EFFECT OF THE Pro12Ala POLYMORPHISM OF THE PEROXISOME PROLIFERATOR-ACTIVATED RECEPTOR gamma 2 GENE ON LIPID PROFILE AND ADIPOKINES LEVELS IN OBESE SUBJECTS

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma) is a key regulator of metabolism, adipokines production and secretion. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the PPAR gamma 2 gene Pro12Ala polymorphism in obesity in terms of body mass index (BMI), lipid parameters, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), serum lipid, leptin, adiponectin, resistin and chemerin levels. The study included 160 obese and 140 non obese subjects. The Pro12Ala polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Serum lipid, leptin, adiponectin, resistin and chemerin levels were measured. No association was found between the Pro12Ala polymorphism and BMI. Strikingly, in the study group, obese subjects with the AA genotype had significantly higher triglycerides (p = 0.046) and resistin (p <0.001) levels than those with the wild-type PP and heterozygous PA genotypes. Serum leptin and chemerin levels were significantly associated with Pro12Ala poymorphism in the obese and non obese groups (p <0.01). In the obese group, subjects with the homozygous AA genotype had significantly lower adiponectin (p = 0.010) activity than the PP genotype. Our results suggest that the PPAR gamma 2 gene Pro12Ala polymorphism has no direct association with obesity but does have significant influences on lipid profiles and adipokines levels

New amphiphilic immunogens by poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-modified bovine serum albumin

Using poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) co-oligomer with N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMAAm) (IDc) we prepared polymer-protein conjugates of bovine serum albumin (IDc-BSA). The conjugate underwent reversible hydration-dehydration changes in response to temperature changes and revealed phase separation at body temperature. Mice were immunized by the intravenous, intramuscular or intradermal routes with the IDc-BSA. The intravenous route of single immunization without adjuvants evoked increased primary and secondary specific immune responses to IDc-BSA, whereas the intramuscular and intradermal did not elicit higher antibody production. The intradermal administration of BSA and IDc-BSA together with IFA both gave rise to high immunological activity. It is suggested that the hydrophobic chain aggregation site of the IDc-BSA conjugate at body temperature would increase the adsorptive capacity of BSA on the immunocompetent cells. The efficiency of such ''forced'' interactions of conjugate aggregates (high epitope density) are high enough for the immune response. Copyright (C) 1996 Published by Elsevier Science Lt

Hermaphroditism in two dogs - pathological and cytogenetic studies: a case report

A Pit-bull and a Beagle, both one-year-old, with complaints of an enlarged clitoris were clinically suspected for hermaphroditism. The enlarged clitoris, the uteri and the gonads were removed surgically from each animal and submitted to our department for histopathological evaluation. Tissue samples were fixed with 10% buffered formalin solution and processed routinely, after which paraffin sections were obtained and stained with H&E. A blood sample was taken from the Beagle dog and a peripheral lymphocyte culture was prepared. While the clitoris and uteri were confirmed histopathologically, the gonads were detected as a testis instead of an ovary for both dogs. Additionally, cytogenetic evaluation revealed a normal female chromosome complement, 78, XX for the Beagle dog. According to the gonadal and phenotypic sexes, both cases were first determined as 'male pseudohermaphroditism', a phenotypic sex disorder. However, after karyotyping analysis, we concluded that the 78, XX Beagle dog should be defined as suffering from XX sex reversal syndrome, a gonadal sex disorder

Hermaphroditism in two dogs &ndash; pathological and cytogenetic studies: a case report

A Pit-bull and a Beagle, both one-year-old, with complaints of an enlarged clitoris were clinically suspected for hermaphroditism. The enlarged clitoris, the uteri and the gonads were removed surgically from each animal and submitted to our department for histopathological evaluation. Tissue samples were fixed with 10% buffered formalin solution and processed routinely, after which paraffin sections were obtained and stained with H&E. A blood sample was taken from the Beagle dog and a peripheral lymphocyte culture was prepared. While the clitoris and uteri were confirmed histopathologically, the gonads were detected as a testis instead of an ovary for both dogs. Additionally, cytogenetic evaluation revealed a normal female chromosome complement, 78, XX for the Beagle dog. According to the gonadal and phenotypic sexes, both cases were first determined as 'male pseudohermaphroditism', a phenotypic sex disorder. However, after karyotyping analysis, we concluded that the 78, XX Beagle dog should be defined as suffering from XX sex reversal syndrome, a gonadal sex disorder