scholarly journals Effect of Differences in the Microbiome of Cyp17a1-Deficient Mice on Atherosclerotic Background

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1292
Author(s):  
Axel Künstner ◽  
Redouane Aherrahrou ◽  
Misa Hirose ◽  
Petra Bruse ◽  
Saleh Mohamed Ibrahim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Alpha Diversity ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Fat Distribution ◽  
Substantial Effect ◽  
The Body ◽  
Cytochrome P450 Enzyme ◽  
Significant Positive Association ◽  
Network Analyses

CYP17A1 is a cytochrome P450 enzyme that has 17-alpha-hydroxylase and C17,20-lyase activities. Cyp17a11 deficiency is associated with high body mass and visceral fat deposition in atherosclerotic female ApoE knockout (KO, d/d or -/-) mice. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of diet and Cyp17a1 genotype on the gut microbiome. Female Cyp17a1 (d/d) x ApoE (d/d) (DKO) and ApoE (d/d) (controls) were fed either standard chow or a Western-type diet (WTD), and we demonstrated the effects of genetics and diet on the body mass of the mice and composition of their gut microbiome. We found a significantly lower alpha diversity after accounting for the ecological network structure in DKO mice and WTD-fed mice compared with chow-fed ApoE(d/d). Furthermore, we found a strong significant positive association of the Firmicutes vs. Bacteroidota ratio with body mass and the circulating total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations of the mice when feeding the WTD, independent of the Cyp17a1 genotype. Further pathway enrichment and network analyses revealed a substantial effect of Cyp17a1 genotype on associated cardiovascular and obesity-related pathways involving aspartate and L-arginine. Future studies are required to validate these findings and further investigate the role of aspartate/L-arginine pathways in the obesity and body fat distribution in our mouse model.

scholarly journals Changes in Body Fat Distribution in Antiretroviral-Naive HIV-Positive Individuals Initiating Current ART Regimens

2018 ◽  
Vol 104 (3) ◽  
pp. 900-905 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Tiraboschi ◽  
Antonio Navarro-Alcaraz ◽  
Dolors Giralt ◽  
Carmen Gomez-Vaquero ◽  
Maria Saumoy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
Fat Mass ◽  
Fat Distribution ◽  
Body Fat Distribution ◽  
The Body ◽  
Strand Transfer ◽  
Mass Ratio ◽  
Total Fat ◽  
Fat Mass Ratio

Abstract Objectives To describe the changes in body fat distribution (BFD) occurring over 60 months in a group of antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naive individuals starting different antiretroviral regimens. Methods A prospective ongoing fat change assessment including clinical evaluation and dual X-ray absorptiometry scan is being conducted in all consecutive patients initiating ART from January 2008. Arm, leg, trunk, and total fat as well as fat mass ratio were determined. Results A total of 146 patients were included (80% male, 40% MSM). Mean age was 44 years, HIV-1 RNA was 4.98 log10 copies/mL, and CD4 count was 254 cells/μL. The most common initial antiretroviral combination included non-nucleoside reverse transcription inhibitor (NNRTI) drugs followed by protease inhibitor (PI) and integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI)-based regimens. At month 36, an increase was seen in the body mass index (BMI), total fat, trunk fat, and limb fat. The fat mass ratio (FMR) also showed a significant increase in both men and women (P = 0.001). In patients receiving NNRTI- or INSTI-based regimens (but not PIs), there was a marginal but statistically significant increase in the FMR (0.10 and 0.07, respectively; P = 0.01). Sixty-two subjects completed 60 months of follow-up. FMR showed a significant increase even in the PI group at this time point (P < 0.03). Conclusions We observed a significant increase in the fat and lean body mass in all compartments and treatment groups over 36 and 60 months. Clinically irrelevant differences were found in fat distribution regardless of the treatment group and baseline characteristics. The data suggest that current antiretroviral regimens have little impact on BFD during the first years of treatment.

scholarly journals A quantitative analysis of environmental associations in sauropod dinosaurs

Paleobiology ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 253-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip D. Mannion ◽  
Paul Upchurch
Keyword(s):  
Positive Association ◽  
Large Data ◽  
The Body ◽  
Time Range ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Coastal Environments ◽  
Carbonate Platforms ◽  
Significant Positive Association ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Body Fossil

Both the body fossils and trackways of sauropod dinosaurs indicate that they inhabited a range of inland and coastal environments during their 160-Myr evolutionary history. Quantitative paleoecological analyses of a large data set of sauropod occurrences reveal a statistically significant positive association between non-titanosaurs and coastal environments, and between titanosaurs and inland environments. Similarly, “narrow-gauge” trackways are positively associated with coastal environments and “wide-gauge” trackways are associated with inland environments. The statistical support for these associations suggests that this is a genuine ecological signal: non-titanosaur sauropods preferred coastal environments such as carbonate platforms, whereas titanosaurs preferred inland environments such as fluvio-lacustrine systems. These results remain robust when the data set is time sliced and jackknifed in various ways. When the analyses are repeated using the more inclusive groupings of titanosauriforms and Macronaria, the signal is weakened or lost. These results reinforce the hypothesis that “wide-gauge” trackways were produced by titanosaurs. It is commonly assumed that the trackway and body fossil records will give different results, with the former providing a more reliable guide to the habitats occupied by extinct organisms because footprints are produced during life, whereas carcasses can be transported to different environments prior to burial. However, this view is challenged by our observation that separate body fossil and trackway data sets independently support the same conclusions regarding environmental preferences in sauropod dinosaurs. Similarly, analyzing localities and individuals independently results in the same environmental associations. We demonstrate that conclusions about environmental patterns among fossil taxa can be highly sensitive to an investigator's choices regarding analytical protocols. In particular, decisions regarding the taxonomic groupings used for comparison, the time range represented by the data set, and the criteria used to identify the number of localities can all have a marked effect on conclusions regarding the existence and nature of putative environmental associations. We recommend that large data sets be explored for such associations at a variety of different taxonomic and temporal scales.

Benefits, Costs, and Determinants of Dominance in American Black Ducks

Behaviour ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 109 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 222-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary R. Hepp
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Dominance Rank ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Restricted Diet ◽  
Significant Positive Association ◽  
Young Males ◽  
Young Females ◽  
American Black ◽  
Ad Libitum

AbstractBehavioural dominance was studied in captive American black ducks (Anas rubripes) during October-December 1984. Eighty ducks were marked individually, and groups of 10 ducks consisting of 5 adults (3 males and 2 females) and 5 juveniles (3 males and 2 females) were assigned to each of 8 experimental pens. Ducks in 4 pens received an ad libitum diet, and ducks in the other 4 pens were given a restricted diet. Dominance structure within pens was linear. Adults were dominant to young, and body mass had no influence on dominance rank. The effect of sex on dominance rank was age-specific. Adult males were dominant to adult females and to young black ducks of both sexes; however, dominance rank of young males did not differ from adult or young females. Paired adults were dominant to unpaired adults and to young individuals that were either paired or unpaired. Paired young black ducks were similar in dominance rank to unpaired adults and unpaired young indicating that pairing did not make these individuals more dominant. Ducks on the restricted diet gained less body mass than ducks on the ad libitum diet (HEPP, 1986), but dominant and subordinate black ducks within treatment groups experienced similar changes in body mass during the early winter. Dominant black ducks interacted more frequently and were more likely to form pair bonds than subordinates, thus higher energy costs of dominant individuals may explain the poor relationship between physical condition and dominance rank. There was a significant positive association between the dominance ranks of pair members.

scholarly journals Gut microbiome diversity influenced more by the Westernized dietary regime than the body mass index as assessed using effect size statistic

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. e00476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon C. Davis ◽  
Jagjit S. Yadav ◽  
Stephanie D. Barrow ◽  
Boakai K. Robertson
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Effect Size ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
The Body ◽  
Microbiome Diversity ◽  
Dietary Regime

Lernaeocera lusci (Copepoda: Pennellidae) on bib (Trisopterus luscus) from Southampton Water

Parasitology ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
pp. 161-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. A. Evans ◽  
P. J. Whitfield ◽  
R. N. Bamber ◽  
P. M. Espin
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Marked Effect ◽  
Cooling Water ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Parasitic Copepod ◽  
Infected Fish ◽  
The Body ◽  
Significant Positive Association ◽  
Southampton Water ◽  
The Mean

SUMMARYO-group bib, Trisopterus luscus caught on the cooling water intake screens of Fawley Power Station in March and April 1982 were infected (prevalence = 34·8%; intensity = 1·65/infected fish) with adult females of the pennellid parasitic copepod Lernaeocera lusci. The bib sample of 293 fish was divided, for analysis, into 5 length classes. In each of these the level of parasitization with L. lusci was broadly similar and in all 5 classes the parasite population was over-dispersed. Of the living copepods on T. luscus, 93% possessed egg strings while the remaining 7% consisted of earlier developmental stages. The majority of the parasites were attached to gill arches and here they exhibited distinct microhabitat and orientation preferences. A 3–2–4–1 descending order of gill arch utilization was apparent and copepods were non-randomly distributed along the dorso-ventral axis of gill arches with medial and ventral sectors being more heavily used than dorsal ones. An analysis was carried out on the body and egg string wet weights of parasites removed from fish harbouring different parasite densities. As copepod density increased neither the mean parasite body weight nor egg string weight altered significantly. Length/weight relationships of uninfected and infected fish were remarkably similar and thus provided no evidence that L. lusci has a marked effect on the condition of O-group T. luscus. The study demonstrated a significant positive association between infection with L. lusci and heavy infections with metacercarial cysts of Cryptocotyle lingua.

scholarly journals Changes in the gut microbiota diversity of brown frogs (Rana dybowskii) after an antibiotic bath

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qing Tong ◽  
Li-Yong Cui ◽  
Jia Bie ◽  
Xiao-Yun Han ◽  
Zong-Fu Hu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
High Throughput Sequencing ◽  
Alpha Diversity ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Functional Composition ◽  
Significant Positive Association ◽  
Collateral Effect

Abstract Background Captive amphibians frequently receive antibiotic baths to control bacterial diseases. The potential collateral effect of these antibiotics on the microbiota of frogs is largely unknown. To date, studies have mainly relied on oral administration to examine the effects of antibiotics on the gut microbiota; in contrast, little is known regarding the effects of bath-applied antibiotics on the gut microbiota. The gut microbiota compositions of the gentamicin, recovery, and control groups were compared by Illumina high-throughput sequencing, and the functional profiles were analysed using Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt). Furthermore, the relationship between the structure and predicted functional composition of the gut microbiota was determined. Results The alpha diversity indices were significantly reduced by the gentamicin bath, illustrating that this treatment significantly changed the composition of the gut microbiota. After 7 days, the gut microbiota of the recovery group was not significantly different from that of the gentamicin group. Forty-four indicator taxa were selected at the genus level, comprising 42 indicators representing the control group and 2 indicators representing the gentamicin and recovery groups. Potential pathogenic bacteria of the genera Aeromonas, Citrobacter, and Chryseobacterium were significantly depleted after the gentamicin bath. There was no significant positive association between the community composition and functional composition of the gut microbiota in the gentamicin or control frogs, indicating that the functional redundancy of the gut bacterial community was high. Conclusions Gentamicin significantly changed the structure of the gut microbiota of R. dybowskii, and the gut microbiota exhibited weak resilience. However, the gentamicin bath did not change the functional composition of the gut microbiota of R. dybowskii, and there was no significant correlation between the structural composition and the functional composition of the gut microbiota.

Obesity and ovarian cancer risk: A systematic review

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 183-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ke Wei Foong ◽  
Helen Bolton
Keyword(s):  
Ovarian Cancer ◽  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Cancer Risk ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Final Analysis ◽  
Ovarian Tumour ◽  
Normal Weight ◽  
Ovarian Cancer Risk ◽  
Significant Positive Association

The association between obesity and ovarian cancer risk has been extensively investigated, but studies have yielded inconsistent findings. This review aims to summarise and discuss the evidence generated to date. Articles published in English prior to August 2016 were retrieved from PubMed. Keywords included obesity, overweight, body size, body mass index, waist–hip ratio, waist circumference, body weight, ovarian cancer, ovarian carcinoma, ovarian neoplasm, and ovarian tumour. Eligible studies compared two or more groups of women, with at least one group in the overweight or obese category and one comprising normal weight controls. Summary data in the form of relative risk, hazard ratio, or odds ratio for each comparison group from individual studies were collated and reviewed. Forty-three studies were included in the final analysis, with a total of 3,491,943 participants. All studies included body mass index as an exposure measure, and a majority relied on self-reported measures from participants; 14 studies found a statistically significant positive association between ovarian cancer risk and higher body mass index, 26 studies found no significant association, and 3 studies found a negative association between ovarian cancer risk and higher body mass index. This review concludes that there is limited, inconsistent evidence of a positive association between obesity and ovarian cancer risk.

scholarly journals Exogenous hormone use, reproductive factors, and risk of intracranial meningioma in females

2013 ◽  
Vol 118 (3) ◽  
pp. 649-656 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth B. Claus ◽  
Lisa Calvocoressi ◽  
Melissa L. Bondy ◽  
Margaret Wrensch ◽  
Joseph L. Wiemels ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
San Francisco ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Hormone Replacement ◽  
Premenopausal Women ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Age At Menarche ◽  
Intracranial Meningioma ◽  
Significant Positive Association ◽  
Increased Risk

Object The 2-fold higher incidence of meningioma in women compared with men has long suggested a role for hormonally mediated risk factors, but specific mechanisms remain elusive. Methods The study included data obtained in 1127 women 29–79 years of age with intracranial meningioma diagnosed among residents of Connecticut, Massachusetts, North Carolina, the San Francisco Bay Area, and 8 Texas counties between May 1, 2006, and October 6, 2011, and data obtained in 1092 control individuals who were frequency matched for age group and geography with meningioma patients. Results No association was observed for age at menarche, age at menopause, or parity and meningioma risk. Women who reported breastfeeding for at least 6 months were at reduced risk of meningioma (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.63–0.96). A significant positive association existed between meningioma risk and increased body mass index (p < 0.01) while a significant negative association existed between meningioma risk and current smoking (p < 0.01). Among premenopausal women, current use of oral contraceptives was associated with an increased risk of meningiomas (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1–2.9), while current use of hormone replacement therapy among postmenopausal women was not associated with a significant elevation in risk (OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.74–1.67). There was no association between use of fertility medications and meningioma risk. Conclusions The authors' study confirms associations for body mass index, breastfeeding, and cigarette smoking but provides little evidence for associations of reproductive and menstrual factors with meningioma risk. The relationship between current use of exogenous hormones and meningioma remains unclear, limited by the small numbers of patients currently on oral hormone medications and a lack of hormone receptor data for meningioma tumors.

scholarly journals TRUNK BODY MASS INDEX: A NEW REFERENCE FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF BODY MASS DISTRIBUTION

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariane TAKESIAN ◽  
Marco Aurelio SANTO ◽  
Alexandre Vieira GADDUCCI ◽  
Gabriela Correia de Faria SANTARÉM ◽  
Julia GREVE ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Mass Distribution ◽  
Fat Mass ◽  
Preoperative Evaluation ◽  
Fat Distribution ◽  
The Body ◽  
Fat Free Mass ◽  
Super Obesity ◽  
Obesity Class

ABSTRACT Background: Body mass index (BMI) has some limitations for nutritional diagnosis since it does not represent an accurate measure of body fat and it is unable to identify predominant fat distribution. Aim: To develop a BMI based on the ratio of trunk mass and height. Methods: Fifty-seven patients in preoperative evaluation to bariatric surgery were evaluated. The preoperative anthropometric evaluation assessed weight, height and BMI. The body composition was evaluated by bioimpedance, obtaining the trunk fat free mass and fat mass, and trunk height. Trunk BMI (tBMI) was calculated by the sum of the measurements of the trunk fat free mass (tFFM) and trunk fat mass (tFM) in kg, divided by the trunk height squared (m2)). The calculation of the trunk fat BMI (tfBMI) was calculated by tFM, in kg, divided by the trunk height squared (m2)). For the correction and adjustment of the tBMI and tfBMI, it was calculated the relation between trunk extension and height, multiplying by the obtained indexes. Results: The mean data was: weight 125.3±19.5 kg, height 1.63±0.1 m, BMI was 47±5 kg/m2) and trunk height was 0.52±0,1 m, tFFM was 29.05±4,8 kg, tFM was 27.2±3.7 kg, trunk mass index was 66.6±10.3 kg/m², and trunk fat was 32.3±5.8 kg/m². In 93% of the patients there was an increase in obesity class using the tBMI. In patients with grade III obesity the tBMI reclassified to super obesity in 72% of patients and to super-super obesity in 24% of the patients. Conclusion: The trunk BMI is simple and allows a new reference for the evaluation of the body mass distribution, and therefore a new reclassification of the obesity class, evidencing the severity of obesity in a more objectively way.

scholarly journals Homo sapiens are bilaterally symmetrical but not with toe length and toe-length ratios among Nigerians

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 1024-1032
Author(s):  
A.S. Alabi ◽  
G.S. Oladipo ◽  
B.C. Didia ◽  
E.O. Aigbogun ◽  
K.A. Akintunde
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
Homo Sapiens ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Bilateral Symmetry ◽  
The Body ◽  
Male Population ◽  
Linear Measurements ◽  
Significant Positive Association ◽  
Female Population

The concept of bilateral symmetry in organisms involves the division of the body plan along a plane that splits the animal's body into right and left sides that are mirror images of each other. However can this be true for toe lengths and ratios? The present study evaluates the symmetric differences in toe length and toe-length ratios among the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria. A total of 1574 adult Nigerian Hausas (664), Igbos (420) and Yorubas (490) of equal sex were included in the study. Aged between 18-65 years, were randomly selected from various states. Written informed consent was taken from each participant, sample size was determined by proportion, using Cochran formulae for infinite population. A digital Vernier caliper was used to obtain direct linear measurements of the toe length of both feet; hallux (1T), second toe (2T), third toe (3T), fourth toe (4T), and the fifth toe (5T). Ten (10) possible toe-length ratios were also determined and named as follows; 1T/2T, 1T/3T, 1T/4T, 1T/5T, 2T/3T, 2T/4T, 2T/5T, 3T/4T, 3T/5T, and 4T/5T. Data were analyzed using SPSS (IBM®Armonk, New York, USA) and Minitab V17 (Minitab® Inc. State College, Pennsylvania) statistical software. Paired-sample t-test was used to evaluate symmetry; Pearson’s Correlation was used for inter-prediction of the toes and ratios. Confidence level was set at 95%; as P-values ≤0.05 were considered significant. The result showed that some of the toe length of both feet were significantly assymetrical among the studied ethnic groups; Hausa males (1T df=1.35 and 5T df=0.55; P<0.05) and females (1T and 3T; (1T df=0.27, 3T df=0.47) P<0.001), Igbo males (1T, 3T and 4T(1T df=0.47, 3T, df=-0.53, 4T df=-0.58) ; P<0.05 and females 1T and 3T(1T df=0.40, T3 df=-0.64) ; P<0.01) and Yoruba males(1T, 2T, 3T and 5T(1T df=1.29, 2T df=0.47, 3T df=0.15, and 5T df=0.55,); P<0.001) and females (1T and 5T(1T df=0.77; 5T df=0.23) ;P<0.001). The toe-length ratios also displayed symmetrical differences for Nigerian male population; 1T:2T [t=3.78, P<0.001], 1T:3T [t=6.27, P<0.001], 1T:4T [t=6.04, P<0.001], 1T:5T [t=2.43, P=0.015], 2T:3T [t=2.23, P=0.026], 3T:5T [t=-3.78, P<0.001] and 4T:5T [t=-3.77, P<0.001].For the female population, all ratios were not significantly different except for1T:4T [t=2.56, P=0.011]. However, both feet displayed significant positive association for co-estimation of the corresponding toe length and toe-length ratios (r-values ranging from 0.20-0.70 at P<0.05).Ethnic and sex specific asymmetry were observed in the toe length and toe-length ratios; thus suggesting that anthropometrically, organisms are not completely bilaterally symmetrical.Keywords: Asymmetry, Bilateral symmetry, Toe length, Toe-length ratio, Ethnic groups

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