Presence Of Subcutaneous Fat Research Articles

Analysis of Finger Photo Pulse Plethysmography and Body Composition among Low Back Pain Subjects with Lumbar Disc Degenerative Diseases Diagnosed by MRI Analysis

Lumbar disc degenerative disc disease, accompanied by back pain, is a prominent health concern in society. The purpose of the study was to investigate the connection of arterial stiffness and body composition in the patients suffering low back pain with lumbar disc degenerative disorders. A comparative study was performed on 197 patients, both male and female, between the ages of 30 and 70, who were experiencing low back pain. These patients have undergone magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbosacral region to evaluate the intervertebral disc's nucleus and annulus as well as its signal intensity and height. The Pfirrmann grading method was used to determine the extent of disc degeneration. The statistical analysis revealed no significant link between overall body fat and stiffness index in disc bulging and nerve compression groups. However, the group experiencing nerve compression demonstrated a statistically significant association between visceral fat and reflection index in individuals who were overfat and obese. In addition, there was a notable correlation between PWV and the reflection index of the disc bulging groups. So, whole body fat and PWV had a different impact on disc degeneration. The PWV has a robust positive correlation with both the stiffness index and reflection index. The presence of subcutaneous fat and vascular stiffness may not have any impact on low back pain in patients with disc bulging and nerve compression. Early identification of vascular stiffness and study of body composition serve as initial measures to avoid the progression of disc degeneration.

Insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and pathways regulating energy metabolism in skeletal muscle cells: The effects of subcutaneous and visceral fat, and long-chain saturated, n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids

Aims. The study aims to determine the effect of long-chain saturated and polyunsaturated (PUFA) fatty acids, specifically palmitic acid (PA; 16:0), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3) and linoleic acid (LA; 18:2n-6), and their interactions with factors from adipose tissue, on insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism in skeletal muscle. Methods. L6 myotubes were cultured with PA, DHA or LA (0.4mmol/l), with or without conditioned media from human subcutaneous (SC) and visceral (IAB) fat. Insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, lipid content, mRNA expression of key genes involved in nutrient utilization and protein expression of inhibitor protein inhibitor kappa B (IκB)-α and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) were measured. Results. PA and IAB fat reduced insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and their combined effect was similar to that of PA alone. PA-induced insulin resistance was ameliorated by inhibiting the de novo synthesis of ceramide, IκBα degradation or mTOR activation. The PA effect was also partially reversed by DHA and completely by LA in the presence of SC fat. PA increased diacylglycerol content, which was reduced by LA and to a greater extent when either IAB or SC fat was also present. PA increased SCD1 whereas DHA and LA increased AMPKα2 mRNA. In the presence of SC or IAB fat, the combination of PA with either DHA or LA decreased SCD1 and increased AMPKα2 mRNA. Conclusions. PA-induced insulin resistance in skeletal muscle involves inflammatory (nuclear factor kappa B/mTOR) and nutrient (ceramide) pathways. PUFAs promote pathways, at a transcriptional level, that increase fat oxidation and synergize with factors from SC fat to abrogate PA-induced insulin resistance.

Investigation of the effect of subcutaneous fat on image quality performance of 2D conventional imaging and tissue harmonic imaging

Tissue harmonic imaging (THI) has been reported to improve contrast resolution, tissue differentiation and overall image quality in clinical examinations. However, a study carried out previously by the authors ( Browne et al. 2004) found improvements only in spatial resolution and not in contrast resolution or anechoic target detection. This result may have been due to the homogeneity of the phantom. Biologic tissues are generally inhomogeneous and THI has been reported to improve image quality in the presence of large amounts of subcutaneous fat. The aims of the study were to simulate the distortion caused by subcutaneous fat to image quality and thus investigate further the improvements reported in anechoic target detection and contrast resolution performance with THI compared with 2D conventional imaging. In addition, the effect of three different types of fat-mimicking layer on image quality was examined. The abdominal transducer of two ultrasound scanners with 2D conventional imaging and THI were tested, the 4C1 (Aspen-Acuson, Siemens Co., CA, USA) and the C5–2 (ATL HDI 5000, ATL/Philips, Amsterdam, The Netherlands). An ex vivo subcutaneous pig fat layer was used to replicate beam distortion and phase aberration seen clinically in the presence of subcutaneous fat. Three different types of fat-mimicking layers (olive oil, lard and lard with fish oil capsules) were evaluated. The subcutaneous pig fat layer demonstrated an improvement in anechoic target detection with THI compared with 2D conventional imaging, but no improvement was demonstrated in contrast resolution performance; a similar result was found in a previous study conducted by this research group ( Browne et al. 2004) while using this tissue-mimicking phantom without a fat layer. Similarly, while using the layers of olive oil, lard and lard with fish oil capsules, improvements due to THI were found in anechoic target detection but, again, no improvements were found for contrast resolution for any of the layer combinations. Therefore, it was felt that the lack of improvement in contrast resolution performance may be due to the test phantom design and not to whether a layer was present that caused beam distortion and phase aberrations. (E-mail: jacinta.browne@dit.ie)

Schizophrenia: the illness that made us human

Any hypotheses concerning the origins of humans must explain many things. Among these are: 1, the growth in brain size around two million years ago; 2, the presence of subcutaneous fat; 3, the near absence of change or cultural progress for around 2 million years after the brain grew in size; 4, the cultural explosion which began somewhere between fifty thousand and one hundred thousand years ago with the emergence of art, music, religion and warfare; 5, the further cultural explosion around ten thousand to fifteen thousand years ago which developed with the emergence of agriculture and which has continued since. Since the brain, like subcutaneous fat, is particularly rich in lipids, and since the microconnections of the brain are substantially lipid in nature, it is suggested that changes in lipid metabolism are what differentiated humans from the great apes. The growth in brain size and in the quality of subcutaneous adipose tissue may have occurred because of changes in the proteins which regulate the rate of delivery of fatty acids to tissues, notably lipoprotein lipases and fatty acid binding proteins. The creativity which occurred one hundred thousand years ago may have resulted from changes in phospholipid-synthesizing, -remodelling and -degrading enzymes which largely determine the microconnectivity of neurons. Family studies and adoption studies indicate that schizophrenia in a family member is associated with an increased risk of the illness in other family members. It is also associated with an increased risk of schizotypy, manic-depression, dyslexia, sociopathy and psychopathy. On the other hand it is also an indication of an increased likelihood of high creativity, leadership qualities, achievements in many fields, high musical skills and an intense interest in religion. I propose that the characteristics which entered the human race about one hundred thousand years ago and which ended around two million years of cultural near-stagnation are precisely those shown by the families of people with schizophrenia. I propose that these features are caused by variations in phospholipid biochemistry which are responsible both for schizophrenia and for our humanity. This would help to explain why schizophrenia is present to approximately the same degree in all races. It is the illness which made us human prior to the separation of the races.

Schizophrenia: The illness that made us human

Any hypotheses concerning the origins of humans must explain many things. Among these are: 1, the growth in brain size around two million years ago; 2, the presence of subcutaneous fat; 3, the near absence of change or cultural progress for around 2 million years after the brain grew in size; 4, the cultural explosion which began somewhere between fifty thousand and one hundred thousand years ago with the emergence of art, music, religion and warfare; 5, the further cultural explosion around ten thousand to fifteen thousand years ago which developed with the emergence of agriculture and which has continued since. Since the brain, like subcutaneous fat, is particularly rich in lipids, and since the microconnections of the brain are substantially lipid in nature, it is suggested that changes in lipid metabolism are what differentiated humans from the great apes. The growth in brain size and in the quality of subcutaneous adipose tissue may have occurred because of changes in the proteins which regulate the rate of delivery of fatty acids to tissues, notably lipoprotein lipases and fatty acid binding proteins. The creativity which occurred one hundred thousand years ago may have resulted from changes in phospholipid-synthesizing, -remodelling and -degrading enzymes which largely determine the microconnectivity of neurons. Family studies and adoption studies indicate that schizophrenia in a family member is associated with an increased risk of the illness in other family members. It is also associated with an increased risk of schizotypy, manic-depression, dyslexia, sociopathy and psychopathy. On the other hand it is also an indication of an increased likelihood of high creativity, leadership qualities, achievements in many fields, high musical skills and an intense interest in religion. I propose that the characteristics which entered the human race about one hundred thousand years ago and which ended around two million years of cultural near-stagnation are precisely those shown by the families of people with schizophrenia. I propose that these features are caused by variations in phospholipid biochemistry which are responsible both for schizophrenia and for our humanity. This would help to explain why schizophrenia is present to approximately the same degree in all races. It is the illness which made us human prior to the separation of the races.

Consultation with the specialist. Vascular access.

Achieving vascular access in infants and children is often a challenge for emergency medical technicians, nurses, and physicians. It is a vital intervention in the critically ill or injured child and is necessary for infusing medications and fluids and obtaining blood samples for laboratory analysis. It often takes more than 10 minutes to achieve venous access during pediatric resuscitation. The presence of subcutaneous fat, the small size of peripheral vessels, vasoconstriction, and the behavior of anxious and frightened infants and children often are barriers to successful intravenous line placement. Other factors that may affect success include: 1) the skill of the person performing the procedure, 2) immobilization of the patient and/or extremity, 3) the availability of small over-the-needle catheters, 4) the availability of all materials necessary to secure the line, and 5) the site of catheter placement. Critically ill or injured pediatric patients need rapid vascular access. Health-care providers, therefore, must understand the priorities for obtaining access to a vein. Peripheral venous access is a satisfactory route for infusions, but no more than 1 to 2 minutes should be spent attempting to establish peripheral intravenous access in ill or injured patients. A reasonable approach to vascular access in these patients is as follows: 1) Attempt peripheral access for 1 to 2 minutes

Consultation with the Specialist

Achieving vascular access in infants and children is often a challenge for emergency medical technicians, nurses, and physicians. It is a vital intervention in the critically ill or injured child and is necessary for infusing medications and fluids and obtaining blood samples for laboratory analysis. It often takes more than 10 minutes to achieve venous access during pediatric resuscitation. The presence of subcutaneous fat, the small size of peripheral vessels, vasoconstriction, and the behavior of anxious and frightened infants and children often are barriers to successful intravenous line placement. Other factors that may affect success include: 1) the skill of the person performing the procedure, 2) immobilization of the patient and/or extremity, 3) the availability of small over-the-needle catheters, 4) the availability of all materials necessary to secure the line, and 5) the site of catheter placement. Critically ill or injured pediatric patients need rapid vascular access. Health-care providers, therefore, must understand the priorities for obtaining access to a vein. Peripheral venous access is a satisfactory route for infusions, but no more than 1 to 2 minutes should be spent attempting to establish peripheral intravenous access in ill or injured patients. A reasonable approach to vascular access in these patients is as follows: 1) Attempt peripheral access for 1 to 2 minutes