Program for Reducing Obesity (PRO): An institutional review of an insurance-based weight loss program utilizing shared medical appointments.

Background: Based on CDC estimates in the United States, the prevalence of obesity was 42.4% in 2017-2018, and the annual cost of obesity was $147 billion in 2008. Yet studies estimate that only 20-40% of adults with obesity received counseling from their primary care providers.

Moving away from mannitol infusion for partial nephrectomy: has this altered renal function?

In recent years, research has questioned the theorized renal-protective value of mannitol infusion during partial nephrectomy. This study considers whether the cessation of routine mannitol administration has shown any benefit or detriment to patients in the contemporary era. We retrospectively reviewed a multi-institution database for an association between mannitol administration and subsequent renal function during follow-up.

Multiple brain metastases in a patient with ypT0N0 micropapillary urothelial carcinoma of the bladder.

Radical cystectomy (RC) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is the gold standard for management of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Patients without residual tumor at the time of extirpative surgery (ypT0) have excellent prognosis. Distant metastases in this population are rare.

Retrotransposons Are the Major Contributors to the Expansion of the Muller F Element.

The discordance between genome size and the complexity of eukaryotes can partly be attributed to differences in repeat density. The Muller F element (∼5.2 Mb) is the smallest chromosome in , but it is substantially larger (>18.

Effects of statin therapy on coronary artery plaque volume and high-risk plaque morphology in HIV-infected patients with subclinical atherosclerosis: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: HIV-infected patients have a high risk of myocardial infarction. We aimed to assess the ability of statin treatment to reduce arterial inflammation and achieve regression of coronary atherosclerosis in this population.

Methods: In a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 40 HIV-infected participants with subclinical coronary atherosclerosis, evidence of arterial inflammation in the aorta by fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET, and LDL-cholesterol concentration of less than 3.

High-density lipoprotein-mediated cholesterol efflux capacity is improved by treatment with antiretroviral therapy in acute human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Background: Individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol and increased cardiovascular disease (CVD). Reverse cholesterol transport from macrophages may be inhibited by HIV and contribute to increased CVD. Human studies have not investigated longitudinal effects of HIV and antiretroviral therapy (ART) on cholesterol efflux.

Effects of lifestyle modification and metformin on irisin and FGF21 among HIV-infected subjects with the metabolic syndrome.

Objective: Few studies have investigated irisin and FGF21 to elucidate the role of these hormones to regulate 'beiging' in HIV-infected patients.

Design: Fifty HIV-infected subjects with the metabolic syndrome were previously recruited and randomized to receive lifestyle modification (LSM) and/or metformin over 12 months. In the current study, we assessed FGF21 and irisin at baseline and after intervention.

Increased coronary atherosclerosis and immune activation in HIV-1 elite controllers.

HIV-1 elite controllers spontaneously maintain suppressed levels of viremia, but exhibit significant immune activation. We investigated coronary atherosclerosis by coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) in elite controllers, nonelite controller, chronically HIV-1 infected, antiretroviral therapy (ART)-treated patients with undetectable viral load ('chronic HIV'), and HIV-negative controls. Prevalence of atherosclerosis (78 vs.

Receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) and its relationship to coronary atherosclerosis in HIV patients.

HIV-infected individuals have an increased prevalence of coronary artery disease. Receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin have been postulated as mediators of vascular calcification. 78 HIV-infected men and 32 healthy controls without history of coronary artery disease were prospectively recruited to undergo cardiac computed tomography and computed tomography angiography to assess coronary artery calcium and plaque burden.

Arterial inflammation in patients with HIV.

Context: Cardiovascular disease is increased in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), but the specific mechanisms are unknown.

Objective: To assess arterial wall inflammation in HIV, using 18fluorine-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG-PET), in relationship to traditional and nontraditional risk markers, including soluble CD163 (sCD163), a marker of monocyte and macrophage activation.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A cross-sectional study of 81 participants investigated between November 2009 and July 2011 at the Massachusetts General Hospital.

Soluble CD163, a novel marker of activated macrophages, is elevated and associated with noncalcified coronary plaque in HIV-infected patients.

Background: Pro-inflammatory monocytes/macrophages may contribute to increased atherosclerosis in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. We investigate--to our knowledge, for the first time--sCD163 and other markers of monocyte activation in relationship to atherosclerotic plaque in HIV-infected patients.

Methods: One hundred two HIV-infected and 41 HIV-seronegative men with equivalent cardiovascular risk factors and without history of coronary artery disease were prospectively recruited and underwent computed tomography coronary angiography.

Increased coronary artery calcium score and noncalcified plaque among HIV-infected men: relationship to metabolic syndrome and cardiac risk parameters.

Objective: In this study, the effects of traditional cardiac risk factors on coronary artery calcium (CAC) score and presence of plaque, including noncalcified plaque, measured by computed tomography coronary angiography, were compared among HIV-infected and non-HIV-infected subjects, with respect to the presence of the metabolic syndrome (MS).

Design And Methods: HIV-infected men recruited for the presence of the MS (HIV + MS, n = 27) were compared with 2 control groups, HIV-infected men recruited without regard to metabolic criteria (HIV, n = 87), and HIV-negative control men (C, n = 40), also recruited without regard to any metabolic criterion.

Results: All 3 groups were similar in age, demographic parameters, and smoking.

Increased epicardial adipose tissue volume in HIV-infected men and relationships to body composition and metabolic parameters.

Epicardial fat accumulation may have important clinical consequences, yet little is known regarding this depot in HIV patients. We compared epicardial fat volume in 78 HIV-infected men and 32 HIV-negative controls. Epicardial fat volume was higher in HIV-infected patients than that in controls (P = 0.

Increased prevalence of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis detected by coronary computed tomography angiography in HIV-infected men.

Objective: The degree of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis in HIV-infected patients is unknown. We investigated the degree of subclinical atherosclerosis and the relationship of traditional and nontraditional risk factors to early atherosclerotic disease using coronary computed tomography angiography.

Design And Methods: Seventy-eight HIV-infected men (age 46.

Reduced growth hormone secretion is associated with increased carotid intima-media thickness in obesity.

Context: Obesity is associated with reduced GH.

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine whether reduced GH is associated with increased carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in obesity.

Design: A total of 102 normal-weight and obese men and women without known hypopituitarism were studied.

Increased aldosterone among HIV-infected women with visceral fat accumulation.

Increased aldosterone has been associated with obesity and the metabolic syndrome in non-HIV-infected individuals, but aldosterone has not been investigated among HIV-infected patients with increased visceral adipose tissue (VAT). Twenty-four-hour urine aldosterone was assessed among age and BMI-matched HIV-infected women with increased VAT, HIV-infected women without increased VAT and healthy controls. Twenty-four hour urine aldosterone was higher in HIV-infected women with increased VAT and was associated with SBP, VAT and hemoglobin A1c.

Relationship of peak growth hormone to cardiovascular parameters, waist circumference, lipids and glucose in HIV-infected patients and healthy adults.

Objective: Relative growth hormone (GH) deficiency is highly prevalent in patients with HIV. The purpose of this study was to investigate relationships of GH to metabolic and anthropometric parameters in HIV patients and non-HIV controls.

Design: Peak GH and metabolic parameters were assessed in a cross-sectional study of 191 HIV patients and 62 age and BMI-matched healthy controls.

Retinol-binding protein levels are increased in association with gonadotropin levels in healthy women.

Recent studies have demonstrated an association between retinol-binding protein (RBP4) and insulin resistance. Retinol-binding protein is decreased in women and elevated in polycystic ovary syndrome. However, prior studies have not investigated the relationship between RBP4, gonadal steroids, and gonadotropins in healthy women.

QW-1624F2-2, a synthetic analogue of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, enhances the response to other deltanoids and suppresses the invasiveness of human metastatic breast tumor cells.

The enzyme 24-hydroxylase, also known as CYP24, metabolizes 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) [1,25(OH)(2)D(3)] and is an established marker of vitamin D activity. Our studies evaluated the influence of a low-calcemic 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) analogue, QW-1624F2-2 (QW), on the regulation of CYP24 expression in MKL-4 cells, a metastatic mammary tumor cell model. 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) and its analogue, EB 1089, stimulated CYP24 induction at both protein and transcript levels.

The perception of cancer risk in patients with prevalent Barrett's esophagus enrolled in an endoscopic surveillance program.

Background & Aims: Patients with Barrett's esophagus (BE) have a risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma of approximately 0.5% per year. Patients may have difficulty understanding this risk.

Reported use of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors was not associated with reduced recurrence of colorectal adenomas.

We did a secondary analysis of data from three large colorectal adenoma chemoprevention trials to assess the association between 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor use and reduced risk of recurrent colorectal adenomas. Reported use of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors was not associated with a reduced recurrence of colorectal adenomas, multiple adenomas, or advanced adenomas. Lack of statistical power from limited exposure to HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors might be responsible for the lack of association.

Eating frequency and colon cancer risk.

Increased exposure of the colon to bile acids, as a result of increased eating frequency, might promote the development of colon cancer. Our aim was to evaluate the association between eating frequency and colon cancer. We used data from a population-based case-control study of colon cancer in North Carolina.

Digestive and liver diseases statistics, 2004.

Background & Aims: Digestive and liver diseases are associated with substantial morbidity and mortality in the United States. Statistics about the incidence, prevalence, mortality, and resource utilization of digestive and liver diseases in the United States may be cumbersome to obtain because they are scattered in multiple sources. These data may be useful for policy makers, grant applicants, and authors.

Quality of colon carcinoma pathology reporting: a process of care study.

Background: In 1996, the Association of Directors of Anatomic and Surgical Pathology (ADASP) published recommendations for colon carcinoma reporting. Since this publication, no study has evaluated physician practice in relation to these recommendations. The objectives of the current study were to describe pathology reporting for colon carcinoma, evaluate potential variations in reporting, and identify areas for improvement.