International journal of obesity : journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity
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MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous small RNAs that posttranscriptionally regulate gene expression and that have been shown to have important roles in numerous disease processes. There is growing evidence for an important role of miRNAs in regulating the pathways in adipose tissue that control a range of processes including adipogenesis, insulin resistance and inflammation. Several high-throughput studies have identified differentially expressed miRNAs in adipose tissue pathology and during adipogenesis and a number of these have now been characterised functionally in terms of their actions and targets. This review will summarise the current literature on miRNAs in adipose tissue, as well as discussing the methodologies used in this area of research and the potential application of miRNAs as biomarkers and as therapeutic targets.
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The biological mechanisms that link the development of depression to metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes remain obscure. Dopamine- and plasticity-related signalling in mesolimbic reward circuitry is implicated in the pathophysiology and aetiology of depression. ⋯ Our results demonstrate that chronic consumption of high-fat food and obesity induce plasticity-related changes in reward circuitry that are associated with a depressive-like phenotype. As increases in striatal BDNF and CREB activity are well implicated in depressive behaviour and reward, we suggest these signalling molecules may mediate the effects of high-fat feeding and DIO to promote negative emotional states and depressive-like symptomology.
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To examine the relationship between short sleep duration and body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), visceral fat area (VFA) and subcutaneous fat area (SFA) among a working population in Japan. ⋯ Shorter sleep duration is associated with higher BMI, WC and SFA in men. Further research is needed to explicate the biological mechanisms behind these relationships and to see whether interventions addressing inadequate sleep could treat or prevent obesity by taking gender differences into consideration.
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Comparative Study
Two-year outcome of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in adolescents with severe obesity: results from a Swedish Nationwide Study (AMOS).
The prevalence of obesity among adolescents has increased and we lack effective treatments. ⋯ Adolescents with severe obesity demonstrated similar weight loss as adults following gastric bypass surgery yet demonstrating high prevalence of psychopathology at baseline. There were associated benefits for health and quality of life. Surgical and psychological challenges during follow-up require careful attention.
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Numerous studies have documented an obesity paradox in which the overweight and obese elderly have a better prognosis than those with ideal body weight. Good prognosis among the overweight or obese elderly may reflect the relative safety of storing the harmful lipophilic chemicals, known as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), in adipose tissue rather than in other critical organs. Therefore, we hypothesized lower mortality among the obese elderly with a higher body burden of POPs, but this pattern may not exist among the obese elderly with a lower body burden of POPs. ⋯ These findings are consistent with our hypothesis that adipose tissue provides relatively safe storage of toxic lipophilic chemicals, a phenomenon that could explain the obesity paradox. Although weight loss may be beneficial among the obese elderly with low POP concentrations, weight loss in the obese elderly with higher serum concentrations of POPs may carry some risk.