Pregnancy Protects against Abnormal Gut Permeability Promoted via the Consumption of a High-Fat Diet in Mice.

The consumption of large amounts of dietary fats and pregnancy are independent factors that can promote changes in gut permeability and the gut microbiome landscape. However, there is limited evidence regarding the impact of pregnancy on the regulation of such parameters in females fed a high-fat diet. Here, gut permeability and microbiome landscape were evaluated in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity in pregnancy.

Maternal obesity damages the median eminence blood-brain barrier structure and function in the progeny: the beneficial impact of cross-fostering by lean mothers.

Maternal obesity is an important risk factor for obesity, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases in the offspring. Studies have shown that it leads to hypothalamic inflammation in the progeny, affecting the function of neurons regulating food intake and energy expenditure. In adult mice fed a high-fat diet, one of the hypothalamic abnormalities that contribute to the development of obesity is the damage of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) at the median eminence-arcuate nucleus (ME-ARC) interface; however, how the hypothalamic BBB is affected in the offspring of obese mothers requires further investigation.

Arcuate Nucleus Overexpression of NHLH2 Reduces Body Mass and Attenuates Obesity-Associated Anxiety/Depression-like Behavior.

Nescient helix-loop-helix 2 (NHLH2) is a hypothalamic transcription factor that controls the expression of prohormone convertase 1/3, therefore having an impact on the processing of proopiomelanocortin and thus on energy homeostasis. Studies have shown that KO of results in increased body mass, reduced physical activity, and hypogonadism. In humans, a polymorphism of the gene is associated with obesity; and in Prader-Willi syndrome, a condition characterized by obesity, hypogonadism and behavioral abnormalities, the expression of NHLH2 is reduced.

Interleukin-6 actions in the hypothalamus protects against obesity and is involved in the regulation of neurogenesis.

Background: Interleukin-6 (IL6) produced in the context of exercise acts in the hypothalamus reducing obesity-associated inflammation and restoring the control of food intake and energy expenditure. In the hippocampus, some of the beneficial actions of IL6 are attributed to its neurogenesis-inducing properties. However, in the hypothalamus, the putative neurogenic actions of IL6 have never been explored, and its potential to balance energy intake can be an approach to prevent or attenuate obesity.

Activation of GPR40 induces hypothalamic neurogenesis through p38- and BDNF-dependent mechanisms.

Hypothalamic adult neurogenesis provides the basis for renewal of neurons involved in the regulation of whole-body energy status. In addition to hormones, cytokines and growth factors, components of the diet, particularly fatty acids, have been shown to stimulate hypothalamic neurogenesis; however, the mechanisms behind this action are unknown. Here, we hypothesized that GPR40 (FFAR1), the receptor for medium and long chain unsaturated fatty acids, could mediate at least part of the neurogenic activity in the hypothalamus.

[Health, pain and daily activities among elderly people practicing Lian Gong and sedentary elderly people].

It is a well-known fact that the practice of physical activity on a regular basis among elderly people contributes to the prevention and reduction of pain, as well as promote active ageing. Based on this premise, the scope of this study was to evaluate the presence of chronic pain among elderly people attended in a primary health care unit in a city in the interior of Sao Paulo State, Brazil, by comparing those who practice Chinese gymnastics (Lian Gong) and the sedentary. Sixty elderly people were divided between 30 sedentary and 30 who participate in a group practicing Lian Gong.

Effects of topical topiramate in wound healing in mice.

Recent studies have indicated that systemic topiramate can induce an improvement on the aesthetic appearance of skin scars. Here, we evaluated topical topiramate as an agent to improve wound healing in C57/BL6 mice. Mice were inflicted with a 6.

Evaluating the Effect of 3% Papain Gel Application in Cutaneous Wound Healing in Mice.

Unlabelled: While the US Food and Drug Administration has not approved the use of 3% papain gel in the United States, the authors feel this study adds to the literature regarding its use.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of 3% papain gel on wounds in mice.

Materials And Methods: Thirty healthy C57BL mice (25-30 g) aged 10 weeks were randomly divided into 2 groups: mice treated with 3% papain gel and mice treated with placebo gel.

Defective regulation of POMC precedes hypothalamic inflammation in diet-induced obesity.

Obesity is the result of a long-term positive energy balance in which caloric intake overrides energy expenditure. This anabolic state results from the defective activity of hypothalamic neurons involved in the sensing and response to adiposity. However, it is currently unknown what the earliest obesity-linked hypothalamic defect is and how it orchestrates the energy imbalance present in obesity.