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Biomedical subjects

M Zamboni

Publications and source records attributed to M Zamboni.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Waist circumference and abdominal sagittal diameter as surrogates of body fat distribution in the elderly: their relation with cardiovascular risk factors.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between supine sagittal abdominal diameter (SAD) and other indicators of body fat distribution with cardiovascular (CVD) risk factors in the elderly. SUBJECTS: One-hundred and forty-six women aged from 67 to 78 y with a body mass index (BMI) ranging from 18.7 to 50.6 kg/m2 and 83 men aged between 67 and 78 y with BMI ranging from 19.8 to 37.1 kg/m2. MEASUREMENT: Body fat distribution was assessed using anthropometric indicators: waist circumference, SAD, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio and SAD-to-thigh ratio. RESULTS: In women, there was a negative correlation between HDL-cholesterol and body weight, BMI, waist, SAD, WHR, waist-to-height ratio and SAD-to-thigh ratio. A significant association was found between triglycerides, basal glucose, 2 h glucose during oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and anthropometric variables. In men a negative correlation was found between HDL-cholesterol and all the anthropometric variables. A significant association was found between triglycerides, DBP and body weight, BMI, waist, SAD and waist-to-height ratio. In women, after adjusting for age and BMI, a significant correlation was observed between waist and HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and basal glucose. This was also seen with SAD and SAD-to-thigh ratio and triglycerides, basal and 2 h glucose. In men, after adjusting for age and BMI a significant correlation was found between SAD and HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides. When adjustments were made for age and waist, the correlations between BMI and metabolic variables as well between BMI and SBP and DBP were no longer significant. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that indicators of body fat distribution are associated with CVD risk factors in the elderly independently of BMI. Our data also show that waist and SAD are the anthropometric indicators of fat distribution which are most closely related to CVD risk factors in old age.

Abdomen↗

Resting energy expenditure, growth hormone indices, body composition and adipose tissue distribution in premenopausal women.

OBJECTIVES: A significant growth hormone (GH) contribution to interindividual variance in energy expenditure (REE) in women can be hypothesized. The present study examines the independent association between physiological levels of GH function indices and REE. SETTING: All subjects were hospitalized in the Institute of Internal Medicine of the University of Verona. SUBJECTS: Twenty-four premenopausal overweight (BMI = 28-55 kg m-2) women aged 18-49 years. INTERVENTIONS: REE was estimated by indirect calorimetry and body composition and fat distribution by single slice computed tomography method. GH activity and GH status were determined by measuring serum levels of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3). RESULTS: GH indices did not show any significant correlation with REE. The relation between GH indices and REE was also examined by multiple regression analysis to account for possible confounders such as body composition, adipose tissue distribution and age. When body composition was considered, body fat and fat-free mass were the only significant predictors of REE (R2 = 0.699, P = 0.0001). The contributions of GH indices were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings do not support the hypothesis that GH in physiological conditions could be an independent determinant of REE in women with obesity.

Adipose Tissue↗

Visceral obesity and metabolic syndrome.

There is increasing evidence for the existence of a condition consisting of a cluster of metabolic disorders which include insulin resistance, alterations in glucose and lipid metabolism, increased blood pressure and visceral obesity. The metabolic syndrome is now the favoured definition of the cluster. Each single component of the cluster increases the cardiovascular risk, but the combination of factors is much more important. Insulin resistance is the most frequently associated factor to the singular components of the syndrome: most authors believe that it may be the common aetiological factor. However, visceral obesity seems to be the main driving factor by means of the increased production of free fatty acids whose activity, in turn, might interfere with the action of insulin. Some questions exist about the syndrome because of the frequent lack in the cluster of one of the factors. This does not mean that the missing factor does not belong to the syndrome, but only that it is not yet clinically evident. Weight gain has been shown to be a strong predictor of the metabolic syndrome. This aspect gives strength to treatment and prevention because it means that losing weight or stopping weight increase might reduce the risk of a future appearance of a factor that is still not evident. Interventions to treat visceral obesity by means of losing weight seem to be the most efficacious way to treat the metabolic syndrome thus improving the most widespread cardiovascular risk factor in western countries.

Adipose Tissue↗

Waist circumference and sagittal diameter reflect total body fat better than visceral fat in older men and women. The Health, Aging and Body Composition Study.

The validity of waist circumference and sagittal diameter as surrogate measures of visceral fat were assessed using preliminary cross-sectional data from the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study, a cohort of 3,075 men and women aged 70-79. Weight, body mass index, waist circumference, waist/thigh ratio, and sagittal diameter were compared by correlation, graphical analysis, and regression to total body fat as measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (Hologic 4500A), and to visceral fat area as measured by computerized tomography. We included 2,830 persons, 1,439 women and 1,391 men with complete data on all measurements. For both men and women, all measurements were strongly correlated with both total body fat and visceral fat except the waist/thigh ratio. However, waist circumference, sagittal diameter, weight, and body mass index were more closely related to total body fat than to visceral fat area (R2 for the linear regression of waist circumference on total body fat was 0.69 in women and men; R2 for linear regression of waist circumference on visceral fat area was 0.40 in women, and 0.49 in men). These data suggest that the contribution of visceral fat to health risks will be better assessed by directly measuring this fat depot.

Adipose Tissue↗

Body fat distribution predicts the degree of endothelial dysfunction in uncomplicated obesity.

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain in obesity the role of body fat distribution (the strongest predictor of morbility and mortality in obese subjects) in determining the degree of endothelial dysfunction, an early marker of atherosclerotic disease. SUBJECTS: 18 premenopausal women with uncomplicated obesity excluding other cardiovascular risk factors and 12 age-matched slim healthy women. MEASUREMENTS: Endothelium-dependent vasodilation, studied as diameter variation in response to an increase in shear-stress, was evaluated in the right common femoral artery of obese and slim subjects by a non invasive approach and compared to glyceril-trinitrate vasodilation. To characterize better the vascular functional and/or structural properties, we studied the arterial wall distensibility by an echo-tracking system. Adipose tissue regional distribution was determined by computerised axial tomography. RESULTS: The endothelium-dependent vasodilation was significantly impaired in obese subjects (P<0.005 versus non-obese subjects) while glyceril-trinitrate vasodilation and arterial distensibility were similar in the two groups. In our obese subjects endothelial-dependent vasodilation was inversely correlated to body fat distribution (visceral/subcutaneous adipose tissue ratio: r=- 0. 624, P=0.0058). In contrast, metabolic parameters (except C-peptide response during oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT): r=-0.587, P=0. 01), blood pressure values and body weight did not correlate with the endothelial function. CONCLUSION: Uncomplicated obesity per se is characterised by an alteration of the endothelial function; the degree of this vascular damage is predicted by body fat distribution independently of body weight and metabolic and other haemodynamic parameters, and correlates with an index of insulin secretion.

Adipose Tissue↗

The relationship between body composition and physical performance in older women.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between age-associated change in body composition and physical disability is still unknown. Skeletal muscle mass declines with age in both sexes; however, since women have less muscle mass per unit of weight than men, these changes may be more debilitating in women. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between body composition and physical performance. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: 144 women aged 68 to 75 were selected randomly from the general population of Verona. MEASUREMENTS: Body composition was evaluated using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and bioimpedance. Physical performance was evaluated using a modified version of the Activities of Daily Living scale. Distance walked in 6 minutes was calculated, and isometric knee strength was tested. RESULTS: Normal women had a significantly lower body mass index (BMI) and percent body fat. These women also had a higher ratio of body cell mass (BCM) and total fat free mass (FFM) than women with physical impairments. After adjusting for BMI, women in the lowest tertile of muscle strength had significantly lower BCM than those in the highest tertile. CONCLUSIONS: These cross-sectional data show that although muscle strength is related to fat-free mass, disability in older women is associated with heavier BMI and with a higher percentage of body fat.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Simultaneous measurement of gastric emptying of a solid meal by ultrasound and by scintigraphy.

OBJECTIVE: Although ultrasonic imaging may represent a valid alternative to scintigraphy for measurement of gastric emptying, most studies comparing the two methods have been carried out with liquid meals. The aim of this study was to compare scintigraphic and ultrasonographic measurements of gastric emptying of a solid meal in healthy subjects and in patients with possible delay in emptying. METHODS: Nineteen subjects were studied: five controls, six patients with gastroesophageal reflux, and eight patients with dysmotility-like dyspepsia. Gastric emptying was measured by both scintigraphy and ultrasonography after ingestion of an 800-calorie solid, realistic meal containing 99mTc-labeled chicken liver. Scintigraphic measurements were made every 15 min for 6 h, and ultrasonic imaging of antral sections was undertaken every 15 min for the first 1 h and every 30 min thereafter. Total emptying times were calculated independently using the two methods, and the emptying patterns recorded by the two methods were compared. RESULTS: Maximal antral dilation occurred 30 min (range 0-90 min) after the end of the meal and persisted until 96 +/- 42 min, by which time gastric radioactivity had decreased from its maximum by 43% +/- 23%. From this time on, the antral cross-sectional area returned toward the basal value, declining faster than the gastric counts recorded by scintigraphy. Total emptying times measured by ultrasound and by scintigraphy were in good agreement in all subjects, with a mean difference of only 4.5 min (limits of agreement, -17.1 to 21.6 min). CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasonographic measurement of antral cross-sectional area provides a valid alternative to scintigraphy for the measurement of total gastric emptying of a solid meal. It is less reliable if other parameters of gastric emptying such as T(1/2) are required.

Adult↗

Resting metabolic rate and thermogenic effect of food in vegetarian diets compared with Mediterranean diets.

The purpose of our work is to compare the resting metabolic rate (RMR) and thermogenic effect of food (TEF) in a group of vegetarians and a group of subjects consuming a Mediterranean diet. The composition of the diets was similar. Thirty-two subjects were studied: 16 vegetarians (age 34 +/- 9 years, BMI 21 +/- 2) and 16 omnivors (age 30 +/- 5 years, BMI 22 +/- 3). All were in excellent general health. Each subject consumed a dish of pasta (100 g) and bread (30 g) after RMR had been measured. TEF was measured over the next 3 h and calculated as the incremental area above RMR. Energy (vegetarians and omnivors 7,727 +/- 3,516 vs 8,970 +/- 2,273 kJ/day, respectively) and carbohydrate (vegetarians and omnivors 285.1 +/- 141.3 vs. 300.1 +/- 74 g/day, respectively) intakes of the 2 groups were similar. The vegetarian group consumed a higher quantity of fiber (30.5 +/- 16.7 vs. 16.5 +/- 7.9) and a lower amount of protein (44.9 +/- 18.3 vs. 70.1 +/- 14.9) than the omnivorous group. No significant differences were observed in RMR (4.23 +/- 0.96 vs. 4.06 +/- 0.54 kJ/min) and TEF (0.50 +/- 0.25 vs. 0.38 +/- 0.25 Delta kJ/min) between the groups. Results did not change after correcting for weight, age and gender. Our study failed to show any significant differences in RMR and TEF between vegetarians and subjects consuming a Mediterranean diet. We conclude that vegetarianism per se is not accompanied by a difference in RMR and TEF when the carbohydrate content of the diet is similar to a control group of nonvegetarians.

Adult↗

Divergent effects of short-term, very-low-calorie diet on insulin-like growth factor-I and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 serum concentrations in premenopausal women with obesity.

OBJECTIVE: Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) serum concentrations provide a good measure of the biological effects of growth hormone. The aims of the present study were to: (1) investigate the associations of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 with body fat mass and distribution, and (2) evaluate the effects of 3 weeks of very-low-calorie diet (VLCD) (318 kcal/day, with 40 g protein, 35 g carbohydrate, and 2 g fat) on IGF-I and IGFBP-3 serum concentrations. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: The study was performed in 21 nondiabetic premenopausal women with obesity (body mass index >27.0 kg/m2; age: ranging from 18 to 48 years). Body fat mass and distribution were measured by computed tomography. RESULTS: Before dietary treatment, IGF-I and IGFBP-3 serum concentrations were inversely associated with visceral adipose tissue (VAT) area (p<0.005 and p<0.05, respectively), but not with either total body fat or subcutaneous adipose tissue area. VLCD produced a significant decrease of body mass index (p<0.001), total body fat (p<0.001), VAT (p<0.005), subcutaneous adipose tissue (p<0.001), IGF-I concentrations (p<0.05), and an increase of IGFBP-3 serum levels (p<0.001). The association of VAT with either IGF-I or IGFBP-3 serum concentrations was not maintained following VLCD. DISCUSSION: Our study suggests that visceral adipose tissue, rather than adiposity per se, accounts for IGF-I and IGFBP-3 serum concentrations, and that rapid weight loss, possibly due to nutritional changes, results in lower IGF-I concentrations, higher IGFBP-3 concentrations, and abrogation of the inverse associations of VAT with IGF-I and IGFBP-3.

Adipose Tissue↗

Sagittal abdominal diameter as a practical predictor of visceral fat.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationships between the supine sagittal abdominal diameter (SAD) and visceral fat, as well as to evaluate intra- and inter-observer reliability of sagittal diameter measurement. PATIENTS: Twenty-eight women ranging in age from 27-78 y with a body mass index (BMI) ranging from 16.9-48.1 kg/m2 and 23 men ranging in age from 32-75 y with BMI ranging from 20-41.6 kg/m2. MEASUREMENT: Body fat distribution was measured by waist circumference, waist to hip ratio (WHR), SAD, anthropometrically assessed and a single slice of computed tomography (CT) at the L4-L5 level. RESULTS: In both genders, a significant association was found between visceral adipose tissue (AT) and SAD, as evaluated by CT (women r = 0.80; men r = 0.83, P < 0.001), and SAD by anthropometry (women r = 0.76; men r = 0.82, P < 0.001), as well as between visceral AT and waist circumference (women r = 0.76, men r = 0.86, P < 0.001) and WHR (women r = 0.57, P < 0.01, men r = 0.80, P < 0.001). A significant association was also found between subcutaneous AT and SAD by anthropometry (women r = 0.79, men r = 0.74, P < 0.001). After adjusting for BMI, the association between subcutaneous AT and SAD was no longer significant in men and only moderately significant in women (r = 0.42, P < 0.05), while the association between visceral AT and SAD by anthropometry remained significant in both genders (women r = 0.63, P < 0.001; men r = 0.66, P < 0.001). When the subjects were divided into two groups according to BMI (lean to moderately overweight women with BMI < 28 and men with BMI < 30 and obese women with BMI > 28 and men with BMI > 30) we found that the relationships between SAD by anthropometry, as well as SAD by CT and visceral AT, were higher in lean to moderately overweight subjects than in those who were obese. High inter-observer correlation was found concerning SAD measurement (r = 0.99, P < 0.001). Intra- and inter-observer precision as evaluated by coefficient of variation and intraclass correlation coefficient for SAD measurement was very high. CONCLUSION: Our study shows the usefulness of SAD by anthropometry to predict visceral fat and its very high inter- and intra-observer precision.

Abdomen↗

The transient syndrome of headache with neurologic deficits and CSF lymphocytosis. Report of a case without severe headache.

It has been recently reported that the occurrence of severe headache associated with temporary neurologic deficits and CSF lymphocytic pleocytosis is highly suggestive of the so-called "transient syndrome of headache with neurologic deficits and CSF lymphocytosis." In particular, in almost all of the 40 patients reported in the literature to date, the head pain was severe and of a type not previously experienced by the patient. In the present case report, we describe a patient who fulfilled almost all the proposed diagnostic criteria, except for the lack of a severe headache. Probably, a severe headache is not a compulsory feature of this syndrome. Some patients have rather mild headache accompanying their episodes of neurologic symptoms, and some attacks occur without any accompanying headache. It is possible that in some cases the absence of a severe headache, and thus the lack of CSF analysis, lead to misdiagnosis. Therefore, the prevalence of this syndrome could be underestimated.

Adult↗

Sagittal diameter minus subcutaneous thickness. An easy-to-obtain parameter that improves visceral fat prediction.

Two groups of 99 and 98 women were studied to test if correcting sagittal diameter by subtracting the thickness of subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue improves its degree of association with visceral adipose tissue. The first group (age, 40 +/- 14 years; body mass index [BMI], 36 +/- 6 kg/m2) was used to calculate the predictive equations for visceral adipose tissue. The second group (age, 43 +/- 14 years; BMI, 37 +/- 6 kg/m2) was used for cross-validation. Various anthropometric parameters were measured by ultrasound and computed tomography. Correlation coefficients with single-slice visceral adipose tissue area, after sagittal diameter was corrected by subtracting subcutaneous thickness, rose from 0.63 to 0.72 in the first group and from 0.64 to 0.71 in the second group. The standard error of residuals of the regression formula for visceral adipose tissue area was 10% lower with modified sagittal diameter than with sagittal diameter alone. During cross-validation, the standard error of differences was 5% lower with modified sagittal diameter. The visceral adipose tissue estimate was also less biased by the size of the area when sagittal diameter minus subcutaneous thickness was used. Results show that subtracting the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue from sagittal diameter significantly improves the predictive power of sagittal diameter for visceral adipose tissue and could be a useful tool for epidemiological studies.

Adipose Tissue↗

Effects of visceral fat and weight loss on lipoprotein(a) concentration in subjects with obesity.

We studied the relationships between regional body fat distribution and metabolic variables with lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] as well as the effects of weight loss on Lp(a) in 25 women and 9 men with obesity. Regional body fat distribution, as evaluated by the use of computed tomography; Lp(a); and fasting glucose, insulin, cholesterol, and triglycerides were analyzed before and after a very low-energy diet. No significant correlations were found between visceral, subcutaneous, and total fat and Lp(a) or between metabolic variables and Lp(a). All anthropometric variables significantly decreased after a very low-energy diet. Fasting glucose, insulin, triglycerides, and cholesterol significantly decreased after a very low-energy diet. No significant changes in Lp(a) concentration after a very low-energy diet were found. The correlation between the initial values of Lp(a) and changes of Lp(a) after a very low-energy diet was slightly significant (rho = 0.33, p < 0.06). In conclusion, our study shows that Lp(a) is not influenced by obesity, visceral fat, metabolic variables, or weight loss induced by a very low-energy diet.

Adipose Tissue↗

Dementing disorders in north Italy: prevalence study in Vescovato, Cremona Province.

We investigated the prevalence of dementia in 673 subjects over 59 years of age in Vescovato, a small town of North Italy, using a two-phase survey. During phase I all subjects were administered the Hodkinson abbreviated mental test and the subjects with a score < or = 7 underwent further examination to ascertain the diagnosis of dementia. The prevalence ratio of dementia of all types was 9.8% (7.6-12.0, 95% CI) above age 59. In our population Alzheimer's disease (AD) was the most frequent type of dementia (prevalence ratio = 5.2%), followed by vascular dementia (2.7%). Our study confirms that AD prevalence estimate rises exponentially with age.

Age Distribution↗

Body fat distribution before and after weight gain in anorexia nervosa.

OBJECTIVE: To study abdominal fat distribution in anorexia nervosa subjects and to assess the effects of initial weight regain on abdominal fat distribution. DESIGN: Longitudinal, clinical study. The baseline measurement was acquired within four days of admission to the eating disorders clinic. All patients were treated by re-feeding, reinforced by psychotherapy. Following weight regain of at least 5 kg, a second body fat distribution evaluation was performed. Of the 21 subjects evaluated at baseline, 14 achieved the goal of body weight regain and were retested. PATIENTS: Fourteen subjects (age: 18-38 y; body mass index: 11.5-18.3; relative body weight: 54.9-88.3%). MEASUREMENTS: Total, subcutaneous and visceral abdominal adipose tissue areas at the L4-L5 level were evaluated by computed tomography. RESULTS: At baseline the subjects showed a higher proportion of visceral adipose tissue (% visceral adipose tissue = 55.3 +/- 26.1). A significant association was observed between body weight and both subcutaneous adipose tissue and total adipose tissue. A regain of body weight of 7.3 +/- 1.6 kg was accompanied by a significant increase in total adipose tissue, comprising both subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue. The increase observed in subcutaneous adipose tissue, however, was significantly greater than for visceral adipose tissue (212.6% vs 116.8%, respectively, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The results of the current study show a higher proportion of visceral adipose tissue than subcutaneous adipose tissue in anorexia nervosa subjects. With regain of body weight there is a preferential regain of subcutaneous adipose tissue. These data demonstrate a redistribution of abdominal adipose tissue with weight regain in anorexia nervosa subjects.

Abdomen↗

Interrelationships between weight loss, body fat distribution and sex hormones in pre- and postmenopausal obese women.

OBJECTIVES: Relationships between regional body fat distribution and sex hormones as well as changes in sex hormones after weight loss were evaluated. SETTING: All subjects were hospitalized in the Institute of Internal Medicine of the University of Verona. SUBJECTS: Twenty-six premenopausal (age 33.7 +/- 10.2 years) and 15 postmenopausal (age 57.9 +/- 5.9 years) obese women. INTERVENTIONS: Body weight, body-mass index, waist and hip circumferences, visceral fat by computed tomography and sex hormones were evaluated before and after 4 weeks on a very low energy diet. RESULTS: Body-mass index was higher in pre-than in postmenopausal women, although the difference was not significant. Total and free testosterone were significantly higher in the pre- than in the postmenopausal group (P < 0.001). Significant negative correlations were found between age and total testosterone (r = -0.65; P < 0.001), free testosterone (r = -0.54; P < 0.001), androstenedione (r = -0.46; P < 0.01) and urinary cortisol excretion (r = -0.50; P < 0.01). A negative correlation was found between visceral fat and total testosterone (r = -0.41; P < 0.01). After adjusting for age, the negative correlation between total testosterone and visceral fat encountered both in the subject group as a whole and in premenopausal women was no longer significant, whilst a significant negative association between visceral fat and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) (r = -0.56; P < 0.001) was always found. When step-down regression analysis was used to evaluate the joint effect of age, menopausal status, and anthropometric and metabolic variables on sex hormones, age was the most powerful independent variable for predicting total testosterone, free testosterone and androstenedione levels, whilst menopausal status was the most powerful predictor of FSH and LH levels. Changes in hormones after VLED were analysed separately in pre- and postmenopausal women. None of the hormones changed significantly after VLED in the postmenopausal group, except for FSH values. LH, free testosterone and urinary cortisol excretion values decreased significantly after VLED in the premenopausal group. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that age, to a greater extent than visceral fat, seems to be negatively associated with steroid sex hormones. Weight loss seems to be associated with changes in sex hormones only in premenopausal women.

Adolescent↗

The effects of high altitude trekking on body composition and resting metabolic rate.

Resting metabolic rate (RMR) and body composition were evaluated in 12 healthy volunteers before and after 16 days of high altitude trekking and climbing. RMR was measured by indirect calorimetry and body composition by electrical impedance. A 29% reduction in energy intake during high altitude exposure was observed. Fat mass loss averaged about 2.2 kg (p < 0.05) and lean body mass about 1.1 kg, which was almost significant (p = 0.07). As expected, estimated RMR at the end of the expedition--calculated by predictive formulae including body fat and lean body mass as covariates--was significantly reduced by 119 kcal/day as a consequence of the reduction in body weight. Measured RMR values, on the contrary, did not show any significant decline. In conclusion our study showed that high altitude trekking induced a weight loss due approximately 2/3rds to fat mass and 1/3rd to lean body mass. Decreased energy efficiency, which was still present several days after returning to sea level, may have helped contribute to weight loss due to reduced energy intake.

Adult↗