Anxiety behaviour displayed in C57BL/6J mice consuming coffee and cocoa, but not observed in mice consuming Japanese green tea in a high fat diet induced obesity model

It is now acknowledged that certain foods may affect mood and behavior. Recently, the food industry has seen a rise in foods containing beverages such as green tea cake, ice-cream, coffee biscuits as per the traditional chocolate as a food and cocoa beverage. Green tea has been suggested to exert numerous health properties, including anxiolytic properties (Vignes et. al. 2006), as does cocoa (i.e. migrane) (Savi et. al. 2002). Numerous studies have studied the consumption of these beverages (i.e. cocoa, coffee and green tea) for their anti-oxidant effect but few studies have included them in a feed format. In this study, mice were allotted into a 16 week treatment of a high-fat, high carbohydrate diet of varying treatments including 1) control diet (21% fat, 36.1% sucrose), 2) 2% cocoa (21% fat, 36.1% sucrose), 3) 2% coffee (21% fat, 36.1% sucrose) and 4) 2% green tea (21% fat, 36.1% sucrose). Subjects were offered the diets in a nonbeverage feed format and fresh diet was offered daily. At week 16, the cocoa group mice displayed quicker entry time to dark areas, a greater (p<0.05) amount of time spent in the dark box area and higher (p<0.05) number of peeking events when compared with the control group. In addition, the coffee group mice displayed a higher (p<0.05) re-entries from the light to the dark box area (i.e. anxiety like behavior/ agitation), whereas the green tea group did not display the same level of anxiety like behavior seen in the cocoa and coffee groups. This result may suggest an anxiolytic offset effect against caffeine in green tea versus coffee or another phytochemical component or body compositional changes when consuming a high fat, high sucrose diet

1-Sarcosine-angiotensin II infusion effects on food intake, weight loss, energy expenditure, and skeletal muscle UCP3 gene expression in a rat model

BACKGROUND: There are a myriad of proteins responsible for modulation of expenditure of energy. Angiotensin II (Ang II) is a vital component of renin-angiotensin system that affects blood pressure and also linked to both cachexia and obesity via fat and muscle metabolism. Previous research suggests that the direct action of Ang II is on the brain, via angiotensin II type 1 receptor protein, affecting food intake and energy expenditure. The objective of the study is to investigate the effect of 1-sarcosine (SAR)-Ang II infusion on energy expenditure and metabolism in a rat model of congestive heart failure cachexia. METHODS: Adult female rats of the Sprague Dawley strain (n = 33) were used (11 pair-fed control, 12 ad libitum and 10, 1-sarcosine-angiotensin II-infused rats). Body weight, faecal excretion, feed intake (in grams), water intake (in milliliters) and urine excreted were recorded daily. The measurements were recorded in three different periods (4 days prior to surgery, "pre-infusion"; day of surgery and 5 days postsurgery, "infusion period"; days 7 to 14, "recovery" period). Different analytical methods were used to measure energy expenditure per period, uncoupling protein 3 mRNA expression, crude protein and adipose tissue body composition. RESULTS: During the infusion period, the SAR-Ang II group experienced rapid weight loss (p < 0.05) in comparison to the ad libitum and pair-fed groups. The SAR-Ang II group displayed lower (p < 0.05) body fat content (in percent) than the controls. There was also increased (p < 0.05) uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) mRNA expression in the SAR-Ang II group and pair-fed group when compared to the controls. CONCLUSION: In summary, the results suggest that SAR-Ang II infusion impairs appetite and decreases body weight by wasting predominantly adipose tissue, which may be due to elevated energy expenditure via mitochondrial uncoupling (UCP3 protein activity)

Retinal vascular reactivity in carriers of X-linked inherited retinal disease - a study using optical coherence tomography angiography.

PURPOSE: Female carriers of X-linked inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) can show highly variable phenotypes and disease progression. Vascular reactivity, a potential disease biomarker, has not been investigated in female IRD carriers. In this study, functional optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) was used to dynamically assess the retinal microvasculature of X-linked IRD carriers. METHODS: Genetically confirmed female carriers of IRDs (choroideremia or X-linked retinitis pigmentosa), and healthy women were recruited. Macular angiograms (3x3mm, Zeiss Plex Elite 9000) were obtained in 36 eyes of 15 X-linked IRD female carriers and 21 age-matched control women. Two tests were applied to test vascular reactivity: (i) mild hypoxia and (ii) handgrip test, to induce a vasodilatory or vasoconstrictive response, respectively. Changes to vessel density (VD) and vessel length density (VLD) were independently evaluated during each of the tests for both the superficial and deep capillary plexuses. RESULTS: In the control group, the superficial and deep VD decreased during the handgrip test (p0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Functional OCT-A is a useful tool to assess dynamic retinal microvascular changes. Subclinical impairment of the physiological vascular responses seen in carriers of X-linked IRDs may serve as a valuable clinical biomarker

Angiotensin type 2 receptor activation promotes browning of white adipose tissue and brown adipogenesis

Brown adipose tissue dissipates energy in the form of heat. Recent studies have shown that adult humans possess both classical brown and beige adipocytes (brown-like adipocytes in white adipose tissue, WAT), and stimulating brown and beige adipocyte formation can be a new avenue to treat obesity. Angiotensin II (AngII) is a peptide hormone that plays important roles in energy metabolism via its angiotensin type 1 or type 2 receptors (AT1R and AT2R). Adipose tissue is a major source of AngII and expresses both types of its receptors, implying the autocrine and paracrine role of AngII in regulating adipose functions and self-remodeling. Here, based on the in vitro studies on primary cultures of mouse white adipocytes, we report that, AT2R activation, either by AngII or AT2R agonist (C21), induces white adipocyte browning, by increasing PPARγ expression, at least in part, via ERK1/2, PI3kinase/Akt and AMPK signaling pathways. It is also found that AngII-AT2R enhances brown adipogenesis. In the in vivo studies on mice, administration of AT1R antagonist (ZD7155) or AT2R agonist (C21) leads to the increase of WAT browning, body temperature and serum adiponectin, as well as the decrease of WAT mass and the serum levels of TNFα, triglycerides and free fatty acids. In addition, AT2R-induced browning effect is also observed in human white adipocytes, as evidenced by the increased UCP1 expression and oxygen consumption. Finally, we provide evidence that AT2R plays important roles in hormone T3-induced white adipose browning. This study, for the first time, reveals the browning and brown adipogenic effects of AT2R and suggests a potential therapeutic target to combat obesity and related metabolic disorders.Ministry of Health (MOH)National Medical Research Council (NMRC)Published versionThis work was supported by the Singapore National Research Foundation under its CBRG grant (NMRC/CBRG/0070/2014) and administrated by the Singapore Ministry of Health’s National Medical Research Council

Active packaging films based on polyolefins modified by organic and inorganic nanoparticles

Nowadays, the use of polymer films for flexible packaging has gained a widespread importance because of their easy processing, good final properties, light weight and low relative cost. In order to fulfill the needs of increasingly demanding consumers respect to the quality of packaged products, additional capabilities must be incorporated into packaging. In this sense, academic and industrial efforts have focused on new technologies that provide a complementary functionality to the packaging performance. These emerging developments involve active and intelligent packaging, which can attract to consumers, improve product quality and/or balance any detrimental effect. In this context, the use of nanoparticle (NP) modified polyolefins, either in bulk (nanocomposites) or on the surface, allows the inclusion of specific functionalities. These new capabilities enable obtaining active packaging according to the requirements of the product. The aim of this chapter is to analyze the aforementioned approaches for the development of active films by incorporating antibacterial, antifungal and/or repellent functionalities. Currently, several sustainable developments of this type of active films are based on commodity thermoplastics such as poly(ethylene) and poly(propylene). These materials, modified by the incorporation of organic and inorganic NPs, are promising candidates since their final properties can be tailored for packaging application.Fil: Alonso, Yanela Natalin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Grafia, Ana Luisa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Castillo, Luciana Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Barbosa, Silvia Elena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Ingeniería Química; Argentin