Our data confirm an inverse correlation between irisin levels and vertebral fragility fractures, but no significant correlation was found with BMD or lean mass. Irisin may play a protective role on bone health independent of BMD but further studies are needed to clarify the relationship between irisin and bone metabolism.

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.

The ACR TI-RADS classification system has the highest area under the ROC curve for the identification of cytological high-risk nodules. ATA classification leaves 'unclassified' nodules at relatively high risk of malignancy.

Bone fragility has emerged as a new complication of diabetes. Several mechanisms in diabetes may influence bone homeostasis by impairing the action between osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and osteocytes and/or changing the structural properties of the bone tissue. Some of these mechanisms can potentially alter the fate of mesenchymal stem cells, the initial precursor of the osteoblast. In this review, we describe the main factors that impair bone health in diabetic patients and their clinical impact.

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Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine which signals via a specific alpha receptor subunit (IL-15Rα). Increased IL-15 level has been observed in cardiovascular patients and IL-15 immunoreactivity has been detected at vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques. Due to the association between adipose tissue distribution, inflammation and coronary artery disease (CAD), we quantified IL-15 and IL-15Rα in CAD patients with different adiposity and adipose tissue distribution and we evaluated whether epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), a visceral fat depot surrounding and infiltrating myocardium, may be a source of both molecules. IL-15 and IL-15Rα proteins were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Gene expression of IL-15 and IL-15Rα in EAT depots was evaluated by one colour microarray platform. EAT thickness was measured by echocardiography. Plasmatic IL-15 and IL-15Rα levels were higher in CAD than non-CAD patients. After classification according to adipose tissue distribution, IL-15 was higher in CAD patients with increased abdominal adiposity. Increased level of IL-15Rα was observed both in CAD and non-CAD patients with increased abdominal fat. EAT was a source of IL-15 and IL-15Rα and their expression was higher in CAD patients with increased EAT thickness. In conclusion, our data suggest that circulating levels of IL-15 and IL-15Rα seem to reflect visceral distribution of adipose tissue and that EAT may be a potential source of both IL-15 and IL-15Rα. Future studies on the relationship between IL-15, visceral fat and characteristics of atherosclerotic plaques could help to better understand the complex biology of this cytokine.