Ectopic lipid deposition in muscle and liver, quantified by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Advances in the development of noninvasive imaging techniques have spurred investigations into ectopic lipid deposition in the liver and muscle and its implications in the development of metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes. Computed tomography and ultrasound have been applied in the past, though magnetic resonance-based methods are currently considered the gold standard as they allow more accurate quantitative detection of ectopic lipid stores. This review focuses on methodological considerations of magnetic resonance-based methods to image hepatic and muscle fat fractions, and it emphasizes anatomical and morphological aspects and how these may influence data acquisition, analysis, and interpretation.

Are Lifestyle Therapies Effective for NAFLD Treatment?

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming the most common liver disorder worldwide. Specifically, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and fibrosis pose an enormous burden for patients and health-care systems. In the absence of approved pharmacological therapies, effective lifestyle interventions for NAFLD, such as dietary strategies and exercise training, are currently the therapeutic strategies of choice.

Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Coactivation Induces Perturbed Heart Rate Dynamics in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation.

BACKGROUND Recent evidence indicates that sympathetic/parasympathetic coactivation (CoA) is causally linked to changes in heart rate (HR) dynamics. Whether this is relevant for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is unknown. MATERIAL AND METHODS In patients with paroxysmal AF (n=26) and age-matched controls, (n=10) we investigated basal autonomic outflow and HR dynamics during separate sympathetic (cold hand immersion) and parasympathetic activation (O2-inhalation), as well as during CoA (cold face test).

Effect of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1a on the mitochondrial protein pattern in human liver cells detected by 2D-DIGE.

Sterol regulatory element binding protein-1a (SREBP-1a) is a transcription factor that is a major player in lipid metabolism and insulin action. We have generated human liver cells (HepG2) overexpressing active SREBP-1a constitutively called SREBP-1a (+). These cells show massive intracellular lipid accumulation.