Conectar
by Ece Zengin, Aybuke Ucgun, Mehmet Emir Çevik, Sehnaz Evrimler, Ihsaniye Suer Dogan
BackgroundEpicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is associated with cardiometabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus (DM), hyperlipidemia, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. However, its potential relationship with pancreatic steatosis and pancreatitis remains unclear, and existing studies offer inconsistent findings. Therefore, a clearer understanding of whether EAT reflects broader systemic ectopic fat burden or inflammatory processes is needed.This study evaluated the relationships between EAT thickness and DM, hyperlipidemia, hepatosteatosis, pancreatic steatosis, and pancreatitis.
MethodsThis retrospective, single-center study included 200 patients who underwent abdominal CT between 2022 and 2024. EAT thickness was measured at the mid-RCA and LAD levels, and subcutaneous fat was measured at the umbilical level. Liver and pancreatic steatosis were assessed with CT or MRI. Demographic and clinical data (age, gender, LDL cholesterol, diabetes, and history of pancreatitis) were collected. Mann-Whitney U, Spearman correlation, and logistic regression were used in analyses; p Results
Of the 200 patients, 31.4% had diabetes, 42% had hepatosteatosis, and 73.5% had a history of pancreatitis. EAT and subcutaneous fat were significantly higher in women at all levels (p Conclusions
EAT thickness is significantly associated with DM, LDL cholesterol, pancreatitis history, and age, supporting its role as a potential imaging biomarker of cardiometabolic risk. These findings suggest that EAT may serve as an imaging marker of broader metabolic and inflammatory burden, supporting its relevance for cardiometabolic risk assessment.
The transition from hospital to home can be challenging for parents of premature infants due to a lack of education on specific care. This may lead to both higher readmission rates and healthcare costs. Telehealth interventions can improve the quality of care specific to premature and critically ill newborns. This protocol outlines the WELCOME study and evaluates its feasibility and effectiveness of this approach.
This two-centre randomised control trial (RCT) will assign 240 families with premature and critically ill newborns to an intervention or control group. The study has a parallel group design and an exploratory framework. The control group will receive standard postdischarge care. The intervention group will additionally receive scheduled video consultations, digital assessments and 24/7 access to educational resources. Primary outcomes will focus on 30-day readmission and emergency care use. Secondary outcomes will include child development and parental health. The intervention is expected to be feasible, with high acceptance and minimal drop-out. It will aim to improve parents’ self-efficacy and health literacy. If successful, insights from this multimethod telehealth study will inform standard care.
Results will be published in anonymised and summarised form in international and national journals and symposia. The study received ethical approval from the Ethics Committee of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich (No. 25-0028) and was registered in the German Clinical Trials Register on 6 March 2025 (DRKS00034422).
DRKS00034422.
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