Dysregulation of mitochondrial function and biogenesis modulators in adipose tissue of obese children.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate mitochondrial biogenesis (MB), structure, metabolism and dysfunction in abdominal adipose tissue from male pediatric patients with obesity. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Samples were collected from five children with obesity (percentile ⩾95) and five eutrophic boys (percentile ⩾5/⩽85) (8-12 years old) following parental informed consent. We analyzed the expression of key genes involved in MB (sirtuin-1 (SIRT1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ), PPARγ coactivator-1α (PGC1α), nuclear respiratory factors 1 and 2 (NRF1, NRF2) and mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) and surrogates for mitochondrial function/structure/metabolism (porin, TOMM20, complex I and V, UCP1, UCP2, SIRT3, SOD2) by western blot. Citrate synthase (CS), complex I (CI) activity, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content and oxidative stress end points were also determined. RESULTS: Most MB proteins were significantly decreased in samples from children with obesity except complex I, V and superoxide dismutase-2 (SOD2). Similarly, CS and CI activity showed a significant reduction, as well as ATP levels and mtDNA content. PPARγ, PGC1α, complex I and V and SOD2 were hyperacetylated compared with lean samples. Concurrently, in samples from children with obesity, we found decreased SOD2 activity and redox state imbalance highlighted by decreased reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) ratio and significant increases in protein carbonylation. CONCLUSIONS: Adipose tissue from children with obesity demonstrates a dysregulation of key modulators of MB and organelle structure, and displays hyperacetylation of key proteins and altered expression of upstream regulators of cell metabolism.

Bidirectional modulation of anxiety-related and social behaviors by amygdala projections to the medial prefrontal cortex.

The basolateral amygdala (BLA) and the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) modulate anxiety and social behaviors. It remains to be elucidated, however, whether direct projections from the BLA to the mPFC play a functional role in these behaviors. We used optogenetic approaches in behaving mice to either activate or inhibit BLA inputs to the mPFC during behavioral assays that assess anxiety-like behavior and social interaction. Channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2)-mediated activation of BLA inputs to the mPFC produced anxiogenic effects in the elevated plus maze and open field test, whereas halorhodopsin (NpHR)-mediated inhibition produced anxiolytic effects. Furthermore, activation of the BLA-mPFC pathway reduced social interaction in the resident-intruder test, whereas inhibition facilitated social interaction. These results establish a causal relationship between activity in the BLA-mPFC pathway and the bidirectional modulation of anxiety-related and social behaviors.

Cytologic, hormonal, and ultrasonographic correlates of the menstrual cycle of the New World monkey Cebus apella.

Few reports on the reproductive physiology of Cebus apella have been published. In this study we characterized menstrual cycle events by means of vaginal cytology, ultrasonography (US), and hormonal measurements in serum during three consecutive cycles in 10 females, and assessed the probability that ovulation would occur in the same ovary in consecutive cycles in 18 females. The lengths and phases of the cycles were determined according to vaginal cytology. Taking the first day of endometrial bleeding as the first day of the cycle, the mean cycle length +/- SEM was 19.5+/-0.4 days, with follicular and luteal phases lasting 8.2+/-0.2 and 11.3+/-0.4 days, respectively. The follicular phase included menstruation and the periovulatory period, which was characterized by the presence of a large number of superficial eosinophilic cells in the vaginal smear. The myometrium, endometrium, and ovaries were clearly distinguished on US examination. During each menstrual cycle a single follicle was recruited at random from either ovary. The follicle grew from 3 mm to a maximum diameter of 8-9 mm over the course of 8 days, in association with increasing estradiol (E(2)) serum levels (from 489+/-41 to 1600+/-92 pmol/L). At ovulation, the mean diameter of the dominant follicle usually decreased by >20%, 1 day after the maximum E(2) level was reached. Ovulation was associated with an abrupt fall in E(2), a decreased number of eosinophilic cells, the presence of leukocytes and intermediate cells in the vaginal smear, and a progressive increase in progesterone (P) levels that reached a maximum of 892+/-65 nmol/L on days 3-6 of the luteal phase. The menstrual cycle of Cebus apella differs in several temporal and quantitative aspects from that in humans and Old World primates, but it exhibits the same correlations between ovarian endocrine and morphologic parameters.

Emergency! Thoracic aortic dissection.

Back pain during labor is no surprise, which is why this very serious complication almost fooled this team.