Difference of Body Compositional Changes According to the Presence of Weight Cycling in a Community-based Weight Control Program

Many obese people who try to control body weight experience weight cycling (WC). The present study evaluated the importance of WC in a community-based obesity intervention program. We analyzed the data of 109 Korean participants (86% women) among 177 subjects who had completed a 12-week intervention program at two public health centers in Korea from April to December, 2007. Completion of a self-administrated questionnaire at baseline was used to obtain anthropometric measurements, and laboratory testing was done before and after the program. Differences in body composition change and obesity-related life style between the two groups were compared with respect to WC and non-weight cycling (NWC). After 12 weeks, both groups showed reductions in weight, waist circumference, and body mass index. The group differences were not significant. However, significant differences were evident for the WC group compared to the NWC group in fat percent mass (WC vs. NWC, -3.49±2.31% vs. -4.65±2.59%, P=0.01), fat free mass (WC vs. NWC, -0.95±1.37 kg vs. -0.38±1.05 kg, P=0.01), and total cholesterol (WC vs. NWC, -3.32±14.63 vs. -16.54±32.39, P=0.005). In conducting a community-based weight control program that predominantly targets women, changes of body composition and total cholesterol may be less effective in weight cyclers than in non-weight cyclers.     

A large network of interconnected signaling pathways in human ovarian follicles is supported by the gene expression activity of the granulosa cells

Human follicular fluid (hFF), as an extra oocyte microenvironment, is essential to the biological processes of oocyte development. Using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), we identified 426 proteins as consistently present in hFF from different participants. According to our gene chip data, the granulosa cells in the follicle locally produce 235 of these proteins. These data suggest that the granulosa cells actively participate in the follicular development by synthesizing important molecules to support the activity of pathways that are essential to oocyte development and genomic preservation. The computational Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) suggests that the identified proteins have well-established functions in the pathways of steroidogenesis, cell-to-cell signaling and interaction, molecular transport, the antioxidative system, interleukin 1 (IL-1) and IL-6 signaling, liver X receptor/retinoid X receptor (LXR/RXR) activation, and the interconnective insulin-like growth factor and lipid metabolism networks. The hFF peptide composition is likely to serve not only the inflammatory follicular state as has been previously suggested; rather, it is a highly diverse and multifunctional environment with several interconnected pathways. These results provide us with important knowledge related to the environment in which the oocyte develops as well as the molecular basis for controlling the process independently of blood supply.     

Comparison of BD GeneOhm Cdiff and Seegene Seeplex ACE PCR Assays Using Toxigenic Clostridium difficile Culture for Direct Detection of tcdB from Stool Specimens

We evaluated the performances of 2 PCR assays (BD GeneOhm and Seegene ACE) for direct detection of tcdB from stool specimens. The concordance rate between BD and Seegene was 96.3%. The sensitivities, specificities, positive predictive values (PPVs), and negative predictive values (NPVs) of BD and Seegene were 95.7%, 96.5%, 91.8%, and 98.2% and 90.0%, 97.1%, 92.6%, and 96.0%, respectively.     

Fermented fish oil suppresses T helper 1/2 cell response in a mouse model of atopic dermatitis via generation of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Allergic skin inflammation such as atopic dermatitis (AD), which is characterized by pruritus and inflammation, is regulated partly through the activity of regulatory T cells (Tregs). Tregs play key roles in the immune response by preventing or suppressing the differentiation, proliferation and function of various immune cells, including CD4+ T cells. Recent studies report that fermentation has a tremendous capacity to transform chemical structures or create new substances, and the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) in fish oil can reduce inflammation in allergic patients. The beneficial effects of natural fish oil (NFO) have been described in many diseases, but the mechanism by which fermented fish oil (FFO) modulates the immune system and the allergic response is poorly understood. In this study, we produced FFO and tested its ability to suppress the allergic inflammatory response and to activate CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs. RESULTS: The ability of FFO and NFO to modulate the immune system was investigated using a mouse model of AD. Administration of FFO or NFO in the drinking water alleviated the allergic inflammation in the skin, and FFO was more effective than NFO. FFO treatment did increase the expression of the immune-suppressive cytokines TGF-beta and IL-10. In addition, ingestion of FFO increased Foxp3 expression and the number of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs compared with NFO. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the anti-allergic effect of FFO is associated with enrichment of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells at the inflamed sites and that FFO may be effective in treating the allergic symptoms of AD.     

Study of cobalt doping control via various routes in thoroughbred horses

Cobalt is a substance that has been abused for athletic performance enhancement and has thus been prohibited by human and animal sports doping control authorities. However, because cobalt is present in humans and animals as a trace element, a certain level of cobalt is naturally present in their excretions. In the racing industry, cobalt is a controlled substance with a threshold concentration specified by the International Agreement on Breeding, Racing and Wagering (IABRW) for international harmonization. Due to environmental and feed consumption differences among countries, regional cobalt concentration trends should be evaluated before cobalt testing is introduced. In this study, we conducted a preliminary evaluation of the urinary concentration of cobalt among a population of racehorses in Korea using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis, followed by analysis of the urinary release of cobalt after the administration of cobalt chloride in various situations. The normal distribution for the Korea-based racehorses was used to determine a urine concentration limit (96.5 ng/ml, risk factor of 1 in 10,000). After the intravenous (IV) administration of CoCl₂, the initial elimination of cobalt was rapid. A high concentration (over 2,000 ng/ml) and a slow excretion pattern were observed during the final 2 weeks of the 3-week observation period. When CoCl₂ was administered orally, maximum concentration (C_max, 92–992 ng/ml) was observed at 6–8 h.     

Ischemic stroke in an adult with glycogen storage disease type I

Glycogen Storage Disease Type I (GSD-I) is a metabolic disorder characterized by deficiency of glucose-6-phosphatase resulting in ineffective glycogen metabolism to glucose. These patients frequently have hyperlipidemia, among many other metabolic derangements. There is no consensus regarding the risk of developing atherosclerosis. We report an adult male with GSD-I who presented with cerebral infarction and a history of prior ischemic stroke and multiple coronary stent placements. We suggest that patients with GSD-I do have an increased risk of atherosclerosis and its complications and predict that these complications will be seen more frequently since patients with GSD-I are living longer as a result of better treatment.     

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor‐3 mRNA in the rat developing forebrain and retina

Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)‐3, a receptor for VEGF‐C and VEGF‐D, is expressed in neural progenitor cells, but there has been no comprehensive study of its distribution in the developing brain. Here, the temporal and cell‐specific expression of VEGFR‐3 mRNA was studied in the developing rat forebrain and eye. Expression appeared along the ventricular and subventricular zones of the lateral and third ventricles showing ongoing neurogenesis as early as embryonic day 13 but was progressively down‐regulated during development and remained in the subventricular zone and rostral migratory stream of the adult forebrain. VEGFR‐3 expression was also detectable in some differentiating and postmitotic neurons in the developing cerebral cortex, including Cajal‐Retzius cells, cortical plate neurons, and subplate neurons. Expression in the subplate increased significantly during the early postnatal period but was absent by postnatal day 14. It was also highly expressed in nonneural tissues of the eye during development, including the retinal pigment epithelium, the retinal ciliary margin, and the lens, but persisted in a subset of cells in the pigmented ciliary epithelium of the adult eye. In contrast, there was weak or undetectable expression in the early neural retina, but a subset of retinal neurons in the postnatal and mature retina showed intense signals. These unique spatiotemporal mRNA expression patterns suggest that VEGFR‐3 might mediate the regulation of both neurogenesis and adult neuronal function in the rat forebrain and eye. J. Comp. Neurol. 518:1064–1081, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.