These results show for the first time that T2DM patients have serum concentrations of β-catenin lower than controls. The negative association of β-catenin with sclerostin suggests a biological effect of increased sclerostin on the Wnt signaling, which appears impaired in T2DM.

The aim of the study was to investigate the association of the extracellular inhibitors of Wnt/β-catenin signalling sclerostin and Dickkopf-1 (Dkk-1) with carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We performed a cross-sectional study including 40 T2DM postmenopausal women and 40 healthy controls. CIMT was measured by B-mode ultrasound. Serum sclerostin and Dkk-1 were measured by solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Serum sclerostin and Dkk-1 concentrations were significantly higher in T2DM group than in controls. There was a significant negative correlation between sclerostin and Dkk-1 and CIMT in T2DM (p = 0.0063 and p = 0.0017, respectively). After adjustment for potential confounders, associations remained significant only for sclerostin. These data suggest that sclerostin, an established modulator of the canonical Wnt signalling, may protect against progression of vascular complications in diabetic patients, possibly by attenuating upregulation of β-catenin activity in the vascular cells.

TBS and FN-BMD below certain cutoffs may be useful for identifying VFx in well-compensated T2D patients.

Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AASs) are a group of synthetic molecules derived from testosterone and its precursors. AASs are widely used illicitly by adolescents and athletes, especially by bodybuilders; AASs are among the most used drugs for improving physical performance, as well as for aesthetic purposes. The use of AASs by professional and recreational athletes is increasing worldwide. This review focused on deaths related to AAS abuse and to investigation of the autopsy results and histopathological findings using a rigorous methodology protocol covering: a complete autopsy, histological analysis, and a broad toxicological investigation. Moreover, we aimed to define an investigative diagnostic protocol supporting forensic pathologists during the post-mortem investigation of AAS abusers. This review was conducted using PubMed Central and Google Scholar databases to find articles published between 1 January 1968 and 30 June 2021, using the following key terms: “(anabolic-androgenic steroids) AND (autopsy); (anabolic-androgenic steroids) AND (forensic)”. A total of 939 articles were screened and 926 did not meet the inclusion criteria. In conclusion, 14 articles were included in this systematic review, reporting 137 fatal cases of AAS abuse in total. The histopathologic studies showed myocardial damage characterized by myocyte hypertrophy, focal myocyte damage with myofibrillar loss, interstitial fibrosis, mostly subepicardial, and small vessel disease. Indeed, in AAS-related cases, autopsy plays a pivotal role in the study of AAS adverse effects and organ damage related to their use or abuse. This systematic review aimed to define a specific workflow in death cases related to AASs, suggesting important future insights to better clarify sudden deaths related to AASs, such as the use of miRNAs. The forensic community needs a unified approach in cases of suspected death related to the use of AASs. There are several occasions to apply this workflow, for example in cases of death of bodybuilders and of young people who die in gymnasiums or during sports activities.

Statins (S) are widely used drugs for cardiovascular prevention however their utilization may cause a various grade of muscle toxicity. Sometime S discontinuation alone is not sufficient to revert muscle injury and this can evolve in serious inflammatory muscle disease. In this case immunosuppressive medications are required to achieve remission. This case report describes a patient who developed rhabdomyolysis after recent S treatment initiation and the diagnostic work up have lead to the diagnosis of necrotizing autoimmune myopathy (NAM). We believe that the clinical case described here is a useful report of this rare toxicity and we aim to highlight the importance of its prompt recognition and treatment.