Profound Modification of Fatty Acid Profile and Endocannabinoid-Related Mediators in PPARα Agonist Fenofibrate-Treated Mice

Fenofibrate (FBR), an oral medication used to treat dyslipidemia, is a ligand of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), a nuclear receptor that regulates the expression of metabolic genes able to control lipid metabolism and food intake. PPARα natural ligands include fatty acids (FA) and FA derivatives such as palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) and oleoylethanolamide (OEA), known to have anti-inflammatory and anorexigenic activities, respectively. We investigated changes in the FA profile and FA derivatives by HPLC and LC-MS in male C57BL/6J mice fed a standard diet with or without 0.2% fenofibrate (0.2% FBR) for 21 days. Induction of PPARα by 0.2% FBR reduced weight gain, food intake, feed efficiency, and liver lipids and induced a profound change in FA metabolism mediated by parallel enhanced mitochondrial and peroxisomal β-oxidation. The former effects led to a steep reduction of essential FA, particularly 18:3n3, with a consequent decrease of the n3-highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) score; the latter effect led to an increase of 16:1n7 and 18:1n9, suggesting enhanced hepatic de novo lipogenesis with increased levels of hepatic PEA and OEA, which may activate a positive feedback and further sustain reductions of body weight, hepatic lipids and feed efficiency.     

Implication of Irisin in Different Types of Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Cancer is a set of diseases characterized by several hallmark properties, such as increased angiogenesis, proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. The increased angiogenic activity constantly supplies the tumors with nutrients and a plethora of cytokines to ensure cell survival. Along these cytokines is a newly discovered protein, called irisin, which is released into the circulation after physical exercise. Irisin is the product of fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5 (FNDC5) proteolytic cleavage. Recently it has been the topic of investigation in several types of cancer. In this study, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate its implication in different types of cancer. Our results suggest that irisin expression is decreased in cancer patients, thus it can be used as a valid biomarker for the diagnosis of several types of cancer. In addition, our results indicate that irisin may have an important role in tumor progression and metastasis since it is involved in multiple signaling pathways that promote cell proliferation and migration.     

Social influences on the acquisition of tool-using behaviors in tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella).

To identify behaviors related to acquisition of tool-use in tufted capuchins (Cebus apella), we presented two tool-using tasks to two groups, extending findings by Westergaard and Fragaszy (1987) and Visalberghi (in press). Five Ss learned to use the tools in each task. The primary predictor of success was level of interest in the task. Observation of others at the apparatus did not facilitate exploratory behaviors or contact with the tools in the observers. Most animals performed exploratory behaviors more often when they were at the apparatus alone than when with another, whether or not the other was using a tool. Observers were quick to learn the relationship between another's activities and the appearance of food. We conclude that capuchins do not readily learn about instrumental relations by observation of others or imitate other's acts. Imitation probably plays no role in the spread of novel instrumental behaviors among monkeys. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Mortality of Tribolium confusum J. du Val (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in controlled atmospheres at different oxygen percentages

Since the 1990s an ecologically friendly alternative to insecticide treatments for controlling stored-product insect pests has been available: the methods of modified and controlled atmospheres, which involve reducing the quantity of oxygen (O₂) in the air in order to kill insects by anoxia. This study examines the effect of treatments with controlled atmospheres, considering the time necessary to obtain total mortality of insects at percentages of O₂ higher than those normally used in controlled atmospheres and estimating the possible positive influence of a temperature increase in order to compensate for the effects of the reduced anoxia.Adult populations of Tribolium confusum J. du Val were treated at various O₂ percentages (1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10%) and temperatures (23, 26, 29, 32, 35, 37 and 40 °C). The relative humidity was very low (<18%) in all the treatments considered.Lethal exposure times varied from less than one day to a week (longer times were not considered).A multiple regression procedure was applied to the experimental data, considering the time necessary to obtain total mortality as the dependent variable. The analysis provided a good fit to the experimental data and indicated a positive correlation with the percentage of O₂ and an inverse one with temperature.     

Content of phytoestrogens in soy-based dietary supplements

The isoflavone content of 14 soy-based dietary supplements intended to help alleviate perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms on sale in Italy were analysed using HPLC with UV detection. The aim was to quantify soy isoflavones after hydrolysis as aglycones, which are the bioactive part of isoflavone molecules. In the examined products, the amounts of isoflavones were frequently expressed ambiguously, and none of the products stated whether the isoflavone content of the product was expressed as aglycones or as conjugates. Each product revealed a different aglycone concentration profile. These supplements have different “fingerprints”, probably due to different sources of raw materials and to methods used in processing and preparation of extracts. In more than half the supplements tested, the actual values contained were below those stated and below those expected to help alleviate perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms.     

Interfacial area of mellapak packing: Absorption of 1,1,1-trichloroethane by Genosorb 300

In this work a Sulzer structured packing, Mellapak 250Y, was studied for applications in the field of absorption. A new model was proposed which makes it possible to estimate the packing surface that actually takes part in the process. In the course of these studies, new experimental data were obtained relating to the absorption of 1,1,1-trichloroethane using Genosorb 300, a mixture of polyethylene glycol dimethyl ethers produced by Hoechst S.p.A., as absorption liquid. The results obtained with the proposed model are in agreement both with the experimental measurements made in the course of the work and with experimental absorption measurements reported by other authors on water systems.     

Lack of comprehension of cause€ffect relations in tool-using capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella).

Four tufted capuchin monkeys, successful in a tool task in which they used a stick to push a reward out of a tube, were tested in a similar task, with a tube with a hole and a small trap. Depending on where the stick was inserted, the reward was pushed either out of the tube or into the trap. With the trap-tube task, the authors assessed whether the monkeys understood the cause–effect relation between their behavior and the outcome. In Exp 1, each S underwent 14 10-trial blocks with the trap tube. Three Ss performed at chance level. The 4th S's (Rb) performance improved, reaching 95% success in the last 6 blocks. In Exp 2, Rb received additional tests to investigate its successful strategy further. Rb solved the trap-tube task by means of a distance-based, associative rule. The performances of the 4 Ss indicate that they did not take into account the effects of their actions on the reward. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Changes in the non-protein thiol pool and production of dissolved gaseous mercury in the marine diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii under mercury exposure

Two detoxification mechanisms working in the marine diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii to cope with mercury toxicity were investigated. Initially, the effect of mercury on the intracellular pool of non-protein thiols was studied in exponentially growing cultures exposed to sub-toxic HgCl₂ concentrations. T. weissflogii cells responded by synthesizing metal-binding peptides, named phytochelatins (PCs), besides increasing the intracellular pool of glutathione and γ-glutamylcysteine (γ-EC). Intracellular Hg and PC concentrations increased with the Hg concentration in the culture medium, exhibiting a distinct dose-response relationship. However, considerations of the PCs-SH:Hg molar ratio suggest that glutathione could also be involved in the intracellular mercury sequestration. The time course of the non-protein thiol pool and Hg intracellular concentration shows that PCs, glutathione and γ-EC represent a rapid cellular response to mercury, although their role in Hg detoxification seems to lose importance at longer incubation times. The occurrence of a process of reduction of Hg(II) to Hg° and subsequent production of dissolved gaseous mercury (DGM) was also investigated at lower Hg concentrations, at which the PC synthesis doesn't seem to be involved. The significant (P < 0.01) correlation between the cellular density in solution and the production of DGM suggests that this diatom is capable of directly producing DGM, both in light and dark conditions. This finding has been confirmed by the absence of DGM production in the culture media containing formaldehyde-killed cells. Finally, the relationship between these two different pathways of Hg detoxification is discussed.     

Role of surface-inoculated Debaryomyces hansenii and Yarrowia lipolytica strains in dried fermented sausage manufacture. Part 1: Evaluation of their effects on microbial evolution, lipolytic and proteolytic patterns

The aim of this work was to study the effects of Debaryomyces hansenii and Yarrowia lipolytica strains, used with lactic acid starter cultures (Lactobacillus plantarum), on the manufacture of dried fermented sausages to understand their role on sausage microbial evolution, lipolytic and proteolytic patterns. The inoculation of the yeast strains did not markedly affect the sausage’s microbial flora. The sausages with the yeast strains showed more marked and earlier water activity (a_w) reductions. Moreover, the surface inoculation of the yeast strains resulted, at the end of ripening, in more pronounced proteolysis and lipolysis. The lipolytic patterns of the products were affected not only by the yeast strain but also by the level of mincing of the meat mixture used.