Nuchal Fat Research Articles

Serum levels of adiponectin, resistin and tumour necrosis factor-alpha in Nigerian men with nuchal fat fold

BackgroundFactors necessitating the propensity of adults with upper body fat deposition (UBFD) for developing insulin resistance and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are poorly understood. Therefore, understanding the roles of adipocytokines in the development of UBFD-associated pathologies could be of clinical importance. AimTo assess the levels of selected adipocytokines in males with nuchal fat fold (NFF). MethodologyEighty-six males (43 with NFF and 43 without NFF) were enrolled into this study. Serum levels of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), resistin and adiponectin were determined using ELISA. ResultsAdiponectin level was significantly higher while resistin and TNF-α levels were significantly lower in NFF compared with the controls. TNF-α had significant positive correlation with systolic blood pressure (SBP) while adiponectin had significant positive correlation with the waist-hip ratio (WHR). Stratifying based on the obesity status, the mean body weight, BMI, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), WHR, neck circumference (NC), NFF and diastolic BP were significantly higher in NFF with obesity compared with those without obesity. However, levels of TNF-α, resistin and adiponectin were similar between the two groups. ConclusionsNFF is associated with elevation in adiponectin level and increased CVD risk. NFF can therefore, serve as an index of early onset of cardiometabolic diseases.

Telomere shortening associates with elevated insulin and nuchal fat accumulation

Obesity and relative leucocyte telomere length (RTL) are both linked to accelerated aging and premature mortality. We examined if nuchal subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) thickness, a surrogate marker of central trunk-weighted obesity, is an independent predictor of RTL that provides information beyond BMI, metabolic and inflammatory markers. RTL and nuchal SAT thickness were determined in 362 participants of the STYJOBS/EDECTA study (STYrian Juvenile Obesity Study, Early DEteCTion of atherosclerosis), which included overweight individuals and matched eutrophic controls. Fasting plasma samples were used for the measurement of leptin, resistin, adiponectin, glucose, insulin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), liver enzymes, creatinine, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, oxidized LDL, triglycerides, homocysteine and uric acid. Furthermore, all participants underwent carotid artery ultrasound. Obese individuals had markedly higher body mass index (BMI), nuchal SAT thickness, hip and waist circumferences and carotid intima media thickness (IMT) than eutrophic controls. In addition, they showed typical biochemical abnormalities related to energy metabolism, systemic inflammation and liver function. RTL was inversely correlated with nuchal SAT thickness, IMT, hs-CRP, alkaline phosphatase, insulin, resistin, and leptin. Positive correlations were seen with homocysteine and creatinine. Stepwise linear regression analyses identified nuchal SAT thickness and insulin as the only significant predictors of RTL. In conclusion, nuchal SAT thickness is a robust predictor of RTL that provides information beyond traditional obesity-related metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers. This suggests an important role of fat depots at the neck for accelerated telomere shortening.

Sonoelastography Can Be Used to Monitor the Restoration of Achilles Tendon Elasticity after Injury

The aim of the current study was to evaluate an ultrasound approach for depicting elastic recovery after stem cell application on injured Achilles tendons. A rabbit Achilles tendon injury model was used and randomized hind limbs received an extracellular matrix either with autologous mesenchymal stem cells (group 2, n = 6) or without (group 3, n = 6). The cells were harvested from the rabbits' nuchal fat body. Untreated Achilles tendons (group 1, n = 6) served as controls. Specimens were harvested after 8 weeks and analyzed longitudinally for elasticity using a high resolution 6-15 MHz matrix linear probe. For each tendon, real-time color-coded sonoelastography sequences were recorded for 20 seconds and 10 color histogram frames were obtained. Defined regions of interest (ROIs) were placed on the injury (n = 3) and on the adjacent uninjured tendon tissue (n = 3). In total, 180 measurements were obtained for semi-quantitative analysis. Repeated measures ANOVA demonstrated a higher elasticity for the stem cell-seeded matrix (group 2) in comparison to the unseeded matrix (group 3) (p < 0.001). No significant difference was found between the injured tendon tissue treated with stem cell-seeded matrix (group 2) and the uninjured Achilles tendons (group 1) (p > 0.05). Moreover, no differences were found between the measurements at different points in time (p > 0.05). Our results indicate that autologous mesenchymal stem cell application successfully restores the mechanical properties of injured tendon tissue. Furthermore, sonoelastography makes it possible to monitor the elasticity of injured Achilles tendons.

Assessment of body fat in the pony: Part I. Relationships between the anatomical distribution of adipose tissue, body composition and body condition

Evaluation of equine body fat content is important for nutritional and clinical purposes. However, our understanding of total body fat and its regional distribution in the body is sparse. Currently, body fat evaluation relies on the subjective assessment of body condition score (BCS), which has never been validated against 'gold standard' chemical analysis or dissection measurements in ponies. To define the relationships between subjective (BCS), objective (morphometric) indices of body fat and 'gold standard' measurements of actual body composition. BCS and morphometry offer valid, noninvasive methods for determination of body fat in equids. Seven mature (mean ± s.e. 13 ± 3 years, 212 ± 14 kg, BCS 1.25-7/9), Welsh Mountain pony mares, destined for euthanasia (for nonresearch purposes), were used. For all ponies, body mass (BM), BCS and various morphometric measurements were recorded. Following euthanasia, all ponies were systematically dissected. Discrete white adipose tissue (WAT) depots were independently described. Gross, body chemical composition was determined by proximate analyses. Total somatic soft tissues increased linearly (r(2) = 1.00), whereas body WAT content (1-26% live BM) increased exponentially (r(2) = 0.96), with BCS. WAT was equally distributed between internal and external sites in all animals irrespective of BCS. Nuchal fat was a poor predictor of total WAT (r(2) = 0.66). Periorbital WAT did not alter with BCS (r(2) = 0.01). Heart girth:withers height and ultrasonic retroperitoneal fat depth were closely associated with total, chemically-extracted lipid which comprised 1-29% live BM (r(2) = 0.91 and 0.88, respectively). The exponential relationship between BCS and total body WAT/lipid suggests that BCS is unlikely to be a sensitive index of body fat for animals in moderate-obese states. Morphometric measurements (body girths and retroperitonel fat depth) may be useful to augment subjective BCS systems.

Soft markers: where are we now?

With high resolution ultrasound, it is possible to examine fetal anatomy in great detail. The quality of images obtained today is such that minor deviations from normal can often be clearly identified. Whilst the relationship of major anomalies with genetic syndromes and karyotypic abnormalities is clear, the importance of more subtle ultrasound findings – which are often so common as to be considered a normal variant – has remained confusing. These subtle findings, or soft markers, frequently resolve as gestation increases. The degree to which such markers increase the risk of aneuploidy has always been controversial, the lack of clarity being primarily related to the initial reports of associations in high-risk cases, with the strength of association usually weakened or indeed negated in studies of low-risk populations. The National Screening Committee in England has recently provided guidance on this issue, and this review offers practical advice on management of pregnancies where soft markers are detected. Isolated soft markers, with the exception of increased nuchal fat pad, should not be used to adjust the a priori risk of Down’s syndrome.

Effects elicited by toxaphene in the cynomolgus monkey ( Macaca fascicularis): a pilot study

Toxaphene, which was added to glycerol/corn oil, was administered at a level of 1 mg/kg body weight/day in gelatin capsules to four healthy young adult cynomolgus ( Macaca fascicularis) monkeys for 52 weeks. Four control monkeys ingested capsules containing only glycerol/corn oil. Each group had two males and two females. On a daily basis, each monkey's feed and water consumption was determined, its health was monitored and the females were swabbed to evaluate menstrual status. On a weekly basis, each monkey's body weight was determined and a detailed clinical evaluation was performed. At 4-week intervals, blood samples were taken for serum biochemistry, haematology and toxaphene analysis. Also, a local anaesthetic was administered to the nuchal fat pad area of each monkey, and adipose samples were obtained for toxaphene analysis. 1 day prior to the biopsies, a 24-h urine and faecal collection was obtained for toxaphene analysis. After 34 weeks of treatment, the immune system of the monkeys was evaluated. After 52 weeks of dosing, all treated and two control animals were necropsied. Liver samples were obtained and microsomal fractions were prepared immediately. A portion of liver and kidney was taken for toxaphene analysis. All of the major internal organs were weighed and bone marrow evaluations were conducted. Organ and tissue samples were fixed in 10% formalin and processed for light microscopy. There was no effect of treatment on body weight gain, feed consumption, water consumption or haematological parameters. Two major clinical findings were inflammation and/or enlargement of the tarsal gland and impacted diverticulae in the upper and lower eye lids. At necropsy, the relative spleen and thymus weights were greater for the treated monkeys than the controls. Toxaphene administration produced an increase in metabolism of aminopyrene, methoxyresorufin and ethoxyresorufin, three substrates that are altered specifically by cytochrome P450-based hepatic monooxygenase enzymes. Histopathological examination of tissues was unremarkable by light microscopy. Tissue analysis for toxaphene and immunology findings have been published elsewhere.

Toxicological consequences of toxaphene ingestion by cynomolgus ( Macaca fascicularis) monkeys. Part 1: pre-mating phase

A total of 40 menstruating cynomolgus monkeys ( Macaca fascicularis) with an average age of 7.25±1.06 years (standard deviation), five male cynomolgus monkeys with an average age of 12.6±0.66 years, and five male cynomolgus males with an average age of 6.2±0.23 years were obtained from the Health Canada breeding laboratory. The females were initially randomized to the four test groups in accordance with their previous reproductive success and body weight. They were then randomly allocated between two similar environmentally-controlled rooms (20 females/room). The males were randomly assigned to one of the test rooms (six or four males/room). The female test groups self-ingested capsules containing doses of 0, 0.1, 0.4 or 0.8 mg (Groups A, B, C, D) of technical grade toxaphene/kg body weight/day (i.e. five females/dose group/room). The older males (Group E) were proven breeders and were used exclusively for mating and their capsules contained no toxaphene. The younger males (Group F) ingested capsules containing 0.8 mg of technical grade toxaphene/kg body weight/day. After 20 weeks of daily dosing, it was assumed, based on the results of a pilot study [Andrews P., Headrick K., Pilon J.-C., Bryce F., Iverson F. (1996) Capillary GC–ECD and ECNI GCMS charcterization of toxaphene residues in primate tissues during a feed study. Chemosphere 32, 1043–1053], that the treated monkeys had attained a qualitative pharmacokinetic steady state regarding the concentration of toxaphene in their adipose tissue and blood. On a daily basis, each monkey's feed and water consumption as well as its health were monitored. In addition, the females were swabbed daily to determine menstrual status. On a weekly basis, each monkey's body weight was determined and its dose of toxaphene adjusted. Detailed clinical examinations were conducted at intervals of 4 weeks or less. Periodically, starting prior to the initiation of dosing, blood samples were taken for serum biochemistry, haematology and toxaphene analysis. In addition, specimens from the nuchal fat pad were also obtained for toxaphene analysis. Statistical analysis did not reveal any effect of treatment on body weight gain, feed consumption, water consumption or haematological parameters during the 75-week pre-mating phase. The only serum biochemistry parameter which was consistently affected by treatment was cholesterol, the level of which decreased in a linear fashion as a consequence of dose, and this effect increased with time on test ( P=0.037). No other biological effects of toxaphene ingestion were found during the premating phase of this toxicological–reproduction study.

Tissue distribution of polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) and non- ortho chlorinated biphenyls (non- ortho CBs) in harbour porpoises ( Phocoena phocoena) from Swedish waters

Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) and non- ortho chlorinated biphenyls (non- ortho CBs) were analysed in blubber, nuchal fat, liver, muscle, kidney and brain of three male harbour porpoises ( Phocoena phocoena) from the west coast of Sweden. To estimate spatial variation, PCNs and non- ortho CBs were analysed in six blubber samples collected at different anatomical sites of each animal. Highest wet weight concentrations of ΣPCNs were detected in the lipid rich tissues (blubber and nuchal fat) and liver (520–730 and 520 pg/g, respectively) and lowest in brain (22 pg/g). TetraCNs were most abundant in muscle, kidney and brain, while the hexaCNs were most abundant in the lipid rich tissues and liver. The highest lipid weight concentration recorded (11 ng/g) was for the hexaCN congeners no. 66/67 in liver. These coeluting hexaCN congeners accounted for 80–100% of total hexaCNs in all tissues examined. Concentrations of Σnon- ortho CBs were highest in lipid rich tissues (220–280 pg/g wet weight). Non- ortho CB no. 77 and 169 constituted between 62–86% and 4.9–9.3%, respectively, of total Σnon- ortho CBs. No major variation of Σnon- ortho CB concentrations was found between the six different blubber sites but higher ΣPCN concentrations (wet weight) were found dorsally at the peduncle. Toxic equivalent concentrations (TEQs) showed that non- ortho CB no. 126 was the main contributor to total TEQs in all tissues, except liver in which hexaCN congener nos. 66/67 contributed to about 50% of total TEQs.

PCBs, DDTs and methyl sulphone metabolites in various tissues of harbour porpoises from Swedish waters

Aryl methyl sulphones of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 3- p,p′-DDE (MeSO 2-PCBs and 3-MeSO 2- p,p′-DDE), PCBs and ΣDDTs were analysed in five different tissues (blubber, nuchal fat, liver, muscle, brain) of adult male harbour porpoises from the west coast of Sweden. Two different methods for MeSO 2-PCBs and 3-MeSO 2- p,p′-DDE determination were used, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and gas chromatography–atomic emission detection. Highest concentrations of ΣMeSO 2-PCBs were found in liver (0.15–0.49 μg/g lipid wt.), which corresponded to 2.0–2.8% of the ΣPCBs concentrations. Blubber and nuchal fat showed ΣMeSO 2-PCB concentrations that were three to five times lower than those in liver. Concentrations of 3-MeSO 2- p,p′-DDE in liver, muscle and brain corresponded to 0.26–4.6% of the p,p′-DDE concentrations, while in blubber and nuchal fat, 3-MeSO 2- p,p′-DDE constituted 0.033–0.21% of p,p′-DDE. The different tissues analysed showed similar levels (lipid wt.) of ΣPCBs and ΣDDTs, except for brain that had almost 10 times lower levels compared to the other tissues. Using the ΣPCBs/ΣMeSO 2-PCBs ratio to estimate MeSO 2-PCB formation and secondary metabolism capacity, the harbour porpoise showed a relatively low capacity of MeSO 2-PCB formation compared to other small toothed whales and seals. Blubber sampled from five different anatomical locations showed that concentrations of contaminants may be unevenly distributed in blubber in certain animals. This should be taken into account when choosing sampling sites on the porpoise.

Toxicological consequences of aroclor 1254 ingestion by female rhesus (Macaca mulatta) monkeys and their nursing infants. Part 3: Post-reproduction and pathological findings

A group of 80 menstruating rhesus (Macaca mulatta) monkeys were randomly allocated to four similar rooms (20 monkeys/room) and then to one of five dose groups (four females/dose group room). Each day the monkeys self-ingested capsules containing doses of 0, 5, 20, 40 or 80 μg Aroclor 1254/kg body weight. After 25 months of continuous dosing, approximately 90% of the treated females had attained a qualitative pharmacokinetic steady state with respect to the concentration of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) in their nuchal fat pad. Concurrently, sebaceous glands were being examined for changes analagous to chloracne. Subsequently, the females were paired with untreated males. The infants' blood PCB levels at birth were not correlated with its dam's dose or blood PCB level. However, there was an association between an infants preweaning blood PCB levels and its dam's dose and PCB milk levels. After weaning, the infants were not dosed with PCB. The half-life for the PCB in the infants' blood was determined and found to be slightly more than 15 wk. After 6 yr on test, three monkeys from the 0, 5, 20 and 40 μg dose groups were randomly allocated to a depletion study to ascertain the half-lives of specific PCB congeners (Mes et al., Chemosphere 1995, 30, 789–800). Concurrently, necropsies began of the remaining females, and of seven infants from the treated dams and four infants from the control dams, which had attained an age of 2 yr. Approximately 3 yr later, the depletion monkeys were necropsied. The only statistically significant treatment-related pathological changes found during the study were in the adult females, in which an involution of the sebaceous glands and a dose related increase in liver weight due to hyperplasia were evident.

Dorsal Laminectomy in the Horse II. Evaluation in the Normal Horse

Subtotal dorsal cervical laminectomy was performed on nine normal horses to evaluate positioning, refine the surgical technique, and assess the immediate and long‐term effects of this procedure in the horse. Funkquist type B laminectomies were performed at various levels from C3‐C4 to C6‐C7. Absorbable gelatin sponge or autogenous nuchal fat was placed over the exposed dura mater. Surgery times varied from 2 to 3 hours, and all horses recovered without complication. Rapid primary intention wound healing occurred, with two horses showing neck pain. All remained neurologically normal. The horses were euthanized 6 weeks, 3 months, or 6 months postoperatively. Myelograms performed just prior to euthanasia demonstrated normal or expanded dye column widths. Necropsy revealed that all surgical sites had healed well. The laminectomy membrane was soft and pliable and could be easily separated from the underlying dura mater when fat was used as interpositional material. When gelatin sponge was used, the laminectomy membrane was firmly bonded to the dura. Spinal cords at the level of laminectomy appeared normal and moved freely within the vertebral canal. Histological evaluation of the laminectomy sites and associated spinal cord revealed no abnormalities attributable to the surgery. It was concluded that dorsal cervical laminectomy can be performed in horses without untoward sequelae. The procedure may be useful for the treatment of equine cervical compressive myelopathies.

Dorsal Laminectomy in the Horse III. Results in Horses With Cervical Vertebral Malformation

Subtotal dorsal cervical laminectomy was used to relieve spinal cord compression due to cervical vertebral malformation in 16 horses. The majority were Thoroughbred or Quarter Horse males, 1 to 4 years old. The caudal cervical vertebrae were involved in all but two instances. A Funkquist type B laminectomy was performed and the defect filled with a free autogenous nuchal fat graft. All horses recovered from surgery without complication or deterioration in neurological status. Neurological improvement occurred in 12 cases, including six that became sound. Three horses fractured a vertebral articular process and were euthanized. A modification to the shape of the laminectomy was adopted to reduce this complication.

Dorsal Laminectomy in the Horse I. Review of the Literature and Description of a New Procedure

Equine cervical vertebral malformation may result in spinal cord compression that, until recently, has been treated medically. Two descriptions of dorsal laminectomy in the horse indicated the technique could be disastrous, even in the normal horse, and postoperative improvement was variable. In the technique described here, the horse is placed in an oblique lateral position with the neck ventroflexed. A dorsal midline incision is used to expose the cervical vertebrae. Following removal of the soft tissues overlying the dorsal laminae, a Funkquist type B laminectomy is performed. Ligamentum flavum scar tissue, articular facets, and joint capsule are trimmed if they are contributing to the spinal cord compression. The bony defect is filled with a nuchal fat graft, and the surgical site is drained for 4 to 5 days by a suction drainage apparatus. The technique is evaluated in two accompanying articles.