Effect of different combination of maternal and postnatal diet on adipose tissue morphology in male rat offspring

Purpose: Adipose tissue expansion can occur through several different ways and, under certain conditions, can be connected with chronic inflammation. TNF-α is one of the important cytokines involved in this process. Prolonged inflammation in obesity can lead to obesity-related insulin resistance and tissue dysfunction. The aim of our study was to investigate how different combination of maternal and postnatal diet affects offspring adipose tissue morphology and adipose tissue TNF-α expression.

Methods: Ten female Sprague Dawley rats, 9 weeks old, were randomly divided into two groups and fed either standard laboratory chow or food rich in saturated fatty acids during 6 weeks and then mated with the same male rat. After birth and lactation male rat offspring from both groups were divided into four subgroups depending on the diet they were fed until 22 weeks old. Samples of white adipose tissue were taken from the subcutaneous, epididymal, and perirenal fat pad. On tissue sections, histomorphometric analysis was conducted using CellProfiler program v 2.1.1, and immunohistochemical staining for TNF-α was performed.

Results: Greater mean surface area of subcutaneous and epididymal adipocytes was found in groups of male rat offspring with altered diet. In perirenal adipose tissue, the highest number of adipocytes was measured in the group where both mother and offspring were fed a high-fat diet. Adipocyte staining intensity for TNF-α did not differ significantly between the groups.

Conclusions: Together with our previously published data, our results lead to the conclusion that alteration of postnatal diet can lead to TNF-α and adipocyte morphology changes.     

Morphological and genetic characterisation of Sarcocystis halieti from the great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)

Parasitology Research - Having examined 19 great cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) hunted in Lithuania, sarcocysts were found in the muscles of two birds. Sarcocysts detected were examined using...     

Markers of Systemic and Lung Inflammation in Childhood Asthma

Aim. To compare different biomarkers of inflammation in children with controlled and uncontrolled asthma and to investigate their relationship with other clinical indices of asthma control (symptoms, lung function, serum IgE, and prn beta-agonist use). Materials and Methods. A total of 62 consecutive asthmatic children (age 11 ± 3.3 years, 32 girls) with controlled ([C], n = 19) and uncontrolled asthma ([NC], n = 43) were studied. Measured lung function and inflammatory biomarkers included: spirometry, exhaled NO (F_ENO), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), peripheral blood white blood cells (WBC) counts, and differentials. Results. Hs-CRP was significantly higher in uncontrolled than in controlled asthma (hs-CRP, median [IQR], mg/L; 0.56 [0.60] vs 0.25 [0.34], p = 0.008). Discriminant analysis (backward stepwise) depicted hs-CRP and lymphocytes (as Z-score for absolute count) as significant discriminative factors for asthma control (F = 8.319, p = 0.0007) with 82.3% diagnostic accuracy. Divided into quartiles hs-CRP showed the significant inverse association with F_ENO (F = 7.359, p = 0.003, ANOVA) with no significant difference for asthma control (F = 1.032, p = 0.386). Post-hoc analysis revealed that F_ENO values were significantly lower in the third and the fourth quartile of hs-CRP in comparison to the first and the second one (p < 0.05 for all). Conclusion. In asthmatic children with uncontrolled asthma serum hs-CRP was increased compared to children with controlled asthma. Although F_ENO values were also increased (insignificantly) and inversely correlated with hs-CRP they were probably reflecting different etiology underlying the loss of control. The role of peripheral blood biomarkers in asthmatics is still poorly investigated so new studies are required.     

Impact of Age and Polytherapy on Fingolimod Induced Bradycardia: a Preclinical Study

Fingolimod is a an oral disease modifying drug for relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) preventing egress of B and T cells from lymph nodes. Relevant first dose adverse events include bradycardia and atrioventricular conduction slowing. Cardiac side effects of fingolimod and combinational pharmacotherapy including duloxetine and tolterodine were monitored in mice of different age using implantable ECG telemetric systems. Cardiac tissue was assessed for S1P-receptor subtype (1 and 3), and for GIRK1 expression. Fingolimod led to a significant heart rate reduction within 60 min, which returned to baseline values within 24 h. In older mice bradycardia was more pronounced compared to younger mice. Atrioventricular conduction was not affected. Older mice showed a higher S1PR3 expression in a naïve state and receptor expression was reduced after fingolimod administration. Combination with duloxetine or tolterodine alleviated fingolimod induced heart rate decrease. Our data provide preclinical evidence that negative chronotropic effects of fingolimod might be age dependent, possibly due to an altered expression and internalization of cardiac S1PR3 in older animals. This data could be relevant for future clinical monitoring and patient selection in the aging MS population. Combinational therapies of fingolimod and duloxetine or tolterodine are well tolerated and safe without an increased risk for pronounced bradycardia or arrhythmia.     

Animal and human dentin microstructure and elemental composition

Animal teeth are a common model in studies on dentin adhesive materials. The aim of this study was to compare microstructural parameters (density and diameter of dentinal tubules (DT), peritubular dentin (PTD) thickness, PTD and intertubular dentin (ITD) surface area) and chemical characteristics of canine, porcine, equine, and human root dentin. The middle layers of dentin were harvested just below a cemento-enamel junction from incisors and investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS). SEM evaluation of the specimens revealed, that porcine dentin shared most similarities with human dentin. When comparing the density of DTs, canine dentin was also found to be similar to human dentin. Elemental composition of the root dentin did not differ significantly in porcine, equine and human dentin, but in canine dentin higher magnesium value in PTD compared to ITD was found. It is known that microstructural and chemical characteristics affect the strength of the adhesive bonds created among restorative materials and dentin. According to the results of this study, porcine dentin seems to be the most appropriate model to study dental materials to be used in human restorative dentistry.