Contexte: Il n’y a pas de consensus concernant la meilleure activité physique pour réduire le risque cardio-vasculaire (RCV) résultant de l'accumulation du tissu adipeux viscéral dans le syndrome métabolique (SMet). Objectif: analyser les effets de l'activité physique sur le tissu adipeux viscéral et sur le RCV chez des patients SMet. Méthodes: 100 adultes, 50-70 ans, ont été randomisés en trois groupes d’activité physique: mixte (endurance et résistance) résistance modérée + endurance modérée (re), Résistance intense + endurance modérée (Re), résistance modérée + Endurance intense (rE). Une cure de trois semaines (J0 à J20), en institution, a précédé un suivi à domicile d’une année (M12). Nous avons suivi le tissu adipeux viscéral et la composition corporelle par DXA, les paramètres du SMet, les performances en force et en endurance, et le RCV en utilisant le score de Framingham et l’épaisseur intima-média carotidienne. L’observance a été évaluée entre D20 et M12. Résultats: 78 participants (78%) ont terminé l'étude. À J20, la perte de graisse viscérale était la plus élevée pour Re (-18%, p<.0001) et plus élevée pour rE que re (-12% vs 7%, p<.0001). De même, à partir de M3, la graisse viscérale a plus pour Re et rE (p<.05) pour atteindre à M12 une perte de graisse viscérale de -21,5% (Re) et -21,1% (rE) > -13,0% (re) (p<.001). Le RCV, le SMet et les performances physiques ont été améliorées dans tous les groupes. Les principales améliorations ont été obtenues durant la cure et ont ensuite évolué en fonction de l’observance. Particulièrement entre M6 et M12, les non-observants dégradent leurs améliorations alors que les observants restent stables. La perte de tissu adipeux viscéral est corrélée aux améliorations des paramètres du SM. Conclusions: Les 3 modalités d'activité physique induisent une perte de graisse viscérale et améliorent le RCV et le SMet, mais une haute intensité en résistance entraîne une amélioration plus rapide. Une cure avec un encadrement quotidien est indispensable pour aider les patients à atteindre leurs objectifs. L’observance semble être le principal défi dans le succès du traitement du SM. / Background: Opinions differ over the type of physical activity that best limits the cardiovascular risk (CVR) resulting from visceral fat accumulation in the metabolic syndrome (MetS). Aim: To analyze the effects of physical activity on visceral fat and cardiovascular risk (CVR) in patients suffering from MetS. Methods: 100 adults, aged 50-70y, were randomized to three training groups: moderate endurance and resistance (re), dominant resistance (Re), or dominant endurance (rE). A 1-year at-home follow-up (M12) began with a 3-week residential program (Day 0 to Day 20). We measured the change in central fat and body composition by DXA, MetS parameters, fitness and CVR using the Framingham score and carotid-intima-media-thickness. Compliance was assessed between D20 and M12. Results: 78 participants (78%) completed the study. At D20, central fat loss was highest in Re (-18%, p<.0001) and higher in rE than re (-12% vs. -7%, p<.0001). Likewise, from M3, visceral fat decreased more in Re and rE than in re (p<.05) to reach at M12 a central fat loss of -21.5% (Re) and -21.1% (rE) > -13.0% (re) (p<.001). CVR, MetS parameters and fitness improved in all groups. The main improvements were obtained during the residential program and evolved thereafter depending on compliance. Non-compliers had higher values in most outcomes between M6 and M12 whereas compliers maintained improvement. Central fat loss correlated with changes in MetS parameters. Conclusions: The 3 modalities of physical activity induced central fat loss and improvements in CVR and MetS, but high-intensity-resistance resulted in a faster improvement. A residential program with daily coaching is essential to help patients achieve their aims. Compliance appears to be the main challenge in successful Mets treatment.

Abstract Metabolic Syndrome (MetSyn) is a medical condition prevalent in Australia. MetSyn is diagnosed with a varying combination of visceral obesity, insulin resistance/ impaired glucose tolerance/ Type 2 diabetes, dyslipidaemia and hypertension. Obesity is a central feature of this syndrome that is characterised by abnormalities in glucose and lipid metabolism. An understanding of the cause of the metabolic derangement that occurs in obesity, and that contributes to MetSyn, would allow effective treatment and prevention strategies to be formulated. This is a priority in the current environment of highly prevalent overweight and obesity in Australian children and adults. Lipotoxicity of insulin-dependent tissues and ectopic fat depots are emerging as fundamental processes in the pathogenesis of MetSyn. Lifestyle intervention, such as increased physical activity, show great promise as agents for disrupting the disease progression and may act via direct or indirect mechanisms on the underlying pathology of MetSyn. This study aimed to determine if diagnostic markers of MetSyn exist in obese, prepubertal, Australian children and to assess the contribution of lifestyle factors on components of MetSyn. Further, this study sought to investigate the relationship between body fat patterning (total body fat, abdominal adipose depots, skeletal intramyocellular lipids, intrahepatocellular lipids) and markers of MetSyn. An experimental intervention was then employed to examine the effect of physical activity on body fat distribution, insulin sensitivity, and haemodynamic and biochemical markers of MetSyn, and additionally to determine if the effect of exercise on parameters of MetSyn was mediated by a change in body fat patterning. Data were collected in a group of 15 obese (mean BMI Z-score 2.51 ± 0.49), prepubertal children (6 male, 9 female) aged 5.1 – 11.4 years (mean age 7.82 yrs ± 1.83). Measures included insulin sensitivity, blood biochemistry (lipid, haemostatic and adipocyte activity markers), blood pressure, two-compartment body composition by hydrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance scanning for abdominal adipose depots, intrahepatic lipids and skeletal intramyocellular lipids. Each child’s habitual nutrition and physical activity were also ascertained using multiple-pass 24-hr diet recalls and accelerometry respectively. Data collection was conducted pre and post a 12-week physical activity intervention which consisted of cardiorespiratory activity during instructor led sessions (60 mins, twice weekly) and family led sessions (>10 mins, 4 days/wk). There is no universally accepted definition of MetSyn in childhood. The International Diabetes Federation suggests that MetSyn should not be diagnosed in children aged 6 to < 10 years. Children can be identified to be at risk of MetSyn, however, based on waist circumference ≥90th percentile and family history1,2; all subjects in this study were at risk according to these criteria. Four definitions of paediatric MetSyn previously applied to a group of young, overweight Australian children3 were used to calculate the prevalence of MetSyn in the current sample and it was found to be 27-89% at baseline and 13-80% after the experimental intervention depending upon the definition used. Acanthosis nigricans and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) were present in one female child. Post-intervention, IGT had resolved and the child was glucose tolerant. Habitual dietary intake (energy intake and macronutrients) measured over a 3-day period pre-intervention displayed a significant positive association between fasting glucose and energy intake, as well as a significant negative association between fasting glucose and the protein component of the diet. Following the physical activity programme, energy intake was significantly positively correlated with body fat percentage (% BF). There was no difference found in dietary intake assessed prior to and following cessation of the physical activity intervention, in terms of energy or % energy from macronutrients. Habitual physical activity was not related to MetSyn diagnostic indicators. A higher level of physical fitness, estimated by predicted O2max (ml•kg-1•min-1), was significantly correlated with a lower level of diastolic blood pressure at baseline. A greater fitness level ( O2max) was moderately correlated with a lower BMI Z-score following the 12-week intervention. There was no difference between pre- and post-intervention habitual physical activity. A trend towards less sedentary time and increased light intensity activity was found, but these did not reach significance. Physical fitness level showed a trend for improvement following the intervention (P = 0.060). Anthropometrically determined body composition and body fat distribution did not change following the intervention. Radiologically determined abdominal adipose tissue depots were not significantly different post-intervention. % BF was not different when assessed with bioelectrical impedance analysis. However, % BF did reduce significantly over the 12-week intervention period when quantified by hydrometry (42.3% ± 5.0 vs 36.9% ± 8.6, P = 0.022). Adipokines, the secretory products of adipocytes displaying pleiotropic metabolic action, were investigated for their relation to lipid depots and additionally for change post-intervention. Cardiovascular (CV) disease risk was investigated by proatherogenic and protective blood lipids. When examined at baseline, fasting blood triacylglycerols (TAG) were inversely associated with basal and stimulated insulin sensitivity. Post-intervention, a higher level of HDL-C was found to be associated with greater insulin sensitivity, although this was not apparent at baseline. The relation between TAG and insulin sensitivity discovered pre-intervention was no longer evident. All other biomarkers of CV risk were not associated with body composition, glucose homeostasis, and lifestyle factors pre- and post-intervention. The effect of the physical activity intervention on indicators of haemostasis, physical fitness, blood lipids and lipoproteins, systemic inflammation, and fibrinolytic activity were analysed for change. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly reduced following the physical activity programme. There was no significant difference found in any other measured parameter of CV risk. Log[HOMA], a surrogate index of insulin resistance, was significantly decreased post-intervention indicating reduced insulin resistance. QUICKI, a surrogate index of insulin sensitivity, was significantly improved post-intervention. The remaining indicators of insulin resistance, insulin sensitivity and β-cell function based on fasting surrogates did not significantly change over the 12-week experimental period. Dynamic insulin sensitivity and β-cell function were investigated pre- and post-intervention using paired samples t-tests. Glucose and insulin area under the curve of the OGTT were significantly reduced and whole-body insulin sensitivity index (WBISI) was significantly increased hence showing an improvement in stimulated insulin sensitivity. AUCCP/AUCglu significantly declined also indicating an improved response to oral glucose stimulation. IGI and ΔCP30/ΔG30, as markers of β-cell insulin secretion, did not change. Disposition index, the interrelationship of insulin secretion (IGI) and insulin sensitivity (WBISI), was not changed pre- and post-intervention. Hepatic insulin extraction was increased post-intervention (4.3 ± 1.2 vs 4.8 ± 1.1, P = 0.022) possibly due to greater hepatic and/or peripheral insulin sensitivity. General linear modeling (GLM) showed the improvement in whole-body insulin sensitivity discovered following the intervention was independent of % BF, abdominal adipose tissue depots, and ectopic lipid depots. Intrahepatocellular lipids (IHCL) significantly decreased after the 12-week intervention (6.99% ± 9.41 vs 5.83% ± 8.54) whilst there was no significant change in the serum markers of liver inflammation. IHCL was positively and strongly associated with total abdominal adipose tissue, intra-abdominal adipose tissue and subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue both before and after the intervention. IHCL was positively associated with %BF measured post-intervention; this relationship almost reached significance when measured pre-intervention (P = 0.060). IHCL was not associated with insulin sensitivity either pre- or post-intervention nor with circulating lipids at either timepoint. The change in IHCL was independent of % BF and abdominal adipose tissue tested by GLM. However, there was no significant difference found in IHCL post-intervention after adjustment for insulin sensitivity (WBISI) by GLM. Prior to intervention, 10 of 15 subjects had hepatic steatosis diagnostic of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Eight of the 10 subjects with clinically significant hepatic steatosis had reduction of fatty infiltrate following the exercise intervention. In the whole group it was demonstrated that physical activity attenuates lipid infiltration of the liver independent of body fat. To further investigate the pathophysiology of ectopic lipid depots, biomarkers of oxidative stress and anti-oxidant status were examined in relation to IHCL. Pre-intervention, there was no association found between pro-oxidative or anti-oxidative activity and IHCL. Post-intervention, an inverse association of plasma carotenoid:cholesterol ratio with IHCL was found. Skeletal intramyocellular lipids (IMCL) measured in the right soleus were significantly increased post-intervention (2.4 ± 1.1 vs 2.6 ± 1.2, P = 0.035). There was no association between IMCL and % BF when measured pre- or post-intervention. Abdominal adipose depots were associated with IMCL at baseline and following the intervention. IMCL was not related to IHCL at either timepoint. Pre-intervention, there was a trend for a relationship between IMCL and insulin. Post-intervention, IMCL was tightly and inversely correlated with insulin sensitivity (r = -0.85 P = 0.000). Linear regression between IMCL and WBISI run pre-intervention and post-intervention found the slopes were not significantly different whereas the intercepts were highly significantly different (P = 0.001), thus, as IMCL increased there was a corresponding decrease in insulin sensitivity. GLM found the increase in IMCL was independent of % BF and abdominal adipose tissue, but was not independent of WBISI. These data indicate the greater IMCL level found post-intervention was a non-pathologic training adaptation. To further investigate the pathophysiology of ectopic lipid depots, biomarkers of oxidative stress and anti-oxidant status were examined in relation to IMCL. Pre-intervention, there was a positive association between malondialdehyde and IMCL. Post-intervention, an inverse association was found between IMCL and both plasma total carotenoids and total carotenoid:free cholesterol ratio. In summation, this study found improved metabolic health in obese, prepubertal children following a 12-week physical activity intervention without dietary intervention or intentional weight loss. Body fat and fat distribution were not prime mediators for the effect of the intervention on parameters of the Metabolic Syndrome; whereas insulin sensitivity was discovered to be a mediator of the change shown in ectopic fat depots. Causality and directionality of these fascinating relationships cannot be determined from the present study, and further research is encouraged. This thesis offers an insight into the pathogenesis of MetSyn and the use of physical activity to improve MetSyn in the setting of paediatric obesity.

Obesity and specifically central obesity is related to insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and other components of the so-called metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was to elucidate the interplay between hormones, nutrients and adipose depots in normal and insulin-resistant fat cell metabolism. High levels of free fatty acids (FFAs) induce insulin resistance in muscle and liver in vivo. In the present study, rat adipocytes were treated with high physiological levels of oleic or palmitic acid in vitro for 4-24 h. This treatment had no effect on basal or insulin-stimulated glucose uptake capacity in these cells, neither did it affect the levels of the insulin signalling proteins; insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 or –2, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K), protein kinase B (PKB) or glucose transporter (GLUT) 4, or the regulation of lipolysis rate. Visceral adiposity is considered to be more harmful than peripheral adiposity with respect to metabolic and cardiovascular complications. In adipose biopsies from subjects undergoing abdominal surgery, we found that glucose uptake capacity was elevated in omental as compared to subcutaneous adipocytes. The sensitivity (EC50) or maximum relative response to insulin, measured as % of basal, did however not differ between the depots. In women, subcutaneous adipocytes displayed a higher lipolysis rate following cAMP-stimulation than omental adipocytes, whereas there was a tendency towards the opposite in adipocytes from men. No differences were found between depots or sexes in the ability of insulin to inhibit lipolysis or in the levels of the lipolysis regulating proteins, i.e. protein kinase A (PKA), hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) and perilipin. Glucocorticoids, e.g. cortisol, exert pronounced insulin-antagonistic effects and are associated with redistribution of fat from peripheral to central fat depots in humans. Treatment of human subcutaneous and omental adipocytes in vitro, with the cortisol analogue dexamethasone, resulted in a dose dependent down-regulation of basal and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake capacity in omental, but not in subcutaneous cells. Concomitantly, the levels of IRS-1 and PKB were decreased only in omental adipocytes after dexamethasone treatment. The relative effect of insulin to stimulate glucose uptake was however not altered by dexamethasone treatment. The cAMP-stimulated lipolysis rate was elevated by dexamethasone treatment in cells from the subcutaneous depot in women and tended to be elevated in omental cells from men. No alterations however, were seen in the levels of the assessed lipolysis regulating proteins. Subcutaneous as well as omental fat cell size correlated negatively to insulin action in subcutaneous fat cells in vitro after adjusting for age, sex and body fat parameters in non-diabetic, but not in type 2 diabetic, subjects. Large subcutaneous fat cell size was strongly related to plasma leptin levels in non-diabetic and in type 2 diabetic subjects. We conclude that 1) adipocytes seem to be less vulnerable to elevated levels of fatty acids than muscle and liver cells, 2) the interactions between glucocorticoids and insulin in the regulation of glucose uptake differ between adipose depots, 3) depot specific hormonal lipolysis regulation differs between sexes and 4) fat cell size is related to insulin action in subcutaneous fat cells and to circulating levels of leptin.

Abstract Metabolic Syndrome (MetSyn) is a medical condition prevalent in Australia. MetSyn is diagnosed with a varying combination of visceral obesity, insulin resistance/ impaired glucose tolerance/ Type 2 diabetes, dyslipidaemia and hypertension. Obesity is a central feature of this syndrome that is characterised by abnormalities in glucose and lipid metabolism. An understanding of the cause of the metabolic derangement that occurs in obesity, and that contributes to MetSyn, would allow effective treatment and prevention strategies to be formulated. This is a priority in the current environment of highly prevalent overweight and obesity in Australian children and adults. Lipotoxicity of insulin-dependent tissues and ectopic fat depots are emerging as fundamental processes in the pathogenesis of MetSyn. Lifestyle intervention, such as increased physical activity, show great promise as agents for disrupting the disease progression and may act via direct or indirect mechanisms on the underlying pathology of MetSyn. This study aimed to determine if diagnostic markers of MetSyn exist in obese, prepubertal, Australian children and to assess the contribution of lifestyle factors on components of MetSyn. Further, this study sought to investigate the relationship between body fat patterning (total body fat, abdominal adipose depots, skeletal intramyocellular lipids, intrahepatocellular lipids) and markers of MetSyn. An experimental intervention was then employed to examine the effect of physical activity on body fat distribution, insulin sensitivity, and haemodynamic and biochemical markers of MetSyn, and additionally to determine if the effect of exercise on parameters of MetSyn was mediated by a change in body fat patterning. Data were collected in a group of 15 obese (mean BMI Z-score 2.51 ± 0.49), prepubertal children (6 male, 9 female) aged 5.1 – 11.4 years (mean age 7.82 yrs ± 1.83). Measures included insulin sensitivity, blood biochemistry (lipid, haemostatic and adipocyte activity markers), blood pressure, two-compartment body composition by hydrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance scanning for abdominal adipose depots, intrahepatic lipids and skeletal intramyocellular lipids. Each child’s habitual nutrition and physical activity were also ascertained using multiple-pass 24-hr diet recalls and accelerometry respectively. Data collection was conducted pre and post a 12-week physical activity intervention which consisted of cardiorespiratory activity during instructor led sessions (60 mins, twice weekly) and family led sessions (>10 mins, 4 days/wk). There is no universally accepted definition of MetSyn in childhood. The International Diabetes Federation suggests that MetSyn should not be diagnosed in children aged 6 to < 10 years. Children can be identified to be at risk of MetSyn, however, based on waist circumference ≥90th percentile and family history1,2; all subjects in this study were at risk according to these criteria. Four definitions of paediatric MetSyn previously applied to a group of young, overweight Australian children3 were used to calculate the prevalence of MetSyn in the current sample and it was found to be 27-89% at baseline and 13-80% after the experimental intervention depending upon the definition used. Acanthosis nigricans and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) were present in one female child. Post-intervention, IGT had resolved and the child was glucose tolerant. Habitual dietary intake (energy intake and macronutrients) measured over a 3-day period pre-intervention displayed a significant positive association between fasting glucose and energy intake, as well as a significant negative association between fasting glucose and the protein component of the diet. Following the physical activity programme, energy intake was significantly positively correlated with body fat percentage (% BF). There was no difference found in dietary intake assessed prior to and following cessation of the physical activity intervention, in terms of energy or % energy from macronutrients. Habitual physical activity was not related to MetSyn diagnostic indicators. A higher level of physical fitness, estimated by predicted O2max (ml•kg-1•min-1), was significantly correlated with a lower level of diastolic blood pressure at baseline. A greater fitness level ( O2max) was moderately correlated with a lower BMI Z-score following the 12-week intervention. There was no difference between pre- and post-intervention habitual physical activity. A trend towards less sedentary time and increased light intensity activity was found, but these did not reach significance. Physical fitness level showed a trend for improvement following the intervention (P = 0.060). Anthropometrically determined body composition and body fat distribution did not change following the intervention. Radiologically determined abdominal adipose tissue depots were not significantly different post-intervention. % BF was not different when assessed with bioelectrical impedance analysis. However, % BF did reduce significantly over the 12-week intervention period when quantified by hydrometry (42.3% ± 5.0 vs 36.9% ± 8.6, P = 0.022). Adipokines, the secretory products of adipocytes displaying pleiotropic metabolic action, were investigated for their relation to lipid depots and additionally for change post-intervention. Cardiovascular (CV) disease risk was investigated by proatherogenic and protective blood lipids. When examined at baseline, fasting blood triacylglycerols (TAG) were inversely associated with basal and stimulated insulin sensitivity. Post-intervention, a higher level of HDL-C was found to be associated with greater insulin sensitivity, although this was not apparent at baseline. The relation between TAG and insulin sensitivity discovered pre-intervention was no longer evident. All other biomarkers of CV risk were not associated with body composition, glucose homeostasis, and lifestyle factors pre- and post-intervention. The effect of the physical activity intervention on indicators of haemostasis, physical fitness, blood lipids and lipoproteins, systemic inflammation, and fibrinolytic activity were analysed for change. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly reduced following the physical activity programme. There was no significant difference found in any other measured parameter of CV risk. Log[HOMA], a surrogate index of insulin resistance, was significantly decreased post-intervention indicating reduced insulin resistance. QUICKI, a surrogate index of insulin sensitivity, was significantly improved post-intervention. The remaining indicators of insulin resistance, insulin sensitivity and β-cell function based on fasting surrogates did not significantly change over the 12-week experimental period. Dynamic insulin sensitivity and β-cell function were investigated pre- and post-intervention using paired samples t-tests. Glucose and insulin area under the curve of the OGTT were significantly reduced and whole-body insulin sensitivity index (WBISI) was significantly increased hence showing an improvement in stimulated insulin sensitivity. AUCCP/AUCglu significantly declined also indicating an improved response to oral glucose stimulation. IGI and ΔCP30/ΔG30, as markers of β-cell insulin secretion, did not change. Disposition index, the interrelationship of insulin secretion (IGI) and insulin sensitivity (WBISI), was not changed pre- and post-intervention. Hepatic insulin extraction was increased post-intervention (4.3 ± 1.2 vs 4.8 ± 1.1, P = 0.022) possibly due to greater hepatic and/or peripheral insulin sensitivity. General linear modeling (GLM) showed the improvement in whole-body insulin sensitivity discovered following the intervention was independent of % BF, abdominal adipose tissue depots, and ectopic lipid depots. Intrahepatocellular lipids (IHCL) significantly decreased after the 12-week intervention (6.99% ± 9.41 vs 5.83% ± 8.54) whilst there was no significant change in the serum markers of liver inflammation. IHCL was positively and strongly associated with total abdominal adipose tissue, intra-abdominal adipose tissue and subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue both before and after the intervention. IHCL was positively associated with %BF measured post-intervention; this relationship almost reached significance when measured pre-intervention (P = 0.060). IHCL was not associated with insulin sensitivity either pre- or post-intervention nor with circulating lipids at either timepoint. The change in IHCL was independent of % BF and abdominal adipose tissue tested by GLM. However, there was no significant difference found in IHCL post-intervention after adjustment for insulin sensitivity (WBISI) by GLM. Prior to intervention, 10 of 15 subjects had hepatic steatosis diagnostic of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Eight of the 10 subjects with clinically significant hepatic steatosis had reduction of fatty infiltrate following the exercise intervention. In the whole group it was demonstrated that physical activity attenuates lipid infiltration of the liver independent of body fat. To further investigate the pathophysiology of ectopic lipid depots, biomarkers of oxidative stress and anti-oxidant status were examined in relation to IHCL. Pre-intervention, there was no association found between pro-oxidative or anti-oxidative activity and IHCL. Post-intervention, an inverse association of plasma carotenoid:cholesterol ratio with IHCL was found. Skeletal intramyocellular lipids (IMCL) measured in the right soleus were significantly increased post-intervention (2.4 ± 1.1 vs 2.6 ± 1.2, P = 0.035). There was no association between IMCL and % BF when measured pre- or post-intervention. Abdominal adipose depots were associated with IMCL at baseline and following the intervention. IMCL was not related to IHCL at either timepoint. Pre-intervention, there was a trend for a relationship between IMCL and insulin. Post-intervention, IMCL was tightly and inversely correlated with insulin sensitivity (r = -0.85 P = 0.000). Linear regression between IMCL and WBISI run pre-intervention and post-intervention found the slopes were not significantly different whereas the intercepts were highly significantly different (P = 0.001), thus, as IMCL increased there was a corresponding decrease in insulin sensitivity. GLM found the increase in IMCL was independent of % BF and abdominal adipose tissue, but was not independent of WBISI. These data indicate the greater IMCL level found post-intervention was a non-pathologic training adaptation. To further investigate the pathophysiology of ectopic lipid depots, biomarkers of oxidative stress and anti-oxidant status were examined in relation to IMCL. Pre-intervention, there was a positive association between malondialdehyde and IMCL. Post-intervention, an inverse association was found between IMCL and both plasma total carotenoids and total carotenoid:free cholesterol ratio. In summation, this study found improved metabolic health in obese, prepubertal children following a 12-week physical activity intervention without dietary intervention or intentional weight loss. Body fat and fat distribution were not prime mediators for the effect of the intervention on parameters of the Metabolic Syndrome; whereas insulin sensitivity was discovered to be a mediator of the change shown in ectopic fat depots. Causality and directionality of these fascinating relationships cannot be determined from the present study, and further research is encouraged. This thesis offers an insight into the pathogenesis of MetSyn and the use of physical activity to improve MetSyn in the setting of paediatric obesity.

Background Osteoarthritis (OA) is a long-term chronic disease that affects the joints and creates stiffness, pain and impaired movement. Knee osteoarthritis is the most common form of OA and affects all tissues of the joint, including bone, muscles, synovia, and cartilage. Previously, OA was accepted as only an age- or mechanical stress-related degenerative joint disease, but more recent studies suggest that OA is a heterogenous disease including inflammatory, hormonal and metabolic factors such as abdominal obesity (visceral fat), lipids (cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglycerides) and glucose.    Aim The aim was to investigate the association of metabolic factors including fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL, HDL, visceral fat, CRP and radiographic KOA in patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. Methods Data were acquired from 91patients in the ages 30 – 63 experiencing symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. All subjects where divided into two groups depending on their level of fasting glucose, high versus low. Group I (n=26) had high glucose levels ≥5,6 mg/L and group II (n=65) had low glucose levels &lt;5,6 mg/L.  Levels of HbA1c, lipids, visceral fat, CRP and radiographic KOA were then compared between the groups. Levels of fasting glucose, HbA1c and lipids (triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL, HDL) were analyzed by an accredited laboratory at the hospital of Halmstad by the department for labmedicine. CRP levels &lt; 1 mg/L were manually analyzed with the sandwich ELISA method (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), which measures high-sensitive CRP (hsCRP) in serum. Visceral fat area was measured through bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) with InBody 770 and radiographs of the knees to obtain information about OA. Results There was a significant difference between the two groups in HbA1c, triglycerides, cholesterol and LDL p&lt;0,05. Group I with high fasting glucose levels showed higher significant values of HbA1c, triglycerides, cholesterol and LDL than group II with low fasting glucose levels. 23% of all subjects met the requirement for metabolic syndrome according to IDF. Conclusion The findings in this study is in line with previous research and suggest that high glucose levels are associated with elevation of other metabolic factors in patients with knee osteoarthritis. However, there are several other interacting factors beyond the scope of this study, which may explain causalities. According to the findings in this study and previous research, obesity and metabolic syndrome could explain some of the connections between metabolic factors and knee osteoarthritis. Thus, further research is necessary to understand how all these metabolic factors are associated with osteoarthritis and obtain deeper knowledge about the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of the disease. / Detection and prediction of disease course in symptomatic knee osteoarthritis

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-19T17:37:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTACAO_MARA SILVIA PINHEIRO CUTRIM.pdf: 3524698 bytes, checksum: a38c10c89cd9a56a6544e806c9170df3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-06-26 / Introduction: Advances in the study of obesity and its correlation with the metabolic syndrome, association with systemic hypertension and diabetes mellitus corroborated the need for a more detailed assessment of body fat distribution, focusing on central obesity, which is characterized by adipose tissue storage compartments predominantly in subcutaneous and visceral abdominal and is inserted between the components of metabolic syndrome, visceral with emphasis on component which can be included among the risk factors for developing or worsening of cardiovascular diseases, and chronic renal disease. Importantly the above morbidities are correlated with ethnicity, highlighting the high prevalence of hypertension in young adults and refractory to anti-hypertensive drugs in the Afro-descendant population. Objective: To quantitatively identify the visceral abdominal fat in the resident population of African descent in Quilombola Communities in the Municipality of Alcântara (MA). Methods: The PREVRENAL research project aimed to estimate the prevalence of kidney disease in adults living in maroon communities in the municipality of Alcântara - MA, and visceral abdominal fat was quantified in hypertensive individuals, diabetics, hypertensive and diabetic selected to perform computed tomography of the abdomen, with protocol single predetermined volumetric section in the L3-L4 time and subsequent analysis in a workstation with appropriate software to measure the amount of adipose tissue, using a cutoff point set for both sexes. The examinations were filed in laptop used exclusively for this purpose, containing own program for radiological image view. Numerical data of the visceral fat volume were stored in specific computerized database created in EPI INFO 2000 to PREVRENAL project. Results: The results found a strong association between the measure of waist circumference and increased visceral fat, according to the literary described in several scientific research. Conclusion: The anthropometric indicators showed high correlation with the amount of visceral adipose tissue, especially waist circumference, higher among men. The prevalence of central obesity rates in the Maroons population, black ethnicity showed no significant difference in percentage values reported in the literature in the general population. / Introdução: O avanço no estudo da obesidade e sua intrínseca associação como causa ou fator de risco para desenvolver hipertensão arterial sistêmica corroborou com a necessidade de uma avaliação mais detalhada da distribuição da gordura corporal, com foco na obesidade central, que se caracteriza pelo predomínio de depósito de tecido adiposo nos compartimentos subcutâneo e visceral do abdome, dando ênfase para o componente visceral, o qual está incluído entre os fatores de risco ou agravantes para o desenvolvimento primordialmente de doenças cardiovasculares. É importante salientar que as morbidades acima referidas têm correlação com a etnia, destacando-se a alta prevalência de hipertensão arterial em adultos jovens e refratária às medicações anti-hipertensivas na população afrodescendente. Objetivo: Identificar quantitativamente a gordura abdominal visceral em hipertensos de Comunidades Quilombolas no Município de Alcântara (MA). Métodos: selecionada a população hipertensa para realizar tomografia computadorizada do abdômen com protocolo pré-estabelecido, realizando corte volumétrico único na altura de L3-L4 ou L4-L5, e posterior análise em estação de trabalho com software apropriado para medir o volume desse tecido adiposo, utilizando-se ponto de corte definido para ambos os sexos. Os exames foram arquivados em computador portátil utilizado exclusivamente para esse fim, contendo programa próprio para visualização de imagem radiológica. Os dados numéricos do volume da gordura visceral foram armazenados no banco de dados informatizado específico criado no programa EPI INFO 2000 para o projeto PREVRENAL. Resultados: Os resultados encontraram forte associação entre as medidas antropométricas e o aumento da gordura visceral, de acordo com os descritos literários de várias pesquisas científicas. Conclusão: Os indicadores antropométricos apresentaram alta correlação com o volume de tecido adiposo visceral, observando-se que as taxas de prevalência da obesidade central na população quilombola, etnia negra, não mostraram diferença percentual importante dos valores descritos na literatura na população em geral.

Purpose: This paper attempts to develop production functions (PF) between aerobic exercise inputs and long-run health outputs. Future studies could use such PF for estimating the benefits and costs (broadly defined) of different exercise programs to help develop optimal (utility maximizing) ones. Methods: To develop the PF, the paper reviewed the biomedical literature for the major dose-response relations between health, physical fitness, and exercise. Where relevant, the paper converted the dose-response relationships from relative risks to absolute probabilities and standardized terminology and units of measures. Results: The paper develops a clear set of biological PF that illustrate, quantitatively, how increases in peak cardiorespiratory (CR) fitness as measured by a short stress test reduce the probability of all-cause mortality; how increasing intensities of short (approximately 30 min, three to five times a week) exercise sessions increase peak CR fitness or retard its age-related decline; and how consistent exercise reduces the risk of myocardial infarctions (MI). Conclusions: The exercise-long-run health PF developed in this paper should provide a useful framework for other studies to estimate the broadly defined costs and benefits of different exercise programs and to help develop optimal ones.

We have recently demonstrated that C57BL/6NTac and C57BL/6JRj substrains are significantly different in their response to high-fat diet-induced obesity (DIO). The C57BL/6JRj substrain seems to be protected from DIO and genetic differences between C57BL/6J and C57BL/6N substrains at 11 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci have been identified. To define genetic variants as well as differences in parameters of glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity between C57BL/6NTac and C57BL/6JRj substrains that may explain the different response to DIO, we analyzed 208 first backcross (BC1) hybrids of C57BL/6NTac and C57BL/6JRj [(C57BL/6NTac × C57BL/6JRj)F1 × C57BL/6NTac] mice. Body weight, epigonadal and subcutaneous fat mass, circulating leptin, as well as parameters of glucose metabolism were measured after 10 wk of high-fat diet (HFD). Genetic profiling of BC1 hybrids were performed using TaqMan SNP genotyping assays. Furthermore, to assess whether SNP polymorphisms could affect mRNA level, we carried out gene expression analysis in murine liver samples. Human subcutaneous adipose tissue was used to verify murine data of SNAP29. We identified four sex-specific variants that are associated with the extent of HFD-induced weight gain and fat depot mass. BC1 hybrids carrying the combination of risk or beneficial alleles exhibit the phenotypical extremes of the parental strains. Murine and human SC expression analysis revealed Snap29 as strongest candidate. Our data indicate an important role of these loci in responsiveness to HFD-induced obesity and suggest genes of the synaptic vesicle release system such as Snap29 being involved in the regulation of high-fat DIO.

No description available.

<p>Conclusion of this study: These data suggest that 6 weeks of high-fat feeding induces hypertension but does not produce obesity, dyslipidemia and insulin resistance. However, this model may be useful in studying vascular reactivity in hypertension in the absence of insulin resistance.</p>