Steady-state energy balance in animal models of obesity and weight loss

Supported by European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013, n°266408 (Full4Health)), the Joint Programme of the Medical Faculty of Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and St. Olav’s University Hospital, the Liaison Committee between the Central Norway Regional Health Authority and NTNU.Peer reviewedPostprin

Cheese-induced body weight gain is not accompanied by an increase of gastric cells producing leptin, ghrelin, gastrin, or pancreastatin in mice

The stomach is a source of several circulating peptides/hormones, such as gastrin, pancreastatin, leptin and ghrelin, which are thought to play important roles in the regulation of food intake and body growth. The present study was undertaken in mice in order to examine the effects of diet composition on the body weight gain and the gastric cells that produce these peptides/hormones.Both young and adult female mice (BALB/cABBom strain) were given a standard pelleted dry diet, with or without cheese ad libitum, during a 7 week period. The diet supplement consisted either of carbohydrate- free white cheese containing 27% fat or sweet-tasting but sucrose-free Norwegian “brown cheese” containing 29% fat and 39% carbohydrate, mainly lactose. The total intake of the various types of food and the change in body weight were recorded. At the end of the observation period, blood samples were obtained for determination of gastric hormone levels by radioimmunoassay, and the stomachs were removed for examination of hormone producing cells by immunohistochemistry.The young mice increased their body weight more than the adult mice. In the groups offered white cheese, both young and adult mice increased their body weight more than the animals kept on the standard diet alone. In contrast, the “brown cheese” supplement led to a relative overweight only in adult mice. Despite the changes in body weight gain, there were no differences with respect to the circulating levels of gastrin, leptin or ghrelin, and to the numbers of cells stained with antibodies to pancreastatin (including ECL cells and G cells), leptin (subpopulation of chief cells) and ghrelin (A-like cells) in all groups.Body weight gain was increased in both young and adult mice by a white cheese diet supplement, whereas ‘brown cheese’ produced overweight only in adult mice. The increased body weight gain was not accompanied by an icrease of gastric cells producing leptin, ghrelin, gastrin, or pancreastatin

Effects of losses in the hybrid atom-light interferometer

Enhanced Raman scattering can be obtained by injecting a seeded light field which is correlated with the initially prepared collective atomic excitation. This Raman amplification process can be used to realize atom-light hybrid interferometer. We numerically calculate the phase sensitivities and the signal-to-noise ratios of this interferometer with the method of homodyne detection and intensity detection, and give their differences between this two methods. In the presence of loss of light field and atomic decoherence the measure precision will be reduced which can be explained by the break of the intermode decorrelation conditions of output modesComment: 9 pages, 7 figure

Geometric bionics: Lotus effect helps polystyrene nanotube films get good blood compatibility

Various biomaterials have been widely used for manufacturing biomedical applications including artificial organs, medical devices and disposable clinical apparatus, such as vascular prostheses, blood pumps, artificial kidney, artificial hearts, dialyzers and plasma separators, which could be used in contact with blood^1^. However, the research tasks of improving hemocompatibility of biomaterials have been carrying out with the development of biomedical requirements^2^. Since the interactions that lead to surface-induced thrombosis occurring at the blood-biomaterial interface become a reason of familiar current complications with grafts therapy, improvement of the blood compatibility of artificial polymer surfaces is, therefore a major issue in biomaterials science^3^. After decades of focused research, various approaches of modifying biomaterial surfaces through chemical or biochemical methods to improve their hemocompatibility were obtained^1^. In this article, we report that polystyrene nanotube films with morphology similar to the papilla on lotus leaf can be used as blood-contacted biomaterials by virtue of Lotus effect^4^. Clearly, this idea, resulting from geometric bionics that mimicking the structure design of lotus leaf, is very novel technique for preparation of hemocompatible biomaterials

3,9-Dichloro-2,4,8,10-tetra­oxa-3,9-di­phosphaspiro­[5.5]undecane-3,9-dione

In the title compound, C5H8Cl2O6P2, the two six-membered rings display chair conformations. The P=O bond distances are 1.444 (2) and 1.446 (2) Å. Weak inter­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds are present in the crystal structure

Progressive decay of Ca2+ homeostasis in the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND: Cardiac dysfunction in diabetic cardiomyopathy may be associated with abnormal Ca(2+) homeostasis. This study investigated the effects of alterations in Ca(2+) homeostasis and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-associated proteins on cardiac function in the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy. METHODS: Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups (n = 12, each): a control group, and streptozotocin-induced rat models of diabetes groups, examined after 4, 8, or 12 weeks. Evaluations on cardiac structure and function were performed by echocardiography and hemodynamic examinations, respectively. Cardiomyocytes were isolated and spontaneous Ca(2+) spark images were formed by introducing fluorescent dye Fluo-4 and obtained with confocal scanning microscopy. Expressions of Ca(2+)-associated proteins were assessed by Western blotting. RESULTS: Echocardiography and hemodynamic measurements revealed that cardiac dysfunction is associated with the progression of diabetes, which also correlated with a gradual but significant decline in Ca(2+) spark frequency (in the 4-, 8- and 12-week diabetic groups). However, Ca(2+) spark decay time constants increased significantly, relative to the control group. Expressions of ryanodine receptor 2 (RyR2), sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-2ATPase (SERCA) and Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger (NCX1) were decreased, together with quantitative alterations in Ca(2+)regulatory proteins, FKBP12.6 and phospholamban progressively and respectively in the diabetic rats. CONCLUSIONS: Ca(2+) sparks exhibited a time-dependent decay with progression of diabetic cardiomyopathy, which may partly contribute to cardiac dysfunction. This abnormality may be attributable to alterations in the expressions of some Ca(2+)-associated proteins

A Deafness Mechanism of Digenic Cx26 (\u3cem\u3eGJB2\u3c/em\u3e) and Cx30 (\u3cem\u3eGJB6\u3c/em\u3e) Mutations: Reduction of Endocochlear Potential by Impairment of Heterogeneous Gap Junctional Function in the Cochlear Lateral Wall

Digenic Connexin26 (Cx26, GJB2) and Cx30 (GJB6) heterozygous mutations are the second most frequent cause of recessive deafness in humans. However, the underlying deafness mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we created different double Cx26 and Cx30 heterozygous (Cx26+/−/Cx30+/−) mouse models to investigate the underlying pathological changes and deafness mechanism. We found that double Cx26+/−/Cx30+/− heterozygous mice had hearing loss. Endocochlear potential (EP), which is a driving force for hair cells producing auditory receptor current, was reduced. However, unlike Cx26 homozygous knockout (Cx26−/−) mice, the cochlea in Cx26+/−/Cx30+/− mice displayed normal development and had no apparent hair cell degeneration. Gap junctions (GJs) in the cochlea form two independent networks: the epithelial cell GJ network in the organ of Corti and the connective tissue GJ network in the cochlear lateral wall. We further found that double heterozygous deletion of Cx26 and Cx30 in the epithelial cells did not reduce EP and had normal hearing, suggesting that Cx26+/−/Cx30+/− may mainly impair gap junctional functions in the cochlear lateral wall and lead to EP reduction and hearing loss. Most of Cx26 and Cx30 in the cochlear lateral wall co-expressed in the same gap junctional plaques. Moreover, sole Cx26+/− or Cx30+/− heterozygous mice had no hearing loss. These data further suggest that digenic Cx26 and Cx30 mutations may impair heterozygous coupling of Cx26 and Cx30 in the cochlear lateral wall to reduce EP, thereby leading to hearing loss

Regulation of LYRM1 Gene Expression by Free Fatty Acids, Adipokines, and Rosiglitazone in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes

LYR motif containing 1 (LYRM1) is a novel gene that is abundantly expressed in the adipose tissue of obese subjects and is involved in insulin resistance. In this study, free fatty acids (FFAs) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) are shown to upregulate LYRM1 mRNA expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Conversely, resistin and rosiglitazone exert an inhibitory effect on LYRM1 mRNA expression. These results suggest that the expression of LYRM1 mRNA is affected by a variety of factors that are related to insulin sensitivity. LYRM1 may be an important mediator in the development of obesity-related insulin resistance

The exploration on “Three-mode and One-line” heuristic teaching in the clinical teaching

探讨“三模一线”启发式教学在医学临床教学中的应用。充分发挥LBL(Lecture-Based Learning)、PBL(Problem-Based Learning)和CBL(Case- Based Learning)三种教学模式的优点，互相弥补不足，按照临床实践-理论总结-再到临床实践的这条主线，充分调动学生的积极性、主动性和创造性，促进学生密切联系临床实际，激发学生思考和解决问题等实践能力的培养，利于培养理论、实践技能兼备的高素质医学人才。To explore "Three-mode and One-line" heuristic teaching in clinical teaching. Using the three teaching modes including LBL (Lecture -based Learning), PBL (Problem -based Learning) and CBL (Case - -based Learning) in teaching activities ,which full played their advantages and compensated each other according to a common thread of clinical practice - theoretical summary - clinical practice. We fully mobilized students' enthusiasm, initiative and creativity to promote students theory closely into related clinical practice, stimulated students to think and solve problems such as the cultivation of practice ability. It is good for training high-quality medical personnel both in theory and practice skills

Detection of differentially expressed genes between Erhualian and Large White placentas on day 75 and 90 of gestation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Placental efficiency is strongly associated with litter size, fetal weight and prenatal mortality. Together with its rapid growth during late gestation, the Large White pig breed shows a significant increase in placental size and weight, but this does not occur in the highly prolific Chinese pig breeds. To understand the molecular basis of placental development during late gestation in Chinese indigenous and Western breeds with different placental efficiency, female placental samples were collected from six pregnant Erhualian gilts at gestation day 75 (E75) and day 90 (E90) and from six pregnant Large White gilts at gestation day 75 (L75) and day 90 (L90). Two female placentas from one sow were used to extract RNA and then pooled in equal volumes. Twelve pooled samples were hybridized to the porcine Affymetrix GeneChip.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 226 and 577 transcripts were detected that were differentially expressed between E75 and L75 and between E90 and L90 (p < 0.01, q < 0.2), respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis revealed that these genes belong to the class of genes that participate in angiogenesis and development. Real-time RT-PCR confirmed the differential expression of eight selected genes. Significant differential expression of five genes in the <it>VEGF </it>pathway was also detected between the breeds. A search of chromosomal location revealed that 44 differentially expressed genes located to QTL regions related to reproduction. Differential expression of six candidate imprinted genes was also confirmed. Three of the six genes (<it>PLAGL1</it>, <it>DIRAS3</it>, and <it>SLC38A4</it>) showed monoallelic expression in the porcine placenta.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our study detected many genes that showed differential expression between placentas of two divergent breed of pigs, and confirmed the imprinting of three genes. These findings help to elucidate the genetic control of placental efficiency and improve the understanding of placental development.</p