Aim. To review and compare the PON-1 arylesterase activity between coronary artery disease (CAD) and non-CAD patients. Methods. Data were obtained by searching MEDLINE and Scopus for all investigations published between January 1, 2000 and March 1, 2021 comparing PON-1 arylesterase activity between CAD and controls. Results. Twenty studies, based on 5417 patients, met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. A random effect model revealed that PON-1 arylesterase activity was significantly lower in the CAD group compared to controls ( , to -0.339, , ). In CAD patients, the PON-1 arylesterase activity was significantly higher among CAD patients without diabetes mellitus (DM) compared to those with diabetes (SMD: 0.235, 95% CI: 0.014 to 0.456, , ). Conclusions. PON-1 activity is significantly lower in CAD patients, and those without DM presented a significantly higher PON-1 arylesterase activity.

Background: Resilience is defined as the capacity to cope successfully with change or adversity. The aims of our study were to investigate levels of resilience in Italian healthcare professionals (HCPs) during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and to identify potential predictors of resilience. Methods: We performed a web-based survey of HCPs (n = 1009) working in Italian hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey contained a 14-item resilience scale (RS14) and questionnaires to evaluate depression and anxiety symptoms. Non-HCP individuals (n = 375) from the general population were used for comparison. Results: HCPs showed significantly lower resilience compared to the control group (p = 0.001). No significant differences were observed after stratification for geographical area, work setting, role, or suspected/confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. In a linear regression analysis, RS14 was inversely correlated with depression (R² = 0.227, p < 0.001) and anxiety (R² = 0.117, p < 0.001) and directly correlated with age (R² = 0.012, p < 0.001) but not with body mass index (BMI, R² = 0.002, p = 0.213). In male HCPs, higher depression score (odds ratio (OR) 1.147, p < 0.001) or BMI (OR 1.136, p = 0.011) significantly predicted having low resilience. In female HCPs, higher depression score (OR 1.111, p < 0.0001) and working in a COVID-19 free setting (OR 2.308, p = 0.002) significantly predicted having low resilience. HCPs satisfied with personal protective equipment had higher levels of resilience (p < 0.010). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that resilience was lower in Italian HCPs than in the general population after the first COVID-19 wave. Specific factors can be identified, and targeted interventions may have an important role to foster resilience of HCPs.

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic non-inflammatory disorder mainly characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and a constellation of other symptoms. For this reason, delineating a clear distinction between pure FM and FM-like picture attributable to other common diseases can be extremely challenging. Physicians must identify the most significant confounders in individual patients and implement an appropriate diagnostic workflow, carefully choosing a minimal (but sufficient) set of tests to be used for identifying the most plausible diseases in the specific case. This article discusses prevalent non-rheumatological conditions commonly observed in the general population that can manifest with clinical features similar to primary FM. Given their frequent inclusion in the differential diagnosis of FM patients, the focus will be on elucidating the distinctive clinical characteristics of each condition. Additionally, the most cost-effective and efficient diagnostic methodologies for accurately discerning these conditions will be examined.

Background/Objectives: This scoping review explores the relationship between ultra-processed food (UPF), bone health, and joint diseases, focusing on its potential impact on bone mineral density (BMD), osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and inflammatory arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), gout, and spondyloarthritis. Methods: A search strategy was developed using key terms such as “ultra-processed food” and related terms like “fast food,” alongside various definitions of bone health impairment, chronic degenerative joint diseases, and inflammatory arthritis. Results: A total of 19 studies were included: 12 on bone health, 3 on osteoarthritis, and 4 on inflammatory arthritis. Preclinical studies showed that UPF consumption negatively affects bone structure and strength. In studies on children and adults, four investigations (2013–2017) found no association between fast food intake and BMD. However, more recent large-scale cross-sectional studies linked higher UPF consumption to lower BMD, increased osteoporosis risk, and greater prevalence of osteopenia, particularly in postmenopausal women. UPF intake was associated with knee osteoarthritis risk, with evidence suggesting an interaction with cartilage thickness, though no association was found for hip osteoarthritis. In inflammatory arthritis, UK Biobank data indicated a higher risk of RA and gout in UPF consumers, while a Brazilian study reported worse metabolic profiles in RA patients. No significant differences in UPF intake were found in spondyloarthritis. Conclusions: This review highlights relevant considerations about the deleterious role of UPF on bone health and joint diseases, providing additional evidence to suggest healthier dietary patterns to patients and to the general population.

Background: Weight loss through physical exercise is warranted among obese individuals. Recently, a greater benefit in cardiorespiratory fitness was achievable with high-intensity interval training (HIIT) as compared with moderate intensity continuous training. The beneficial effect of training on CV health might be related to a specific modulation of circulating irisin, an adypo-myokine implicated in the regulation of energy expenditure. Methods : The present study investigates the circulating plasma levels of irisin at baseline and in response to 12-week of training program either with HIIT or moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) among young female and male obese subjects. Clinical, anthropometric, and training characteristics for each participant were available. A sex-disaggregated data for circulating plasma levels of irisin pre- and post-training are provided as well as an adjusted multivariate linear regression model to identify the determinants of post-training irisin levels. Results: Data from a total of 32 obese healthy individuals (47% female, mean age 38.7 years, mean BMI 35.6 kg/m²), randomized in a 1:1 manner to HIIT or MICT were analyzed. Circulating plasma levels of irisin similarly and significantly decreased in both MICT and HIIT interventional groups. Females had higher post-exercise irisin levels than males (6.32 [5.51–6.75] vs. 4.97 [4.57–5.72] μg/mL, p = 0.001). When stratified by an interventional group, a statistically significant difference was observed only for the MICT group (male, 4.76 [4.20–5.45] μg/mL vs. female 6.48 [4.88–6.84] μg/mL p = 0.03). The circulating post-training level of irisin was independently associated with post-training fat-free mass (β −0.34, 95% confidence interval, CI −0.062, −0.006, p = 0.019) in a model adjusted confounders. When female sex was added into the adjusted model, it was retained as the only factor independently associated with irisin levels (β 1.22, 95% CI, 0.50, 1.93, p = 0.002). Conclusions: In obese healthy subjects, circulating irisin levels were reduced in response to 12-weeks of exercise involving either HIIT or MICT. A sex-specific differences in circulating irisin levels at baseline and as biological response to chronic exercise was described. Sex-specific biological response of irisin to exercise should be further explored to tailor sex-specific training approaches for improving the cardiovascular health of obese healthy subjects.

In assessing individual cardiovascular risk, dyslipidemia is known for emerging as a pivotal factor significantly contributing to major cardiovascular events. However, dyslipidemic patients frequently present with concurrent medical conditions, each with varying frequencies of occurrence; cholangitis, whether acute or chronic, and hepatic steatosis, along with associated conditions, are strongly associated with specific forms of dyslipidemia, and these associations are reasonably well elucidated. Conversely, evidence linking biliary disease to hepatic steatosis is comparatively scant. This narrative review aims to bridge this gap in knowledge concerning the interplay between dyslipidemia, cholangitis, and hepatic steatosis. By addressing this gap, clinicians can better identify patients at heightened risk of future major cardiovascular events, facilitating more targeted interventions and management strategies. The review delves into the intricate relationships between dyslipidemia and these hepatic and biliary clinical conditions, shedding light on potential mechanisms underlying their associations. Understanding these complex interactions is crucial for optimizing cardiovascular risk assessment as well and devising tailored treatment approaches for patients with dyslipidemia and associated hepatic disorders. Moreover, elucidating these connections empowers clinicians with the knowledge needed to navigate the multifaceted landscape of cardiovascular risk assessment and management effectively. By exploring the intricate relationships between dyslipidemia, cholangitis, and hepatic steatosis (without forgetting the possible clinical consequences of hepatic steatosis itself), this review not only contributes to the existing body of knowledge but also offers insights into potential avenues for further research and clinical practice. Thus, it serves as a valuable resource for healthcare professionals striving to enhance patient care and outcomes in the context of cardiovascular disease and associated hepatic conditions.