Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)最新文献

{"title":"Exploring the Interplay of Antioxidants, Inflammation, and Oxidative Stress: Mechanisms, Therapeutic Potential, and Clinical Implications.","authors":"Sumayyah Yousef Altanam, Nedal Darwish, Ahmed Bakillah","doi":"10.3390/diseases13090309","DOIUrl":"10.3390/diseases13090309","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Oxidative stress, resulting from an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and antioxidant defenses, is a major factor in chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disorders, neurodegeneration, diabetes, and cancer. Despite extensive research, current reviews often discuss antioxidants or inflammatory pathways separately, which limits their translational impact. The primary objective of this review is to present an integrated analysis of oxidative stress and inflammation, connecting molecular mechanisms with clinical evidence. We focus on the dual roles of natural and synthetic antioxidants in managing redox balance, regulating inflammatory signaling, and targeting new molecular pathways. Unlike previous work, this review emphasizes recent clinical findings, ongoing therapeutic challenges, and innovative strategies, including combination approaches and synthetic derivatives designed to improve effectiveness. By combining biochemical, preclinical, and clinical perspectives, we highlight both established knowledge and critical gaps. Ultimately, this review highlights the clinical significance of redox biology, clarifies the potential of antioxidant-based treatments, and outlines future research directions essential for translating these insights into effective therapies for chronic disease management.</p>","PeriodicalId":72832,"journal":{"name":"Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12469104/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145151751","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unraveling Dual Cognitive Disorders: A Case Report and Literature Review on Marchiafava-Bignami Disease and Possible Alzheimer's Disease.","authors":"Floris Petru Iliuta, Mirela Manea, Aliss Madalina Mares, Corina Ioana Varlam, Constantin Alexandru Ciobanu, Adela Magdalena Ciobanu, Radu-Mihail Lacau, Mihnea Costin Manea","doi":"10.3390/diseases13090310","DOIUrl":"10.3390/diseases13090310","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of dementia, particularly in those aged 65 and older. Dementia can also occur under age 45, known as young-onset dementia (YOD), although this is rarer. Marchiafava-Bignami disease (MBD) is a rare disorder characterized by demyelination and necrosis of the corpus callosum, primarily affecting individuals with chronic alcohol use. We present the case of a 49-year-old woman admitted for psychiatric and neurological evaluation due to a multidomain cognitive disorder with a sudden onset approximately four years prior, which progressed rapidly, resulting in complete dependence on others for daily activities. Her medical history included moderate depression, chronic alcohol consumption, and professional exhaustion. Psychological assessments revealed severe neurocognitive impairment. MRI scans highlighted significant bilateral parietal atrophy, hippocampal atrophy, and demyelinating lesions in the corpus callosum, consistent with MBD. Despite initial inconsistencies in biomarkers, later tests showed elevated tau protein, phosphorylated tau, and amyloid-beta, supporting an AD diagnosis. Clinical presentation, combined with neuroimaging findings and chronic alcohol consumption history, led to a diagnosis of AD with young onset and chronic MBD. This case illustrates the complexities involved in diagnosing overlapping neurodegenerative disorders. The coexistence of MBD and AD complicates the treatment plan, requiring a multifaceted approach addressing both neurodegenerative and nutritional aspects.</p>","PeriodicalId":72832,"journal":{"name":"Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12468820/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145152075","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Managing Dentophobia in the Digital Age: The Role of Internet Addiction and Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy.","authors":"Dorina Stan, Dragoș Voicu, Pușica Zainea, Alexandra Toma, Anamaria Ciubară","doi":"10.3390/diseases13090308","DOIUrl":"10.3390/diseases13090308","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Dentophobia, a significant barrier to dental healthcare, may be influenced by an increased dependency on digital technology and internet addiction, particularly among younger populations. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) compared to traditional methods in managing dentophobia, particularly among individuals exhibiting high levels of internet dependency.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A comparative study involving two groups, each consisting of 50 young adults aged 18-30 years, diagnosed with dentophobia, was conducted. Group A participants, who exhibited high familiarity and borderline addictive behavior towards digital technologies, received VRET using VR-BOX glasses across four specific dental scenarios: dental chair positioning, oral examination, anesthesia administration, and dental drilling procedures. Group B received traditional \"tell-show-do\" management without VR assistance. Anxiety levels were evaluated using the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) before and after interventions and at follow-up intervals of one week, three months, and six months.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Both groups showed significant reductions in anxiety scores across all follow-up periods. Mild to phobic anxiety scores demonstrated no significant differences between VRET and traditional method groups. The average MDAS scores post-intervention were similar, indicating comparable effectiveness between both treatment modalities.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy effectively reduces dentophobia among young adults, particularly those with significant internet dependency. Although VRET's effectiveness was similar to conventional methods, it holds considerable promise for improving treatment adherence and comfort among digitally dependent individuals.</p>","PeriodicalId":72832,"journal":{"name":"Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12468330/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145152031","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Comprehensive Review of the Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, Risk Factors, and Treatment Strategies for Retinoblastoma.","authors":"Alpana Kumari, Sarav Paul Singh, Pankaj Kumar, Suresh Babu Kondaveeti, Vivek Kumar Garg, Rabdeep Kaur, Harpal Singh Buttar, Katrin Sak, Kiran Yadav, Vikas Yadav","doi":"10.3390/diseases13090307","DOIUrl":"10.3390/diseases13090307","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The retinoblastoma gene (<i>RB1</i>), which is located on chromosome 13q14.2, is mutated in retinoblastoma (RB), the most common malignant intraocular tumor in children. About 8000 new cases of retinoblastoma are diagnosed globally each year, accounting for approximately 1 in 17,000 live births. RB is prototypically considered hereditary by nature as thirty to forty percent of cases have autosomal dominant inheritance, and the remaining sixty to seventy percent have non-inherited sporadic inheritance. RB is the most treatable juvenile malignancy, with a high percentage of survival; nevertheless, advanced tumors restrict the amount of globe salvage and are frequently linked to high-risk histological characteristics that indicate spread. Investigating the disease's molecular causes has also helped to understand its subsequent processes, which has resulted in the identification of biomarkers and relevant targeted treatments. Additionally, advancements in molecular biology techniques facilitated the creation of effective strategies for early disease detection, genetic counseling, and prevention. In the present review, we discuss the risk factors, epidemiology, pathology, and therapeutic approaches for retinoblastoma. We specifically focus on the genetic and molecular characteristics of retinoblastoma, including mutations that cause key signaling pathways involved in the DNA repair, cellular plasticity, and cell proliferation to become dysregulated.</p>","PeriodicalId":72832,"journal":{"name":"Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12469102/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145151998","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Guillain-Barré Syndrome in Older People-A Case Report and Literature Review.","authors":"Xiaomei Chen, Win Ko, Fiza Waseem, Lidia Cilcic, Nahian Kazi, Ahmed Abdelhafiz","doi":"10.3390/diseases13090306","DOIUrl":"10.3390/diseases13090306","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is the most common acute inflammatory motor polyneuropathy. It affects all age groups, but the incidence increases with increasing age. Before manifesting with neurological symptoms, it is usually preceded by a prodromal phase of infection, most commonly respiratory or gastrointestinal. Pathologically, it is a post-infection immune disorder. The immune response is due to mimicry between the infecting agent and axolemmal surface molecules, which triggers an acute immune injury that leads to blockade of nerve conduction. Age-related decline in immune function plays a role in the increased prevalence and severity of GBS in older people. Typical neurological manifestations are ascending paralysis, areflexia and cranial nerve involvement, but sensory loss is uncommon. In up to 25% of cases, autonomic dysfunction occurs, which includes cardiovascular, sudomotor, gastrointestinal or genitourinary symptoms. The development of autonomic dysfunction in GBS is associated with poor prognosis. We report a case of a 78-year-old man who presented with a predominant autonomic dysfunction that led to a delay in the diagnosis. Because of the multiple morbidities associated with old age, the diagnosis of GBS presentation with autonomic dysfunction, without the typical neurological clinical pattern, may be attributed to the existing comorbidities. Therefore, clinical suspicion and close monitoring with respect to the development of autonomic dysfunction, from the first day of hospital admission, are important. The main diagnostic tests are cerebrospinal fluid analysis looking for protein-cell dissociation and nerve conduction studies to confirm the neuropathy. Treatment involves general supportive care, specific immunological intervention by intravenous immunoglobulins or plasma exchange courses and neurorehabilitation. Severe cases may require intensive care admission and mechanical ventilation. More than 80% of cases will fully recover, but 10% may have residual disability, with mortality estimated at 3-7%. Older age, multiple morbidities, severe weakness, autonomic dysfunction and the need for mechanical ventilation are poor prognostic factors.</p>","PeriodicalId":72832,"journal":{"name":"Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12468067/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145151818","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Diagnostic and Therapeutic Value of the Exercise-Induced Myokine Irisin in Cancer Biology: A Comprehensive Review.","authors":"Wesam F Farrash, Ahmad A Obaid","doi":"10.3390/diseases13090304","DOIUrl":"10.3390/diseases13090304","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Objectives:</b> Cancer is a multifactorial disease determined by several factors. Metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes significantly contribute to cancer risk by promoting chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, and hormonal dysregulation. Obesity and hyperglycaemia elevate insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels, driving oncogenic pathways such as PI3K/Akt/mTOR, which promote tumour proliferation and survival. Furthermore, cancer cells undergo metabolic reprogramming, characterised by increased reliance on glycolysis (Warburg effect), facilitating tumour growth and therapy resistance. Hence, body weight reduction and glycaemic control may represent potential strategies for cancer prevention and treatment. Irisin, a myokine secreted by skeletal muscle, plays a critical role in cellular metabolism and energy homeostasis. Emerging evidence suggests that irisin may exert tumour-suppressive effects by modulating key metabolic and oncogenic pathways. <b>Methods:</b> A systematic literature search identified studies investigating irisin's effects in various cancer models. <b>Results:</b> In vitro, irisin exerts dose- and time-dependent anti-proliferative effects in a variety of cancer cell lines, primarily via PI3K/Akt/mTOR inhibition and AMPK activation, leading to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Additionally, irisin inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition, which suppresses cancer cell migration and invasion. However, conflicting findings, particularly in hepatocellular carcinoma, suggest tissue-specific responses. Similarly, clinical data regarding systemic and tumoural irisin levels remain inconsistent and appear to vary based on cancer type and stage. <b>Conclusions:</b> Irisin represents a promising therapeutic target due to its ability to modulate metabolic and oncogenic pathways. However, further research is needed to elucidate its clinical relevance and optimise its application as an adjunct to existing cancer therapies.</p>","PeriodicalId":72832,"journal":{"name":"Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12468808/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145151563","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Polymorphism of Melanocortin Receptor Genes-Association with Inflammatory Traits and Diseases.","authors":"Mainak Bardhan, Ayush Anand, Amaan Javed, Maria Andrea Chilo, Nida Khan, Tulika Garg, Arihant Surana, Helen Huang, M M Samim, Vinay Suresh, Abhinav Khare, Bindu Menon, Tithishri Kundu","doi":"10.3390/diseases13090305","DOIUrl":"10.3390/diseases13090305","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Melanocortin receptors (MCRs) are responsible for various functions ranging from skin pigmentation, regulation of appetite, stress response and cognition, steroid synthesis, and energy balance to cellular regeneration and immunomodulation. The genetic polymorphism with tissue distribution ranging from the brain, limbic system, and adrenal cortex to neutrophils, monocytes, and macrophages is evident in MCRs. The mutations in MC1R, MC2R, MC3R, and MC4R genes are associated with risk of melanoma, familial glucocorticoid deficiency, obesity, and type 2 diabetes mellitus, respectively. Meanwhile, MC1R, MC2R, and MC5R genes are involved in the risk of major depressive disorder. Melanocortin receptors are involved in different inflammatory disorders, i.e., atopic dermatitis, autoimmune uveitis, sarcoidosis, respiratory diseases, multiple sclerosis, scleroderma, inflammatory bowel disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, and reperfusion injury. Several newer therapeutic agents related to MCRs have numerous advantages over the current anti-inflammatory drugs, demonstrating therapeutic relevance. Among them, α-MSH analogs play a role in atopic dermatitis and scleroderma, and MC1R agonist Dersimelagon has shown effectiveness in systemic sclerosis. The FDA has recently approved the repository corticotropin injection (RCI) to treat sarcoidosis. The FDA has also approved various melanocortin agonists, i.e., Bremelanotide, Afamelanotide, and Setmelanotide, for the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder, Erythropoietic protoporphyria, and obesity, due to pro-opiomelanocortin and leptin receptor deficiency, respectively. Therefore, this review aims to summarize the function and genetic polymorphism of melanocortin receptors, regulatory pathways involving MCRs, and the existing evidence of the prime effect of MCRs on inflammatory responses via different mechanisms and their potential therapeutic use in inflammatory diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":72832,"journal":{"name":"Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12468675/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145152080","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Infectious Diseases in Children: Diagnosing the Impact of Climate Change-Related Disasters Using Integer-Valued Autoregressive Models with Overdispersion.","authors":"Dessie Wanda, Holivia Almira Jacinta, Arief Rahman Hakim, Atina Ahdika, Suryane Sulistiana Susanti, Khreshna Syuhada","doi":"10.3390/diseases13090303","DOIUrl":"10.3390/diseases13090303","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The incidence of infectious diseases in children may be affected by climate change-related disaster risks that increase as extreme weather events become more frequent. Therefore, this research aims to diagnose the impact of such disaster risks on the disease incidence, focusing on diarrhoea, dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF), and acute respiratory infection (ARI), commonly experienced by children. To accomplish this task, we construct integer-valued autoregressive (INAR) models for the number of disease cases among children in several age groups, with an overdispersed distributional assumption to account for its variability that exceeds its central tendency. Additionally, we include the numbers of floods, landslides, and extreme weather events at previous times as explanatory variables. In particular, we consider a case study in Indonesia, a tropical country highly vulnerable to the aforementioned climate change-related diseases and disasters. Using monthly data from January 2010 to December 2024, we find that the incidence of diarrhoea in children is positively impacted by landslides (but negatively affected by floods and extreme weather events). Landslides, frequently caused by excessive rainfall, also increase DHF incidence. Furthermore, the increased incidence of ARI is driven by extreme weather conditions, which are more apparent during and after COVID-19. These findings offer insights into how climate scenarios may increase children's future health risks. This helps shape health strategies and policy responses, highlighting the urgent need for preventive measures to protect future generations.</p>","PeriodicalId":72832,"journal":{"name":"Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12468014/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145151989","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients Admitted in Cardiac Intensive Care Unit with Cardiogenic Shock: A Single-Center Study.","authors":"Konstantinos C Siaravas, Aidonis Rammos, Aris Bechlioulis, Christos D Floros, Eftychia Papaioannou, Ioanna Samara, Ilektra Stamou, Petros Kalogeras, Spyridon Athanasios Sioros, Vasilis Bouratzis, Lampros Lakkas, Christos S Katsouras, Katerina K Naka, Lampros K Michalis","doi":"10.3390/diseases13090302","DOIUrl":"10.3390/diseases13090302","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cardiogenic shock (CS) is a life threatening condition marked by inadequate tissue perfusion due to impaired cardiac output. Despite advances in diagnosis and management, mortality remains unacceptably high.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This prospective, single-center observational study aimed to characterize the clinical profile, management strategies, and short- and long-term outcomes of patients with CS.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Seventy patients (SCAI stages B-E) admitted to the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) of a tertiary university hospital over a 24-month period were enrolled. Demographic, clinical, hemodynamic, echocardiographic, and biochemical data were collected. The primary outcomes were in-hospital, 1-month, and 1-year mortality. Secondary outcomes included the use of mechanical circulatory support (MCS), mechanical ventilation (MV), and continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Acute myocardial infarction-related CS (AMI-CS) and heart failure-related CS (HF-CS) accounted for 64% of cases. The overall in-hospital mortality was 49%. SCAI stage C was independently associated with higher mortality at all time points compared with stage B. Key predictors of mortality included higher SCAI stage, elevated lactate and creatinine levels, and reduced cardiac output. Intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) use was more frequent in AMI-CS.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>CS continues to be associated with poor prognosis, particularly in patients with higher SCAI stages. Standardized clinical pathways and national registries are urgently needed to guide evidence-based and resource-appropriate care.</p>","PeriodicalId":72832,"journal":{"name":"Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12468640/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145151964","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Targeting Myocardial Mechanics in Children and Adolescents with Obesity and Non-Elevated Blood Pressure: A Meta-Regression Study.","authors":"Andrea Faggiano, Elisa Gherbesi, Carla Sala, Stefano Carugo, Guido Grassi, Marijana Tadic, Cesare Cuspidi","doi":"10.3390/diseases13090301","DOIUrl":"10.3390/diseases13090301","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/objectives: </strong>Although global longitudinal strain (GLS) appears more sensitive than the ejection fraction in uncovering subtle left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, evidence of impaired LV mechanics in children/adolescents with obesity, independent of comorbidities, remains limited. The aim of the present study was to provide new information on clinical and echocardiographic correlates associated with LV mechanics in normotensive children/adolescents with obesity and without comorbidities.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The Pub-Med, Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched to identify eligible studies from inception up to 31 March 2025. Studies reporting data on LV mechanics (i.e., GLS, global circumferential strain [GCS]) in children/adolescents with obesity were included. Meta-regression analyses between GLS, GCS, and several clinical, laboratory, and echocardiographic parameters were performed using a random-effect model.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Twenty-seven studies including 1398 normotensive children/adolescents with obesity (mean age 12.6 ± 1.8 years) were considered. There was a significant inverse relationship between GLS and body mass index (BMI) (coefficient = -0.33 ± 0.11, <i>p</i> = 0.003) and fat mass (coefficient = -0.19 ± 0.07, <i>p</i> = 0.005); this was not the case for GCS. Notably, both GLS and GCS were unrelated to several clinical/laboratory variables such as blood pressure, metabolic parameters, LV mass, and LV diastolic function indices.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our findings suggest that increasing BMI and fat mass are the only key factors associated with reduced longitudinal myocardial deformation in pediatric obesity. GLS, unlike GCS, can be regarded as an early marker of subclinical organ damage in this setting and should be assessed to optimize cardiovascular prevention strategies in children/adolescents with obesity regardless of hypertension or comorbidities.</p>","PeriodicalId":72832,"journal":{"name":"Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12468501/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145152066","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}