Immobilized WNT proteins act as a stem cell niche for tissue engineering

The timing, location, and level of WNT signaling are highly regulated during embryonic development and for the maintenance of adult tissues. Consequently the ability to provide a defined and directed source of WNT proteins is crucial to fully understand its role in tissue development and to mimic its activity in vitro. Here we describe a one-step immobilization technique to covalently bind WNT3A proteins as a basal surface with easy storage and long-lasting activity. We show that this platform is able to maintain adult and embryonic stem cells while also being adaptable for 3D systems. Therefore, this platform could be used for recapitulating specific stem cell niches with the goal of improving tissue engineering

No Effect of Added Sugar Consumed at Median American Intake Level on Glucose Tolerance or Insulin Resistance

Abstract: Excess sugar consumption may promote adverse changes in hepatic and total body insulin resistance. Debate continues over the effects of sugars at more typically consumed levels and whether the identity of the sugar consumed is important. In the present study participants (20-60 years old) were randomly assigned to one of five groups, three that consumed low fat milk with added fructose containing sugars in amounts equivalent to the 50th percentile of fructose consumption (US), one which consumed low-fat milk sweetened with glucose, and one unsweetened low-fat milk control group. The intervention lasted ten weeks. In the entire study population there was less than 1 kg increase in weight (73.6˘13.0 vs. 74.5˘13.3 kg, p < 0.001), but the change in weight was comparable among groups (p > 0.05). There were no changes in fasting glucose (49˘0.4 vs. 5.0˘0.5 mmol/L), insulin (56.9˘38.9 vs. 61.8˘50.0 pmol/L), or insulin resistance, as measured by the Homeostasis Model Assessment method (1.8˘1.3 vs. 2.0˘1.5, all p > 0.05). These data suggest that added sugar consumed at the median American intake level does not produce changes in measures of insulin sensitivity or glucose tolerance and that no sugar has more deleterious effects than others

The Effects of Four Hypocaloric Diets Containing Different Levels of Sucrose or High Fructose Corn Syrup on Weight Loss and Related Parameters

Background: The replacement of sucrose with HFCS in food products has been suggested as playing a role in the development of obesity as a public health issue. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of four equally hypocaloric diets containing different levels of sucrose or high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). Methods: This was a randomized, prospective, double blind trial, with overweight/obese participants measured for body composition and blood chemistry before and after the completion of 12 weeks following a hypocaloric diet. The average caloric deficit achieved on the hypocaloric diets was 309 kcal. Results: Reductions were observed in all measures of adiposity including body mass, BMI,% body fat, waist circumference and fat mass for all four hypocaloric groups, as well as reductions in the exercise only group for body mass, BMI and waist circumference. Conclusions: Similar decreases in weight and indices of adiposity are observed when overweight or obese individuals are fed hypocaloric diets containing levels of sucrose or high fructose corn syrup typically consumed by adults in the United States

Review of experimental methods to determine spontaneous combustion susceptibility of coal – Indian context

This paper presents a critical review of the different techniques developed to investigate the susceptibility of coal to spontaneous combustion and fire. These methods may be sub-classified into the two following areas: (1) Basic coal characterisation studies (chemical constituents) and their influence on spontaneous combustion susceptibility. (2) Test methods to assess the susceptibility of a coal sample to spontaneous combustion. This is followed by a critical literature review that summarises previous research with special emphasis given to Indian coals

Type 2 Diabetes Risk Reduction in Overweight and Obese Adults Through Multidisciplinary Group Sessions: Effects of Meeting Attendance

This study evaluated the importance of attendance in a commercial weight loss program for type 2 diabetes risk reduction in normoglycemic men (n = 8) and women (n = 53) aged 25 to 50 years (38.7 ± 6.0 years), with a body mass index (BMI) of 27 to 35 kg/m2 (31.6 ± 2.3 kg/m2). The single-group 24-week intervention consisted of food, activity, and behavior modification plans within weekly meetings. Weight, waist circumference, meeting attendance, and glucose handling were measured before and after. Relationships between meeting attendance and outcomes were analyzed via Pearson correlation. Quartiles for meeting attendance were calculated (quartile 1: 30.0% ± 10.4%; quartile 2: 52.1% ± 5.8%; quartile 3: 65.5% ± 3.8%; quartile 4: 82.4% ± 4.6%), and between-group differences were assessed via 1-way analysis of variance. Meeting attendance was correlated with decreases in weight, BMI, and waist circumference (r = 0.476, 0.492, and 0.455; P = 0.002, 0.001, and 0.003, respectively). Quartile 1 lost significantly less weight than quartile 4 (—1.0 ± 3.5 kg vs —6.70 ± 3.58 kg). In quartiles 3 and 4, fasting insulin and HOMA-IR decreased (both P \u3c 0.05), but not in quartiles 1 and 2. Fasting glucose decreased in all groups (P \u3c 0.001), and glucose AUC decreased in quartiles 2, 3, and 4 (P \u3c 0.001). Commercially available programs with weekly group meetings can be effective in reducing type 2 diabetes risk for overweight and obese adults, but attendance is critical. © 2010, Sage Publications. All rights reserved

Type 2 Diabetes Risk Reduction In Overweight And Obese Adults Through Multidisciplinary Group Sessions: Effects Of Meeting Attendance

This study evaluated the importance of attendance in a commercial weight loss program for type 2 diabetes risk reduction in normoglycemic men (n = 8) and women (n = 53) aged 25 to 50 years (38.7 ± 6.0 years), with a body mass index (BMI) of 27 to 35 kg/m2 (31.6 ± 2.3 kg/m2). The single-group 24-week intervention consisted of food, activity, and behavior modification plans within weekly meetings. Weight, waist circumference, meeting attendance, and glucose handling were measured before and after. Relationships between meeting attendance and outcomes were analyzed via Pearson correlation. Quartiles for meeting attendance were calculated (quartile 1: 30.0% ± 10.4%; quartile 2: 52.1% ± 5.8%; quartile 3: 65.5% ± 3.8%; quartile 4: 82.4% ± 4.6%), and between-group differences were assessed via 1-way analysis of variance. Meeting attendance was correlated with decreases in weight, BMI, and waist circumference (r = 0.476, 0.492, and 0.455; P = 0.002, 0.001, and 0.003, respectively). Quartile 1 lost significantly less weight than quartile 4 (—1.0 ± 3.5 kg vs —6.70 ± 3.58 kg). In quartiles 3 and 4, fasting insulin and HOMA-IR decreased (both P \u3c 0.05), but not in quartiles 1 and 2. Fasting glucose decreased in all groups (P \u3c 0.001), and glucose AUC decreased in quartiles 2, 3, and 4 (P \u3c 0.001). Commercially available programs with weekly group meetings can be effective in reducing type 2 diabetes risk for overweight and obese adults, but attendance is critical. © 2010, Sage Publications. All rights reserved

High-Fructose Corn Syrup And Sucrose Have Equivalent Effects On Energy-Regulating Hormones At Normal Human Consumption Levels

Intake of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) has been suggested to contribute to the increased prevalence of obesity, whereas a number of studies and organizations have reported metabolic equivalence between HFCS and sucrose. We hypothesized that HFCS and sucrose would have similar effects on energy-regulating hormones and metabolic substrates at normal levels of human consumption and that these values would not change over a 10-week, free-living period at these consumption levels. This was a randomized, prospective, double-blind, parallel group study in which 138 adult men and women consumed 10 weeks of low-fat milk sweetened with either HFCS or sucrose at levels of the 25th, 50th, and 90th percentile population consumption of fructose (the equivalent of 40, 90, or 150 g of sugar per day in a 2000-kcal diet). Before and after the 10-week intervention, 24-hour blood samples were collected. The area under the curve (AUC) for glucose, insulin, leptin, active ghrelin, triglyceride, and uric acid was measured. There were no group differences at baseline or posttesting for all outcomes (interaction, P \u3e .05). The AUC response of glucose, active ghrelin, and uric acid did not change between baseline and posttesting (P \u3e .05), whereas the AUC response of insulin (P \u3c .05), leptin (P \u3c .001), and triglyceride (P \u3c .01) increased over the course of the intervention when the 6 groups were averaged.We conclude that there are no differences in the metabolic effects of HFCS and sucrose when compared at low, medium, and high levels of consumption. © 2013 Elsevier Inc

The Effects of Fructose-Containing Sugars on Weight, Body Composition and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors When Consumed at up to the 90th Percentile Population Consumption Level for Fructose

The American Heart Association (AHA) and World Health Organization (WHO) have recommended restricting calories from added sugars at lower levels than the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendations, which are incorporated in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 (DGAs 2010). Sucrose (SUC) and high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) have been singled out for particular concern, because of their fructose content, which has been specifically implicated for its atherogenic potential and possible role in elevating blood pressure through uric acid-mediated endothelial dysfunction. This study explored the effects when these sugars are consumed at typical population levels up to the 90th percentile population consumption level for fructose. Three hundred fifty five overweight or obese individuals aged 20-60 years old were placed on a eucaloric diet for 10 weeks, which incorporated SUC- or HFCS-sweetened, low-fat milk at 8%, 18% or 30% of calories. There was a slight change in body weight in the entire cohort (169.1 +/- 30.6 vs. 171.6 +/- 31.8 lbs, p \u3c 0.01), a decrease in HDL (52.9 +/- 12.2 vs. 52.0 +/- 13.9 mg/dL, p \u3c 0.05) and an increase in triglycerides (104.1 +/- 51.8 vs. 114.1 +/- 64.7 mg/dL, p \u3c 0.001). However, total cholesterol (183.5 +/- 42.8 vs. 184.4 mg/dL, p \u3e 0.05), LDL (110.3 +/- 32.0 vs. 110.5 +/- 38.9 mg/dL, p \u3e 0.05), SBP (109.4 +/- 10.9 vs. 108.3 +/- 10.9 mmHg, p \u3e 0.05) and DBP (72.1 +/- 8.0 vs. 71.3 +/- 8.0 mmHg, p \u3e 0.05) were all unchanged. In no instance did the amount or type of sugar consumed affect the response to the intervention (interaction p \u3e 0.05). These data suggest that: (1) when consumed as part of a normal diet, common fructose-containing sugars do not raise blood pressure, even when consumed at the 90th percentile population consumption level for fructose (five times the upper level recommended by the AHA and three times the upper level recommended by WHO); (2) changes in the lipid profile are mixed, but modest