OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this review was to delineate our current knowledge of the close relationship between the abundance of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and the risk of all major cardiovascular disease, especially atrial fibrillation (AF).

DATA SOURCESThe data analyzed in this review were mainly from articles reported in PubMed published from 1972 to 2014.

STUDY SELECTIONOriginal articles and critical reviews relevant to EAT and AF were selected.

RESULTSEAT, a particular form of metabolically active visceral fat deposited around the heart, is being regarded as an important independent predictor of cardio-metabolic diseases. EAT is composed of smaller adipocytes than other visceral fat depots and functioned like brown adipose tissue (BAT) to protect adjacent tissues. Improving the understanding of EAT in AF genesis and maintenance may contribute to prevent AF and reduce the complications associated with AF.

CONCLUSIONThe findings suggest that EAT associates with AF severity and the recurrence of AF after catheter ablation even after adjustment for AF risk factors, but the precise mechanisms are not fully elucidated.

Adipose Tissue ; pathology ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; therapy ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo study the nature of the residue hard tissue after liposuction in lipoma and its role in lipoma recurrence.

METHODSThe residue hard tissue after liposuction was collected for histologic study, including HE-staining and immunohistochemistry with antibody of stem cell marker (CD29 and CD44). The average density and area of positive cells were analyzed statistically.

RESULTSThe residue hard tissue had a medium hardness. The center tissue was light yellow surrounding by soft, loose, irregular and cord-like tissue. The normal fat tissue is light yellow with a soft and unanimous texture. HE-staining showed abundant stromas in residue hard tissue, with lots of fibroblast-like cells locating among adipocytes. The cytoplasm was less with large and blue-staining nucleus. In normal fat tissue, the fat cells were uniform which were round or polygon. The stromas was less and the fibroblast-like cells were comparatively less. The slices were stained with antibody (CD29, CD44) of stem cell marker. The density and area of positive cells were much more in residue hard tissue than those in normal adipose tissue. Two Independence Samples T test were as follows: (t'CD29 = 9.931, P = 0.000; (t'CD44 =10.171, P = 0.000 for density; and (t'CD29 = 7.761, P = 0.000; tt'CDRR = 6.639, P = 0.000 for area. The difference was significant.

CONCLUSIONSAbundant fibroblast-like cells that are signed by the marker of stem cells exist in residue hard tissue. Those cells are proven to be lipoma derived stem cells (LDSCs) which may play an role in lipoma recurrence after lipoma liposuction.

Adipocytes ; cytology ; pathology ; Adipose Tissue ; pathology ; Humans ; Lipectomy ; Lipoma ; pathology ; surgery ; Recurrence ; Stem Cells ; pathology

Obesity, which underlies various metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, is a growing public health challenge for which established therapies are inadequate. Given the current obesity epidemic, there is a pressing need for more novel therapeutic strategies that will help adult individuals to manage their weight. One promising therapeutic intervention for reducing obesity is to enhance energy expenditure. Investigations into human brown fat and the recently discovered beige/brite fat have galvanized intense research efforts during the past decade because of their pivotal roles in energy dissipation. In this review, we summarize the evolution of human brown adipose tissue (hBAT) research and discuss new in vivo methodologies for evaluating energy expenditure in patients. We highlight the differences between human and mouse BAT by integrating and comparing their cellular morphology, function, and gene expression profiles. Although great advances in hBAT biology have been achieved in the past decade, more cellular models are needed to acquire a better understanding of adipose-specific processes and molecular mechanisms. Thus, this review also describes the development of a human brown fat cell line, which could provide promising mechanistic insights into hBAT function, signal transduction, and development. Finally, we focus on the therapeutic potential and current limitations of hBAT as an anti-glycemic, anti-lipidemic, and weight loss-inducing 'metabolic panacea'.
Adipose Tissue, Beige ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adipose Tissue, Brown ; metabolism ; pathology ; Animals ; Cell Line ; Energy Metabolism ; Humans ; Mice ; Obesity ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy

Objective To evaluate the sensitivities of various biopsy methods for the diagnosis of systematic amyloidosis (SA). Methods The clinical data and biopsy results of 194 SA patients who were treated in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2009 to June 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. Results The highest sensitivity was achieved by biopsy of affected organs,with renal biopsy 97.4%,heart biopsy 95.0% and liver biopsy 87.5%. Among non-invasive biopsy methods,tongue biopsy was found to be 75% sensitive,followed by gingiva biopsy at 57%,abdominal fat pad aspiration at 57%,rectum biopsy at 16%,and bone marrow examination at 8%. Combination of tongue and abdominal fat pad biopsy yielded a detection rate of 93.1%. Conclusions Biopsy of the involved organ has the highest sensitivity. However,combination of multiple non-invasive biopsy methods may has sensitivity comparable to organ biopsy and is safer and more convenient.
Adipose Tissue ; pathology ; Amyloidosis ; diagnosis ; Biopsy ; methods ; Biopsy, Needle ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tongue ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of the expression of PPAR-gamma gene in the adipogenesis in hemangioma evolution.

METHODSRoutine immunohistochemistry staining of Perilipin A, the marker antigen of adipocytes, was performed to observe the adipogenesis in hemangioma. Immunofluorescence staining of PPAR-gamma, the important transcription factor in promoting adipogenesis, was carried out to observe its location in hemangioma tissue, with the co-staining of alpha-SMA and CD31. And RT-PCR was used to examine the expression of PPAR-gamma gene in hemangioma in different stages.

RESULTSIn the evolution of hemangioma, the number of adipocytes increased continuously. And the tumor was replaced by fibrofatty tissue finally. PPAR-gamma was located in the nuclei of perivascular cell in hemangioma tissue. The expression of PPAR-gamma gene in hemangioma increased in the evolution of hemangioma, but still was lower than that in normal fat tissue from children.

CONCLUSIONThe expression of PPAR-gamma in the perivascular cells suggests that they may contribute to the adipogenesis in hemangioma involution.

Adipogenesis ; Adipose Tissue ; metabolism ; pathology ; Hemangioma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; PPAR gamma ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo establish a new method to accurately measure the viability of fat for grafting, which can lay a foundation for the further study of fat transplantation.

METHODSWe centrifugated 5 groups of fat respectively at 1000 r/min, 2000 r/min, 3000 r/min, 4000 r/min and 5000 r/min, took out 12 samples from per group of centrifugated fat, 5 ml per sample, and put them into dishes to incubate with DMEM containing glucose for one hour. Simultaneously we set up 5 control dishes (only containing DMEM without fat) to incubate together with those experimental dishes. After incubating we measured the glucose consistency of DMEM in all dishes. The glucose consistency difference between the mean value of 5 control dishes and per experimental dish represented the glucose transportation quantity of per sample, in other words, the sample viability. We analyzed and compared the glucose transportation quantity of every group of samples with t test. The 5 groups of fat were also put in histopathologic examination and the amounts of intact adipocytes on per group of slides were compared with T test.

RESULTSThe glucose transportation quantities of group 1000 r/min, 2000 r/min, 3000 r/min, 4000 r/min, 5000 r/min gradually decreased in turn (P < 0.05). The histopathologic examination didn't show the difference among group 1000 r/min, 2000 r/min, 3000 r/min and 4000 r/min the 5000 r/min (P > 0.05), and only showed the amounts of intact adipocytes on slides of group 5000 r/min were significantly fewer than other four group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe glucose transportation test can be used to accurately measure the viability of fat. The histopathologic examination can reveal fat viability roundly.

Adipose Tissue ; pathology ; transplantation ; Adult ; Female ; Glucose ; analysis ; Humans ; Pathology, Clinical ; methods

Epicardial fat may anteriorly produce an echo-free space that can be mistaken for pericardial fluid. We recently experienced a 67-year-old woman with prominent epicardial fat which was presented as an echogenic tumor-like mass. She underwent open pericardiostomy to relieve large amount of pericardial effusion. Operative findings revealed only prominent epicardial fat. Biopsy of the pericardial and fat tissues revealed an inflammation and normal fat cells without any malignant cell infiltration.
Adipose Tissue/ultrasonography* ; Adipose Tissue/radiography ; Adipose Tissue/pathology ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Case Report ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Heart Neoplasms/diagnosis ; Human ; Pericardial Effusion/etiology ; Pericardial Effusion/diagnosis ; Pericardium/ultrasonography* ; Pericardium/radiography ; Pericardium/pathology

Lipofibromatous hamartoma of the nerve is a benign tumor, which affects the major nerves and their branches in the human body. It is often found in the median nerve of the hand and is commonly associated with macrodactyly, but it is rarely found in the digital nerves at the peripheral level. This tumor is often found in young adults and may go through a self- limiting course. However, operation is indicated when the tumor size is large or when the associated nerve compressive symptoms are present. We have experienced a rare case of lipofibromatous hamartoma that symmetrically involved the volar digital nerves of both index fingers on the ulnar side. With the aid of a microscope, we dissected and removed the tumor as much as possible without sacrificing the nerve. No sensory change occurred in both fingers and no sign of recurrence was observed upon follow-up.
Adipose Tissue/pathology ; Adult ; Female ; Fingers/*innervation/pathology ; Hamartoma/complications/*pathology ; Humans ; Nerve Compression Syndromes/etiology/*pathology

OBJECTIVETo explore the influence of dermal defect and fat dome structure destruction in burn wounds on the formation of hyperplastic scar.

METHODSFifty two wounds in 24 burn patients with deep partial thickness burn indicating tangential excision in the extremities were enrolled in the study, and they were divided into three groups according to the extent of exposure of dermal fat granules, i.e. A (without fat exposure), B (with little fat exposure) and C (with much fat exposure) groups. These three groups were subdivided into A1 (without grafting), A2 (grafting with razor thin skin), B1 (without grafting), B2 (with razor thin skin grafting), C1 (without grafting) and C2 (with split-thickness skin grafting) groups, with 9 wounds in each group. The dermal depth and exposure rate of the fat granules in each group were measured and analyzed by KS400 photography analysis apparatus. The follow-up conditions of the scars 6 months after operation were evaluated with Vancouver remark system by Vancouver score assessment.

RESULTSThere was obvious difference in the dermal depth and exposure rate of the fat granules among all the groups (P < 0.05 or 0.01). The fat exposure rate was positively correlated with the extent of the dermal defect (gamma = 0.554, P < 0.05). The Vancouver score in group A was lower than that in B and C groups (P < 0.05), while that in B1 group (3.714 +/- 2.498) was evidently higher than that in other groups (P < 0.01). The scar score was lowered when the wounds were grafted with the dermis with its thickness similar to the depth of the defect, The scar score was increased along with the elevation of fat exposure rate (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThere was a positive correlation between the degree of dermal defect and that of hyperplastic scar after burns. The disruption of fat dome structure might also be an important factor in the scar development.

Adipose Tissue ; pathology ; Adult ; Burns ; complications ; pathology ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; etiology ; pathology ; Dermis ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Wound Healing

Mesenteric panniculitis is a rare inflammatory condition of mesenteric adipose tissue in which the mesentery is replaced with fibrosis. The frequent symptoms of mesenteric panniculitis are palpable mass, abdominal pain and gastrointestinal obstructive symptoms. In the majority of cases, its course is self-limiting and the prognosis is favorable. 3 cases of mesenteric panniculitis are described that presented with obstructive symptoms of gastrointestinal tract, which occurred in 2 weeks following colectomy of colonic tumors. And reviewed the symptomatology, pathology, treatment, and outcome of this disorder.
Abdominal Pain ; Adipose Tissue ; Colectomy ; Colon ; Fibrosis ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Mesentery ; Panniculitis, Peritoneal* ; Pathology ; Prognosis