Immune System and Environmental Xenobiotics - The Effect of Selected Mineral Fibers and Particles on the Immune Response

Medical genetic

Chapter Immune System and Environmental Xenobiotics - The Effect of Selected Mineral Fibers and Particles on the Immune Response

Medical genetic

An increase in plasma adiponectin multimeric complexes follows hypocaloric diet-induced weight loss in obese and overweight premenopausal women. Clin Sci (Lond

A B S T R A C T Adiponectin is involved in the regulation of glucose and fatty acid metabolism, influences wholebody insulin sensitivity and protects arterial walls against the development of atherosclerosis. Plasma adiponectin is decreased in obese, insulin-resistant and Type 2 diabetic patients. Adiponectin circulates in plasma as high-, medium-and low-molecular-weight ('mass') forms (HMW, MMW and LMW respectively). The HMW form is believed to be closely associated with insulin sensitivity. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether diet-induced changes in body weight and insulin sensitivity were associated with changes in the quantity of adiponectin multimeric complexes. A total of 20 overweight or obese women (age, 39.4 + − 9.5 years; body mass index, 32.2 + − 6.4 kg/m 2 ) underwent 12 weeks of low caloric diet (600 kcal/day less than energy requirements; where 1 kcal ≈ 4.184 kJ). Plasma samples were drawn before and after the study for biochemical analysis and Western blot detection of adiponectin multimeric complexes. The hypocaloric diet resulted in a weight reduction (89.8 + − 16.4 kg compared with 83.1 + − 15.6 kg; P < 0.001) and an improvement in whole-body insulin sensitivity, as measured by HOMA (homoeostasis model assessment index; 1.9 + − 0.8 compared with 1.5 + − 0.7; P = 0.013). Increases in the quantities of the HMW, MMW and LMW forms by 5.5, 8.5 and 18.1 % respectively, were observed (P < 0.05 for all of the forms). Total plasma adiponectin was increased by 36 % with borderline significance (P = 0.08). No correlations between changes in adiponectin complexes and changes in indices of insulin sensitivity were observed. In conclusion, diet-induced weight loss improved insulin sensitivity as well as increased the amount of HMW, MMW and LMW adiponectin complexes in plasma

Tuky, olejniny, oleje a orechy Potravinove tabulky

Available from Slovak Centre of Scientific and Technical Information, under shelf-number: A577998 / Slovenska Technicka Univerzita v BratislaveSIGLESKSlovak Republi

NEW ECONOMY AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN PROCESSES OF ECONOMIC GLOBALIZATION

Globalization modifies a concrete way of creating New Economy which is the economy with modern communication networks, where competitiveness is determined by the ability to transform information into knowledge and intelligence. In times of economic globalization and foundation of so-called ,,New Economy" it is expected that Man will have possibilities to spread freely, utilise and accept information and knowledge, use potential of information-communication technologies not only on behalf of economic growth but also for provision of sustainable development, improvement quality of life and protection of human rights. Except of the fact that New Economy brings new opportunities for satisfying human need, it also brings some risks and negative moments. Its task is to focus the attention not only economic growth but also on economic development and responsible replies to the questions for example, if it provides dignified conditions for citizens of modern world; what is the role of entrepreneurship in development of countries but also in the whole planet; and also to consider the ways by which entrepreneurial subjects try to satisfy human need, the ways by which the profit is divided, as well as the work and social product among particular participants in the market or among all the citizens of our planet. Social responsibility of entrepreneurship becomes the global challenge for all the entrepreneurial subjects. Their duty is to get adjusted to new conditions of the global market and try to profit by the socially responsible actions

Assessment of rabbit spermatozoa characteristics after amygdalin and apricot seeds exposure in vivo

This study evaluates rabbit spermatozoa motility parameters after in vivo administration of amygdalin and apricot seeds during a 28-day period. Apricot seeds are potentially useful in human nutrition and amygdalin is the major cyanogenic glycoside present therein. The rabbits were randomly divided into the five groups (Ctrl-Control, P1, P2, P3, P4) with 4 males in each group. Control group received no amygdalin/apricot seeds while the experimental groups P1 and P2 received a daily intramuscular injection of amygdalin at a dose 0.6 and 3.0 mg/kg b.w. respectively during 28 days. P3 and P4 received a daily dose 60 and 300 mg/kg b.w. of crushed apricot seeds mixed with feed during 28 days, respectively. CASA system was used to evaluate for motility, progressive motility, curvilinear velocity, amplitude of lateral head displacement and beat cross frequency. Intramuscular application of amygdalin resulted in a significant time- and dose-dependent decrease of spermatozoa motility as well as progressive motility. On the other hand, oral consumption of apricot seeds had no significant effect either on the rabbit spermatozoa motility or progressive motility over the entire course of the study. The analysis of the other motion characteristics revealed a similar trend depicting a continuous, time- and dose-dependent decrease of all parameters following intramuscular AMG administration, with significant differences particularly for the dose 3.0 mg AMG/kg b.w. On the other hand, oral administration of apricot seeds had no significant impact on spermatozoa motility parameters. The present study suggests that short-term intramuscular application of amygdalin decreased rabbit spermatozoa motility in vivo. Whereas, consumption of apricot seeds did not induce any change in rabbit spermatozoa in vivo. Our findings suggest dose-dependent negative effect of pure amygdalin, but not apricot seeds on the rabbit spermatozoa parameters. Keywords: Amygdalin, Apricot seeds, Spermatozoa, Rabbi

Visfatin expression in subcutaneous adipose tissue of pre-menopausal women: relation to hormones and weight reduction.

International audienceBackground: A novel adipokine, visfatin, was found to be related to adiposity in humans and regulated by a number of hormonal signals. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships of visfatin expression in adipose tissue with potential regulatory factors such as insulin, testosterone and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and to elucidate the effect of a diet induced weight reduction on adipose tissue mRNA expression and plasma levels of visfatin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Biopsies of subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue (SCAAT) and plasma samples were obtained at the beginning of the study from 47 pre-menopausal women (age 38.7 +/- 1.7 years, body mass index (BMI) 27.9 +/- 1.4 kg m(-2)), consisting of 15 lean, 16 overweight and 16 obese subjects. The subgroup of 32 overweight/obese women (age 42.1 +/- 1.9 years, BMI 31.2 +/- 0.9 kg m(-2)) underwent a 12 week hypocaloric weight reducing diet and samples were obtained at the end of the diet. Biopsy samples were analysed for visfatin and TNF-alpha mRNA levels and plasma was analysed for relevant metabolites and hormones. RESULTS: In the group of 47 subjects visfatin mRNA expression in SCAAT was negatively correlated with plasma free testosterone (r = -0. 363, P < 0.05) and BMI (r = -0.558, P < 0.01) and positively associated with adipose tissue TNF-alpha mRNA expression (r = 0.688, P < 0.01). The diet resulted in the reduction of body weight and in the decrease of plasma insulin, free testosterone and TNF-alpha levels. In the group of overweight/obese subjects visfatin mRNA in SCAAT increased after the diet and the diet induced increase was positively correlated with the magnitude of body weight loss. CONCLUSION: Visfatin mRNA expression in SCAAT is associated with TNF-alpha expression, plasma free testosterone and BMI in pre-menopausal women. A weight reducing hypocaloric diet results in the increase of visfatin mRNA in SCAAT