Distinct effects of oleic acid and its trans-isomer elaidic acid on the expression of myokines and adipokines in cell models

Trans-fatty acids (TFA) and cis-monounsaturated fat appear to exert detrimental and beneficial effects, respectively, on glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity. Adipose tissue and skeletal muscle are a source of signalling proteins (adipokines and myokines), some of which have been related to the control of insulin sensitivity. Here, we investigated the possible differential effects of elaidic acid (EA; trans-9-18?:?1) - the major component in industrially produced TFA - and oleic acid (OA; cis-9-18?:?1) - its cis-isomer naturally present in food - on cellular glucose uptake and the expression of selected myokines and adipokines using cell models. Differentiated C2C12 myotubes and 3T3-L1 adipocytes were pretreated with the vehicle (control cells) or fatty acids for 24?h, after which basal and insulin-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake and the expression of selected signalling proteins were measured. In C2C12 myotubes, pretreatment with OA, but not with EA, led to increased insulin-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake and IL-6 expression levels, while pretreatment with EA, but not with OA, led to reduced IL-15 mRNA levels and increased TNF-α expression levels. In 3T3-L1 adipocytes, exposure to OA, but not to EA, resulted in reduced resistin gene expression and increased adiponectin gene expression. The results show evidence of distinct, direct effects of OA and EA on muscle glucose uptake and the expression of target myokines and adipokines, thus suggesting novel mechanisms by which cis- and trans-monounsaturated fat may differentially affect systemic functions.     

Gender effects on adrenergic receptor expression and lipolysis in white adipose tissue of rats

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of short-term (15 days) cafeteria-diet feeding on the expression of alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors (AR) and its association with lipolytic stimulation in isolated retroperitoneal white adipocytes. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Six female and 6 male Wistar rats (4 weeks old) were fed a cafeteria diet plus standard diet for 15 days. The remaining 12 age- and sex-matched rats received a standard diet only. White retroperitoneal adipose tissue was isolated and used for the determination of both alpha(2) and beta-AR expression and for in vitro studies of lipolytic activity. RESULTS: In female control rats, we found higher lipolytic capacities located at the postreceptor level and a lower alpha(2)/beta(3)-AR ratio than male rats. Cafeteria-diet feeding for 15 days decreased lipolytic activity in both male and female rats and altered the alpha(2A)- and beta(3)-AR protein levels with an increase of alpha(2A)-AR in males and a beta(3)-AR decrease in females. DISCUSSION: Our results indicate that a 15-day cafeteria-diet feeding induced an increase in the alpha(2)/beta(3)-AR balance and impaired adipose tissue lipolytic activity, which was higher in males and may contribute to the development of increased fat mass. The higher functionality of alpha(2)-AR, together with the minor role developed by beta(3)-AR and lower lipolytic capacities located at the postreceptor level in cafeteria-diet-fed male rats compared with female rats, may be responsible for the gender-dependent differences observed in this study.     

Relationship between severity,costs and claims of hospitalized patients using the Severity of Illness Index

The results of the prospective application of Horn's Severity of Illness Index in a teaching hospital during 1987, 1989, and 1990 constitute the basis of the present report. The average overall severity of illness scores for the three years were 1.42 in 1987, 1.65 in 1989, and 1.46 in 1990. Most of the processes evaluated in the three periods showed an overall distribution among severity levels 1 and 2, both overall and when the seven dimensions of the severity of illness index were analyzed. A statistically significant correlation between the overall severity of illness and average length of stay was found for patients in 1989 and 1990. The length of stay differed significantly in the different severity levels. When the four levels of the seven dimensions of the severity of illness index for 1987, 1989, and 1990 were compared, it was observed that figures were not uniformly distributed. There was a statistically significant association between severity of illness for hospital service and pharmacy charges per hospital stay for both 1989 and 1990, as well as a statistically significant inverse relationship between severity of illness and the number of claims per hospital service in both periods of time. Case-mix methods that account for the severity of patients constitute a useful indicator of quality for the management of different hospital services and of the hospital as a whole.     

Transcultural adaptation of the Night Eating Questionnaire (NEQ) for its use in the Spanish population

BackgroundEstablishing valid and reliable methods of assessing night eating symptoms is an important goal to maximize identification and treatment of the night eating syndrome (NES). The 14-item Night Eating Questionnaire (NEQ) is the only published and validated assessment instrument but is not yet adapted to Spanish.MethodsWe examined the factor structure, internal consistency and validity of the NEQ in Spanish. The study had 4 phases: a) translation from English to Spanish; b) back-translation from Spanish to English, c) administration of translated version to a Spanish sample, and d) a re-test in 36 participants two weeks later. Reliability, stability, and scale structure were evaluated by Cronbach's α, test–re-test, and factor analysis, respectively. Divergent validity was assessed by correlation with the Spanish versions of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II).ResultsTwo-hundred forty-four individuals (181 f; BMI 34.3 ± 10 kg/m²; age 40.5 ± 15 y) completed the questionnaire. The mean NEQ score was 12.5 ± 7. The Cronbach's α coefficient for the total score was 0.79, the intraclass correlation was 0.85, and the factor analysis yielded a similar four factor solution as the original scale. Correlation for the test–re-test total score was 0.86. Total NEQ score was significantly correlated with the BDI-II (r = 0.48 p < 0.001), but this correlation was not significant during the test–re-test (r = 0.28, p = 0.10) or with STAI at either time point (0.05, p = 0.40; r = 0.07, p = 0.69, respectively).ConclusionsThe Spanish version of the NEQ demonstrated adequate internal consistency for the majority of domains and excellent reproducibility. There was divergent validity with anxiety and a relationship between night eating and depression. These results suggest that the Spanish-version of the NEQ is an instrument that is valid for use in clinical research.     

Polymorphic variants in the human mitochondrial cytochrome b gene.

We report the polymorphic variants of the human cytochrome b gene based on sequence analysis in 32 Caucasian individuals. We found 27 variants (12 synonymous changes and 15 amino acid replacements). Of these, 15 (8 silent changes and 7 amino acid replacements) have not been previously reported. Based on restriction length polymorphism analysis of patients and their maternal relatives, we conclude that these new amino acid replacements represent maternally inherited polymorphisms. Comparative analysis of the data suggests that four different genotypes can be defined for the human cytochrome b gene.     

The HLA system and neurofibromatosis, type I

In 23 patients suffering from neurofibromatosis (von Recklinghausen's disease), we determined the serum HLA antigens. The phenotypical frequencies obtained were compared with those of 1314 people presumably healthy. Higher frequency along with a relative risk of more than 3 were found for the antigens HLA-A2, HLA-B5, HLA-B15, HLA-CW2, and HLA-CW3.