Metabolic Syndrome and Risk for Incident Alzheimer's Disease or Vascular Dementia: The Three-City Study

OBJECTIVE—Associations between metabolic syndrome and its individual components with risk of incident dementia and its different subtypes are inconsistent

Cyclic oxidation of coated and uncoated single-crystal nickel-based superalloy MC2 analyzed by continuous thermogravimetry analysis

The previously developed cyclic thermogravimetry analysis (CTGA) [Monceau D, Poquillon D. Oxid Met 2004;61:143–163] method is applied to the cyclic oxidation at 1150 C of a NiCoCrAlYTa-coated and an uncoated single-crystal nickel-based superalloy MC2. A new procedure to correct the buoyancy effect is proposed in order to evaluate the amount of oxide formed during the heating periods, which can be important for alloys forming fast-growing transient oxides or during cycling with slow heating rates. It is shown that cyclic thermogravimetry is an useful technique for uantifying the oxidation resistance of an industrial alloy. Moreover, the behaviour of the alloy is better described with CTGA than with a classic cyclic gravimetric test, because both isothermal oxidation kinetics and spalling behaviour are assessed independently. In the present case, it is shown clearly that the NiCoCrAlYTa coating greatly improves the cyclic oxidation resistance without decreasing the isothermal oxidation kinetics. Finally, the use of CTGA for performance and time-of-life evaluations is demonstrated

Amyloid Precursor Protein and Proinflammatory Changes Are Regulated in Brain and Adipose Tissue in a Murine Model of High Fat Diet-Induced Obesity

Background: Middle age obesity is recognized as a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) although a mechanistic linkage remains unclear. Based upon the fact that obese adipose tissue and AD brains are both areas of proinflammatory change, a possible common event is chronic inflammation. Since an autosomal dominant form of AD is associated with mutations in the gene coding for the ubiquitously expressed transmembrane protein, amyloid precursor protein (APP) and recent evidence demonstrates increased APP levels in adipose tissue during obesity it is feasible that APP serves some function in both disease conditions. Methodology/Principal Findings: To determine whether diet-induced obesity produced proinflammatory changes and altered APP expression in brain versus adipose tissue, 6 week old C57BL6/J mice were maintained on a control or high fat diet for 22 weeks. Protein levels and cell-specific APP expression along with markers of inflammation and immune cell activation were compared between hippocampus, abdominal subcutaneous fat and visceral pericardial fat. APP stimulation-dependent changes in macrophage and adipocyte culture phenotype were examined for comparison to the in vivo changes. Conclusions/Significance: Adipose tissue and brain from high fat diet fed animals demonstrated increased TNF-a and microglial and macrophage activation. Both brains and adipose tissue also had elevated APP levels localizing to neurons and macrophage/adipocytes, respectively. APP agonist antibody stimulation of macrophage cultures increased specific cytokin

Import of atmospheric trace metal elements in the aspe valley and somport tunnel (Pyrénées Atlantiques, France): Level of contamination and evaluation of emission sources [Apports atmosphériques des éléments traces métalliques dans la vallée d'aspe et le tunnel du somport (Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France): Niveau de contamination et évaluation des sources d'émissions]

cited By 3International audienceThe objective of this study is to define a reference state of metallic contaminants for the monitoring of road traffic emissions since the opening of the Somport tunnel in the Aspe valley (Pyrénées). To establish air quality indicators, trace metal elements (TME) (Al, Na, Mg, K, Ca, V, Mn, Cr, Zn, Cu, Rb, Cd, Sn, Sb, Ba, Ce, Pb and U) and lead isotopic ratios ( 208Pb/206Pb and206Pb/207Pb) were determined in various atmospheric receptors (fresh snow, bulk deposition, atmospheric particles and epiphytic lichen). Sampling and analyses with ultra clean procedures were employed for TME quantification. The different investigated atmospheric receptors allow the integration of the atmospheric inputs from daily to pluriannual temporal scales and along spatial scales through the North-South axis of the valley and as a function of the altitude. The Aspe valley exhibits a contamination level characteristic of remote European areas and the major metallic contaminants identified are Cd, Sb, Zn, Cu, Pb and Sn. All the analyses of TME in atmospheric receptors point out a decrease of Pb and Cd emissions in the northern hemisphere. The comparison with previous studies demonstrates a significant change in lead isotope composition and both Cu and Sb increase concentrations in atmospheric receptors. These results suggest a significant contribution of both incinerators emissions and the new road traffic pollution. In addition, elementary ratios Zn/Sb vs Cu/Sb seems to discriminate the inputs from waste treatment industries in the Aspe valley. The monitoring of wet deposition and atmospheric particles indicates an additional contribution from regional sources for Zn, Pb and Cd, in the low Aspe valley. The analysis of TME in atmospheric receptors allows thus to assess the contaminant contributions (i) from local emissions of domestic heat sources, from agricultural burning practices and road traffic, and (ii) from regional anthropogenic sources of waste incinerators, industries and urban area. Furthermore, the valley is significantly influenced by wind erosion and long range transport of TME in the Northern Hemisphere. The determination of TME and Pb isotopic ratios in the Somport tunnel indicate that local road traffic emissions are characterised (i) by a significant contribution of Sb, Zn and Cu, and (ii) by a slightly radiogenic Pb isotopic composition. Cu/Sb ratio that is used to trace brake wear emission is also well correlated with the road traffic in the Somport tunnel. In summary, the actual low traffic intensity in the Aspe valley prevents from conclusive evidence of significant and widespread contamination from road traffic emissions. The spatial distribution of the TME enrichment factor in epiphytic lichen, from the main road (RN134), indicates however the dry particulate mobilisation and emission by vehicles close to the road

Metabolic syndrome and localization of white matter hyperintensities in the elderly population.

International audienceBACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is defined as a clustering of metabolic disorders: abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and hyperglycemia. Although specific components of MetS have been associated with white matter hyperintensities (WMH), less is known about the association between MetS as a whole and WMH, especially in normal aging. We aimed to: (1) investigate this association in a cohort of healthy elderly individuals, and (2) examine the relationship between MetS and the regional distribution of WMH, to further understanding of the relationship between MetS and structural brain changes. METHODS: Analyses were carried out on 308 participants (48.1% men, age: 71.0 ± 3.9 years) from the French longitudinal ESPRIT (Enquête de Santé Psychologique--Risques, Incidence et Traitement) study, who were free of cerebrovascular disease cognitive and functional impairment. Logistic regression models were used to examine the cross-sectional association between MetS (defined using the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III criteria) and (1) WMH volumes, and (2) WMH volumes according to their localization in insulofrontal and temporoparietal regions. RESULTS: After adjusting for potential confounders, participants with MetS had a twofold increased chance of presenting with high levels of WMH volume compared with those without (odds ratio [OR] = 2.74, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.25-6.03). MetS was specifically associated with an increase of temporoparietal WMH volumes, but no association was found between MetS and WMH localized in the insulofrontal region. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that effective management of MetS may reduce WMH accumulation in brain areas already vulnerable to the aging process