Insulin resistance (IR) is defined as a lower-than-expected response to insulin action from target tissues, leading to the development of type 2 diabetes through the impairment of both glucose and lipid metabolism. IR is a common condition in subjects with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and is considered one of the main factors involved in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and in the progression of liver disease. The liver, the adipose tissue and the skeletal muscle are major contributors for the development and worsening of IR. In this review, we discuss the sites and mechanisms of insulin action and the IR-related impairment along the spectrum of NAFLD, from simple steatosis to progressive NASH and cirrhosis.

Background Statins have multiple benefits in patients with metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Aim To explore the effects of statins on the long-term risk of all-cause mortality, liver-related clinical events (LREs) and liver stiffness progression in patients with MASLD. Methods This cohort study collected data on patients with MASLD undergoing at least two vibration-controlled transient elastography examinations at 16 tertiary referral centres. Cox regression analysis was performed to examine the association between statin usage and long-term risk of all-cause mortality and LREs stratified by compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD): baseline liver stiffness measurement (LSM) of ≥10 kPa. Liver stiffness progression was defined as an LSM increase of ≥20% for cACLD and from <10 kPa to ≥10 or LSM for non-cACLD. Liver stiffness regression was defined as LSM reduction from ≥10 kPa to <10 or LSM decrease of ≥20% for cACLD. Results We followed up 7988 patients with baseline LSM 5.9 kPa (IQR 4.6–8.2) for a median of 4.6 years. At baseline, 40.5% of patients used statins, and cACLD was present in 17%. Statin usage was significantly associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality (adjusted HR=0.233; 95% CI 0.127 to 0.426) and LREs (adjusted HR=0.380; 95% CI 0.268 to 0.539). Statin usage was also associated with lower liver stiffness progression rates in cACLD (HR=0.542; 95% CI 0.389 to 0.755) and non-cACLD (adjusted HR=0.450; 95% CI 0.342 to 0.592), but not with liver stiffness regression (adjusted HR=0.914; 95% CI 0.778 to 1.074). Conclusions Statin usage was associated with a relatively lower long-term risk of all-cause mortality, LREs and liver stiffness progression in patients with MASLD.

The burden of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is increasing worldwide. The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinical characteristics and the changing in epidemiology of IBD in the Healthcare District Bra, an area of North-West Italy accounting for 57,615 inhabitants as of 31 December 2021. Clinical and demographic data were retrieved from administrative databases and the medical records of general practitioners (n = 39) at Verduno Hospital. Prevalence and incidence rates were calculated for the time span 2016–2021 and compared to the 2001–2006 period. IBD prevalence was 321.2 per 100,000 population in 2021 and, compared with 2006 (200 per 100,000 population), the prevalence has increased at a rate of +46%. Similarly, the average incidence has increased from the period 2001–2006 (6.7 per 100,000 population/year) to the period 2016–2021 (18.0 per 100,000 population/year) at a rate of +169%; such an increase was greater for CD than UC. In the 2016–2021 period, the mean age at diagnosis was 42.0 ± 17.4 years and 30.9% required at least one hospitalization, while 10.9% of patients underwent at least one surgery. In conclusion, the prevalence and incidence of IBD distinctly increased over a two decade period in the Healthcare District Bra paralleling the results of previous surveys from other Italian regions. These data warrant specific interventions to improve patients’ management and resources’ allocation.