Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders-Drug Targets (Formerly Current Drug Targets - Immune, Endocrine & Metabolic Disorders) - Volume 14, Issue 2, 2014

Background: A balanced diet is important to maintain an optimal health status and to prevent noncommunicable chronic diseases. The principal objective of this study was to analyze the effect of diets containing high fat levels from different sources, on serum and thymus lipid profile, in adult rats. Methods: Experimental diets contained 50% kcal of fat, provided by butter (B) or sunflower oil (S); control diet (C) was isocaloric, with 15 kcal of fat per 100 total kcal, provided by soy oil. Diets were otherwise complete in all nutrients and were administered for 40 days. Results: Group B had higher levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides than C; S serum lipid profile did not differ from C, despite the higher fat content. Regarding serum and thymus FA profile, B showed an increase of saturated fatty acids and lower levels of ω6 and ω3 FA, and S had lower levels of ω3 fatty acids. Conclusions: The administration of high-fat diets, during 40 days to adult rats, provoked specific variations on serum and thymus fatty acids, as a consequence of differences in FA profile of their lipid sources. These results reflect the impact that eating habits have on health status. It is important to put emphasis not only on the reduction of total fat intake, but also on choosing healthy sources of fat, replacing saturated fatty acids by polyunsaturated and including oils with higher content of ω3 to keep a balanced ω6/ω3 ratio.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death in humans, particularly in postmenopausal women. Inflammation has been shown to play a basic role in the development of CVD. In light of the involvement of adipocytokines and dietary lipids in the induction of inflammation in CVD, this study was conducted to investigate the potential relationship between dietary lipids and two well-known adipocytokines, visfatin and adiponectin. A total of 374 postmenopausal women were randomly selected from 13 geographical clusters in Bushehr port. Serum visfatin and adiponectin were determined with an enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay technique and current dietary intake was recorded with a food frequency questionnaire and a 3-day recall. Each food and beverage was analyzed for macro- and micronutrient content. Bivariate correlation analysis showed a correlation between serum visfatin level and dietary SFA, n-6 PUFA and cholesterol intake. In multiple regression analyses, serum visfatin levels showed a significant positive correlation with dietary SFA (β=0.06, p=0.01), PUFA (β=0.02, p=0.02) and cholesterol (β=0.005, p=0.002) after controlling for age, diabetes, total energy intake and BMI. There was no significant relationship between dietary MUFA intake and serum visfatin level. No significant correlations were found between age- and BMI-adjusted adiponectin and dietary SFA, MUFA or n-6 PUFA intake (p>0.05). We found a positive relationship between dietary SFA, PUFA and cholesterol with serum visfatin level in postmenopausal women, and conclude that the postmenopause-induced inflammatory responses may be modulated at least in part by dietary modification.

There is growing evidence that the prevalence of overweight/obesity is increasing in both developed and developing countries. Furthermore, complications of overweight/obesity occurring during childhood may influence the healthy status in adulthood. On these grounds, here we have enrolled 15 overweight/obese, 15 normal weight and 15 underweight children. A series of parameters, such as eating habits thanks to the Body Mass Index (BMI), Youth Healthy Eating Index (YHEI), activity and inactivity, salivary nitric oxide concentration (NO), were determined and correlated between them. In particular, correlations of BMI with YHEI, activity/inactivity, and correlations of salivary NO concentration with YHEI, BMI and activity/inactivity were evaluated. In overweight and obese subjects, a positive correlation between BMI, YHEI, inactivity and salivary NO concentrations was shown, while an inverse correlation was documented between BMI and activity in overweight/obese group. In normal weight and in underweight children, respectively, a positive correlation between lower BMI, YHEI, salivary NO concentration, and higher physical activity was observed.

Background: Oxidative damage of tissues and cellular components is a primary or secondary cause of many human diseases and is associated with the welfare and productivity of farm animals. Natural antioxidants have gained attention for the prevention of oxidative damage-related diseases. Aim of the Study: To determine the effects of dietary supplementation with a natural polyphenol (verbascoside, VB) on the serum lipid profile, the hepatic functionality and oxidative status of jennies and their suckling foals. Results: Supplementation with VB over 30 days decreased in jennies the serum levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, bilirubin, AST and ALT, and it increased the HDL cholesterol. As markers of the oxidative status, a decrease of ROMs and TBARs, and an increase in vitamin E levels were observed. Interestingly, the suckling foals showed the same trends in the blood parameters and oxidative status. Conclusions: Supplementation with VB influenced the lipidic and hepatic profiles, and oxidative status of jennies and the suckling foals, and may represent a potentially novel strategy for improving the functional properties of donkey’s milk for human diet and for improving the welfare of young animals.

This study investigates the effects of mefepronic acid (MA), a PPAR-α agonist, on hepatic metabolic functions and reproduction of postpartum dairy cows. Sixty Friesian cows were divided into Group A (administered 5g of MA IM, within 24 hrs after calving, on the 3rd and 5th day postpartum) and Group B (control). All the cows were blood sampled within 24 hrs of calving (Day 0), on Day 3, 5, 10, 15, 30, and 40 postpartum. On plasma, metabolic and biochemical parameters were determined. Liver biopsies were performed on Day 0, 15 and 30 for the evaluation of hepatic lipid and glycogen content. Reproductive parameters were also evaluated. In Group A, blood HDL, glucose and cholesterol increased till the end of the study, in accordance with the histological results. PPAR-α immunopositive cells increased in liver slices of Group A, too. Reproductive parameters improved in Group A. This study highlights the beneficial effects of mefepronic acid on the hepatic metabolism and reproductive parameters of post-partum dairy cows.

Amiodarone-induced SIADH is a rare but serious side effect of this drug. We report two cases of mild hyponatremia, observed in the last five years, and discuss the role played by age, sex and dose of amiodarone as well as the influence that this molecule may have on aquaporin-2 water channel expression in the renal collecting ducts.

Flutamide is a drug used in the treatment of androgen-dependent disorders. However, this treatment is usually accompanied by some adverse side effects. The aim of this work was to analyse the effect of flutamide and to compare this effect with that of a synthetic steroid - 3β-propionyloxy-5-androsten-17-one (PPA) - on levels of dopamine and some oxidative stress markers. For this, thirty-six male young Wistar rats (65g) were recruited and divided into 6 groups. The groups were then treated as follows: Group 1 (control), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO); group 2, flutamide (4mg/kg); group 3, PPA; group 4, DMSO + fructose; group 5, flutamide + fructose; and group 6, PPA + fructose. The treatments were administered intraperitoneally at a daily dose of 4 mg/kg for 10 days. In the last day of treatment, blood samples were obtained and used to assess the levels of glucose and cholesterol. The animals were then sacrificed and their prostate gland and brains were obtained for measurement of 5α-reductase, glutathione (GSH), calcium, H2O2, and dopamine in cortex, hemispheres, and medulla/oblongata, using previously validated methods. Results: Dopamine levels decreased while GSH increased significantly in cortex and hemispheres of animals that received PPA plus fructose. Also in the same group, GSH decreased in cerebellum/medulla oblongata when compared with control group. Peroxidation decreased significantly in all tissues of the groups, while ATPase activity witnessed a significant decrease in cortex and an increase in hemispheres of animal groups treated with flutamide and PPA both in combination with fructose. Conclusion: The steroid, 3β-propionyloxy-5-androsten-17-one, may in part act as a neuroprotector mediated by the increase of GSH and decrease of H2O2. Besides, imbalance in steroid homeostasis may alter the metabolism of dopamine.

The world population, currently estimated to be almost seven billion, is expected to double in less than four decades. The projected population growth will cause severe competition for existing resources, not to mention the issue of overcrowding of the planet and additional greenhouse gases that will have an adverse effect on the ecological health of the planet. A recent survey conducted by the United Nations Population Control Division shows that the majority of today’s young men in many countries are willing to participate in family planning by taking full control of their fertility, an important global health issue. However, the contraceptive needs of tens of millions of men/couples go unmet every single day and results in millions of unwanted pregnancies. Ever since the approval of the birth control pill by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1960, scientists have been hoping for a male equivalent. It has, however, been a difficult road, in part because of the complicated science of the male reproductive system. It is easier to control a monthly event of ovulation in women than to regulate the production of millions of fertile spermatozoa every day in men. Thus, the contraceptive options for men have not changed in decades and are still limited to the use of condoms, a timely withdrawal/pulling out (coitus interruptus) or vasectomy, a minor surgical procedure in which the vas deferens is occluded to prevent the release of spermatozoa during ejaculation. The first two approaches have a relatively higher failure rate, whereas the last approach is largely irreversible and not suitable for younger men. In this article, we will discuss various approaches currently available for men to take control of their fertility. Our intention is to discuss the details of three similar approaches that will provide safe, affordable and reversible contraception for men and are close to being approved for use by millions of men around the globe. The availability of safe, reversible and reliable male contraceptives will allow men and women to take full control of their fertility in family planning.

The innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) have been grouped into three main categories: ILC1s [T helper (h)1-like cells], ILC2s (Th2-like cells) and ILC3s (Th17-like cells), respectively. In particular, ILC3s are responsible for the secretion of both interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-22, which play either protective (antimicrobial and repairing activities) or harmful (inflammation and tumor growth) roles into the host. Here, some putative interventional studies will be hypothesized, taking into account that activation of innate cell receptors, arylhydrocarbon receptor and gut microbiota, respectively, contribute to both differentiation and function of ILC3s. A series of biological and natural compounds may represent putative regulators of these cells in the gut. In this respect, the modulating effects of agonist and antagonists of Toll-like receptors and nucleotide binding oligomerization domain-like receptors, polyphenols and probiotics will be described in detail.

Physical inactivity is a major public health problem in developed countries, and the fourth leading mortality risk factor globally. Recently, it was suggested that the total energy expenditure of sedentary Western population is similar to the total energy expenditure of Hadza hunter-gatherers known for their traditional foraging lifestyle in the savannah-woodland environment. However, this claim was based on the similarity of metabolic rates of walking and resting, and completely ignored the effects of different total energy expenditure normalized to the fat free body mass in individuals of different height and weight. The above claim stemmed from mixing the effects of tissues with low metabolic rate (bone) and those with high metabolic rate (muscle, liver, brain, etc.). Thus, the total energy expenditure is not similar among the sedentary Westerners and the Hadza hunter-gatherers. While the total energy expenditure recorded for basic human activities is similar across a broad range of cultures and lifestyles when adjusted to the weight, the unadjusted values differ. Thus, increase in body mass, and particularly the obesity, serves as compensatory total energy expenditure increasing mechanism resulting from the combination of low physical activity levels and high long-term total energy intake. Thus if two individuals at iso-energetic conditions match their energy demand with different substrates’ contribution, it may be caused, e.g., by their reliance on a different contribution of fatty acids oxidation to cope with energy demand. Differences in substrate partitioning need to be addressed when assessing the energy expenditure across multiple human populations.