Chronic maternal protein deprivation in mice is associated with overexpression of the cohesin-mediator complex in liver of their offspring

Epigenetic mechanisms may play an important role in the developmental programming of adult-onset chronic metabolic diseases resulting from suboptimal fetal nutrition, but the exact molecular mechanisms are incompletely understood. Given the central role of the liver in metabolic regulation, we investigated whether chronic maternal dietary protein restriction has long-term effects on liver gene expression in the offspring. We fed adult C57BL/6J dams ad libitum an 8% maternal lowprotein (MLP) or 20% protein control diet (C) from 4 wk prior to mating until the end of lactation. Male pups were weaned to standard nonpurified diet and singly housed at 21 d of age (d 21). Body weights were followed to 1 y of age (1 y). At d 21 and 1 y, organs were quantitatively dissected and analyzed. MLP offspring had significantly lower body weights at all ages and significantly lower serum activity of alanine aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase at 1 y. Gene expression profiling of liver at 1 y showed 521 overexpressed and 236 underexpressed genes in MLP compared to C offspring. The most important novel finding was the overexpression of genes found in liver that participate in organization and maintenance of higher order chromatin architecture and regulation of transcriptional activation. These included members of the cohesinmediator complex, which regulate gene expression by formingDNA loops between promoters and enhancers in a cell typespecific fashion. Thus, our findings of increased expression of these factors in liver of MLP offspring implicate a possible novel epigenetic mechanism in developmental programming. © 2011 American Society for Nutrition

Selection of body fat distribution indices in adults and associations with plasma lipid metabolism variables

Body fat distribution is a cardiovascular health risk factor in adults. Body fat distribution can be measured through various methods including anthropometry. It is not clear which anthropometric index is suitable for epidemiologic studies of fat distribution and cardiovascular disease. The purpose of the present study was to select a measure of body fat distribution from among a series of indices (those traditionally used in the literature and others constructed from the analysis) that is most highly correlated with lipid-related variables and is independent of overall fatness. Subjects were Mexican-American men and women (N = 1004) from a study of gallbladder disease in Starr County, Texas. Multivariate associations were sought between lipid profile measures (lipids, lipoproteins, and apolipoproteins) and two sets of anthropometric variables (4 circumferences and 6 skinfolds). This was done to assess the association between lipid-related measures and the two sets of anthropometric variables and guide the construction of indices. Two indices emerged from the analysis that seemed to be highly correlated with lipid profile measures independent of obesity. These indices are: 2*arm circumference-thigh skinfold in pre- and post-menopausal women and arm/thigh circumference ratio in men. Next, using the sum of all skinfolds to represent obesity and the selected body fat distribution indices, the following hypotheses were tested: (1) state of obesity and centrally/upper distributed body fat are equally predictive of lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoproteins, and (2) the correlation among the lipid-related measures is not altered by obesity and body fat distribution. With respect to the first hypothesis, the present study found that most lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoproteins were significantly associated with both overall fatness and anatomical location of body fat in both sex and menopausal groups. However, within men and post-menopausal women, certain lipid profile measures (triglyceride and HDLT among post-menopausal women and apos C-II, CIII, and E among men) had substantially higher correlation with body fat distribution as compared with overall fatness. With respect to the second hypothesis, both obesity and body fat distribution were found to alter the association among plasma lipid variables in men and women. There was a suggestion from the data that the pattern of correlations among men and post-menopausal women are more comparable. Among men correlations involving apo A-I, HDLT, and HDL\sb2 seemed greatly influenced by obesity, and A-II by fat distribution; among post-menopausal women correlations involving apos A-I and A-II were highly affected by the location of body fat. Thus, these data point out that not only can obesity and fat distribution affect levels of single measures, they also can markedly influence the pattern of relationship among measures. The fact that such changes are seen for both obesity and fat distribution is significant, since the indices employed were chosen because they were independent of one another

Screening for balance in children and adults in a community science education setting: Normative data, influence of age, sex, and body mass index, and feasibility.

BackgroundScreening standing and walking balance is useful for people suspected of having vestibular disorders, a variety of neurologic and musculoskeletal disorders, and for screening astronauts returning after exposure to microgravity. Visitors to a community science education center children and adults, aged 4 to 85, were tested on tandem walking with eyes closed and the modified Romberg test on compliant foam. They were then asked about their experience participating in research, many people for the first time.MethodsSubjects performed 10 steps of tandem walking with eyes closed, and three trials of the modified Romberg, or Clinical Test of Sensory Integration and Balance, with eyes closed, standing on compliant memory foam, with a) head still, b) head shaking in yaw, and c) head nodding in pitch. Afterward, staff queried subjects about the experience of participating in science.ResultsAge-related changes across the life span occurred in both sets of tests. Therefore, look-up tables by age are provided. Body mass index significantly affected tandem walking. Some sex differences were found. The tests were easy to administer in a community setting. Most participants enjoyed the experience and reported that they learned about the process of scientific research.DiscussionThese data support and extend the evidence for age-related changes in balance performance across the lifespan and for an influence of body mass index on some balance skills. Clinicians and sports educators should be cognizant of these differences when they use these tests for screening. The community science education environment provided a useful laboratory in which to collect valid and reliable data, while simultaneously educating participants about the process of science

Changes in Maternal Posterior and Anterior Cerebral Artery Flow Velocity During Pregnancy and Postpartum-A Longitudinal Study

<p>BackgroundTo evaluate the normal range of blood flow velocity in the maternal anterior (ACA) and posterior cerebral arteries (PCA) along the normal pregnancy and postpartum period.</p><p>MethodsTranscranial Doppler ultrasound was used to measure the systolic, diastolic, and mean blood velocities in the ACA and PCA during normal gestation. The resistance and pulsatility indices were calculated. Data were analyzed using multilevel modeling, incorporating random effects models, to construct mean and percentile curves.</p><p>ResultsWe performed 355 measurements on 59 patients, which showed that systolic and mean velocity in the ACA decreased, whereas diastolic velocity increased in the PCA during normal pregnancy. Resistance and pulsatility indices in both vessels increased to a maximum in the second trimester, decreased during the third trimester, and increased during the postpartum period.</p><p>ConclusionsThis study provides normative data for ACA and PCA velocity and indices during pregnancy and postpartum, demonstrating changes in velocity that suggest a shift of cerebral blood flow from the anterior to the posterior cerebral circulation. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound41:532-537, 2013.</p>