CX3CL1 Action on Microglia Protects from Diet-Induced Obesity by Restoring POMC Neuronal Excitability and Melanocortin System Activity Impaired by High-Fat Diet Feeding

Both hypothalamic microglial inflammation and melanocortin pathway dysfunction contribute to diet-induced obesity (DIO) pathogenesis. Previous studies involving models of altered microglial signaling demonstrate altered DIO susceptibility with corresponding POMC neuron cytological changes, suggesting a link between microglia and the melanocortin system. We addressed this hypothesis using the specific microglial silencing molecule, CX3CL1 (fractalkine), to determine whether reducing hypothalamic microglial activation can restore POMC/melanocortin signaling to protect against DIO. We performed metabolic analyses in high fat diet (HFD)-fed mice with targeted viral overexpression of CX3CL1 in the hypothalamus. Electrophysiologic recording in hypothalamic slices from POMC-MAPT-GFP mice was used to determine the effects of HFD feeding and microglial silencing via minocycline or CX3CL1 on GFP-labeled POMC neurons. Finally, mice with hypothalamic overexpression of CX3CL1 received central treatment with the melanocortin receptor antagonist SHU9119 to determine whether melanocortin signaling is required for the metabolic benefits of CX3CL1. Hypothalamic overexpression of CX3CL1 increased leptin sensitivity and POMC gene expression, while reducing weight gain in animals fed an HFD. In electrophysiological recordings from hypothalamic slice preparations, HFD feeding was associated with reduced POMC neuron excitability and increased amplitude of inhibitory postsynaptic currents. Microglial silencing using minocycline or CX3CL1 treatment reversed these HFD-induced changes in POMC neuron electrophysiologic properties. Correspondingly, blockade of melanocortin receptor signaling in vivo prevented both the acute and chronic reduction in food intake and body weight mediated by CX3CL1. Our results show that suppressing microglial activation during HFD feeding reduces DIO susceptibility via a mechanism involving increased POMC neuron excitability and melanocortin signaling.     

Sublexical components in implicit memory for novel words.

Five experiments with 280 university students investigated the role of sublexical components in implicit memory for novel words. Priming on an implicit word judgment task occurred consistently for nonwords formed out of familiar linguistic components (morphemes and syllables) but minimally for nonwords formed out of unfamiliar pseudosyllabic components. This effect was dissociable from explicit memory and insensitive to changes in the surface features of the stimuli. Moreover, it depended on unitization of stimulus components as opposed to priming of individual components. Results are interpreted in terms of the activation and integration of prior linguistic knowledge and as evidence against the role of new (perceptual or episodic) representations in implicit memory for new information. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effect of breakdown of V.I. improvers on oil consumption in engine

Translated from Khimiya 1Tekhnologiya Topliv i Masel, No. 4, pp. 27–28, April, 1988.     

AAEM minimonograph #47: normative data in electrodiagnostic medicine. ff

The purpose of this literature study is to gain an insight into the information available on epidemiological aspects, specific factors of risk, risk assessment instruments and preventive measures with respect to pressure sores with adult ICU patients. There are indications that the incidence of pressure sores in the ICU is higher than the average incidence of 3-10% in hospital populations. This higher incidence may be accounted for by specific risk factors, such as history before admission to the ICU, severity of the disease, the risk of prevention measures, the use of special medicine and the nutritional state. Also structural factors, such as the accessibility of prevention means and the unambiguous usage of the registration of pressure sores, play a part. Risk assessment instruments are used to quantify the risk of pressure sores in order to support or evaluate the decision concerning preventive measures. For the ICU risk assessment instruments have to be developed, in which the specific factors of risk are processed. Related to preventive measures the effect of turning and re-positioning the patient on the vital functions should further be investigated. If turning and re-positioning could be started as early as possible and in a responsible way, the demand for expensive measures, like special beds en special mattresses, will possibly decrease. The positive effect of these special beds on the prevention of pressure sores seams to be irrefutable.     

Comparison of Single-Phase and Two-Phase Composite Thermal Barrier Coatings with Equal Total Rare-Earth Content

Rare-earth zirconates have been the focus of advanced thermal barrier coating research for nearly two decades; however, their lack of toughness prevents a wide-scale adoption due to lack of erosion and thermal cyclic durability. There are generally two methods of improving toughness: intrinsic modification of the coating chemistry and extrinsic modification of the coating structure. This study compares the efficacy of these two methods for a similar overall rare-earth content via the air plasma spray process. The extrinsically toughened coatings were comprised of a two-phase composite containing 30 wt.% Gd₂Zr₂O₇ (GZO) combined with 70 wt.% of a tougher t′ low-k material (ZrO₂-2Y₂O₃-1Gd₂O₃-1Yb₂O₃; mol.%), while a single-phase fluorite with the overall rare-earth content equivalent to the two-phase composite (13 mol.% rare-earth) was utilized to explore intrinsically toughened concept. The coatings were then characterized via x-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy, and their performance was evaluated via erosion, thermal conductivity, thermal annealing (500 h), and thermal cycling. It was shown that the extrinsic method provided an improved erosion and thermal conductivity response over the single phase, but at the expense of high-temperature stability and cyclic life.     

Diffusivity of carbon in copper- and silver-based composites

Interstitial solid solutions could be formed at the matrix–fibre interface in the processing of metal matrix composites. Typically these solutions are of small concentrations and the solubility is usually diffusion-controled. To calculate the diffusivity, a model of the interstitial solid solution is used which gives the possibility of choosing whether octahedral or tetrahedral interstitial positions are occupied by the fibre atoms dissolved in the matrix. Analysis of Ag–C and Cu–C solid solutions allow a comparison of the occupation of the interstitial positions and its temperature dependences. The results obtained on the basis of non-empirical calculations predict the preferable occupation of octahedral positions up to T 1200 K. This confirms the structure of the interstitial solid solution. In the framework of this model we calculate the heights of diffusion barriers and the temperature dependences of carbon diffusion in silver and copper hosts.     

Classic adamantinoma in a 3-year-old

Classic adamantinoma of the long bones is a rare, low-grade malignant neoplasm arising most often in the tibia and usually in patients during the second to fifth decades. Although adamantinomas have been described in children, the histologic pattern in this age group is different from that seen in adults and resembles osteofibrous dysplasia. The usual pattern of adamantinoma in children has been termed "differentiated adamantinoma" and follows a benign course. We report a case of adamantinoma in the proximal tibia of a 3-year-old patient. The lesion had abundant epithelial component with formation of keratin pearls, a pattern that has been described only in classic adamantinoma occurring in adults. Since differentiated adamantinomas are essentially benign and classic adamantinomas are low-grade malignancies, the finding of a classic variant at this young age raised important therapeutic and prognostic issues.