Stress of endoplasmic reticulum modulates differentiation and lipogenesis of human adipocytes.

Background: Adipocytes are cells specialized for storage of neutral lipids. This storage capacity is dependent on lipogenesis and is diminished in obesity. The reason for the decline in lipogenic activity of adipocytes in obesity remains unknown.

System model network for adipose tissue signatures related to weight changes in response to calorie restriction and subsequent weight maintenance.

Nutrigenomics investigates relationships between nutrients and all genome-encoded molecular entities. This holistic approach requires systems biology to scrutinize the effects of diet on tissue biology. To decipher the adipose tissue (AT) response to diet induced weight changes we focused on key molecular (lipids and transcripts) AT species during a longitudinal dietary intervention.

α-Lipoic acid treatment increases mitochondrial biogenesis and promotes beige adipose features in subcutaneous adipocytes from overweight/obese subjects.

α-Lipoic acid (α-Lip) is a natural occurring antioxidant with beneficial anti-obesity properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the putative effects of α-Lip on mitochondrial biogenesis and the acquirement of brown-like characteristics by subcutaneous adipocytes from overweight/obese subjects. Thus, fully differentiated human subcutaneous adipocytes were treated with α-Lip (100 and 250μM) for 24h for studies on mitochondrial content and morphology, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number, fatty acid oxidation enzymes and brown/beige characteristic genes.

The ω6-fatty acid, arachidonic acid, regulates the conversion of white to brite adipocyte through a prostaglandin/calcium mediated pathway.

Objective: Brite adipocytes are inducible energy-dissipating cells expressing UCP1 which appear within white adipose tissue of healthy adult individuals. Recruitment of these cells represents a potential strategy to fight obesity and associated diseases.

Methods/results: Using human Multipotent Adipose-Derived Stem cells, able to convert into brite adipocytes, we show that arachidonic acid strongly inhibits brite adipocyte formation via a cyclooxygenase pathway leading to secretion of PGE2 and PGF2α.

Hormone-sensitive lipase deficiency in humans.

The breakdown of cellular fat stores fuels energy production and multiple anabolic processes. Albert et al. (2014) demonstrate that the lack of hormone-sensitive lipase, a member of the enzyme trio that catabolizes fat, has pronounced effects on lipid metabolism, glucose homeostasis, and cell signaling in humans.

Adipose tissue CIDEA is associated, independently of weight variation, to change in insulin resistance during a longitudinal weight control dietary program in obese individuals.

Aim: Weight loss reduces risk factors associated with obesity. However, long-term metabolic improvement remains a challenge. We investigated quantitative gene expression of subcutaneous adipose tissue in obese individuals and its relationship with low calorie diet and long term weight maintenance induced changes in insulin resistance.

Immune cell Toll-like receptor 4 mediates the development of obesity- and endotoxemia-associated adipose tissue fibrosis.

Adipose tissue fibrosis development blocks adipocyte hypertrophy and favors ectopic lipid accumulation. Here, we show that adipose tissue fibrosis is associated with obesity and insulin resistance in humans and mice. Kinetic studies in C3H mice fed a high-fat diet show activation of macrophages and progression of fibrosis along with adipocyte metabolic dysfunction and death.

Lipolysis in lipid turnover, cancer cachexia, and obesity-induced insulin resistance.

Triglycerides in adipose tissue are rapidly mobilized during times of energy needs via lipolysis, a catabolic process that plays important role in whole body triglyceride turnover. Lipolysis is regulated through cell surface receptors via neurotransmitters, hormones, and paracrine factors that activate various intracellular pathways. These pathways converge on the lipid droplet, the site of action of lipases and cofactors.

Soluble CD163 is associated with CD163 mRNA expression in adipose tissue and with insulin sensitivity in steady-state condition but not in response to calorie restriction.

Context: Soluble CD163 (sCD163) was suggested as a biomarker of insulin sensitivity and CD163 mRNA expression representing macrophage content in adipose tissue (AT).

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate, in cross-sectional and prospective design, the relationship between sCD163 circulating levels and CD163 mRNA expression in adipose tissue and insulin sensitivity assessed by euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp.

Design, Setting, Participants, And Interventions: Two cohorts of subjects were examined in the study.

Effect of endurance training on skeletal muscle myokine expression in obese men: identification of apelin as a novel myokine.

Background: It has been suggested that the metabolic benefits of physical exercise could be mediated by myokines. We examined here the effect of exercise training on skeletal muscle expression of a panel of myokines in humans. Pathways regulating myokine expression were investigated in human myotubes.

Laboratory diagnosis of human toxocariasis.

Toxocariasis is a helminth zoonosis caused by infection with the larvae of Toxocara spp. ascarid worms. Only two species, Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati, are recognised as causative agents of human disease.

Seroepidemiology of nine zoonoses in Viljujsk, Republic of Sakha (Northeastern Siberia, Russian Federation).

A seroepidemiology survey of nine zoonoses was carried out in 2007 on 90 healthy adult volunteers in Viljujsk, a northern city in the Republic of Sakha (Eastern Siberia). The seroprevalence of Lyme borreliosis was 3.3% by immunofluorescence.

Accuracy of a routine real-time PCR assay for the diagnosis of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia.

Pneumocystis jirovecii is a common cause of life-threatening pneumonia among immunocompromised patients. Using 400 fresh bronchoalveolar lavage samples, we compared prospectively routine direct immunofluorescence assay (DFA) and a real-time PCR assay, performed on a LightCycler system, for the detection of P. jirovecii.

Epidemiology of toxocariasis in a steppe environment: the Patagonia study.

To investigate the epidemiology of human toxocariasis in a steppe environment, a field survey was carried out in three provinces of Argentina's Patagonia (Chubut, Neuquen, and Rio Negro) among 114 rural subjects residing in estancias (cattle- or sheep-breeding ranches). Overall seroprevalence was 31.6%, and the contamination rate of soil by Toxocara eggs was 35.

Quantification of true in vivo (application) accuracy in cranial image-guided surgery: influence of mode of patient registration.

Objective: Very few studies have attempted to quantify the true (application) accuracy of image-guidance systems during craniotomy. This is, in part, because of the lack of millimetric intraoperative targets to allow such measurements. Few in vivo studies have compared the influence of mode of patient registration on subsequent true accuracy.

Adipocyte lipases and defect of lipolysis in human obesity.

The mobilization of fat stored in adipose tissue is mediated by hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) and the recently characterized adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), yet their relative importance in lipolysis is unknown. We show that a novel potent inhibitor of HSL does not inhibit other lipases. The compound counteracted catecholamine-stimulated lipolysis in mouse adipocytes and had no effect on residual triglyceride hydrolysis and lipolysis in HSL-null mice.

Adipose tissue gene expression in obese subjects during low-fat and high-fat hypocaloric diets.

Aims/hypothesis: Adaptation to energy restriction is associated with changes in gene expression in adipose tissue. However, it is unknown to what extent these changes are dependent on the energy restriction as such or on the macronutrient composition of the diet.

Methods: We determined the levels of transcripts for 38 genes that are expressed in adipose tissue and encode transcription factors, enzymes, transporters and receptors known to play critical roles in the regulation of adipogenesis, mitochondrial respiration, and lipid and carbohydrate metabolism.

Boerhaave's syndrome after postoperative vomiting.

Unlabelled: Postoperative nausea and vomiting are common after general anesthesia but rarely produce life-threatening conditions. We report a case of postoperative vomiting complicated by esophageal rupture (Boerhaave's syndrome). As this complication is quite rare and can have varied and atypical presentations, anesthesiologists may fail to consider this diagnosis.

Effect of thyroid hormone on gene expression.

Purpose Of Review: Thyroid hormones are key regulators of development and metabolism that modulate transcription via nuclear receptors. Although the molecular actions of thyroid hormones have been thoroughly studied, their pleiotropic effects are mediated by complex changes in expression of numerous, but still largely unknown, target genes. This review summarizes the recent advances in the characterization of target genes in different organs.

Haemodynamic changes during retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy for phaeochromocytoma.

Surgical removal of phaeochromocytoma may be accompanied by acute cardiovascular changes. We report the haemodynamic changes in seven patients with retroperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy for phaeochromocytoma. Transient hypertension (systolic pressure (SBP) > 160 mm Hg) was observed in all patients during manipulation of the tumour, in two patients during pneumoretroperitoneum insufflation, and in one patient during intubation.