Adipose Tissue Secretion Pattern Influences β-Cell Wellness in the Transition from Obesity to Type 2 Diabetes

The dysregulation of the β-cell functional mass, which is a reduction in the number of β-cells and their ability to secure adequate insulin secretion, represents a key mechanistic factor leading to the onset of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Obesity is recognised as a leading cause of β-cell loss and dysfunction and a risk factor for T2D. The natural history of β-cell failure in obesity-induced T2D can be divided into three steps: (1) β-cell compensatory hyperplasia and insulin hypersecretion, (2) insulin secretory dysfunction, and (3) loss of β-cell mass. Adipose tissue (AT) secretes many hormones/cytokines (adipokines) and fatty acids that can directly influence β-cell function and viability. As this secretory pattern is altered in obese and diabetic patients, it is expected that the cross-talk between AT and pancreatic β-cells could drive the maintenance of the β-cell integrity under physiological conditions and contribute to the reduction in the β-cell functional mass in a dysmetabolic state. In the current review, we summarise the evidence of the ability of the AT secretome to influence each step of β-cell failure, and attempt to draw a timeline of the alterations in the adipokine secretion pattern in the transition from obesity to T2D that reflects the progressive deterioration of the β-cell functional mass.     

Antidepressant Effect of Intermittent Long-Term Systemic Administration of Irisin in Mice

Depression is a psychiatric disorder increasingly diffused worldwide. Evidence suggests that irisin, a myokine secreted by contracting muscle, mediates beneficial effects on several targets, including the brain. Here, the potential antidepressant properties of long-term intermittent systemic irisin administration (100 µg/kg/weekly for 1 month) were evaluated in mice by the Tail Suspension Test (TST), Forced Swim Test (FST), and Open Field Test (OFT). Furthermore, to deepen the molecular pathways underlying irisin treatment, the expression of irisin precursor, neurotrophic/growth factors, and cytokines was analyzed. Irisin treatment significantly decreased the immobility time in the TST and FST, suggesting an antidepressant effect. Additionally, irisin seemed to display an anxiolytic-like effect increasing the time spent in the OFT arena center. These findings were probably due to the modulation of endogenous brain factors as the gene expression of some neurotrophins, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), was upregulated only in irisin-treated mouse brain. Moreover, irisin modulated the expression of some cytokines (IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating that the irisin antidepressant effect may be observed even with a systemic administration in mice. This could pave the way toward intriguing preclinical research in humans.     

PCR detection assay of fumonisin-producing Fusarium verticillioides strains

Fusarium verticillioides is considered to be the main source of fumonisins, a group of toxins that contaminate commodities and result in chronic and acute diseases affecting humans and animals. The detection and control of this species is crucial to prevent fumonisins from entering the food chain. The objective of the present research was to develop a specific, sensitive, and robust PCR assay to detect F. verticillioides strains using two pairs of specific primers for F. verticillioides, which have been designed on the basis of the intergenic spacer region of the rDNA units. The first pair of primers was F. verticillioides species specific, whereas the second pair of primers detected fumonisin-producing F. verticillioides strains. This second pair of primers allowed for the discrimination between the major group of F. verticillioides strains, fumonisin-producing strains that are mainly associated with crops, and a minor group of strains, non-fumonisin-producing strains that are associated with bananas. Fifty-four strains of F. verticillioides from different geographical regions and hosts were tested using both sets of primers. Sixteen additional Fusarium species were examined. The specificity of the primer sequences provides the basis for a simple, rapid, accurate, and sensitive detection and identification method of this fungal species that represents a risk for human and animal health.     

Occurence of potentially enterotoxigenic Bacillus cereus in infant milk powder

Considering that powdered infant milk formula effectively supports the growth of numerous pathogens, this study investigates the prevalence of potentially pathogenic Bacillus cereus in dried milk products by evaluating the occurrence of B. cereus and the presence of virulence-associated genes. The approach consisted of enriching, isolating and biochemical identifying isolates, followed by PCR assays aimed at the hbl (C, D, A, B), nhe (A, B, C) and cytK enterotoxin genes coding HBL complex, NHE complex and cytotoxin K, respectively. Among cytK-positive strains, the discrimination of two different forms for cytotoxin K, cytK-1 and cytK-2 was performed. Bacillus cereus was detected in powdered infant milk formula samples. All the strains harbored at least one gene of the cytK, HBL and NHE enterotoxins. Because of an increasing trend in invasive infections by B. cereus in infants and immunocompromised children, our PCR findings highlight the need to implement an adequate control plan in order to guarantee the health of potentially fragile consumers. From a hygiene point of view, intensive and continuous monitoring of potentially pathogenic B. cereus may be crucial for powdered infant milk formula safety and even recommended in order to assess the infant health risk, as proposed by Commission Regulation (EC) no. 1441/2007 on microbiological criteria for foodstuffs. Furthermore, the detection in this study of B. licheniformis, B. subtilis and B. mycoides strains raises significant health issues regarding Bacillus spp. in powdered infant milk formula.     

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis: Current Issues and Future Perspectives in Preclinical and Clinical Research

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a continuum of liver abnormalities often starting as simple steatosis and to potentially progress into nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Because of its increasing prevalence, NAFLD is becoming a major public health concern, in parallel with a worldwide increase in the recurrence rate of diabetes and metabolic syndrome. It has been estimated that NASH cirrhosis may surpass viral hepatitis C and become the leading indication for liver transplantation in the next decades. The broadening of the knowledge about NASH pathogenesis and progression is of pivotal importance for the discovery of new targeted and more effective therapies; aim of this review is to offer a comprehensive and updated overview on NAFLD and NASH pathogenesis, the most recommended treatments, drugs under development and new drug targets. The most relevant in vitro and in vivo models of NAFLD and NASH will be also reviewed, as well as the main molecular pathways involved in NAFLD and NASH development.     

Derivative FTIR spectroscopy for cluster analysis and classification of morocco olive oils

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra were employed for differentiation and classification of olive oils from several producing regions of Morocco. A preliminary treatment of the FTIR data was done by a derivative elaboration based on the Savitzky–Golay algorithm to reduce the noise and extract a largest number of analytical information from the spectra. A multivariate statistical procedure based on cluster analysis (CA) coupled to partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), was elaborated, providing an effective classification method. On the basis of a hierarchical agglomerative CA and principal component analysis (PCA), four distinctive clusters were recognised. The PLS-DA procedure was then applied to classify samples from the same regions, picked in different times, or unknown olive oil samples. The model was optimised by applying the Martens’ Uncertainty Test that provided to select the wavelength zones giving the most useful analytical information. The proposed method furnished results reliable in classifying olive oils from different lands with the advantages of being rapid, inexpensive and requiring no prior separation procedure.     

Comparison of poloxamer- and chitosan-based thermally sensitive gels for the treatment of vaginal mucositis

Context: The local treatment of vaginal mucositis requires an intimate and prolonged contact of anti-infective drugs with the mucosa. This can be achieved by means of mucoadhesive and thermally sensitive vehicles, capable of gelifying at the physiological temperature.

Objective: The aim of the present work was to compare the potentiality of poloxamer 407 (PLX)/chitosan lactate (CS-L) and CS-L/glycerophosphate (GP) mixtures as mucoadhesive thermally sensitive vehicles for the treatment of vaginal mucositis.

Materials and methods: PLX/CS-L and CS-L/GP mixtures were characterized for gelation and mucoadhesion properties as well as for bioactive (antimicrobial and wound healing) properties. Finally, the mixtures were loaded with amoxicillin trihydrate as model drug and characterized for drug release and washability properties.

Results and discussion: The addition of CS-L to PLX causes an increase in PLX gelation temperature from 30?°C to the physiological temperature. The dilution with simulated vaginal fluid causes an increase in gelation time of PLX/CS-L mixture, while no variation of such parameter is observed for CS-L/GP mixture which is nevertheless characterized by poorer elastic properties. The stronger mucoadhesion properties of CS-L/GP mixture counterbalance the poorer elasticity of the gel and are responsible for a longer drug contact with the biological substrate. CS-L/GP mixture is moreover characterized by better bioactive properties than PLX-based mixture.

Conclusion: CS-L/GP mixture represents a promising thermally sensitive vehicle.     

Gut Microbiota and Sex Hormones: Crosstalking Players in Cardiometabolic and Cardiovascular Disease

The available evidence indicates a close connection between gut microbiota (GM) disturbance and increased risk of cardiometabolic (CM) disorders and cardiovascular (CV) disease. One major objective of this narrative review is to discuss the key contribution of dietary regimen in determining the GM biodiversity and the implications of GM dysbiosis for the overall health of the CV system. In particular, emerging molecular pathways are presented, linking microbiota-derived signals to the local activation of the immune system as the driver of a systemic proinflammatory state and permissive condition for the onset and progression of CM and CV disease. We further outline how the cross-talk between sex hormones and GM impacts disease susceptibility, thereby offering a mechanistic insight into sexual dimorphism observed in CVD. A better understanding of these relationships could help unravel novel disease targets and pave the way to the development of innovative, low-risk therapeutic strategies based on diet interventions, GM manipulation, and sex hormone analogues.