Pour en finir avec le Bronze final ? Les haches à douille de type armoricain en France

A discussion about socket armorican bronze axes datation. They are from Ha D period (VII th & VIt h century B.C.)Révision de la datation des haches à douille de type armoricain, au seul Hallstatt D (VIIe-VIe s; av. J.-C.

Induction of Engineered Residual Stresses Fields and Associate Surface Properties Modification by Short Pulse Laser Shock Processing

Laser shock processing (LSP) is consolidating as an effective technology for the improvement of metallic materials surface properties involving their fatigue life. The main acknowledged advantage of the LSP technique consists on its capability of inducing a relatively deep compression residual stresses field into metallic alloy pieces allowing an improved mechanical behaviour, explicitly the life improvement of the treated specimens against wear, crack growth and stress corrosion cracking. Progress accomplished by the authors in the line of practical development of the LSP technique at an experimental level, aiming its integral assessment from an interrelated theoretical and experimental point of view, is presented in this paper. Concretely, experimental results on the residual stress profiles and associated surface properties modification successfully reached in typical materials (especially Al and Ti alloys) under different LSP irradiation conditions are presented, a correlated analysis of the residual stress profiles obtained under different irradiation strategies and the evaluation of the corresponding induced surface properties as roughness and wear resistance being also presented. Through a coupled theoretical- experimental analysis the real possibilities of the LSP technique as a possible substitutive of related traditional surface modification techniques as, for example, shot peening

The obestatin receptor (GPR39) is expressed in human adipose tissue and is down-regulated in obesity-associated type 2 diabetes mellitus

The G protein-coupled receptor 39 (GPR39) has recently been identified as the receptor for obestatin, a peptidic hormone involved in energy homeostasis. However, the expression levels of this receptor in human adipose tissue in obesity and obesity-associated type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remain unknown. Therefore, we evaluated the actual presence of GPR39 mRNA in human adipose tissue and whether GPR39 expression levels are altered in obesity and obesity-associated T2DM. DESIGN: Omental adipose tissue biopsies obtained from 15 women were used in the study. Patients were classified as lean (body mass index 20.8 +/- 1.0 kg/m(2)), obese normoglycaemic (body mass index 48.4 +/- 2.1 kg/m(2)) and obese T2DM patients (body mass index 52.6 +/- 4.9 kg/m(2)). Anthropometric measurements and biochemical profiles were assessed for each subject. Real-time RT-PCR analyses were performed to quantify transcript levels of GPR39 and adiponectin. RESULTS: Obese T2DM patients exhibited significantly lower GPR39 expression levels compared to lean (P = 0.016) and obese normoglycaemic subjects (P = 0.008), while no differences between lean and obese normoglycaemic patients were observed. The mRNA expression levels of GPR39 were negatively correlated to fasting glucose concentrations (r = -0.581, P = 0.023), while exhibiting a positive correlation to adiponectin mRNA expression levels (r = 0.674, P = 0.006). CONCLUSION: GPR39 is expressed in human adipose tissue. The reduced expression levels of GPR39 in omental adipose tissue observed in obese patients with T2DM suggest an involvement of obestatin signalling in glucose homeostasis and T2DM development

Expression of caveolin-1 in human adipose tissue is upregulated in obesity and obesity-associated type 2 diabetes mellitus and related to inflammation

Caveolin-1 (CAV-1) plays important roles in many aspects of cellular biology, including vesicular transport, cholesterol homeostasis and signal transduction. The aim of the present study was to explore gene expression levels of CAV-1 in human adipose tissue in obesity and obesity-associated type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and to analyse its potential implication in the inflammatory state associated with obesity. DESIGN AND METHODS: Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) obtained from 15 females were used in the study. Patients were classified as lean (BMI 20.8 +/- 1.0 kg/m(2)) or obese (BMI 50.5 +/- 2.6 kg/m(2)). The obese group was further subclassified as normoglycaemic (NG) or patients with T2DM. Anthropometric measurements as well as circulating metabolites, hormones and adipokines were determined. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses were performed to quantify transcript levels of CAV-1 and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP-1). RESULTS: The presence of CAV-1 protein was detected in VAT and SAT by immunohistochemistry. Both obese NG and with T2DM patients exhibited significantly higher CAV-1 expression levels in VAT and SAT compared with lean subjects (P < 0.05). No differences between obese NG and T2DM patients were observed in VAT. However, obese T2DM patients were found to have higher CAV-1 expression levels in SAT (P < 0.05) compared with obese NG patients. A significant correlation was found between CAV-1 mRNA expression levels in VAT and different circulating inflammatory markers such as sialic acid (SA) (P < 0.001) and fibrinogen (P < 0.001) as well as with MCP1 mRNA expression (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our findings show for the first time the upregulation of mRNA CAV-1 expression levels in VAT and SAT of obese NG and obese T2DM patients compared with lean controls, suggesting a role for CAV-1 in obesity and T2DM development. The association with different inflammatory markers further suggests an implication of CAV-1 in the low-grade inflammation accompanying obesity

Increased circulating and visceral adipose tissue expression levels of YKL-40 in obesity-associated type 2 diabetes are related to inflammation: impact of conventional weight loss and gastric bypass

Context: Plasma YKL-40 is elevated in patients with type 2 diabetes. The potential role of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) as a significant source of YKL-40 is unknown. Objective: In the study circulating and expression levels of YKL-40 were examined in VAT analyzing the contribution of adipocytes and stromovascular fraction cells (SVFCs).Wealso explored YKL-40’s implication in insulin resistance and inflammation and the effect of weight loss on plasma YKL-40 concentrations. PatientsandMethods: Samples obtained from 53 subjects were used in the study.Geneandprotein expression levels of YKL-40 were analyzed in VAT as well as in both adipocytes and SVFCs. In addition, circulating YKL-40 concentrations were measured before and after weight loss achieved either by Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (n 26) or after a conventional dietetic program (n 20). Results: Circulating concentrations and VAT expression of YKL-40 were increased in obese patients with type 2 diabetes (P 0.01) as well as associated with variables of insulin resistance and inflammation. No differences in YKL-40 expression levels between adipocytes and SVFCs were detected. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and homeostasis model assessment emerged (P 0.01) as independent factors predicting circulating YKL-40. Elevated levels of YKL-40 in obese patients decreased after weight loss following a conventional hypocaloric diet (P 0.05) but not via a surgery-induced negative energy balance mediated by the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Conclusions: The association of increased YKL-40 mRNA and protein levels in VAT with its circulating concentrations indicates an important contribution of VAT in YKL-40 regulation. Furthermore, our data suggest a relevant role of glucose metabolism and inflammation on YKL-40 regulation

Plasma osteopontin levels and expression in adipose tissue are increased in obesity

Obesity acts as a cardiovascular risk factor by mechanisms that are not fully understood. Osteopontin (OPN) is a proinflammatory mediator involved in tissue remodeling that plays a role in atherosclerosis and diabetes. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to compare the circulating concentrations of OPN and its mRNA expression in omental adipose tissue of lean, overweight, and obese individuals and to analyze the effect of weight loss. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Plasma concentrations of OPN were measured in 77 volunteers. OPN mRNA expression in omental adipose tissue obtained from 12 women was quantified by real-time PCR. In addition, the concentrations of OPN in 12 obese men were measured before and after weight loss following a dietetic program. SETTING: The study was conducted at a University Hospital. RESULTS: Obese and overweight patients exhibited significantly increased circulating OPN concentrations as compared with lean subjects (obese 72.6 +/- 28.5, overweight 68.2 +/- 20.8, lean 42.7 +/- 27.9 ng/ml; P < 0.001). A significant positive correlation was found between OPN levels and body fat (r = 0.45; P < 0.0001). Obese individuals showed significantly increased (P < 0.05) mRNA expression of OPN in omental adipose tissue as compared with lean volunteers, which was further increased in obese diabetic patients. Diet-induced weight loss significantly decreased OPN concentrations from 64.7 +/- 22.1 to 36.6 +/- 20.1 ng/ml (P = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: These findings represent the first observation that plasma OPN and mRNA expression of OPN in omental adipose tissue are increased in overweight/obese patients with the latter being further elevated in obesity-associated diabetes. Moreover, weight loss reduces OPN concentrations, which may contribute to the beneficial effects accompanying weight reduction. Measurement of OPN might be useful for evaluating the outcomes of various clinical interventions for obesity-related cardiovascular disease

Histological and ultrastructural comparison of cauterization and thrombosis stroke models in immune-deficient mice

Background: Stroke models are essential tools in experimental stroke. Although several models of stroke have been developed in a variety of animals, with the development of transgenic mice there is the need to develop a reliable and reproducible stroke model in mice, which mimics as close as possible human stroke. Methods: BALB/Ca-RAG2-/-gc-/- mice were subjected to cauterization or thrombosis stroke model and sacrificed at different time points (48hr, 1wk, 2wk and 4wk) after stroke. Mice received BrdU to estimate activation of cell proliferation in the SVZ. Brains were processed for immunohistochemical and EM. Results: In both stroke models, after inflammation the same glial scar formation process and damage evolution takes place. After stroke, necrotic tissue is progressively removed, and healthy tissue is preserved from injury through the glial scar formation. Cauterization stroke model produced unspecific damage, was less efficient and the infarct was less homogeneous compared to thrombosis infarct. Finally, thrombosis stroke model produces activation of SVZ proliferation. Conclusions: Our results provide an exhaustive analysis of the histopathological changes (inflammation, necrosis, tissue remodeling, scarring...) that occur after stroke in the ischemic boundary zone, which are of key importance for the final stroke outcome. This analysis would allow evaluating how different therapies would affect wound and regeneration. Moreover, this stroke model in RAG 2-/- gC -/- allows cell transplant from different species, even human, to be analyzed