Background and objectives: Obesity is an independent risk factor for development and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). We conducted a systematic review to assess the benefits of intentional weight loss in patients with nondialysis-dependent CKD and glomerular hyperfiltration.Design, setting, participants, & measurements: We searched MEDLINE, SCOPUS, and conference proceedings for randomized, controlled trials and observational studies that examined various surgical and nonsurgical interventions (diet, exercise, and/or antiobesity agents) in adult patients with CKD. Results were summarized using random-effects model.Results

Mature adipocytes can reverse their phenotype to become fibroblast-like cells. This is achieved by ceiling culture and the resulting cells, called dedifferentiated fat (DFAT) cells, are multipotent. Beyond the potential value of these cells for regenerative medicine, the dedifferentiation process itself raises many questions about cellular plasticity and the pathways implicated in cell behavior. This work has been performed with the objective of obtaining new information on adipocyte dedifferentiation, especially pertaining to new targets that may be involved in cellular fate changes. To do so, omental and subcutaneous mature adipocytes sampled from severely obese subjects have been dedifferentiated by ceiling culture. An experimental design with various time points along the dedifferentiation process has been utilized to better understand this process. Cell size, gene and protein expression as well as cytokine secretion were investigated. Il-6, IL-8, SerpinE1 and VEGF secretion were increased during dedifferentiation, whereas MIF-1 secretion was transiently increased. A marked decrease in expression of mature adipocyte transcripts (PPARγ2, C/EBPα, LPL and Adiponectin) was detected early in the process. In addition, some matrix remodeling transcripts (FAP, DPP4, MMP1 and TGFβ1) were rapidly and strongly up-regulated. FAP and DPP4 proteins were simultaneously induced in dedifferentiating mature adipocytes supporting a potential role for these enzymes in adipose tissue remodeling and cell plasticity.

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Objective: Obesity is frequently associated with systemic hypertension. Blood pressure measure is inaccurate in severely obese patients because of poor cuff size fitting. Objective: The aim of the study is to assess the degree of agreement between the intra-arterial method as the gold standard vs. noninvasive methods, i.e., forearm blood pressure and upper-arm blood pressure measures. Design and Methods: A total of 1285 measures of intra-arterial and forearm blood pressure were taken in 51 severely obese patients in a supine position in the operating and the recovery room. A subset of 352 upper-arm measures were taken in the recovery room and compared to the intra-arterial and the forearm methods. Results: Correlation between the intra-arterial and the forearm measures was 0.90 (P < 0.001) for the 2570 data (systolic and diastolic). Compared to intra-arterial, the forearm method overestimated systolic (6 6 16 mm Hg, P < 0.001) and underestimated diastolic blood pressure (2 6 11 mm Hg, P 5 0.03). Compared to intra-arterial, upper-arm underestimated systolic (8 6 16 mm Hg, P < 0.01) and overestimated diastolic blood pressure (9 6 7 mm Hg, P < 0.001). Conclusion: The magnitude of differences between the intra-arterial and forearm method was less than differences between the intra-arterial and upper-arm method. Our results suggest that forearm method may be a more accurate alternative to upper-arm measurement to assess blood pressure in severely obese patients.

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