Diversas evidências comprovam que a obesidade está associada a alterações estruturais e funcionais do coração em modelos humanos e animais. Outros estudos recentes também demonstram que a obesidade humana está associada com alterações na função e na estrutura vascular, especialmente em grandes e médias artérias. Estudos epidemiológicos têm confirmado que a obesidade é um fator de risco significativo para o aparecimento de proteinúria e de doença renal terminal em uma população normal. Com o objetivo de determinar as alterações morfológicas relacionadas ao remodelamento cardíaco, vascular e renal em um modelo experimental de obesidade induzida pelo glutamato monossódico (MSG) e os efeitos da metformina sobre estes achados, foram estudados 25 ratos divididos em cinco grupos: controle com 16 e 22 semanas (CON-16 e CON-22); obeso com 16 e 22 semanas (MSG-16 e MSG-22) e obeso + metformina (MET-22) 300mg/Kg/dia por via oral. A caracterização da resistência à insulina foi feita através da medida da insulina plasmática e cálculo do índice de HOMA-IR. As análises morfológicas e quantificação do colágeno miocárdico foram feitos pelo sistema de imagem Image Pro Plus analysis. A pressão arterial sistólica foi levemente maior no grupo MSG-22, adquirindo significância estatística quando comparada com o grupo MSG-16 (1222 vs 1082 mmHg, p<0,05). Por outro lado, o grupo MET-22 mostrou níveis mais baixos de pressão arterial (1181 mmHg), sem alcançar diferença significativa. No grupo de animais obesos, foi observado aumento na relação média-lumen com 16 semanas (39,93,7 vs 30,22,0 %, p<0,05) e com 22 semanas (39,81,3 vs 29,51,2%, p<0,05), que foi reduzida com o uso da metformina (31,50,9%). O depósito de colágeno na área perivascular no ventrículo esquerdo foi significativamente maior no grupo MSG-22 (1,390,06 vs 0,830,06 % no CON-22, p<0,01), sendo atenuado pela metformina (1,020,04%). No rim, a área seccional transversa das arteríolas intrarrenais foi semelhante entre os grupos (18,52,2 no CON-16; 19,93,7 no MSG-16; 18,93,1 no CON-22; 21,81,5 no MSG-22; 20,21,4 no MET-22). Foi observado aumento da área glomerular no grupo MSG-22 (141,34,5 vs 129,50,5 m2), mas sem significância estatística. Em conclusão, nos ratos com obesidade induzida pelo MSG, com resistência à insulina, as alterações cardíacas foram mais proeminentes do que as alterações renais. No coração foram observados sinais de remodelamento vascular hipertrófico nas pequenas artérias intramiocárdicas e evidências de fibrose miocárdica mais proeminente na área perivascular, alterações que foram, pelo menos parcialmente, atenuadas com o uso de metformina durante seis semanas, mostrando que esta droga pode ser benéfica na prevenção de complicações cardíacas, vasculares e renais associadas com a obesidade. / Many evidences show that obesity is associated to structural and functional changes in the heart of human and animal models. Recent studies also show that human obesity is associated with vascular structural and functional modifications, specially at large and medium-sized arteries. Epidemiological studies have confirmed that obesity is a significant risk factor for the development of proteinuria and end-stage renal disease in a normal population. With the objective to determinate morphological changes related to cardiac, vascular and renal remodeling in an experimental model of monosodium glutamate (MSG)-induced obesity and the effect of metformin at this finding. Twenty five rats were studied and divided into five groups: control with 16 e 22 weeks (CON-16 and CON-22); obese with 16 and 22 weeks (MSG-16 e MSG-22), and obese + metformin (MET-22) 300mg/Kg/day per oral. The characterization of insulin resistance was done through measurement of plasma insulin and calculation of HOMA-IR index. The morphological analysis and the quantification of myocardial collagen were carried out by Image Pro Plus analysis system. The systolic blood pressure was slightly higher in MSG-22 group, reaching statistical significance when compared to MSG-16 group (1222 vs 1082 mmHg, p<0.05). On the other hand, the MET-22 group demonstrated lower blood pressure levels (1181 mmHg), without reaching statistical difference. The obese animals presented increase in media-to-lumen ratio with 16 weeks (39.93.7 vs 30.22.0 %, p<0.05) and with 22 weeks (39.81.3 vs 29.51.2%, p<0.05), which was reduced with use of metformin (31.50.9%). The collagen deposition in perivascular area of left ventricle was significantly greater in MSG-22 group (1.390.06 vs 0.830.06 % in CON-22, p<0.01), and attenuated by metformin (1.020.04%). In the kidney, the media cross-sectional area of intrarenal arterioles was similar among the groups (18.52.2 in CON-16; 19.93.7 in MSG-16; 18.93.1 in CON-22; 21.81.5 in MSG-22; 20.21.4 in MET-22). An increase of glomerular area was observed in MSG-22 group (141.34.5 vs 129.50.5 m2), but without statistical significance. In conclusion, rats with MSG-induced obesity and insulin resistance presented more pronounced cardiac changes than renal alterations. In the heart, there were evidences of hypertrophic vascular remodeling were observed in intramyocardial small arteries and perivascular fibrosis. These findings were, at least partially, attenuated by metformin for six weeks, suggesting that this drug may be beneficial for prevention of cardiac, vascular and renal complications associated with obesity.

Diversas evidências comprovam que a obesidade está associada a alterações estruturais e funcionais do coração em modelos humanos e animais. Outros estudos recentes também demonstram que a obesidade humana está associada com alterações na função e na estrutura vascular, especialmente em grandes e médias artérias. Estudos epidemiológicos têm confirmado que a obesidade é um fator de risco significativo para o aparecimento de proteinúria e de doença renal terminal em uma população normal. Com o objetivo de determinar as alterações morfológicas relacionadas ao remodelamento cardíaco, vascular e renal em um modelo experimental de obesidade induzida pelo glutamato monossódico (MSG) e os efeitos da metformina sobre estes achados, foram estudados 25 ratos divididos em cinco grupos: controle com 16 e 22 semanas (CON-16 e CON-22); obeso com 16 e 22 semanas (MSG-16 e MSG-22) e obeso + metformina (MET-22) 300mg/Kg/dia por via oral. A caracterização da resistência à insulina foi feita através da medida da insulina plasmática e cálculo do índice de HOMA-IR. As análises morfológicas e quantificação do colágeno miocárdico foram feitos pelo sistema de imagem Image Pro Plus analysis. A pressão arterial sistólica foi levemente maior no grupo MSG-22, adquirindo significância estatística quando comparada com o grupo MSG-16 (1222 vs 1082 mmHg, p<0,05). Por outro lado, o grupo MET-22 mostrou níveis mais baixos de pressão arterial (1181 mmHg), sem alcançar diferença significativa. No grupo de animais obesos, foi observado aumento na relação média-lumen com 16 semanas (39,93,7 vs 30,22,0 %, p<0,05) e com 22 semanas (39,81,3 vs 29,51,2%, p<0,05), que foi reduzida com o uso da metformina (31,50,9%). O depósito de colágeno na área perivascular no ventrículo esquerdo foi significativamente maior no grupo MSG-22 (1,390,06 vs 0,830,06 % no CON-22, p<0,01), sendo atenuado pela metformina (1,020,04%). No rim, a área seccional transversa das arteríolas intrarrenais foi semelhante entre os grupos (18,52,2 no CON-16; 19,93,7 no MSG-16; 18,93,1 no CON-22; 21,81,5 no MSG-22; 20,21,4 no MET-22). Foi observado aumento da área glomerular no grupo MSG-22 (141,34,5 vs 129,50,5 m2), mas sem significância estatística. Em conclusão, nos ratos com obesidade induzida pelo MSG, com resistência à insulina, as alterações cardíacas foram mais proeminentes do que as alterações renais. No coração foram observados sinais de remodelamento vascular hipertrófico nas pequenas artérias intramiocárdicas e evidências de fibrose miocárdica mais proeminente na área perivascular, alterações que foram, pelo menos parcialmente, atenuadas com o uso de metformina durante seis semanas, mostrando que esta droga pode ser benéfica na prevenção de complicações cardíacas, vasculares e renais associadas com a obesidade. / Many evidences show that obesity is associated to structural and functional changes in the heart of human and animal models. Recent studies also show that human obesity is associated with vascular structural and functional modifications, specially at large and medium-sized arteries. Epidemiological studies have confirmed that obesity is a significant risk factor for the development of proteinuria and end-stage renal disease in a normal population. With the objective to determinate morphological changes related to cardiac, vascular and renal remodeling in an experimental model of monosodium glutamate (MSG)-induced obesity and the effect of metformin at this finding. Twenty five rats were studied and divided into five groups: control with 16 e 22 weeks (CON-16 and CON-22); obese with 16 and 22 weeks (MSG-16 e MSG-22), and obese + metformin (MET-22) 300mg/Kg/day per oral. The characterization of insulin resistance was done through measurement of plasma insulin and calculation of HOMA-IR index. The morphological analysis and the quantification of myocardial collagen were carried out by Image Pro Plus analysis system. The systolic blood pressure was slightly higher in MSG-22 group, reaching statistical significance when compared to MSG-16 group (1222 vs 1082 mmHg, p<0.05). On the other hand, the MET-22 group demonstrated lower blood pressure levels (1181 mmHg), without reaching statistical difference. The obese animals presented increase in media-to-lumen ratio with 16 weeks (39.93.7 vs 30.22.0 %, p<0.05) and with 22 weeks (39.81.3 vs 29.51.2%, p<0.05), which was reduced with use of metformin (31.50.9%). The collagen deposition in perivascular area of left ventricle was significantly greater in MSG-22 group (1.390.06 vs 0.830.06 % in CON-22, p<0.01), and attenuated by metformin (1.020.04%). In the kidney, the media cross-sectional area of intrarenal arterioles was similar among the groups (18.52.2 in CON-16; 19.93.7 in MSG-16; 18.93.1 in CON-22; 21.81.5 in MSG-22; 20.21.4 in MET-22). An increase of glomerular area was observed in MSG-22 group (141.34.5 vs 129.50.5 m2), but without statistical significance. In conclusion, rats with MSG-induced obesity and insulin resistance presented more pronounced cardiac changes than renal alterations. In the heart, there were evidences of hypertrophic vascular remodeling were observed in intramyocardial small arteries and perivascular fibrosis. These findings were, at least partially, attenuated by metformin for six weeks, suggesting that this drug may be beneficial for prevention of cardiac, vascular and renal complications associated with obesity.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Obesity increases cardiovascular disease risk and is associated with factors of the “metabolic syndrome” (MetS), a disorder including hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and/or impaired glucose tolerance. Expanding adipose and subsequent inflammation is implicated in vascular dysfunction in MetS. Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) surrounds virtually every artery and is capable of releasing factors that influence vascular reactivity, but the effects of PVAT in the coronary circulation are unknown. Accordingly, the goal of this investigation was to delineate mechanisms by which lean vs. MetS coronary PVAT influences vasomotor tone and the coronary PVAT proteome. We tested the hypothesis that MetS alters the functional expression and vascular contractile effects of coronary PVAT in an Ossabaw swine model of the MetS. Utilizing isometric tension measurements of coronary arteries in the absence and presence of PVAT, we revealed the vascular effects of PVAT vary according to anatomical location as coronary and mesenteric, but not subcutaneous adipose tissue augmented coronary artery contractions to KCl. Factors released from coronary PVAT increase baseline tension and potentiate constriction of isolated coronary arteries relative to the amount of adipose tissue present. The effects of coronary PVAT are elevated in the setting of MetS and occur independent of endothelial function. MetS is also associated with substantial alterations in the coronary PVAT proteome and underlying increases in vascular smooth muscle Ca2+ handling via CaV1.2 channels, H2O2-sensitive K+ channels and/or upstream mediators of these ion channels. Rho-kinase signaling participates in the increase in coronary artery contractions to PVAT in lean, but not MetS swine. These data provide novel evidence that the vascular effects of PVAT vary according to anatomic location and are influenced by the MetS phenotype.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Research indicates that negative affective traits (e.g., depression) are predictors and consequences of excess adiposity. Given that racial minorities and positive affective traits have been underrepresented in past investigations, more prospective studies are needed which examine multiple affective traits in relation to obesity in these populations. The objective of the current study was to investigate the prospective, bidirectional associations between multiple affective traits and multiple adiposity indicators in African Americans using data from the African American Health (AAH) study. The AAH study is a prospective cohort study of African Americans aged 49-65 years at baseline (N = 998). The longest follow-up period in the current study was 9 years (N = 579). Self-reported and measured body mass index (BMI; kg/m2) and body fat percent (BF%) were used as adiposity indicators. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the 11-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D), and anxiety was assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2 (GAD-2) scale. Positive affective traits were assessed with the Vitality subscale of the Short Form-36 and Positive Affect subscale from the CES-D. Latent variable path analysis, a structural equation modeling technique, was conducted. Although fit statistics indicated that the models fit the data (RMSEA < .06), examination of the structural paths revealed that the CES-D and GAD-2 were not predictors or consequences of self-reported BMI, measured BMI, or BF% (ps > .05). Likewise, Vitality and CES-D Positive Affect were not related to any adiposity indicator (ps > .05). The results of this prospective cohort study suggest that affective traits are not predictors or consequences of adiposity in middle-aged African Americans and that this group may require obesity prevention or intervention programs with little to no emphasis on affective traits. Possible explanations for the current results include ethnic differences in the mechanistic pathways between affective traits and adiposity.

Introducción. El objetivo del presente estudio es determinar si existe correlación entre los conocimientos sobre las consecuencias de la obesidad y el grado de actividad física de las personas. Métodos. Se realizó un estudio transversal analítico durante los años 2013 y 2014. Participaron 215 alumnos de pregrado seleccionados por conveniencia no relacionados a carreras del campo de la salud en una universidad de Lima, Perú. Se evaluó el grado de actividad física utilizando el International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) y el nivel de conocimientos sobre consecuencias de la obesidad utilizando la escala Obesity Risk Knowledge-10 (ORK-10). También, se consignó las fuentes de información de donde obtuvieron el conocimiento para responder dicho cuestionario. Resultados. La mediana de edad fue 20 (rango intercuartílico=4) y 63% eran mujeres. De acuerdo al IPAQ, 53,9% realizaban actividad física alta, 35,4%, moderada y 10,7%, leve. Se encontró una correlación muy baja (rs=0,06) entre el puntaje del ORK-10 y la cantidad de equivalentes metabólicos/minuto consumidos por semana, pero no era significativa (p=0,38). Las personas informadas por medios de comunicación y por personal de salud obtuvieron mayores puntajes en el ORK- 10 que quienes se informaron por otras vías (p<0,05). Conclusiones. La correlación entre los conocimientos sobre consecuencias de la obesidad y el grado de actividad física es muy baja. Es necesario utilizar enfoques multidisciplinarios que incluyan todos los determinantes de la realización de actividad física para poder lograr cambios en la conducta de la población.