Impact of Astaxanthin Supplementation on Postprandial Oxidative Stress

Astaxanthin is a naturally occurring carotenoid found in salmon and microalgae that has antioxidative properties. Previous research shows dietary supplementation may result in increased endogenous antioxidant status and reduced markers of oxidative stress (OS). Research suggests OS causes increased risk for cardiometabolic and other chronic diseases, making it important to find interventions that can decrease occurrence of OS. While astaxanthin has been shown to be antioxidative, most studies observing the impact of astaxanthin has on OS has involved rodent models, therefore human trials are needed. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess whether four weeks of astaxanthin supplementation (6mg/day) can decrease blood markers of oxidative stress following the consumption of a high fat meal in healthy, young men. METHODS: Participants (n=13) were healthy, young men (mean ±SD; Age: 23.7 ±2.7 yrs; Weight: 79.8 ±12.6 kg; Height: 171.7 ±5.9 cm) that completed a randomized, double blinded crossover counterbalanced study. All participants completed 4 weeks of 6 mg of astaxanthin supplementation in addition to 4 weeks of placebo supplementation with a one-week washout period between treatments. After each supplementation period, participants consumed a high fat milkshake (milkshake; 1g fat/kg body weight, 1g carbohydrate/kg body weight, 0.25g protein/kg body weight) to induce postprandial OS. Blood samples were taken immediately before, as well as two, and four hours post milkshake consumption. The following were analyzed from each blood sample: triglycerides (TAG), glutathione (GSH), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malondialdehyde (MDA), and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP). RESULTS: Participant compliance on average was 98%. Regarding AOPP, there was no treatment x timepoint interaction or a significant main effect for treatment, while there was a main effect for time (F = 17.14, p \u3c 0.01) with significantly higher levels of AOPP at two and four hours postprandial compared to pre ingestion (p \u3c 0.01). In regard to MDA, there was no treatment x timepoint interaction or a significant main effect for treatment but a main effect for time was noted (F= 24.66, p \u3c 0.01) with significantly higher (p \u3c 0.01) MDA levels 2 and 4 hours post ingestion when compared to pre ingestion levels. In terms of GSH, while there was no treatment x timepoint interaction or main effect for time, the main effect for treatment did approach significance (F = 3.67, p = 0.06). There was no treatment x timepoint interaction for TAG nor a main effect for treatment, while there was a significant increase in TAG levels over time noted by a main effect (F = 15.80, p \u3c 0.01) with 2 and 4 hours post ingestion being significantly higher than pre ingestion TAG levels (p \u3c 0.01). Furthermore, with H2O2, a treatment x timepoint interaction (F = 5.94, p \u3c 0.01) was noted. H2O2 levels were significantly lower (p \u3c 0.05) 2 and 4 hours post ingestion following astaxanthin supplementation when compared to the placebo treatment. CONCLUSION: The high fat meal induced significant OS, reflected by increased levels of MDA, AOPP, and H2O2.Despite postprandial hyperlipidemia, astaxanthin was able to significantly decrease H2O2, suggesting astaxanthin is a desirable exogenous antioxidant for mitigating OS

Sex differences in stress reactivity and responses to novelty in the gray short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis domestica)

Introduction: Investigating how exposures to stress and novel environments influence behavior is important for translational research that aims to improve mental health. Previous studies have focused on reactions to novelty and revealed changes in defense reactions and exploratory behavior. (Pisula et al., 2012). Objective: The focus of the present study is to investigate sex differences in behavioral responses to novel environments and restraint stress in the gray short-tailed opossums (Monodelphis domestica). Using the Monodelphis is innovative because it is a non-traditional animal model that is ideal for developmental research. Methods: Using AnyMaze video tracking software, animals’ behaviors (6 males, 6 females) in the restraint stress task (3 min) and open field task (10 min) were recorded. AnyMaze and JWatcher were used to quantify movements, both locomotor and non-locomotor, and finally the data collected analyzed using SPSS. Restraint was used to inflict stress in the subjects, and the reactions were movements in paw, tail, and head. Reactions to a novel environment were assessed via exploratory and locomotor behaviors in an open field. Results: The results of a t-test revealed that the movement of the head was significantly different between sexes when considering p\u3c0.05 cutoff, with the female showing higher reactivity than their male counterparts (t(10)= 2.278, p\u3c 0.05). There were no sex differences in the other behaviors. To further compare the results, an open field paradigm was used, where subjects were introduced to a new environment and their reactions were reviewed. Our preliminary observations indicate that males were more prone to vast exploration of the new environment and at a faster pace, while females exhibit slower movements and limited exploration, mainly focusing in the areas closer to the walls. Discussion: We are currently conducting additional experiments with more subjects to determine if the behavior exhibited by females are a consequence of them feeling stressed by the novelty of the environment. If the results favor our hypothesis, then we could conclude that females are more susceptible to experiencing stress. To further analyze the data collected from both experiments, we are taking into consideration the age of the subjects, as considering this variable can help understand their behavior and stress reactivity at different stages of life. Conclusions: Clinical and epidemiological research have identified major gender/sex differences in neuropsychiatric disorders, and stress is a major contributor to mental health problems. Our results support the hypothesis that sex differences in stress reactivity and responses to novelty are present in Monodelphis, suggesting that sex differences have a biological component and that animal models can be used to study mechanisms that underlie sex differences in stress responses

The impact of biological sex on motor function and responses to novel environments in the gray short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis domestica)

Background: Understanding the different stress reactions in different environments can help us understand stress factors. Studying animal behavior is important for translational research for mental health improvement. Previous literature has shown that stress is a risk factor for higher cancer incidence and poorer cancer survival. (Klejbor & Turlejski., 2012), as well as mental health outcomes. Understanding of how stress is related to cancer can help improve therapeutic outcomes as preventive measures (Glaser et al., 1987). Methods: Using the Rota Rod apparatus, 12 animals (3 males, 9 females) were tested at 36 rpm for a maximum of 400 seconds (Madroñal et al., 2010). Open field apparatus was used to test 8 animals (4males, 4 females), their locomotor and non-locomotor behaviors were recorded using AnyMaze. Data collected from both experiments were analyzed with SPSS software. Results: The preliminary results showed sex differences, female’s average number of revolutions (44.54) was higher than their male counterparts (26.15). Results from the open field showed females exhibit less immobile episodes (f(1)=6.000. p Conclusions: Previous literature has shown stress is a risk factor and a major contributor to mental and physical health problems. Preliminary results support the hypothesis that there is a biological component in stress reactivity to novel environments in the Monodelphis, and that animal models are a good alternative to study sex differences in stress responses and motor function. Further research is needed to test housing effects in the short-tailed opossums

Bioassay-guided identification of the antiproliferative compounds of cissus trifoliata and the transcriptomic effect of resveratrol in prostate cancer pc3 cells

The bioassay-guided fractionation of a CHCl3-MeOH extract from the stems of Cissus trifo-liata identified an active fraction against PC3 prostate cancer cells. The treatment for 24 h showed an 80% reduction in cell viability (p ≤ 0.05) by a WST-1 assay at a concentration of 100 µg/mL. The HPLC-QTOF-MS analysis of the fraction showed the presence of coumaric and isoferulic acids, apigenin, kaempferol, chrysoeriol, naringenin, ursolic and betulinic acids, hexadecadienoic and octadecadienoic fatty acids, and the stilbene resveratrol. The exposure of PC3 cells to resveratrol (IC25 = 23 µg/mL) for 24 h induced significant changes in 847 genes (Z-score ≥ ±2). The functional classification tool of the DAVID v6.8 platform indicates that the underlying molecular mechanisms against the proliferation of PC3 cells were associated (p ≤ 0.05) with the process of differentiation and metabolism. These findings provide experimental evidence suggesting the potential of C. trifoliata as a promising natural source of anticancer compounds

Free-standing graphene films embedded in epoxy resin with enhanced thermal properties

The poor thermal conductivity of polymer composites has long been a deterrent to their increased use in high-end aerospace or defence applications. This study describes a new approach for the incorporation of graphene in an epoxy resin, through the addition of graphene as free-standing film in the polymeric matrix. The electrical and thermal conductivity of composites embedding two different free-standing graphene films was compared to composites with embedded carbon nanotube buckypapers (CNT-BP). Considerably higher thermal conductivity values than those achieved with conventional dispersing methods of graphene or CNTs in epoxy resins were obtained. The characterisation was complemented with a study of the structure at the microscale by cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and a thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The films are preconditioned in order to incorporate them into the composites, and the complete manufacturing process proposed allows the production and processing of these materials in large batches. The high thermal conductivity obtained for the composites opens the way for their use in demanding thermal management applications, such as electronic enclosures or platforms facing critical temperature loads.European Defence Agency tender No 17.ESI.OP.066. Study on the Impact of Graphene on Defence Application

Phase transitions for suspension flows

This paper is devoted to study thermodynamic formalism for suspension flows defined over countable alphabets. We are mostly interested in the regularity properties of the pressure function. We establish conditions for the pressure function to be real analytic or to exhibit a phase transition. We also construct an example of a potential for which the pressure has countably many phase transitions.Comment: Example 5.2 expanded. Typos corrected. Section 6.1 superced the note "Thermodynamic formalism for the positive geodesic flow on the modular surface" arXiv:1009.462

Convergence of decreasing male and increasing female incidence rates in major tobacco-related cancers in Europe in 1988-2010

Introduction: Smoking prevalence has been declining in men all over Europe, while the trend varies in European regions among women. To study the impact of past smoking prevalence, we present a comprehensive overview of the most recent trends in incidence, during 1988-2010, in 26 countries, of four of the major cancers in the respiratory and upper gastro-intestinal tract associated with tobacco smoking. Methods: Data from 47 population-based cancer registries for lung, laryngeal, oral cavity and pharyngeal, and oesophageal cancer cases were obtained from the newly developed data repository within the European Cancer Observatory (http://eco.iarc.fr/). Truncated age-standardised incidence rates (35-74 years) by calendar year, average annual percentage change in incidence over 1998-2007 were calculated. Smoking prevalence in selected countries was extracted from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the World Health Organization databases. Results:

Pre-sleep feeding, sleep quality, and markers of recovery in division I NCAA female soccer players

Pre-sleep nutrition habits in elite female athletes have yet to be evaluated. A retrospective analysis was performed with 14 NCAA Division I female soccer players who wore a WHOOP, Inc. band – a wearable device that quantifies recovery by measuring sleep, activity, and heart rate metrics through actigraphy and photoplethysmography, respectively – 24 h a day for an entire competitive season to measure sleep and recovery. Pre-sleep food consumption data were collected via surveys every 3 days. Average pre-sleep nutritional intake (mean ± sd: kcals 330 ± 284; cho 46.2 ± 40.5 g; pro 7.6 ± 7.3 g; fat 12 ± 10.5 g) was recorded. Macronutrients and kcals were grouped into high and low categories based upon the 50th percentile of the mean to compare the impact of a high versus low pre-sleep intake on sleep and recovery variables. Sleep duration (p = 0.10, 0.69, 0.16, 0.17) and sleep disturbances (p = 0.42, 0.65, 0.81, 0.81) were not affected by high versus low kcal, PRO, fat, CHO intake, respectively. Recovery (p = 0.81, 0.06, 0.81, 0.92), RHR (p = 0.84, 0.64, 0.26, 0.66), or HRV (p = 0.84, 0.70, 0.76, 0.93) were also not affected by high versus low kcal, PRO, fat, or CHO consumption, respectively. Consuming a small meal before bed may have no impact on sleep or recovery

A compendium and functional characterization of mammalian genes involved in adaptation to Arctic or Antarctic environments

Many mammals are well adapted to surviving in extremely cold environments. These species have likely accumulated genetic changes that help them efficiently cope with low temperatures. It is not known whether the same genes related to cold adaptation in one species would be under selection in another species. The aims of this study therefore were: to create a compendium of mammalian genes related to adaptations to a low temperature environment; to identify genes related to cold tolerance that have been subjected to independent positive selection in several species; to determine promising candidate genes/pathways/organs for further empirical research on cold adaptation in mammals