Adipose tissue as an endocrine organ: role of leptin and adiponectin in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases

Obesity, the most common nutritional disorder in industrial countries, is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Nevertheless, the molecular basis linking obesity with cardiovascular disturbances have not yet been fully clarified. Recent advances in the biology of adipose tissue indicate that it is not simply an energy storage organ, but also a secretory organ, producing a variety of bioactive substances, including leptin and adiponectin, that may influence the function as well as the structural integrity of the cardiovascular system. Leptin, besides being a satiety signal for the central nervous system and to be related to insulin and glucose metabolism, may also play an important role in regulating vascular tone because of the widespread distribution of functional receptors in the vascular cells. On the other hand, the more recently discovered protein, adiponectin, seems to play a protective role in experimental models of vascular injury, in probable relation to its ability to suppress the attachment of monocytes to endothelial cells, which is an early event in the atherosclerotic process. There is already considerable evidence linking altered production of some adipocyte hormones with the cardiovascular complications of obesity. Therefore, the knowledge of alterations in the endocrine function of adipose tissue may help to further understand the high cardiovascular risk associated with obesity.     

Unravelling the differences: comparative proteomic analysis of a clonal virulent and an attenuated Histomonas meleagridis strain

The current study focused on Histomonas meleagridis, a unicellular protozoan, responsible for histomonosis in poultry. Recently, the occurrence of the disease increased due to the ban of effective chemotherapeutic drugs. Basic questions regarding the molecular biology, virulence mechanisms or even life cycle of the flagellate are still puzzling. In order to address some of these issues, we conducted a comparative proteomic analysis of a virulent and an attenuated H. meleagridis strain traced back to a single cell and propagated in vitro as monoxenic mono-eukaryotic cultures. Using two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) for proteome visualization with computational 2-DE gel image and statistical analysis, upregulated proteins in either of the two H. meleagridis strains were detected. Statistical analysis fulfilling two criteria (≥threefold upregulation and P?<?0.05) revealed 119 differentially expressed protein spots out of which 62 spots were noticed in gels with proteins from the virulent and 57 spots in gels with proteins from the attenuated culture. Mass spectrometric analysis of 32 protein spots upregulated in gels of the virulent strain identified 17 as H. meleagridis-specific. The identification revealed that these spots belonged to eight different proteins, with the majority related to cellular stress management. Two ubiquitous cellular proteins, actin and enolase, were upregulated in multiple gel positions in this strain, indicating either post-translational modification or truncation, or even both. Additionally, a known virulence factor named legumain cysteine peptidase was also detected. In contrast to this, mass spectrometric analysis of 49 protein spots, upregulated in gels of the attenuated strain, singled out 32 spots as specific for the flagellate. These spots were shown to correspond to 24 different proteins that reflect the increased metabolism, in vitro adaptation of the parasite, and amoeboid morphology. In addition to H. meleagridis proteins, the analysis identified differential expression of Escherichia coli DH5α proteins that could have been influenced by the co-cultivated H. meleagridis strain, indicating a reciprocal interaction of these two organisms during monoxenic cultivation.     

Pain and its relationship with muscle strength and proprioception in knee OA: results of an 8-week home exercise pilot study

Muscle strength and proprioception deficits have been recognized in knee OA. Pain is the symptomatic hallmark of knee OA. Indirect evidence suggests that muscle strength and proprioception deficits may be interrelated and that pain may have a confounding influence on the measurement of these factors in knee OA. However, these relationships have never been clearly evaluated. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation was to investigate relationships between pain, muscle strength, and proprioception in subjects with knee OA before and after an 8-week home exercise program. This study evaluated thirty-eight subjects with knee OA. Subjects were taught standard quadriceps strengthening exercises that were to be performed daily at home. Pain, muscle strength, and proprioceptive function were measured at baseline and after 8 weeks of therapy. Significant improvements in pain (42%, p<0.001) and quadriceps muscle strength (30%, p<0.001) were noted. Significant indirect associations were observed between pain and both muscle strength (rho=-0.39, p=0.01) and proprioceptive acuity (rho=-0.35, p=0.03) at baseline. Changes in pain were directly associated with changes in muscle strength (rho=0.45, p=0.005) and proprioceptive acuity (rho=0.41, p=0.01) with exercise. The association of pain with both muscle strength and proprioception should prompt future studies to consider and adjust for the influence of pain on neuromuscular factors in knee OA.     

Pragmatic assessment of exercise in routine care using an MDHAQ: associations with changes in RAPID3 and other clinical variables

BackgroundExercise is associated with major benefits in patients with rheumatic diseases for both cardiovascular and rheumatic status. However, information about exercise generally is not collected systematically in routine rheumatology care. A multidimensional health assessment questionnaire (MDHAQ), which was designed for busy clinical settings, includes a query about exercise status. We analyzed possible associations between change in MDHAQ exercise scores and other MDHAQ measures in patients with various rheumatic diseases over one year.MethodsIn one rheumatology clinical setting, all patients, regardless of diagnosis, complete an MDHAQ before seeing a rheumatologist. The MDHAQ includes scores for physical function, pain, and patient global estimate, compiled into an index, routine assessment of patient index data (RAPID3), as well as a self-report joint count and a query about exercise. Patients were classified into four groups according to their exercise status at baseline and one year later as: EXER-Yes (regular exercise), EXER-Yes; EXER-No (no regular exercise), EXER-Yes; EXER-Yes, EXER-No; and EXER-No, EXER-No. These groups were compared using the chi square and Kruskal-Wallis tests and analysis of variance (ANOVA).ResultsPatients who reported regular exercise at baseline were younger, had higher formal education, and better clinical status than other patients. The EXER-No, EXER-Yes group had greater improvement in other MDHAQ variables than patients in the other three groups. By contrast, the EXER-Yes, EXER-No group was the only group with poorer status one year later.ConclusionsThe MDHAQ exercise query indicates that regular exercise is associated with better clinical status. Patients in the EXER-No, EXER-Yes group reported the best clinical improvement, although it is not known whether exercise preceded or followed the improved clinical status.     

Up-regulation of apelin in brain tissue of patients with epilepsy and an epileptic rat model

Prolonged epileptic seizures or SE can cause neuronal cell death. However, the exact role of neuroprotectant against brain injury during epileptic seizure needs to be further elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of the apelin, a novel neuroprotective peptide, in brain tissues of the patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and experimental rats using immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and Western blotting analysis and to discuss the possible role of apelin in TLE. Thirty temporal neocortical tissue samples from the patients with drug-refractory TLE underwent surgical therapy and nine histologically normal temporal lobes tissues as controls were used in our study. Fifty-six Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into seven groups, including one control group and six groups with epilepsy induced by lithium-pilocarpine. Hippocampus and adjacent cortex were taken from the controls and epileptic rats at 1, 3, 7, 14, 30, and 60 days after onset of seizures. Apelin was mainly expressed in the neurons of TLE patients and controls, and was significantly increased in TLE patients compared with the controls. Apelin was also expressed in the neurons of experimental and control rats, it was gradually increased in the experimental rat post-seizure and reached a stable high level in chronic epileptic phase. Our results demonstrated that the increased expression of apelin in the brain may be involved in human TLE.     

Enzymatic esterification of an acid with an epoxide using an immobilized lipase from Mucor miehei as catalyst: optimization of the yield and isomeric excess of ester by statistical analysis

We have developed the methodology for the esterification of an acid with an epoxide using 2-chlorobutyric acid and 1,2-epoxy-5-hexene catalysed by a Mucor miehei-immobilized lipase. Thus, this methodology could be applied to obtain 2-chloroesters. A factorial design of experiments and a central composite design have been used to optimise the synthesis of these esters. The variables chosen were temperature and initial catalyst concentration, while the responses were yield and isomeric excess of the ester. According to this study, temperature was the most important factor, having a positive influence on the yield and a small negative influence on the isomeric excess of the ester. The yield and isomeric excess of the ester show a greater dependence on temperature compared to the catalyst concentration. Although the effect of the catalyst concentration on both responses is smaller than the temperature effect, the higher selectivity presented by the biocatalyst towards the studied ester considerably decreased the final product distribution. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology (2002) 28, 173–179 DOI: 10.1038/sj/jim/7000218 Received 27 June 2001/ Accepted in revised form 25 October 2001     

Synergic effects of exercise training and octopamine on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator -1a and uncoupling protein 1 mRNA in heart tissue of rat treated with deep frying oil

Octopamine (OCT) have an adverse effect on heart function. One of the positive effects of exercise training is improving cardiac function and cardiomyocytes signaling, which along with herbal supplements can have better effects on the heart tissue. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of exercise training and OCT on changes of PGC1α and UCP1 expression in heart tissue of rat treated with deep frying oil (DFO). In this study, 45 male wistar rats were divided into 5 groups (n = 9 in each): I) control (Co), II) DFO, III) DFO + exercise, IV) DFO + OCT, and V) DFO + OCT + exercise. The quantification of apoptotic effects of DFO in heart tissue was assessed by TUNEL assay. Masson's trichrome stain applied to study cardiomyocytic fibers. Moreover, PGC1α and UCP1 genes and proteins expression in all groups were investigated using quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemical method. A significant increase in apoptotic cells was observed in the DFO-treated group (p < 0.05). In Masson's Trichrome stain study, more cardiomyocytic fibers were observed and some lymphocytic cells were present in some fibers. Also, the expression of PGC1α and UCP1 was significantly increase in DFO + exercise group, DFO + OCT group, and DFO + OCT + exercise group compare to DFO group (p < 0.05). Based on these findings, exercise and octopamine can be considered as factors affecting the expression of PGC1α genes and UCP1 as well as drug poisoning.     

Interplay of Troponin- and Myosin-Based Pathways of Calcium Activation in Skeletal and Cardiac Muscle: The Use of W7 as an Inhibitor of Thin Filament Activation

To investigate the interplay between the thin and thick filaments during calcium activation in striated muscle, we employed n-(6-aminohexyl) 5-chloro-1-napthalenesulfonamide (W7) as an inhibitor of troponin C and compared its effects with that of the myosin-specific inhibitor, 2,3-butanedione 2-monoxime (BDM). In both skeletal and cardiac fibers, W7 reversibly inhibited ATPase and tension over the full range of calcium activation between pCa 8.0 and 4.5, resulting in reduced calcium sensitivity and cooperativity of ATPase and tension activations. At maximal activation in skeletal fibers, the W7 concentrations for half-maximal inhibition (K_I) were 70–80 μM for ATPase and 20–30 μM for tension, nearly >200-fold lower than BDM (20 mM and 5–8 mM, respectively). When W7 (50 μM) and BDM (20 mM) were combined in skeletal fibers, the ATPase and tension-pCa curves exhibited lower apparent cooperativity and maxima and higher calcium sensitivity than expected from two independent activation pathways, suggesting that the interplay between the thin and thick filaments varies with the level of activation. Significantly, the inhibition of W7 increased the ATPase/tension ratio during activation in both muscle types. W7 holds much promise as a potent and reversible inhibitor of thin filament-mediated calcium activation of skeletal and cardiac muscle contraction.     

Biochemical genetics of Es-14 (formerly Es-Si) and a new esterase variation,Es-15, of the laboratory rat (Rattus norvegicus): Biochemistry,tissue expression,and linkage to Es-1 in linkage group V

The segregation of rat esterases controlled by loci residing in linkage group V (LGV) has been studied in two backcross series, (LEW/Han × BN/Han)F₁ × LEW/Han and (LEW/Han × LE/Han)F₁ × LEW/Han. Es-14 (formerly Es-Si) was shown to be closely linked to Es-1. A new esterase locus, Es-15, was described which codes for a liver isozyme. The distribution pattern of three alleles at the Es-15 locus is presented for 52 independent inbred strains. Close linkage of Es-15 to Es-14 and to Es-1 was established, proposing the following gene order: [Es-2, Es-10]—[ES-1, ES-14, ES-15]. The esterase loci on LGV are thus separated into two gene clusters, cluster 1 and cluster 2. These conclusions are supported by the strain distribution patterns of the two RI strain series, LXB and DXE.Otto von Deimling was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (De 315/2-1, communication No. 56).     

江南丘陵稻田湿地景观生态系统功能与效益研究──以攸县为例

在对江南丘陵典型区域──湖南省攸县的稻田湿地进行分类的基础上,分析了稻田湿地的空间格局和功能,并采用ＡＨＰ法对其综合效益进行了评价．结果表明,攸县稻田湿地可分为淹育性、渗育性、潴育性和潜育性稻田湿地４种类型,其空间优势度分别为４．１７、２６．４、１２．３２和３１．２５．稻田湿地的能量产投比为４．６８,Ｎ、Ｐ、Ｋ的产投比分别为０．５９、１．５９和１．２３,其综合效益为０．６６．