Table 2.
Circulating miRNAs: clinical and biochemical characteristics of the whole population according to disease status in the validation phase (ii)
| Variable (mean±SD) | Non-MetSyn control subjects | SS | NASH | p Value* | p Value† | p Value‡ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of subjects | 19 | 30 | 47 | |||
| Female/male, % | 54/46 | 50/50 | 60/40 | NS | NS | NS |
| Age, years | 48.3±8.7 | 52±9.86 | 51.3±10.5 | NS | NS | NS |
| Obesity and central obesity | ||||||
| BMI, kg/m2 | 23.6±2.7 | 31.4±5.7 | 33.3±5.3 | <0.000002 | NS | <0.0000001 |
| Waist circumference, cm | 81.5±10.9 | 104.9±13.0 | 111.1±12.1 | <0.000003 | NS | <0.0000001 |
| Waist to hip ratio | 0.84±0.09 | 0.96±0.06 | 0.98±0.08 | <0.0009 | NS | <0.00001 |
| Body fat content (%) | 27.5±8.2 | 36±10.6 | 36.6±6.0 | <0.04 | NS | <0.03 |
| Peripheral insulin resistance | ||||||
| Fasting plasma glucose, mg/dL | 83.5±13.0 | 99.3±24.3 | 147.6±205.5 | <0.002 | <0.006 | <0.000001 |
| Fasting plasma insulin, mg/dL | 5.8±2.6 | 11.9±6.0 | 14.7±8.1 | <0.0002 | NS | <0.000005 |
| HOMA-IR index | 1.22±0.63 | 2.98±1.87 | 5.5±10.1 | <0.00004 | <0.04 | <0.0000001 |
| CV risk factors | ||||||
| SABP, mm Hg | 117.5±11.5 | 128±16.3 | 128.1±16.5 | <0.02 | NS | <0.02 |
| DABP, mm Hg | 72.7±6.1 | 78±10.1 | 80.7±12.0 | <0.04 | NS | <0.004 |
| C reactive protein | 5.3±2.7 | 5.73±4.46 | 4.73±3.3 | NS | NS | NS |
| Leucocyte count (cells/mm3) | 7800±2750 | 7664±2332 | 7832±2107 | NS | NS | NS |
| sICAM-1 | 313.0±138.5 | 504.7±170 | 776.3±273 | <0.03 | NS | <0.001 |
| PAI-1 | 8544±7756 | 17 360±15 441 | 24 919±14 606 | <0.04 | NS | <0.0005 |
| Soluble CD40 ligand | 352.8±407 | 216±347 | 510.1±657 | NS | NS | NS |
| Resistin | 4397±4311 | 3756±6213 | 7525±6183 | NS | NS | NS |
| Total cholesterol to HDL-C ratio | 3.56±1.15 | 3.27±1.76 | 4.4±1.7 | NS | NS | NS |
| Total cholesterol, mg/dL | 174.2±48.3 | 198±45 | 210.7±46.4 | NS | NS | NS |
| HDL-cholesterol, mg/dL | 50.6±15.9 | 55±23.8 | 48.5±11.6 | NS | NS | NS |
| LDL-cholesterol, mg/dL | 107.2±37.2 | 115±40.7 | 129.3±37.2 | NS | NS | NS |
| Triglycerides, mg/dL | 93.6±30.6 | 133±74 | 182.5±109.3 | <0.04 | NS | <0.02 |
| Uric acid, mg/dL | 3.83±0.37 | 5±1.18 | 5.51±1.43 | <0.03 | NS | <0.03 |
| Liver phenotype | ||||||
| ALT, U/L | 24.5±11.7 | 46.77±35.8 | 70.7±47.3 | <0.04 | <0.001 | <0.0009 |
| AST, U/L | 20.1±8.1 | 31.1±16 | 51.9±32.0 | <0.04 | <0.002 | <0.0003 |
| GGT, U/L | 27.6±10.6 | 66.4±56.7 | 76.3±88.2 | NS | NS | <0.01 |
| AP, U/L | 198.5±115.2 | 231.4±107 | 209.0±101 | NS | NS | NS |
| Histological features | ||||||
| Degree of steatosis, % | – | 48.7±22.0 | 60.3±21.2 | – | <0.02 | – |
| Lobular inflammation (0–3) | – | 1.0±0.59 | 1.2±0.4 | – | NS | – |
| Portal inflammation (0–2) | – | 0.0±0.0 | 1.4±0.68 | – | <0.0000001 | – |
| Hepatocellular ballooning (0–2) | – | 0.0±0.0 | 0.96±0.59 | – | <0.000004 | – |
| Fibrosis stage | – | 0.0±0.0 | 1.33±1.24 | – | <0.006 | – |
| NAS | – | 2.75±1.26 | 5.81±1.52 | – | <0.0000001 | – |
The total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio was used as a measure of CVD risk. Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1). Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1). Results are expressed as mean±SD.
Indicates comparisons between SS and non-MetSyn control subjects.
Stands for comparisons between NASH and SS.
Stands for comparisons between NASH and non-MetSyn control subjects. p Value stands for statistical significance using Mann–Whitney U test, except for female/male proportion where p value stands for statistical significance using χ2 test.
ALT and AST, serum alanine and aspartate aminotransferase; AP, alkaline phosphatase; BMI, body mass index; CVD, cardiovascular disease; DABP, diastolic arterial blood pressure; GGT, γ-glutamyl-transferase; HOMA-IR, homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance; LDL, low-density lipoprotein; MetSyn, metabolic syndrome; NAS, NAFLD activity score; NASH, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis; NS, non-significant; SABP, systolic arterial blood pressure; SS, simple steatosis.