The effect of passive heating on heat shock protein 70 and interleukin-6: a possible treatment tool for metabolic diseases?

Exercise and physical activity remain the gold standard methods of enhancing and maintaining health and wellbeing. However, in populations that benefit most from exercise, adherence is often poor and alternatives to exercise are important to bring about health improvements. Recent work suggests a role for passive heating (PH) and heat shock proteins (HSP) in improving cardio-metabolic health. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of HSP70 and IL-6 in response to either exercise (EX) or PH and the subsequent effect on glucose control. Fourteen males volunteered and were categorized lean (BMI 23.5 ± 2.2 Kgm-2) or overweight (29.2 ± 2.7 Kgm-2) and completed 60 minutes of either moderate cycling at a fixed rate of metabolic heat production (EX) or warm water immersion in 40 ̊C water (PH). Extracellular HSP70 increased from baseline in both conditions with no differences between PH (0.98 ± 1.1 ngmL-1) or EX (0.84 ± 1.0 ngmL-1, P=0.814). IL-6 increased following both conditions with a 2 fold increase after PH and 4 fold after EX. Energy expenditure increased by 61.0 ± 14.4 kcal (79%) after PH. Peak glucose concentration after a meal immediately following PH was reduced when compared with EX (6.3 ± 1.4mmolL-1 vs. 6.8 ± 1.2mmolL-1; P<0.05). There was no difference in 24-hour glucose area under the curve between conditions. These data indicate the potential for thermal therapy as a novel treatment and management strategy for type 2 diabetes where adherence, or ability to exercise may be compromised

A922 Sequential measurement of 1 hour creatinine clearance (1-CRCL) in critically ill patients at risk of acute kidney injury (AKI)

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Chronic dietary L-arginine down-regulates adenosine receptor and nitric oxide synthase expression in rat heart

L-Arginine increases myocardial nitric oxide production. Nitric oxide mediates many of the cardiovascular actions of adenosine and modulates adenosine metabolism. In this study, we examined the effect of chronic L-arginine (5 percent) intake on cardiac nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and adenosine receptor expression and cardiac function in rat Langendorff-isolated perfused hearts. Our results show that 4-week chronic L-arginine ingestion increases the weight of rat hearts by 17.6 percent

Contribution of hypoxia to Alzheimer's disease: is HIF-1alpha a mediator of neurodegeneration?

The mammalian brain is extremely sensitive to alterations in cellular homeostasis as a result of environmental or physiological insults. In particular, hypoxic/ischemic challenges (i.e. reduced oxygen and/or glucose delivery) cause severe and detrimental alterations in brain function and can trigger neuronal cell death within minutes. Unfortunately, as we age, oxygen delivery to cells and tissues is impaired, thereby increasing the susceptibility of neurons to damage. Thus, hypoxic (neuronal) adaptation is significantly compromised during aging. Many neurological diseases, such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease and diabetes, are characterized by hypoxia, a state that is believed to only exacerbate disease progression. However, the contribution of hypoxia and hypoxia-mediated pathways to neurodegeneration remains unclear. This review discusses current evidence on the contribution of oxygen deprivation to AD, with an emphasis on hypoxia inducible transcription factor-1 (HIF-1)-mediated pathways and the association of AD with the cytoskeleton regulator cyclin-dependent kinase 5. (Part of a multi-author review.)