FGF21 Increases Water Intake, Urine Output and Blood Pressure in Rats

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a hormone secreted by the liver in response to metabolic stress. In addition to its well-characterized effects on energy homeostasis, FGF21 has been shown to increase water intake in animals. In this study, we sought to further explore the effects of FGF21 on fluid homeostasis in rats. A single dose of a long-acting FGF21 analog, PF-05231023, significantly increased water consumption, which was accompanied by an elevation in urine output that appeared prior to a significant change in water intake. We observed that FGF21 rapidly and significantly increased heart rate and blood pressure in telemeter-implanted rats, before changes in urine output and water intake were observed. Our data suggest that sympathetic activation may contribute to the pathogenesis by which FGF21 increases blood pressure as the baroreceptor unloading induced reflex tachycardia was significantly elevated in FGF21-treated animals. However, FGF21 was still capable of causing hypertension in animals in which approximately 40% of the sympathetic post-ganglionic neurons were ablated. Our data suggest that FGF21-induced water intake is in fact secondary to diuresis, which we propose to be a compensatory mechanism engaged to alleviate the acute hypertension caused by FGF21

Acceptability of insect ingredients by innovative student chefs : an exploratory study

Background: In Western societies, the acceptability of entomophagy is low despite the sustainable and nutritional benefits of insects. It is recognized that insect meals incorporated in into familiar foods increases willingness to eat insects. Chefs can offer positive culinary insect-based experiences to their customers which can then contribute to increasing the acceptability of entomophagy by consumers. However, little is known about chefs' perceptions of the use of insect-based ingredients. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the reasons why innovative student chefs are willing (or not) to incorporate mealworms meals into their dishes. Methodology: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 7 innovative student chefs at the Institut de tourisme et d'hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ). Thematic analysis based on a priori Rogers' Diffusion of Innovation Theory was conducted using transcript verbatim. Results: Most participants had a past consumption experience with entomophagy and all of them had a positive attitude toward this practice. The main perceived disadvantages of mealworm meal was the texture (granular and uneven), the odor as well as the low acceptability by consumers. Despite that, student chefs were generally willing to use insect-based ingredients, but they thought that transparency and more opportunities for consumers to try good insect-based dishes are keys to enhancing the acceptability of insect consumption. Conclusion: Understanding perceptions of innovative chefs about the use of insect-based ingredients can help to promote their use in gastronomy and ultimately improve their acceptability by consumers

Le point de vue des acteurs sur la place de la famille dans les services de réadaptation en toxicomanie pour jeunes et parents

Dix ans après avoir lancé son programme Jeunesse, et dans un souci d’amélioration des services, le centre de réadaptation public en toxicomanie Domrémy Mauricie / Centre-du- Québec entreprend une forme d’évaluation d’implantation qui fait participer non seulement ses cliniciens et partenaires externes, mais aussi et surtout les jeunes et leurs parents. Afin d’ajouter un éclairage aux données quantitatives, le devis de cette recherche est en partie qualitatif et tient compte de la complexité et de la diversité des points de vue exprimés. Cet article s’intéresse à la réadaptation des jeunes et au rôle du milieu familial dans le processus. On y expose les constatations issues des consultations menées auprès des intervenants jeunesse de Domrémy Mauricie / Centre-du-Québec (deux focus groups et quatre entrevues avec des informateurs-clés) et dans quatre centres de service différents, avec des jeunes (quatre focus groups) de même qu’avec des parents ayant récemment reçu des services (trois focus groups). Quelques données quantitatives concernant les jeunes et les parents ayant bénéficié de services de Domrémy au cours de la dernière année, complètent cet exposé.Ten years after the implementation of a program dedicated to youth, the public rehabilitation centre for drug and alcohol addicts Domrémy Mauricie / Centre-du-Québec’s undertook an evaluation of this program, with the goal of improving quality of service. The evaluation involved clinical practitioners, partners and particularly adolescents and parents. To complement the quantitative data, the research included qualitative data and considered the complexity and the diversity of expressed points of view. The topic of this article is adolescent rehabilitation and the role of family in the therapeutic process through the presentation of analysis from the point of view expressed in consultation with clinical practitioners from Domrémy Mauricie / Centre-du-Québec (2 focus groups and 4 interviews with key informers), adolescents (4 focus groups in 4 different settings), and parents (3 focus groups in 3 different settings) who have recently received services. Some quantitative data concerning adolescents and parents having received services in the last year will be also presented.Diez años después de haber lanzado su programa juventud y con la preocupación de mejorar los servicios, el centro de readaptación público en toxicomanía Domrémy Mauricie/Centre-du-Québec emprende una forma de evaluación de implantación que hace participar no solamente a sus clínicos y agentes externos, pero también y sobre todo a los jóvenes y a sus padres. Afín de agregar un enfoque a los datos cuantitativos, el presupuesto de esta investigación es parcialmente cualitativo y tiene en cuenta la complexidad y la diversidad de los puntos de vista expresados. Este artículo se interesa en la readaptación de los jóvenes y en el papel del entorno familiar en el proceso. Expone las constataciones resultantes de las consultaciones hechas a los agentes sociales en juventud de Domrémy Mauricie/Centre-du-Québec (dos grupos de referencia y cuatro entrevistas con informadores-clave y en cuatro centros de servicios diferentes, con jóvenes (cuatro grupos de referencia), y con padres habiendo recientemente recibido servicios (tres grupos de referencia). Algunos datos cuantitativos en lo que se refiere a los jóvenes y a los padres habiendo recibido servicios de Domrémy en el transcurso del último año completan esta exposición

Endotoxin mediated-iNOS induction causes insulin resistance via ONOO⁻ induced tyrosine nitration of IRS-1 in skeletal muscle.

It is believed that the endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is implicated in the metabolic perturbations associated with both sepsis and obesity (metabolic endotoxemia). Here we examined the role of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in skeletal muscle insulin resistance using LPS challenge in rats and mice as in vivo models of endotoxemia.Pharmacological (aminoguanidine) and genetic strategies (iNOS⁻/⁻ mice) were used to counter iNOS induction in vivo. In vitro studies using peroxynitrite (ONOO⁻) or inhibitors of the iNOS pathway, 1400 W and EGCG were conducted in L6 myocytes to determine the mechanism by which iNOS mediates LPS-dependent insulin resistance. In vivo, both pharmacological and genetic invalidation of iNOS prevented LPS-induced muscle insulin resistance. Inhibition of iNOS also prevented insulin resistance in myocytes exposed to cytokine/LPS while exposure of myocytes to ONOO⁻ fully reproduced the inhibitory effect of cytokine/LPS on both insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and PI3K activity. Importantly, LPS treatment in vivo and iNOS induction and ONOO⁻ treatment in vitro promoted tyrosine nitration of IRS-1 and reduced insulin-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation.Our work demonstrates that iNOS-mediated tyrosine nitration of IRS-1 is a key mechanism of skeletal muscle insulin resistance in endotoxemia, and presents nitrosative modification of insulin signaling proteins as a novel therapeutic target for combating muscle insulin resistance in inflammatory settings

FGF21 increases water intake, urine output and blood pressure in rats.

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a hormone secreted by the liver in response to metabolic stress. In addition to its well-characterized effects on energy homeostasis, FGF21 has been shown to increase water intake in animals. In this study, we sought to further explore the effects of FGF21 on fluid homeostasis in rats. A single dose of a long-acting FGF21 analog, PF-05231023, significantly increased water consumption, which was accompanied by an elevation in urine output that appeared prior to a significant change in water intake. We observed that FGF21 rapidly and significantly increased heart rate and blood pressure in telemeter-implanted rats, before changes in urine output and water intake were observed. Our data suggest that sympathetic activation may contribute to the pathogenesis by which FGF21 increases blood pressure as the baroreceptor unloading induced reflex tachycardia was significantly elevated in FGF21-treated animals. However, FGF21 was still capable of causing hypertension in animals in which approximately 40% of the sympathetic post-ganglionic neurons were ablated. Our data suggest that FGF21-induced water intake is in fact secondary to diuresis, which we propose to be a compensatory mechanism engaged to alleviate the acute hypertension caused by FGF21