Index Fat Research Articles

Modified lumbo-pelvic exercise to alleviate mild stress urinary incontinence in middle-aged females

Urinary incontinence is one of the common clinical problems of females passing middle age. Traditional pelvic floor muscle training to alleviate urinary incontinence is too dull and unpleasant. Therefore, we were motivated to purpose a modified lumbo-pelvic exercise training incorporating simplified dancing components with pelvic floor muscle training. The objective of this study was to evaluate the 16-week modified lumbo-pelvic exercise program that incorporated dance and abdominal drawing-in maneuvers. Middle-aged females were randomly assigned into the experimental (n = 13) and control (n = 11) groups. Compared to the control group, the exercise group significantly reduced body fat, visceral fat index, waistline, waist-hip ratio, perceived incontinence score, frequency of urine leakage, and pad testing index (p < 0.05). In addition, there were significant improvements in pelvic floor function, vital capacity, and muscle activity of the right rectus abdominis (p < 0.05). This indicated that the modified lumbo-pelvic exercise program can promote benefits of physical training and alleviate urinary incontinence in middle-aged females.

Qidan Tiaozhi capsule attenuates metabolic syndrome via activating AMPK/PINK1-Parkin-mediated mitophagy.

Qidan Tiaozhi capsule (QD), a traditional Chinese medicine, has been used to treat metabolic syndrome for over a decade. However, the mechanism of QD in the treatment of metabolic syndrome is still unknown. Growing studies demonstrate that impaired mitophagy is one of the important causes of metabolic syndrome. Thus, this research aims to investigate the mechanism of mitophagy in the QD treatment of metabolic syndrome. Network pharmacology and molecular docking were used to probe the mechanism of QD treatment of metabolic syndrome. In an oleic acid-induced cell model, glucose consumption and uptake capacity, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), malonaldehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ROS levels, and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were examined. mRFP-GFP-LC3 adenovirus and GFP-LC3 lentivirus were used to examine the effect of QD on mitophagy. The IRS2-PI3K and AMPK/PINK1-Parkin signal pathways were also determined. What's more, the PINK1 gene was silenced to verify the above findings. In a high-fat diet-fed mouse model, body weight, organ indexes, OGTT, ITT, HOMA-IR, insulin sensitivity, serum MDA, SOD, TC, TG, LDL-C and HDL-C, hepatic TC, TG, LDL-C and HDL-C levels, hepatic steatosis, and IRS2-PI3K and AMPK/PINK1-Parkin signal pathways were investigated. Results from network pharmacology and molecular docking suggested that QD might suppress oxidative stress to improve metabolic syndrome. In an oleic acid-induced cell model, compared with the model group, enhanced glucose consumption and uptake ability, inhibited intracellular lipid accumulation, TC, TG, MDA and ROS levels, and increased SOD level and MMP were found in QD groups. And mitophagy levels, IRS2-PI3K and AMPK/PINK1-Parkin signal pathways were promoted. Interestingly, PINK1 silencing reversed the therapeutic action of QD on oleic acid-induced cells. In high-fat diet-fed mice, inhibited body weight, abdominal fat indexes, liver indexes, HOMA-IR, serum and hepatic TC, TG and LDL-C, serum MDA and hepatic steatosis, and increased insulin sensitivity, serum and hepatic HDL-C, serum SOD, and activated IRS2-PI3K and AMPK/PINK1-Parkin signal pathways were found in QD groups. QD activates AMPK/PINK1-Parkin-mediated mitophagy to suppress oxidative stress to treat metabolic syndrome.

Farklı vücut kondisyonlarındaki kedilerde karaciğer yağlanmasının ultrasonografik incelemesi ile obezite değerlendirme parametreleri arasındaki ilişkinin belirlenmesi

This study aimed to determine the relationship between ultrasonographic examination of hepatic lipidosis and obesity assessment parameters in cats of different body conditions. For this purpose, 27 cats in different body conditions which have not any systemic health problems were evaluated. Body condition score and body fat index were examined by inspection and palpation; subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness, hepatorenal index and hepatic lipidosis grade by ultrasonography. The relationship between parameters on the basis of all individuals was evaluated. Also, the cats were divided into three groups according to their body conditions, and whether there was any difference between these groups in terms of subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness, hepatorenal index and hepatic lipidosis grade were investigated. There was a significant positive correlation between body condition score and body fat index, subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness, hepatic lipidosis grade and hepatorenal index, respectively. Different degrees of hepatic lipidosis were observed in at least some individuals in all body condition groups. There was a significant difference between the different body condition groups in terms of subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness, hepatorenal index and hepatic lipidosis grade. This study showed that mild hepatic lipidosis can be seen even in cats with normal body condition; increased body condition and body fat cause an increased risk of hepatic lipidosis in cats; subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness measurement during clinical evaluation and hepatorenal index during ultrasonographic examination can be a use practical and reliable option for prediction and grading of hepatic lipidosis.

Antidiabetic Effect of Chinese yam (Dioscorea opposita Thunb.) in High‐Fat Diet/Streptozotocin‐Induced Diabetic Rats

AbstractThis study aims to assess the effect of different doses of Chinese yam (CY) on a high‐fat diet (HFD) and a streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rat model, using resistant starch (RS) as a positive control. Rats in the normal control and diabetes model (DM) groups are fed the standard diet and HFD, respectively. The RS and CY‐intervention groups are fed with a special HFD, in which starch, maltodextrin, and sucrose in the HFD are replaced completely with RS or CY powder in different proportions: 33.33% (1/3), 66.67% (2/3), and 100% respectively. The results show that CY powder can decrease serum levels of total triglycerides, total cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, and glycated hemoglobin, lower abdominal fat weight and abdominal fat index, increase levels of insulin and hepatic glycogen, and improve glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in diabetic rats. In addition, CY reduces oxidative stress and inflammation and reduces spleen weight and spleen index in diabetic rats. Notably, CY shows higher efficacy than RS in glucose tolerance and serum insulin and nitric oxide levels. This study suggests that CY powder may replace RS as a functional food in diabetic diets.

Longitudinal Associations of Dietary Sugars and Glycaemic Index with Indices of Glucose Metabolism and Body Fatness during 3-Year Weight Loss Maintenance: A PREVIEW Sub-Study

Background: Dietary sugars are often linked to the development of overweight and type 2 diabetes (T2D) but inconsistencies remain. Objective: We investigated associations of added, free, and total sugars, and glycaemic index (GI) with indices of glucose metabolism (IGM) and indices of body fatness (IBF) during a 3-year weight loss maintenance intervention. Design: The PREVIEW (PREVention of diabetes through lifestyle Intervention and population studies in Europe and around the World) study was a randomised controlled trial designed to test the effects of four diet and physical activity interventions, after an 8-week weight-loss period, on the incidence of T2D. This secondary observational analysis included pooled data assessed at baseline (8), 26, 52, 104 and 156 weeks from 514 participants with overweight/obesity (age 25–70 year; BMI ≥ 25 kg⋅m−2) and with/without prediabetes in centres that provided data on added sugars (Sydney and Helsinki) or free sugars (Nottingham). Linear mixed models with repeated measures were applied for IBF (total body fat, BMI, waist circumference) and for IGM (fasting insulin, HbA1c, fasting glucose, C-peptide). Model A was adjusted for age and intervention centre and Model B additionally adjusted for energy, protein, fibre, and saturated fat. Results: Total sugars were inversely associated with fasting insulin and C-peptide in all centres, and free sugars were inversely associated with fasting glucose and HbA1c (Model B: all p &lt; 0.05). Positive associations were observed between GI and IGM (Model B: fasting insulin, HbA1c, and C-peptide: (all p &lt; 0.01), but not for added sugars. Added sugar was positively associated with body fat percentage and BMI, and GI was associated with waist circumference (Model B: all p &lt; 0.01), while free sugars showed no associations (Model B: p &gt; 0.05). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that added sugars and GI were independently associated with 3-y weight regain, but only GI was associated with 3-y changes in glucose metabolism in individuals at high risk of T2D.

Influence of radiation exposure to delayed fetal growth in wild Japanese monkeys after the Fukushima accident.

Wild Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata) were exposed to radiation after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident in 2011. To clarify the biological effects of radiation exposure on their fetal growth, pregnant monkeys and their fetuses were analyzed. These animals were collected between 2008 and 2020 (before and after the accident in 2011) living in Fukushima City, approximately 70 km from the nuclear power plant. Multiple regression analyses were conducted with fetal body weight (FBW) and fetal head circumference (FHS) as objective variables, and maternal and fetal factors as explanatory variables. The maternal factors were relative exposure dose rate (REDR), age, body weight, body length, fat index, and parity. The fetal factors were crown ramp length (CRL) and sex. Multiple regression analyses showed that FBR and FHS growth were positively associated with CRL, maternal body length, and negatively associated with REDR. Since the relative growth of FBR and FHS to CRL decreased with increasing REDR, radiation exposure due to the nuclear accident may have contributed to the delayed fetal growth observed in Japanese monkeys.

Correlation of morphometric properties to meat yield and fatness index in the red strain of the saltwater hard clam Meretrix meretrix.

To determine the relevance of morphometric properties attributed to the meat yield and fatness index of the saltwater hard clam Meretrix meretrix. A new strain of M. meretrix with red shell color was produced after five generations of selection within a family of full-sibs. 7 morphometric traits, including shell length (SL), shell height (SH), shell width (SW), ligament length (LL), projection length (PL), projection width (PW), and live body weight (LW), and 2 meat characteristics, including meat yield (MY) and fatness index (FI) were measured from 50 individuals of three-year-old M. meretrix. The correlation coefficients, path coefficients, determination coefficients among attributes were analyzed. The results indicated that correlation achieved very significant levels (P<0.01). In addition, the multiple regression equations were formulated by considering the meat yield and fatness index as the dependent variables, respectively, and 7 other morphometric traits as independent variables. The correlation indices (R2) of morphometric traits against the meat yield and fatness index of clams were 0.901 and 0,929, respectively, indicating that the live body weight and shell length were the common main factors influencing the meat characteristics. By testing the significance of partial regression coefficient and gradually removing the non-significant morphometric traits, a multiple regression equation was established to estimate the relationship between shell length (SL, mm), live body weight (LW, g), ligament length (LL, mm) and meat yield (MY, %), fat index (FI, %): MY (%) = 0.432SL+0.251LW and FI (%) = 0.156SL+0.067LL+0.42LW-3.533. The study draws a conclusion that live body weight and shell length have a predominant direct effect on the meat yield and fatness index, which provides theoretical information for the breeding of M. meretrix.

Cardiometabolic Index (CMI) and Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI) Highlight a Higher Risk of Metabolic Syndrome in Women with Severe Obesity.

Recent evidence shows that simple and inexpensive anthropometric measurements can be used to identify, at an early stage, women with obesity at increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome (MetS). Thus, the aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of five different indexes of adiposity and/or body composition in identifying MetS in a group of 876 women (mean age ± SD: 52.1 ± 13.8 years; body mass index (BMI): 43.6 ± 6.1 kg m-2). The following indexes were determined for each subject: waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WtHR), body mass fat index (BMFI), visceral adiposity index (VAI), and cardiometabolic index (CMI). Overall, the presence of MetS was detected in 544 patients (62%). Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to evaluate the relationships between body composition indexes and metabolic characteristics of the women. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to determine the best predictor for each adiposity index among metabolic risk factors. The ROC analysis showed VAI (AUC = 0.84) and CMI (AUC = 0.86) showed the best performance in predicting MetS. Differences were found between the ROC area of CMI and VAI with all other indexes (p < 0.05). The optimal cutoff point for early diagnosis of MetS was >0.92 for WHR, >0.76 for WtHR, >30.1 kg m-1 for BMFI, >1.94 for VAI, and >0.84 for CMI. In addition, VAI and CMI were the most sensitive and specific indexes compared with other indexes. In conclusion, VAI and CMI represent the most useful and reliable indexes to be used for detecting MetS in women suffering from obesity in clinical practice.

Quality of weight loss during chemoradioherapy in patients with nasopharyngeal cancers

PurposeRadiation therapy with chemotherapy (CCR) is currently the gold standard treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Anatomical changes are mainly due to weight loss. Our prospective study aimed to evaluate the nutritional status and the quality of weight loss in our patients to adapt the subsequent nutritional management of patients during treatment for NPC. Patients and methodsA prospective, single-center study of 27 patients with non-metastatic NPC treated in our oncology radiotherapy department between August 2020 and March 2021. Data from interrogation, physical examination, and bioelectrical impedancemetry (weight [W], body mass index [BMI], fat index [GI], fat mass [FM], and fat-free mass (FFM]) were collected at the beginning, the mid, and the end of treatment. ResultsWeight loss from mid to end of treatment (median=−4kg [−9.4; −0.9]) was greater than that from baseline to mid-treatment (median=−2.9kg [−8.8; 1.8]) (P=0.016). Weight loss during the entire treatment was −6.2kg [−15.6; −2.5] (8.4%). The losses of FM were identical between the beginning-mid treatment and the mid-end treatment; they were respectively −1.4kg [−8.5; 4.2] and −1.4kg [−8.2; 7.8] (P=0.4). FFM losses between the mid- and the end of treatment (−2.5kg [−27.8; 0.5]) were greater than those between baseline and mid-treatment (−1.1kg [−7.1; 4.7]) (P=0.014). Median FFM loss during treatment was −3.6kg [−28.1; 2.6]). ConclusionThe results of our study show that weight loss during CCR for NPC is complex and is not just about loss but about a disruption of body composition. Regular follow-ups by nutritionists are required to prevent denutrition during treatment.

Compared to Fishmeal, Dietary Soybean Meal Improves the Reproductive Performance of Female Yellow Catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco) Broodstock.

To investigate the effects of different dietary protein sources on the reproductive performance of female broodstock, yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco) were fed with three experimental diets using fishmeal (FM), soybean meal (SBM), and rapeseed meal (RSM) as main protein sources, respectively. Females (initial weight: 64.56 ± 0.45 g) were distributed into 9 net cages for feeding trial. Results indicated that 30% dietary SBM improved the reproductive performance for higher gonadosomatic index (GSI), relative fecundity, total egg production, egg diameter, and hatching rate. In addition, SBM and RSM diets resulted in higher estradiol (E2), vitellogenin (VTG), luteinizing hormones (LH), and lower follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone (T) in plasma (P < 0.05) of female broodstock. Dietary SBM and RSM also resulted in lower mesenteric fat index (MFI), plasma total cholesterol (TC), plasma total bilirubin (T-Bil) contents, and gonadal cortisol concentrations, while dietary SBM downregulated the transcription levels of steroidogenesis-related proteins by negative feedback (P < 0.05). The results demonstrated that dietary SBM and RSM could promote sex steroid hormone and VTG biosynthesis and showed hypocholesterolemic effects. Besides, 30% dietary SBM inclusion could improve the reproductive performance of female yellow catfish broodstock.

5-HEPE reduces obesity and insulin resistance by promoting adipose tissue browning through GPR119/AMPK/PGC1α activation

AimsActivating thermogenic program in brown adipocytes serves as a potential therapeutic target for increasing energy expenditure during the treatment of metabolic diseases. 5(S)-hydroxy-eicosapentaenoic acid (5-HEPE), an omega-3 unsaturated fatty acid metabolite, has been shown to enhance insulin secretion in vitro. However, its role in modulating obesity-related diseases remains largely unclear. Main methodsTo investigate this further, mice were fed with a high-fat diet for 12 weeks and then injected intraperitoneally every other day with 5-HEPE for 4 additional weeks. Key findingsIn vivo, our results demonstrated that 5-HEPE alleviated the HFD-induced obesity and insulin resistance, leading to a significant decrease in subcutaneous fat and epididymal fat index and an increase in brown fat index. Compared to the HFD group, the 5-HEPE group mice had lower ITT and GTT AUC and lower HOMA-IR. Moreover, 5HEPE effectively increased energy expenditure of mice. 5-HEPE also significantly promoted brown adipose tissue (BAT) activation and browning in white adipose tissue (WAT) by up-regulating genes and proteins expression of UCP1, Prdm16, Cidea, and PGC1α. In vitro, we found 5-HEPE significantly promoted 3T3-L1 browning. Mechanistically, 5-HEPE acts by activating the GPR119/AMPK/PGC1α pathway. In conclusion, this study emphasizes a critical role of 5-HEPE in improving body energy metabolism and adipose tissue browning in HFD-fed mice. SignificanceOur results suggest that 5-HEPE intervention may be an effective target for preventing obesity-related metabolic diseases.

Different Diet Energy Levels Alter Body Condition, Glucolipid Metabolism, Fecal Microbiota and Metabolites in Adult Beagle Dogs.

Diet energy is a key component of pet food, but it is usually ignored during pet food development and pet owners also have limited knowledge of its importance. This study aimed to explore the effect of diet energy on the body condition, glucolipid metabolism, fecal microbiota and metabolites of adult beagles and analyze the relation between diet and host and gut microbiota. Eighteen healthy adult neutered male beagles were selected and randomly divided into three groups. Diets were formulated with three metabolizable energy (ME) levels: the low-energy (Le) group consumed a diet of 13.88 MJ/kg ME; the medium-energy (Me) group consumed a diet of 15.04 MJ/kg ME; and the high-energy (He) group consumed a diet of 17.05 MJ/kg ME. Moreover, the protein content of all these three diets was 29%. The experiment lasted 10 weeks, with a two-week acclimation period and an eight-week test phase. Body weight, body condition score (BCS), muscle condition score (MCS) and body fat index (BFI) decreased in the Le group, and the changes in these factors in the Le group were significantly higher than in the other groups (p < 0.05). The serum glucose and lipid levels of the Le and He groups changed over time (p < 0.05), but those of the Me group were stable (p > 0.05). The fecal pH of the Le and He groups decreased at the end of the trial (p < 0.05) and we found that the profiles of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and bile acids (BAs) changed greatly, especially secondary BAs (p < 0.05). As SCFAs and secondary BAs are metabolites of the gut microbiota, the fecal microbiota was also measured. Fecal 16S rRNA gene sequencing found that the Me group had higher α-diversity indices (p < 0.05). The Me group had notably higher levels of gut probiotics, such as Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Bacteroides plebeius and Blautia producta (p < 0.05). The diet-host-fecal microbiota interactions were determined by network analysis, and fecal metabolites may help to determine the best physical condition of dogs, assisting pet food development. Overall, feeding dogs low- or high-energy diets was harmful for glucostasis and promoted the relative abundance of pathogenic bacteria in the gut, while a medium-energy diet maintained an ideal body condition. We concluded that dogs that are fed a low-energy diet for an extended period may become lean and lose muscle mass, but diets with low energy levels and 29% protein may not supply enough protein for dogs losing weight.

Postweaning cafeteria diet induces a short-term metabolic disfunction and a differential vulnerability to develop anxiety-like and depressive-like behaviors in male but not female rats.

Children and adolescents are high consumers of Western diets (rich in fat and sugars), which is a risk factor for overweight and obesity. Moreover, the presence of anxiety and depression among this population has increased significantly. This study explores in young postweaning rats the association between Western diet consumption and the development of metabolic and behavioral disturbances. At postnatal day (PN) 24,Wistarratsof both sexes were weaned and assigned to a control or cafeteria diet (CAF) group. After short-term exposure, a group of rats was euthanized at PN31 to obtain abdominal fat pads and blood samples. Another group of rats was tested in the open-field test, splash test, anhedonia test, and social play across 11days (PN32-42). The CAF groups exhibited a significantly high level of body fat, serum glucose, triglycerides, leptin, and HOMA index when compared to the control groups. Only CAF males exhibited anxiety-like and depression-like behavior. Present results indicate that postweaning short-term exposure to a CAF diet has immediate detrimental effects on metabolism in both sexes. However, only CAF males showed mood disturbances. This study provides evidence that a CAF diet exerts immediate effects on behavior and metabolism in the postweaning period and that sexes present differential vulnerability.

Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity as a risk factor for high body fat mediated by blood pressure

ABSTRACT Background Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) is an important clinical indicator of aortic stiffness and a risk predictor of cardiovascular disease and associated with obesity. However, whether body mass index (BMI) is associated with baPWV remains controversial. In our study, body fat-related indicators, including BMI, body fat rate (BFR), body fat volume (BFV), waist circumference (WC) were examined from healthy volunteers. We investigated the correlation of baPWV with these indicators and also assessed whether baPWV has the potential to predict these indicators. Methods A total of 429 healthy participants were enrolled in this study. Body fat indices, blood pressures, baPWV and blood metabolic indices were measured and recorded. The association of baPWV and indices reflecting body fat and blood pressure, as well as mediation effect were analyzed. Results Three different types of baPWV values were significantly correlated. Mean level of baPWV was an independent risk factor for WC, BMI, BFR, and BFV (exp(β) = 1.011, 1.004, 1.010 and 1.009, respectively, P < .001 for all) but not BMR. As for mediation effects, baPWV positively influenced WC (Total effect = 0.011, P < .001), BMI (Total effect = 0.004, P < .001) and BFV (Total effect = 0.009, P < .001) in indirect way mediated by SBP and DBP, while baPWV influenced BFR in both direct (Effect = 0.004, P = .018) and indirect way. Conclusions Levels of baPWV correlated with obesity and is an independent risk factor for WC, BMI, BFR and BFV. Besides, baPWV positively associated with WC, BMI and BFV mainly in indirect way mediated by SBP and DBP, and baPWV associated with BFR in both direct and indirect way.

Lian-Qu formula treats metabolic syndrome via reducing fat synthesis, insulin resistance and inflammation.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a pathological condition characterized by obesity, hyperglycemia, hypertension and hyperlipidemia that increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The traditional Chinese medicine Lian-Qu formula (LQF) is modified from Xiaoxianxiong decoction, which has been used for coronary heart disease or metabolic disease in clinical for a long time. However, the pharmacological mechanism of LQF on MetS is unclear. Here, we explored the actions of LQF on MetS via network pharmacology and validated the mechanism in the MetS mice. The chemical components of LQF were searched in the traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology database and the natural product activity & species source database. The related targets of MetS disease were gathered from genes cluster with literature profiles database. The protein-protein interaction network was constructed to obtain the key target genes. The Gene Ontology analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment of the key targets were performed to predict the potential mechanisms of LQF action on MetS. And then, the high-fat diet-induced MetS mice were used to validate its therapeutic effect and molecular targets. Insulin tolerance test and oral glucose tolerance test were used to assess insulin sensitivity. Body weight and visceral fat index were measured to assess obesity. Liver metabolism was detected by H&E section, oil red O staining and untargeted lipid metabolomics experiments. Finally, the key targets of LQF action on MetS were verified by PCR and ELISA kits. A total of 466 components in LQF were obtained, among which 71 were active. These components correspond to 74 targets associated with MetS. The predicted targets of LQF worked on MetS were AKT1, INSR, PPARs, FASN, LDLR, TNF, CRP, IL-6, IL-1β and so on. Furthermore, these targets were related to pathways in cellular response to lipid, inflammatory response, glucose transmembrane transport and insulin resistance. Finally, the animal experiments validated that LQF inhibited lipids accumulation by inhibiting the gene expression of FASN and increasing ADPN, and it relieved insulin resistance by increasing GLUT-4 expression. Moreover, LQF alleviated inflammation by reducing IL-6 and CRP levels. LQF exerted anti-MetS effects through improving insulin sensitivity, ameliorating hyperlipidemia and obesity, reducing liver injury, and inhibiting inflammatory response.

Lipid-related thiamine deficiency cause mortality of river lampreys (Lampetra fluviatilis) during pre-spawning fasting

River lampreys (Lampetra fluviatilis) were caught in the fall 2014 on entering the River Perhonjoki for spawning and kept at a hatchery until spawning in late spring 2015 to produce larvae for compensatory stockings. Since the lampreys died massively from early February onwards, they were investigated in March and May to clarify the cause of the deaths. The symptoms in lampreys resembled those of lipid-related thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency of salmonines, called the M74 syndrome in the Baltic Sea area. Because the lipid content of lampreys was known to be high, thiamine concentrations were analyzed in the liver and ovulated unfertilized eggs, and the mass, length, and whole-body lipid content were also measured. The hepatic total thiamine (TotTh) concentration was significantly negatively correlated with the body lipid content and fatness index (mass to length ratio) in both females and males. In females, the hepatic TotTh concentration was less than half that in males, and the most moribund lampreys were the largest and fattiest females. Females that survived until artificial stripping of the eggs were smaller, and their hepatic thiamine concentration was higher, and the fatness index lower, than in females in March. The concentration of free thiamine in the eggs had a stronger positive correlation with the hepatic TotTh concentration than the phosphorylated thiamine derivatives and was also significantly and negatively correlated with the fatness index and mass. It was concluded that increased lipid peroxidation due to the mobilization of polyunsaturated fatty acids from lipids in exogenous vitellogenesis consumed thiamine as an antioxidant during pre-spawning fasting—especially in the fattiest females—and thus caused their death. It is suggested that to ensure compensatory stockings, the largest lampreys could be thiamine-injected at the hatchery to improve their survival until stripping of the eggs and to improve the eggs’ thiamine status.

Physical development of adolescents with different levels of motor activity

As part of the study, the physical development of adolescents was evaluated depending on the level of daily motor activity and individual anthropometric indicators of professional athletes. The physical development indicators of 423 boys aged 16 to 18 years were analyzed, which were divided into 3 groups depending on the level of daily physical activity: professional athletes, with additional physical activity, with the usual level of physical activity. The data were collected as a result of a routine medical examination in the period from June to October 2022. The results showed that children aged 16 and 17 with a normal level of motor activity were statistically significantly lower and had less body weight compared to the other groups. The analysis of the fatness index also confirmed the data obtained in the age group of 18‑year-olds. The largest proportion of children (at 16 years — 17.6 %; at 17 years — 33, %) with disharmonious or distinct disharmonious physical development was revealed in the group of children with normal physical activity; no cases of distinct disharmonious level of physical development were found among adolescent athletes. Statistically significant differences in anthropometric indicators among professionally engaged in sports adolescents aged 16 to 18 years were not revealed, while in children with a normal level of physical activity in these age groups, changes in indicators are pronounced, which may indicate an earlier and smoother biological development of adolescent athletes. The use of mass-growth indicators makes it possible to more accurately assess the achieved level of physical development and the level of its harmony.

Transcriptomic effects of Perfluoralkyl acids on the adipose tissue of a songbird species at environmentally relevant concentrations

Perfluoralkyl acids (PFAS) have been regarded as global pollutants for at least twenty years, with potentially negative physiological effects on multiple vertebrate species including humans. Here we analyze the effects of the administration of environmentally-relevant levels of PFAS on caged canaries (Serinus canaria) by using a combination of physiological, immunological, and transcriptomic analyses. This constitutes a completely new approach to understand the toxicity pathway of PFAS in birds. While we observed no effects on physiological and immunological parameters (e.g, body weight, fat index, cell-mediated immunity), the transcriptome of the pectoral fatty tissue showed changes compatible with the known effects of PFAS as obesogens in other vertebrates, particularly in mammals. First, transcripts related to the immunological response were affected (mainly enriched), including several key signaling pathways. Second, we found a repression of genes related to the peroxisome response and fatty acid metabolism. We interpret these results as indicative of the potential hazard of environmental concentrations of PFAS on the fat metabolism and the immunological system of birds, while exemplifying the ability of transcriptomic analyses of detecting early physiological responses to toxicants. As the potentially affected functions are essential for the survival of the animals during, for example, migration, our results underline the need for tight control of the exposure of natural populations of birds to these substances.

Effects of Starvation and Refeeding on Growth, Digestion, Nonspecific Immunity and Lipid-Metabolism-Related Genes in Onychostoma macrolepis.

The present research was conducted to assess the influences of starvation and refeeding on growth, nonspecific immunity and lipid metabolic adaptation in Onychostoma macrolepis. To date, there have been no similar reports in O. macrolepis. The fish were randomly assigned into two groups: control group (continuous feeding for six weeks) and starved-refed group (starvation for three weeks and then refeeding for three weeks). After three weeks of starvation, the results showed that the body weight (BW, 1.44 g), condition factor (CF, 1.17%), visceral index (VSI, 3.96%), hepatopancreas index (HSI, 0.93%) and intraperitoneal fat index (IPFI, 0.70%) of fish were significantly lower compared to the control group (BW, 5.72 g; CF, 1.85%; VSI, 6.35%; HSI, 2.04%; IPFI, 1.92%) (p < 0.05). After starvation, the serum triglyceride (TG, 0.83 mmol/L), total cholesterol (T-GHOL, 1.15 mmol/L), high-density lipoprotein (HDL, 1.13 mmol/L) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL, 0.46 mmol/L) concentrations were significantly lower than those in the control group (TG, 1.69 mmol/L; T-GHOL, 1.86 mmol/L; HDL, 1.62 mmol/L; LDL, 0.63 mmol/L) (p < 0.05). The activities of intestinal digestive enzymes (amylase, lipase and protease) in the starved-refed group were significantly lower than those in the control group after three weeks of starvation (p < 0.05). The highest activities of immune enzymes such as lysozyme (LZM), acid phosphate (ACP), alkaline phosphate (ALP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) and catalase (CAT) in the hepatopancreas were presented in the starved-refed group at second week, and significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, starvation significantly improved intestinal immune enzymes activities (p < 0.05). the lowest TG contents and the highest expression levels of lipolysis genes including hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) and carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1 isoform A (CPT-1A) appeared in the hepatopancreas, muscle and intraperitoneal fat after starvation, indicating the mobilization of fat reserves in these tissues (p < 0.05). After refeeding, the recovery of TG content might be mediated by the upregulation of the expression levels of lipogenesis genes such as sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP1) and fatty acid synthase (FAS). Understanding the duration of physiological and metabolic changes in O. macrolepis and their reversibility or irreversibility to supplementary feeding response could provide valuable reference for the adaptability of O. macrolepis in large-scale culturing, proliferation and release.

Feeding Habits, Nutritional Condition, Fecal Intestinal Metabolites, and Risk of Developing Diabetes Mellitus II in the Mexican Population: A Cross-Sectional Study

Early identification of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) risk factors prevents its consequences. Fecal volatile organic compounds (FVOCs) can serve as disease biomarkers. The objective was to compare nutritional condition, feeding habits, and FVOCs into low-risk and high-risk (HR) T2DM developed in the Mexican population. A cross-sectional study was conducted in healthy adult volunteers between 18 and 59 years of age from Tepic, Nayarit, México. The FVOCs p-cresol and acetic, propionic, butyric, and valeric acids were evaluated. The values of body mass index (BMI), body fat, visceral fat index, metabolic age, and basal metabolic rate were higher in the HR group. In addition, high total calorie intakes and high macronutrient calorie intakes were found in the HR group. Both groups showed the same values for the evaluated FVOCs. Through principal component analysis, it was found that when BMI, metabolic age, weight, and visceral fat index increase, adults will be more likely to be at high risk for developing T2DM.