Publications by authors named "Pasqua L Pesole"
Aims: This study explores the link between body mass index (BMI), intestinal permeability, and associated changes in anthropometric and impedance parameters, lipid profiles, inflammatory markers, fecal metabolites, and gut microbiota taxa composition in participants having excessive body mass.
Methods: A cohort of 58 obese individuals with comparable diet, age, and height was divided into three groups based on a priori clustering analyses that fit with BMI class ranges: Group I (25-29.9), Group II (30-39.
Article Synopsis
- Steatotic liver disease linked to metabolic dysfunction (MASLD) is prevalent in up to 30% of adults and is often associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome.
- The study involved 42 patients split into three groups receiving different treatments: dietary advice only (CG), dietary advice plus aerobic exercise (AE + DA), and dietary advice plus high-intensity interval training (HIIT + DA).
- Results showed that both exercise groups had significant reductions in cortisol levels, with HIIT + DA showing the greatest effects, and a notable decrease in hepatic steatosis was also observed, particularly in the AE + DA group.
Article Synopsis
- Very low-calorie ketogenic diets (VLCKD) effectively aid weight loss in obese individuals and can decrease liver condition risks.
- Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) from serum are studied in obese adults to see how they affect liver fibrosis and inflammation, with participants divided into low and high fibrosis risk groups.
- Results show that sEVs from low-risk patients improved liver health markers, while those from high-risk patients worsened inflammation and fibrosis signals, stressing the importance of assessing sEVs alongside traditional methods like FibroScan.
Article Synopsis
- IBS and obesity can lead to alterations in the intestinal barrier, causing low-grade inflammation, which can be monitored using zonulin and intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP) levels, along with urinary indican concentrations.
- A 12-week Fitwalking program was tested on 57 mild IBS patients divided into obese, overweight, and normal weight groups, who walked three times a week, but no significant changes in most health metrics were found.
- Despite limited changes in biochemical aspects, Fitwalking notably improved physical capacity in all groups and led to a decrease in inflammation levels, particularly in obese individuals, suggesting regular exercise may benefit gut health in this population.
Article Synopsis
- Crohn's disease (CD) is an inflammatory bowel disease that can affect the gastrointestinal tract and cause complications outside of it, and some patients have shown adverse effects after receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine.
- Following vaccination, some CD patients have experienced a reduced effectiveness of the biological drug Adalimumab and a worsening of their condition, correlated with changes in intestinal permeability and protein expression.
- The study aims to explore the effects of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein, particularly through extracellular vesicles, on the onset of Crohn's disease exacerbations and the potential impact on existing treatments.
Article Synopsis
- The VLCKD diet helps in fat mobilization and reduces inflammation and liver issues in patients.
- The study focuses on how circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs) affect certain cellular processes and responses in patients undergoing an 8-week VLCKD regimen.
- Results indicate that while exosomes decrease cell viability, microvesicles do not, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels are consistent markers of diet adherence and may correlate more reliably with improvements in fibrotic response compared to ketone body levels.
Gender Differences in Liver Steatosis and Fibrosis in Overweight and Obese Patients with Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease before and after 8 Weeks of Very Low-Calorie Ketogenic Diet.
Roberta Rinaldi Sara De Nucci Rossella Donghia Rosanna Donvito Nicole Cerabino Pasqua Letizia Pesole
Nutrients
May 2024
Article Synopsis
- Obesity and metabolic syndrome are closely associated with steatotic liver disease (SLD), which is the most common chronic liver disease, and lifestyle changes, especially a very low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD), may help prevent this condition.
- A study involving 112 overweight or obese participants examined the impacts of VLCKD on steatosis and fibrosis, revealing significant baseline differences between men and women regarding liver health, metabolic indicators, and body composition.
- After the VLCKD intervention, both genders showed improvements in various health markers; however, men had initially higher levels of liver steatosis and fibrosis, and even after treatment, these gender-specific differences in liver health persisted.
Higher-Level Steatosis Is Associated with a Greater Decrease in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatoic Liver Disease after Eight Weeks of a Very Low-Calorie Ketogenic Diet (VLCKD) in Subjects Affected by Overweight and Obesity.
Annamaria Sila Sara De Nucci Caterina Bonfiglio Vincenza Di Stasi Nicole Cerabino Pasqua Letizia Pesole
Nutrients
March 2024
Article Synopsis
- The study focuses on how the very low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) can treat MASLD (a common chronic liver disease linked to obesity) and improve liver fat and fibrosis among overweight and obese individuals.
- Significant improvements in various health markers, such as blood pressure, insulin resistance, and cholesterol levels, were observed after 8 weeks on the VLCKD, while vitamin D levels increased.
- The findings suggest that patients with more severe liver fat and fibrosis benefit more from the VLCKD, highlighting its potential effectiveness.
Article Synopsis
- Steatotic liver disease (SLD) is characterized by fat buildup in liver cells and can lead to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which involves inflammation.
- The study analyzed data from 908 participants with a focus on the link between egg consumption and its protective effects against SLD and hypertension (HTN).
- Results showed that eating eggs is significantly associated with lower prevalence rates of SLD and HTN, suggesting it's beneficial rather than harmful, contrary to some previous beliefs.
Article Synopsis
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of cancer-related deaths, and the GALAD score is a diagnostic tool created to identify HCC in at-risk patients based on specific biomarkers.
- Analysis of 212 patients showed that those with HCC had higher GALAD scores compared to those with just cirrhosis, and higher scores were linked to lower survival rates.
- The study indicates that the GALAD score could serve as a valuable prognostic tool, potentially enhancing the management and treatment options for patients with HCC.
Effects of an Eight Week Very Low-Calorie Ketogenic Diet (VLCKD) on White Blood Cell and Platelet Counts in Relation to Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) in Subjects with Overweight and Obesity.
Sara De Nucci Caterina Bonfiglio Rosanna Donvito Martina Di Chito Nicole Cerabino Pasqua Letizia Pesole
Nutrients
October 2023
Article Synopsis
- The study examined the effects of an 8-week Very Low-Calorie Ketogenic Diet (VLCKD) on participants with obesity and associated liver conditions, finding significant reductions in body weight, waist circumference, and fat mass.
- VLCKD led to marked improvements in liver health, with decreased fatty liver accumulation and liver fibrosis as assessed by FibroScan, alongside reductions in white blood cell and platelet counts, particularly in those with steatosis.
- Additionally, metabolic markers such as blood glucose, insulin, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure also showed significant improvements after following the VLCKD, although vitamin D levels remained unchanged.
Article Synopsis
- Steatosis is the most common liver disease, affecting about 25% of people worldwide, and this study aimed to investigate the link between diet and liver health across different age groups.
- The study involved 1,483 participants divided into adult and elderly groups, who completed a food frequency questionnaire to assess their dietary habits.
- Results showed that both age groups had similar rates of steatosis, but dietary preferences differed significantly: adults consumed more olive oil and processed meats, while the elderly favored red meat and dairy, leading to various outcomes in blood parameters.
Article Synopsis
- The gut microbiota is increasingly recognized for its important role in the development and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC).
- Recent research shows higher bacterial DNA levels in the plasma of CRC patients compared to disease-free individuals, suggesting this could be used as a non-invasive method for early cancer detection.
- The study found a strong correlation between plasma bacterial DNA levels and CRC risk, indicating that increased bacterial migration from the gut into the bloodstream is associated with tumor size.
The tumor location in colorectal cancer (right- or left-sided colon cancer) is a key factor in determining disease progression. Right- and left-sided colon tumors are different in their clinical and molecular characteristics. Dysregulation of serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines, such as Transforming Growth Factor β (TGF-β) and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α), and Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor-γ (PPAR-γ), known to be a growth-limiting and differentiation-promoting factor, as well as changes in miRNAs expression, are the major signaling pathways involved in the pathogenesis of this neoplasia.
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- Excessive lipid buildup in liver cells leads to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is characterized by cell death and fibrosis, but its molecular mechanisms are still unclear.
- A study showed that the imbalance of palmitic acid (PA) and oleic acid (OA) in exosomes from NAFLD patients affects liver cell health and function.
- Modifying the PA/OA ratio in exosomes can improve or worsen liver cell viability and proliferation, and targeting the molecules involved in this pathway may offer therapeutic insights for NAFLD.
Article Synopsis
- Patients with liver cirrhosis should undergo regular surveillance using ultrasound and α-fetoprotein testing to detect hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) early.
- A 12-year study compared various scoring systems, finding that the GALAD score outperformed others in predicting HCC development in patients with chronic liver disease.
- Ultimately, the study concluded that GALAD is the most accurate system for assessing HCC risk, particularly in patients with different liver disease etiologies, including those related to alcohol.
Article Synopsis
- Steatosis is the most prevalent liver disease and significantly affects health, particularly among non-obese individuals, with a study showing a 42.86% prevalence of steatosis in this group.
- The study analyzed blood parameters and dietary habits of 987 non-obese participants and found significant differences, particularly higher consumption of red and processed meats and alcohol in those with liver disease.
- Despite some differences in health markers, the overall dietary habits of non-obese individuals with and without steatosis were similar, suggesting that factors beyond diet, like genetic and hormonal influences, play a critical role in liver health.
Article Synopsis
- The gold standard treatment for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) focuses on weight loss and lifestyle changes, mainly through a diet high in fiber and low in sugars and saturated fats.
- A study involving 24 NAFLD patients demonstrated that replacing carbohydrate-rich foods with green leafy vegetables led to significant improvements in liver health markers and reductions in body measurements like BMI and waist circumference.
- Results showed notable enhancements in fatty liver index (FLI) and fibroscan FAST scores, indicating reduced risk of disease progression and improvements in overall metabolic health after the dietary changes over three months.
Article Synopsis
- The study focused on the impact of a Low Glycemic Index Mediterranean Diet (LGIMD) combined with exercise on individuals with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) over one year.
- Participants included 58 subjects aged 18-65, who experienced significant improvements in their glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, especially those with moderate and severe NAFLD.
- The findings suggest that lifestyle changes through diet and exercise can positively affect glucose metabolism and help manage the symptoms of both NAFLD and T2D.
Article Synopsis
- Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including Crohn's disease and Ulcerative Colitis, involve chronic inflammation and rely on biologic drugs like infliximab for treatment, though some patients stop responding over time.
- A study with 48 IBD patients explored the relationship between serum levels of the biomarker 90K and the effectiveness of infliximab, finding that high baseline 90K levels were linked to the development of anti-infliximab antibodies.
- The researchers suggested that measuring 90K alongside other inflammatory markers could help predict which patients might benefit from biologics, improving treatment outcomes and preventing unnecessary medication changes.
Article Synopsis
- The study evaluated how the intake of macro- and micronutrients affects mortality in gastrointestinal cancer patients, using both traditional and advanced statistical methods.
- The ONCONUT project included 3,505 patients from Southern Italy, examining the relationship between diet and cancer outcomes within that population.
- Results showed that the random survival forest (RSF) method outperformed others in predicting mortality, and the Shapley Additive Explanation (SHAP) technique helped clarify the impact of individual patient characteristics on mortality.
Article Synopsis
- The study looked at how a low glycemic index Mediterranean diet (LGIMD) combined with exercise (CEP) affects metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD).
- 54 participants were monitored over 12 months, and results showed that adherence to the diet and exercise significantly influenced body mass index (BMI) and insulin resistance indicators.
- The findings indicate that LGIMD/CEP not only improved MAFLD outcomes but also suggested that BMI and insulin resistance are strong predictors of recovery from the disease.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigated the immune response to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in 390 patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) undergoing various therapies.
- The findings indicated that patients receiving Vedolizumab showed a significant increase in IgG antibody levels post-vaccination compared to those on other therapies.
- However, those on steroid therapy experienced a reduced immune response, highlighting the impact of different treatments on vaccine efficacy in IBD patients.
Article Synopsis
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasingly common and influenced by the gut-liver axis, with gut microbiota playing a role in its onset and progression.
- Researchers studied 109 NAFLD patients undergoing various lifestyle interventions, including different diets and exercise programs, to analyze changes in gut microbiota.
- Results showed significant differences in microbiota, particularly with combined Mediterranean diets and physical activity, and highlighted specific microbial taxa associated with liver health improvement.
Article Synopsis
- NAFLD is a liver condition caused by fat accumulation without alcohol use, progressing from initial fat buildup (steatosis) to inflammation and possible liver cancer.
- Modifications in Wnt/Frizzled signaling, particularly the increased expression of the FZD7 receptor, play a role in liver degeneration associated with NAFLD.
- A study found that FZD7 levels in exosomes from NAFLD patients were significantly higher than in healthy individuals, but levels normalized after lifestyle changes, suggesting FZD7 could be a useful biomarker for diagnosing and monitoring NAFLD.