Association of adiponectin and resistin with adipose tissue compartments, insulin resistance and dyslipidaemia

Development of personalizable female and male pedestrian SAFER human body models

OBJECTIVES

Vulnerable road users are globally overrepresented as victims of road traffic injuries. Developing biofidelic male and female pedestrian human body models (HBMs) that represent diverse anthropometries is essential to enhance road safety and propose intervention strategies.

METHODS

In this study, 50th percentile male and female pedestrians of the SAFER HBM were developed via a newly developed image registration-based mesh morphing framework. The performance of the HBMs was evaluated by means of a set of cadaver experiments, involving subjects struck laterally by a generic sedan buck.

RESULTS

In simulated whole-body pedestrian collisions, the personalized HBMs effectively replicate trajectories of the head and lower body regions, as well as head kinematics, in lateral impacts. The results also demonstrate the personalization framework's capacity to generate personalized HBMs with reliable mesh quality, ensuring robust simulations.

CONCLUSIONS

The presented pedestrian HBMs and personalization framework provide robust means to reconstruct and evaluate head impacts in pedestrian-to-vehicle collisions thoroughly and accurately.

Microparticles with tunable, cell-like properties for quantitative acoustic mechanophenotyping

Mechanical properties of biological cells have been shown to correlate with their biomolecular state and function, and therefore methods to measure these properties at scale are of interest. Emerging microfluidic technologies can measure the mechanical properties of cells at rates over 20,000 cells/s, which is more than four orders of magnitude faster than conventional instrumentation. However, precise and repeatable means to calibrate and test these new tools remain lacking, since cells themselves are by nature variable. Commonly, microfluidic tools use rigid polymer microspheres for calibration because they are widely available in cell-similar sizes, but conventional microspheres do not fully capture the physiological range of other mechanical properties that are equally important to device function (e.g., elastic modulus and density). Here, we present for the first time development of monodisperse polyacrylamide microparticles with both tunable elasticity and tunable density. Using these size, elasticity, and density tunable particles, we characterized a custom acoustic microfluidic device that makes single-cell measurements of mechanical properties. We then applied the approach to measure the distribution of the acoustic properties within samples of human leukocytes and showed that the system successfully discriminates lymphocytes from other leukocytes. This initial demonstration shows how the tunable microparticles with properties within the physiologically relevant range can be used in conjunction with microfluidic devices for efficient high-throughput measurements of mechanical properties at single-cell resolution.

Influence of Arm Fat on the Indirect Measurement of Blood Pressure: A Statistical and Machine Learning Approach

BACKGROUND

The indirect measurement of blood pressure (BP) is known to be influenced by many factors such as the technique, observer, and equipment; however, the influence of arm composition has not been investigated yet.

OBJECTIVE

To identify the influence of arm fat on the indirect measurement of blood pressure using statistical inference and machine learning models.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study, with 489 healthy young adults aged from 18 to 29 years old. Measurements of arm length (AL), arm circumference (AC) and arm fat index (AFI) were taken. BP was measured in both arms simultaneously. Data were processed using Python 3.0 and its specific packages for descriptive analysis, regression and cluster analysis. Significance levels: 5% for all calculations.

RESULTS

BP and anthropometric measurements were different between the hemi-bodies. In the right arm, systolic blood pressure (SBP), AL and AFI were higher, while AC was similar compared with the left arm. AL and AC showed positive correlation with SBP. According to the regression model, for a fixed value of AC and AL, SBP readings could be reduced by a mean of 1.80 mmHg in the right arm, and 1.62 mmHg in the left arm for every 10% increase in AFI. Clustering analysis corroborated the regression results.

CONCLUSION

There was a significant influence of AFI on BP readings. SBP had a positive correlation with AL and AC, and a negative correlation with AFI, suggesting the need for further investigations on the relationship between BP and percentages of arm muscle and fat.

Bioresorbable, wireless, and battery-free system for electrotherapy and impedance sensing at wound sites

Chronic wounds, particularly those associated with diabetes mellitus, represent a growing threat to public health, with additional notable economic impacts. Inflammation associated with these wounds leads to abnormalities in endogenous electrical signals that impede the migration of keratinocytes needed to support the healing process. This observation motivates the treatment of chronic wounds with electrical stimulation therapy, but practical engineering challenges, difficulties in removing stimulation hardware from the wound site, and absence of means to monitor the healing process create barriers to widespread clinical use. Here, we demonstrate a miniaturized wireless, battery-free bioresorbable electrotherapy system that overcomes these challenges. Studies based on a splinted diabetic mouse wound model confirm the efficacy for accelerated wound closure by guiding epithelial migration, modulating inflammation, and promoting vasculogenesis. Changes in the impedance provide means for tracking the healing process. The results demonstrate a simple and effective platform for wound site electrotherapy.

Effect of closing material on hearing rehabilitation in stapedectomy and stapedotomy: A finite element analysis

Stapedotomy or stapedectomy operations are often performed to treat otosclerosis. During the operation, the space created by bone removal is usually filled with a closing material such as fat or fascia. In this study, the effect of the Young's modulus of the closing material on the hearing level was investigated through the 3D finite element model of a human head including auditory periphery. The Young's moduli of the closing material used to implement stapedotomy and stapedectomy conditions in the model were varied from 1 kPa to 24 MPa. The results showed that the hearing level improved when the closing material was more compliant after stapedotomy. Therefore, when the stapedotomy was performed using fat whose Young's modulus is lowest among the potential closing materials, the hearing level recovered the best among all simulated cases. On the other hand, in stapedectomy, the Young's modulus did not have the linear relationship between the hearing level and the compliance of the closing material. Hence, the Young's modulus causing the best hearing rehabilitation in stapedectomy was found not at the end of the investigated range of Young's modulus but somewhere in the middle of the given range.

Volumetric mass density measurements of mesenchymal stem cells in suspension using a density meter

To use regeneratively active cells for cell therapeutic applications, the cells must be isolated from their resident tissues. Different isolation procedures subject these cells to varying degrees of mechanical strain, which can affect the yield of cell number and viability. Knowledge of cell volumetric mass density is important for experimental and numerical optimization of these procedures. Although methods for measuring cell volumetric mass density already exist, they either consume much time and cell material or require a special setup. Therefore, we developed a user-friendly method that is based on the use of readily available instrumentation. The newly developed method is predicated on the linear relationship between the volumetric mass density of the cell suspension and the volumetric mass density, number, and diameter of the cells in the suspension. We used this method to determine the volumetric mass density of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and compared it to results from the established density centrifugation.

Adipocyte-derived lactate is a signalling metabolite that potentiates adipose macrophage inflammation via targeting PHD2

Adipose tissue macrophage (ATM) inflammation is involved with meta-inflammation and pathology of metabolic complications. Here we report that in adipocytes, elevated lactate production, previously regarded as the waste product of glycolysis, serves as a danger signal to promote ATM polarization to an inflammatory state in the context of obesity. Adipocyte-selective deletion of lactate dehydrogenase A (Ldha), the enzyme converting pyruvate to lactate, protects mice from obesity-associated glucose intolerance and insulin resistance, accompanied by a lower percentage of inflammatory ATM and reduced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 1β (IL-1β). Mechanistically, lactate, at its physiological concentration, fosters the activation of inflammatory macrophages by directly binding to the catalytic domain of prolyl hydroxylase domain-containing 2 (PHD2) in a competitive manner with α-ketoglutarate and stabilizes hypoxia inducible factor (HIF-1α). Lactate-induced IL-1β was abolished in PHD2-deficient macrophages. Human adipose lactate level is positively linked with local inflammatory features and insulin resistance index independent of the body mass index (BMI). Our study shows a critical function of adipocyte-derived lactate in promoting the pro-inflammatory microenvironment in adipose and identifies PHD2 as a direct sensor of lactate, which functions to connect chronic inflammation and energy metabolism.

Displacement Patterns in Magnetomotive Ultrasound Explored by Finite Element Analysis

Magnetomotive ultrasound is an emerging technique that enables detection of magnetic nanoparticles. This has implications for ultrasound molecular imaging, and potentially addresses clinical needs regarding determination of metastatic infiltration of the lymphatic system. Contrast is achieved by a time-varying magnetic field that sets nanoparticle-laden regions in motion. This motion is governed by vector-valued mechanical and magnetic forces. Understanding how these forces contribute to observed displacement patterns is important for the interpretation of magnetomotive ultrasound images. Previous studies have captured motion adjacent to nanoparticle-laden regions that was attributed to diamagnetism. While diamagnetism could give rise to a force, it cannot fully account for the observed displacements in magnetomotive ultrasound. To isolate explanatory variables of the observed displacements, a finite element model is set up. Using this model, we explore potential causes of the unexplained motion by comparing numerical models with earlier experimental findings. The simulations reveal motion outside particle-laden regions that could be attributed to mechanical coupling and the principle of mass conservation. These factors produced a motion that counterbalanced the time-varying magnetic excitation, and whose extent and distribution was affected by boundary conditions as well as compressibility and stiffness of the surroundings. Our findings emphasize the importance of accounting for the vector-valued magnetic force in magnetomotive ultrasound imaging. In an axisymmetric geometry, that force can be represented by a simple scalar expression, an oversimplification that rapidly becomes inaccurate with distance from the symmetry axis. Additionally, it results in an underestimation of the vertical force component by up to 30%. We therefore recommend using the full vector-valued force to capture the magnetic interaction. This study enhances our understanding of how forces govern magnetic nanoparticle displacement in tissue, contributing to accurate analysis and interpretation of magnetomotive ultrasound imaging.

Development of a finite element model of a human head including auditory periphery for understanding of bone-conducted hearing

A three-dimensional finite-element (FE) model of a human head including the auditory periphery was developed to obtain a better understanding of bone-conducted (BC) hearing. The model was validated by comparison of cochlear and head responses in both air-conducted (AC) and BC hearing with experimental data. Specifically, the FE model provided the cochlear responses such as basilar membrane velocity and intracochlear pressure corresponding to BC stimulations applied to the mastoid or the conventional bone-anchored-hearing-aid (BAHA) positions. This is a strength of the model because it is difficult to obtain the cochlear responses from experiments corresponding to the BC stimulation applied at a specific position on the head surface. In addition, there have been few studies based on an FE model that can calculate the head and cochlear responses simultaneously from a BC stimulation. Moreover, in this study, the intracochlear sound pressure at multi-positions along the BM length was calculated and used to clarify the effect of stimulating force direction on the cochlear and promontory velocities in BC hearing. Also, the relationship between BC and AC stimulation and the basilar membrane velocity in the FE model was used to calculate the stimulation level at hearing thresholds which has been investigated only by psychoacoustical methods.

In Vivo Imaging of Biodegradable Implants and Related Tissue Biomarkers

Non-invasive longitudinal imaging of osseointegration of bone implants is essential to ensure a comprehensive, physical and biochemical understanding of the processes related to a successful implant integration and its long-term clinical outcome. This study critically reviews the present imaging techniques that may play a role to assess the initial stability, bone quality and quantity, associated tissue remodelling dependent on implanted material, implantation site (surrounding tissues and placement depth), and biomarkers that may be targeted. An updated list of biodegradable implant materials that have been reported in the literature, from metal, polymer and ceramic categories, is provided with reference to the use of specific imaging modalities (computed tomography, positron emission tomography, ultrasound, photoacoustic and magnetic resonance imaging) suitable for longitudinal and non-invasive imaging in humans. The advantages and disadvantages of the single imaging modality are discussed with a special focus on preclinical imaging for biodegradable implant research. Indeed, the investigation of a new implant commonly requires histological examination, which is invasive and does not allow longitudinal studies, thus requiring a large number of animals for preclinical testing. For this reason, an update of the multimodal and multi-parametric imaging capabilities will be here presented with a specific focus on modern biomaterial research.

Non-destructive evaluation of carcass and ham traits and meat quality assessment applied to early and late immunocastrated Iberian pigs

Castration is a common practice in Iberian pigs due to their advanced age and high weight at slaughter. Immunocastration (IC) is an alternative to surgical castration that influences carcass and cut fatness. These traits need to be evaluated in vivo and postmortem. The aims of the present work were (a) to determine the relationship between ham composition measured with computed tomography (CT) and in vivo ultrasound (US) and carcass fat thickness measurements, (b) to apply these technologies to early (EIP) and late (LIP) immunocastrated Iberian pigs in order to evaluate carcass fatness and ham tissue composition and (c) to assess meat quality on these animals and to find the relationships between meat quality traits (namely, intramuscular fat (IMF)) and fat depot thicknesses. For this purpose, 20 purebred Iberian pigs were immunocastrated with three doses of Improvac ®, at either 4.5, 5.5 and 9 or 11, 12 and 14 months of age (EIP or LIP; respectively; n = 10 each) and slaughtered at 17 months of age. Fat depots were evaluated in vivo by US, in carcass with a ruler and in hams by CT. Carcass and cut yields, loin meat quality and loin acceptability by consumers were determined. Also, IMF was determined in the loin and three muscles of the ham. Carcass weight was 14.9 kg heavier in EIP vs LIP, and loin backfat thickness (US- and ruler-measured) was also greater in EIP. Similarly, CT-evaluated ham bone and fat contents were greater and smaller for EIP vs LIP, respectively. Loin and ham IMF were also greater in EIP, but the other meat quality parameters were similar. The acceptability of meat by consumers was high and it did not differ between IC protocols. Correlations between several fat depots measured with the different technologies were high. In conclusion, all these technologies allowed fat depot measurements, which were highly correlated despite being obtained at different anatomical locations.

Maternal Nutrition During Gestation Alters Histochemical Properties, and mRNA and microRNA Expression in Adipose Tissue of Wagyu Fetuses

We hypothesized that maternal low or high nutrition would give unique effects to morphological and molecular dynamics in adipose tissue of fetus of fatty breed Wagyu (Japanese Black) cattle which produce highly marbled beef. This study aimed to determine the effects of maternal energy intake in Wagyu cows, during gestation on fetal adipose tissue development, histochemical properties, and gene and microRNA (miRNA) expression. Cows were allocated to one of two nutritional energy groups: 120% (HIGH) or 60% nutritional requirements of (LOW). Fetuses (n = 6 per treatment) were removed from pregnant cows by cesarean section at fetal age 260 ± 8 days and euthanized. Subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), thoracic cavity visceral adipose tissue (TVAT), and perirenal adipose tissue (PAT) were collected for analysis. In histochemical analysis, in SAT and PAT, HIGH fetuses had greater diameter of adipocytes than LOW fetuses (P<0.05). Only in SAT, LOW fetuses had more Leptin (LEP) mRNA and tended to have more Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor gamma (PPARG) CCAAT-enhancer-binding proteins alpha (CEBPA) and Glucose transporter (GLUT) 4 mRNA(P<0.10). In all SAT, TVAT, and PAT, LOW fetuses had higher levels of the brown adipose tissue (BAT) biomarkers Uncoupling Protein (UCP) 1 and PPARG coactivator (PGC) 1α mRNA than HIGH fetuses (P<0.08). Meanwhile, in the other adipose tissue, LOW fetuses had lower PPARG, CEBPA, and Zinc Finger Protein (ZFP) 423 (in TVAT and PAT), FASN (in TVAT), LEP and GLUT4 mRNA (in PAT; P<0.10). In particular, in TVAT and PAT, LOW fetuses exhibited lower expression of WAT biomarkers (PPARG and ZFP423). Differential expression of various miRNAs related to adipogenesis between the LOW and HIGH fetuses was detected in an adipose tissue-specific manner (P<0.10). Based on adipose tissue-specific effects of maternal nutrition, these findings suggested that poor maternal nutrition in Wagyu cattle increased BAT development in SAT, TVAT and PAT, while elevated maternal nutrition stimulated fetal SAT development compared with that of TVAT and PAT.

Translation, cultural adaptation, and validation of a lipedema symptoms questionnaire

Background

Lipedema is characterized as abnormal bilateral deposition of fat in the buttocks and legs that may be accompanied by orthostatic edema in women. A questionnaire for assessment of lipedema symptoms has previously been published in German and English to assess treatment progress.

Objectives

To translate, culturally adapt, and validate the lipedema symptoms assessment questionnaire for Brazilian Portuguese.

Methods

The process involved three translations and two back-translations performed by independent translators, followed by construction of a consensus version and adaptation according patients’ comprehension. The questionnaire was converted into a digital version and administered to 56 volunteers and then administered to 154 patients from a vascular clinic and correlated with volume determined by segmental bioimpedance.

Results

The 20 pre-test patients were female and at least 90% of the interviewees were able to understand the questions in the final phase. Volunteers had a 96.4% rate of comprehension of the digital online version and a mean completion time of 4 minutes. In 154 patients, limb volume was positively correlated with intensity of symptoms, as assessed by the translated questionnaire, and 3 out of 15 questions were weakly correlated with educational level.

Conclusions

The translated and culturally adapted Brazilian Portuguese version of the lipedema symptoms assessment questionnaire (QuASiL) is a practical tool that is easy and quick to administer and can be used in our population. Additional studies are still needed to assess the instrument’s sensitivity as an aid for diagnosis of lipedema.

Extended Ketogenic Diet and Physical Training Intervention in Military Personnel

INTRODUCTION

Ketogenic diets (KDs) that elevate ketones into a range referred to as nutritional ketosis represent a possible nutrition approach to address the emerging physical readiness and obesity challenge in the military. An emerging body of evidence demonstrates broad-spectrum health benefits attributed to being in nutritional ketosis, but no studies have specifically explored the use of a KD in a military population using daily ketone monitoring to personalize the diet prescription.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To evaluate the feasibility, metabolic, and performance responses of an extended duration KD, healthy adults (n = 29) from various military branches participated in a supervised 12-wk exercise training program. Fifteen participants self-selected to an ad libitum KD guided by daily measures of capillary blood ketones and 14 continued their normal mixed diet (MD). A battery of tests were performed before and after the intervention to assess changes in body mass, body composition, visceral fat, liver fat, insulin sensitivity, resting energy metabolism, and physical performance.

RESULTS

All KD subjects were in nutritional ketosis during the intervention as assessed by daily capillary beta-hydroxybutyrate (βHB) (mean βHB 1.2 mM reported 97% of all days) and showed higher rates of fat oxidation indicative of keto-adaptation. Despite no instruction regarding caloric intake, the KD group lost 7.7 kg body mass (range -3.5 to -13.6 kg), 5.1% whole-body percent fat (range -0.5 to -9.6%), 43.7% visceral fat (range 3.0 to -66.3%) (all p < 0.001), and had a 48% improvement in insulin sensitivity; there were no changes in the MD group. Adaptations in aerobic capacity, maximal strength, power, and military-specific obstacle course were similar between groups (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

US military personnel demonstrated high adherence to a KD and showed remarkable weight loss and improvements in body composition, including loss of visceral fat, without compromising physical performance adaptations to exercise training. Implementation of a KD represents a credible strategy to enhance overall health and readiness of military service members who could benefit from weight loss and improved body composition.

Studies on healthy and neoplastic tissues using positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy and focused histopathological imaging

Samples of healthy and neoplastic myometrial tissues were investigated using Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy (PALS). Meaningful differences between normal and diseased tissues were observed for each patient. The differences were also clearly visible for various kinds of lesions in each patient. The set of lifetimes and intensities obtained from PALS was correlated with the histopathological examinations of the same fragments of tissues. Strong coincidence between PALS parameters and histopathological findings was observed only in the case of a very precise correlation of the investigated area in both techniques. Measurements and discussion presented here were carried out to develop a method for measuring the sub-nanometric structure of human tissues. This kind of investigation, using positron probe, creates an opportunity of a new application in Positron Emission Tomography (PET).

The effect of visceral fat on the hemodilution effect of serum carcinoembryonic antigen in Korean population

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between visceral fat and the hemodilution effect of carcinoembryonic antigen in both sexes.

METHODS

A total of 15,340 females and 20,024 males who visited the health promotion center at Chung-Ang University Hospital from 2011 to 2014 were retrospectively collected. Correlation analysis and chi-square test for linear by linear association were used to determine the correlation between carcinoembryonic antigen concentration, carcinoembryonic antigen mass and visceral fat. Multivariable linear regression analysis was used to calculate the mean of carcinoembryonic antigen concentration and the mean of carcinoembryonic antigen mass, reflecting age, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, creatinine, body fat percentage, body mass index, lean body mass and waist circumference as confounding variables.

RESULTS

Higher body mass index was related with lower carcinoembryonic antigen concentration in men (r = -0.019, P = 0.019), but higher carcinoembryonic antigen concentration in women (r = 0.084, P<0.001). Average of waist circumference for male is greater than that of female (P<0.01). Average of body fat percentage for male is lesser than that of female (P<0.01). Male lean body mass mean is larger than that of women (P<0.01). Increased waist circumference was significantly associated with higher carcinoembryonic antigen mass in both female and male (P<0.001 for trend). Postmenopausal women might be more likely to have increased carcinoembryonic antigen mass and carcinoembryonic antigen concentration (P<0.001 for trend).

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that visceral fat may increase total amount of CEA in the body. Visceral fat should be taken into account when evaluating serum CEA levels in both sexes.

Activin type IIB receptor blockade does not limit adenosine triphosphate supply in mouse skeletal muscle in Vivo

INTRODUCTION

Postnatal activin/myostatin type IIB receptor (ActRIIB) blockade increases skeletal muscle mass and strength but also increases muscle fatigability and impairs oxidative metabolism. The objective of this study was to determine in vivo whether this increased fatigability is due to energy supply limitation.

METHODS

The impact of 8-week ActRIIB blockade with soluble receptor (sActRIIB-Fc) on muscle function and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) fluxes was investigated noninvasively by using multimodal magnetic resonance and indirect calorimetry measurements in wild-type mice.

RESULTS

Activin/myostatin type IIB receptor blockade reduced (-41%) the muscle apparent mitochondrial capacity and increased (+11%) the basal body energy expenditure. During a fatiguing exercise, ActRIIB blockade decreased both oxidative ATP production rate (-32%) and fatigue resistance (-36%), but these changes affected neither the total ATP production rate nor the contractile ATP cost.

DISCUSSION

These findings demonstrate that the increased fatigability after ActRIIB blockade is not due to limitation in energy supply and/or disturbance in contractile ATP cost. Muscle Nerve 58:834-842, 2018.

Tumor protein 53-induced nuclear protein 1 deficiency alters mouse gastrocnemius muscle function and bioenergetics in vivo

Tumor protein 53-induced nuclear protein 1 (TP53INP1) deficiency leads to oxidative stress-associated obesity and insulin resistance. Although skeletal muscle has a predominant role in the development of metabolic syndrome, the bioenergetics and functional consequences of TP53INP1 deficiency upon this tissue remain undocumented. To clarify this issue, gastrocnemius muscle mechanical performance, energy metabolism, and anatomy were investigated in TP53INP1-deficient and wild-type mice using a multidisciplinary approach implementing noninvasive multimodal-NMR techniques. TP53INP1 deficiency increased body adiposity but did not affect cytosolic oxidative stress, lipid content, and mitochondrial pool and capacity in myocyte. During a fatiguing bout of exercise, the in vivo oxidative ATP synthesis capacity was dramatically reduced in TP53INP1-deficient mice despite ADP level (the main in vivo stimulator of mitochondrial respiration) did not differ between both genotypes. Moreover, TP53INP1 deficiency did not alter fatigue resistance but paradoxically increased the contractile force, whereas there were no differences for muscle fiber-type distribution and calcium homeostasis between both genotypes. In addition, muscle proton efflux was decreased in TP53INP1-deficient mice, thereby indicating a reduced blood supply. In conclusion, TP53INP1 plays a role in muscle function and bioenergetics through oxidative capacity impairment possibly as the consequence of abnormal mitochondrial respiration regulation and/or defective blood supply.

Approaching pulmonary fat embolism on postmortem computed tomography

PURPOSE

Pulmonary fat embolism (PFE) is a relevant diagnosis playing a role as a sign of vitality or a cause of death. Its severity is assessed according to histological grading systems like that of Falzi. The aim of this study was to determine the utility of unenhanced postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) for PFE diagnosis based on the detection of fat layers.

METHODS

Consecutive cases with PMCT and autopsy were studied retrospectively. The case group consisted of cases with positive PFE, and the control group included cases with negative PFE. Three observers independently assessed PMCT data for fat layers in the pulmonary trunk and the right and left pulmonary artery. For cases with fat layers, autopsy protocols were assessed for the cause of death, relation to trauma, and undertaken resuscitation measures.

RESULTS

Eight hundred thirty cases were included: 366 PFE positive cases (144 of Falzi grade 1, 63 of 1.5, 99 of 2, 28 of 2.5, and 32 of 3) and 464 PFE negative cases. Interrater reliabilities varied between substantial and almost perfect, and discrepancies were solved according to majority. Eighteen cases showed fat layers on PMCT (2 controls-traumatic instantaneous deaths-, 16 PFE positive cases). PMCT showed low sensitivity but high specificity for PFE diagnosis. The layers were located at the same position in the pulmonary trunk directly adjacent to the pulmonary valve distal to the right ventricle.

CONCLUSION

Fat layer on PMCT is a rare finding but relates to PFE diagnosis, especially of severe histological grade. It is to be expected in a typical position within the pulmonary trunk.

Endogenous calcitonin regulates lipid and glucose metabolism in diet-induced obesity mice

Calcitonin (CT) plays an important role in calcium homeostasis, and its precursor, proCT, is positively associated with the body mass index in the general human population. However, the physiological role of endogenous CT in the regulation of metabolism remains unclear. Knockout mice with gene-targeted deletion of exon 4 of Calca (CT KO) were generated by targeted modification in embryonic stem cells. Male mice were used in all experiments and were fed a slightly higher fat diet than the standard diet. The CT KO mice did not exhibit any abnormal findings in appearance, but exhibited weight loss from 15 months old, i.e., significantly decreased liver, adipose tissue, and kidney weights, compared with wild-type control mice. Furthermore, CT KO mice exhibited significantly decreased fat contents in the liver, lipid droplets in adipose tissues, serum glucose, and lipid levels, and significantly increased insulin sensitivity and serum adiponectin levels. CT significantly promoted 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation and suppressed adiponectin release. These results suggested that CT gene deletion prevents obesity, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia in aged male mice. This is the first definitive evidence that CT may contribute to glucose and lipid metabolism in aged male mice, possibly via decreased adiponectin secretion from adipocytes.

A Novel Understanding of Phocidae Hearing Adaptations Through a Study of Northern Elephant Seal (Mirounga angustirostris) Ear Anatomy and Histology

The most conspicuous aural adaptation in northern elephant seals (NES) is complete absence of an auricle and a tortuous collapsed external acoustic meatus. The NES epitympanic recess contains massive ossicles immersed in the middle ear cavernous sinuses. Engorgement of the cavernous sinuses would make ossicles fully buoyant during deep diving. NES have a comparatively larger cochlear nerve, which carries a significantly larger number of axons than in terrestrial mammals, which would give them auditory ability similar to the obligate marine mammals such as cetaceans. Our calculations show that the traditional "air-dependent" impedance matching mechanism in NES functions to just half of the capacity compared with the one described in terrestrial mammals. Impedance matching would be further hindered in NES while diving due to fully collapsed external acoustic meatus. Thanks to similarities of acoustic impedance between the sea water, soft tissues, and blood sinuses, very little sound energy would be reflected and lost. When sound is generated underwater, the large ossicles, buoyant in the cavernous sinus, would not move due to oscillation of tympanic membrane. Rather, they would be oscillating due to their inertia and process of acoustic streaming. Our mathematical simulation shows that an increase in sound frequency would cause increased displacement of the stapedial footplate and thus transmit the sound energy to the inner ear. We contend that during diving, impedance matching and sound signal amplification in the middle ear courses through the cavernous sinuses and oscillates the enlarged ossicles, thus enabling a high-frequency ultrasonic hearing range in Phocidae. Anat Rec, 302:1605-1614, 2019. © 2018 American Association for Anatomy.

Application of a mechanobiological algorithm to investigate mechanical mediation of heterotopic bone in trans-femoral amputees

Heterotopic ossification (HO) is the process of bone formation in tissues that are not usually osseous. It occurs in 60% of those with blast-related amputations. HO can result in reduced range of motion, pain, nerve impingement and can affect prosthesis fitting and is caused by a combination of mechanical, biological, local and systemic factors. As with normal bone formation and remodelling, it is expected that heterotopic bone responds to mechanical stimuli and understanding this relationship can give insight into the pathology. The objective of this research was to investigate whether a physiological 2D computational model that considers both mechanical and biological factors can be used to simulate HO in the residual limb of a trans-femoral amputee. The study found that characteristic morphologies of HO were reproduced by adjusting the loading environment. Significant effects were produced by changing the loading direction on the femur; this is potentially associated with different initial surgical interventions such as muscle myodesis. Also, initial treatment such as negative pressure through a dressing was found to change the shape of heterotopic bone.

Micro-Autologous Fat Transplantation for Treating a Gummy Smile

Background

A gummy smile is treated using many techniques, including botulinum toxin injection and various surgical interventions. Micro-autologous fat transplantation (MAFT) is a potentially advantageous alternative approach that has not been previously evaluated.

Objectives

This study sought to determine the long-term results of MAFT in patients with a gummy smile.

Methods

Seven patients with gummy smiles were evaluated for MAFT treatment between October 2015 and April 2017. Centrifuged purified fat was micro-transplanted into the nasolabial groove, ergotrid, and upper lip areas using the MAFT-GUN while the patients were under total intravenous anesthesia.

Results

The mean age of the 7 patients was 31 years (range, 23-40 years). The mean operating time for MAFT was 52 minutes (range, 40-72 minutes), and the mean volume of fat delivered to the nasolabial groove, ergotrid, and upper lip was 16.1 mL. The mean decreases of gingival display in the right canine incisor, left canine incisor, right canine, and left canine teeth were 4.9, 4.6, 3.8, and 4.4 mm, respectively. The smiles of the 7 patients showed significant improvement at an average follow-up time of 12.9 months.

Conclusions

Gummy smile treatment using MAFT is an effective, reliable, and relatively simple method, with high patient satisfaction and minimal risk of complications.

Level of Evidence: 4

Hydrogels in three-dimensional dendritic cell (MUTZ-3) culture as a scaffold to mimic human immuno competent subcutaneous tissue

The objective of this study was to develop a 3D cell culture model of the human subcutaneous tissue, allowing the prediction of the immunogenicity of subcutaneously injected therapeutic proteins. Several hydrogels were evaluated as scaffolds to mimic the human subcutaneous tissue in vitro. Cytocompatibility of the hydrogels with the human myelomonocytic cell line (MUTZ-3) was investigated, as well as their influence on cellular phenotype changes. Elastic Young's moduli in compression of the hydrogels were measured by a texture analyser and compared to ex vivo human samples. MUTZ-3 cells were differentiated into dendritic cells before embedding in hydrogels. Agarose at various concentrations (0.5%, 0.35% and 0.25% w/v), Geltrex® matrix and HyStem™ scaffold (1% w/v) displayed a wide range of elastic Young's moduli from 560 kPa to 49 kPa, compared to the reference value of 23 kPa obtained for human tissue. With the exception of HyStem™, good cytocompatibility of hydrogels was shown at the concentrations tested. An optimal combination of MUTZ-3 cells with 0.25% agarose or Geltrex® is suggested.

Inferring Object Properties with a Tactile-Sensing Array Given Varying Joint Stiffness and Velocity

Whole-arm tactile sensing enables a robot to sense contact and infer contact properties across its entire arm. Within this paper, we demonstrate that using data-driven methods, a humanoid robot can infer mechanical properties of objects from contact with its forearm during a simple reaching motion. A key issue is the extent to which the performance of data-driven methods can generalize to robot actions that differ from those used during training. To investigate this, we developed an idealized physics-based lumped element model of a robot with a compliant joint making contact with an object. Using this physics-based model, we performed experiments with varied robot, object and environment parameters. We also collected data from a tactile-sensing forearm on a real robot as it made contact with various objects during a simple reaching motion with varied arm velocities and joint stiffnesses. The robot used 1-nearest-neighbor (1-NN) classifiers, hidden Markov models (HMMs), and long short-term memory (LSTM) networks to infer two object properties (hard versus soft and moved versus unmoved) based on features of time-varying tactile sensor data (maximum force, contact area, and contact motion). We found that, in contrast to 1-NN, the performance of LSTMs (with sufficient data availability) and multivariate HMMs successfully generalized to new robot motions with distinct velocities and joint stiffnesses. Compared to single features, using multiple features gave the best results for both experiments with physics-based models and a real-robot.

Preserved liver regeneration capacity after partial hepatectomy in rats with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

AIM

To evaluate the liver regeneration capacity (LRC) after partial hepatectomy (PH) in experimental non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

METHODS

Fifty-four female rats were fed a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet (HFCD, 65% fat, 1% cholesterol) or standard diet (STD) for 16 wk. A 70% PH was performed and the animals were euthanised before PH or 2 or 5 d post-PH. LRC was evaluated using: The total number of Ki-67 positive hepatocytes in the caudate lobe, N(Ki-67, lobe) evaluated in a stereology-based design, the regenerated protein ratio (RPR), prothrombin-proconvertin ratio (PP), and mRNA expression of genes related to regeneration.

RESULTS

The HFCD NASH model showed significant steatosis with ballooning and inflammation, while no fibrosis was present. Mortality was similar in HFCD and STD animals following PH. HFCD groups were compared to respective STD groups and HFCD animals had a significantly elevated alanine transaminase at baseline (P < 0.001), as well as a significantly elevated bilirubin at day 2 after PH (P < 0.05). HFCD animals had a higher N(Ki-67, lobe) at baseline, (P < 0.0001), day 2 after PH (P = 0.06) and day 5 after PH (P < 0.025). We found no significant difference in RPR or PP neither 2 or 5 d post-PH. Expression of liver regeneration genes (e.g., hepatic growth factor) was higher at both day 2 and 5 post-PH in HFCD groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

NASH rats had a preserved LRC after hepatectomy when compared to STD rats. The methods and models of NASH are essential in understanding and evaluating LRC.

Can Adiponectin Help us to Target Diastolic Dysfunction?

Adiponectin is the most abundant adipokine and exhibits anti-inflammatory, antiatherogenic and antidiabetic properties. Unlike other adipokines, it inversely correlates with body weight and obesity-linked cardiovascular complications. Diastolic dysfunction is the main mechanism responsible for approximately half of all heart failure cases, the so-called heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), but therapeutic strategies specifically directed towards these patients are still lacking. In the last years, a link between adiponectin and diastolic dysfunction has been suggested. There are several mechanisms through which adiponectin may prevent most of the pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying diastolic dysfunction and HFpEF, including the prevention of myocardial hypertrophy, cardiac fibrosis, nitrative and oxidative stress, atherosclerosis and inflammation, while promoting angiogenesis. Thus, understanding the mechanisms underlying adiponectin-mediated improvement of diastolic function has become an exciting field of research, making adiponectin a promising therapeutic target. In this review, we explore the relevance of adiponectin signaling for the prevention of diastolic dysfunction and identify prospective therapeutic targets aiming at the treatment of this clinical condition.

Anti-obesity effect of ethanolic extract from Cosmos caudatus Kunth leaf in lean rats fed a high fat diet

Background

Obesity is a major health concern both in developed and developing countries. The use of herbal medicines became the subject of interest for the management of obesity due to its natural origin, cost effectiveness and minimal side effects. The present study aimed at investigating anti-obesity potential of ethanolic extract from Cosmos caudatus Kunth leaf (EECCL).

Methods

In this study, the rats were randomly divided into six groups i.e., (1) Normal Diet (ND); (2) Normal Diet and 175 mg/kgBW of EECCL (ND + 175 mg/kgBW); (3) Normal Diet and 350 mg/kgBW of EECCL (ND + 350 mg/kgBW); (4) High Fat Diet (HFD); (5) High Fat Diet and 175 mg/kgBW of EECCL (HFD + 175 mg/kgBW); (6) High Fat Diet and 350 mg/kgBW of EECCL (HFD + 350 mg/kgBW). The anti-obesity potential was evaluated through analyses of changes in body weight, visceral fat weight, and blood biochemicals including total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), leptin, insulin, adiponectin, ghrelin and fecal fat content. In addition, metabolite profiling of EECCL was carried out using NMR spectroscopy.

Results

Rats receiving EECCL together with HFD showed significant (p < 0.05) reduction in body weight gain compared to rats receiving HFD only. At the end of study, the body weight gain of EECCL treated rats was not significantly (p > 0.05) different with those of ND rats. Other related obesity biomarkers including plasma lipid profiles, insulin, leptin, ghrelin and adiponectin levels also showed significant improvement (p < 0.05). Administration of EECCL caused significant (p < 0.05) increase in fecal fat excretion, which validates the hypothesis of lipase inhibition, an anti-obesity mechanism similar to standard drug of Orlistat. The ¹H-NMR spectra of EECCL ascertained the presence of catechin, quercetin, rutin, kaempherol and chlorogenic acid in the extract.

Conclusion

Conclusively, EECCL showed anti-obesity properties by inhibition of intestinal lipid absorption and modulation of adipocytes markers.

A Buoyancy-based Method of Determining Fat Levels in Drosophila

Drosophila melanogaster is a key experimental system in the study of fat regulation. Numerous techniques currently exist to measure levels of stored fat in Drosophila, but most are expensive and/or laborious and have clear limitations. Here, we present a method to quickly and cheaply determine organismal fat levels in L3 Drosophila larvae. The technique relies on the differences in density between fat and lean tissues and allows for rapid detection of fat and lean phenotypes. We have verified the accuracy of this method by comparison to body fat percentage as determined by neutral lipid extraction and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GCMS). We furthermore outline detailed protocols for the collection and synchronization of larvae as well as relevant experimental recipes. The technique presented below overcomes the major shortcomings in the most widely used lipid quantitation methods and provides a powerful way to quickly and sensitively screen L3 larvae for fat regulation phenotypes while maintaining the integrity of the larvae. This assay has wide applications for the study of metabolism and fat regulation using Drosophila.

The development of a whole-head human finite-element model for simulation of the transmission of bone-conducted sound

A whole head finite element model for simulation of bone conducted (BC) sound transmission was developed. The geometry and structures were identified from cryosectional images of a female human head and eight different components were included in the model: cerebrospinal fluid, brain, three layers of bone, soft tissue, eye, and cartilage. The skull bone was modeled as a sandwich structure with an inner and outer layer of cortical bone and soft spongy bone (diploë) in between. The behavior of the finite element model was validated against experimental data of mechanical point impedance, vibration of the cochlear promontories, and transcranial BC sound transmission. The experimental data were obtained in both cadaver heads and live humans. The simulations showed multiple low-frequency resonances where the first was caused by rotation of the head and the second was close in frequency to average resonances obtained in cadaver heads. At higher frequencies, the simulation results of the impedance were within one standard deviation of the average experimental data. The acceleration response at the cochlear promontory was overall lower for the simulations compared with experiments but the overall tendencies were similar. Even if the current model cannot predict results in a specific individual, it can be used for understanding the characteristic of BC sound transmission in general.

Metal artefacts in MRI-guided brachytherapy of cervical cancer

The importance of assessing the metal-induced artefacts in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided brachytherapy is growing along with the increasing interest of integrating MRI into the treatment procedure of cervical cancer. Examples of metal objects in use include intracavitary cervical applicators and interstitial needles. The induced artefacts increase the uncertainties in the clinical workflow and can be a potential obstacle for the accurate delivery of the treatment. Overcoming this problem necessitates a good understanding of its originating sources. Several efforts are recorded in the literature to quantify the extent of such artefacts, in phantoms and in clinical practice. Here, we elaborate on the origin of metal-induced artefacts in the light of brachytherapy applications, while summarizing recent efforts that have been made to assess and overcome the induced distortions.

ActRIIB blockade increases force-generating capacity and preserves energy supply in exercising mdx mouse muscle in vivo

Postnatal blockade of the activin type IIB receptor (ActRIIB) represents a promising therapeutic strategy for counteracting dystrophic muscle wasting. However, its impact on muscle function and bioenergetics remains poorly documented in physiologic conditions. We have investigated totally noninvasively the effect of 8-wk administration of either soluble ActRIIB signaling inhibitor (sActRIIB-Fc) or vehicle PBS (control) on gastrocnemius muscle force-generating capacity, energy metabolism, and anatomy in dystrophic mdx mice using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and dynamic [³¹P]-MR spectroscopy ([³¹P]-MRS) in vivo ActRIIB inhibition increased muscle volume (+33%) without changing fiber-type distribution, and increased basal animal oxygen consumption (+22%) and energy expenditure (+23%). During an in vivo standardized fatiguing exercise, maximum and total absolute contractile forces were larger (+40 and 24%, respectively) in sActRIIB-Fc treated animals, whereas specific force-generating capacity and fatigue resistance remained unaffected. Furthermore, sActRIIB-Fc administration did not alter metabolic fluxes, ATP homeostasis, or contractile efficiency during the fatiguing bout of exercise, although it dramatically reduced the intrinsic mitochondrial capacity for producing ATP. Overall, sActRIIB-Fc treatment increased muscle mass and strength without altering the fundamental weakness characteristic of dystrophic mdx muscle. These data support the clinical interest of ActRIIB blockade for reversing dystrophic muscle wasting.-Béchir, N., Pecchi, E., Vilmen, C., Le Fur, Y., Amthor, H., Bernard, M., Bendahan, D., Giannesini, B. ActRIIB blockade increases force-generating capacity and preserves energy supply in exercising mdx mouse muscle in vivo.

Diabetes-associated dysregulated cytokines and cancer

Epidemiological data demonstrate that patients with diabetes have an augmented risk of developing various types of cancers, accompanied by higher mortality. A number of mechanisms for this connection have been hypothesized, such as insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia, and increased inflammatory processes. Apart from these potential mechanisms, several diabetes-associated dysregulated cytokines might be implicated in the link between diabetes and cancer. In fact, some inflammatory cytokines, e.g. TNF-α, IL-6 and leptin, have been revealed to play important roles in both initiation and progression of tumor. Here, we depict the role of these cytokines in key events of carcinogenesis and cancer development, including their capability to induce oxidative stress, inflammation, their participation in epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), angiogenesis, and metastasis. Finally, we will also highlight the existing knowledge in terms of the involvement of these cytokines in different cancer types and comment on potential significances for future clinical applications.

Relationship between serum resistin concentrations with metabolic syndrome and its components in an Iranian population

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study is to determine the association of resistin with each MetS component.

METHODS

This study had a case-control design, and its data was retrieved from the Isfahan Healthy Heart Program (IHHP), Serum samples from 44 subjects with MetS (diagnosed according to the NCEP-ATPIII criteria) and 46 healthy controls were analyzed for resistin using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Association between serum resistin and levels of total (TC), low- (LDL-C) and high-density (HDL-C) lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), fasting blood sugar (FBS), waist circumference, body mass index, and systolic and diastolic blood pressures was determined.

RESULTS

Serum resistin levels were significantly higher in the MetS compared with control group (3.64 ± 1.63, P=0.040). Serum levels of resistin were found to be significantly correlated with levels of TC (r=-0.347; P=0.027) and LDL-C (r=-0.311; P=0.050), but not other components of MetS including systolic and diastolic blood pressure, TG, HDL-C and FBS (P>0.05) in the MetS group, after adjustment for age, gender and BMI. No significant correlation between resistin and MetS components was observed in the control group (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION

Serum resistin levels are elevated in subjects with MetS and may be associated with the severity of this syndrome.

Pathogenesis and management of the diabetogenic effect of statins: a role for adiponectin and coenzyme Q10?

There is growing evidence to suggest that statin therapy is associated with an increased risk of incident diabetes. The risk for statin-related diabetes depends upon many factors including age, pre-existing diabetic risk, type and potency of statin. Several mechanisms have been suggested for the diabetogenic effects of statins involving processes that alter islet ß-cell function, resulting in impaired glucose metabolism. Recent evidence suggests that the association of statin therapy with the development of diabetes may be partly mediated by a statin-induced decrease in circulating adiponectin and coenzyme Q10. The available evidence suggests the benefit of statins in reducing cardiovascular events outweigh the risk of developing diabetes. Moreover, statin therapy does not impair glycemic control in diabetic patients. Expert recommendations for the use of statins in people at risk of developing diabetes have recently been published. However, further research is required to elucidate both the association between statin use and incident diabetes as well as underlying mechanisms.

Influence of water and fat heterogeneity on fat-referenced MR thermometry

PURPOSE

To investigate the effect of the aqueous and fatty tissue magnetic susceptibility distribution on absolute and relative temperature measurements as obtained directly from the water/fat (w/f) frequency difference.

METHODS

Absolute thermometry was investigated using spherical phantoms filled with pork and margarine, which were scanned in three orthogonal orientations. To evaluate relative fat referencing, multigradient echo scans were acquired before and after heating pork tissue via high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). Simulations were performed to estimate the errors that can be expected in human breast tissue.

RESULTS

The sphere experiment showed susceptibility-related errors of 8.4 °C and 0.2 °C for pork and margarine, respectively. For relative fat referencing measurements, fat showed pronounced phase changes of opposite polarity to aqueous tissue. The apparent mean temperature for a numerical breast model assumed to be 37 °C was 47.2 ± 21.6 °C. Simulations of relative fat referencing for a HIFU sonication (ΔT = 29.7 °C) yielded a maximum temperature error of 6.6 °C compared with 2.5 °C without fat referencing.

CONCLUSION

Variations in the observed frequency difference between water and fat are largely due to variations in the w/f spatial distribution. This effect may lead to considerable errors in absolute MR thermometry. Additionally, fat referencing may exacerbate rather than correct for proton resonance frequency shift-temperature measurement errors.

Subcutaneous and total fat at L4-L5 and subcutaneous, visceral and total fat at L3-L4 are important contributors of fasting and postprandial adiponectin levels

OBJECTIVES

Insulin resistance and central obesity have been implicated in the pathogenesis of hypoadiponectinemia in obesity. The aim of this study is to evaluate circulating post-prandial adiponectin in relation to glucose and insulin metabolism, indexes of insulin resistance and sensitivity and, indexes of body fat accumulation and distribution in obese men.

METHODS

Twenty-eight non-diabetic men underwent an OGTT followed by an oral fat load and were studied at baseline and for 5 h post-prandially for serum adiponectin, glucose and insulin. Insulin resistance was estimated by Homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) and insulin sensitivity by Matsuda index. Body fat accumulation and distribution were evaluated by anthropometric indexes and multiple slices MRI of the abdomen and hip.

RESULTS

Adiponectin was negatively correlated to insulin levels. Fasting and area under the curve (AUC) adiponectin levels were negatively correlated to HOMA (both p < 0.01) and positively to Matsuda index (both p < 0.05). Negative correlations between fasting adiponectin and total fat (r = -0.408, p < 0.05), AUC adiponectin and subcutaneous, visceral and total fat (r = -0.375, -0.413 and -0.475 respectively, all p < 0.05) at L3-L4 were found, and negative correlations between fasting adiponectin and subcutaneous (r = -0.402, p < 0.05) and total fat (r = -0.491, p < 0.05) and between AUC adiponectin and subcutaneous and total fat (r = -0.506 and -0.547, respectively, both p < 0.01) were present at L4-L5.

CONCLUSIONS

Circulating adiponectin is inversely correlated to both visceral and subcutaneous fat in non-diabetic men, implying that both compartments are important for adiponectin levels. The best correlation is found at measurement site L4-L5.

Three dosimetry models of lipoma arborescens treated by 90Y synovectomy

PURPOSE

Lipoma arborescens (LA) is a benign intra-articular lipomatous proliferation of the synovial membrane. This extremely rare condition has previously been treated by intra-articular (90)Y radiosynoviorthesis but dosimetry literature on this form of radionuclide therapy is nonexistent. The authors detail methodology for successful treatment of LA and provide for the first time estimates of radiation dosimetry. The authors also analyze the biodistribution of the radiopharmaceutical over the course of the patient's treatment through sequential imaging.

METHODS

A patient with bilateral LA underwent intracavity injection of (90)Y citrate colloid to the right and left knee joint spaces (181 and 198 MBq, respectively). SPECT/CT datasets were acquired over 9 days to quantify the biodistribution and kinetics of the radiopharmaceutical. Radiation dosimetry was performed using the MIRD schema (through OLINDA software), a custom voxel-based method, and a direct Monte Carlo calculation (OEDIPE).

RESULTS

Follow-up MRI showed marked reduction in LA size in both knees. Mean absorbed doses to the LA were 21.2 ± 0.8 and 42.9 ± 2.3 Gy using OLINDA, 8.1 ± 0.3 and 16.7 ± 0.5 Gy using voxel based methodology, and 8.2 ± 0.3 and 15.7 ± 0.5 Gy for OEDIPE in the right and left LA, respectively. Distribution of the radiopharmaceutical within the joint space alters over the imaging period, with less than 1% of the remaining activity having moved posteriorly in the knee cavity. No uptake was detected outside of the joint space after assessment with whole-body scintigraphy.

CONCLUSIONS

An activity of approximately 185 MBq successfully relieved clinical symptoms of LA. There was good correlation between direct Monte Carlo and voxel based techniques, but OLINDA was shown to overestimate the absorbed dose to the tumor. Accurate dosimetry may help select an activity more tailored to the specific size and location of the LA.

Quantification of abdominal fat depots in rats and mice during obesity and weight loss interventions

Background & Aims

Obesity is a leading healthcare issue contributing to metabolic diseases. There is a great interest in non-invasive approaches for quantitating abdominal fat in obese animals and humans. In this work, we propose an automated method to distinguish and quantify subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissues (SAT and VAT) in rodents during obesity and weight loss interventions. We have also investigated the influence of different magnetic resonance sequences and sources of variability in quantification of fat depots.

Materials and Methods

High-fat diet fed rodents were utilized for investigating the changes during obesity, exercise, and calorie restriction interventions (N = 7/cohort). Imaging was performed on a 7T Bruker ClinScan scanner using fast spin echo (FSE) and Dixon imaging methods to estimate the fat depots. Finally, we quantified the SAT and VAT volumes between the L1–L5 lumbar vertebrae using the proposed automatic hybrid geodesic region-based curve evolution algorithm.

Results

Significant changes in SAT and VAT volumes (p<0.01) were observed between the pre- and post-intervention measurements. The SAT and VAT were 44.22±9%, 21.06±1.35% for control, −17.33±3.07%, −15.09±1.11% for exercise, and 18.56±2.05%, −3.9±0.96% for calorie restriction cohorts, respectively. The fat quantification correlation between FSE (with and without water suppression) sequences and Dixon for SAT and VAT were 0.9709, 0.9803 and 0.9955, 0.9840 respectively. The algorithm significantly reduced the computation time from 100 sec/slice to 25 sec/slice. The pre-processing, data-derived contour placement and avoidance of strong background–image boundary improved the convergence accuracy of the proposed algorithm.

Conclusions

We developed a fully automatic segmentation algorithm to quantitate SAT and VAT from abdominal images of rodents, which can support large cohort studies. We additionally identified the influence of non-algorithmic variables including cradle disturbance, animal positioning, and MR sequence on the fat quantification. There were no large variations between FSE and Dixon-based estimation of SAT and VAT.

Long-term globular adiponectin administration improves adipose tissue dysmetabolism in high-fat diet-fed Wistar rats

Adiponectin administration to obese or type 2 diabetic patients is still far off, due to its expensive costs and absence of studies demonstrating the effectiveness of its chronic administration. We performed long-term globular adiponectin administration, testing its usefulness in improving adipose tissue metabolism. Adiponectin (98 υg/day) was administered through a subcutaneous minipump with continued release (28 days) to Wistar rats fed a high-fat diet. Adiponectin decreased body weight and adipocyte size, while decreasing circulating leptin levels. More, adiponectin was able to increase IkappaBalpha and PPARgamma levels and to prevent high-fat diet-induced impairment of insulin signalling, especially in epididymal adipose tissue. This resulted in improved glucose profile. High-fat diet caused an impairment of lipolysis in epididymal adipose tissue, which was partially restored by adiponectin treatment. Long-term globular adiponectin administration was able to improve pathways of insulin signalling and lipid storage in adipose tissue of high-fat diet-fed rats, contributing to a better metabolic profile.

Accumulation of subcutaneous fat, but not visceral fat, is a predictor of adiponectin levels in preterm infants at term-equivalent age

BACKGROUND

Preterm infants have altered fat tissue development, including a higher percentage of fat mass and increased volume of visceral fat. They also have altered adiponectin levels, including a lower ratio of high-molecular-weight adiponectin (HMW-Ad) to total adiponectin (T-Ad) at term-equivalent age, compared with term infants.

AIMS

The objective of this study was to investigate the association between adiponectin levels and fat tissue accumulation or distribution in preterm infants at term-equivalent age.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional clinical study.

SUBJECTS

Study subjects were 53 preterm infants born at ≤34weeks gestation with a mean birth weight of 1592g.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Serum levels of T-Ad and HMW-Ad were measured and a computed tomography (CT) scan was performed at the level of the umbilicus at term-equivalent age to analyze how fat tissue accumulation or distribution was correlated with adiponectin levels.

RESULTS

T-Ad (r=0.315, p=0.022) and HMW-Ad levels (r=0.338, p=0.013) were positively associated with subcutaneous fat area evaluated by performing CT scan at term-equivalent age, but were not associated with visceral fat area in simple regression analyses. In addition, T-Ad (β=0.487, p=0.003) and HMW-Ad levels (β=0.602, p<0.001) were positively associated with subcutaneous fat tissue area, but they were not associated with visceral fat area also in multiple regression analyses.

CONCLUSION

Subcutaneous fat accumulation contributes to increased levels of T-Ad and HMW-Ad, while visceral fat accumulation does not influence adiponectin levels in preterm infants at term-equivalent age.

Lower NLRP3 inflammasome activity in NAG-1 transgenic mice is linked to a resistance to obesity and increased insulin sensitivity

OBJECTIVE

The NLRP3 inflammasome plays an important regulatory role in obesity-induced insulin resistance. NSAID activated gene-1 (NAG-1) is a divergent member of the TGF-β superfamily. NAG-1 Tg mice are resistant to dietary- and genetic-induced obesity and have improved insulin sensitivity. The objective was to examine whether NLRP3 inflammasome activity is associated with this observed phenotype in NAG-1 Tg mice.

METHODS

Key components of the NLRP3 inflammasome were examined in NAG-1 Tg mice on both regular and high fat diet (HFD) conditions.

RESULTS

The expression of caspase-1 and ASC, key components of the NLRP3 inflammasome, is significantly reduced at mRNA and protein levels in white adipose tissue (WAT) of NAG-1 Tg mice. HFD increases the expression of caspase-1 and ASC in WT mice, but their expression is reduced in NAG-1 Tg mice. Furthermore, there is reduced IL-18, IL-1β, and TNF-α expression in the WAT of NAG-1 Tg mice. NAG-1 Tg mice have significantly lower serum leptin and insulin levels and reduced expression of macrophage infiltration markers (F4/80, CD11b, and CD11c) in WAT.

CONCLUSIONS

The study suggests the lower NLRP3 inflammasome activity may play a role in the resistance of NAG-1 Tg mice to diet-induced obesity and improved insulin sensitivity.

Adiponectin as a biomarker of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women: controversies

The literature reports indicating a link between plasma levels of adiponectin and body fat, bone mineral density, sex hormones, and peri- and postmenopausal changes, draw attention to the possible use of adiponectin as an indicator of osteoporotic changes, suggesting that adiponectin may also modulate bone metabolism. In this study, we attempted to analyze the available in vitro and in vivo results which could verify this hypothesis. Although several studies have shown that adiponectin has an adverse effect on bone mass, mainly by intensifying resorption, this peptide has also been demonstrated to increase the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts, inhibit the activity of osteoclasts, and reduce bone resorption. There are still many ambiguities; for example, it can be assumed that concentrations of adiponectin in plasma do not satisfactorily reflect its production by adipose tissue, as well as conflicting in vitro and in vivo results. It seems that the potential benefit in the treatment of patients with osteoporosis associated with the pharmacological regulation of adiponectin is controversial.