Nonalcoholic fatty pancreas disease

The gut-pancreas axis: investigating the relationship between microbiota metabolites and pancreatic steatosis

The prevalence of pancreatic steatosis has increased and it has been linked to the rising prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is known to have a strong connection with changes in intestinal microbiota. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between pancreatic steatosis and the levels of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) and butyrate. In this study, 136 individuals were randomly selected from outpatient clinics at Firat University Hospital. The study evaluated their demographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, and biochemical parameters. The presence of pancreatic steatosis was assessed using abdominal ultrasonography. Additionally, the levels of TMAO and butyrate were measured. The mean age of individuals in the study was 44.5 ± 14.6. 84 of the subjects were females. Using the waist circumference, 61 were considered obese and 34 overweight. The detection rate of pancreatic steatosis was found to be 70.6%. The study found that individuals with steatosis had higher average age, presence of hepatic steatosis, BMI, waist circumference measurements, and presence of metabolic syndrome than those without steatosis. A significantly higher butyrate level was detected in those without steatosis (p = 0.001). TMAO levels were slightly higher in patients without steatosis than in those with steatosis; however, this was insignificant. Pancreatic steatosis is highly associated with alterations in levels of microbiota metabolites, indicating a potential role of these metabolites in the pathogenesis of the disease and subsequent therapeutic targets. Several other factors, such as age, hepatic steatosis, diabetes, and waist circumference, have also been identified as potential predictors of pancreatic steatosis.

Consumption of interesterified palm oil leads inflammation of white adipose tissue and triggers metabolic disturbances in mice on a high-fat diet

Growing obesity is linked to shifts in dietary patterns, particularly the increased intake of ultra-processed high-fat foods. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of interesterified palm oil consumption on glucose homeostasis, adipose tissue remodeling, and hepatic lipogenesis in C57BL/6 mice fed a high-fat diet. Sixty C57BL/6 mice were divided into four groups (n = 15): the control group (C) fed a standard diet (4% soybean oil), the high-fat group (HF) (23.8% lard), the high palm oil fat group (HFP) (23.8% palm oil), and the high interesterified palm fat group (HFI) (23.8% interesterified palm oil) for 8 weeks (all groups received 50% energy from lipids). The HFI group exhibited higher body mass than the HF group (+ 11%, P < 0.05), which was attributed to an increased percentage of fat mass. Plasma concentrations of IL-6, insulin, and HOMA-IR were also elevated in the HFI group. Both the HFP and HFI groups showed hypertrophied adipocytes and pancreatic islets, increased alpha and beta cell masses, hepatic steatosis, low expression of genes related to beta-oxidation, and upregulated lipogenesis. In conclusion, the consumption of interesterified palm oil alters inflammatory and glucose profiles.

Does the Location of Fat Accumulation Affect the Degree of Aortic and Renal Arterial Calcification?

The vascular risk associated with obesity is particularly associated with visceral adiposity, but recent studies suggest that ectopic fat might contribute to the increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Our study aimed to explore the connection between arterial calcification of the aorta and renal arteries with visceral and ectopic fat deposits, including liver, pancreatic, and renal sinus fat. Retrospective analysis of thoracoabdominal multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) scans of 302 patients included measurements of calcification volumes of thoracic and abdominal aorta, and of both renal arteries. On the same scans, the visceral fat volume, liver-to-spleen ratio, pancreatic-to-spleen ratio, and both renal sinus fat areas were retrieved. Logistic regression showed the left kidney sinus fat area to be the most strongly associated with calcifications in the aorta and both renal arteries (coef. from 0.578 to 0.913, p < 0.05). The visceral fat positively predicted aortic calcification (coef. = 0.462, p = 0.008), and on the contrary, the pancreatic fat accumulation even showed protective effects on thoracic and abdominal aorta calcification (coef. = -0.611 and -0.761, p < 0.001, respectively). The results suggest that ectopic fat locations differently impact the calcification of arteries, which should be further explored.

Pancreatic Crosstalk in the Disease Setting: Understanding the Impact of Exocrine Disease on Endocrine Function

The exocrine and endocrine are functionally distinct compartments of the pancreas that have traditionally been studied as separate entities. However, studies of embryonic development, adult physiology, and disease pathogenesis suggest there may be critical communication between exocrine and endocrine cells. In fact, the incidence of the endocrine disease diabetes secondary to exocrine disease/dysfunction ranges from 25% to 80%, depending on the type and severity of the exocrine pathology. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate how exocrine-endocrine "crosstalk" may impact pancreatic function. In this article, we discuss common exocrine diseases, including cystic fibrosis, acute, hereditary, and chronic pancreatitis, and the impact of these exocrine diseases on endocrine function. Additionally, we review how obesity and fatty pancreas influence exocrine function and the impact on cellular communication between the exocrine and endocrine compartments. Interestingly, in all pathologies, there is evidence that signals from the exocrine disease contribute to endocrine dysfunction and the progression to diabetes. Continued research efforts to identify the mechanisms that underlie the crosstalk between various cell types in the pancreas are critical to understanding normal pancreatic physiology as well as disease states. © 2024 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 14:5371-5387, 2024.

Pathophysiological Mechanisms and Clinical Associations of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Pancreas Disease

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Pancreas disease (NAFPD), characterized by fat accumulation in pancreatic tissue, is an emerging clinical entity. However, the clinical associations, the underlying molecular drivers, and the pathophysiological mechanisms of NAFPD have not yet been characterized in detail. The NAFPD spectrum not only includes infiltration and accumulation of fat within and between pancreatic cells but also involves several inflammatory processes, dysregulation of physiological metabolic pathways, and hormonal defects. A deeper understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms is key to correlate NAFPD with clinical entities including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, as well as pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis. The aim of this review is to examine the pathophysiological mechanisms of NAFPD and to assess the possible causative/predictive risk factors of NAFPD-related clinical syndromes.

Pancreatic steatosis is an independent risk factor for post-transplant diabetes mellitus in kidney transplant patients

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Post-transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) is associated with an increased risk of post-transplant cardiovascular diseases, and several risk factors of PTDM have been shown in the literature. Yet, the relationship between hepatic and pancreatic steatosis with post-transplant diabetes mellitus remains vague. We aimed to evaluate pancreatic steatosis, a novel component of metabolic syndrome, and hepatic steatosis association with post-transplant diabetes mellitus in a single-center retrospective cohort study conducted on kidney transplant recipients.

METHOD

We have performed a single-center retrospective cohort study involving all kidney transplant recipients. We have utilized pretransplant Fibrosis-4, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score, and abdominal computed tomography for the assessment of visceral steatosis status.

RESULTS

We have included 373 kidney transplant recipients with a mean follow-up period of 32 months in our final analysis. Post-transplant diabetes mellitus risk is associated with older age (p < .001), higher body-mass index (p < .001), nonalcoholic fatty liver disease-fibrosis score (p = .002), hepatic (p < .001) or pancreatic (p < .001) steatosis on imaging and higher pre-transplant serum triglyceride (p = .003) and glucose levels (p = .001) after multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSION

Our study illustrates that recipients' pancreatic steatosis is an independent predictive factor for post-transplant diabetes mellitus including in kidney transplant patients.

Pancreatic steatosis and metabolic pancreatic disease: a new entity?

Overweight and obesity are some of the most important health challenges. Many diseases are related to these metabolic disorders, and, among them, the pancreatic fat accumulation, also called "pancreatic steatosis" or "nonalcoholic fatty pancreas", seems to have an emerging role in different conditions. There are different method to evaluate the fat content in the pancreas, such as histology, different imaging techniques and endoscopic ultrasound, but there is no gold standard for the correct diagnosis and for the identification of "inter/intralobular" and "intra-acinar" pancreatic fat. However, the fat storage in the pancreas is linked to chronic inflammation and to several conditions, such as acute and chronic pancreatitis, type 2 diabetes mellitus and pancreatic cancer. In addition, pancreatic fat accumulation has also been demonstrated to play a role in surgical outcome after pancreatectomy, in particular for the development of postoperative pancreatic fistula. Different possible therapeutic approaches have been proposed, but there is still a lack of evidence. The aim of this review is to report the current evidence about the relationship between the obesity, the pancreatic fat accumulation and its potential role in pancreatic diseases.

Fatty Pancreas Is a Risk Factor for Pancreatic Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 2956 Patients

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most lethal cancers worldwide. Recently, fatty pancreas (FP) has been studied thoroughly, and although its relationship to PC is not fully understood, FP is suspected to contribute to the development of PC. We aimed to assess the association between PC and FP by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis. We systematically searched three databases, MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL, on 21 October 2022. Case-control and cross-sectional studies reporting on patients where the intra-pancreatic fat deposition was determined by modern radiology or histology were included. As main outcome parameters, FP in patients with and without PC and PC in patients with and without FP were measured. Proportion and odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were used for effect size measure. PC among patients with FP was 32% (OR 1.32; 95% CI 0.42-4.16). However, the probability of having FP among patients with PC was more than six times higher (OR 6.13; 95% CI 2.61-14.42) than in patients without PC, whereas the proportion of FP among patients with PC was 0.62 (95% CI 0.42-0.79). Patients identified with FP are at risk of developing PC. Proper screening and follow-up of patients with FP may be recommended.

Visual Investigation of Tumor-Promoting Fibronectin Potentiated by Obesity in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Using an MR/NIRF Dual-Modality Dendrimer Nanoprobe

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a lethal disease characterized by dense stroma. Obesity is an important metabolic factor that greatly increases PDAC risk and mortality, worsens progression and leads to poor chemotherapeutic outcomes. With omics analysis, magnetic resonance and near-infrared fluorescence (MR/NIRF) dual-modality imaging and molecular functional verification, obesity as an important risk factor is proved to modulate the extracellular matrix (ECM) components and enhance Fibronectin (FN) infiltration in the PDAC stroma, that promotes tumor progression and worsens response to chemotherapy by reducing drug delivery. In the study, to visually evaluate FN in vivo and guide PDAC therapy, an FN-targeted nanoprobe, NP-CREKA, is synthesized by conjugating gadolinium chelates, NIR797 and fluorescein isothiocyanate to a polyamidoamine dendrimer functionalized with targeting peptides. A dual-modality strategy combining MR and NIRF imaging is applied, allowing effective visualization of FN in orthotopic PDAC with high spatial resolution, ideal sensitivity and excellent penetrability, especially in obese mice. In conclusion, the findings provide new insights into the potential of FN as an ideal target for therapeutic evaluation and improving treatment efficacy in PDAC, hopefully improving the specific management of PDAC in lean and obese hosts.

Circulatory miRNAs as Correlates of Elevated Intra-Pancreatic Fat Deposition in a Mixed Ethnic Female Cohort: The TOFI_Asia Study

Ectopic lipid accumulation, including intra-pancreatic fat deposition (IPFD), exacerbates type 2 diabetes risk in susceptible individuals. Dysregulated circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified as correlating with clinical measures of pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer and type 1 diabetes. The aim of the current study was therefore to examine the association between circulating abundances of candidate miRNAs, IPFD and liver fat deposition as quantified using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS). Asian Chinese (n = 34; BMI = 26.7 ± 4.2 kg/m2) and European Caucasian (n = 34; BMI = 28.0 ± 4.5 kg/m2) females from the TOFI_Asia cohort underwent MRI and MRS analysis of pancreas (MR-%IPFD) and liver fat (MR-%liver fat), respectively, to quantify ectopic lipid deposition. Plasma miRNA abundances of a subset of circulatory miRNAs associated with IPFD and liver fat deposition were quantified by qRT-PCR. miR-21-3p and miR-320a-5p correlated with MR-%IPFD, plasma insulin and HOMA2-IR, but not MR-%liver fat. MR-%IPFD remained associated with decreasing miR-21-3p abundance following multivariate regression analysis. miR-21-3p and miR-320a were demonstrated to be negatively correlated with MR-%IPFD, independent of ethnicity. For miR-21-3p, this relationship persists with the inclusion of MR-%liver fat in the model, suggesting the potential for a wider application as a specific circulatory correlate of IPFD.

Fatty pancreas was associated with a higher acute pancreatitis Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome score at hospital admission

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic fat infiltration was shown to be linked with acute pancreatitis and probably its severity. These interesting findings merit more investigation to elucidate the effect of fatty pancreas on acute pancreatitis severity.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective study of patients hospitalized with documented acute pancreatitis. Pancreatic fat was determined according to pancreas attenuation on computed tomography. Patients were divided into two groups, with and without fatty pancreas. The Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) score was compared.

RESULTS

Overall, 409 patients were hospitalized with acute pancreatitis. Among them, 48 patients had fatty pancreas (group A), vs. 361 patients who did not (group B). The mean ± SD age in group A was 54.6 ± 21.3, vs. 57.6 ± 16.8 in group B ( P  = 0.51). Patients in group A, had a significantly higher rate of fatty liver, as compared to group B (85.4% vs. 35.5%, P  < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the medical history among the two groups. Fatty pancreas was associated with more severe acute pancreatitis as assessed by SIRS score at admission. The mean ± SD of SIRS score was significantly higher in group A (0.92 ± 0.87), as compared to 0.59 ± 0.74 in group B ( P  = 0.009). Positive SIRS score was present in a significantly higher proportion of patients with fatty pancreas (25%), as compared to only 11.4% in group B ( P  = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

The occurrence of acute pancreatitis with higher SIRS score was significantly associated with fatty pancreas. Fatty pancreas may represent a predictor of acute pancreatitis severity.

Intrapancreatic fat, pancreatitis, and pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is typically detected at an advanced stage, and is refractory to most forms of treatment, contributing to poor survival outcomes. The incidence of pancreatic cancer is gradually increasing, linked to an aging population and increasing rates of obesity and pancreatitis, which are risk factors for this cancer. Sources of risk include adipokine signaling from fat cells throughout the body, elevated levels of intrapancreatic intrapancreatic adipocytes (IPAs), inflammatory signals arising from pancreas-infiltrating immune cells and a fibrotic environment induced by recurring cycles of pancreatic obstruction and acinar cell lysis. Once cancers become established, reorganization of pancreatic tissue typically excludes IPAs from the tumor microenvironment, which instead consists of cancer cells embedded in a specialized microenvironment derived from cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). While cancer cell interactions with CAFs and immune cells have been the topic of much investigation, mechanistic studies of the source and function of IPAs in the pre-cancerous niche are much less developed. Intriguingly, an extensive review of studies addressing the accumulation and activity of IPAs in the pancreas reveals that unexpectedly diverse group of factors cause replacement of acinar tissue with IPAs, particularly in the mouse models that are essential tools for research into pancreatic cancer. Genes implicated in regulation of IPA accumulation include KRAS, MYC, TGF-β, periostin, HNF1, and regulators of ductal ciliation and ER stress, among others. These findings emphasize the importance of studying pancreas-damaging factors in the pre-cancerous environment, and have significant implications for the interpretation of data from mouse models for pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic fat in type 2 diabetes: Causal or coincidental?

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a multifactorial metabolic disorder affecting more than 450 million people across the globe. With the increasing prevalence of T2D and obesity, the role of fat accumulation at sites other than subcutaneous adipose tissue has received significant attention in the pathophysiology of T2D. Over the past decade and a half, a pressing concern has emerged on investigating the association of pancreatic fat accumulation or pancreatic steatosis with the development of disease. While a few reports have suggested a possible association between pancreatic fat and T2D and/or impaired glucose metabolism, a few reports suggest a lack of such association. Pancreatic fat has also been linked with genetic risk of developing T2D, prediabetes, reduced insulin secretion, and beta cell dysfunction albeit some confounding factors such as age and ethnicity may affect the outcome. With the technological advancements in clinical imaging and progress in assessment of pancreatic beta cell function, our understanding of the role of pancreatic fat in causing insulin resistance and development of various etiologies of T2D has significantly improved. This review summarizes various findings on the possible association of pancreatic fat accumulation with the pathophysiology of T2D.

Pancreatic changes with lifestyle and age: What is normal and what is concerning?

During the aging process, typical morphological changes occur in the pancreas, which leads to a specific "patchy lobular fibrosis in the elderly." The aging process in the pancreas is associated with changes in volume, dimensions, contour, and increasing intrapancreatic fat deposition. Typical changes are seen in ultrasonography, computed tomography, endosonography, and magnetic resonance imaging. Typical age-related changes must be distinguished from lifestyle-related changes. Obesity, high body mass index, and metabolic syndrome also lead to fatty infiltration of the pancreas. In the present article, age-related changes in morphology and imaging are discussed. Particular attention is given to the sonographic verification of fatty infiltration of the pancreas. Ultrasonography is a widely used screening examination method. It is important to acknowledge the features of the normal aging processes and not to interpret them as pathological findings. Reference is made to the uneven fatty infiltration of the pancreas. The differential diagnostic and the differentiation from other processes and diseases leading to fatty infiltration of the pancreas are discussed.

Use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Quantify Fat and Steatosis in the Pancreas in Patients after Bariatric Surgery: a Retrospective Study

INTRODUCTION

Pancreatic steatosis (PS) has both metabolic consequences and local effects on the pancreas itself. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the most reliable non-invasive method for diagnosing PS. We investigated the impact of metabolic syndrome (MS) on the presence of PS, differences in individuals with and without PS, and the metabolic effects of bariatric procedures.

METHODS

Changes in anthropometric and basic biochemistry values and MS occurrence were evaluated in 34 patients with obesity who underwent a bariatric procedure. After the procedure, patients underwent MRI with manual 3D segmentation mask creation to determine the pancreatic fat content (PFC). We compared the differences in the PFC and the presence of PS in individuals with and without MS and compared patients with and without PS.

RESULTS

We found no significant difference in the PFC between the groups with and without MS or in the occurrence of PS. There were significant differences in patients with and without PS, especially in body mass index (BMI), fat mass, visceral adipose tissue (VAT), select adipocytokines, and lipid spectrum with no difference in glycemia levels. Significant metabolic effects of bariatric procedures were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Bariatric procedures can be considered effective in the treatment of obesity, MS, and some of its components. Measuring PFC using MRI did not show any difference in relation to MS, but patients who lost weight to BMI < 30 did not suffer from PS and had lower overall fat mass and VAT. Glycemia levels did not have an impact on the presence of PS.

Ectopic fat deposition and its related abnormalities of lipid metabolism followed by nonalcoholic fatty pancreas

Background and Objectives

The positive energy balance between caloric intake and caloric output increasing storage of triglycerides (TG) in adipocytes has made nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) one of the major public health problems in China. Excessive lipid deposition in the pancreas is referred to as nonalcoholic fatty pancreas disease (NAFPD). Early assessment of pancreatic fat infiltration will have an increasing role in the clinical management of the metabolic dysregulation and prevention pancreatic complications.

Subjects and Methods

We retrospectively collected data of inpatients with NAFPD from EUS database between September 2012 and August 2020 at our endoscopic center. The prevalence of NAFPD and factors associated with its development were statistically analyzed. The echogenicity of the pancreas was compared to that of the left renal cortex during the EUS examination by using an existing criterion.

Results

Four thousand, seven hundred and four consecutive individuals underwent EUS were enrolled. The prevalence of NAFPD was 1.2% (57/4704) . Factors independently associated with NAFPD on multivariate analysis were increasing TG (odds ratios [OR] 4.65, P = 0.014), NAFLD (OR 16.76, P = 0.005) and decreasing apolipoprotein A-1 (OR 0.002, P = 0.0127). We found no association between NAFPD and age, sex, total cholesterol or hypertension.

Conclusions

We found a meaningful relationship between NAFLD, dyslipidemia, and NAFPD in Chinese. We hypothesized that NAFPD was strongly correlated with ectopic fat deposition and its related abnormalities of lipid metabolism. Early diagnosis of NAFLD provides opportunities to control the progression of NAFPD.

Endoscopic Ultrasound Finding of Diffuse Echogenicity in the Pancreas, Is It Relevant?

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Diffuse echogenicity of the pancreas, a commonly discovered finding on endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), is often of undetermined significance. The goal of this study was to characterize the clinical picture and pancreatic function in patients who incidentally present with this endosonographic finding.

METHODS

This was a case-control study comparing consecutive adult patients with diffuse echogenicity of the pancreas found on EUS to those who did not have known pancreas disease. Demographic and clinical data were extracted from the electronic medical record. The primary endpoint was exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) defined as fecal elastase (FE-1) < 200 μg/g.

RESULTS

A total of 166 patients were included in this study. There were 89 patients who had diffuse echogenicity of the pancreas on EUS and FE-1 testing. There were 77 control patients with chronic diarrhea who did not have known pancreas disease but did have FE-1 testing. EPI was significantly more likely in the fatty pancreas group compared to the control group (47% vs 6%, p < 0.001). There was also a significantly greater proportion of smokers in the fatty pancreas group compared to the control group (42% vs 17%, p = 0.002). There were no other differences in baseline characteristics between the two groups, including prevalence of chronic pancreatitis by Rosemont classification. On multiple logistic regression analysis controlling for multiple variables, smoking (OR 2.26, 95% CI 1.15-4.43) and NAFLD (OR 3.99, 95% CI 1.09-14.70) had significant associations with EPI.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found a significantly greater amount of patients who had diffuse echogenicity of the pancreas on EUS to also have EPI. This is compared to a control group of patients without known pancreas disease. This prevalence was found in the absence of a significant association with chronic pancreatitis on EUS based on Rosemont classification. Future controlled studies are required to further investigate this relationship.

Uniting epidemiology and experimental models: pancreatic steatosis and pancreatic cancer

Research from epidemiologic studies and experimental animal models provide insights into the role of pancreatic steatosis in the development of pancreatic cancer. Epidemiologic data demonstrate that pancreatic steatosis is widely prevalent and significantly associated with both development and progression of pancreatic cancer. By focusing on current experimental models, this review elucidates potential cellular mechanisms underlying not only the pathophysiology of pancreatic steatosis itself, but also the pathogenesis behind pancreatic steatosis's role in changing the tumour microenvironment and accelerating the development of pancreatic cancer. This review further explores the impact of bariatric surgery on pancreatic steatosis and pancreatic cancer. Synthesizing knowledge from both epidemiologic studies and experimental animal models, this review identifies gaps in current knowledge regarding pancreatic steatosis and its role in carcinogenesis and proposes future research directions to elucidate the possible mechanisms underlying other obesity-associated cancers.

Metabolic implications of pancreatic fat accumulation

Fat accumulation outside subcutaneous adipose tissue often has unfavourable effects on systemic metabolism. In addition to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which has received considerable attention, pancreatic fat has become an important area of research throughout the past 10 years. While a number of diagnostic approaches are available to quantify pancreatic fat, multi-echo Dixon MRI is currently the most developed method. Initial studies have shown associations between pancreatic fat and the metabolic syndrome, impaired glucose metabolism and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Pancreatic fat is linked to reduced insulin secretion, at least under specific circumstances such as prediabetes, low BMI and increased genetic risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. This Review summarizes the possible causes and metabolic consequences of pancreatic fat accumulation. In addition, potential therapeutic approaches for addressing pancreatic fat accumulation are discussed.

Larger Volume and Higher Fat Content of the Pancreatic Head Are Predictive Factors for Postendoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography Pancreatitis

OBJECTIVES

Acute pancreatitis is the most critical complication of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). In this study, we investigated the association between the volume/fat content of the pancreatic head and the incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP).

METHODS

We retrospectively enrolled 157 patients who underwent ERCP. The volume and fat content of the pancreas were calculated by multislice computed tomographic imaging by using a volume analyzer. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify risk factors for PEP.

RESULTS

The mean volumes of the whole pancreas and pancreatic head were significantly larger, and the fat content of the pancreatic head was significantly higher in the PEP group (P < 0.01). There were no significant differences in the mean volume and fat content of the pancreatic body and tail in the PEP group. Multivariate analysis revealed that the pancreatic guidewire placement (odds ratio [OR], 12.4; P < 0.01), pancreatic head volume (OR, 5.3; P < 0.01), and the pancreatic head fat content (OR, 4.8; P < 0.01) were independent risk factors for PEP.

CONCLUSIONS

The pancreatic head volume and fat content were independent predicting factors of PEP. Quantitative assessment of the pancreas may contribute to the prediction of PEP onset.

Pancreatic steatosis: A frequent finding in a Chilean population

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS

Pancreatic steatosis is an incidental radiologic finding in asymptomatic patients, and its clinical importance is unclear. Primary aim: to study the prevalence of pancreatic steatosis (PS) in consecutive patients registered at our hospital, that underwent computed axial tomography (CAT) scanning of the abdomen and pelvis, excluding known pancreatic diseases. Secondary aim: to review the association of PS with the demographic and clinical data of the patients, as well as with hepatic steatosis (HS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An observational study was conducted on adult patients that had CAT scans of the abdomen and pelvis.

DEFINITIONS

a) tissue density was measured in Hounsfield units (HU) in five 1 cm² areas of the pancreas, three areas of the spleen, and in segments VI and VII of the liver; b) fatty pancreas: a difference < -10 HU between the mean pancreas and mean spleen densities; and c) fatty liver: density < 40 HU. We registered the epidemiologic and laboratory data of the patients. The association of those factors with the presence of PS was analyzed using SPSS version 24.0 software, and statistical significance was set at a p < 0.05.

RESULTS

Of the 203 patients, PS was found in 61 (30%). The patients with PS were significantly older and had a higher body mass index. We found no significant association with the rest of the parameters studied, nor with HS (55 patients). None of the patients had symptoms attributable to a disease of the exocrine pancreas.

CONCLUSIONS

Fatty infiltration of the pancreas is a frequent finding in CAT scans, and its clinical importance is unclear. Aging of the population and the increase in obesity underline the need for future studies on PS.

Impact of qualitative endoscopic ultrasonography on fatty pancreas at a referral medical center

Background

Taking advantage of the current advances in diagnostic imaging modalities, including endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), and due to the increased attention to ectopic fat accumulation in the pancreas following the rising trend of metabolic syndrome, we qualitatively assessed the clinical implication of pancreatic steatosis by EUS in this study.

Methods

The study included 243 patients that were divided into four groups. The correlation between the average echogenicity of the pancreas and that of the control organs and the key clinical data of all study patients were collectively analyzed. The cut‐off point of the pancreas‐control (PC) ratio in EUS and liver‐control (LC) ratio on abdominal ultrasound were determined from the population distribution and the obtained median values.

Results

With the cut‐off point of 1.30 for the PC ratio and 1.20 for the LC ratio, sex, the Brinkman index, habitual alcohol drinkers, and fatty pancreas were significant factors. The associations between each relevant factor in fatty pancreas, metabolic syndrome in the fatty liver group, and age in the pancreatic cancer group were all significant in the analysis. In addition, we investigated whether the PC ratio differed according to age and staging in pancreatic cancer patients. Interestingly, the PC ratio was lower in the advanced stage group than in the early‐stage group.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that, irrespective of the degree, ectopic fat infiltration in the pancreas could be a specific clinical phenotype of serious pancreatic diseases, including pancreatic cancer, especially in high‐risk patients.

Determining age and sex-specific distribution of pancreatic whole-gland CT attenuation using artificial intelligence aided image segmentation: Associations with body composition and pancreatic cancer risk

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Increased intrapancreatic fat is associated with pancreatic diseases; however, there are no established objective diagnostic criteria for fatty pancreas. On non-contrast computed tomography (CT), adipose tissue shows negative Hounsfield Unit (HU) attenuations (-150 to -30 HU). Using whole organ segmentation on non-contrast CT, we aimed to describe whole gland pancreatic attenuation and establish 5th and 10th percentile thresholds across a spectrum of age and sex. Subsequently, we aimed to evaluate the association between low pancreatic HU and risk of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

METHODS

The whole pancreas was segmented in 19,456 images from 469 non-contrast CT scans. A convolutional neural network was trained to assist pancreas segmentation. Mean pancreatic HU, volume, and body composition metrics were calculated. The lower 5th and 10th percentile for mean pancreatic HU were identified, examining the association with age and sex. Pre-diagnostic CT scans from patients who later developed PDAC were compared to cancer-free controls.

RESULTS

Less than 5th percentile mean pancreatic HU was significantly associated with increase in BMI (OR 1.07; 1.03-1.11), visceral fat (OR 1.37; 1.15-1.64), total abdominal fat (OR 1.12; 1.03-1.22), and diabetes mellitus type 1 (OR 6.76; 1.68-27.28). Compared to controls, pre-diagnostic scans in PDAC cases had lower mean whole gland pancreatic HU (-0.2 vs 7.8, p = 0.026).

CONCLUSION

In this study, we report age and sex-specific distribution of pancreatic whole-gland CT attenuation. Compared to controls, mean whole gland pancreatic HU is significantly lower in the pre-diagnostic phase of PDAC.

Pancreatic and hepatobiliary manifestations of nonalcoholic fatty pancreatic disease: a referral multi-center experience

BACKGROUND

Nonalcoholic fatty pancreatic disease (NAFPD) is an increasingly recognized disease with accumulating evidence of associated co-morbidities. However, data linked with other pancreatic and hepatobiliary disorders are still being studied.

AIMS

To investigate the association of pancreato-hepato-biliary disorders with NAFPD.

METHODS

At two Israeli medical centers, a total of 569 patients were analyzed who underwent endoscopic ultrasound for hepatobiliary indications. They were divided into groups depending on the presence or absence of NAFPD.

RESULTS

Seventy-eight patients (13.7%) had NAFPD (NAFPD group) vs. 491 patients (86.3%) without (non-NAFPD group). NAFPD was significantly associated with obesity [odds ratio (OR) 4.98, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.02-8.24, P < 0.0001], hypertension (OR 2.55, 95% CI 1.57-4.15, P = 0.0002), active smoking (OR 2.02, 95% CI 1.04-3.93, P = 0.03), and hyperlipidemia (OR 2.86, 95% CI 1.58-5.18, P = 0.0005). On multivariate regression analysis: fatty liver (OR 5.49, 95% CI 2.88-10.49, P < 0.0001), main duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (M-IPMN) (OR 2.69, 95% CI 1.05-6.9, P = 0.04), and gallstones (OR 1.93, 95% CI 1.1-3.38, P = 0.02) were the most endoscopically and ultrasonographically detected diseases that significantly correlated with NAFPD.

CONCLUSION

NAFPD was associated with several diseases, most importantly the premalignant M-IPMN. Further investigation for these coexisting diseases should be considered.

Determinants of Pancreatic Steatosis: A Retrospective Observational Study

BACKGROUND Metabolic syndrome affects 35% of the adult population in developed countries associated with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular events. Fatty infiltration of the pancreas, or pancreatic steatosis, is a risk factor for acute pancreatitis, pancreatic malignancies, and diabetes mellitus, yet its relationship with metabolic syndrome is not well defined. METHODS We performed a single-centered retrospective observational study of 322 healthy subjects (subjects volunteering to be kidney transplant donors, mean age=46.3±13.5, 163 men and 159 women) in the last 2 years (July 2018-February 2020) from our institution. Pancreatic steatosis and hepatosteatosis were confirmed by computed tomography. RESULTS Pancreatic steatosis was present in 26.3% (85/322) of the subjects, and this finding correlated with age, body mass index (BMI), male sex, a family history of diabetes, creatinine, cystatin C, uric acid, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, glycemia, hemoglobin, transverse body diameter, and subcutaneous fat thickness levels by univariable logistic regression. On multiple linear regression only age (95% CI 1.01, 1.06), BMI (95% CI 1.01, 1.19), male sex (95% CI 1.49-5.99), uric acid (95% CI 1.01, 1.76), and subcutaneous fat thickness levels (95% CI 1.21-2.36) remained independently associated with pancreatic steatosis. CONCLUSION Pancreatic steatosis is common and associated with obesity, elevated serum uric acid, subcutaneous fat thickness, and male sex. Future studies are needed to evaluate if there are specific clinical consequences to the presence of pancreatic steatosis.

Nonalcoholic fatty pancreas disease: An emerging clinical challenge

Nonalcoholic fatty pancreas disease (NAFPD) is an emerging disease that has gained an increasing amount of attention in recent years. It describes fat accumulation in the pancreas with insignificant alcohol consumption, but the pathogenesis is largely unknown. A wide range of terms have been used to describe the phenomenon of pancreatic fat accumulation, but NAFPD remains an under-recognized and non-independent disorder. Obesity, age, sex, race, and unhealthy lifestyle are established independent risk factors for NAFPD, which is strongly associated with metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, pancreatitis, pancreatic fistula, pancreatic cancer, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. At present, imaging techniques are common diagnostic aids, but uniform criteria and consensus are lacking. Therapeutically, healthy diet, weight loss, and exercise are the mainstays to reduce pancreatic fat accumulation. It can be seen that there is a limited understanding of NAFPD at this stage and further exploration is needed. Previous studies have revealed that NAFPD may directly affect diagnosis and clinical decision-making. Therefore, exploring the pathophysiological mechanism and clinical associations of NAFPD is a major challenge for researchers and clinicians.

Fatty Pancreas Represents a Risk Factor for Acute Pancreatitis: A Pilot Study

OBJECTIVES

Fatty pancreas (FP), previously believed to be without clinical significance, recently has been shown to be associated with comorbid diseases. We aimed to explore whether FP predispose to acute pancreatitis.

METHODS

Patients who underwent endoscopic ultrasound for hepatobiliary indications were included. Patients with pathological pancreato-biliary findings other than FP were excluded. The cohort was divided into patients with a history of pancreatitis (within 6 months of endoscopic ultrasound, group A) and patients without (group B).

RESULTS

Overall, 189 patients were included. Sixty-one (32.3%) patients were in group A, and 128 (67.7%) patients were in group B. The average age in group A was 55.5 (standard deviation, 17.7) versus 58.5 (standard deviation, 13.5) in group B. The prevalence of FP in group A (37.7%) was higher compared with group B (4.7%) (P = 0.001). On univariate analysis, FP showed significant correlation with a history of acute pancreatitis [odds ratio (OR), 5.14, P = 0.006] and hyperlipidemia (OR, 4.19; P = 0.002). On multivariate analysis, FP remained significantly associated with a history of acute pancreatitis after stratification for obesity and hyperlipidemia (OR, 10.78; 95% confidence interval, 3.75-30.89; P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Fatty pancreas was associated with acute pancreatitis. Clinicians should be aware of this association.

Fatty Pancreas: An Underappreciated Intersection of the Metabolic Profile and Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Although the prevalence of pancreatic cancer is increasing, treatment strategies remain limited, and success is rare. A growing body of evidence links pancreatic cancer to pre-existing metabolic disorders, including, but not limited to, type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity. An infrequently described finding, fatty pancreas, initially described in the context of obesity in the early 20th century, appears to be at the crossroads of type 2 diabetes and obesity on the one hand, and the development of pancreatic cancer on the other. Similarly, other conditions of the pancreas, such as intrapancreatic mucinous neoplasms, also seem to be related to diabetes while increasing the subsequent risk of pancreatic cancer. In this review, the author explores the diagnostic criteria for, and prevalence of, fatty pancreas and the potential link to other pancreatic conditions, including pancreatic cancer. Diagnostic limitations, and areas of controversy are also addressed, as are potential therapeutic approaches to fatty pancreas intended to reduce the subsequent risk of pancreatic cancer.

The comparison of pancreatic and hepatic steatosis in healthy liver donor candidates

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and pancreatic steatosis (PS) in patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD. 228 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD patients who admitted to the Faculty of Medicine of Demiroglu Bilim University between 2004 and 2019 were included in the study. Demographic, laboratory, histological and radiological findings of the patients were recorded retrospectively. Hepatosteatosis (HS) levels were measured by both CT and biopsy, while PS levels were measured by 3 different CT-based techniques. 89 (39%) of the patients were female and 139 (61%) were male. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 27.2 ± 4.0. Biochemical parameters were within normal limits. Liver biopsy showed a significant correlation with HS grade on CT scan (p < 0.001). When CT findings were compared, a significant correlation was found between PS and HS (p < 0.05), but there was no correlation between the HS level in biopsy and the pancreatic adiposity on CT (p > 0.05). Our study was the first to compare biopsy-proven NAFLD and PS, and no correlation was found between biopsy-proven NAFLD and PS.

Fatty Pancreas: Disease or Finding?

Despite a growing number of investigative studies on pancreatic fat deposition, there remains no clear indication regarding the clinical relevance of fat infiltration in the pancreas, also called fatty pancreas (FP). An individual's body weight is correlated with their pancreatic weight. Moreover, lipid infiltration causes disorders that compromise not only morphology but also metabolic functions. Fat infiltration leads to insulin resistance, type II diabetes mellitus, and pancreatic cancer; however, knowledge about pancreatic fat content and aspects related to the clinical profile remains unclear in the literature. The present review describes the current knowledge of FP, including its pathophysiology and clinical implications, as well as lifestyle changes in FP.

Sodium butyrate arrests pancreato-hepatic synchronous uric acid and lipid dysmetabolism in high fat diet fed Wistar rats

High fat diet (HFD) is a risk factor for metabolic syndrome which is characterized by overt glucose dysmetabolism and tissue derangement. The liver and pancreas are important metabolic tissues with anatomical proximity sharing splanchnic and mesenteric circulation but it is unclear whether, there is an associated metabolic status between the two organs in health and disease. Uric acid (UA) hypersecretion and ectopic lipid accumulation are characteristic pathophysiology of an array of non-communicable diseases. Sodium butyrate (BUT) is reputed for therapeutic roles in metabolic derangement. Therefore, the present study investigated synchrony in hepatic and pancreatic UA and lipid metabolic status in HFD-induced glucose dysregulation and probed the beneficial effects of BUT. Twenty-four female Wistar rats were treated with normal rat chow and distilled water (po) or sodium butyrate (200 mg/kg; po) or high fat diet and distilled water (po) or high fat diet and sodium butyrate. Results showed that HFD increased plasma, pancreatic and hepatic triglyceride, triglyceride-glucose index, malondialdehyde, uric acid (UA), lactate dehydrogenase but reduced glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. Histological analysis revealed hepatic and pancreatic architectural derangement and cellular degeneration in HFD-fed animals. However, BUT reversed the HFD-induced systemic, pancreatic and hepatic synchronous dysmetabolism with evidence of improved histology. HFD-induced lipid and UA alterations were synchronous in the pancreas and liver. BUT elicits beneficial effects on systemic and tissue HFD-induced deleterious metabolic changes which were synchronized in pancreas and liver of rats.

Nonalcoholic Fatty Pancreas Disease

Nonalcoholic fatty pancreas disease (NAFPD) describes a phenotype of pancreatic steatosis (PS) that is not caused by alcohol consumption, viral infections, toxins, or congenital metabolic syndromes but is associated with insulin resistance, malnutrition, obesity, metabolic syndrome, or increasing age. NAFPD is a relatively new disease entity, as the clinical significance of fatty infiltration of pancreas has gained attention recently. Clinical consequences of NAFPD remain largely unknown despite clinical associations. This review aims to study similarities and differences between hepatic and PS and explore recent advances in NAFPD.

Effects of Aerobic Exercise Protocol on Genes Related to Insulin Resistance and Inflammation in the Pancreas of ob/ob Mice with NAFLD

Purpose

To evaluate the effect of 8 weeks of aerobic training on insulin resistance and inflammatory response in obese mice (ob/ob) with NAFLD.

Materials and Methods

Male ob/ob mice were randomly divided into sedentary (n=7) and trained (n=7) groups. Aerobic training consisted of 5 weekly sessions, 60 min per session at 60% of the maximum speed of the running test. Hepatic and pancreatic samples were collected to evaluate histological features and gene expression associated with insulin resistance and inflammatory response after 8-week experiment protocol. RNA was performed by TRIzol^®. PCR experiments were performed using the Rotor-Gene RG-3000. Parametric data were assessed by t-test, one-way ANOVA and Bonferroni test for multiple comparisons. Non-parametric data were assessed by the Mann-Whitney tests with Dunn's post-test of multiple comparisons. Histological analysis was assessed by chi-square test with Fisher's exact test. Significant variables were considered when p<0.05. All the analyses were performed by GraphPad Prism V6.0 software (GraphPad Software Inc.).

Results

Reductions in bodyweight (p = 0.008), weight evolution (p = 0.03), food intake (p <0.0001) and fat content were observed in trained group. Moreover, the trained group showed better results in peak velocity (p=0.03) physical effort tolerance (p=0.006) and distance (p=0.01). Gene expression showed differences in IL-10 (p=0.03) and GLUT-2 (p=0.03) in hepatic analysis, between groups. Pancreatic gene expression showed difference between groups in IRS-2 (p=0.004), GLUT-2 (p=0.03) and IL-10 (p=0.008) analysis. Also, the trained group showed lower values for interlobular fat and inflammatory infiltrate in histological analysis when compared to sedentary animals.

Conclusion

An 8-week physical training protocol was able to attenuate bodyweight gain, food intake and generate positive effects on gene expression related to insulin resistance and inflammation in both liver and pancreas of ob/ob mice.

PANCREATIC STEATOSIS: A NEW DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPEUTIC CHALLENGE IN GASTROENTEROLOGY

Fat infiltration in the pancreas is called pancreatic steatosis and it has several synonyms such as pancreatic lipomatosis, non-alcoholic fatty pancreatic disease, lipomatous pseudohypertrophy, fatty replacement, fatty pancreas and fatty infiltration. Pancreatic steatosis describes a disease ranging from infiltration of fat in the pancreas to pancreatic inflammation, and development of pancreatic fibrosis. There are multiple aetiologies of this condition, such as metabolic syndrome, alcohol intake, viral infections, toxins, congenital syndromes, etc. Pancreatic steatosis is usually diagnosed by trans-abdominal ultrasound, computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging. Fatty infiltration in pancreas may lead to pancreatitis, diabetes mellitus and may be a predisposing cause of pancreatic cancer. Now a day, pancreatic steatosis is a common incidental finding during abdominal ultrasonography for other reasons and is a new challenge in Gastroenterology. But there is no guideline for pancreatic steatosis till now. In this review article, we are trying to give an overall idea (aetiologies, diagnosis, management, clinical significances) on pancreatic steatosis.

Early Predictors of Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Non-obese Versus Obese Patients

BACKGROUND

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is regarded as a risk factor of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the association between non-obese NAFLD and CVD has not been well established.

AIM

We aimed to compare the CVD risk between non-obese and obese NAFLD patients, and explored the factors associated with subclinical atherosclerosis.

METHOD

Consecutive NAFLD patients estimated by magnetic resonance imaging-based proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF) were recruited. Liver fat content (LFC) and liver stiffness were measured with MRI-PDFF and shear wave elastography, respectively. CVD risk was estimated by atherosclerosis index (AI), carotid intima-media thickness, carotid plaque, and Framingham risk score (FRS).

RESULTS

This study included 543 NAFLD patients. The presence of carotid intima-media thickening and carotid plaque, FRS, and AI were comparable between non-obese and obese patients. Age increased per 10 years (OR 9.68; P < 0.001) and liver fibrosis (liver stiffness > 6.1 kPa, OR 4.42; P = 0.004) were significant factors associated with carotid intima-media thickening in non-obese patients, while age increased per 10 years (OR 2.02; P < 0.001), liver fibrosis (OR 2.18; P = 0.039), and LFC > 10% (OR 2.29; P = 0.021) were independent predictors in obese patients. Only elevated triglyceride was significantly associated with carotid plaque in non-obese patients (OR 2.42; P = 0.033), while age increased per 10 years (OR 1.77; P = 0.002) and LFC > 10% (OR 2.83; P = 0.019) were significant predictors in obese patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Liver stiffness and age were strongly predictive of subclinical atherosclerosis in all NAFLD, while LFC was an additional predictor in obese NAFLD patients. Our findings highlight that early CVD screening strategy should be established for NAFLD patients according to different BMIs.

The intricate relationship between diabetes, obesity and pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is one of the leading determinants of global cancer mortality, and its incidence is predicted to increase, to become in 2030 the second most common cause of cancer-related death. Obesity and diabetes are recognized risk factors for the development of pancreatic cancer. In the last few decades an epidemic of diabetes and obesity has been spreading worldwide, forewarning an increase in incidence of pancreatic cancer. This review considers the most recent literature, covering the multiple molecular axis linking these three pathologies, aiming to draw a more comprehensive view of pancreatic cancer for a better theragnostic stratification of the population.

Pancreatic Steatosis: An Emerging Clinical Entity

Pancreatic steatosis is an emerging clinical entity whose pathophysiology, natural history, and long-term complications are poorly characterized in the current literature. Epidemiological and prospective studies have described prevalence rates between 16% and 35%. Although the natural history is not well known, there are strong associations with obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Ectopic fat accumulation of the pancreas can cause chronic, low-grade inflammation from adipocytokine imbalances that involve beta cells and acinar cells. This mechanism can lead to pancreatic endocrine and exocrine dysfunction and initiate carcinogenesis. Although it is associated with morbid conditions, pancreatic steatosis may be amendable to treatment with a healthy diet, less meat consumption, exercise, and smoking cessation. Pancreatic steatosis should factor into clinical decision-making and prognostication of patients with pancreatic and systemic disease. This review seeks to describe the pathophysiology, natural history, diagnosis, and complications of this emerging clinically relevant entity.

The Prevalence of Nonalcoholic Fatty Pancreas by Endoscopic Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVES

Pancreatic steatosis or fatty pancreas refers to the fat accumulation in the pancreas, which can lead to inflammation and fibrosis, β-cell dysfunction, fibrosis, and, possibly, pancreatic cancer. This study aimed to study the prevalence of fatty pancreas and its risk factors in patients referred to an endosonography center.

METHODS

During 18 months, 228 patients who were referred to our endosonography center for various reasons were evaluated for fatty pancreas. Fatty pancreas was defined as hyperechoic pancreas echotexture compared with spleen echotexture. Demographic characteristics, past medical history, and laboratory measurements were compared between groups with and without fatty pancreas to determine the risk factors for fatty pancreas.

RESULTS

The prevalence of fatty pancreas was 25.9%. Patients with fatty pancreas had a significantly higher mean level of uric acid (P = 0.04), frequency of ischemic heart disease (P = 0.03), hyperlipidemia (P = 0.04), frequency of fatty liver (P < 0.001), and aortic intima thickness (P = 0.01). There was no significant difference in age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, substance abuse, and use of oral contraceptives in the 2 groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Fatty pancreas is a common disorder. There are meaningful relationships between coronary artery disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver, and atherosclerosis with fatty pancreas.

Influence of fat deposition on T1 mapping of the pancreas: evaluation by dual-flip-angle MR imaging with and without fat suppression

PURPOSE

To evaluate the influence of fat deposition on T1 relaxation time of pancreatic parenchyma using dual-flip-angle T1 mapping with and without fat suppression.

METHODS

Forty-five patients who underwent abdominal MR imaging including T1 mapping with dual-flip-angle method on 3T MRI were included. We measured T1 relaxation time of pancreatic parenchyma on the T1 map images with and without fat suppression. T1 relaxation time of bone marrow was also measured as a reference organ with abundant fat deposition. Fat signal fraction (FSF) was also measured at the same location as T1 map images. Then, the correlation between T1 relaxation time and FSF was assessed.

RESULTS

T1 relaxation times of pancreatic parenchyma and bone marrow on the T1 map images without fat suppression showed significantly negative correlation with FSF (pancreas, r = - 0.394, P = 0.007; bone marrow, r = - 0.550, P < 0.001), while there were no significant correlations between them on the T1 map images with fat suppression. On the T1 map images without fat suppression, T1 relaxation times of pancreatic parenchyma as well as bone marrow in patients with FSF ≥ 10% were significantly shorter than those in patients with FSF < 10% (pancreas, P = 0.041; bone marrow, P = 0.005). Conversely, on the T1 map images with fat suppression, no significant differences in T1 relaxation times were found between two groups.

CONCLUSION

T1 relaxation time of the pancreas on T1 mapping was influenced by the presence of fat deposition. Therefore, fat suppression technique in T1 mapping will be essential for evaluating T1 relaxation time of pancreatic parenchyma.

Pancreatic steatosis: an update

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Pancreatic steatosis is a clinical entity with emerging significance and impacts patient health in a multitude of ways. It has a high prevalence in the global population with predilections for different demographics by age, sex and ethnicity. Understanding the pathophysiology, clinical features and complications of this entity may be important to understanding the consequences of the ongoing obesity global epidemic.

RECENT FINDINGS

Obesity and metabolic syndrome contribute to metabolic derangements that result in lipid mishandling by adipocytes. Adipocytokine imbalances in circulation and in the pancreatic microenvironment cause chronic, low-grade inflammation. The resulting beta cell and acinar cell apoptosis leads to pancreatic endocrine and exocrine dysfunction. Furthermore, these adipocytokines regulate cell growth, differentiation, as well as angiogenesis and lymphatic spread. These consequences of adipocyte infiltration are thought to initiate carcinogenesis, leading to pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

SUMMARY

Obesity will lead to millions of deaths each year and pancreatic steatosis may be the key intermediate entity that leads to obesity-related complications. Enhancing our understanding may reveal strategies for preventing mortality and morbidity related to the global epidemic of obesity. Further research is needed to determine the pathophysiology, long-term complications and effective treatment strategies for this condition.

The polyherbal composition Gyeongshingangjeehwan 18 attenuates glucose intolerance and pancreatic steatosis in C57BL/6J mice on a high-fat diet

Ethnopharmacologic relevance: Gyeongshingangjeehwan 18 (GGEx18) is a polyherbal composition derived from Ephedra sinica Stapf (Ephedraceae), Laminaria japonica Aresch (Laminariaceae), and Rheum palmatum L. (Polygonaceae) that is used as an antiobesity drug in Korean clinics. Its constituents are traditionally known to combat obesity, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance.

OBJECTIVE

This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of GGEx18 on glucose metabolism and pancreatic steatosis in obese C57BL/6 J mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and to examine the related cellular and molecular mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The mice were grouped and fed for 13 weeks as follows: 1) low-fat diet, 2) HFD, or 3) HFD supplemented with GGEx18 (500 mg/kg/day). Various factors affecting insulin sensitivity and pancreatic function were then assessed via blood analysis, histology, immunohistochemistry, and real-time polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

GGEx18 treatment of obese mice reduced body weight, total fat, and visceral fat mass. GGEx18 inhibited hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia and improved glucose and insulin tolerance. GGEx18 also decreased serum leptin levels and concomitantly increased adiponectin levels. Furthermore, GGEx18-treated mice exhibited reduced pancreatic fat accumulation and normalized insulin-secreting β-cell area. GGEx18 increased pancreatic expression of genes promoting fatty acid β-oxidation (i.e., MCAD and VLCAD), whereas expression levels of lipogenesis-related genes (i.e., PPARγ, SREBP-1c, and FAS) declined.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

GGEx18 curtailed impaired glucose metabolism and pancreatic steatosis in our mouse model by regulating pancreatic genes that govern lipid metabolism and improving insulin sensitivity. This composition may benefit patients with impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, and pancreatic dysfunction.

Nonalcoholic fatty pancreas disease is related independently to the severity of acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate the association between nonalcoholic fatty pancreas disease and the severity of acute pancreatitis (AP).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Among the 1662 AP patients admitted between August 2010 and August 2017, 82 eligible patients with moderately severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) and SAP were selected. Meanwhile, 164 mild AP patients were age-matched, sex-matched, and BMI-matched at a ratio of 1 : 2. Nonalcoholic fatty pancreas disease was estimated by mean pancreas attenuation by unenhanced computed tomography. Finally, 1662 patients were screened and 246 patients were analyzed.

RESULTS

For the 246 patients, the mean pancreatic attenuation and pancreas-to-spleen attenuation ratio (P/S ratio) were significantly lower in the moderately SAP and SAP groups compared with those in the mild AP group (both, P<0.001). Pancreatic attenuation decreased with an increase in the rate of ICU transfer, AP severity, systemic complications, and prognostic factors of AP (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score≥8; P<0.001). A decreased P/S ratio was correlated positively with the increased mortality of patients with AP (hazard ratio: 0.000; 95% confidence interval: 0.000-0.012; P<0.001), as determined by Cox proportional regression analysis adjusted for creatinine, calcium, and albumin levels.

CONCLUSION

The pancreatic attenuation level and P/S ratio are correlated independently to severity, mortality, and systemic complications in patients with AP.

Pancreatic fat content is associated with β-cell function and insulin resistance in Chinese type 2 diabetes subjects

The pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction. Earlier studies reported that increased levels of pancreatic fat may lead to the development of β-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance. The present study aimed to demonstrate the relationship between pancreatic fat content (PFC) and insulin secretion and insulin resistance in Chinese subjects with T2DM. Seventy-eight T2DM subjects and 35 non-diabetic volunteers were recruited in this study. All subjects were subjected to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). We also measured PFC and liver fat content (LFC) by three-point Dixon method (3p-Dixon), and we examined the relations between PFC and OGTT-derived parameters. T2DM subjects had higher PFC than non-diabetic subjects (p < 0.01). PFC was correlated with body mass index (BMI), liver fat content (LFC) and age in two groups, however, it was only positively associated with insulin secretion, insulin resistance, early- and late-phase insulin secretion in male T2DM subjects, but not in non-diabetic and female T2DM subjects. After adjusting for BMI, LFC and age, the association still existed (all p < 0.05). Furthermore, the relationship was more obvious in male T2DM subjects with a shorter course of disease. PFC was associated with β-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance in subjects with T2DM and was more obvious in male T2DM subjects with shorter duration of diabetes. Therefore, PFC might represent a potential risk factor for the development of T2DM.

Effects of aging and menopause on pancreatic fat fraction in healthy women population: A strobe-compliant article

Pancreatic fat fraction has been shown to increase in many pathological situations. However, pancreatic fat fraction and its physiological changes in healthy women are still unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of aging and menopause on pancreatic fat fraction in healthy female population.This was a cross-sectional study. A phantom of fat-water mixtures was established. One hundred sixty-seven healthy women (20-70 years) were recruited. Fat fraction was quantified with double-echo chemical shift magnetic resonance imaging with T1 and T2* correction. The association between measured and actual fat fractions was determined with Pearson correlation. Linear regression analysis was used to establish the calibration curve. Fat fractions were analyzed via analysis of variance.A significant positive linear correlation was revealed between the measured and actual fat fractions on the phantom (r = 0.991, P < .001). There was no significant difference in fat fractions among caput, corpus, and cauda of the pancreas. Pancreatic fat fraction remained constant during the age of 20 to 40 years (4.41 ± 0.79%) but significantly increased during the ages of 41 to 50 and 51 to 70 years (7.49 ± 1.10% and 9.43 ± 1.51%, respectively, P < .001). Moreover, pancreatic fat fractions of the healthy women aged 41 to 70 years were still significantly higher than these in the groups aged 20 to 40 years when postmenopausal healthy women were removed (P < .001). For volunteers aged 46 to 49 years, pancreatic fat fraction of the postmenopausal women was significantly increased compared with that of their premenopausal counterparts (P < .001).We found that an even distribution of pancreatic fat in healthy women, aging and menopause as 2 independent risk factors for pancreatic steatosis, a fatty infiltration in the pancreas beginning in the fifth decade in women.

Ultrasonographic Nonalcoholic Fatty Pancreas Is Associated with Advanced Fibrosis in NAFLD: A Retrospective Analysis

BACKGROUND

Nonalcoholic fatty pancreas disease (NAF-P) is strongly linked with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but its relationship with advanced liver disease is unknown.

AIMS

This study investigated the association between NAF-P and both advanced fibrosis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

METHODS

This retrospective study evaluated adults with biopsy-proven NAFLD with a sonogram within 1 year of liver biopsy. NAF-P was diagnosed by comparing the echogenicity of the pancreas to the kidney and was graded by severity. The primary outcome was the effect of NAF-P on the presence of advanced fibrosis and NASH, while secondary outcomes included the association of extensive NAF-P (grade II/III). Propensity score matching for independent risk factors of advanced fibrosis (age, gender, body mass index, and diabetes) was performed.

RESULTS

One hundred and four patients were included in the study and 91 (87.5%) had NAF-P. After propensity score matching, NAF-P was significantly associated with advanced fibrosis (OR 10.52, p < 0.001) but not NASH (p = 0.27). Extensive NAF-P was predictive of advanced fibrosis (OR 3.35, p = 0.006) and NASH (OR 5.37, p < 0.001). NAF-P had a negative predictive value (NPV) of 93% for advanced fibrosis. When matching for the NAFLD fibrosis score in addition to the variables above, both NAF-P (OR 5.36, p = 0.001) and extensive NAF-P (OR 5.38, p = 0.002) still significantly predicted advanced fibrosis.

CONCLUSION

NAF-P is predictive of advanced fibrosis, even when controlling for independent predictors of advanced fibrosis and the NAFLD fibrosis score. NAF-P has an excellent NPV and is a safe, inexpensive finding that can rule out advanced fibrosis.

Association of fatty pancreas with pancreatic endocrine and exocrine function

Aim

The purpose of this study was to clarify whether fatty pancreas might lead to impaired pancreatic endocrine or exocrine function.

Material and methods

The study involved 109 participants who had undergone the glucagon stimulation test and N-benzoyl-L-tyros-p-amino benzoic acid (BT-PABA) test to assess pancreatic function as well as unenhanced abdominal computed tomography (CT). Pancreatic endocrine impairment was defined as ΔC peptide immunoreactivity less than 2 [mmol/L] in the glucagon stimulation test, and pancreatic exocrine impairment was defined as a urinary PABA excretion rate less than 70% on the BT-PABA test. We defined as the mean CT value of pancreas / CT value of spleen (P/S ratio) as a marker to assess fatty pancreas. We analyzed the association between fatty pancreas and pancreatic impairment using the logistic regression model. The odds ratio (OR) is shown per 0.1 unit.

Results

Pancreatic endocrine function was impaired in 33.0% of the participants, and 56.9% of those were regarded as having pancreatic exocrine impairment. The P/S ratio was significantly correlated with pancreatic endocrine impairment in univariate analysis (OR = 0.61, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.43–0.83, P = 0.0013) and multivariate analysis (OR = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.22–0.61, P < .0001) for all participants. Similar significant relationships were observed in both univariate (OR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.49–0.99, P = 0.04) and multivariate (OR = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.21–0.66, P = 0.0002) analyses for the participants without diabetes (n = 93). The amount of pancreatic fat was not associated with exocrine impairment in univariate analysis (OR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.59–1.06, P = 0.12).

Conclusion

Fatty pancreas was associated with pancreatic endocrine impairment but did not have a clear relationship with pancreatic exocrine impairment.

Effect of octreotide on pancreatic fibrosis in rats with high-fat diet-induced obesity

BACKGROUND/AIMS

To explore the effect of octreotide on pancreatic fibrosis induced by high-fat diet (HFD) and its mechanism of action.

METHODS

Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were assigned to control, HFD, or octreotide treatment groups. Glucose and insulin tolerance tests (GTT and ITT), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and fasting insulin (FINS), serum and pancreatic lipid levels, were measured, and the Lee's index and the homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) index were calculated. The expression levels of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), desmin, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-β1), Smad3, and Smad7 in the pancreas were quantified. The LTC-14 cell line, which has features of primary rat pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs), was used for in vitro studies.

RESULTS

The AUC of ipGTT and ipITT, and FPG, FINS, lipid levels, were elevated after HFD feeding; however, they decreased after octreotide administration. The expression of α-SMA, CTGF, TGF-β1, and Smad3 in the HFD group were increased relative to the control group, but Smad7 expression was decreased. After treatment with octreotide, α-SMA, CTGF, TGF-β1, and Smad3 expression decreased, whereas the expression of Smad7 increased. In vitro studies showed that the expression of CTGF, TGF-β1, and Smad3 increased with palmitate treatment (PA), which mimics HFD treatment; and octreotide treatment decreased the expression of these proteins. The α-SMA and Smad7 expression levels remained unchanged among the three groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Octreotide can ameliorate pancreatic fibrosis and improve pancreatic beta-cell function induced in HFD treated rats, possibly by inhibiting PSC activation and by decreasing pancreatic extracellular matrix (ECM) through the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway.

Fat fraction mapping using magnetic resonance imaging: insight into pathophysiology

Adipose cells have traditionally been viewed as a simple, passive energy storage depot for triglycerides. However, in recent years it has become clear that adipose cells are highly physiologically active and have a multitude of endocrine, metabolic, haematological and immune functions. Changes in the number or size of adipose cells may be directly implicated in disease (e.g. in the metabolic syndrome), but may also be linked to other pathological processes such as inflammation, malignant infiltration or infarction. MRI is ideally suited to the quantification of fat, since most of the acquired signal comes from water and fat protons. Fat fraction (FF, the proportion of the acquired signal derived from fat protons) has, therefore, emerged as an objective, image-based biomarker of disease. Methods for FF quantification are becoming increasingly available in both research and clinical settings, but these methods vary depending on the scanner, manufacturer, imaging sequence and reconstruction software being used. Careful selection of the imaging method-and correct interpretation-can improve the accuracy of FF measurements, minimize potential confounding factors and maximize clinical utility. Here, we review methods for fat quantification and their strengths and weaknesses, before considering how they can be tailored to specific applications, particularly in the gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal systems. FF quantification is becoming established as a clinical and research tool, and understanding the underlying principles will be helpful to both imaging scientists and clinicians.

Obesity, metabolic disease and the pancreas-Quantitative imaging of pancreatic fat

The association between pancreatic fat, obesity and metabolic disease is well-documented, and although a potentially exciting target for novel therapies, remains poorly understood. Non-invasive quantitative imaging-derived biomarkers can provide insights into pathophysiology and potentially provide robust trial endpoints for development of new treatments. In this review, we provide an overview of the pathophysiology of non-alcoholic fatty pancreas disease and associations with metabolic factors, obesity and diabetes. We then explore approaches to pancreatic fat quantification using ultrasound, CT and MRI, reviewing the strengths, limitations and current published evidence in the assessment of pancreatic fat. Finally, we explore the broader challenges of pancreatic fat quantification as we move toward translating these methods into the clinical setting.