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Title:
Butyrate, neuroepigenetics and the gut microbiome: Can a high fiber diet improve brain health?
Authors:
Bourassa, Megan W.; Alim, Ishraq; Bultman, Scott J.; Ratan, Rajiv R.
Abstract:
As interest in the gut microbiome has grown in recent years, attention has turned to the impact of our diet on our brain. The benefits of a high fiber diet in the colon have been well documented in epidemiological studies, but its potential impact on the brain has largely been understudied. Here, we will review evidence that butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) produced by bacterial fermentation of fiber in the colon, can improve brain health. Butyrate has been extensively studied as a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor but also functions as a ligand for a subset of G protein-coupled receptors and as an energy metabolite. These diverse modes of action make it well suited for solving the wide array of imbalances frequently encountered in neurological disorders. In this review, we will integrate evidence from the disparate fields of gastroenterology and neuroscience to hypothesize that the metabolism of a high fiber diet in the gut can alter gene expression in the brain to prevent neurodegeneration and promote regeneration.
Published:
June 19, 2016
Title:
Evolution of Serial Patterns in the Vertebrate Pharyngeal Apparatus and Paired Appendages via Assimilation of Dissimilar Units
Authors:
Miyashita, Tetsuto; Diogo, Rui
Abstract:
Evolution of serially similar structures has attracted interest since the infancy of comparative morphology and embryology. A long-standing assumption is that the serial patterning reflects ancestral metamerism, which persists in preconceived character polarity from a primitive state of polyisomerism (a series of identical or similar units) to a derived state of anisomerism (a series of differentially specialized parts). We test this assumption against an alternative character polarity—from anisomeric to polyisomeric—in the vertebrate pharyngeal apparatus and paired appendages. We show that, contrary to what is usually assumed, serial similarity represents a derived state in both pharyngeal apparatus and paired appendages: the distinctly patterned structures secondarily assimilated each other. Acquisitions of serial similarity in the pharyngeal apparatus and paired appendages straddle major evolutionary events such as the origin of the jaw and fish-tetrapod transitions. We suggest that: (a) the origin of the jaw coincided with extension of the serial pharyngeal patterning onto the mandibular region; and (b) the pectoral and pelvic appendages have independent origins and their distal portions acquired serial similarities later during the fin-limb transitions.
Published:
June 15, 2016
Title:
Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 inhibits inflammatory response and regulates atherosclerotic plaque
Authors:
Pan, Chang; Xing, Jun-hui; Zhang, Cheng; Zhang, Ying-mei; Zhang, Lue-tao; Wei, Shu-jian; Zhang, Ming-xiang; Wang, Xu-ping; Yuan, Qiu-huan; Xue, Li; Wang, Jia-li; Cui, Zhao-qiang; Zhang, Yun; Xu, Feng; Chen, Yu-guo
Abstract:
Published:
June 13, 2016
Title:
Learning and understanding human anatomy and pathology: an evolutionary and developmental guide for medical students.
Authors:
Diogo, Rui; Noden, Drew; Smith, Christopher; Molnar, Julia; Boughner, Julia; Barrocas, Claudia; Araújo Bruno, Joana
Abstract:
Understanding Human Anatomy and Pathology: An Evolutionary and Developmental Guide for Medical Students provides medical students with a much easier and more comprehensive way to learn and understand the gross anatomy and variations of our body by combining, for the first time, state-of-the-art knowledge about human anatomy, evolution, development, and pathology in one book, synthesizing data that would normally be available for students only by consulting several books at a time. The book adds evolutionary, pathological, and developmental information in a way that reduces the difficulty and total time spent learning gross anatomy by making learning more logical and systematic, and understanding the ultimate reasons about why our body is as it is, and why we have certain pathologies and musculoskeletal injuries. The anatomical illustrations are particularly excellent, and clearly a major strength of the book. They were done by a unique team of four multi-awarded, young scientific illustrators, and are carefully selected to follow the style of those seen in human anatomical atlases, but are simpler in their overall configuration, making them easier to understand without overwhelming students with visual information. The book's organization is also more versatile than most human anatomy texts so that students can refer to different sections according to their own learning styles, being able to learn either by focusing on different regions of the body or on different groups of structures/types of tissues. Because it is relatively short in length and easily transportable, students can take this invaluable book anywhere and use it to study and understand most of the structures they need to learn for any gross anatomy course. By providing, for the first time, an unique combination of evolutionary, comparative, anatomical, developmental and pathological information, the book will also be a unique source for evolutionary and developmental biologists, comparative anatomists, functional morphologists, biological anthropologists, pathologists, and medical researchers that are interested to understand the origin of the human body and its variations, as well as human congenital malformations.
Published:
June 5, 2016
Title:
Comparative Myology and Evolution of Marsupials and Other Vertebrates, With Notes on Complexity, Bauplan, and "Scala Naturae"
Authors:
Diogo, Rui; Bello-Hellegouarch, Gaelle; Kohlsdorf, Tiana; Esteve-Altava, Borja; Molnar, Julia
Abstract:
Opossums are frequent subjects of developmental studies because marsupials share developmental features not seen in placentals and because Didelphimorpha is the sister-group of other extant Marsupialia. But is the adult marsupial muscular system markedly different from that of placentals or is it, like the skeletal system, very similar? We provide, for the first time, a brief description of all head and limb muscles of Didelphis virginiana based on our dissections and using a unifying nomenclature by integrating the data gathered in our long-term project on the development, homologies and evolution of the muscles of all major vertebrate taxa. Our data indicate that there were many more muscle synapomorphic changes from the last common ancestor (LCA) of amniotes to the mammalian LCA (63) and from this LCA to the LCA of extant therians (48) than from this latter LCA to the LCA of extant placentals (10 or 11). Importantly, Didelphis is anatomically more plesiomorphic (only 14 changes from LCA of extant therians) than are rats (37 changes) and humans (63 changes), but its musculature is more complex (193 muscles) than that of humans (only 180 muscles). Of the 194 muscles of Didelphis, 172 (89%) are present in rats, meaning that their adult muscle anatomy is indeed very similar. This similarity supports the existence of a common, easy recognizable therian Bauplan, but one that is caused by developmental constraints and by evolutionary change driven by the needs of the embryos/neonates, rather than by a ‘goal' towards a specific adult plan/‘archetype,' as the name Bauplan suggests.
Published:
May 31, 2016
Title:
Effects of sugar and fat consumption on sweet and fat taste
Authors:
Keast, Russell SJ
Abstract:
Excessive consumption of fat and sugar is associated with development of diet related diseases. While there are multiple factors involved with overconsumption of sweet and fatty foods, the taste system is responsible for identifying sugars and fats in foods, and in this way inform consumption of potential foods. Published research linking sweet taste and sugar consumption is limited and conflicting with one recent dietary intervention supporting a link between sweet taste and sugar consumption. Fat taste is an emerging area of interest, and recent research illustrates a direct link with high-fat diet increasing fat taste thresholds while low-fat diets decrease fat taste thresholds.
Published:
May 31, 2016
Title:
Links between Evolution, Development, Human Anatomy, Pathology, and Medicine, with A Proposition of A Re-defined Anatomical Position and Notes on Constraints and Morphological " Imperfections "
Authors:
Diogo, Rui; Molnar, Julia
Abstract:
Surprisingly the oldest formal discipline in medicine (anatomy) has not yet felt the full impact of evolutionary developmental biology. In medical anatomy courses and textbooks, the human body is still too often described as though it is a " perfect machine. " In fact, the study of human anatomy predates evolutionary theory; therefore, many of its conventions continue to be outdated, making it difficult to study, understand, and treat the human body, and to compare it with that of other, nonbipedal animals, including other primates. Moreover, such an erroneous view of our anatomy as " perfect " can be used to fuel nonevolutionary ideologies such as intelligent design. In the section An Evolutionary and Developmental Approach to Human Anatomical Position of this paper, we propose the redefinition of the " human standard anatomical position " used in textbooks to be consistent with human evolutionary and developmental history. This redefined position also simplifies , for students and practitioners of the health professions, the study and learning of embry-onic muscle groups (each group including muscles derived from the same/ontogenetically closely related primordium/primordia) and joint movements and highlights the topological correspondence between the upper and lower limbs. Section Evolutionary and Developmental Constraints, " Imperfections " and Sports Pathologies continues the theme by describing examples of apparently " illogical " characteristics of the human body that only make sense when one understands the developmental and evolutionary constraints that have accumulated over millions of years. We focus, in particular, on musculoskeletal functional problems and sports pathologies to emphasize the links with pathology and medicine. These examples demonstrate how incorporating evolutionary theory into anatomy education can be helpful for medical students, teachers, researchers, and physicians, as well as for anatomists, functional morphologists, and evolutionary and developmental biologists. How to cite this article: Diogo R, Molnar J, 2016. Links between evolution, development, human anatomy, pathology, and medicine, with a proposition of a redefined anatomical position and notes on constraints and morphological " imperfections ". J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) XXXX:1–10.
Published:
May 31, 2016
Title:
Sclerochronological analysis of archaeological mollusc assemblages: methods, applications and future prospects
Authors:
Twaddle, Robin W.; Ulm, Sean; Hinton, Jane; Wurster, Christopher M.; Bird, Michael I.
Abstract:
Accreting skeletal tissues found in bone, teeth, otoliths and molluscan shell act as sensitive recorders of local environmental and climatic conditions. Owing to their robust nature, ubiquity and abundance in the archaeological record as well as the potential for high-resolution data acquisition, the accreting skeletal tissues of archaeological molluscs are increasingly employed as palaeoenvironmental proxies. Researchers have chiefly utilised such proxies to extend instrumental records of environmental conditions through palaeoenvironmental reconstruction and explore the impact of environmental and climatic change on human populations. However, the use of environmental proxies from the archaeological record can be hampered by a number of methodological challenges including inadequate sampling strategies, appropriate calibration, the use of inappropriate proxies and the broad extrapolation of localised results. This paper reviews the use of molluscan shell from archaeological contexts as palaeoenvironmental proxies. We focus on the application of sclerochronology—a suite of high-resolution physical and geochemical data recovery methods widely used in conjunction with molluscan shell. This paper presents an overview of the potential of these techniques in approaching more nuanced understandings of human-environment interactions and how they can be more successfully incorporated into archaeological research.
Published:
May 31, 2016
Title:
Using social media to promote controversial diets: The low-carb high fat diet (LCHF) in Sweden
Authors:
Holmberg, Christopher
Abstract:
Purpose: Social media plays a growing role in our attitudes towards diets and health behaviors. The aim of this study was to investigate how three influential promoters of the low-carb high fat (LCHF) diet, a buzz diet in Sweden, transact their criticisms of nutrition authorities, and how they utilize social media (i.e. blogs) for their purpose. Methods: Materials published on the three blogs between 2004 and 2015 was analyzed using a theory-driven qualitative thematic analysis. Information included presentation texts (e.g., “About” sections) and blog postings (including comments from users). A theoretical framework of postmodern medical paradigm, science popularization, and spreadability theory guided the analysis in order to scrutinize and report patterns identified in the material. Results: The promoters use their personal experiences as successful examples when promoting the food regime. They advocate users’ dissemination of anecdotal evidence and use social media to form communities and share individual success stories. These subjective and emotional stories perpetuate the diet’s believability. As LCHF promoters have been criticized for using subjective evidence, new online scientific initiatives have also been started, such as crowdfunding initiatives to sponsor well-designed nutrition studies that would reinforce individual testimonies with credible research. By highlighting attributes associated with trustworthiness, all three LCHF promoters make extensive use of professional titles and university degrees on their blogs when presenting themselves to the public. In order to question conventional science, they need to construct their own authority. With credentials accepted in the two worlds, they are able to act as mediators between established science institutions and laymen. Conclusions: Using social media, evidence of scientific research can be contrasted with the immediate experiences of individual LCHF dieters. The individual truths presented on the blogs are each rendered as valid and this is enhanced by the postmodern notion of relativism—that there are numerous meanings and ways of knowing. In the digital age, information is found based on availability rather than accuracy. If interest groups start blogs that attack peer-reviewed science, and the scientific community does not engage in similar communication mode, they will miss an important opportunity to educate the public.
Published:
May 31, 2016
Title:
Vegetarian dietary patterns and the risk of breast cancer in a low-risk population
Authors:
Penniecook-Sawyers, Jason A.; Jaceldo-Siegl, Karen; Fan, Jing; Beeson, Larry; Knutsen, Synnove; Herring, Patti; Fraser, Gary E.
Abstract:
Among cancers in American women, breast cancer (BC) has the second highest incidence and mortality. The association of BC with diet has been inconsistent. Studies that evaluate associations with dietary patterns are less common and reflect an individual's whole diet. We associated dietary patterns with the risk of BC in American women of the Adventist Health Study-2 (AHS-2), a prospective cohort of 96 001 subjects recruited between 2002 and 2007. Answers to a previously validated FFQ were used to classify subjects to vegan, lacto-ovo-vegetarian, pesco-vegetarian, semi-vegetarian and non-vegetarian dietary patterns. Incident BC were identified by matching AHS-2 subjects to data from forty-eight state cancer registries. Statistical analyses used proportional hazard regression analyses with covariates that were chosen a priori. From 50 404 female participants (26 193 vegetarians), we identified 892 incident BC cases, with 478 cases among vegetarians. As compared with non-vegetarians, all vegetarians combined did not have a significantly lower risk (hazard ratio (HR) 0·97; CI 0·84, 1·11; P=0·64). However, vegans showed consistently lower (but non-significant) point estimates when compared with non-vegetarians (all cases: HR 0·78; CI 0·58, 1·05; P=0·09). In summary, participants in this cohort who follow a vegetarian dietary pattern did not experience a lower risk of BC as compared with non-vegetarians, although lower risk in vegans is possible. These findings add to the very limited literature associating vegetarian diets with BC risk and can assist nutritionists when evaluating the impact of these diets. The findings will also motivate further evaluation of vegan diets and their special characteristics.
Published:
May 27, 2016
Title:
A Shocking Find in a Neanderthal Cave in France
Authors:
Yong, Ed
Abstract:
A rock structure, built deep underground, is one of the earliest hominin constructions ever found.
Published:
May 24, 2016
Title:
Postprandial lymphatic pump function after a high-fat meal: a characterization of contractility, flow, and viscosity
Authors:
Kassis, Timothy; Yarlagadda, Sri Charan; Kohan, Alison B.; Tso, Patrick; Breedveld, Victor; Dixon, J. Brandon
Abstract:
Dietary lipids are transported from the intestine through contractile lymphatics. Chronic lipid loads can adversely affect lymphatic function. However, the acute lymphatic pump response in the mesentery to a postprandial lipid meal has gone unexplored. In this study, we used the rat mesenteric collecting vessel as an in vivo model to quantify the effect of lipoproteins on vessel function. Lipid load was continuously monitored by using the intensity of a fluorescent fatty-acid analog, which we infused along with a fat emulsion through a duodenal cannula. The vessel contractility was simultaneously quantified. We demonstrated for the first time that collecting lymphatic vessels respond to an acute lipid load by reducing pump function. High lipid levels decreased contraction frequency and amplitude. We also showed a strong tonic response through a reduction in the end-diastolic and systolic diameters. We further characterized the changes in flow rate and viscosity and showed that both increase postprandially. In addition, shear-mediated Ca2+ signaling in lymphatic endothelial cells differed when cultured with lipoproteins. Together these results show that the in vivo response could be both shear and lipid mediated and provide the first evidence that high postprandial lipid has an immediate negative effect on lymphatic function even in the acute setting.
Published:
May 14, 2016
Title:
Postprandial lymphatic pump function after a high-fat meal: a characterization of contractility, flow, and viscosity
Authors:
Kassis, Timothy; Yarlagadda, Sri Charan; Kohan, Alison B.; Tso, Patrick; Breedveld, Victor; Dixon, J. Brandon
Abstract:
Dietary lipids are transported from the intestine through contractile lymphatics. Chronic lipid loads can adversely affect lymphatic function. However, the acute lymphatic pump response in the mesentery to a postprandial lipid meal has gone unexplored. In this study, we used the rat mesenteric collecting vessel as an in vivo model to quantify the effect of lipoproteins on vessel function. Lipid load was continuously monitored by using the intensity of a fluorescent fatty-acid analog, which we infused along with a fat emulsion through a duodenal cannula. The vessel contractility was simultaneously quantified. We demonstrated for the first time that collecting lymphatic vessels respond to an acute lipid load by reducing pump function. High lipid levels decreased contraction frequency and amplitude. We also showed a strong tonic response through a reduction in the end-diastolic and systolic diameters. We further characterized the changes in flow rate and viscosity and showed that both increase postprandially. In addition, shear-mediated Ca2+ signaling in lymphatic endothelial cells differed when cultured with lipoproteins. Together these results show that the in vivo response could be both shear and lipid mediated and provide the first evidence that high postprandial lipid has an immediate negative effect on lymphatic function even in the acute setting.
Published:
May 14, 2016
Title:
Prolonged Intake of Dietary Lipids Alters Membrane Structure and T Cell Responses in LDLr −/− Mice
Authors:
Pollock, Abigail H.; Tedla, Nicodemus; Hancock, Sarah E.; Cornely, Rhea; Mitchell, Todd W.; Yang, Zhengmin; Kockx, Maaike; Parton, Robert G.; Rossy, Jérémie; Gaus, Katharina
Abstract:
Published:
May 14, 2016
Title:
An Old Idea, Revived: Starve Cancer to Death
Authors:
Apple, Sam
Abstract:
In the early 20th century, the German biochemist Otto Warburg believed that tumors could be treated by disrupting their source of energy. His idea was dismissed for decades — until now.
Published:
May 11, 2016
Title:
Could Advanced Glycation End Products Explain the Poor Response to Controlled Ovarian Hyperstimulation in Obese Women?
Authors:
Zhang, John J.; Merhi, Zaher
Abstract:
Obesity is clearly becoming a worldwide pandemic and is now considered a disease that recent data have shown it affects more than one third of the adult population in the United States.
Published:
May 5, 2016
Title:
Mediterranean versus vegetarian diet for cardiovascular disease prevention (the CARDIVEG study): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors:
Sofi, Francesco; Dinu, Monica; Pagliai, Giuditta; Cesari, Francesca; Marcucci, Rossella; Casini, Alessandro
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Nutrition is able to alter the cardiovascular health of the general population. However, the optimal dietary strategy for cardiovascular disease prevention is still far from being defined. Mediterranean and vegetarian diets are those reporting the greatest grade of evidence in the literature, but no experimental studies comparing these two dietary patterns are available. METHODS/DESIGN: This is an open randomized crossover clinical trial including healthy subjects with a low-to-medium cardiovascular risk profile, characterized by being overweight and by the presence of at least an additional metabolic risk factor (abdominal obesity, high total cholesterol, high LDL cholesterol, high triglycerides, impaired glucose fasting levels) but free from medications. A total of 100 subjects will be included and randomly assigned to two groups: Mediterranean calorie-restricted diet (n = 50) and vegetarian calorie-restricted diet (n = 50). The intervention phases will last 3 months each, and at the end of intervention phase I the groups will be crossed over. The two diets will be isocaloric and of three different sizes (1400 - 1600 - 1800 kcal/day), according to specific energy requirements. Adherence to the dietary intervention will be established through questionnaires and 24-h dietary recall. Anthropometric measurements, body composition, blood samples and stool samples will be obtained from each participant at the beginning and at the end of each intervention phase. The primary outcome measure will be change in weight from baseline. The secondary outcome measures will be variations of anthropometric and bioelectrical impedance variables as well as traditional and innovative cardiovascular biomarkers. DISCUSSION: Despite all the data supporting the efficacy of Mediterranean and vegetarian diets on the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, no studies have directly compared these two dietary profiles. The trial will test whether there are statistically significant differences between these dietary profiles in reducing the cardiovascular risk burden for the general population. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02641834.
Published:
May 3, 2016
Title:
Major correlates of male height: A study of 105 countries
Authors:
Grasgruber, P.; Sebera, M.; Hrazdíra, E.; Cacek, J.; Kalina, T.
Abstract:
The purpose of this study is to explore the main correlates of male height in 105 countries in Europe & overseas, Asia, North Africa and Oceania. Actual data on male height are compared with the average consumption of 28 protein sources (FAOSTAT, 1993–2009) and seven socioeconomic indicators (according to the World Bank, the CIA World Factbook and the United Nations). This comparison identified three fundamental types of diets based on rice, wheat and milk, respectively. The consumption of rice dominates in tropical Asia, where it is accompanied by very low total protein and energy intake, and one of the shortest statures in the world (∼162–168cm). Wheat prevails in Muslim countries in North Africa and the Near East, which is where we also observe the highest plant protein consumption in the world and moderately tall statures that do not exceed 174cm. In taller nations, the intake of protein and energy no longer fundamentally rises, but the consumption of plant proteins markedly decreases at the expense of animal proteins, especially those from dairy. Their highest consumption rates can be found in Northern and Central Europe, with the global peak of male height in the Netherlands (184cm). In general, when only the complete data from 72 countries were considered, the consumption of protein from the five most correlated foods (r=0.85) and the human development index (r=0.84) are most strongly associated with tall statures. A notable finding is the low consumption of the most correlated proteins in Muslim oil superpowers and highly developed countries of East Asia, which could explain their lagging behind Europe in terms of physical stature.
Published:
April 30, 2016
Title:
Role of Dietary Fructose and Hepatic De Novo Lipogenesis in Fatty Liver Disease
Authors:
Softic, Samir; Cohen, David E.; Kahn, C. Ronald
Abstract:
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a liver manifestation of metabolic syndrome. Overconsumption of high-fat diet (HFD) and increased intake of sugar-sweetened beverages are major risk factors for development of NAFLD. Today the most commonly consumed sugar is high fructose corn syrup. Hepatic lipids may be derived from dietary intake, esterification of plasma free fatty acids (FFA) or hepatic de novo lipogenesis (DNL). A central abnormality in NAFLD is enhanced DNL. Hepatic DNL is increased in individuals with NAFLD, while the contribution of dietary fat and plasma FFA to hepatic lipids is not significantly altered. The importance of DNL in NAFLD is further established in mouse studies with knockout of genes involved in this process. Dietary fructose increases levels of enzymes involved in DNL even more strongly than HFD. Several properties of fructose metabolism make it particularly lipogenic. Fructose is absorbed via portal vein and delivered to the liver in much higher concentrations as compared to other tissues. Fructose increases protein levels of all DNL enzymes during its conversion into triglycerides. Additionally, fructose supports lipogenesis in the setting of insulin resistance as fructose does not require insulin for its metabolism, and it directly stimulates SREBP1c, a major transcriptional regulator of DNL. Fructose also leads to ATP depletion and suppression of mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation, resulting in increased production of reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, fructose promotes ER stress and uric acid formation, additional insulin independent pathways leading to DNL. In summary, fructose metabolism supports DNL more strongly than HFD and hepatic DNL is a central abnormality in NAFLD. Disrupting fructose metabolism in the liver may provide a new therapeutic option for the treatment of NAFLD.
Published:
April 30, 2016
Title:
Asprosin, a Fasting-Induced Glucogenic Protein Hormone
Authors:
Romere, Chase; Duerrschmid, Clemens; Bournat, Juan; Constable, Petra; Jain, Mahim; Xia, Fan; Saha, Pradip K.; Del Solar, Maria; Zhu, Bokai; York, Brian; Sarkar, Poonam; Rendon, David A.; Gaber, M. Waleed; LeMaire, Scott A.; Coselli, Joseph S.; Milewicz, Dianna M.; Sutton, V. Reid; Butte, Nancy F.; Moore, David D.; Chopra, Atul R.
Abstract:
Hepatic glucose release into the circulation is vital for brain function and survival during periods of fasting and is modulated by an array of hormones that precisely regulate plasma glucose levels. We have identified a fasting-induced protein hormone that modulates hepatic glucose release. It is the C-terminal cleavage product of profibrillin, and we name it Asprosin. Asprosin is secreted by white adipose, circulates at nanomolar levels, and is recruited to the liver, where it activates the G protein-cAMP-PKA pathway, resulting in rapid glucose release into the circulation. Humans and mice with insulin resistance show pathologically elevated plasma asprosin, and its loss of function via immunologic or genetic means has a profound glucose- and insulin-lowering effect secondary to reduced hepatic glucose release. Asprosin represents a glucogenic protein hormone, and therapeutically targeting it may be beneficial in type II diabetes and metabolic syndrome.,
Published:
April 20, 2016
Title:
Prostate epithelial cell of origin determines cancer differentiation state in an organoid transformation assay
Authors:
Park, Jung Wook; Lee, John K.; Phillips, John W.; Huang, Patrick; Cheng, Donghui; Huang, Jiaoti; Witte, Owen N.
Abstract:
This study demonstrates that both primary human basal and luminal epithelial cells are cells of origin for prostate cancer through the use of a prostate organoid culture system. This technology enables the monitoring of early stages of prostate tumorigenesis in vitro and the interrogation of human prostate epithelial populations with synonymous oncogenic stimuli. The combination of c-Myc overexpression and activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway drives high-grade prostate adenocarcinoma in basal cell-derived tumors; however, the same oncogenic stress causes low-grade prostate adenocarcinoma in luminal cell-derived tumors. These findings indicate inherent context-specific and lineage-dependent differences in the response of human prostate epithelial cells to oncogenic stimuli., The cell of origin for prostate cancer remains a subject of debate. Genetically engineered mouse models have demonstrated that both basal and luminal cells can serve as cells of origin for prostate cancer. Using a human prostate regeneration and transformation assay, our group previously demonstrated that basal cells can serve as efficient targets for transformation. Recently, a subpopulation of multipotent human luminal cells defined by CD26 expression that retains progenitor activity in a defined organoid culture was identified. We transduced primary human prostate basal and luminal cells with lentiviruses expressing c-Myc and activated AKT1 (myristoylated AKT1 or myrAKT1) to mimic the MYC amplification and PTEN loss commonly detected in human prostate cancer. These cells were propagated in organoid culture before being transplanted into immunodeficient mice. We found that c-Myc/myrAKT1–transduced luminal xenografts exhibited histological features of well-differentiated acinar adenocarcinoma, with strong androgen receptor (AR) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) expression. In contrast, c-Myc/myrAKT1–transduced basal xenografts were histologically more aggressive, with a loss of acinar structures and low/absent AR and PSA expression. Our findings imply that distinct subtypes of prostate cancer may arise from luminal and basal epithelial cell types subjected to the same oncogenic insults. This study provides a platform for the functional evaluation of oncogenes in basal and luminal epithelial populations of the human prostate. Tumors derived in this fashion with defined genetics can be used in the preclinical development of targeted therapeutics.
Published:
April 18, 2016
Title:
Effects of sardine-enriched diet on metabolic control, inflammation and gut microbiota in drug-naïve patients with type 2 diabetes: a pilot randomized trial
Authors:
Balfegó, Mariona; Canivell, Silvia; Hanzu, Felicia A.; Sala-Vila, Aleix; Martínez-Medina, Margarita; Murillo, Serafín; Mur, Teresa; Ruano, Elena G.; Linares, Francisca; Porras, Nuria; Valladares, Silvia; Fontalba, Maria; Roura, Elena; Novials, Anna; Hernández, Cristina; Aranda, Gloria; Sisó-Almirall, Antoni; Rojo-Martínez, Gemma; Simó, Rafael; Gomis, Ramon
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Nutrition therapy is the cornerstone of treating diabetes mellitus. The inclusion of fish (particularly oily fish) at least two times per week is recommended by current international dietary guidelines for type 2 diabetes. In contrast to a large number of human studies examining the effects of oily fish on different cardiovascular risk factors, little research on this topic is available in patients with type 2 diabetes. The aims of this pilot study were to investigate the effects of a sardine-enriched diet on metabolic control, adiponectin, inflammatory markers, erythrocyte membrane fatty acid (EMFA) composition, and gut microbiota in drug-naïve patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: 35 drug-naïve patients with type 2 diabetes were randomized to follow either a type 2 diabetes standard diet (control group: CG), or a standard diet enriched with 100 g of sardines 5 days a week (sardine group: SG) for 6 months. Anthropometric, dietary information, fasting glycated hemoglobin, glucose, insulin, adiponectin, inflammatory markers, EMFA and specific bacterial strains were determined before and after intervention. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in glycemic control between groups at the end of the study. Both groups decreased plasma insulin (SG: -35.3%, P = 0.01, CG: -22.6%, P = 0.02) and homeostasis model of assessment--insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (SG: -39.2%, P = 0.007, CG: -21.8%, P = 0.04) at 6-months from baseline. However only SG increased adiponectin in plasma compared to baseline level (+40.7%, P = 0.04). The omega-3 index increased 2.6% in the SG compared to 0.6% in the CG (P = 0.001). Both dietary interventions decreased phylum Firmicutes (SG and CG: P = 0.04) and increased E. coli concentrations (SG: P = 0.01, CG: P = 0.03) at the end of the study from baseline, whereas SG decreased Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio (P = 0.04) and increased Bacteroides-Prevotella (P = 0.004) compared to baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Although enriching diet with 100 g of sardines 5 days a week during 6 months to a type 2 diabetes standard diet seems to have neutral effects on glycemic control in drug-naïve patients with type 2 diabetes, this nutritional intervention could have beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk. Furthermore, both dietary interventions decreased HOMA-IR and altered gut microbiota composition of drug-naïve patients with type 2 diabetes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial number and name of the registry: NCT02294526, ClinicalTrials.gov.
Published:
April 17, 2016
Title:
Isolation, Detection, and Characterization of Enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis in Clinical Samples
Authors:
Fathi, Payam; Wu, Shaoguang
Abstract:
Bacteroides fragilis is an extensively studied anaerobic bacterium comprising the normal flora of the human gut. B. fragilis is known to be one of the most commonly isolated species from clinical samples and has been shown to cause a wide range of pathologies in humans [, ]. As an opportunistic pathogen B. fragilis can cause abscess formation and bacteremia []. Additionally in its enterotoxigenic form, B. fragilis is a known cause of diarrheal illness, is associated with inflammatory bowel disease, and has been recently characterized in patients with colon cancer [ - ]. As research in the field of the gut microbiome continues to expand at an ever increasing rate due to advances in the availability of next generation sequencing and analysis tools it is important to outline various molecular methods that can be employed in quickly detecting and isolating relevant strains of B. fragilis. This review outlines methods that are routinely employed in the isolation and detection of B. fragilis, with an emphasis on characterizing enterotoxigenic B. fragilis (ETBF) strains.
Published:
April 13, 2016
Title:
Re-evaluation of the traditional diet-heart hypothesis: analysis of recovered data from Minnesota Coronary Experiment (1968-73)
Authors:
Ramsden, Christopher E; Zamora, Daisy; Majchrzak-Hong, Sharon; Faurot, Keturah R; Broste, Steven K; Frantz, Robert P; Davis, John M; Ringel, Amit; Suchindran, Chirayath M; Hibbeln, Joseph R
Abstract:
Objective To examine the traditional diet-heart hypothesis through recovery and analysis of previously unpublished data from the Minnesota Coronary Experiment (MCE) and to put findings in the context of existing diet-heart randomized controlled trials through a systematic review and meta-analysis., Design The MCE (1968-73) is a double blind randomized controlled trial designed to test whether replacement of saturated fat with vegetable oil rich in linoleic acid reduces coronary heart disease and death by lowering serum cholesterol. Recovered MCE unpublished documents and raw data were analyzed according to hypotheses prespecified by original investigators. Further, a systematic review and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials that lowered serum cholesterol by providing vegetable oil rich in linoleic acid in place of saturated fat without confounding by concomitant interventions was conducted., Setting One nursing home and six state mental hospitals in Minnesota, United States., Participants Unpublished documents with completed analyses for the randomized cohort of 9423 women and men aged 20-97; longitudinal data on serum cholesterol for the 2355 participants exposed to the study diets for a year or more; 149 completed autopsy files., Interventions Serum cholesterol lowering diet that replaced saturated fat with linoleic acid (from corn oil and corn oil polyunsaturated margarine). Control diet was high in saturated fat from animal fats, common margarines, and shortenings., Main outcome measures Death from all causes; association between changes in serum cholesterol and death; and coronary atherosclerosis and myocardial infarcts detected at autopsy., Results The intervention group had significant reduction in serum cholesterol compared with controls (mean change from baseline −13.8% v −1.0%; P<0.001). Kaplan Meier graphs showed no mortality benefit for the intervention group in the full randomized cohort or for any prespecified subgroup. There was a 22% higher risk of death for each 30 mg/dL (0.78 mmol/L) reduction in serum cholesterol in covariate adjusted Cox regression models (hazard ratio 1.22, 95% confidence interval 1.14 to 1.32; P
Published:
April 11, 2016
Title:
Re-evaluation of the traditional diet-heart hypothesis: analysis of recovered data from Minnesota Coronary Experiment (1968-73)
Authors:
Ramsden, Christopher E.; Zamora, Daisy; Majchrzak-Hong, Sharon; Faurot, Keturah R.; Broste, Steven K.; Frantz, Robert P.; Davis, John M.; Ringel, Amit; Suchindran, Chirayath M.; Hibbeln, Joseph R.
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To examine the traditional diet-heart hypothesis through recovery and analysis of previously unpublished data from the Minnesota Coronary Experiment (MCE) and to put findings in the context of existing diet-heart randomized controlled trials through a systematic review and meta-analysis. DESIGN: The MCE (1968-73) is a double blind randomized controlled trial designed to test whether replacement of saturated fat with vegetable oil rich in linoleic acid reduces coronary heart disease and death by lowering serum cholesterol. Recovered MCE unpublished documents and raw data were analyzed according to hypotheses prespecified by original investigators. Further, a systematic review and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials that lowered serum cholesterol by providing vegetable oil rich in linoleic acid in place of saturated fat without confounding by concomitant interventions was conducted. SETTING: One nursing home and six state mental hospitals in Minnesota, United States. PARTICIPANTS: Unpublished documents with completed analyses for the randomized cohort of 9423 women and men aged 20-97; longitudinal data on serum cholesterol for the 2355 participants exposed to the study diets for a year or more; 149 completed autopsy files. INTERVENTIONS: Serum cholesterol lowering diet that replaced saturated fat with linoleic acid (from corn oil and corn oil polyunsaturated margarine). Control diet was high in saturated fat from animal fats, common margarines, and shortenings. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Death from all causes; association between changes in serum cholesterol and death; and coronary atherosclerosis and myocardial infarcts detected at autopsy. RESULTS: The intervention group had significant reduction in serum cholesterol compared with controls (mean change from baseline -13.8%v-1.0%; P<0.001). Kaplan Meier graphs showed no mortality benefit for the intervention group in the full randomized cohort or for any prespecified subgroup. There was a 22% higher risk of death for each 30 mg/dL (0.78 mmol/L) reduction in serum cholesterol in covariate adjusted Cox regression models (hazard ratio 1.22, 95% confidence interval 1.14 to 1.32; P
Published:
April 11, 2016
Title:
Re-evaluation of the traditional diet-heart hypothesis: analysis of recovered data from Minnesota Coronary Experiment (1968-73)
Authors:
Ramsden, Christopher E; Zamora, Daisy; Majchrzak-Hong, Sharon; Faurot, Keturah R; Broste, Steven K; Frantz, Robert P; Davis, John M; Ringel, Amit; Suchindran, Chirayath M; Hibbeln, Joseph R
Abstract:
Published:
April 11, 2016
Title:
The endothelial glycocalyx and its disruption, protection and regeneration: a narrative review
Authors:
Schött, Ulf; Solomon, Cristina; Fries, Dietmar; Bentzer, Peter
Abstract:
The glycocalyx is a carbohydrate-rich layer that lines the luminal side of the vascular endothelium. Its soluble components exist in a dynamic equilibrium with the bloodstream and play an important role in maintaining endothelial layer integrity. However, the glycocalyx can be easily damaged and is extremely vulnerable to insults from a variety of sources, including inflammation, trauma, haemorrhagic shock, hypovolemia and ischaemia-reperfusion. Damage to the glycocalyx commonly precedes further damage to the vascular endothelium. Preclinical research has identified a number of different factors capable of protecting or regenerating the glycocalyx. Initial investigations suggest that plasma may convey protective and regenerative effects. However, it remains unclear which exact components or properties of plasma are responsible for this protective effect. Studies have reported protective effects for several plasma proteins individually, including antithrombin, orosomucoid and albumin; the latter of which may be of particular interest, due to the high levels of albumin present in plasma. A further possibility is that plasma is simply a better intravascular volume expander than other resuscitation fluids. It has also been proposed that the protective effects are mediated indirectly via plasma resuscitation-induced changes in gene expression. Further work is needed to determine the importance of specific plasma proteins or other factors for glycocalyx protection, particularly in a clinical setting.
Published:
April 11, 2016
Title:
N-Myc Drives Neuroendocrine Prostate Cancer Initiated from Human Prostate Epithelial Cells
Authors:
Lee, John K.; Phillips, John W.; Smith, Bryan A.; Park, Jung Wook; Stoyanova, Tanya; McCaffrey, Erin F.; Baertsch, Robert; Sokolov, Artem; Meyerowitz, Justin G.; Mathis, Colleen; Cheng, Donghui; Stuart, Joshua M.; Shokat, Kevan M.; Gustafson, W. Clay; Huang, Jiaoti; Witte, Owen N.
Abstract:
Summary MYCN amplification and overexpression are common in neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC). However, the impact of aberrant N-Myc expression in prostate tumorigenesis and the cellular origin of NEPC have not been established. We define N-Myc and activated AKT1 as oncogenic components sufficient to transform human prostate epithelial cells to prostate adenocarcinoma and NEPC with phenotypic and molecular features of aggressive, late-stage human disease. We directly show that prostate adenocarcinoma and NEPC can arise from a common epithelial clone. Further, N-Myc is required for tumor maintenance, and destabilization of N-Myc through Aurora A kinase inhibition reduces tumor burden. Our findings establish N-Myc as a driver of NEPC and a target for therapeutic intervention.
Published:
April 10, 2016
Title:
The sugar conspiracy | Ian Leslie
Authors:
Leslie, Ian
Abstract:
The Long Read: In 1972, a British scientist sounded the alarm that sugar – and not fat – was the greatest danger to our health. But his findings were ridiculed and his reputation ruined. How did the world’s top nutrition scientists get it so wrong for so long?
Published:
April 6, 2016
Title:
How did the Qesem Cave people use their teeth? Analysis of dental wear patterns
Authors:
Sarig, Rachel; Gopher, Avi; Barkai, Ran; Rosell, Jordi; Blasco, Ruth; Weber, Gerhard W.; Fornai, Cinzia; Sella-Tunis, Tatiana; Hershkovitz, Israel
Abstract:
Dental wear pattern is an important source of information regarding dietary habits, food preparation, and human economic behavior. In the current study we present our preliminary analysis of the dental wear patterns of the Middle Pleistocene (420–200 kya) Qesem Cave teeth. Five types of tooth wear were studied: Occlusal wear, interproximal wear, subvertical grooves, buccal microwear and root striations. We found mild to moderate occlusal wear (stage range 2–4), the largest proximal facet on the M2 medial was 15.3 mm2, presence of three subvertical grooves on the M2 distal surface, a variety of microwear scratches (many are >200 mμ long and >5 mμ wide) and two types of root striations. The data obtained suggests that the Qesem Cave people possessed a strong masticatory system producing massive anterior component of force, and used small flints as food choppers.
Published:
April 3, 2016
Title:
How did the Qesem Cave people use their teeth? Analysis of dental wear patterns
Authors:
Sarig, Rachel; Gopher, Avi; Barkai, Ran; Rosell Ardèvol, Jordi; Blasco, Ruth; Weber, Gerhard; Fornai, Cinzia; Sella-Tunis, Tatiana; Hershkovitz, Israel
Abstract:
Dental wear pattern is an important source of information regarding dietary habits, food preparation, and human economic behavior. In the current study we present our preliminary analysis of the dental wear patterns of the Middle Pleistocene (420-200 kya) Qesem Cave teeth. Five types of tooth wear were studied: Occlusal wear, interproximal wear, subvertical grooves, buccal microwear and root striations. We found mild to moderate occlusal wear (stage range 2-4), the largest proximal facet on the M2 medial was 15.3 mm2, presence of three subvertical grooves on the M2 distal surface, a variety of microwear scratches (many are >200 mμ long and >5 mμ wide) and two types of root striations. The data obtained suggests that the Qesem Cave people possessed a strong masticatory system producing massive anterior component of force, and used small flints as food choppers.
Published:
March 31, 2016
Title:
Incorporating Cultural Perspectives into Diabetes Self-Management Programs for East Asian Immigrants: A Mixed-Study Review
Authors:
Park, Chorong; Nam, Soohyun; Whittemore, Robin
Abstract:
It is important to understand East Asian immigrants (EAIs)’ unique perspectives in managing diabetes in order to provide culturally-competent care. However, it is not known whether EAIs’ perspectives are addressed in diabetes self-management interventions developed for EAIs. Therefore, a mixed-study review was conducted to identify EAIs’ perspective from qualitative research (n = 9 studies) and to evaluate the components of EAI diabetes self-management interventions (n = 7). Themes from the qualitative synthesis demonstrated that EAIs have unique cultural values and traditional health beliefs while struggling with multi-contextual barriers due to immigration. The evaluation of EAI diabetes self-management interventions revealed that there was a lack of consensus on cultural strategies for EAIs’ across the interventions. Addressing language barriers was the only factor consistently integrated in the cultural components of intervention by employing bilingual interventionists. EAIs’ perspectives and experiences need to be incorporated in the future diabetes self-management interventions to better provide culturally-competent care.
Published:
March 31, 2016
Title:
Sa1987 Effects on Symptoms and on Nutritional Adequacy of a Low FODMAPs Diet and Specific Carbohydrate Diet on Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Double Blind and Randomized Study. Preliminary Result
Authors:
Vincenzi, Massimo; Paolini, Barbara; Ciondolo, Irene Del; Pasquini, Elisa; Ceccarelli, Lucia; Gennai, Katia; Cardinali, Francesca
Abstract:
Published:
March 31, 2016
Title:
Selenoproteins: Antioxidant selenoenzymes and beyond
Authors:
Steinbrenner, Holger; Speckmann, Bodo; Klotz, Lars-Oliver
Abstract:
Adequate intake of the essential trace element and micronutrient selenium is thought to be beneficial for maintaining human health. Selenium may modulate a broad spectrum of key biological processes, including the cellular response to oxidative stress, redox signalling, cellular differentiation, the immune response, and protein folding. Biochemical and cellular effects of selenium are achieved through activities of selenocysteine-containing selenoproteins. This small yet essential group comprises proteins encoded by 25 genes in humans, e.g. oxidoreductases such as glutathione peroxidases (GPx) and thioredoxin reductases (TrxR), as well as the iodothyronine deiodinases (DIO) and the plasma selenium transport protein, selenoprotein P (SePP1). Synthetic selenoorganic compounds, including the GPx mimetic ebselen, have also been applied in biological systems in vitro and in vivo; antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions of ebselen and its history as a drug candidate are summarised here. Furthermore, we discuss several aspects of selenoprotein biochemistry, ranging from their well-known importance for cellular protection against oxidative damage to more recent data that link selenoprotein expression/activity to enterocyte and adipocyte differentiation and function and to (dys)regulation of insulin action and secretion.
Published:
March 31, 2016
Title:
What happens around a fire: Faunal processing sequences and spatial distribution at Qesem Cave (300 ka), Israel
Authors:
Blasco, Ruth; Rosell Ardèvol, Jordi; Die, Pablo; Gopher, Avi; Barkai, Ran
Abstract:
The technological innovation involving the controlled use of fire represents a decisive change in human subsistence. Hearths and the spatial distribution patterns associated with them constitute a valuable element in deepening our knowledge on human behaviour and its evolution. Studies focused on hearths and on the use of fire in general are diverse and carried out through different perspectives. Thus, hearths are studied for their meaning in terms of diet, caloric and light capacity and spatial organisation as well as for their role as communication and socialization focal points. The site of Qesem Cave (Israel) shows evidence of the controlled use of fire as early as 400 ka, judging by the burned bones from the lowest units of the stratigraphic sequence. A particular superimposed central hearth that was repeatedly used as a focus for human activities ca. 300 ka is the topic of this study. This succession of hearths at the same location in the cave yields dense faunal and lithic remains as well as evidence for spatial differentiation between areas. Here, we present faunal taphonomical data from this specific archaeological context, which includes not only the hearth area (approximately 4 m2) but also the surrounding areas (approximately 11 m2). The most common prey species is the Mesopotamian fallow deer (Dama cf. mesopotamica), which displays a wide age range and a biased anatomical profile including mainly marrow-rich bones such as long-limb bones. These characteristics, especially those regarding the relative abundance of infantile and young fallow deer, lead us to propose that social hunting techniques were practised following a seasonal regime. This paper provides data on human subsistence behaviour during the formation of the hearth and the archaeological unit around it, comparing the two from a taphonomical perspective. Elements such as size (length) of bone fragments and intensity of burning are spatially plotted to show differential space division. All these data are considered in the reconstruction of subsistence strategies and hominin behaviour in the Acheulo-Yabrudian Cultural Complex in the Levant.
Published:
March 31, 2016
Title:
The relationship between serum cholesterol and verbal memory may be influenced by body mass index (BMI) in young healthy women
Authors:
Gergely, Darnai; Plózer, Enikő; Altbacker, Anna; Perlaki, Gabor; Orsi, Gergely; Koszegi, Tamas; Nagy, Szilvia; Lucza, Tivadar; Kovács, Norbert; Janszky, József; Clemens, Zsofia
Abstract:
The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between verbal memory and total cholesterol (TC) levels related to body mass index (BMI) in healthy young women. Verbal memory was assessed using the Rey Auditory-Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) while total serum cholesterol was measured by enzymatic colorimetric test. In order to analyze the potential significance of BMI subjects were divided into three groups according to their calculated BMI percentile values. No significant correlation was found when assessing the group as a whole. However a remarkable pattern of correlation emerged when assessing the BMI groups separately: a close-to-significant positive correlation was found for total learning score and TC in the low BMI group, no correlation emerged in the medium BMI group while a strong inverse correlation was found in the high BMI group. These findings indicate that the relationship between verbal memory and serum TC level is also influenced by BMI.
Published:
March 29, 2016
Title:
Neanderthal occupational patterns in the North of the Iberian Peninsula: a preliminary approach to Cueva Morín (Cantabria) and Cova de les Teixoneres (Barcelona)
Authors:
Sánchez-Hernández, Carlos; Rivals, Florent; Blasco, Ruth; Rosell Ardèvol, Jordi
Abstract:
The environmental conditions during the Upper Pleistocene in Europe is characterized by high climatic fluctuations. This is known to influence the behavioural and ecological patterns of faunal communities. Neanderthal behavioural patterns are influenced too by numerous factors, including the stability of the resources to which they have access. Therefore the habits of their prey mainly (ungulates) influence directly Neanderthals behavioural and occupational patterns. The reconstruction of prey’s paleodiet is crucial to identify if the specific features of each area affected Neanderthal behaviour. Paleodiet of ungulates is reconstructed using tooth wear methods (nondestructive proxies). They are referring to two techniques that provide information about dietary traits in ungulates due to the fact they correspond to different temporal scales (Fortelius and Solounias, 2000, Solounias and Semprebon, 2002, Sánchez-Hernández, et al., in press). Microwear which is based in a short period of accumulative wear (hours/days), reflects the last feeding traits in the animal life. On the other hand mesowear that is based in a longer period (months), reflects the accumulative wear through the last seasons of the animal life. The combined use of these methods allows to observe the specific occupational patterns at each site (Rivals, et al., 2015). The objectives are (1) to detect seasonal events of Neanderthals occupation at each site and (2) to estimate the duration of these occupations at two Middle Palaeolithic sites. We selected and compared two different areas in the Iberian Peninsula: Cueva Morín (Cantabrian area) and Cova de les Teixoneres (Mediterranean area) where tooth wear patterns allowed the identification of seasonal and long-term patterns.
Published:
March 28, 2016
Title:
Impact of meat and Lower Palaeolithic food processing techniques on chewing in humans
Authors:
Zink, Katherine D.; Lieberman, Daniel E.
Abstract:
The origins of the genus Homo are murky, but by H. erectus, bigger brains and bodies had evolved that, along with larger foraging ranges, would have increased the daily energetic requirements of hominins. Yet H. erectus differs from earlier hominins in having relatively smaller teeth, reduced chewing muscles, weaker maximum bite force capabilities, and a relatively smaller gut. This paradoxical combination of increased energy demands along with decreased masticatory and digestive capacities is hypothesized to have been made possible by adding meat to the diet, by mechanically processing food using stone tools, or by cooking. Cooking, however, was apparently uncommon until 500,000 years ago, and the effects of carnivory and Palaeolithic processing techniques on mastication are unknown. Here we report experiments that tested how Lower Palaeolithic processing technologies affect chewing force production and efficacy in humans consuming meat and underground storage organs (USOs). We find that if meat comprised one-third of the diet, the number of chewing cycles per year would have declined by nearly 2 million (a 13% reduction) and total masticatory force required would have declined by 15%. Furthermore, by simply slicing meat and pounding USOs, hominins would have improved their ability to chew meat into smaller particles by 41%, reduced the number of chews per year by another 5%, and decreased masticatory force requirements by an additional 12%. Although cooking has important benefits, it appears that selection for smaller masticatory features in Homo would have been initially made possible by the combination of using stone tools and eating meat.
Published:
March 23, 2016
Title:
Secret talk between adipose tissue and central nervous system via secreted factors—an emerging frontier in the neurodegenerative research
Authors:
Parimisetty, Avinash; Dorsemans, Anne-Claire; Awada, Rana; Ravanan, Palaniyandi; Diotel, Nicolas; Lefebvre d’Hellencourt, Christian
Abstract:
First seen as a storage organ, the white adipose tissue (WAT) is now considered as an endocrine organ. WAT can produce an array of bioactive factors known as adipokines acting at physiological level and playing a vital role in energy metabolism as well as in immune response. The global effect of adipokines in metabolic activities is well established, but their impact on the physiology and the pathophysiology of the central nervous system (CNS) remains poorly defined. Adipokines are not only produced by the WAT but can also be expressed in the CNS where receptors for these factors are present. When produced in periphery and to affect the CNS, these factors may either cross the blood brain barrier (BBB) or modify the BBB physiology by acting on cells forming the BBB. Adipokines could regulate neuroinflammation and oxidative stress which are two major physiological processes involved in neurodegeneration and are associated with many chronic neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we focus on four important adipokines (leptin, resistin, adiponectin, and TNFα) and one lipokine (lysophosphatidic acid—LPA) associated with autotaxin, its producing enzyme. Their potential effects on neurodegeneration and brain repair (neurogenesis) will be discussed. Understanding and regulating these adipokines could be an interesting lead to novel therapeutic strategy in order to counteract neurodegenerative disorders and/or promote brain repair.
Published:
March 23, 2016
Title:
Lifestyle Intervention for Weight Loss: a group-based program for Emiratis in Ajman, United Arab Emirates
Authors:
Sadiya, Amena; Abdi, Sarah; Abusnana, Salah
Abstract:
Background Lifestyle Intervention for Weight Loss (LIFE-8) is developed as a structured, group-based weight management program for Emiratis with obesity and type 2 diabetes. It is a 3-month program followed by a 1-year follow-up. The results from the first 2 years are presented here to indicate the possibility of its further adaptation and implementation in this region. Methodology We recruited 45 participants with obesity and/or type 2 diabetes based on inclusion/exclusion criteria. The LIFE-8 program was executed by incorporating dietary modification, physical activity, and behavioral therapy, aiming to achieve up to 5% weight loss. The outcomes included body weight, fat mass, waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose (FBG), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and nutritional knowledge at 3 months and 12 months. Results We observed a reduction of 5.0% in body weight (4.8±2.8 kg; 95% CI 3.7–5.8), fat mass (−7.8%, P<0.01), and waist circumference (Δ=4±4 cm, P<0.01) in the completed participants (n=28). An improvement (P<0.05) in HbA1c (7.1%±1.0% vs 6.6%±0.7%) and FBG (8.2±2.0 mmol/L vs 6.8±0.8 mmol/L) was observed in participants with obesity and type 2 diabetes after the program. Increase in nutritional knowledge (<0.01) and overall evaluation of the program (9/10) was favorable. On 1-year follow-up, we found that the participants could sustain weight loss (−4.0%), while obese, type 2 diabetic participants sustained HbA1c (6.6%±0.7% vs 6.4%±0.7%) and further improved (P
Published:
March 17, 2016
Title:
Time to RE-AIM: Why Community Weight Loss Programs Should Be Included in Academic Obesity Research
Authors:
Mitchell, Nia S.; Prochazka, Allan V.; Glasgow, Russell E.
Abstract:
Despite decades of efficacy-based research on weight loss interventions, the obesity epidemic in the United States persists, especially in underserved populations. We used the RE-AIM (Reach, Efficacy/Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance) framework to describe the limitations of the current paradigm of efficacy-based research for weight loss interventions. We also used RE-AIM to propose that existing weight loss interventions (community-based programs) such as Jenny Craig, Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS), and Weight Watchers be studied to supplement the efficacy-based research approaches to achieve population-level impact on obesity.
Published:
March 16, 2016
Title:
Wild Harvest: Plants in the Hominin and Pre-Agrarian Human Worlds.
Authors:
Hardy, Karen; Kubiak-Martens, Lucy
Abstract:
Plants are fundamental to life; they are used by all human groups and most animals. They provide raw materials, essential nutrients and vitamins and we could not survive without them. Yet access to plant use before the Neolithic can be challenging. In some places, plant remains rarely survive and reconstructing plant use in pre-agrarian contexts needs to be conducted using a range of different techniques. This lack of visible evidence has led to plants being undervalued, both in terms of their contribution to diet and as raw materials. This book outlines why the role of plants is required for a better understanding of hominin and pre-agrarian human life, and it offers a variety of ways in which this can be achieved. Wild Harvest is divided into three parts. In part 1 five chapters focuses on different aspects of plant use; this covers the role of carbohydrates, the need for and effects of processing methods, the role of plants in self-medication among apes, plants as raw materials and the extent of evidence for plant use prior to the development of agriculture in the Near East. Part 2 comprises seven chapters which cover different methods available to obtain information on plants, and the third part has five chapters, each covering a topic related to ethnography, ethnobotany, ethnohistory or ethnoarchaeology, and how these can be used to improve our understanding of the role of plants in the pre-agrarian past.
Published:
March 16, 2016
Title:
Vitamin C and Disease: Insights from the Evolutionary Perspective
Authors:
Clemens, Zsofia; Tóth, Csaba
Abstract:
The role of vitamin C at the physiological and cellular levels is indisputable. In line with this, blood level of vitamin C is inversely related to disease parameters such as risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease and mortality in prospective cohort and correlational studies. At the same time, adequately powered clinical intervention studies consistently provide no evidence for a beneficial effect of supplementing vitamin C. Here we provide a framework to resolve this apparent conflict. Besides providing an overview of the widely-known facts regarding vitamin C, we review evidence that are of potential relevance but are seldomly mentioned in the context of vitamin C. We invoke the glucose-ascorbate antagonism (GAA) theory which predicts that as a consequence of their molecular similarity glucose hinders the entry of vitamin C into cells. Integrating data coming from research at the cellular level, those from clinical, anthropological and dietary studies, in the present hypothesis paper we propose an evolutionary framework which may synthesize currently available data in the relation of vitamin C and disease. We put forward that instead of taking vitamin C as a supplement, an evolutionary adapted human diet based on meat, fat and offal would provide enough vitamin C to cover physiological needs and to ward off diseases associated with vitamin C deficiency.
Published:
March 12, 2016
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