Neuroendocrine Regulation of Metabolism

Given the current environment in most developed countries, it is a challenge to maintain a good balance between calories consumed and calories burned, although maintenance of metabolic balance is key to good health. Therefore, understanding how metabolic regulation is achieved and how the dysregulation of metabolism affects health is an area of intense research. Most studies focus on the hypothalamus, which is a brain area that acts as a key regulator of metabolism. Among the nuclei that comprise the hypothalamus, the arcuate nucleus is one of the major mediators in the regulation of food intake. The regulation of energy balance is also a key factor ensuring the maintenance of any species as a result of the dependence of reproduction on energy stores. Adequate levels of energy reserves are necessary for the proper functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. This review discusses valuable data presented in the 2015 edition of the International Workshop of Neuroendocrinology concerning the fundamental nature of the hormonal regulation of the hypothalamus and the impact on energy balance and reproduction.Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología CelularConsejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnica

Combining exploratory scenarios and participatory backcasting: using an agent-based model in participatory policy design for a multi-functional landscape

While the merits of local participatory policy design are widely recognised, limited use is made of model-based scenario results to inform such stakeholder involvement. In this paper we present the findings of a study using an agent based model to help stakeholders consider, discuss and incorporate spatial and temporal processes in a backcasting exercise for rural development. The study is carried out in the Dutch region called the Achterhoek. Region-specific scenarios were constructed based on interviews with local experts. The scenarios are simulated in an agent based model incorporating rural residents and farmer characteristics, the environment and different policy interventions for realistic projection of landscape evolution. Results of the model simulations were presented to stakeholders representing different rural sectors at a workshop. The results indicate that illustration of the spatial configuration of landscape changes is appreciated by stakeholders. Testing stakeholders' solutions by way of model simulations revealed that the effectiveness of local interventions is strongly related to exogenous processes such as market competition and endogenous processes like local willingness to engage in multifunctional activities. The integration of multi-agent modelling and participatory backcasting is effective as it offers a possibility to initiate discussion between experts and stakeholders bringing together different expertise. © 2012 The Author(s)

-FET: electrostatics and influence of spacer thickness.

International audienc

Barriers and Promoters of an Evidenced-Based Smoking Cessation Counseling During Prenatal Care in Argentina and Uruguay

In Argentina and Uruguay, 10.3 and 18.3 %, respectively, of pregnant women smoked in 2005. Brief cessation counseling, based on the 5A’s model, has been effective in different settings. This qualitative study aims to improve the understanding of factors influencing the provision of smoking cessation counseling during pregnancy in Argentina and Uruguay. In 2010, we obtained prenatal care providers’, clinic directors’, and pregnant smokers’ opinions regarding barriers and promoters to brief smoking cessation counseling in publicly-funded prenatal care clinics in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Montevideo, Uruguay. We interviewed six prenatal clinic directors, conducted focus groups with 46 health professionals and 24 pregnant smokers. Themes emerged from three issue areas: health professionals, health system, and patients. Health professional barriers to cessation counseling included inadequate knowledge and motivation, perceived low self-efficacy, and concerns about inadequate time and large workload. They expressed interest in obtaining a counseling script. Health system barriers included low prioritization of smoking cessation and a lack of clinic protocols to implement interventions. Pregnant smokers lacked information on the risks of prenatal smoking and underestimated the difficulty of smoking cessation. Having access to written materials and receiving cessation services during clinic waiting times were mentioned as promoters for the intervention. Women also were receptive to non-physician office staff delivering intervention components. Implementing smoking cessation counseling in publicly-funded prenatal care clinics in Argentina and Uruguay may require integrating counseling into routine prenatal care and educating and training providers on best-practices approaches.Fil: Colomar, Mercedes. Hospital de Clínicas ; UruguayFil: Tong, Van T.. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Estados UnidosFil: Morello, Paola. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria; ArgentinaFil: Farr, Sherry L.. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Estados UnidosFil: Lawsin, Catalina. University of Sydney; AustraliaFil: Dietz, Patricia M.. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Estados UnidosFil: Aleman, Alicia. Hospital de Clínicas ; UruguayFil: Berrueta, Amanda Mabel. University of Sydney; AustraliaFil: Mazzoni, Agustina. University of Sydney; AustraliaFil: Becu, Ana. University of Sydney; AustraliaFil: Buekens, Pierre. University of Tulane; Estados UnidosFil: Belizan, Jose. University of Sydney; Australia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Althabe, Fernando. University of Sydney; Australia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Pituitary tumors contain a side population with tumor stem cell-associated characteristics

Pituitary adenomas cause significant endocrine and mass-related morbidity. Only little is known about mechanisms underlying pituitary tumor pathogenesis. We searched for a side population (SP) in pituitary tumor, representing cells with high efflux capacity and potentially enriching for tumor stem cells (TSC). Human pituitary adenomas contain a SP irrespective of hormonal phenotype. This adenoma SP, as well as the purified SP (pSP) depleted from endothelial and immune cells, enriches for cells that express 'tumor stemness' markers and signaling pathways, including epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-linked factors. Pituitary adenomas were found to contain self-renewing sphere-forming cells, considered a property of TSC. These sphere-initiating cells were recovered in the pSP. Because benign pituitary adenomas do not grow in vitro and failed to expand in immunodeficient mice, the pituitary tumor cell line AtT20 was further used. We identified a SP in this cell line and found it more tumorigenic than the non-SP 'main population'. Of the two EMT-regulatory pathways tested, inhibition of C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (Cxcr4) signaling reduced EMT-associated cell motility in vitro as well as xenograft tumor growth, whereas activation of TGFβ had no effect. The adenoma pSP also showed upregulated expression of the pituitary stem cell marker SOX2. Pituitaries from dopamine receptor D2 knockout (Drd2-/-) mice bearing prolactinomas, contain more pSP, Sox2+ and colony-forming cells than wildtype glands. In conclusion, we detected a SP in pituitary tumor and identified TSC-associated characteristics. Our study adds new elements to the unravelment of pituitary tumor pathogenesis and may lead to new therapeutic targets.status: publishe