BACKGROUND: Vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) effectively reduces body weight (BW) in obese rats and humans. However, post-surgical weight regain is frequently observed in subjects after VSG, but the underlying reasons remain poorly understood. We therefore investigated if post-surgical consumption of different diets can affect the outcome of VSG. METHODS: VSG ...

Dietary analyses of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar post-smolt stomachs collected from 2001 to 2005 in Penobscot Bay, Maine, U.S.A., have yielded insights into the feeding ecology of early marine phase post-smolts from different rearing origins. Most stomachs contained only one or two prey types, suggesting active prey selection. Post-smolts that ...

The replacement value of dried Erythrina brucei leaf for cotton seed meal (CSM) on growth performance and carcass characteristics was evaluated. Twenty-five yearling buck goats (15.8 ± 1.4 kg) were assigned into five treatments in a randomized complete block design: natural grass hay alone (T1) or supplemented with 100% CSM (T2), 67% CSM + 33% ...

Leishmania parasites, despite being able to synthesize their own sterols, acquire and accumulate significant amounts of cholesterol through low density lipoprotein (LDL) particle endocytosis. The role of this system in Leishmania amazonensis promastigotes under pharmacological pressure by sterol biosynthesis inhibitors (SBIs) was investigated. First, thin layer chromatography demonstrated that L. ...

Adult health is dependent, in part, on maternal nutrition and growth during early life, which may independently affect insulin sensitivity, body composition, and overall energy homeostasis. Since the publication of the "thrifty phenotype hypothesis" by Hales and Barker (Diabetologia 1992;35:595-601), animal experiments have focused on establishing the mechanisms involved, which ...

The synergistic effect of the co-morbidities that comprise metabolic syndrome is increasingly being recognised as an important contributor in the pathology of a broad spectrum of seemingly disparate conditions. In terms of male reproductive function however, beyond erectile dysfunction, little is known of the influence of this cohort (collectively or ...

We present an update of our experience with the ketogenic diet (KD) in patients with Dravet syndrome (DS) to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability and our short experience with vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) in the treatment of this syndrome. Between March 1, 1990 and May 31, 2007, 59 patients who ...

  The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and metabolic syndrome (MS) in subjects who underwent a routine health checkup. We intended to establish a clinical association between NAFLD and MS as well as to compare the diagnostic criteria of MS ...

After decades of epidemiological, clinical and experimental research, it has become clear that consumption of Mediterranean dietary patterns rich in olive oil have a profound influence on health outcomes, including obesity, metabolic syndrome (MetS) and diabetes mellitus. Traditionally, many beneficial properties associated with this oil have been ascribed to its ...

Complex phenotypes can be modeled as networks of component traits connected by genetic, developmental, or functional interactions. Aposematism, which has evolved multiple times in poison frogs (Dendrobatidae), links a warning signal to a chemical defense against predators. Other traits are involved in this complex phenotype. Most aposematic poison frogs are ...

Urine acidification is induced by metabolic acidosis which is associated with a high intake of protein-rich diet. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of urine acidification with visceral obesity and the metabolic syndrome. We recruited 1,051 male subjects who underwent health examinations at the Health Care ...

Objective: In preclinical reports, restriction of dietary methionine intake was shown to enhance metabolic flexibility, improve lipid profiles, and reduce fat deposition. The present report is the outcome of a "proof of concept" study to evaluate the efficacy of dietary methionine restriction (MR) in humans with metabolic syndrome. Methods: Twenty-six ...

Introduction: The high prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in Spain requires additional efforts for prevention and treatment. Objective: The study RESMENA-S aims to improve clinical criteria and biomarkers associated with MS though an integral therapy approach. Methods: The study is a randomized prospective parallel design in which is expected to ...

Background/Objectives:In a comparison of women worldwide, Iranian women were found to have the highest prevalence of the metabolic syndrome. Furthermore, specific characteristics of diet in Middle-Eastern countries might provide additional information on the diet-disease relations. This study was performed to assess the association between dietary energy density and prevalence of ...

Multiple sclerosis is a complex and multifactorial neurological disease, and nutrition is one of the environmental factors possibly involved in its pathogenesis. At present, the role of nutrition is unclear, and MS therapy is not associated to a particular diet. MS clinical trials based on specific diets or dietary supplements ...

Objective: The objective of this study was to test whether "Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents" have beneficial effects on anthropometric and metabolic variables, adipokines and inflammatory markers in metabolic syndrome patients. Methods and Procedures: A multi-stage sampling method was applied to select metabolic syndrome patients in two districts of Shanghai. ...

Reservosomes are lysosome-related organelles found in Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes. They represent the last step in epimastigote endocytic route, accumulating a set of proteins and enzymes related to protein digestion and lipid metabolism. The reservosome matrix contains planar membranes, vesicles and lipid inclusions. Some of the latter may assume rectangular or ...

Green tea (Camellia sinensis, Theaceace) is the second most popular beverage in the world and has been extensively studied for its putative disease preventive effects. Green tea is characterized by the presence of a high concentrations of polyphenolic compounds known as catechins, with (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) being the most abundant and ...

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (FABP4) is abundantly expressed in adipocytes and plays a role in glucose homeostasis. We analysed the relationship between serum FABP4 levels and the progression of metabolic syndrome in healthy adults. METHODSAND RESULTS: A total of 465 subjects were selected from participants in a ...

Context: Sympathetic nervous system (SNS) overactivity participates in both the pathogenesis and adverse clinical complications of metabolic syndrome (MetS) obesity. Objective: We conducted a prospective lifestyle intervention trial to compare the effects of active weight loss and extended weight loss maintenance on SNS function and MetS components. Methods: Untreated subjects ...

The central role performed by billions of vital central nervous system (CNS) lipids "lipidomics" in medical physiology is usually overlooked. A metabolic deficiency embracing these vital lipids can form the aetiology for a variety of diseases. CNS lipids regulate embryogenesis, cell induction, mental balance by preventing autism spectrum disorders, depression, ...

Obesity and the metabolic syndrome are systemic inflammatory diseases reaching epidemic proportions. Contemporary changes in human nutrition occurred characterized by increased consumption of fat and of vegetable oils rich in n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) together with decrease in n-3 PUFA-rich foods, resulting in an n-6/n-3 ratio of 10-20/1 in ...

Physical activity (PA) and diet directly influence obesity and metabolic syndrome (MS) as important determinants of body composition. Understanding how PA relates to MS in youth is of great importance, and could offer a common strategy for clinical and public health approaches to control this condition. The underlying disorder of ...

A previous finding that soft drink intake is associated with increased serum triglycerides and decreased high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, both components of the metabolic syndrome (MetS), raises the question of whether other aspects of an unhealthy diet might be associated with MetS. Main MetS requirements are central obesity and 2 of ...

The influence of dietary fiber on determinants of metabolic syndrome is controversial. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of NUTRIOSE supplementation on insulin resistance and the determinants of metabolic syndrome in overweight men. In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, we supplemented the diets of overweight Chinese ...

Esculeoside A (2), a spirosolane steroidal glycoside, is a major constituent isolated from Solanum lycopersicum, a commercial strain of mini tomatoes. The content variability of esculeoside A (2) was examined in mini, midi, and Momotaro tomatoes and various processed tomato products. In the green immature tomato fruit, tomatine (1) is ...

The lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) enzyme is responsible for the synthesis of cholesteryl esters in human plasma. Lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase is a critical enzyme in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) metabolism, and deficiency of LCAT-mediated cholesterol esterification leads to defective HDL maturation with accumulation of nascent pre-beta HDL. In addition to its function in ...

The product of transesterification of phospholipid acyl chains and unesterified cholesterol (UC) by the enzyme lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) is cholesteryl ester (CE). Activation of LCAT by apolipoprotein (apo) A-I on nascent (discoidal) high-density lipoproteins (HDL) is essential for formation of mature (spheroidal) HDL during the antiatherogenic process of reverse cholesterol ...

Estrogens decrease atherosclerosis progression, mediated in part through changes in plasma lipids and lipoproteins. This study aimed to determine estrogen-induced changes in hepatic cholesterol metabolism, plasma lipoproteins, and the relationship of these changes to atherosclerosis extent. Ovariectomized monkeys (n=34) consumed atherogenic diets for 30 months which contained either no hormones ...

Lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity was measured in 48 Egyptian water buffaloes four weeks pre-parturient. The activity was significantly low in 37 buffaloes (77.1%). Four weeks post-partum, clinical examination revealed that 23 buffaloes had the clinical signs of ketosis (K) while 14 had the clinical signs of parturient-haemoglobinuria (PHU). Serum ...

The cholesterol esterifying enzyme, lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), is crucial in high density lipoprotein (HDL) metabolism. The role of LCAT activity on incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) is unknown. We determined the association of incident CVD with plasma LCAT activity, and evaluated whether LCAT may modify the cardioprotective effect of higher HDL ...

Low vitamin D status has been associated with markers of cardiovascular disease risk. This cross-sectional study assessed the relationships between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and selected markers for cardiovascular disease risk, including metabolic syndrome and its components, in adult men and women. Fasting blood samples, anthropometric measurements, and blood pressure were ...

A 31-year-old man with no significant medical history presented with a 5-day history of progressive left upper quadrant abdominal pain. Physical examination revealed a tender guarded abdomen, no icterus, and bilateral corneal "arcus senilis"-like changes. Laboratory workup showed a mild normocytic, normochromic anemia; and target cells were seen in the ...

Lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) catalyzes the formation of plasma cholesteryl ester, plays a key role in high-density lipoprotein metabolism, and has been believed to be critical in the process of reverse cholesterol transport (RCT). The role of LCAT in RCT from macrophages was quantified with a validated assay involving intraperitoneal injection ...

Lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), a key enzyme in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) metabolism, has been proposed to have atheroprotective properties by promoting reverse cholesterol transport. Overexpression of LCAT in various animal models, however, has led to conflicting results on its overall effect on lipoproteins and atherosclerosis. In this study, the effect of ...

Diet is an important environmental factor modulating the onset of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different dairy-based food products on early atherogenesis using both conventional and metabonomic approaches in hyperlipidemic hamsters. The hamsters received up to 200 g/kg of fat as anhydrous butter ...

Lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) is an enzyme that first hydrolyzes the sn-2 position of phospholipids, preferentially a diacylphosphocholine, and then transfers the fatty acid to cholesterol to yield a cholesteryl ester. HDL ApoA-I is the principal catalytic activator for LCAT. Activity of LCAT on nascent or lipid-poor HDL particles composed of ...

Diet is an important environmental factor modulating the onset of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different dairy-based food products on early atherogenesis using both conventional and metabonomic approaches in hyperlipidemic hamsters. The hamsters received up to 200g/kg of fat as anhydrous butter or ...

Lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) is an enzyme principally secreted by the liver into the circulation where it esterifies cholesterol and plays a key role in high- density lipoprotein (HDL) metabolism. In familial and acquired (liver disease) LCAT deficiency, the failure to esterify cholesterol causes many cellular and metabolic disturbances. Here, I ...

Lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) plays a key role in the reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) process by converting cholesterol to cholesteryl ester to form mature HDL particles, which in turn deliver cholesterol back to the liver for excretion and catabolism. HDL levels in human plasma are negatively correlated with cardiovascular risk ...

As previously reported, triacsin C, a selective inhibitor of acyl-CoA synthetase, inhibited the synthesis of cholesteryl ester and triacylglycerol in mouse peritoneal macrophages, leading to a reduction of lipid droplets. Therefore, the in vivo efficacy was studied. Low-density lipoprotein receptor-knockout (LDLR-/-) mice were fed a high cholesterol diet (0.15%) for ...

Lipid-lowering strategies, particularly with statins, have been extremely useful in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. However, many patients who receive statin monotherapy do not achieve the desired cardiovascular benefits. Accumulation of cholesteryl esters within macrophages constitutes the hallmark of foam cells during atherogenesis. The action of acyl-coenzyme A (CoA): cholesterol ...

Acyl-coenzyme A: cholesterol O-acyltransferase (ACAT) catalyzes the formation of cholesterol/fatty acyl-coenzyme A esters. Accumulation of cholesterol esters leads to pathological changes connected with atherosclerosis. We have evaluated effects of a newly synthesized ACAT inhibitor, 1-(2,6-diisopropyl-phenyl)-3-[4-(4'-nitrophenylthio)phenyl] urea (VULM 1457), on serum lipid (cholesterol and triglycerides) levels and velocity of red blood ...

OBJECTIVE: We recently identified esculeoside A, a new spirosolane-type glycoside, with a content in tomatoes that is 4-fold higher than that of lycopene. In the present study, we examined the effects of esculeoside A and esculeogenin A, a new aglycon of esculeoside A, on foam cell formation in vitro and ...

PURPOSE: The authors have previously shown that the growth of cultured fibroblasts obtained from primary pterygia was associated with an increase in cholesterol esterification, suggesting that alterations of cholesterol homeostasis may be involved in the development and progression of this disorder. This investigation was conducted to determine whether antiproliferative agents ...

Cholesterol removal from tissues into HDL depends on the activity of lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT; E.C. 2.3.1.43) that is associated with lower cardiovascular diseases risk. HDL cholesterol concentration and LCAT activity can be modulated by dietary fatty acids. Original data with substrate models have shown a positive effect of myristic acid ...

3$\beta$-Hydroxy-5$\alpha$-cholest-8(14)-en-15-one (15-ketosterol) is a hypocholesterolemic agent which affects cholesterol metabolism at several levels, including sterol biosynthesis and cholesterol absorption. This dissertation describes studies on the effect of 15-ketosterol on intestinal acyl CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) activity, an enzyme involved in the esterification and absorption of dietary cholesterol. Addition of 15-ketosterol to ...

Previous studies have shown that acyl-coenzyme A:cholesterol acyl transferase (ACAT), an enzyme that controls cellular equilibrium between free cholesterol and cholesteryl esters, modulates proteolytic processing of APP in cell-based and animal models of Alzheimer's disease. Here we report that ACAT-1 RNAi reduced cellular ACAT-1 protein by approximately 50% and cholesteryl ...

Exogenous and endogenous cholesterol oxidation products (COPs) perturb various metabolic processes, and thereby they may induce various homeostasis-related disorders. Here, we observed that procyanidin-rich dietary apple polyphenol (APP) from unripe apples alleviates the perturbation of lipid metabolism by decreasing the exogenous COP levels in rats. Dietary COPs may be the ...

ACAT2, the enzyme responsible for the formation of cholesteryl esters incorporated into apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins by the small intestine and liver, forms predominantly cholesteryl oleate from acyl-CoA and free cholesterol. The accumulation of cholesteryl oleate in plasma lipoproteins has been found to be predictive of atherosclerosis. Accordingly, a method was ...