Mitofusins and the mitochondrial permeability transition: the potential downside of mitochondrial fusion.

Mitofusins (Mfn-1 and Mfn-2) are transmembrane proteins that bind and hydrolyze guanosine 5'-triphosphate to bring about the merging of adjacent mitochondrial membranes. This event is necessary for mitochondrial fusion, a biological process that is critical for organelle function. The broad effects of mitochondrial fusion on cell bioenergetics have been extensively studied, whereas the local effects of mitofusin activity on the structure and integrity of the fusing mitochondrial membranes have received relatively little attention.

Obesity morbidity and health care costs in France: an analysis of the 1991-1992 Medical Care Household Survey.

Objective: To estimate the direct medical costs associated with obesity in France.

Design: Analysis of the French 1991-1992 National Household Survey database comprising a representative sample of 14, 670 individuals aged 18 y and over. A subgroup of subjects with a body mass index (BMI)>/=30 kg/m2 was compared with a control group of normal-weight individuals (BMI 18.

Effects of dietary acidity on calcium balance and mobilisation, bone morphology and 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D in prepartal dairy cows.

The effect of an acid or alkali diet was investigated in 14 mature dairy cows during the last 28 days of pregnancy. The acid diet reduced the incidence of parturient hypocalcaemia compared with the alkali diet and was associated with higher blood ionised calcium and plasma chloride concentrations and lower blood pH and acid-base excess before parturition. Plasma 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D concentrations before parturition were increased by the acid diet but the concentrations of parathyroid hormone and intact 1-86 parathyroid-hormone-related peptide were unaffected.