Role of metabolic, atherogenetic and psychological factors in patients with colorectal adenomas: Preliminary results of the psycho-Neuro-Endocrino-Immunology Modena (PNEI-MO) Research Group

Introduction Pro-inflammatory states of the large bowel have a multifactorial aetiology, including metabolism, atherogenesis, and psychological determinants. Inflammation plays a role in depressive and anxiety disorders, is tightly associated with early pro-atherogenetic alterations and metabolic dysregulation, and is also a key factor for the development of colorectal cancer. Aim To investigate the association between pro-atherogenetic factors, metabolic status, psychological assessment and presence of colorectal adenomas. Methods Case-control study, approved by the local Ethic Committee. Patients aged 40 or more and undergoing colonoscopy for positive faecal blood test and/or abdominal symptoms, with a negative history for neoplasia or inflammatory bowel diseases, were enrolled. For each patient the following data were collected: waist and hip circumferences, BMI, arterial pressure, fasten serum glycemia, current medications. Beside colonoscopy, carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) was assessed by means of echographic evaluation. Psychometric assessment included HADS, TCI, IMSA, SF-36. Statistics performed with SigmaPlot v.12 Platform. Results Preliminary results are available for 18 patients (male/female 8/10) Mean age 62.6 ± 8.4. Ten patients had at least one adenoma, 8 patients had no lesions. The following differences were noticeable: HADS-depression (mean ± SD) adenoma vs. no-adenoma: 4.9 ± 3.2 vs. 1.7 ± 1.8 ( P P  = .04); Body weight (mean ± SD) adenoma vs. no-adenoma: 66.4 ± 8.7 kg vs. 80.9 ± 15.3 kg ( P  = .03); waist circumference (mean ± SD) adenoma vs. no-adenoma: 105.2 ± 13.4 cm vs. 89.5 ± 4.7 cm ( P Conclusions Preliminary data from PNEI-MO Research Group support the relation between systemic inflammation, psychological status and development of precancerous colorectal cancer lesions. Depression seems associated with the presence of colorectal adenomas.