Increased Weight Gain Research Articles

AORTIC FUNCTION AND NTRATIVE STRESS IN A RAT MODEL OF POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME

Objective: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) represents the most prevalent endocrine disorder in women of fertile age; besides infertility, an elevated cardiovascular risk was described. Vitamin D hypovitaminosis affects about 80-90% of PCOS patients. Our team assessed aortic function and nitrative stress in a hyperandrogenic rat model and the effectiveness of Vitamin D substitution. Design and method: Female Wistar rats at the age of 3-4 weeks were randomly assigned into four groups. Eight rats received no treatment (controls, C), eight rats received weekly Vitamin D per os (140 IU/100 g body weight, group D), eight received cutaneous testosterone daily (3.3 mg/100 g, T) and eight received Vitamin D and testosterone (T+D). At the eighth week of the treatment, aortic rings were isolated for analysis: they were cut into 3-4 mm long segments for myography, other segments were formaldehyde fixed and paraffin embedded to assess, by immunohistochemical methods, nitrative stress markers (nitrotyrosine, NT) and DNA breaks signaled by nuclear poly(ADP-ribose) polymer (PAR) detection. Results: The weight gains of the two testosterone-treated groups were significantly higher between the 6-8 weeks compared to the other two groups, Vitamin D treatment did not influence body weight. Rats in the C and D groups had 3 or 4 estruses in the last 14 days. T rats had 1 or 2 estruses during the same period. T+D rats had 1-2 (N=3), or 3-4 (N=5) estruses. Aortic contraction, induced by the alpha1-adrenergic agonist phenylephrine, was significantly elevated in T and T+D animals in comparison to controls and Vitamin D treated rats. The endothelium-mediated aortic relaxation, as a response to acetyl-choline and insulin, was unaltered; however, estrogen-induced relaxation was significantly impaired in T and T+D groups. According to resorcin-fuchsin staining, no fibrotic alteration was detected. Nitrative stress and poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation were similar in all four groups. Conclusions: Eight weeks of testosterone administration caused increased weight gain and sex cycle lengthening. The latter was reversible by Vitamin D supplementation in 62.5% of the rats. Testosterone or Vitamin D did not alter vascular histology. Hyperandrogenism increased alpha1-adrenerg mediated vasoconstriction and compromised estrogen-mediated relaxation without altering nitrative stress.

Efficacy of Lactose-Free Milk in Treating Acute Gastroenteritis in Vietnamese Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Low lactase levels in Asian children appear to be genetically determined or rotavirus-induced gastroenteritis. Consuming lactose-free formula in children with acute gastroenteritis may shorten diarrhea's duration and increase weight gain. This study aims to determine whether lactose-free milk will change the duration of diarrhea and weight gain in Vietnamese children aged 2-24 months with acute gastroenteritis. A randomized control trial was performed on 66 children under 24 months of age with acute gastroenteritis at the Gastroenterology Department of Can Tho Children's Hospital. In adjunction to oral rehydration solution, they received either a lactose-free formula (n=33) or a lactose-containing formula (n=33). Diarrhea duration, weight gain, treatment failure, and days of hospitalization were all studied. A total of 66 children participated in this trial, with a mean age of 13.4 ± 5.1 months, and 38 participants (57.6%) were male. There were no significant differences between the lactose-free formula group and the lactose-containing formula group in the duration of diarrhea (2.2±0.8 days versus 2.4±0.9 days; P=0.321), percentage of weight gain (1.96 [IQR:1.35-2.36] percent vs. 2.29 [IQR:1.81-2.40] percent; P=0.131), treatment failure rate (33.3% vs. 36.4%; P= 0.796), and days of hospitalization (5.8±1.7 vs. 6.5±2.5 days; P=0.158). It may not be necessary to use lactose-free milk routinely in Vietnamese children under 24 months with acute gastroenteritis as the duration of diarrhea, weight change, treatment failure rates, and hospital stay are similar to those of children fed lactose-containing milk.

Deletion of SGK1 in Smooth Muscle Cells Induces Sex-specific Differences in Obesity-mediated Metabolic Dysfunction and Adipose Tissue Remodeling

Objectives: Obesity, characterized by an excess of adipose tissue, is an important risk factor for the development of metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes. In obesity, poor metabolic health is partly due to glucose intolerance, a condition in which whole-body glucose regulation is impaired. Adipose tissue is an endocrine organ central for optimal metabolic health and its expansion by excessive fat intake induces metabolic dysfunction. The molecular mechanisms that promote metabolic dysfunction in obesity are not fully understood. Adipose tissue function is dependent on the presence of new vascular networks capable of supplying nutrients and oxygen during adipose tissue expansion. Thus, pathological vascular remodeling may promote adipose tissue expansion and dysfunction in obesity. In this regard, our previous studies have shown that serum and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 1 (SGK1) in vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMCs) mediates pathological vascular remodeling in obesity. SGK1 is a serine/threonine kinase that becomes elevated in the vasculature during obesity and is implicated in the development of metabolic syndrome. Therefore, we hypothesize that smooth muscle cell derived-SGK1 promotes pathological adipose tissue remodeling and metabolic dysfunction during obesity by perturbing adipose tissue vascularization. Methods: To test this hypothesis, these studies utilized our novel SMC-specific SGK1 knockout (smSGK1KO) mouse model to study the influence of SMC-derived SGK1 on adipose tissue remodeling and overall metabolic health in vivo. Male and female 8-week-old smSGK1WT and smSGK1KO mice were subjected to either a 10% low-fat diet (LF) or a high-fat diet (HF) for 8 weeks with weekly body weight measurements. Upon completion of respective diets, mice were subjected to glucose tolerance tests (GTT) to assess glucose tolerance and metabolic health. Adipose tissues from the subcutaneous (inguinal) and intra-abdominal (epididymal/gonadal) white adipose tissue (WAT) depots were harvested to assess overall adiposity and vascularization. Results: Our data show sexual dimorphism exists in the way smSGK1KO mice respond to a chronic high-fat diet. When fed a HF diet, female smSGK1KO mice gained approximately 60% more weight than their female smSGK1WT counterparts. In contrast, weight gain was about 50% lower in male smSGK1KO compared to male smSGK1WT mice on the same HF diet. Despite the differences in weight gain, inguinal and epididymal/gonadal WAT were reduced in male and female smSGK1KO mice fed a HF diet. Surprisingly, GTT was similar between female smSGK1KO and smSGK1WT mice, despite the increased weight gain, while male smSGK1KO mice displayed improvement in glucose tolerance in comparison to their wildtype counterparts. Moreover, male smSGK1KO mice appear to have enhanced vascularization in WAT depots as evidenced by increased vascular branching in fat pads. Conclusions: These studies suggest that SGK1 in smooth muscle cells contributes to adipose tissue remodeling and metabolic dysfunction under obesogenic conditions. Additionally, these studies indicate a need to understand the mechanisms by which crosstalk between the vasculature and adipose tissue modulates obesity and overall metabolic health. This research is supported in part by grant number 5U24DK132733-02 from the National Institute of Health, NIH. This research is supported in part by grant number 5T32HL007609-36 from the National Institute of Health, NIH. This research is supported in part by grant number 2100832 from the National Science Foundation, NSF. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Does ovariectomy exacerbate the cardiorespiratory and metabolic consequences of moderate intermittent hypoxia in female rats?

Intermittent hypoxia (IH) is a major consequence of sleep apnea (SA). IH causes respiratory dysfunction and contributes to numerous co-morbidities of SA including hypertension and obesity. The fact that menopause increases the prevalence of SA and related diseases in women indicates the importance of loss of ovarian function in the pathophysiology. Here, we determined whether experimental loss of ovarian function (ovariectomy; OVX) exacerbates the cardiorespiratory and metabolic consequences of IH. We explored neuroendocrine changes by assessing hormones known to be involved in energy balance, respiratory control, and stress responses (leptin, ACTH and corticosterone). We subjected adult (8 weeks) Sprague Dawley female rats to bilateral OVX (n = 13) or sham operation (n = 14). Rats were housed in pairs, and after two weeks of recovery, animals were exposed to room air (control; n = 16) or to a 7-day moderate IH protocol (n = 11). Within their cage, rats intermittently received a nitrogen-enriched hypoxic mixture, followed by room air for reoxygenation. Each bout of hypoxia lasted 30 seconds (nadir FIO2 = 0.10) and was followed by 5-minutes of reoxygenation (10 cycles/h, for 8hrs between 10h-18h). Apnea frequency, acute responses to hypoxia (FIO2 = 0.12; 120 sec) and hypercapnia (FICO2 = 0.05; 10 min) were measured by whole-body plethysmography. Blood pressure was assessed by the tail cuff method, and body weight was followed throughout the protocol. Plasma corticosterone and leptin were measured by multiplex assays. OVX increased apneic events, whereas IH reduced them; with the highest frequency observed in OVX females maintained in normoxia. Ventilatory responses (hypoxia and CO2) and blood pressure were not affected by IH or OVX. Over the course of the protocol, OVX increased weight gain whereas IH induced weight loss. OVX (but not IH) increased ACTH and corticosterone. IH (but not OVX) reduced leptin. Correlation matrix analysis showed that weight gain was the best predictor of apnea frequency (r = 0.759; p = 0.03). We conclude that loss of ovarian function and related weight gain have the greatest impact on respiratory function during sleep. Additionally, OVX-related activation of the stress pathways may contribute to this process. These results fail to demonstrate a role for OVX in exacerbating the cardiorespiratory and metabolic consequences of IH. Lack of weight gain following IH likely contributes to this finding. This study is supported by operating grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (RK and VJ). NJM is supported by a Sentinel North Partnered Research Chair in Sleep Pharmacometabolism and a Canada Research Chair in Metabolism and Sleep Neurobiology. MG received a doctoral scholarship from the Fonds de Recherche du Québec — Santé (FRQS). This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Reoxygenation Mitigates Intermittent Hypoxia-Induced Systemic Inflammation and Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Rats.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent sleep breathing disorder characterized by intermittent hypoxia (IH), with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) as its standard treatment. However, the effects of intermittent hypoxia/reoxygenation (IH/R) on weight regulation in obesity and its underlying mechanism remain unclear. Gut microbiota has gained attention for its strong association with various diseases. This study aims to explore the combined influence of IH and obesity on gut microbiota and to investigate the impact of reoxygenation on IH-induced alterations. Diet-induced obese (DIO) rats were created by 8-week high-fat diet (HFD) feeding and randomly assigned into three groups (n=15 per group): normoxia (NM), IH (6% O2, 30 cycles/h, 8 h/day, 4 weeks), or hypoxia/reoxygenation (HR, 2-week IH followed by 2-week reoxygenation) management. After modeling and exposure, body weight and biochemical indicators were measured, and fecal samples were collected for 16S rRNA sequencing. DIO rats in the IH group showed increased weight gain (p=0.0016) and elevated systemic inflammation, including IL-6 (p=0.0070) and leptin (p=0.0004). Moreover, IH rats exhibited greater microbial diversity (p<0.0167), and significant alterations in the microbial structure (p=0.014), notably the order Clostridiales, accompanied by an upregulation of bile acid metabolism predicted pathway (p=0.0043). Reoxygenation not only improved IH-exacerbated obesity, systemic inflammation, leptin resistance, and sympathetic activation, but also showed the potential to restore IH-induced microbial alterations. Elevated leptin levels were associated with Ruminococcaceae (p=0.0008) and Clostridiales (p=0.0019), while body weight was linked to Blautia producta (p=0.0377). Additionally, the abundance of Lactobacillus was negatively correlated with leptin levels (p=0.0006) and weight (p=0.0339). IH leads to gut dysbiosis and metabolic disorders, while reoxygenation therapy demonstrates a potentially protective effect by restoring gut homeostasis and mitigating inflammation. It highlights the potential benefits of CPAP in reducing metabolic risk among obese patients with OSA.

Chitosan-based delivery of fish codon-optimised Caenorhabditis elegans FAT-1 and FAT-2 boosts EPA and DHA biosynthesis in Sparus aurata

Omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LC-PUFA) are essential fatty acids required in healthy balanced diets for humans. To induce sustained production of n-3 LC-PUFA in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), chitosan-tripolyphosphate (TPP) nanoparticles encapsulating plasmids expressing fish codon-optimised Caenorhabditis elegans FAT-1 and FAT-2 were intraperitoneally administered every 4 weeks (3 doses in total, each of 10 μg plasmid per g of body weight). Growth performance and metabolic effects of chitosan-TPP complexed with pSG5 (empty plasmid), pSG5-FAT-1, pSG5-FAT-2 and pSG5-FAT-1 + pSG5-FAT-2 were assessed 70 days post-treatment. Tissue distribution analysis showed high expression levels of fish codon-optimised FAT-1 and FAT-2 in the liver (> 200-fold). Expression of fat-1 and fat-1 + fat-2 increased weight gain. Fatty acid methyl esters assay revealed that co-expression of fat-1 and fat-2 increased liver production and muscle accumulation of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and total n-3 LC-PUFA, while decreased the n-6/n-3 ratio. Co-expression of fat-1 and fat-2 downregulated srebf1 and genes encoding rate-limiting enzymes for de novo lipogenesis in the liver, leading to decreased circulating triglycerides and cholesterol. In contrast, FAT-2 and FAT-1 + FAT-2 upregulated hepatic hnf4a, nr1h3 and key enzymes in glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway. Our findings demonstrate for the first time efficient and sustained production of EPA and DHA in animals after long-term treatment with chitosan-TPP-DNA nanoparticles expressing FAT-1 and FAT-2, which enabled the production of functional fish rich in n-3 LC-PUFA for human consumption.

Effects of dietary supplementation of grape seed extract in comparison with excessive level of vitamin E on growth performance and antioxidant function of broilers

The present study was carried out to evaluate the effects of dietary vitamin E (VE) or grape seed extract (GSE) on the growth performance and antioxidant function of broilers. Two hundred sixteen broiler chicks were randomly assigned to 3 diets: diet supplemented with oxidized rice bran oil (CN group), CN group with 25 mg/kg VE or 100 mg/kg GSE. Dietary VE or GSE improved the growth performance, reverted the disturbed levels of liver antioxidant enzymes, and reduced liver damage of broilers fed oxidized rice bran oil. The mRNA data showed that supplementation of VE or GSE enhanced the antioxidant capacity of the broiler liver through activation of the Keap1-Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway. The results suggested that VE and GSE can increase weight gain, improve the oxidative status, and alleviate liver injury in broiler chicken fed oxidized rice bran oil.

Abstract 2221: Reducing cancer disparity among indigenous people by locally prepared Whey protein isolates having selective cytoprotective ability against chemotherapy induced bone marrow stem cell toxicity

Abstract Background: Cancer disparity is a major problem for the indigenous people living in the rural area of Kamrup district of Assam, a remote north eastern state of India. Often, rural people are prescribed with expensive dietary supplements during chemotherapy by urban for profit medical centers, increasing disparity, as per a study conducted by KaviKrishna Telemedicine Care (KTC) (1). We seek to reduce cancer disparity by using locally available diet/nutrition of Sualkuchi-Hajo cultural complex, including the whey protein prepared by indigenous healers practicing Vedic Jiva Upakara Cikitsha Tantra (Vejiupacita) (2,3). However, the efficacy of the indigenous Vejiupacita Whey protein is not clearly known. Here we have performed pre-clinical and clinical studies to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of Vejiupacita Chena Pani (VCP) whey protein in reducing cancer chemotherapy induced bone marrow stem cell niche toxicity. Methods: Using a previously described pre-clinical model of cisplatin and busalphan induced BM stem cell niche toxicities (4), the cytoprotective activity of VCP Whey protein was evaluated. Commercially available whey proteins Ensure plus, and Immunocal were used for comparisons. Next, the indigenous cancer patients (n=55) of KaviKrishna Telemedicine Care taking the whey protein (20 gm twice daily for three months of chemo and or radiation) were monitored for hemoglobin, total blood count as well as Glasgow prognostic score (ratio of serum albumin and CRP) and ECOG performance score. Third, using a Vejiupacita based Sahasa-ojash scale of well being (3) patient's quality of life was evaluated. Results: In the pre-clinical model of cisplatin-induced BM toxicity in black 6 mice (n=10 in each group), the VCP whey protein exerted cytoprotection of BM stem cells similar to Immunocal but 2-fold higher protection compared to Ensure plus. Serum glutathione and squalene level was significantly increased only in the VCP whey protein group. The hypoxic niche of CD271+ MSCs showed enhanced stem cell niche protection. Notably, VCP and Immunocal whey protein treatment increased the hypoxic BM stem cell niche defense against cisplatin-induced toxicity. Next, 34/55 patients taking the VCP whey protein (20 gm/twice daily for three months) showed increased hemoglobin level, increased total blood count, and increased weight gain. The Sahasa-ojash scale showed significant improvement in quality of life compared to the period when they did not take whey proteins in a manner similar to Glasgow prognostic score, and ECOG performance score. Conclusion: The Vejiupcita based whey protein concentrate therapy exerts cytoprotection against chemotherapy induced toxicity.

Abstract P476: Changes in Olive Oil Consumption and Weight Changes in US Men and Women

Background: Olive oil intake is inversely associated with the risk of chronic diseases and mortality. However, it is unclear whether there is an association between olive oil intake and weight changes; because it is an energy-dense food concerns have been raised that high intake may contribute to weight gain. Therefore, we aimed to determine the associations between long-term changes in olive oil consumption and changes in weight. Methods: We examined data from 116,243 women and men from the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS, 1990-2010), NHSII (1991-2015), and Health Professional Follow-up Study (HPFS, 1990-2014), who were free from chronic diseases at baseline. We applied multivariable linear regression models with robust variance estimators to assess the association of changes in olive oil intake within each 4-year interval with concurrent weight changes. Results across the three cohorts were pooled using inverse-variance weights. Results: At baseline, mean ± SD age was 54.8 ± 6.6 years in the NHS, 45.3 ± 8.0 years in the NHS2, and 53.9 ± 7.2 years in the HPFS. Mean body mass index was 25 kg/m2 at baseline across the three cohorts. The mean weight gain over each 4-year follow-up cycle was highest in the NHS2 (1.8; 95%CI -6.8 to 11.3 kg), followed by the NHS (1.0; 95%CI -6.8 to 9.1 kg), and lastly the HPFS (0.6; 95%CI -5.4 to 6.8 kg). Pooling across the cohorts after adjustment for sociodemographic, lifestyle, and set of dietary factors (fruits, vegetables, red and processed meat, sugar sweetened beverages, coffee, refined grains), each ½ Tablespoon (7 grams) serving per day increment in olive oil was associated with a slightly lower 4-year weight gain of -0.06 kg (95%CI -0.08 to -0.04 kg; p&lt;0.0001). This inverse association was observed in the three cohorts, with a greater magnitude of association in the NHS2 (-0.08; 95%CI -0.10 to -0.05 kg; p&lt;0.0001), followed by the HPFS (-0.07; 95%CI -0.12 to -0.02 kg; p=0.003) and lastly the NHS (-0.05; 95%CI -0.07 to -0.01 kg; p=0.02). Results were attenuated after adjustment for the Alternative Healthy Eating index (pooled -0.03; 95%CI -0.05 to -0.02; p=0.0003). Conclusions: Long-term habitual increase in olive oil consumption was not associated with increased weight gain in middle-aged and older adults.

Xylooligosaccharide supplementation in rice protein concentrate based diets: A comprehensive analysis of performance and health of Labeo rohita.

The primary aim of this study was to examine the impact of xylooligosaccharide (XOS) in rice protein concentrate (RPC) based diets on the growth performance, body composition, digestive enzymes, intestinal morphology and blood biochemistry of Labeo rohita fingerlings. Four different XOS levels (0%, 0.5%, 1% and 2%) were used at each RPC (75% and 100%) level. Twenty-five fish per tank with an average initial weight of 25 ± 0.05 g were randomly assigned (Randomised complete block design) to each of the 8 groups in triplicate aquaria (36 × 16 × 12″) and then fed with respective diets @ 3% body weight for 90 days. The results showed significant improvements in growth performance, such as increased weight gain %, specific growth rate, and protein efficiency ratio and improved feed conversion ratio in 1% XOS supplemented diet at 75% RPC. A significant decrease in serum alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP) and plasma melanodialdehyde (MDA) were observed at 1% XOS level in 75% RPC based diets, respectively. Meanwhile, the lowest total cholesterol and highest lysozyme activity were observed in 1% XOS supplemented diet at 75% RPC levels. Moreover, the serum (alanine aminotransferase and aspartate transaminase) and plasma (superoxide dismutase, triglyceride, high density and low density lipoprotein) activities showed nonsignificant effects among the treatments. Furthermore, the digestive enzymes (protease & lipase) and intestinal morphology were significantly influenced at 1% XOS in the 75% RPC-based diet. Polynomial regression analysis showed that 1.25% XOS is the optimum requirement for the growth of rohu fingerlings when fed at 75% RPC based diets. Overall, it was concluded that the 75% RPC diet was efficiently replaced by fishmeal along with 1% XOS addition in L. rohita fingerlings without any negative effect on growth performance and intestinal health.

Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Childhood Obesity and Overweight in Erbil City, Kurdistan, Iraq: A Household Survey

The prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased dramatically during the last three decades. It is estimated that 170 million youngsters (under the age of 18) worldwide are overweight. Obesity is commonly regarded as one of the most significant public health problems of the early 21st century due to its rapid rise and severe public health consequences. According to previous research, the prevalence rate of obesity and overweight increased in Erbil. This study aims to determine the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity rates in Erbil. This study was a household survey based on a cross-sectional study that was conducted, and a multi-stage sampling strategy was used to choose the study sample. A questionnaire was conducted to collect the data, SPSS was used for analysing the data, and Chi-square (X²), was used to identify any kind of association between different variables in the study, whereas the p-value was considered (0.05). Regarding ethical approval, the study was conducted under the guidelines of the ethical approval research committee in the College of Medicine. In this research, the prevalence rate of obesity and overweight was 30.4%, 7.7% of them were obese, and 22.7% were overweight. The obesity rates between males and females were not different. Lifestyle and habit had an impact on increasing weight gain, though the number of meals, outside eating, fast foods, and snacks between meals were statistically not significant. However, eating without hunger was significant the p-value was (0.008). On the other hand, the children's habit of using electronic devices, smartphones, and other devices was significant, either using their mobile phone or their parent's phone. In conclusion, in Erbil city, the prevalence rate of obesity and overweight was dramatically increased, as well as the lifestyle factor that contributed to the development of these conditions, especially among those children exposed to multi-screen devices. According to these results, families have to improve their lifestyles and decrease the use of electrical devices by children.

Effects of compound plant extracts on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and histomorphology of liver and intestine of rice field eel (Monopterus albus)

AbstractCompound plant extracts (CPE) are beneficial for aquatic animals on growth performance and antioxidant capacity. A 56‐day experiment was conducted to investigate its positive effect on rice field eel. The fish were fed a commercial diet and supplementing CPE (mainly containing eucommia polysaccharides, reducing sugar) at 0, 0.8, 1.6, 2.4, and 3.2 g/kg. Results showed that dietary CPE significantly increased weight gain and specific growth rate (p &lt; 0.05). Liver lipid content in 1.6 and 3.2 g/kg groups was significantly lower than in 0.8 and 2.4 g/kg groups (p &lt; 0.05). Muscle lipid content in 0.8, 2.4, and 3.2 g/kg CPE groups was significantly lower than in control (p &lt; 0.05). Meanwhile, intestinal digestive enzymatic activities in the 3.2 g/kg CPE group were the highest in comparison to all other groups (p &lt; 0.05). Dietary CPE enhanced the antioxidant activities of serum and intestine (p &lt; 0.05). Compared with the control, intestinal fold thickness in CPE groups was significantly increased (p &lt; 0.05). Furthermore, dietary CPE reduced the degree of liver steatosis and the number of lipid droplet vacuoles. This study indicated that dietary CPE was beneficial to growth performance, antioxidant capacity, liver, and intestinal histology. Supplementation with 1.6–3.2 g/kg CPE is optimal for this eel species.

Melatonin Improves Glucose Homeostasis and Insulin Sensitivity by Mitigating Inflammation and Activating AMPK Signaling in a Mouse Model of Sleep Fragmentation.

Sleep fragmentation (SF) can increase inflammation and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to metabolic dysfunction. SF is associated with inflammation of adipose tissue and insulin resistance. Several studies have suggested that melatonin may have beneficial metabolic effects due to activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). However, it is unclear whether melatonin affects the AMPK signaling pathway in SF-induced metabolic dysfunction. Therefore, we hypothesize that SF induces metabolic impairment and inflammation in white adipose tissue (WAT), as well as altered intracellular homeostasis. We further hypothesize that these conditions could be improved by melatonin treatment. We conducted an experiment using adult male C57BL/6 mice, which were divided into three groups: control, SF, and SF with melatonin treatment (SF+Mel). The SF mice were housed in SF chambers, while the SF+Mel mice received daily oral melatonin. After 12 weeks, glucose tolerance tests, insulin tolerance tests, adipose tissue inflammation tests, and AMPK assessments were performed. The SF mice showed increased weight gain, impaired glucose regulation, inflammation, and decreased AMPK in WAT compared to the controls. Melatonin significantly improved these outcomes by mitigating SF-induced metabolic dysfunction, inflammation, and AMPK downregulation in adipose tissue. The therapeutic efficacy of melatonin against cardiometabolic impairments in SF may be due to its ability to restore adipose tissue homeostatic pathways.

Hypothalamic POMC neuron-specific knockout of MC4R affects insulin sensitivity by regulating Kir2.1

BackgroundImbalance in energy regulation is a major cause of insulin resistance and diabetes. Melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) signaling at specific sites in the central nervous system has synergistic but non-overlapping functions. However, the mechanism by which MC4R in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) region regulates energy balance and insulin resistance remains unclear.MethodsThe MC4Rflox/flox mice with proopiomelanocortin (POMC) -Cre mice were crossed to generate the POMC-MC4Rflox/+ mice. Then POMC-MC4Rflox/+ mice were further mated with MC4Rflox/flox mice to generate the POMC-MC4Rflox/flox mice in which MC4R is selectively deleted in POMC neurons. Bilateral injections of 200 nl of AAV-sh-Kir2.1 (AAV-sh-NC was used as control) were made into the ARC of the hypothalamus. Oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, respiratory exchange ratio and energy expenditure were measured by using the CLAMS; Total, visceral and subcutaneous fat was analyzed using micro-CT. Co-immunoprecipitation assays (Co-IP) were used to analyze the interaction between MC4R and Kir2.1 in GT1-7 cells.ResultsPOMC neuron-specific ablation of MC4R in the ARC region promoted food intake, impaired energy expenditure, leading to increased weight gain and impaired systemic glucose homeostasis. Additionally, MC4R ablation reduced the activation of POMC neuron, and is not tissue-specific for peripheral regulation, suggesting the importance of its central regulation. Mechanistically, sequencing analysis and Co-IP assay demonstrated a direct interaction of MC4R with Kir2.1. Knockdown of Kir2.1 in POMC neuron-specific ablation of MC4R restored the effect of MC4R ablation on energy expenditure and systemic glucose homeostasis, indicating by reduced body weight and ameliorated insulin resistance.ConclusionHypothalamic POMC neuron-specific knockout of MC4R affects energy balance and insulin sensitivity by regulating Kir2.1. Kir2.1 represents a new target and pathway that could be targeted in obesity.

The first commercially approved efficacious cryptosporidium vaccine protecting New-Born calves from severe diarrhea

Neonatal calf diarrhea (NCD) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in calves. Four major pathogens, including Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), bovine rotavirus (BRV), bovine coronavirus (BCV), and Cryptosporidium spp., are associated with NCD, with Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum) recognized as a major contributor. Despite various treatment options available, there is no effective vaccine for bovine cryptosporidiosis yet. In this study, recombinantly expressed C. parvum gp40 was evaluated as a candidate vaccine in pregnant animals. The vaccine was administered to pregnant cows during the last trimester of their pregnancy resulting in highly statistically significantly increased anti-gp40 antibody titers. The resulting anti-gp40 antibodies were transmitted to the calves via colostrum. Both suckling (n = 29; test:14, control:15) and non-suckling (n = 16; 8 per group) calves were challenged with live C. parvum oocysts. The calves that received the colostrum from gp40 vaccinated cows showed a highly statistically significant improvement in health (p < 0.0001), reduced incidence (p < 0.0001), and duration of severe diarrhea (p < 0.001) and increased weight gain in suckling calves (p < 0.0001). This study demonstrates that immune bovine colostrum, induced by immunization of late-gestation cows with C. parvum gp40, provided substantial protection to calves against cryptosporidiosis. These findings suggest that the gp40 vaccine has potential for preventing outbreaks of neonatal diarrhea associated with cryptosporidiosis in calves, thereby improving animal welfare and performance.

Effects of Five Lipid Sources on Growth, Hematological Parameters, Immunity and Muscle Quality in Juvenile Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides).

This study investigated the effects of fish oil (FO), soybean oil (SO), rapeseed oil (RO), peanut oil (PO) and lard oil (LO) on growth, immunity and muscle quality in juvenile largemouth bass. After 8 weeks, the results showed that FO and RO could increase weight gain and serum alkaline phosphatase and apelin values compared with LO (p < 0.05). Except lower crude lipid contents, higher amounts of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (15.83% and 14.64%) were present in the dorsal muscle of the FO and RO groups. Meanwhile, FO and RO could heighten mRNA levels of immune defense molecules (lysozyme, hepcidin, and transforming growth factor β1) compared with PO (p < 0.05). While SO could increase potential inflammatory risk via rising counts of white blood cells, platelets, neutrophils and monocytes, and mRNA levels of interleukins (IL-1β, IL-8, IL-12 and IL-15), FO and RO could improve hardness, chewiness and springiness through increasing amounts of hydroxyproline, collagen and lysyl oxidase, and mRNA levels of collagen 1α2 and prolyl hydroxylase in the fish dorsal muscle. Moreover, FO and RO could improve firmness through increasing glycogen and glycogen synthase 1 levels when compared with LO (p < 0.05). Therefore, these results could provide dietary lipid source references during the feeding process of adult largemouth bass.

VCD-induced menopause mouse model reveals reprogramming of hepatic metabolism

ObjectiveMenopause adversely impacts systemic energy metabolism and increases the risk of metabolic disease(s) including hepatic steatosis, but the mechanisms are largely unknown. Dosing female mice with vinyl cyclohexene dioxide (VCD) selectively causes follicular atresia in ovaries, leading to a murine menopause-like phenotype. MethodsIn this study, we treated female C57BL6/J mice with VCD (160 mg/kg i.p. for 20 consecutive days followed by verification of the lack of estrous cycling) to investigate changes in body composition, energy expenditure (EE), hepatic mitochondrial function, and hepatic steatosis across different dietary conditions. ResultsVCD treatment induced ovarian follicular loss and increased follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels in female mice, mimicking a menopause-like phenotype. VCD treatment did not affect body composition, or EE in mice on a low-fat diet (LFD) or in response to a short-term (1-week) high-fat, high sucrose diet (HFHS). However, the transition to a HFHS lowered cage activity in VCD mice. A chronic HFHS diet (16 weeks) significantly increased weight gain, fat mass, and hepatic steatosis in VCD-treated mice compared to HFHS-fed controls. In the liver, VCD mice showed suppressed hepatic mitochondrial respiration on LFD, while chronic HFHS resulted in compensatory increases in hepatic mitochondrial respiration. Also, liver RNA sequencing revealed that VCD promoted global upregulation of hepatic lipid/cholesterol synthesis pathways. ConclusionOur findings suggest that the VCD-induced menopause model compromises hepatic mitochondrial function and lipid/cholesterol homeostasis that sets the stage for HFHS diet-induced steatosis while also increasing susceptibility to obesity.

DNA methylation may partly explain psychotropic drug-induced metabolic side effects: results from a prospective 1-month observational study

BackgroundMetabolic side effects of psychotropic medications are a major drawback to patients’ successful treatment. Using an epigenome-wide approach, we aimed to investigate DNA methylation changes occurring secondary to psychotropic treatment and evaluate associations between 1-month metabolic changes and both baseline and 1-month changes in DNA methylation levels. Seventy-nine patients starting a weight gain inducing psychotropic treatment were selected from the PsyMetab study cohort. Epigenome-wide DNA methylation was measured at baseline and after 1 month of treatment, using the Illumina Methylation EPIC BeadChip.ResultsA global methylation increase was noted after the first month of treatment, which was more pronounced (p < 2.2 × 10–16) in patients whose weight remained stable (< 2.5% weight increase). Epigenome-wide significant methylation changes (p < 9 × 10−8) were observed at 52 loci in the whole cohort. When restricting the analysis to patients who underwent important early weight gain (≥ 5% weight increase), one locus (cg12209987) showed a significant increase in methylation levels (p = 3.8 × 10–8), which was also associated with increased weight gain in the whole cohort (p = 0.004). Epigenome-wide association analyses failed to identify a significant link between metabolic changes and methylation data. Nevertheless, among the strongest associations, a potential causal effect of the baseline methylation level of cg11622362 on glycemia was revealed by a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis (n = 3841 for instrument-exposure association; n = 314,916 for instrument-outcome association).ConclusionThese findings provide new insights into the mechanisms of psychotropic drug-induced weight gain, revealing important epigenetic alterations upon treatment, some of which may play a mediatory role.

THE DIFFERENCE CHANGE IN WEIGHT FAMILY PLANNING INJECTION ACCEPTORS THREE MONTHS WITH ONE MONTH IN MUARA VILLAGE CIREBON DISTRICT

Injected contraception is the most contraception method chosen by Indonesian women. There are 2 types of injected contraception, 3 monthly injecion which consists of progesterone only and 1 monthly injection consists of a combination of oesterogen-progesterone. One of its side effect is increase weight, which is usually distressing for women due to the increase risk of suffering from many diseases such as heart attack, type-2 diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, certain cancer, osteoarthritis, and asthma. The study aim was to identify the difference weight gain occurence between 3 monthly and 1 monthly injected contraception users in Muara Village- Suranenggala District. This research method uses comparative analytic studies using cross sectional resulting research which measured in interval scale. The sample is all 3 months KB injecting participants as much as 30 respondents and 1 month KB injections as much as 30 respondents. The data is analysis using t-test. The result showed a ρ value of 0,005 which meant there was a difference in weight gain occurence between the users of 3 monthly and 1 monthly injected contraception. The 3 monthly injection had been proven increasing the incidence of weight gain compared to the 1 monthly one. It was suggested that midwives should give proper counselling regarding to side effect of increasing weight gain during the use of 3 monthly contraceptive injection to be aware of by the users. Further investigation on other influencing factors of weight gain among contraceptive injection users.

Traditional Pediatric Massage Enhanced Hippocampal GR, BDNF and IGF-1 Expressions and Exerted an Anti-depressant Effect in an Adolescent Rat Model of CUMS-induced Depression

This study aimed to investigate the anti-depressant effect of traditional pediatric massage (TPM) in adolescent rats and its possible mechanism. The adolescent depression model in rats was established by using chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). All rats were randomly divided into five groups (seven per group), including the groups of control (CON), CUMS, CUMS with TPM, CUMS with back stroking massage (BSM) and CUMS with fluoxetine (FLX). The tests of sucrose preference, Morris water maze and elevated plus maze were used to evaluate depression-related behaviors. Plasma corticosterone (CORT) level was measured by ELISA. The gene and protein expressions of glucocorticoid receptor (GR), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were measured by RT-qPCR and IHC respectively. The results showed that CUMS induced depression-related behaviors in the adolescent rats, along with decreased weight gain and reduced hippocampal expressions of GR, IGF-1 and BDNF. TPM could effectively prevent depression-related behaviors in CUMS-exposed adolescent rats, manifested as increasing weight gain, sucrose consumption, ratio of open-arm entry, times of crossing the specific quadrant and shortening escape latency. TPM also decreased CORT level in plasma, together with enhancing expressions of GR, IGF-1 and BDNF in the hippocampus. These results may support the clinical application of TPM to prevent and treat adolescent depression.