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Abstract Background Ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) is the surgical procedure of choice for patients with refractory ulcerative colitis (UC) and for familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) with many rectal polyps. Pouchitis is one of the more frequent complications after IPAA in UC patients; however, it is rare in FAP. Objective Evaluate pro-apoptotic activity in endoscopically and histological normal mucosa of the ileal pouch in patients with UC and FAP. Methods Eighteen patients (nine with UC and nine with FAP) with J pouch after total rectocolectomy were studied. Biopsies were obtained from the mucosa of the pouch and from normal ileum. The specimens were snap-frozen and the expressions of Bax and Bcl-2 were determined by immunoblot of protein extracts and by immunohistochemistry analysis. FADD, Caspase-8, APAF-1 and Caspase-9 were evaluated by immunoprecipitation and immunoblot. Results Patients with UC had significantly higher protein levels of Bax and APAF-1, Caspase-9 than patients with FAP, but were similar to controls. The expressions of Bcl-2 and FADD, Caspase-8 were similar in the groups. Immunohistochemistry for Bax showed less intensity of immunoreactions in FAP than in UC and Controls. Bcl-2 immunostaining was similar among the groups. Conclusion Patients with FAP present lower levels of pro-apoptotic proteins in all methods applied, even in the absence of clinical and endoscopic pouchitis and dysplasia in the histological analysis. These findings may explain a tendency of up-regulation of apoptosis in UC patients, resulting in higher rates of progression to pouchitis in these patients, which could correlate with mucosal atrophy that occurs in inflamed tissue. However, FAP patients had low pro-apoptotic activity in the mucosa, and it could explain the tendency to low cell turn over and presence of adenomas in this syndrome.

This study investigated the effects of exercise training in regulating inflammatory processes, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and apoptosis in hypothalamic neurons of obese mice. Swiss mice were distributed into three groups: Lean mice (Lean), sedentary animals fed a standard diet; obese mice (Obese), sedentary animals fed a high‐fat diet (HFD); trained obese mice (T. Obese), animals fed with HFD and concurrently subjected to an endurance training protocol for 8 weeks. In the endurance training protocol, mice ran on a treadmill at 60% of peak workload for 1 hr, 5 days/week for 8 weeks. Twenty‐four hours after the last exercise session, the euthanasia was performed. Western blot, quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction, and terminal deoxynucleotide transferase biotin‐dUTP nick end‐labeling (TUNEL) techniques were used for the analysis of interest. The results show exercise training increased phosphorylation of leptin signaling pathway proteins (pJAK2/pSTAT3) and reduced the content of tumor necrosis factor α, toll‐like receptor 4, suppressor of cytokine signaling 3, protein–tyrosine phosphatase 1B as well as the phosphorylation of IkB kinase in the hypothalamus of T. Obese animals. A reduction of macrophage activation and phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2α, and protein kinase RNA‐like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK) were also observed in exercised animals. Furthermore, exercise decreased the expression of the proapoptotic protein (PARP1) and increased anti‐inflammatory (IL‐10) and antiapoptotic (Bcl2) proteins. Using the TUNEL technique, we observed that the exercised animals had lower DNA fragmentation. Finally, physical exercise preserved pro‐opiomelanocortin messenger RNA content. In conclusion, exercise training was able to reorganize the control of the energy balance through anti‐inflammatory and antiapoptotic responses in hypothalamic tissue of obese mice. (a) Exercise training protects against obesity‐induced inflammation and endoplasmic reticulum stress in mice hypothalamus. (b) Endurance training exercise recovers POMC neurons from apoptosis in the hypothalamus of obese mice and decreases the food intake. (c) Endurance training is able to sustain the leptin sensivity (pJAK/pSTAT) in the obese mice hypothalamus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selected subpopulations of hypothalamic neurons play important roles in the regulation of whole body energy homeostasis. Studies have shown that the saturated fats present in large amounts in western diets can activate an inflammatory response in the hypothalamus, affecting the capacity of such neurons to respond appropriately to satiety and adipostatic signals. In the first part of this review, we will explore the mechanisms behind saturated fatty acid-induced hypothalamic dysfunction. Next, we will present and discuss recent studies that have identified the mechanisms that mediate some of the anti-inflammatory actions of unsaturated fatty acids in the hypothalamus and the potential for exploring these mechanisms to prevent or treat obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactive dyes, such as Procion Yellow, Procion Red, and Procion Blue, were simultaneously determined in aqueous ternary solutions using derivative cathodic stripping voltammetry following adsorption on a hanging mercury drop electrode. An electrochemical cell containing Britton-Robinson buffer solution at pH 8 was used as the supporting electrolyte. The following experimental conditions were established: −0.100 V deposition potential, 80 s deposition time, 50 mV pulse amplitude, 50 mV s−1 scan rate, and 0.40 mm2 maximum mercury drop size. A linear response was observed over the 0.630 × 10−3 to 1.050, 1.441 × 10−3 to 1.572, and 0.198 to 1.570 mg l−1 ranges for Procion Yellow, Procion Red, and Procion Blue respectively. The detection limits were 0.210 × 10−3, 0.480 × 10−3, and 0.066 mg l−1 respectively, with a relative standard deviation ( n = 3) of 1.22%. The accuracy of the method was evaluated by derivative spectrophotometry, certifying the results as a function of proximity. All results were similar, indicating that derivative cathodic stripping voltammetry may be efficiently applied for the simultaneous determination of textile dyes in aqueous ternary solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In experimental models, hypothalamic inflammation is an early and determining factor in the installation and progression of obesity. Pharmacological and gene-based approaches have proven efficient in restraining inflammation and correcting the obese phenotypes. However, the role of nutrients in the modulation of hypothalamic inflammation is unknown. Methodology/Principal Findings: Here we show that, in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity, partial substitution of the fatty acid component of the diet by flax seed oil (rich in C18:3) or olive oil (rich in C18:1) corrects hypothalamic inflammation, hypothalamic and whole body insulin resistance, and body adiposity. In addition, upon icv injection in obese rats, both ω3 and ω9 pure fatty acids reduce spontaneous food intake and body mass gain. These effects are accompanied by the reversal of functional and molecular hypothalamic resistance to leptin/insulin and increased POMC and CART expressions. In addition, both, ω3 and ω9 fatty acids inhibit the AMPK/ACC pathway and increase CPT1 and SCD1 expression in the hypothalamus. Finally, acute hypothalamic injection of ω3 and ω9 fatty acids activate signal transduction through the recently identified GPR120 unsaturated fatty acid receptor. Conclusions/Significance: Unsaturated fatty acids can act either as nutrients or directly in the hypothalamus, reverting dietinduced inflammation and reducing body adiposity. These data show that, in addition to pharmacological and genetic approaches, nutrients can also be attractive candidates for controlling hypothalamic inflammation in obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overnutrition caused by overeating is associated with insulin and leptin resistance through IKKβ activation and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the hypothalamus. Here we show that physical exercise suppresses hyperphagia and associated hypothalamic IKKβ/NF-κB activation by a mechanism dependent upon the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-6. The disruption of hypothalamic-specific IL-6 action blocked the beneficial effects of exercise on the re-balance of food intake and insulin and leptin resistance. This molecular mechanism, mediated by physical activity, involves the anti-inflammatory protein IL-10, a core inhibitor of IKKβ/NF-κB signaling and ER stress. We report that exercise and recombinant IL-6 requires IL-10 expression to suppress hyperphagia-related obesity. Moreover, in contrast to control mice, exercise failed to reverse the pharmacological activation of IKKb and ER stress in C3H/HeJ mice deficient in hypothalamic IL-6 and IL-10 signaling. Hence, inflammatory signaling in the hypothalamus links beneficial physiological effects of exercise to the central action of insulin and leptin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) is the surgical procedure of choice for patients with refractory ulcerative colitis (UC) and for familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) with many rectal polyps. Pouchitis is one of the more frequent complications after IPAA in UC patients; however, it is rare in FAP. Objective: Evaluate pro-apoptotic activity in endoscopically and histological normal mucosa of the ileal pouch in patients with UC and FAP. Methods: Eighteen patients (nine with UC and nine with FAP) with J pouch after total rectocolectomy were studied. Biopsies were obtained from the mucosa of the pouch and from normal ileum. The specimens were snapfrozen and the expressions of Bax and Bcl-2 were determined by immunoblot of protein extracts and by immunohistochemistry analysis. FADD, Caspase-8, APAF-1 and Caspase-9 were evaluated by immunoprecipitation and immunoblot. Results: Patients with UC had significantly higher protein levels of Bax and APAF-1, Caspase-9 than patients with FAP, but were similar to controls. The expressions of Bcl-2 and FADD, Caspase-8 were similar in the groups. Immunohistochemistry for Bax showed less intensity of immunoreactions in FAP than in UC and Controls. Bcl-2 immunostaining was similar among the groups. Conclusion: Patients with FAP present lower levels of pro-apoptotic proteins in all methods applied, even in the absence of clinical and endoscopic pouchitis and dysplasia in the histological analysis. These findings may explain a tendency of up-regulation of apoptosis in UC patients, resulting in higher rates of progression to pouchitis in these patients, which could correlate with mucosal atrophy that occurs in inflamed tissue. However, FAP patients had low pro-apoptotic activity in the mucosa, and it could explain the tendency to low cell turn over and presence of adenomas in this syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumption of dietary fats is amongst the most important environmental factors leading to obesity. In rodents, the consumption of fat-rich diets blunts leptin and insulin anorexigenic signaling in the hypothalamus by a mechanism dependent on the in situ activation of inflammation. Since inflammatory signal transduction can lead to the activation of apoptotic signaling pathways, we evaluated the effect of high-fat feeding on the induction of apoptosis of hypothalamic cells. Here, we show that consumption of dietary fats induce apoptosis of neurons and a reduction of synaptic inputs in the arcuate nucleus and lateral hypothalamus. This effect is dependent upon diet composition, and not on caloric intake, since pair-feeding is not sufficient to reduce the expression of apoptotic markers. The presence of an intact TLR4 receptor, protects cells from further apoptotic signals. In diet-induced inflammation of the hypothalamus, TLR4 exerts a dual function, on one side activating pro-inflammatory pathways that play a central role in the development of resistance to leptin and insulin, and on the other side restraining further damage by controlling the apoptotic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes a FRAP assay adapted to FIA system with a merging zones configuration. The FIA system conditions were optimised with the response surface methodology using the central composite rotatable design. The optimisation parameters studied were: the carrier flow rate, the lengths of the sample and reagent loops, and reactor length. The conditions selected in accordance with the results were: carrier flow rate of 1.00 ml/min, length of the loops 18.2 cm and length of the reaction coil 210.1 cm. The detection and quantification limits were, respectively, 28.6 and 86.8 μmol/l Fe(2+), and the precision was 1.27%. The proposed method had an analytical frequency of 30 samples/h and about 95% less volume of FRAP reagent was consumed. The FRAP assay adapted to the FIA system under the optimised conditions was utilised to determine the antioxidant activity of tea samples., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Activated carbons were prepared from flamboyant pods by NaOH activation at three different NaOH:char ratios: 1:1 (AC-1), 2:1 (AC-2), and 3:1 (AC-3). The properties of these carbons, including BET surface area, pore volume, pore size distribution, and pore diameter, were characterized from N(2) adsorption isotherms. The activated carbons obtained were essentially microporous and had BET surface area ranging from 303 to 2463 m(2) g(-1).(13)C (CP/MAS and MAS) solid-state NMR shows that the lignocellulosic structures were completely transformed into a polycyclic material after activation process, thermogravimetry shows a high thermal resistance, Boehm titration and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy allowed characterizing the presence of functional groups on the surface of activated carbons. Scanning electron microscopy images showed a high pore development. The experimental results indicated the potential use of flamboyant pods as a precursor material in the preparation of activated carbon., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)