte and Veronica Mocanu

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(7), 3307; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12073307 - 24 Mar 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2718

Abstract

Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) and its adipokines engage in bidirectional crosstalk with the vascular wall. Atherosclerosis disrupts this interaction through inflammation, rupture-prone plaques, and subsequent thrombosis. The cardioprotective effects of ghrelin are in contradiction to its adipogenic properties. The concurrent research of anti-/pro-atherogenic [...] Read more.

Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) and its adipokines engage in bidirectional crosstalk with the vascular wall. Atherosclerosis disrupts this interaction through inflammation, rupture-prone plaques, and subsequent thrombosis. The cardioprotective effects of ghrelin are in contradiction to its adipogenic properties. The concurrent research of anti-/pro-atherogenic mechanisms of ghrelin and PVAT-derived adipokines provides a better understanding of atherosclerosis progression in metabolic disorders. In-depth coverage of the characteristic features of PVAT concerning vascular dysfunction, with a survey of ghrelin-induced anti-inflammatory effects on adipose tissue macrophage infiltration and the inhibitory activity of ghrelin on the proinflammatory adipokine secretion, show that the impact of ghrelin on the endothelial function should be studied in relation to PVAT. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends and Prospects in Pathophysiology of Diet-Related Diseases)

42 pages, 5437 KiB

Open AccessReview

Causative Mechanisms of Childhood and Adolescent Obesity Leading to Adult Cardiometabolic Disease: A Literature Review

by Mihai Octavian Negrea, Bogdan Neamtu, Ioana Dobrotă, Ciprian Radu Sofariu, Roxana Mihaela Crisan, Bacila Ionut Ciprian, Carmen Daniela Domnariu and Minodora Teodoru

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(23), 11565; https://doi.org/10.3390/app112311565 - 6 Dec 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5081

Abstract

The past few decades have shown a worrisome increase in the prevalence of obesity and its related illnesses. This increasing burden has a noteworthy impact on overall worldwide mortality and morbidity, with significant economic implications as well. The same trend is apparent regarding [...] Read more.

The past few decades have shown a worrisome increase in the prevalence of obesity and its related illnesses. This increasing burden has a noteworthy impact on overall worldwide mortality and morbidity, with significant economic implications as well. The same trend is apparent regarding pediatric obesity. This is a particularly concerning aspect when considering the well-established link between cardiovascular disease and obesity, and the fact that childhood obesity frequently leads to adult obesity. Moreover, most obese adults have a history of excess weight starting in childhood. In addition, given the cumulative character of both time and severity of exposure to obesity as a risk factor for associated diseases, the repercussions of obesity prevalence and related morbidity could be exponential in time. The purpose of this review is to outline key aspects regarding the current knowledge on childhood and adolescent obesity as a cardiometabolic risk factor, as well as the most common etiological pathways involved in the development of weight excess and associated cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends and Prospects in Pathophysiology of Diet-Related Diseases)

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14 pages, 1018 KiB

Open AccessReview

Dietary Soy Impact on Host Transcriptome Profile—A Review

by Andrei Anghel, Maria Sala-Cirtog, Catalin Marian, Corina Samoila and Ioan Ovidiu Sirbu

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(17), 7905; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11177905 - 27 Aug 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2159

Abstract

Whether eaten, drank, or taken in the form of supplements, soybean has been a part of the human diet for centuries. The dietary use of soybean has been extensively proven to be beneficial for human health, protecting against a wide range of chronic [...] Read more.

Whether eaten, drank, or taken in the form of supplements, soybean has been a part of the human diet for centuries. The dietary use of soybean has been extensively proven to be beneficial for human health, protecting against a wide range of chronic diseases. However, our knowledge regarding the impact of soy intake on global gene expression is still incomplete. The present review summarizes and compares data describing the transcriptional changes in several tissues from two different phyla (fish and mammals) upon soybean diet supplementation. We performed comparative STRING-based pathway enrichment analysis of both individual and aggregated soy-induced transcriptome data in fish and mammals and identified the signaling pathways common between the two datasets. We hypothesize that these pathways represent a conserved transcriptome response to the soy-enriched dietary challenge. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends and Prospects in Pathophysiology of Diet-Related Diseases)

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11 pages, 1121 KiB

Open AccessReview

Role of Irisin in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders—Possible New Therapeutic Agent?

by Letitia Leustean, Cristina Preda, Laura Teodoriu, Laura Mihalache, Lidia Arhire and Maria-Christina Ungureanu

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(12), 5579; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11125579 - 16 Jun 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4064

Abstract

Irisin is a novel hormone that provides a possible solution for the treatment of metabolic disorders. Discovered in 2012 by Boström et al., irisin very quickly became an interesting subject in medical research. Irisin has been found in cerebrospinal fluid, the cerebellum, thyroid, [...] Read more.

Irisin is a novel hormone that provides a possible solution for the treatment of metabolic disorders. Discovered in 2012 by Boström et al., irisin very quickly became an interesting subject in medical research. Irisin has been found in cerebrospinal fluid, the cerebellum, thyroid, pineal gland, liver, pancreas, testis, spleen, adult stomach, and human fetuses. Regarding the actions of irisin, both in animals and humans, the results are contradictory but interesting. Its capability to influence adipose tissue and glycemic homeostasis may be utilized in order to treat hypothyroidism, polycystic ovary syndrome, Prader–Willi syndrome, and other endocrine and metabolic disorders. Considering its osteogenic potential, irisin might be a therapeutic choice in diseases caused by a sedentary lifestyle. New data indicate that irisin treatment may serve in the treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2) infection. Furthermore, several therapeutic agents, such as insulin, metformin, fenofibrate, exenatide, and melatonin, influence the concentrations of irisin in animal models or in humans. Nutritional factors including polyunsaturated fatty acids may also have an effect on irisin concentrations. While it may be “too good to be true,” irisin offers many opportunities for future research that would aim to find its optimal therapeutical role in endocrine and metabolic diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends and Prospects in Pathophysiology of Diet-Related Diseases)

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