In Vitro Functional Characterization of Type-I Taste Bud Cells as Monocytes/Macrophages-like Which Secrete Proinflammatory Cytokines.

The sense of taste determines the choice of nutrients and food intake and, consequently, influences feeding behaviors. The taste papillae are primarily composed of three types of taste bud cells (TBC), i.e., type I, type II, and type III. The type I TBC, expressing GLAST (glutamate--aspartate transporter), have been termed as glial-like cells. We hypothesized that these cells could play a role in taste bud immunity as glial cells do in the brain. We purified type I TBC, expressing F4/80, a specific marker of macrophages, from mouse fungiform taste papillae. The purified cells also express CD11b, CD11c, and CD64, generally expressed by glial cells and macrophages. We further assessed whether mouse type I TBC can be polarized toward M1 or M2 macrophages in inflammatory states like lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-triggered inflammation or obesity, known to be associated with low-grade inflammation. Indeed, LPS-treatment and obesity state increased TNFα, IL-1ß, and IL-6 expression, both at mRNA and protein levels, in type I TBC. Conversely, purified type I TBC treated with IL-4 showed a significant increase in arginase 1 and IL-4. These findings provide evidence that type I gustatory cells share many features with macrophages and may be involved in oral inflammation.

Emotional and external eating styles associated with obesity.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is related to eating habits. Overeating is the most behavioural trait implicated in obesity; emotional, external and rigid restrained eating are three maladaptive eating habits that are associated to overeating. OBJECTIVES: The current study assesses the eating styles of Algerian adults. It identifies and analyses differences in eating styles in a sample from adults with normal BMI and who have obesity. The study examines the relationship between eating styles and BMI. METHODS: The sample consisted of 200 volunteers aged from 31 to 62 years old, 110 with obesity and 90 having normal BMI. The participants were recruited from hospital and university employees. They were questioned about their eating habits. The participants did not receive any treatment. To assess eating styles, participants completed the DEBQ. RESULTS: The prevalence of women was in the majority, representing 61% (n = 122) in the total sample (63.63% (n = 70) with obesity, and 55.77% (n = 52) with normal BMI). The prevalence of men represents 39% (n = 78) in the total sample (36.36% (n = 40) with obesity, and 42.22% (n = 38) with normal BMI). Participants with obesity showed pathological eating styles. They scored higher on emotional and external eating styles than to normal BMI group. However, restraint eating showed a slight no significant increase. The mean scores ± standard deviations observed in each eating styles were: emotional eating (2.88 ± 0.99** vs. 1.71 ± 0.32), external eating (3.31 ± 0.68** vs. 1.96 ± 0.29), and retrained eating (1.81 ± 0.7ns vs. 1.3 ± 0.30). The linear regression analysis showed an effect of emotional and external eating on BMI. CONCLUSION: These results could be used to provide clinical information at the initial screening for obesity criteria, obesity prevention and treatment.

Emotional, external and rigid restrained eating are three eating habits related to obesity. They are associated to overeating in response to negative emotions, external food-related cues, and body weight control. Obesity treatment necessarily requires the training of medical professionals. The objective of this research is to assess eating styles of people living with obesity and to analyse differences comparing with people with normal body mass index (BMI). We examined the relationship between eating habits and BMI. A total of 200 participants aged from 31 to 62 years old were recruited from hospital and university workers; 110 with obesity and 90 with normal BMI. The Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire was used to assess eating styles (DEBQ). The outcomes of the current study showed that people with obesity exhibit a high emotional and external eating. However, they show a slight restraint eating. BMI was associated to both emotional and external eating. Negatives emotions lead participants to overeat as a response way to cope with, and expose them to obesity. These results are important for the initial screening of obesity criteria. For prevention and treatment of obesity, eating styles must be targeted as factors associated to obesity in order to cope with negative emotions.

Spirulina reduces diet-induced obesity through downregulation of lipogenic genes expression in Psammomys obesus.

The present study evaluates the protective effect of spirulina against diet-induced obesity and metabolic disorders in Psammomys obesus, an animal model of metabolic syndrome. Psammomys obesus lives on a low-energy diet, in order to remain healthy. However, under a standard laboratory chow diet (SLCD), this animal exhibits insulin resistance, which occurs as a result of obesity. Psammomys obesus was maintained on SLCD, in order to evaluate the effect of spirulina on obesity development with a particular focus on glucose and lipid metabolism, as well as the mRNA expression of some pro-inflammatory cytokines. After 12 weeks of treatment with spirulina, there was a significant reduction in body weight gain, plasma glucose, insulin and triglyceride levels. There was also a significant reduction in the mRNA expression of genes involved in lipogenesis and inflammation. Spirulina improved insulin sensitivity, glucose and lipid metabolism. These findings highlight the positive effect of spirulina on weight maintenance.

Dietary Diversity as a Risk Factor for Obesity in Algerian Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Although the incidence of "diabesity" (coexistence of type 2 diabetes and obesity) is alarmingly increasing in Algeria, the diet-diabesity link has not been well defined. This study aimed to explore the association between dietary diversity score (DDS) and obesity among Algerian type 2 diabetic patients. It was a cross-sectional observational study involving 390 type 2 diabetic patients. Anthropometric data were gathered, and dietary intake information was obtained through a 24-h dietary recall method, which was used to calculate DDS. Potential confounders such as age, sex, smoking, physical activity and energy intake were controlled for using multivariate logistic regression. A total of 160 patients (41.3%) were classified as obese. As expected, obese patients had a higher body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, body fat and fat mass index. Furthermore, obese patients more frequently met carbohydrate recommendations and had a higher intake of meat and protein. Female sex, hypertension, low physical activity and high meat and protein intake were positively associated with diabesity. Additionally, higher DDS was positively associated with diabesity after adjusting for confounders. Thus, a more diversified diet may be a risk factor for obesity among Algerian type 2 diabetic patients.

DHA induces Jurkat T-cell arrest in G2/M phase of cell cycle and modulates the plasma membrane expression of TRPC3/6 channels.

We investigated whether docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a dietary n-3 fatty acid, modulates calcium (Ca2+) signaling and cell cycle progression in human Jurkat T-cells. Our study demonstrates that DHA inhibited Jurkat T-cell cycle progression by blocking their passage from S phase to G2/M phase. In addition, DHA decreased the plasma membrane expression of TRPC3 and TRPC6 calcium channels during T-cell proliferation. Interestingly, this fatty acid increased plasma membrane expression of TRPC6 after 24 h of mitogenic stimulation by phorbol-13-myristate-12-acetate (PMA) and ionomycin. These variations in the membrane expression of TRPC3 and TRPC6 channels were not directly correlated with the mRNA expression, indicating that it was a post-translational phenomenon. DHA increased free intracellular calcium concentrations, [Ca2+]i, via opening TRPC3 and TRPC6 channels. We conclude that the anti-proliferative effect of DHA might involve the modulation of TRPC3 and TRPC6 channels in human T-cells.

Complications of sickle cell anaemia in children in Northwestern Tanzania.

OBJECTIVES: Tanzania has the third highest birth rate of sickle cell anaemia (SCA) in Africa, but few studies describe severity of complications or available treatments, especially in Northwest Tanzania around Lake Victoria where the sickle gene is most prevalent. This is a report of the spectrum of clinical disease and range of interventions available at Bugando Medical Centre (Bugando) in Northwest Tanzania in Africa. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Bugando between 1 August 2012 and 30 September 2012. Children (<15 years old) with SCA attending Bugando were sequentially enrolled. A trained research assistant completed a Swahili questionnaire with the parent or guardian of each participant concerning demographic information, clinical features of disease, and treatments received. RESULTS: Among the 124 participants enrolled, the median age was 6 years (interquartile range [IQR] 4-8.5), and only 13 (10.5%) were < 3 years old. Almost all participants (97.6%) had a prior history of a vaso-occlusive episode, 83 (66.9%) had prior acute chest syndrome, and 21 (16.9%) had prior stroke. In the preceding 12 months, 120 (96.8%) had been hospitalized, and a vaso-occlusive episode was the most common reason for hospitalization (35.5%). Prescriptions for folic acid (92.7%) and malaria prophylaxis (84.7%) were common, but only one had received a pneumococcal vaccine, and none had received hydroxyurea or prophylactic penicillin. CONCLUSION: Children with SCA receiving care in Tanzania are diagnosed late, hospitalized frequently, and have severe complications. Opportunities exist to improve care through wider access to screening and diagnosis as well as better coordination of comprehensive care.