Visceral Obesity and Its Shared Role in Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease: A Scoping Review of the Pathophysiology and Pharmacological Treatments

The association between obesity, cancer and cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been demonstrated in animal and epidemiological studies. However, the specific role of visceral obesity on cancer and CVD remains unclear. Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is a complex and metabolically active tissue, that can produce different adipokines and hormones, responsible for endocrine-metabolic comorbidities. This review explores the potential mechanisms related to VAT that may also be involved in cancer and CVD. In addition, we discuss the shared pharmacological treatments which may reduce the risk of both diseases. This review highlights that chronic inflammation, molecular aspects, metabolic syndrome, secretion of hormones and adiponectin associated to VAT may have synergistic effects and should be further studied in relation to cancer and CVD. Reductions in abdominal and visceral adiposity improve insulin sensitivity, lipid profile and cytokines, which consequently reduce the risk of CVD and some cancers. Several medications have shown to reduce visceral and/or subcutaneous fat. Further research is needed to investigate the pathophysiological mechanisms by which visceral obesity may cause both cancer and CVD. The role of visceral fat in cancer and CVD is an important area to advance. Public health policies to increase public awareness about VAT’s role and ways to manage or prevent it are needed.     

Comparison between the binding of chlorpheniramine maleate to poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) and the binding to other polyelectrolytes

The interactions of the antihistaminic drug chlorpheniramine maleate (CPM) with the negatively charged polyelectrolytes poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) are studied by the washing method of the diafiltration technique at conditions simulating those of the small intestine such as pH 7.5 and 0.13 M NaCl. The results are compared with those already reported involving other pharmacologically important polyelectrolytes such as alginic acid (ALG), carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and κ- and ι-carrageenan (κ- and ι-CAR). As in the case of ALG, CMC, and CAR, interactions of CPM with PAA appear to be electrostatic and are cleaved in the presence of 0.13 M NaCl. On the contrary, apart from electrostatic interactions, additional interactions are found with PSS and residual interactions are kept in the presence of 0.13 M NaCl, a fact that may be attributed to π-π interactions and hydrophobic forces. The effect of the addition of 4 M urea, branched poly(ethyleneimine) (BPEI), and poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) is also studied. The addition of urea 4 M or 0.001 M BPEI produces a decrease on the amounts of counterions bound to PSS at infinite elution, while the addition of PVP does not produce any change on the diafiltration profiles.     

Quantum Dots-Based Optical Fiber Temperature Sensors Fabricated by Layer-by-Layer

Two types of CdTe quantum dots of different sizes (4 and 5 nm) were successfully deposited on optical fibers using the layer-by-layer electrostatic self-assembly method. The sensors showed a linear and reversible variation of the emission wavelength for a temperature range from 30 degC to 100 degC, with a sensitivity of 0.2 nm/degC     

Polymerization of ionic monomers in polar solvents: kinetics and mechanism of the free radical copolymerization of acrylamide/acrylic acid

A precise data set describing the kinetics of the free radical copolymerization of acrylamide/acrylic acid (AM/AA) in the range of low total monomer concentration as a function of the pH, total monomer concentration, initiator concentration, and comonomer ratio is presented. Strong impact on the reactivity ratios has been identified for the pH and total monomer concentration. Specifically, at constant total monomer concentration of 0.4 mol/l and T=313 K the reactivity ratio of AM increases from 0.54 at pH 1.8 to 3.04 at pH 12. Contrarily, the reactivity ratio of AA decreases from 1.48 to 0.32. The crossover occurs at pH≈4.2. Electrostatic effects due to the variation of the degree of ionization of AA are primarily suggested to influence the kinetics. When the total monomer concentration increases from 0.2 to 0.6 mol/l at constant pH=12, the reactivity ratios of AM and AA decrease from 4.01 to 2.13 and increase from 0.25 to 0.47, respectively. Reduction of electrostatic repulsion between the ionized monomer AA and partially charged growing polymer chain ends due to higher ionic strength at higher total monomer concentration serves as explanation of the effect. The precise data set is the prerequisite for a novel approach to calculate copolymer compositions in case of variable monomer reactivity.     

Are max-specified infant facial expressions during face-to-face interaction consistent with differential emotions theory?

Differential emotions theory (DET) proposes that infant facial expressions of emotions are differentiated. To test this hypothesis, the authors examined infant facial expressions longitudinally at 2, 4, and 6 mo of age during face-to-face play and a "still-face" interaction with their mothers. Infant expressions were coded using the Maximally Discriminative Facial Movement Coding System (Max). Consistent with DET, discrete positive expressions occurred more of the time and were of longer duration than blended expressions of positive affect. Contrary to DET, at no age did the proportions or durations of discrete and blended negative expressions differ, and they showed different patterns of developmental change. One is led to either reject or revise DET or else question the adequacy of the Max system. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Electrochemical study of 7α,12,20-O-trimethyl-conacytone in acetonitrile

An electrochemical study of the electroreduction in anhydrous acetonitrile of 7α,12,20-O-trimethyl-conacytone, an abietane quinoid diterpene derivative from the natural product 7α-O-methyl-conacytone, showed two reduction signals. At the first reduction step, fast chemical reactions involving the loss of the methoxyl group located at C-7 with simultaneous regeneration of the quinoid moiety were observed. This electrogenerated quinone is reduced again, at the same potential used with the former quinone, resulting in a two-electron peak. These results were obtained by cyclic voltammetry and double-step chronoamperometry experiments. The electrolysis under methylating conditions of 7α-O-methyl-conacytone, at potential values of the second electron transfer, generates as major products, methoxy-hydroquinone, where the methoxy group at C-7 is lost, which is in agreement with the proposed mechanism. Therefore, the second reduction signal was attributed to the reduction of semiquinone intermediates by a mechanism not elucidated.