healthy

controls 2) clinical factors associated with EAT and the association with the severity of NAFLD 3) whether EAT predicts early atherosclerotic vascular damage, evaluated by common carotid arteries intima-media thickness (CC-IMT), and subclinical cardiac dysfunction. Methods: EAT thickness, i. e. echofree space between the outer wall of the myocardium and the visceral layer of pericardium, was evaluated by transthoracic echocardiogram in 155 consecutive patients, 43 with biopsy proven NAFLD (mean age 51 ±11 years), PF-562271 mw and in 87 healthy controls (mean age 52± 11 years), in whom hepatic steatosis was excluded by abdominal ultrasonography. In all patients complete anthropometric, clinical and biochemical data were obtained, and CC-IMT evaluated. Results: Patients with NAFLD had higher EAT thickness than controls (5.1 ±2.6 vs.3.0±2.0 mm, p=0.001). At univariate analysis, BMI (OR 1.16, 95% CI1.33), fasting glucose >100 (OR 4.2, 95% CI 1.14-20), HbA1c (OR 2.6, 95%CI 1.19-8.3), diabetes (OR 1.28, 95% CI1.73), and metabolic syndrome (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.151.57) were significantly PF-6463922 nmr associated with increased EAT thickness (above median value). In the 43 patients with liver histology (15 simple steatosis, 25 nonalcoholic steatohepatitis without cirrhosis, and 3 NAFLD with cirrhosis), EAT thickness increased with the severity of steatosis (p=0.01). Increased

EAT thickeness was associated with CC-IMT >0.65 mm (median value of controls: OR 4.6, 95% CI 1.6-15.9). Furthermore, EAT thickness was inversely correlated with cardiac early diastolic dysfunction, as detected by the early/atrial peak flow ratio (E/A ratio) (OR 0.07, 95% CI 0.01-0.38). Conclusions: EAT thickness

is higher in NAFLD patients than in healthy controls, is associated with adiposity and insulin resistance, and with early markers of cardiovascular risk. Further studies in large cohorts are required to define whether EAT thickness represents an easily assessable diagnostic tool to predict cardiovascular risk. Disclosures: The following people have nothing to disclose: Anna Ludovica Fracanzani, Giuseppina Pisano, Rosa Lombardi, Luca Valenti, Cristina Bertelli, Tiziana Tonella, Ferdinando Massari, Andrea Baragetti, Liliana Grigore, Alberico selleck Catapano, Silvia Fargion Introduction: Insulin resistance and inflammation are hallmarks of NASH. In addition to the well-known effects on carbohydrate metabolism, insulin resistance and inflammatory cytokines have profound effects on protein and amino acid metabolism. The aim of this study was to develop detailed amino acid metabolism signatures across the histologic stages of NAFLD. Methods: Five groups of participants were studied: 1) lean controls (n=20), 2) obese with normal histology (n=10), 3) obese with simple steatosis (n=10), 4) obese with NASH (FS 0-3)(n=20). Obese patients were matched for BMI, age and gender. Al participants were matched for age and gender.