Abnormal Body Weight Research Articles

Acute Oral Toxicity ofSalicornia herbaceaL. Extract in Mice

Salicornia herbacea L. (S. herbacea) is an annual herbaceous plant of Chenopodiaceae. It grows in groups on the coast or mud flat of Korea is known to be rich in minerals. S. herbacea has potent anti-cancer, antioxidant, anti-obesity, bowel function improvement. However, pharmacological mechanisms of S. herbacea extract (SHE) remain poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential acute toxicity of SHE in ICR mice administered a single oral dose of 0, 500, 1,000, and 2,000 mg/kg by gavage. After administration of the extract, signs of toxicity were observed every day for 14 days. No mortality, abnormal clinical signs, body weight, organ weight or pathological changes were observed compared to a control group, and there were no differences in the body weights of the control and treatment groups. Biological serum activities and histological tests were not significantly changed in the treatment group compared to the control group. Especially, treatment of SHE was significantly decreased of total cholesterol and triglyceride levels. These results indicated that a single oral administration of SHE does not exerts any toxic effects at a dose of 2,000 mg/kg and that the LD50 of SHE is greater than 2,000 mg/kg. Accordingly, SHE appears to have potential in various functional agents of foods, without toxicity.

PAIN IN OBESITY IS NOT OBESITY AND PAIN

The article clarifies that pain in obesity is not obesity and pain. The authors reviewed the literature and surveyed the clinical data about pain in people with abnormal body weight. The conclusion was made that pain in obese patients needs adequate management. Data for pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics characteristics of frequently used analgesic drugs are summarized. The authors include useful schemas of pharmacotherapy with nonopioid as well as opioid analgesics and practical guidelines for pain management in clinical ward or outpatient departments.

For Researchers on Obesity: Historical Review of Extra Body Weight Definitions.

Rationale. The concept of obesity has been known since ancient world; however, the current standard definition of obesity was endorsed only about a decade ago. There is a need for researches to understand multiple approaches to defining obesity and how and why the standard definition was developed. The review will help to grasp the complexity of the problem and can lead to novel hypotheses in obesity research. Objective. This paper focuses on the objective to understand historical background on the development of “reference and standard tables” of weight as a platform for normal versus abnormal body weight definition. Methods. A systematic literature review was performed to chronologically summarize the definition of body weight from time of Hippocrates till the year of 2010. Conclusion. This paper presents the historical background on the development of “reference and standard tables” of weight as a platform for normal versus abnormal body weight definition. Knowledge of historical approaches to the concept of obesity can motivate researchers to find new hypotheses and utilize the appropriate obesity assessments to address their objectives.

The effects of a single intravenous injection of novel activin A/BMP-2 (AB204) on toxicity and the respiratory and central nervous systems

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a single intravenous injection of a novel osteoinductive material, activin A/BMP-2 (AB204), to rodents on toxicity and their respiratory functions and central nervous system (CNS). A single intravenous injection of AB204 was given to Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats in doses of 0, 0.625, 2.5 and 10 mg/kg to observe the mortality rate, the general symptoms for 14 days. The experimental groups were also given 0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 mg/kg of AB204, respectively, and the respiration rate, the tidal volume and the minute volume were measured for 240 min. The experimental groups of imprinting control region (ICR) mice were given a single intravenous injection of 0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 mg/kg of AB204, respectively. Their body temperature was taken and general behaviors were observed to evaluate the effect of AB204 on the CNS for 240 min.The study on toxicity of a single intravenous injection found no death or abnormal symptoms, abnormal findings from autopsy, or abnormal body weight gain or loss in all the experimental groups. No abnormal variation associated with the test substance was observed in the respiration rate, the tidal volume, the minute volume, body temperature or the general behaviors. On the basis of these results, the approximate lethal dose of AB204 for a single intravenous injection exceeds 10 mg/kg for SD rats and a single intravenous injection of ≤0.8 mg/kg AB204 has no effect on their respiratory system for SD rat and no effect on their CNS for ICR mice.

Prevalence of distorted body image in young Koreans and its association with age, sex, body weight status, and disordered eating behaviors.

PurposeTo define the prevalence of distorted body image in 10–24-year-old Koreans and determine its relationship with sex, age, body weight status, and disordered eating behaviors.MethodsA total of 3,227 young Koreans were recruited from elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as from universities. The participants completed a self-reported questionnaire on body image, eating behaviors (Eating Attitude Test-26), and body weight status.ResultsThe prevalence of a distorted body image in males was 49.7% and that in females was 51.2%. Distorted body image was more frequent in adolescents (age, 10–17 years) than in young adults (age, 18–24 years). The highest prevalence (55.3%) was reported in female elementary school students (age, 10–12 years). Distorted body image was associated with disordered eating behaviors and abnormal body weight status.ConclusionThese results suggest that distorted body image is a public health problem, given its high frequency in young Koreans, and that it is associated with abnormal body weight status and disordered eating behaviors.

Acute dermal and ocular irritation testing of rice bran supercritical CO2 extract (RB-SCE) and 0.5% RB-SCE essence product

This study was conducted to investigate the acute dermal and ocular irritation potential of rice bran supercritical CO2 extract (RB-SCE) and a 0.5% RB-SCE essence product in rabbits and guinea pigs. No abnormal clinical signs attributable to RB-SCE were detected. In the dermal irritation test, erythema, eschar, and edema formation was observed at 24 h of RB-SCE treatment, and the skin returned to normal after 72 h. The dermal primary irritation index (PII) of RB-SCE was 2.71; thus it was classified as a moderate irritant. In the ocular irritation test, there were no clinical signs related to the application of the RB-SCE; thus it was classified as a non-irritant according to the Draize scoring system. In a skin sensitivity test in rabbits, no abnormal clinical signs attributable to RB-SCE essence were observed and the PII was 0 because there was no evidence of erythema, eschar, or edema. In the guinea pig skin sensitivity test, no abnormal body weight changes or increased mortality was detected. Sensitization to the RB-SCE essence was 0%; thus it was classified as a very weak irritant.

A glucose carbonate apatite complex exhibits in vitro and in vivo anti-tumour effects.

Tumour targeting nanotechnology has recently made therapeutic progress and several therapeutic nanoparticles have been approved for clinical application. However, an ideal nanotechnology based therapeutic for solid tumours, particularly for systemic administration, still remains a challenge in clinical cancer therapy. We previously reported a pH sensitive in vivo delivery system of doxorubicin, or microRNA, using carbonate apatite (CA) nanoparticles. To further explore utility of CA in cancer therapy, we attempted to transport excess glucose into tumour cells by conjugating glucose (Glc) to the nanoparticle. Despite the non-toxicity of CA and Glc, the complex (CA-[Glc]) exhibited an unexpected anti-cancer effect in vitro and in vivo. CA-[Glc] significantly reduced the growth of colon cancer cell lines. Intravenous injections successfully suppressed solid tumour growth. In mice and monkeys, intravenously injected CA-[Glc] complex resulted in no serious abnormalities in body weight or blood chemistry. Because cancer cells intensively metabolise glucose than normal cells, treatment of cancer using glucose seems paradoxical. However, with the aid of CA, this safe and ‘sweet’ complex may be a novel anti-cancer reagent.

Communication Problems? The Role of Parent-Child Communication for the Subsequent Health Behavior of Adolescents

We contribute to the literature on the determinants of socioeconomic health disparities by studying how the health behavior of adolescents may arise from the degree of communication between parent and child. Parent-child communication may function as a mediator between family background and subsequent poor health behavior, potentially reconciling previous mixed evidence on the relationship between child health and social status. Using data from a unique German child health survey we construct an index of parent-child communication quality by comparing responses to statements about the children’s well-being from both children and their parents. Applying the constructed communication measure in a continuous treatment empirical framework, allowing for estimation of non-linear effects, our results show that improved parent-child communication monotonously reduces the smoking prevalence of adolescents by as much as 70%, irrespective of social background. More complex relationships are found for risky alcohol consumption and abnormal body weight.

Relationship between Body Mass Index, Blood Pressure, and Visual Acuity in Residents of Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria

Aim. To study the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure (BP) on visual acuity among apparently healthy residents of Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Methodology. This is a cross-sectional descriptive study among 225 subjects (ages of 18–35 years) from whom BP, body weight, and height were collected. Visual acuity was measured using the Snellen chart following standard procedures of number of letters seen at 6-metre distance. The data were then analyzed using SPSS version 17. Results. The sampled population consists of 112 male and 113 female (mean age 31.72±14.2 years). Majority (180) of the respondents had normal visual acuity. However, compared with the respondents with normal BMI (R19.61±1.5; L19.67±1.70), visual acuity of underweight (R18.53±2.30; L18.53±2.70) and obese (R15.68±4.79; L17.73±1.70) were more deviated. Similarly, compared with respondent with normal BP (120–125/80–85 mmHg; R18.00±2.53; L18.07±3.11), hypotensive (R15.5±7.35; L15.00±10.20), and hypertensive (R15.01±21.25; L15.00±11.91) respondents had deviated visual acuity. Conclusion. Abnormal body weight (underweight and obese) and BP (hypotension and hypertension) have potential negative impacts on visual acuity. Based on the observed relationship between weights, BP, and visual acuity, eye examinations can be included as regular screening exercise for abnormal BMI and BP conditions.

Association between C-reactive protein and depression: modulated by gender and mediated by body weight

Literature on the relationship between depression and C-reactive protein (CRP), a biomarker of systematic inflammation, remains inconsistent. Insufficient adjustment for confounders and effect modifiers might be one explanation. We used the data of 6396 men and 6610 women aged 18 or older, who completed a depression screening and had blood collected as a part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005–2010. Depression was measured using the 9-item depression scale of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). The odds ratios (ORs) of depression were 1.00 (reference), 1.89 (95% CI=0.77–4.67) and 3.41(1.25–9.25) respectively for men with low, intermediate and upper quartile of CRP. Adjustment for covariates, mainly body mass index, diminished the association among women, from 1.65(1.00–2.74) to 1.08(0.57–2.03) for intermediate, from 2.44 (1.43–4.16) to 1.05 (0.56–1.98) for upper quartile of CRP. Adjustment for the history of major medical illnesses changed ORs neither among men nor among women. The study concluded that CRP remained significantly associated with depression in a dose–response fashion among men but women after being adjusted for body weight. Abnormal body weight, both under and overweight, explained a substantial part of the relationship between CRP and depression among women.

Body mass index and its impact on migraine prevalence and severity in female patients: Preliminary results

Background and purposeA strikingly increasing number of obese patients causes a great interest in potential medical problems resulting from abnormal body weight. Many conditions are associated with obesity. The severity and risk of migraine may be connected with a body weight. We would like to assess a correlation between body mass index (BMI) and frequency and duration of migraine. Materials and methodsWe collected data of 53 female patients with migraine and 36 healthy persons (25 women) as a control group. Mean duration of migraine attacks and their mean frequency were based on patients’ diaries. The patients reported their height. Weight was measured by the authors. We consequently calculated BMI and performed statistics on SAS 9.2. ResultsThe mean BMI of the migraine group was 24.27±4.47. Forty-nine percent of patients had normal BMI (18.5–25), 30% patients were overweight (>25) and 13% were obese (>30). The mean BMI among controls was 22.69±2.96. Eighty-four percent of the control group had normal BMI, 12% was overweight and 5% was obese. An association of BMI in women with frequency of migraine episodes per month occurred remarkable when adjusted for age. Difference of a mean BMI value between the migraine and the control group was nearly statistically significant. Body mass index and duration of the episodes revealed similarly strong correlation. ConclusionsIncreased BMI correlates with frequency of migraine. Its influence on a risk of the headaches and their duration remains to be specified.

OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY AMONG MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM LUBARTÓW INCLUDING NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

The percentage of children and adolescents with overweight and obesity problem is higher inPolandthan in other European countries, and for this reason, this group ought to be covered by educational actions in order for them to cause changes in their current lifestyle. The aim of the study was to present the scale of overweight and obesity, and knowledge of the principles of nutrition, dietary behaviors and physical activity in daily life of middle school students from Lubartow. The study was conducted on a group of 100 Lubartow students in grades I-III, aged 13-15 years. The applied method of research was diagnostic survey and authorial interview questionnaire was the main tool. 11.3% of researched girls were found to be overweight and obesity was confirmed for 7.5% of all respondents. Most overweight boys and boys with obesity were 15 years of age. Respondents declared knowledge of the principles of nutrition, more frequently girls with abnormal body weight than boys. Youngsters tend to eat what they like, wile they rarely draw attention to the fact whether the product is healthy. Five meals a day were consumed by a total of 30% of students and 44.0% of the students always ate breakfast. It has been shown that 59.1% of adolescents with abnormal body weight were dissatisfied with their performance. Based on the results the following conclusions were drawn up: 1 Obesity occurs in 7.50% of girls and 8.50% of boys of the middle school in Lubartow. 2 Youth knows the principles of nutrition, but does not always select the healthy products, eats inappropriately, eats snacks between meals. 3 Middle school students rarely eat vegetables, fruits and dairy products. 4 Hereditary phenomenon of obesity was observed in subjects with abnormal body weight. 5 Youth is not physically active, they spend their free time in a passive way. 6 Overweight / obesity determine a negative social assessment by peers.

Assessment of body composition using bioelectrical impedance in patients with schizophrenia – preliminary report

Aim of the studyMetabolic syndrome is found in ~40% of patients treated with antipsychotics and abdominal obesity plays a crucial role in its development. The aim of this study is to evaluate body composition in subjects with schizophrenia treated with antipsychotics.Subject or material and methodsAnthropometric (BMI, abdominal, waist, leg and hip circumferences), laboratory (glucose, lipid profile) and body composition (body fat, lean mass, body water) were measured in 77 patients with schizophrenia treated with antipsychotics.ResultsCentral obesity in women was found in >90% and was more frequent comparing to men (p = 0.04). Incidence of dyslipidemia (~80%) and abnormal body weight (~70%) was also high, while impaired level of blood glucose was less frequent (~25%). Women had more body fat (39.2±1.4 vs. 27.7±1.3, p <0.001) and less lean mass and body water. Amounts of excessive body weight and fat were higher in women (13.4±2.1 vs. 8.2±1.5, p = 0.02 and 7.9±1.3 vs. 3.2±1.2, p = 0.008). Percentages of women with weight and body fat exceeding target maximums were higher (96.4% vs. 79.6%, p = 0.04 and 89.3% vs. 67.3%, p = 0.03).DiscussionTreatment with antipsychotics is associated with severe metabolic side-effects. High frequency of abdominal obesity, excessive weight and increased amount of total body fat make women more susceptible to cardiovascular events, thus carefully monitored is required. Assessment of body composition using BIA is an easy and quick method of improving daily psychiatric care.ConclusionsPatients treated with antipsychotics require careful monitoring using available algorithms.

Comparison of metabolic parameters and Framingham cardiovascular risk scores before and after in‐hospital treatment with antipsychotics

Aim of the studyThe objective of this study was to evaluate changes in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and Framingham cardiovascular risk scores in adult with schizophrenia after in-hospital treatment with antipsychotics.Subject or material and methodsFor 58 patients (36 women and 22 men) the following data was acquired on admission and at discharge: body height and weight, waist circumference, cigarette smoking, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides (TGA), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), blood pressure, concomitant use of antidiabetic, antihypertensive and antihyperlipidemic medications.ResultsMean TGA levels increased significantly (140.32 mg/dL vs. 180.17 mg/dL), other parameters did not change. MetS prevalence on admission and at discharge did not differ significantly, irrespective of definition used (IDF: 50.00% vs. 60.34%; ATPIII: 39.66% vs. 43.10%; ATPIII A: 46.55% vs. 51.72%). Two cardiovascular risk scores were reduced at discharge: stroke, 10-year (4.10% vs. 3.46%) and hypertension, 4-year (22.18% vs. 16.58%). Other Framingham risk scores did not change. Very high prevalence of abnormal body weight (up to 65%), abdominal obesity (63% in men and 89% in women), hypertension (>50%) and lipid abnormalities (31-64%) was found.DiscussionWe have found a very high rate of MetS in patients treated with antipsychotics. No metabolic parameters improved after hospital stay, while some worsened. This did not, however, result in increased risk of cardiovascular events. Abnormal body weight and lipid abnormalities were very common in our study population.ConclusionsOur results indicate that metabolic parameters should be monitored regularly, particularly in outpatient settings, and appropriate treatment should be introduced as soon as any significant changes are found.

MODERN APPROACHES TO THE TREATMENT OF HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA IN CORONARY HEART DISEASE PATIENTS WITH METABOLIC SYNDROME AND CHRONIC NON-ALCOHOLIC STEATOHEPATITIS

Aim. To assess safety and effectiveness of combination therapy by simvastatin with ursodezoxycholic acid in treatment of dyslipidemia in coronary heart disease patients. Material and methods. Totally 30 CHD patients (stable angina, 2nd functional class — 2FC) having metabolic syndrome (MS) had combination therapy by simvastatin (20 mg/day) and ursodezoxycholic acid (Ursosan in daily dose 15 mg per kg) during 30 days. For all included patients the non-alcoholic steatohepatits (NASH) was confirmed. Of them 25 (85%) had clinical predictors of fibrosis and liver cirrhosis. All patients had abnormal bodyweight and arterial hypertension, very high risk of cardiovascular complications (CCC). Results. After 30 days of therapy there was sugnificant lowering of ALT from 83,61 (1,81, 5,49) to 51,32 (2,41, 5,76) МЕ/l, а AST — from 78,44 (2,02, 4,23) to 42,12 (1,99, 6,32) МЕ/l (mediana). In 7 patients levels of ALT and AST were normal. Also there was significant lowering of dyslipidemia: in 19 (63,3%) there was normalization of some lipid profile components, and in 9 (30%) we reached target LDL cholesterol 1,8 mmol/l. Also there was tendency to bodyweight normalization: BMI decreased by 1,28 kg/m 2 in men and by 2,35 kg/m 2 in women. During the study we did not find any significant side effects. All patients completed the course of simvastatin plus UDCA. Conclusion. Combination treatment by simvastatin and UDCA makes possible the achievement of lipid profile parameters significant improvement and the decrease of serum transaminase activity in patients with CHD and NASH. If not contraindicated, statins and UDCA can be recommended in CHD and non-alcoholic liver disease to reduce the risk of CCC.

Subacute Oral Toxicity Study of Korean Red Ginseng Extract in Sprague-Dawley Rats

Ginseng is a well-known traditional medicine used in Asian countries for several thousand years, and it is currently applied to medicine, cosmetics, and nutritional supplements due to its many healing and energygiving properties. It is well demonstrated that ginsenosides, the main ingredient of ginseng, produce a variety of pharmacological and therapeutic effects on central nerve system (CNS) disorders, cardiovascular disease, endocrine secretions, aging, and immune function. Korean red ginseng extract is a dietary supplement containing ginsenoside Rb1 and ginsenoside Rg1 extracted from Panax ginseng. While the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of the extract have been well established, its toxicological properties remain obscure. Thus, four-week oral toxicity studies in rats were conducted to investigate whether Korean red ginseng extract could have a potential toxicity to humans. The test article was administered once daily by oral gavage to four groups of male and female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats at dose levels of 0, 500, 1,000, and 2,000 mg/kg/day for four weeks. Neither deaths nor clinical symptoms were observed in any group during the experiment. Furthermore, no abnormalities in body weight, food consumption, ophthalmology, urinalysis, hematology, serum biochemistry, gross findings, organ weights, or histopathology were revealed related to the administration of the test article in either sex of any dosed group. Therefore, a target organ was not determined in this study, and the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of Korean red ginseng extract was established to be 2,000 mg/kg/day.

EDdb: A web resource for eating disorder and its application to identify an extended adipocytokine signaling pathway related to eating disorder

Eating disorder is a group of physiological and psychological disorders affecting approximately 1% of the female population worldwide. Although the genetic epidemiology of eating disorder is becoming increasingly clear with accumulated studies, the underlying molecular mechanisms are still unclear. Recently, integration of various high-throughput data expanded the range of candidate genes and started to generate hypotheses for understanding potential pathogenesis in complex diseases. This article presents EDdb (Eating Disorder database), the first evidence-based gene resource for eating disorder. Fifty-nine experimentally validated genes from the literature in relation to eating disorder were collected as the core dataset. Another four datasets with 2824 candidate genes across 601 genome regions were expanded based on the core dataset using different criteria (e.g., protein-protein interactions, shared cytobands, and related complex diseases). Based on human protein-protein interaction data, we reconstructed a potential molecular sub-network related to eating disorder. Furthermore, with an integrative pathway enrichment analysis of genes in EDdb, we identified an extended adipocytokine signaling pathway in eating disorder. Three genes in EDdb (ADIPO (adiponectin), TNF (tumor necrosis factor) and NR3C1 (nuclear receptor subfamily 3, group C, member 1)) link the KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) "adipocytokine signaling pathway" with the BioCarta "visceral fat deposits and the metabolic syndrome" pathway to form a joint pathway. In total, the joint pathway contains 43 genes, among which 39 genes are related to eating disorder. As the first comprehensive gene resource for eating disorder, EDdb ( http://eddb.cbi.pku.edu.cn ) enables the exploration of gene-disease relationships and cross-talk mechanisms between related disorders. Through pathway statistical studies, we revealed that abnormal body weight caused by eating disorder and obesity may both be related to dysregulation of the novel joint pathway of adipocytokine signaling. In addition, this joint pathway may be the common pathway for body weight regulation in complex human diseases related to unhealthy lifestyle.

Roles of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors polymorphisms, haplotypes, levels on C-reactive protein and their interactions with abnormal body weight

To explore the roles of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) on the levels of serum C-reactive protein(CRP)and the interactions of PPARs haplotypes with abnormal body weight. Subjects(n = 644)were randomly selected from the cohort 'Prevention of Multiple metabolic disorders and Metabolic syndrome in Jiangsu province(PMMJS)' Variance test, t test and lineal regression were used to analyze the associations between PPARs polymorphisms and the levels of CRP. The association between PPARs haplotypes and serum CRP levels as well as the interaction of PPARs haplotypes with abnormal body weight were analyzed, under the SNPStats software. After adjusting for sex, age, blood pressure, cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking and so on, data showed that both rs1800206 and rs9794 were associated with the changes along with the levels of CRP (P < 0.05). After adjusting for the same factors, haplotypes of AVG and CVG in PPARα, CG in PPARd appeared to be associated with the increase (P < 0.05)while haplotypes of CC in PPARδ, CPCAC in PPARγ were associated with the decrease of CRP levels (P < 0.05). Results from the Interaction analysis also noted that the interactions did exist between abnormal body weight and both AVG, CVG in PPARα, and CG in PPARδ. PPARs polymorphisms and haplotypes were associated with CRP. Interaction between PPAR a/d and abnormal body weight might contribute to the levels of CRP.

Nutrition and lifestyle in patients pharmacologically treated due to hypertension.

Proper nutrition and physical activity are together an important way of non-pharmacological treatment of arterial hypertension. The aim of the study was to answer the question whether patients with hypertension use non-pharmacological methods of hypertension treatment. The study included a group of 280 patients aged 18-85, suffering from hypertension. In the study, 10 nutritional and non-nutritional factors affecting the treatment of hypertension were analyzed. Data regarding the diet were collected by a method of 24-h recall. Basic anthropometric measurements (body weight, body height, waist and hip circumference) were taken, as well as threefold measurement of blood pressure. The data were statistically analyzed. The average value of blood pressure was 131.2 ± 15.5/82.9 ± 10.5 mm Hg. Approximately 90% of the respondents had abnormal body weight, i.e. excessive weight or obesity. Abdominal obesity according to waist hip ratio assessment was diagnosed in 87% of women and 66% of men; according to the measurement of waist circumference, it was diagnosed in 140 (81%) women and 88 (81%) men. Among the ingredients with antihypertensive effect, the sodium intake was 4,417.8 ± 2,052.7 mg/d, which when converted to salt is on average 11 g/d, potassium: 3,808.5 ± 1,265.7 mg/d, calcium: 724.6 ± 413.7 mg/d, and magnesium: 383.9 ± 139.3 mg/d. One in 5 (18%) people declared smoking. Only 5% of subjects reported high level of physical activity. In persons with diagnosed hypertension, vast majority of patients did not implement non-pharmacological hypertension treatment.

Inhibition of Leptin Regulation of Parasympathetic Signaling as a Cause of Extreme Body Weight-Associated Asthma

Impaired lung function caused by decreased airway diameter (bronchoconstriction) is frequently observed whether body weight is abnormally high or low. That these opposite conditions affect the airways similarly suggests that the regulation of airway diameter and body weight are intertwined. We show here that, independently of its regulation of appetite, melanocortin pathway, or sympathetic tone, leptin isnecessary and sufficient to increase airway diameter by signaling through its cognate receptor in cholinergic neurons. The latter decreases parasympathetic signaling through the M(3) muscarinic receptor in airway smooth muscle cells, thereby increasing airway diameter without affecting local inflammation.Accordingly, decreasing parasympathetic tone genetically or pharmacologically corrects bronchoconstriction and normalizes lung function in obese mice regardless of bronchial inflammation. This study reveals an adipocyte-dependent regulation of bronchial diameter whose disruption contributes to the impaired lung function caused by abnormal body weight. These findings may be of use in the management of obesity-associated asthma.