Transplantation of non-visceral fat to the visceral cavity improves glucose tolerance in mice: investigation of hepatic lipids and insulin sensitivity

Aims/hypothesis  

Intra-abdominal transplantation of non-visceral adipose tissue in rodents, simulating increased abdominal fat in obesity, paradoxically improves glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. We hypothesised that this improvement is due to transplant-induced enhanced uptake of fatty acids by adipose tissue, thus reducing fatty acid flux into, and triacylglycerol storage in, the liver.     

Functional imaging of the pelvic floor

The clinical treatment of patients with anorectal and pelvic floor dysfunction is often difficult. Dynamic cystocolpoproctography (DCP) has evolved from a method of evaluating the anorectum for functional disorders to its current status as a functional method of evaluating the global pelvic floor for defecatory disorders and pelvic organ prolapse. It has both high observer accuracy and a high yield of positive diagnoses. Clinicians find it a useful diagnostic tool that can alter management decisions from surgical to medical and vice versa in many cases. Functional radiography provides the maximum stress to the pelvic floor, resulting in levator ani relaxation accompanied by rectal emptying-which is needed to diagnose defecatory disorders. It also provides organ-specific quantificative information about female pelvic organ prolapse-information that usually can only be inferred by means of physical examination. The application of functional radiography to the assessment of defecatory disorders and pelvic organ prolapse has highlighted the limitations of physical examination. It has become clear that pelvic floor disorders rarely occur in isolation and that global pelvic floor assessment is necessary. Despite the advances in other imaging methods, DCP has remained a practical, cost-effective procedure for the evaluation of anorectal and pelvic floor dysfunction. In this article, the authors describe the technique they use when performing DCP, define the radiographic criteria used for diagnosis, and discuss the limitations and clinical utility of DCP.     

Tea and human health: The dark shadows

Tea is one of the most popularly consumed beverage. Depending on the manufacturing process, different varieties of tea can be produced. The antioxidative and antimutagenic potential of tea in cardiovascular diseases, cancer and obesity have long been studied. These therapeutic and nutritional benefits of tea can be attributed to the presence of flavanoids. However, these flavanoids also have certain detrimental effects on human health when their consumption exceeds certain limits. The toxicity of these flavanoids can be attributed to the formation of reactive oxygen species in the body which causes damage to the DNA, lipid membranes etc. The aim of this review is to summarize briefly, the less studied evidences of various forms of toxicity associated with tea and its harmful effects on human health.     

The use of Ginkgo biloba for the prevention of chemotherapy-related cognitive dysfunction in women receiving adjuvant treatment for breast cancer, N00C9

Purpose

Patients undergoing treatment for cancer often report problems with their cognitive function, which is an essential component of health-related quality of life. Pursuant to this, a two-arm randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, phase III clinical trial was conducted to evaluate Ginkgo biloba (EGB 761) for the prevention of chemotherapy-related cognitive dysfunction in patients with breast cancer.

Methods

Previously chemotherapy naïve women about to receive adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer were randomized to receive 60 mg of EGB 761 or a matching placebo twice daily. The study agent was to begin before their second?cycle of chemotherapy and to be taken throughout chemotherapy and 1 month beyond completion. The primary measure for cognitive function was the High Sensitivity Cognitive Screen (HSCS), with a secondary measure being the Trail Making Tests (TMT) A and B. Subjective assessment of cognitive function was evaluated by the cognitive subscale of the Perceived Health Scale (PHS) and the Profile of Mood States (POMS). Data were collected at baseline and at intervals throughout and after chemotherapy, up to 24 months after completion of adjuvant treatment. The primary statistical analysis included normalized area under the curve (AUC) comparisons of the HSCS, between the arms. Secondary analyses included evaluation of the other measures of cognition as well as correlational analyses between self-report and cognitive testing.

Results

One hundred and sixty-six women provided evaluable data. There were no significant differences in AUC up to 12 months on the HSCS between arms at the end of chemotherapy or at any other time point after adjuvant treatment. There were also no significant differences in TMT A or B at any data point. Perceived cognitive functions, as measured by the PHS and confusion/bewilderment subscale of the POMS, were not different between arms at the end of chemotherapy. There was also little correlation between self-reported cognition and cognitive testing. No differences were observed in toxicities per Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) assessment between Ginkgo biloba and placebo throughout the study; however, after chemotherapy, the placebo group reported worse nausea (p?=?.05).

Conclusion

This study did not provide any support for the notion that Ginkgo biloba, at a dose of 60 mg twice a day, can help prevent cognitive changes from chemotherapy. These analyses do provide data to further support the low associations between patients' self-report of cognition and cognitive performance, based on more formal testing.     

Acute Intravenous Infusion of an Adenosine Regulating Agent Improves Left Ventricular Function in Dogs with Advanced Heart Failure

Purpose

GP531 is a second generation adenosine regulating agent (ARA) that increases concentrations of endogenous adenosine, a natural cardioprotective agent, in ischemic/hypoxic tissue. This study examined the effects of acute intravenous infusions of GP531 on left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function in dogs with advanced chronic heart failure (HF) (LV ejection fraction, EF <30 %).

Methods

Six dogs with intracoronary microembolization-induced HF received a constant intravenous infusion of GP531 (10 μg/kg/min) or vehicle (normal saline) for 6 h in random order 1 week apart. Hemodynamic measurements were made at baseline and at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 h after initiating drug infusion. Myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO₂) was measured at baseline and 4 and 6 h. LV pressure-volume relationship (PVR) was measured at baseline and 6 h.

Results

Vehicle infusions had no effect on indexes of LV systolic and diastolic function. GP531 infusion had no effect on heart rate or mean aortic pressure but significantly decreased LV end-diastolic pressure, end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume and end-diastolic wall stress. GP531 significantly increased LV EF (27?±?1 at baseline to 34?±?1 after 6 h of drug infusion, p?<?0.05), deceleration time of early mitral inflow velocity and the slope of end-systolic PVR without increasing MVO₂.

Conclusions

Results of the study indicate that approaches which increase the local release of adenosine in failing LV myocardium, such as ARAs, have a favorable impact on LV performance. These observations support the continued development of ARA’s for the treatment of acute HF syndromes.     

Effect of ring fluorination of epinephrine on its cardiovascular adrenoceptor activities

Effects of fluorine (F) substitution on the 2- and 6-positions of the catechol ring of epinephrine (Epi) on its alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor agonist activities were studied in anesthetized dogs. Increments in heart rate and contractile force were used as measures of beta 1-adrenoceptor activity, while increases and decreases in blood pressure and decreases and increases in femoral blood flow were used as measures of alpha- and beta 2-adrenoceptor activities, respectively. F substitution on the 2- and 6-positions of the catechol ring yielded compounds with opposite receptor selectivities: 2-FEpi was a selective beta-adrenoceptor agonist with little agonist activity at alpha-adrenoceptors, while the 6-F analog was a selective a-adrenoceptor agonist with no significant beta-adrenoceptor effects. Of added significance, 2-FEpi was more potent than Epi as a beta 1-adrenoceptor agonist, while 6-F Epi was more potent than the parent compound as an alpha-adrenoceptor agonist. The possible mechanisms for the effects of ring fluorination on the adrenoceptor activities of Epi and other sympathomimetic amines are discussed.     

Genetic nomenclature and gene list of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe

The nomenclature rules for the genetics of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe have been fixed for the first time, after discussion among scientists working with this organism. Conventions are proposed for the naming of genes and alleles that are obtained by classical means or by reverse genetics. In addition a list has been compiled of 460 known genes of S. pombe. It includes genes defined both by classical mutation analysis and by molecular cloning. 270 genes have been assigned either to one of the three nuclear chromosomes or the mitochondrial genome.     

Modulation of serum concentrations of melatonin by carbamazepine and valproate

Evidence has accumulated about the involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in epilepsy. The neuromodulator melatonin has been shown to reduce oxidative stress in various animal models due to its free radical scavenging properties. The present study investigated whether carbamazepine and valproate alter serum concentrations of melatonin. Epileptic children were randomly assigned to receive carbamazepine/ valproate monotherapy till 22 patients were recruited in the study. At the tenth day, in the evening, samples were drawn for baseline endogenous melatonin estimation. The patients were then administered exogenous melatonin, and repeat samples were drawn after 30 minutes. Serum levels of melatonin were estimated using Melatonin ELISA kits. The median levels of melatonin were 165.0 pg/ml (Range 50.0-350.0) in CBZ+MEL group and 78.0 pg/ml (Range 13.0-260.0) in the VPA+MEL group. The observed difference in melatonin levels could be attributed to the difference in antiepileptic drugs, additive increase in reactive oxygen species due to disease combined with carbamazepine, or possibly to a difference in melatonin kinetics in conditions of oxidative stress.