Dietary betaine supplementation increases Fgf21 levels to improve glucose homeostasis and reduce hepatic lipid accumulation in mice

Identifying markers of human insulin resistance may permit development of new approaches for treatment and prevention of type 2 diabetes. To this end, we analyzed the fasting plasma metabolome in metabolically characterized human volunteers across a spectrum of insulin resistance. We demonstrate that plasma betaine levels are reduced in insulin-resistant humans and correlate closely with insulin sensitivity. Moreover, betaine administration to mice with diet-induced obesity prevents the development of impaired glucose homeostasis, reduces hepatic lipid accumulation, increases white adipose oxidative capacity, and enhances whole-body energy expenditure. In parallel with these beneficial metabolic effects, betaine supplementation robustly increased hepatic and circulating fibroblast growth factor (Fgf)21 levels. Betaine administration failed to improve glucose homeostasis and liver fat content in Fgf21(-/-) mice, demonstrating that Fgf21 is necessary for betaine's beneficial effects. Together, these data indicate that dietary betaine increases Fgf21 levels to improve metabolic health in mice and suggest that betaine supplementation merits further investigation as a supplement for treatment or prevention of type 2 diabetes in humans

SANAA, Rolex Learning Center

En el curso 2012-2013 el Laboratorio de Crítica centró su atención en el Rolex Learning Center de l´Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne en Suiza, obra de indudable interés del estudio japonés SANAA que constituye en sí misma un auténtico experimento y, consecuentemente, un objeto de observación apropiado para el estudio dentro del Laboratorio. En octubre de 2012 se realizó un viaje para visitar el edificio y, posteriormente, se realizaron por parte de los alumnos, ejercicios críticos y experimentos de los que en esta publicación aparece una muestra representativa. También se recogen en este libro, publicado gracias al apoyo de la ETSAM dentro de su colección de Texto Académicos, algunas aportaciones externas como el escrito y los dibujos del arquitecto Javier Aguilera, así como otros textos de antiguos alumnos del Laboratorio como Rosa Ballester, Berta González Salinero o Daniel Sacristán que, además han contribuido decisivamente en la edición. Se incluye, asimismo, un artículo de Eider Holgado, alumna de doctorado que está realizando su tesis, dentro del G.I. ARKRIT

Control centralizado e instalación de climatización en 35 viviendas en Valencia

[ES] La Empresa Verdú Masip Servicios S.L., encarga al estudiante Carlos Lerín Martínez tutorizado por el Sr. Sergio García-Nieto, la redacción del presente proyecto de la instalación de climatización de las 34 Viviendas en Valencia. Dicha climatización será llevada a cabo mediante equipos de aire acondicionado, individual para cada vivienda, controlados con una centralita, ubicada en la recepción del edificio, mediante la cual se puede comprobar el estado de cada vivienda, controlar temperaturas incluso encendido y apagado de maquinaria.Lerín Martínez, C. (2012). Control centralizado e instalación de climatización en 35 viviendas en Valencia. Universitat Politècnica de València. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/159414Archivo delegad

PGC-1α induces mitochondrial and myokine transcriptional programs and lipid droplet and glycogen accumulation in cultured human skeletal muscle cells

The transcriptional coactivator peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1 alpha (PGC-1α) is a chief activator of mitochondrial and metabolic programs and protects against atrophy in skeletal muscle (skm). Here we tested whether PGC-1α overexpression could restructure the transcriptome and metabolism of primary cultured human skm cells, which display a phenotype that resembles the atrophic phenotype. An oligonucleotide microarray analysis was used to reveal the effects of PGC-1α on the whole transcriptome. Fifty-three different genes showed altered expression in response to PGC-1α: 42 upregulated and 11 downregulated. The main gene ontologies (GO) associated with the upregulated genes were mitochondrial components and processes and this was linked with an increase in COX activity, an indicator of mitochondrial content. Furthermore, PGC-1α enhanced mitochondrial oxidation of palmitate and lactate to CO2, but not glucose oxidation. The other most significantly associated GOs for the upregulated genes were chemotaxis and cytokine activity, and several cytokines, including IL-8/CXCL8, CXCL6, CCL5 and CCL8, were within the most highly induced genes. Indeed, PGC-1α highly increased IL-8 cell protein content. The most upregulated gene was PVALB, which is related to calcium signaling. Potential metabolic regulators of fatty acid and glucose storage were among mainly regulated genes. The mRNA and protein level of FITM1/FIT1, which enhances the formation of lipid droplets, was raised by PGC-1α, while in oleate-incubated cells PGC-1α increased the number of smaller lipid droplets and modestly triglyceride levels, compared to controls. CALM1, the calcium-modulated δ subunit of phosphorylase kinase, was downregulated by PGC-1α, while glycogen phosphorylase was inactivated and glycogen storage was increased by PGC-1α. In conclusion, of the metabolic transcriptome deficiencies of cultured skm cells, PGC-1α rescued the expression of genes encoding mitochondrial proteins and FITM1. Several myokine genes, including IL-8 and CCL5, which are known to be constitutively expressed in human skm cells, were induced by PGC-1α

Dietary betaine supplementation increases Fgf21 levels to improve glucose homeostasis and reduce hepatic lipid accumulation in mice

Identifying markers of human insulin resistance may permit development of new approaches for treatment and prevention of type 2 diabetes. To this end, we analyzed the fasting plasma metabolome in metabolically characterized human volunteers across a spectrum of insulin resistance. We demonstrate that plasma betaine levels are reduced in insulin-resistant humans and correlate closely with insulin sensitivity. Moreover, betaine administration to mice with diet-induced obesity prevents the development of impaired glucose homeostasis, reduces hepatic lipid accumulation, increases white adipose oxidative capacity, and enhances whole-body energy expenditure. In parallel with these beneficial metabolic effects, betaine supplementation robustly increased hepatic and circulating fibroblast growth factor (Fgf)21 levels. Betaine administration failed to improve glucose homeostasis and liver fat content in Fgf21(-/-) mice, demonstrating that Fgf21 is necessary for betaine's beneficial effects. Together, these data indicate that dietary betaine increases Fgf21 levels to improve metabolic health in mice and suggest that betaine supplementation merits further investigation as a supplement for treatment or prevention of type 2 diabetes in humans

Dietary betaine supplementation increases Fgf21 levels to improve glucose homeostasis and reduce hepatic lipid accumulation in mice

Identifying markers of human insulin resistance may permit development of new approaches for treatment and prevention of type 2 diabetes. To this end, we analyzed the fasting plasma metabolome in metabolically characterized human volunteers across a spectrum of insulin resistance. We demonstrate that plasma betaine levels are reduced in insulin-resistant humans and correlate closely with insulin sensitivity. Moreover, betaine administration to mice with diet-induced obesity prevents the development of impaired glucose homeostasis, reduces hepatic lipid accumulation, increases white adipose oxidative capacity, and enhances whole-body energy expenditure. In parallel with these beneficial metabolic effects, betaine supplementation robustly increased hepatic and circulating fibroblast growth factor (Fgf)21 levels. Betaine administration failed to improve glucose homeostasis and liver fat content in Fgf21(-/-) mice, demonstrating that Fgf21 is necessary for betaine's beneficial effects. Together, these data indicate that dietary betaine increases Fgf21 levels to improve metabolic health in mice and suggest that betaine supplementation merits further investigation as a supplement for treatment or prevention of type 2 diabetes in humans

Habitabilidad y política de vivienda

En esta obra, en la que participan destacados investigadores y profesores, dedicados al estudio de la problemática habitacional se presentan diferentes análisis que permiten conocer cuales son las condiciones de habitabilidad y las características de la actual política de vivienda de México. En sus capítulos se abordan los principales desafíos que enfrentan las familias mexicanas para acceder a una vivienda digna y decorosa y cuales son los retos económicos, políticos, territoriales, arquitectónicos, ambientales, financieros y culturales de las formas de producción habitacional en México y en otros países, en el marco de una sociedad global

The impact of the use of games on student academic performance: gamification as a way to improve the teaching of political, legal and social issues

El juego es una herramienta básica para el aprendizaje, aunque poco utilizada en el Espacio de Educación Superior. El uso de los juegos en las aulas puede contribuir no sólo a mejorar la percepción de la docencia por parte de nuestro alumnado (lo cual a su vez podría transmitirse en una mejor percepción de los estudios de la Universidad Complutense), sino que también pueden conducir a un mayor conocimiento de los procesos dinámicos en los que vivimos hoy día facilitando que los participantes comprendan mejor su naturaleza dinámica. Cuando se simula una situación, los participantes se dan cuenta de cómo funciona el sistema político en movimiento y se preparan para enfrentarlo en la vida real. Además, las simulaciones también son divertidas, hacen que los estudiantes se involucren más en el estudio y profundicen su conocimiento al fomentar su interés. En este Proyecto de Innovación Docente profesores de distintas facultades y universidades analizamos el uso del juego en las aulas y su impacto en el rendimiento de nuestro alumnado.Universidad Complutense de MadridDepto. de Ciencia Política y de la AdministraciónFac. de Ciencias Políticas y SociologíaFALSEsubmitte