Association between a school-based intervention and adiposity outcomes in adolescents: The Italian "EAT" project.

Objective: To evaluate whether a school-based multicomponent educational program could improve adiposity measures in middle-school adolescents.

Methods: A non-randomized controlled pilot study was conducted in six state middle schools (487 adolescents, 11-15 years) in townships in an urban area around Milan, three schools (n = 262 adolescents) being assigned to the intervention group and three schools (n = 225 adolescents) to the control group. The two-school-year intervention included changes in the school environment (alternative healthy vending machines, educational posters) and individual reinforcement tools (school lessons, textbook, text messages, pedometers, re-usable water bottles).

IL-18 level in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery or valve replacement: which link with epicardial fat depot?

Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a member of the interleukin-1 family of cytokines produced constitutively by different cell types and by adipose tissue. Due to the link between obesity, inflammation and cardiovascular diseases, we aimed to measure IL-18 circulating level in patients undergoing open-heart surgery both for elective coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or for valve replacement (VR), and we also evaluated whether epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) depot may be a potential source of IL-18. Circulating IL-18 protein was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

[Thyroid function and obesity].

A relationship between thyroid function and obesity seems likely, mainly influenced by the insulin resistance. Whether variations in TSH and/or thyroid hormones, within a normal range, can influence body weight or if obesity per se can alter thyroid function has not been clarified so far. Further studies are necessary to assess the link between thyroid function and body weight, that must consider not only changes of thyroid hormones, but also body fat distribution, obesity duration and the state of low grade inflammation.