Sirtuins are members of the silent information regulator 2 (Sir2) family, a group of Class III histone/protein deacetylases. There are 7 different sirtuins in mammals (SIRT1-7), of which SIRT1 is the best known and most studied. SIRT1 is responsible for the regulation of protein activation by means of deacetylating a variety of proteins that play important roles in the pathophysiology of metabolic diseases. Recently, it has been shown that SIRT1 plays key roles in the regulation of lipid and glucose homeostasis, control of insulin secretion and sensitivity, antiinflammatory effects, control of oxidative stress and the improvements in endothelial function that result due to increased mitochondrial biogenesis and β-oxidation capacity.

Host genetic factors affecting hepatitis B infection outcomes: Insights from genome-wide association studies

Currently, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) itself has been accepted as an atherosclerotic risk factor and related to increased cardiovascular disease risk. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship of epicardial fat thickness (EFT), a parameter associated with atherosclerosis in recent years, with carotid artery intima-media thickness (C-IMT), another parameter of subclinical atherosclerosis. We investigated 57 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD and 30 age-matched and sex-matched controls. EFT was obtained by transthoracic echocardiography and C-IMT was evaluated by an ultrasonographic measurement using a linear type B-mode probe. EFT and C-IMT were significantly higher in NAFLD patients compared with the controls (EFT: 0.58 ± 0.18 vs. 0.36 ± 0.17 cm, P<0.001 and C-IMT: 0.64 ± 0.1 vs. 0.52 ± 0.1 mm, P<0.001, respectively). We found a statistically significant correlation between EFT and BMI, C-IMT, waist circumference, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis scores in both groups. Stepwise regression analysis showed that C-IMT (β=0.36, t=2.86, P=0.006) and waist circumference (β=0.3, t=2.44, P=0.018), in the order they entered into the model, were independent predictors of EFT in patients with NAFLD. Our findings indicate that EFT and C-IMT were significantly higher in patients with NAFLD compared with the controls and waist circumference and C-IMT are independent predictors for EFT in patients with NAFLD.