The potential role of anti-inflammatory cytokines in human obesity is unknown. We tested the hypothesis that low serum IL-10 concentrations associate with the metabolic syndrome in obese women. Compared with 50 matched nonobese women, the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (>/=3 of the following abnormalities: waist circumference, >88 cm; triglycerides, >1.69 mmol/liter; high density lipoprotein cholesterol, <1.29 mmol/liter; blood pressure, >130/85 mm Hg; glucose, >6.1 mmol/liter) was higher in 50 obese women (52% vs. 16%; P < 0.01). As a group, obese women had higher circulating levels of IL-6, C-reactive protein, and IL-10 than nonobese women. In both obese and nonobese women, IL-10 levels were lower in those with than in women without the metabolic syndrome: obese, 1.3 (0.7/2.1) pg/ml vs. 4.5 (4.3/7.4) pg/ml (median and quartiles; P < 0.01); and nonobese, 0.9 (0.7/1.3) pg/ml vs. 1.3 (0.9/3.3) pg/ml (P < 0.05). After 12 months of a lifestyle program, body weight decreased by 10.9 +/- 1.7 kg and was associated with a significant decrement of IL-6, C-reactive protein, and IL-10 levels; the decrease in IL-10 levels was confined to obese women without the metabolic syndrome. These results show that circulating levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 are elevated in obese women and that low IL-10 levels are associated with the metabolic syndrome.

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Purpose: The chemokine receptor CXCR4 was identified as an independent predictor of poor prognosis in primary melanoma. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of CXCR4 in human melanoma metastases. Experimental Design: CXCR4 expression was evaluated in melanoma metastases and in metastatic cell lines through immunohistochemistry, immunoblotting, immunofluorescence, and reverse transcription-PCR. The function of CXCR4 was tested in the presence of the ligand, CXCL12, through induction of extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1and -2 (Erk-1and -2) phosphorylation, proliferation, apoptosis, and migration capabilities. Results: CXCR4 expression was detected in 33 out of 63 (52.4%) metastases from cutaneous melanomas. Metastatic melanoma cell lines expressed cell surface CXCR4; PES 43, Alo 40, and COPA cell lines showed the highest levels of CXCR4 (>90% of positive cells); PES 41, Alo 39, PES 47, POAG, and CIMA cell lines showed low to moderate degrees of expression (5-65% of positive cells). Other chemokine receptors, CCR7 and CCR10, were detected on the melanoma cell lines; CXCL12 activated Erk-1 and Erk-2, the whose induction was specifically inhibited by AMD3100 treatment. CXCL12 increased the growth in PES 41, PES 43, and PES 47 cells under suboptimal (1% serum) and serum-free culture conditions; AMD3100 (1 Amol/L) inhibited the spontaneous and CXCL12-induced proliferation. No rescue from apoptosis was shown but PES 41, PES 43, and PES 47 cells migrate toward CXCL12. Conclusions: These findings indicate that CXCR4 is expressed and active in human melanoma metastases, suggesting that active inhibitors such as AMD3100 may be experienced in human melanoma.The incidence and mortality rate of melanoma have increased in the last 30 years. The National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database documents increases of 619% in annual diagnoses of cutaneous melanoma and of 165% in annual mortality from 1950 to 2000 (1). Metastatic spread may arise from very small tumor masses and in about two-thirds of all cases of malignant melanoma, spreading develop primarily as locoregional metastases. In about onethird of the cases, primary development of distant metastases is observed (2). The metastatic potential of primary melanoma is considerably higher than that of other primary solid tumors when comparing the size of primary lesion. The usual outcome for patients with distant metastases remains bleak, with median survival of 6 to 10 months and <5% of patients surviving for >5 years (1). Except for high-dose IFN as adjuvant therapy in stage III disease, little success has emerged over the last 20 years for metastatic melanoma (3). The underlying molecular events that explain malignant melanoma genesis and progression have been only partially characterized, and only a small number of genes have been identified as playing key roles in melanoma. Among these, some cell cycle regulators, apoptotic, signal transduction, cell adhesion, and matrix digestion genes have been shown to be deregu...

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In subjects with diabetes, red wine consumption, taken with meals, significantly reduces oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokines as well as improving cardiac function after MI. Moderate red wine intake with meals may have a beneficial effect in the prevention of cardiovascular complications after MI in subjects with diabetes.

BackgroundNo proper data on prognosis and management of type-2 diabetic ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients with culprit obstructive lesion and multivessel non obstructive coronary stenosis (Mv-NOCS) exist. We evaluated the 12-months prognosis of Mv-NOCS-diabetics with first STEMI vs.to non-diabetics, and then Mv-NOCS-diabetics previously treated with incretin based therapy vs. a matched cohort of STEMI-Mv-NOCS never treated with such therapy.Methods1088 Patients with first STEMI and Mv-NOCS were scheduled for the study. Patients included in the study were categorized in type 2 diabetics (n 292) and non-diabetics (n 796). Finally, we categorized diabetics in current-incretin-users (n 76), and never-incretin-users (n 180). The primary end point was all cause deaths, cardiac deaths, and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at 12 months of follow up.ResultsThe study results evidenced higher percentage of all cause deaths (2.2% vs. 1.1%, p value 0.05), cardiac deaths (1.6% vs. 0.5%, p value 0.045), and MACE (12.9% vs. n 5.9%), p value 0.001) in diabetic vs. no diabetic patients at 12 months follow up. Among diabetic patients, the current vs never-incretin-users, did not present a significant difference about all cause of deaths, and cardiac deaths through 12-months. The MACE rate at 1 year was 7.4% in diabetic incretin-users STEMI Mv-NOCS patients vs. 12.9% in diabetic never-incretin-users STEMI-Mv-NOCS patients (p value 0.04). In a risk-adjusted hazard analysis, MACE through 12 months were lower in diabetic STEMI-Mv NOCS incretin-users vs never-incretin-users patients (HR 0.513, CI [0.292–0.899], p 0.021). Consequently, lower levels of glucagon-like peptide 1(GLP-1) were predictive of MACE at follow up (HR 1.528, CI [1.059–2.204], p 0.024).ConclusionIn type 2 diabetic patients with STEMI-Mv-NOCS, we observed higher incidence of 1-year mortality and adverse cardiovascular outcomes, as compared to non-diabetic STEMI-Mv-NOCS patients. In diabetic patients, never-incretin-users have worse prognosis as compared to current-incretin-users.Trail registration Clinical trial number: NCT03312179, name of registry: clinicaltrialgov, URL: clinicalltrialgov.com, date of registration: September 2017, date of enrollment first participant: September 2009

Introduction Limited data are available supporting the notion that treatment of lifestyle risk factors may improve erectile dysfunction (ED). Aim In the present study, we analyzed the effect of a program of changing in lifestyle designed to improve erectile function in subjects with ED or at increasing risk for ED. Methods Men were identified in our database of subjects participating in randomized controlled trials evaluating the effect of lifestyle changes. A total of 209 subjects were randomly assigned to one of the two treatment groups. The 104 men randomly assigned to the intervention program received detailed advice about how to reduce body weight, improve quality of diet, and increase physical activity. The 105 subjects in the control group were given general information about healthy food choices and general guidance on increasing their level of physical activity. Main Outcome Measures Changes in erectile function score (International Index of Erectile Function-5 [IIEF-5]; items 5, 15, 4, 2, and 7 from the full-scale IIEF-15) and dependence of the restoration of erectile function on the changes in lifestyle that were achieved. Results Erectile function score improved in the intervention group. At baseline, 35 subjects in the intervention group and 38 subjects in the control group had normal erectile function (34% and 36%, respectively). After 2 years, these figures were 58 subjects in the intervention group and 40 subjects in the control group, respectively (56% and 38%, P = 0.015). There was a strong correlation between the success score and restoration of erectile function. Conclusions It is possible to achieve an improvement of erectile function in men at risk by means of nonpharmacological intervention aiming at weight loss and increasing physical activity.

The use of adipose tissue transfer in plastic and reconstructive surgery is not new and has been studied extensively. Due to different results with regard to adipose cell damage and the level of survival of the transferred tissue in clinical practice, the authors aimed to investigate the effects of centrifugation on fat aspirates to optimize the centrifugal force for fat transplantation and to obtain an increased number of intact adipose progenitor cells. The following different centrifugation forces were evaluated in vitro in terms of fat decantation: 3,000 rpm (1,500×g), 1,300 rpm (250×g), and 500 rpm (50×g). Moreover, the density level, morphology of fat cells, cell viability, and progenitor cell number also were evaluated. Centrifugation leads to a good fat tissue density, with a significant number of progenitor cells, and efficiently removes the liquid portion. High centrifugal forces (at 3,000 rpm) caused significant damage to fat cells with low cell viability, whereas very low centrifugal forces (at 500 rpm) showed little effect on adipose tissue density, resembling fat decantation. Fat aspirates, withdrawn from 30 healthy donors in vivo, were centrifuged at different rotations per minute (rpm), as follows. For the 10 patients in group A, Coleman's technique was used with a centrifugation of the aspirated fat at 3,000 rpm (1,500×g) for 3 min. For the 10 patients in group B, the authors' technique was used, with centrifugation of the aspirated fat at 1,300 rpm (250×g) for 5 min. For the 10 patients in group C, simple decantation of fat was used. In conclusion, a centrifugal force of 1,300 rpm resulted in better density of adipose tissue, with good cell viability and increased ability to preserve a significant number of progenitor cells.