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 5 262 adolescents) being assigned to the intervention group and three schools (n 5 225 adolescents) to the control group. The twoschool-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). The main outcome measure was change in BMI z-score. The secondary outcomes were changes in waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and behavioral habits. Results: The intervention was associated with a significant difference in BMI z-score (20.18 6 0.03, P<0.01) and in WHtR (20.04 6 0.002, P < 0.001), after controlling for baseline covariates. Subgroup analysis showed the maximum association between the intervention and the difference in BMI z-score for girls with overweight/obesity. Physical activity increased and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and high-energy snacks decreased in adolescents after the intervention. Conclusions: A school-based multicomponent intervention conducted at both environmental and individual levels may be effective for reducing adiposity measures mainly in adolescents with overweight/obesity.

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. IL-18, IL-18 receptor 1 (IL-18 Rl) and IL-18 receptor accessory protein (IL-18-RAP) gene expression in EAT depot were evaluated by one colour microarray platform. EAT thickness was measured by echocardiography. In this study we found that all cardiovascular patients (CABG and VR) have increased circulating IL-18 level compared to healthy control subjects (p < 0.0001), but no statistical significant difference was observed between CABG and VR groups (p = 0.35). A great increase in the gene expression of IL-18 (p < 0.05), IL-18 R1 (p < 0.01) and IL-18 RAP (p < 0.001) was observed in EAT samples obtained from CABG vs VR patients. In conclusion, CABG and VR patients had similar increased level of circulating IL-18 protein, but in EAT depots isolated from CABG gene expression of IL-18, IL-18 R1 and IL-18-RAP resulted higher than in VR patients. Future investigation on local IL-18 protein production, its autocrine-paracrine effect and its correlation with plasmatic IL-18 level could give more information on the relationship between IL-18 and coronary artery disease.

hepatocyte-like cells. However, we then used human iPSCs while maintaining higher expressions of p21 than p53 in order to avoid tumorigenicity of the human iPSCs and to increase the value of the cells as research tools.

We studied the effect of pasta, bread and biscuits made with soluble fiber enriched flour on insulin sensitivity indices in 30 non obese non diabetic subjects with normal insulin sensitivity.This was a randomized, controlled crossover, dietary intervention study. Subjects were randomized to receive the fiber‐enriched products for the first 4 weeks and then placebo products for the following 4 weeks, or vice versa. A controlled isocaloric diet was given for the whole 8‐weeks period. Measures of visceral fat distribution (waist, hip circumference), fasting glucose, insulin and triglycerides were analyzed at baseline and after each period of intervention.Insulin resistance estimated with the Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) index and the Lipid Accumulation Product (LAP) index improved significantly in all subjects after the fiber‐enriched flour period (1.5±0.73vs 1.22±0.56; 21.8±13.63vs18.55±9.16, respectively, p<0.05), but they did not change after the placebo period.In conclusion, we suggest that soluble fiber enriched products may improve insulin sensitivity in non obese non diabetic subjects. This could be useful for prevention of insulin resistance in the general population.University of Milan