Obesity in mice can be ameliorated by transplantation of hypothalamic neurons

The db/db mouse is widely employed as model of morbid obesity and its main feature is that it lacks of the receptor of a hormone called leptin. This hormone plays a major role in the hypothalamus, were things like sleep, thirst, body temperature, and hunger are regulated.

In a recent study published in Science, Czupryn et al., showed that increasing leptin-receptor containing neurons in the hypothalamus could work to help db/db mice to reduce weight. They took newborn db/db mice and controls, and gave them an implant of neurons containing the leptin receptor. After the mice grew up, the authors found that the neurons were able to express the leptin receptor in the hypothalamus. The result was a lower body weight in mice treated with the leptin expressing neurons compared to non-treated db/db mice, but not as low as control mice.

Still, though it’s not the whole answer, it’s an interesting start to understanding not only the role of the hypothalamus in obesity and type 2 diabetes, but also how we might be able to change receptors in the brain to restore leptin sensitivity, and decrease sever obesity and the type 2 diabetes that often goes with it.

Source: Scientific American and
Czupryn, A., Zhou, Y., Chen, X., McNay, D., Anderson, M., Flier, J., & Macklis, J. (2011). Transplanted Hypothalamic Neurons Restore Leptin Signaling and Ameliorate Obesity in db/db Mice Science, 334 (6059), 1133-1137

New drug to prevent pregnant obese women to give birth to obese babies

A UK trial will soon be under way whereby a commonly used diabetes pill will be administered to obese pregnant women in an attempt to prevent overweight mothers from delivering obese babies.

Obese women who become pregnant are generally at risk of complications such as pre-eclampsia (potentially fatal), fetal death, possible birth defects and a greater number of caesarean deliveries. Children born to obese mothers are twice as likely to be obese and to develop type 2 diabetes later in life. Obesity during pregnancy is also associated with greater use of health care services and a longer hospital stay.

Given the disturbing trend of increasing obesity among women in many developed countries, the answer is, apparently, to counter this by medicating babies while still in the womb. The trial will involve 100 obese but non-diabetic volunteers at hospitals in Liverpool and Coventry, England and Edinburgh, Scotland. Half will take the drug Metformin after the first trimester of their pregnancies and the other half will take a placebo.

Many weight loss groups and others feel that this news is most disturbing and gives the message that there is a solution to conditions such as obesity, which involve simply taking a pill as a "cure". The emphasis, they feel, should be on encouraging mothers-to-be to lose excess weight before even considering bringing a child into the world.

Studies have consistently shown that lifestyle modification that includes a healthy diet, regular exercise and weight management can prevent the many and various conditions associated with obesity, such as diabetes, gestational diabetes mellitus, and so on.

The ethics of medicating babies while in the womb, or the possible long-term effects of administering drugs of this nature, are also reasons for concern.

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/h...

Kids who get recommended sleep least likely to be obese

Scientists at the University of Chicago and the University of Louisville compared the sleep patterns of 308 children, ages 4-10, with their body mass index, a number that considers height and weight. The children wore special wrist-band devices for a week to track the amount they slept.

Some of the kids had blood work done to look at their glucose, insulin, triglycerides and cholesterol levels, which are markers for the risk of type 2 diabetes and future cardiovascular disease.

The study, out online today in Pediatrics, shows:

•Kids slept an average of eight hours a night. This is far less than the nine or more hours recommended for this age group.

•Kids who slept at least 9½ to 10 hours were the least likely to be obese or to have unhealthy blood work.

•The children who slept the least and had the most irregular sleep schedule (they didn't go to bed at a set time) had a substantially greater risk of being obese and having unhealthy blood work.

•Those who got caught up on sleep on the weekends somewhat reduced their risk of being obese or having unhealthy blood work.

•Obese children were less likely to get caught up on their sleep on the weekends.

"Good sleep routines and sleeping the right amount is the best healthy proposition," says lead author David Gozal, chair of the department of pediatrics at the University of Chicago.

Previous research shows that not getting enough sleep may contribute to weight gain partly because it affects hormones that control hunger and feeling full.

Source: USA today. http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/life/20110124/sleepandweight24_st.art.htm

Obese adolescents and the risk of breast cancer

According to a recent review, adolescent girls and in high risk of developing breast cancer.

Breast cancer, the second most common cause of cancer death in women, is strongly associated with obesity; this relationship is particularly true in postmenopausal breast cancer. There are many factors that many explain the relationship between adiposity and breast cancer. Obesity is related to elevated levels of insulin and leptin, and lower levels of adiponectin. Hyperinsulinemia may impact and affect tumorigenesis. Peripheral aromatization of androgens in adipose tissue is enhanced by leptin, leading to greater estrogen levels.Adipocytokines may participate as cancer promoters and regulators, and participate in regulation of sex steroids by interleukins 4 and 6 (Il-4, Il-6). Increased serum levels of leptin and resistin, and decreased levels of adiponectin, were related to tumor metastasis.

From: In-Iw and Biro. Adolescent Women and Obesity. Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology