Visfatin in juvenile obesity - the effect of obesity intervention and sex

Background The association of visfatin, an adipocytokine relevant to the development of inflammation and metabolic disorders, with juvenile obesity needs to be re-established as previously used tests occurred to be nonspecific. Objective To evaluate visfatin association with a metabolic profile of 88 overweight / obese and 26 lean children / adolescents as well as changes in its levels following weight reduction programme (diet + enhanced physical activity +/- metformin). Design A case-control and cohort study. Results Visfatin was higher in obese than lean and overweight individuals (2 07 vs. 1 53 and 1 47 ng mL) 1, P = 0 034). Of metabolic syndrome components, central obesity combined with either insulin resistance (IR) or hyperinsulinemia (HI) was associated with increases in circulating visfatin. In girls, visfatin correlated with leptin (r = 0 40, P = 0 009) and thiols (r =) 0 36, P = 0 009), which explained 24% in visfatin variability. In boys, visfatin correlated with waist circumference (r = 0 36, P = 0 036), BMI% (r = 0 38, P = 0 025), whole body insulin sensitivity index (r =) 0 36, P = 0 036), IL-6 (r = 0 38, P = 0 024) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) (r = 0 52, P = 0 001), of which IL-6 and TBARS were independent predictors of visfatin elevation, explaining 42% in data variability. Visfatin was significantly lower following weight reduction programme than at baseline (1 43 vs. 1 83 ng mL) 1, P = 0 033). Visfatin reduction correlated neither with changes in metabolic parameters nor was it affected by metformin. DVisfatin correlated exclusively with baseline visfatin (r = 0 612, P <0 0001), which explained 38% in data variability. Conclusions Central obesity combined with HI / IR contributes to visfatin elevation. Visfatin association with metabolic / biochemical variables is gender dependent. Diet + enhanced physical activity are effective in visfatin reduction, the degree of which depends on baseline visfati

Silver nanoparticles administered to chicken affect VEGFA and FGF2 gene expression in breast muscle and heart

Nanoparticles of colloidal silver (AgNano) can influence gene expression. Concerning trials of AgNano application in poultry nutrition, it is useful to reveal whether they affect the expression of genes crucial for bird development. AgNano were administered to broiler chickens as a water solution in two concentrations (10 and 20 ppm). After dissection of the birds, breast muscles and hearts were collected. Gene expression of FGF2 and VEGFA on the mRNA and protein levels were evaluated using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods. The results for gene expression in the breast muscle revealed changes on the mRNA level (FGF2 was up-regulated, P < 0.05) but not on the protein level. In the heart, 20 ppm of silver nanoparticles in drinking water increased the expression of VEGFA (P < 0.05), at the same time decreasing FGF2 expression both on the transcriptional and translational levels. Changes in the expression of these genes may lead to histological changes, but this needs to be proven using histological and immunohistochemical examination of tissues. In general, we showed that AgNano application in poultry feeding influences the expression of FGF2 and VEGFA genes on the mRNA and protein levels in growing chicken

LéA Réseau collège Marseilleveyre - L'extension continue...

Le travail mené au sein du LéA Marseilleveyre depuis septembre 2012 continue à diffuser et rencontre l’intérêt de nouveaux professeurs de mathématiques prêts à rejoindre son projet. En 2014-2015, des professeurs des collèges Roy d’Espagne et Coin Joli-Sévigné ont régulièrement participé aux réunions bimensuelles du LéA. Ils ont pris en mains, dans leurs classes, certaines des propositions d’un enseignement innovant des mathématiques conçu et expérimenté, depuis plusieurs années, au collège Ma..