Clinical Trials

This study aims to see if the clinical use of Tirzepatide in patients with lipodystrophy (a rare disorder associated with abnormal loss of the body's fat tissue) may lead to improved diabetes mellitus control and lowering of participant's triglycerides through the reduction of caloric intake. Study Hypothesis: - The clinical use of Tirzepatide in patients with lipodystrophy may lead to favorable outcomes through the reduction of caloric intake.

In this study, the investigators will examine the effect of therapy with the Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone (GHRH) analog tesamorelin on body composition in patients with HIV lipodystrophy and central adiposity. This study is a single arm prospective study of tesamorelin therapy of patients with HIV lipodystrophy. Subjects will do body composition testing, adipose tissue biopsy, metabolic rate measurements and insulin sensitivity assessment before, 6 and 12 months after daily injections of tesamorelin 2 mg by subcutaneous injection.

The relation between chronodisruption, obesity and infections has not been investigated, and a first proof of concept (Pilot study) will aim at investigating it. Three cohorts of obese patients with different aetiology (essential obesity, obesity with type 2 diabetes, genetic forms of obesity) and a cohort of lipodystrophic patients will be enrolled in the study, which is designed as a two-phases protocol. During the first phase (0-12 weeks (w)) patients will be subjected to dietary intervention with hypocaloric MD; in a second phase (12-24w), melatonin 1mg/die before sleep will be added to the hypocaloric MD. The susceptibility to infections will be investigated through the evaluation of 1) the number of events – i.e. flu- or flulike syndromes, skin, respiratory, digestive, urinary infections-per patient of the 4 groups and the blood assays to detect the infection with Epstein-Barr, Cytomegalovirus, Varicella, Measles and SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM; hepatitis C and hepatitis B core antibodies and Quantiferon TB Gold, 2) the clock genes rhythm and TLRs expression in patient immune cells at baseline, 12w and 24w.The mutual relationship between biomedical values, environmental and social conditions, and lifestyle habits will be evaluated by structured questionnaires. Validation of questionnaires to explore the susceptibility to infections is another delivery planned for the current study.

Background: Lipodystrophy (LD) syndromes are a group of rare disorders that affect how a person s body can store and use fat tissue. Many people with LDs become severely insulin resistant. Some people are insulin resistant because of a variant in the insulin receptor gene. Insulin resistance causes many health problems. Objective: To learn if blocking the effects of growth hormone in the body will help people with severe insulin resistance.

To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and metabolic impact of a low energy diet (LED) in people with familial partial lipodystrophy and diabetes. Participants will be provided with a LED (total diet replacement) for 12 weeks, before the introduction of a stepped food transition. Metabolic effects will continue to be assessed for 1 year. In order to better understand why this intervention changes insulin sensitivity, we will also collect adipose and muscle tissue samples at baseline and 12 weeks into the intervention in participants willing to have these procedures performed. These samples will be used for histological, metabolite, gene expression and protein expression analyses.