Physiological and psychological determinants of long-term diet-induced type 2 diabetes (T2DM) remission:A narrative review

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a highly prevalent metabolic disease, causing a heavy burden on healthcare systems worldwide, with related complications and anti-diabetes drug prescriptions. Recently, it was demonstrated that T2DM can be put into remission via significant weight loss using low-carbohydrate diets (LCDs) and very low-energy diets (VLEDs) in individuals with overweight and obesity. Clinical trials demonstrated remission rates of 25–77%, and metabolic improvements such as improved blood lipid profile and blood pressure were observed. In contrast, clinical trials showed that remission rate declines with time, concurrent with weight gain, or diminished weight loss. This review aims to discuss existing literature regarding underlying determinants of long-term remission of T2DM including metabolic adaptations to weight loss (e.g., role of gastrointestinal hormones), type of dietary intervention (i.e., LCDs or VLEDs), maintaining beta (β)-cell function, early glycemic control, and psychosocial factors. This narrative review is significant because determining the factors that are associated with challenges in maintaining long-term remission may help in designing sustainable interventions for type 2 diabetes remission.</p

Assessment of electromechanically stimulated bone marrow stem cells seeded acellular cardiac patch in a rat myocardial infarct model

In this study, we evaluated cardiomyogenic differentiation of electromechanically stimulated rat bone marrow-derived stem cells (rt-BMSCs) on an acellular bovine pericardium (aBP) and we looked at the functioning of this engineered patch in a rat myocardial infarct (MI) model. aBP was prepared using a detergent-based decellularization procedure followed by rt-BMSCs seeding, and electrical, mechanical, or electromechanical stimulations (3 millisecond pulses of 5 V cm-1at 1 Hz, 5% stretching) to enhance cardiomyogenic differentiation. Furthermore, the electromechanically stimulated patch was applied to the MI region over 3 weeks. After this period, the retrieved patch and infarct region were evaluated for the presence of calcification, inflammatory reaction (CD68), patch to host tissue cell migration, and structural sarcomere protein expressions. In conjunction with any sign of calcification, a higher number of BrdU-labelled cells, and a low level of CD68 positive cells were observed in the infarct region under electromechanically stimulated conditions compared with static conditions. More importantly, MHC, SAC, Troponin T, and N-cad positive cells were observed in both infarct region, and retrieved engineered patch after 3 weeks. In a clear alignment with other results, our developed acellular patch promoted the expression of cardiomyogenic differentiation factors under electromechanical stimulation. Our engineered patch showed a successful integration with the host tissue followed by the cell migration to the infarct region

Eye structure, activity rhythms, and visually-driven behavior are tuned to visual niche in ants

Insects have evolved physiological adaptations and behavioral strategies that allow them to cope with a broad spectrum of environmental challenges and contribute to their evolutionary success. Visual performance plays a key role in this success. Correlates between life style and eye organization have been reported in various insect species. Yet, if and how visual ecology translates effectively into different visual discrimination and learning capabilities has been less explored. Here we report results from optical and behavioral analyses performed in two sympatric ant species, Formica cunicularia and Camponotus aethiops. We show that the former are diurnal while the latter are cathemeral. Accordingly, F. cunicularia workers present compound eyes with higher resolution, while C. aethiops workers exhibit eyes with lower resolution but higher sensitivity. The discrimination and learning of visual stimuli differs significantly between these species in controlled dual-choice experiments: discrimination learning of small-field visual stimuli is achieved by F. cunicularia but not by C. aethiops, while both species master the discrimination of large-field visual stimuli. Our work thus provides a paradigmatic example about how timing of foraging activities and visual environment match the organization of compound eyes and visually-driven behavior. This correspondence underlines the relevance of an ecological/evolutionary framework for analyses in behavioral neuroscience

Synthesis and modifications of polyprethanes for biomedical purposes

Polyurethanes are known as a class of polymers with very high 'hemocompatible' properties. In this study polyurethanes were prepared in various compositions and in medical purity without using any solvent, catalyst or additives. For the synthesis of polyurethanes, toluene diisocynate, diphenylmethane diisocynate or hexamethylene diisocynate were used as diisocyanate compounds and polypropylene-ethylene glycol or polypropylene glycol were used as polyol compounds. The surfaces were modified with plasma glow-discharge by using various gas atmospheres and by applying different powers. Some samples were also modified by heparin immobilization to increase the blood compatibility. Chemical structure, mechanical strength, thermal behavior, oxygen permeability, water contact angle values, as well as protein and cell attachment capabilities of the prepared and modified polyurethanes were examined as possible candidates for biomedical applications. Plasma altered the chemistry of the surface, increased hydrophilic character, and caused a decrease in protein adsorption as the applied power was increased. On the other hand, an optimum power value which caused maximum attachment for Vero cells was observed. In-vitro experiments carried out with blood cells, plasma modification caused an increase on cell adhesion while further heparin immobilization resulted with a significant decrease

Forgiveness and Forgiveness Probability Scales: Validity and Reliability Study of Turkey

The purpose of this study is to examine the validity and reliability of the Forgiveness and Forgiveness Probability Scales, developed by Rye, Loiacono, Folck, Olszewski, Heim and Madia (2001), in Turkey. This study included 180 women whose children receive education in high schools on the voluntary basis for the validity and reliability study of the scales. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was applied to assess whether the structure of the 2-factor and 15-item structure of the Forgiveness Scale and the single-factor and 10-item structure of the Forgiveness Probability Scale are verified. In the first CFA applied, items with a statistically insignificant t value were examined. According to this review, no material with an insignificant t value was found on both scales. When the coefficients showing the relationship between the observed variables and the factors of the model showing the factorial structure of both scales were examined, it was concluded that all the compliance indices were sufficient. Taking into account the compliance statistics calculated with the CFA, the previously determined single and two factor structures of Forgiveness Scale and Forgiveness Probability Scale are generally compatible with the collected data

Detailed Characterization of Structure-Property Relationship of Polyurethanes Synthesized as Biomaterials

Development of new polyurethanes (PUs) and the modification of the existing ones are still considered as novel areas. This research deals with the preparation of PUs synthesized from its starting materials (without using any solvent, catalyst or chain extender) and examination of the structure property relation through different techniques. Series of segmented elastomeric PU films were synthesized by using different combinations of toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and polyol(polyoxypropylene/polyoxyethylene triol) without using any other ingredients and by one-shot polymerization method. The chemical, thermal and mechanical properties were examined for 2D PU films and the effects of preparation parameters on the structure-property relations were discussed in detail

Preparation of Chitosan-Coated Magnetite Nanoparticles and Application for Immobilization of Laccase

In this study, immobilization of laccase (L) enzyme on magnetite (Fe(3)O(4)) nanoparticles was achieved, so that the immobilized enzyme could be used repeatedly. For this purpose, Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles were coated and functionalized with chitosan (CS) and laccase from Trametes versicolor was immobilized onto chitosan-coated magnetic nanoparticles (Fe(3)O(4)-CS) by adsorption or covalent binding after activating the hydroxyl groups of chitosan with carbodiimide (EDAC) or cyanuric chloride (CC). For chitosan-coated magnetic nanoparticles, the thickness of CS layer was estimated as 1.0-4.8 nm by TEM, isoelectric point was detected as 6.86 by zeta (zeta)-potential measurements, and the saturation magnetization was determined as 25.2 emu g(-1) by VSM, indicating that these nanoparticles were almost superparamagnetic. For free laccase and immobilized laccase systems, the optimum pH, temperature, and kinetic parameters were investigated; and the change of the activity against repeated use of the immobilized systems were examined. The results indicated that all immobilized systems retained more than 71% of their initial activity at the end of 30 batch uses. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 123:707-716, 201

Adsorption of reactive yellow 145 onto chitosan coated magnetite nanoparticles

Removal of dyes from the industrial discharge water is an important issue for safety of the environment. In this study, magnetic (magnetite, Fe3O4) nanoparticles were coated with chitosan (CS) and the efficiency of these chitosan coated magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4-CS) for the adsorption of a reactive textile dye (Reactive Yellow 145, RY145) was examined first time in literature. TEM, XRD, and EPR results revealed that the thickness of the coat was about 25 nm, no phase change in the spinel structure of magnetic particles existed after coating, and particles had paramagnetic property, respectively. Adsorption of RY145 on Fe3O4-CS nanoparticles occurs according to Langmuir model in the temperature range 25 degrees C-45 degrees C with a maximum adsorption capacity of 47.62 mg g(-1) at 25 degrees C, in aqueous media. Thermodynamic parameters demonstrated that the adsorption process was endothermic and spontaneous, and the maximum desorption of the dye was 80% over a single adsorption/desorption cycle. In this study, the high efficiency of the CS coated magnetic nanoparticles in the adsorption and removal of reactive dyes from water was shown on model RY145. This type of nanoparticles can be good candidates in industrial applications for the decolorization of waste waters. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 201

THE EFFECT OF HEPARIN ON THE CELL CYCLE IN HUMAN B-LYMPHOBLASTS: AN IN VITRO STUDY

Heparin has an apoptotic effect in addition to its anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, and antiproliferative effects. In this study, we detected the effect of heparin on the cell cycle of lymphoblasts by flow cytometry (FCM) and tried to determine which phase in the cell cycle of lymphoblasts contains heparin-sensitive points. Twelve children with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were included in the study. Lymphoblasts were incubated in different levels of heparin concentrations (0, 10, and 20 U/mL) and the percentages of lymphoblasts at each phase of the cell cycle were simultaneously measured by FCM at 0, 1, and 2 hours (h). The percentages of lymphoblasts at the G2/M and S phases were significantly increased in 20 U/mL heparin concentration compared to 0 U/mL heparin concentration at 1h (from 1.18% to 10.21% and from 1.03% to 13.63%, respectively; p&#x3c;0.000), indicating an arrest of cell cycle at the G2/M and S phases by heparin. These findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanism of the apoptotic effect of heparin.&#xd;&#xa;&#xd;&#xa;Keywords: Cell cycle, Heparin, Leukemi