Ricerc@Sapienza

The incidence of obesity is rising worldwide and so are its comorbidities: type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), dyslipidaemia, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnoea, and depression. Bariatric/metabolic surgery has established itself over the past several years as an effective treatment not only for morbid obesity but also for its associated morbidities. The effects of bariatric/metabolic surgery on depression are controversial, with some studies showing improvement and others demonstrating a worsening.

The gastrointestinal tract is extremely rich in endocrine cells and secretes a myriad of hormones, including ghrelin, glucagon-like peptide 1(GLP1), gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP), cholecystokinin (CCK), amylin, peptide YY (PYY), oxyntomodulin, and leptin. Mechanical distention of the stomach elicits mechanoreceptors within the gastric wall sensing tension, stretch, and volume, which then send brain signals through vagal and spinal sensory nerves.

Diabetes mellitus is one of the major risk factors for cognitive dysfunction. The pathogenesis of brain impairment caused by chronic hyperglycemia is complex and includes mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation, neurotransmitters’ alteration, and vascular disease, which lead to cognitive impairment, neurodegeneration, loss of synaptic plasticity, brain aging, and dementia. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a gut released hormone, is attracting attention as a possible link between metabolic and brain impairment.

Aims: People with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes (T2DM) often delay initiating and titrating basal insulin. Patient-managed titration may reduce such deferral. The Italian Titration Approach Study (ITAS) compared the efficacy and safety of insulin glargine 300 U/mL (Gla-300) initiation and titration using patient- (nurse-supported) or physician-management in insulin-naïve patients with uncontrolled T2DM. Materials and methods: ITAS was a multicentre, phase IV, 24-week, open-label, randomized (1:1), parallel-group study.

Introduction Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with an increased fracture risk despite normal-to-increased bone mineral density, suggesting reduced bone quality. Exercise may be effective in reducing fracture risk by ameliorating muscle dysfunction and reducing risk of fall, though it is unclear whether it can improve bone quality.

Context Neurotensin (NT), an intestinal peptide released by fat ingestion, promotes lipid absorption; higher circulating NT levels are associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D), obesity, and cardiovascular disease. Whether NT is related to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has not been fully investigated. Objective To study the relationship between plasma proneurotensin 1 to 117 (pro-NT), a stable fragment of the NT precursor hormone, and the presence/severity of NAFLD/NASH and to unravel correlates of increased pro-NT levels.

Background: Sclerostin (SC) is a monomeric glycoprotein expressed by osteocytes that affects bone formation. Recent studies have suggested a potential role for this protein in the pathophysiology of vascular diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate SC expression in atherosclerotic plaques of patients affected by severe atherosclerotic disease who underwent carotid endarterectomy. We also evaluated possible differences in SC expression between patients with and without type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Procollagen-III peptide (PIIINP) is a marker of fibrosis associated with increased cardio-metabolic risk and progression of chronic liver diseases such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and steatohepatitis (NASH); its association with type 2 diabetes mellitus has not been elucidated yet. Aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between circulating PIIINP levels, metabolic traits and body fat distribution in subjects with T2DM with or without NAFLD.