Adipocyte extracellular matrix composition, dynamics and role in obesity

The central role of the adipose tissue in lipid metabolism places specific demands on the cell structure of adipocytes. The protein composition and dynamics of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is of crucial importance for the functioning of those cells. Adipogenesis is a bi-phasic process in which the ECM develops from a fibrillar to a laminar structure as cells move from the commitment phase to the growth phase characterized by storage of vast amounts of triglycerides. Mature adipocytes appear to spend a lot of energy on the maintenance of the ECM. ECM remodeling is mediated by a balanced complement of constructive and destructive enzymes together with their enhancers and inhibitors. ECM remodeling is an energy costing process regulated by insulin, by the energy metabolism, and by mechanical forces. In the obese, overgrowth of adipocytes may lead to instability of the ECM, possibly mediated by hypoxia

The Immune System in Stroke

Stroke represents an unresolved challenge for both developed and developing countries and has a huge socio-economic impact. Although considerable effort has been made to limit stroke incidence and improve outcome, strategies aimed at protecting injured neurons in the brain have all failed. This failure is likely to be due to both the incompleteness of modelling the disease and its causes in experimental research, and also the lack of understanding of how systemic mechanisms lead to an acute cerebrovascular event or contribute to outcome. Inflammation has been implicated in all forms of brain injury and it is now clear that immune mechanisms profoundly influence (and are responsible for the development of) risk and causation of stroke, and the outcome following the onset of cerebral ischemia. Until very recently, systemic inflammatory mechanisms, with respect to common comorbidities in stroke, have largely been ignored in experimental studies. The main aim is therefore to understand interactions between the immune system and brain injury in order to develop novel therapeutic approaches. Recent data from clinical and experimental research clearly show that systemic inflammatory diseases -such as atherosclerosis, obesity, diabetes or infection - similar to stress and advanced age, are associated with dysregulated immune responses which can profoundly contribute to cerebrovascular inflammation and injury in the central nervous system. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the field of inflammation and stroke, focusing on the challenges of translation between pre-clinical and clinical studies, and potential anti-inflammatory/immunomodulatory therapeutic approaches

Effect of reduction energy level in the ration on vitamin B12 capacity in the blood plasma of bulls

Badaniami objęto 60 buhajków: 30 rasy polskiej holsztyńsko-fryzyjskiej odmiany czarno-białej (PHF) oraz 30 mieszańców krów rasy polskiej holsztyńsko-fryzyjskiej z buhajami rasy limousine (PHF x LM). Oceniano wpływ obniżenia poziomu energii w dawce do 80% zapotrzebowania bytowego w ostatnich 60 dniach opasu na koncentrację witaminy B12 w osoczu krwi. Stwierdzono, że zmodyfikowana dieta nie wpłynęła istotnie statystycznie na zawartość kobalaminy we krwi buhajków PHF x LM. Wykazano natomiast istotny statystycznie spadek poziomu witaminy B12 u buhajków PHF po tygodniu od zmiany dawki, co nie potwierdziło się jednak na koniec doświadczenia.The experiment was carried out on 60 bulls: 30 Black-and-White Polish Holstein- Friesian (PHF) and 30 hybrids with Limousine (PHFxLM). The effect of reducing the energy value of a diet to 80% maintenance requirement during the final 60 days on vitamin B12 level was investigated. The modified diet had no significant effect on cobalamine content in PHFxLM blood plasma. The level of B12 in PHF blood decreased significantly after a week of changing the diet but no significant effect at the end of the experiment occurred