<p dir="ltr">In the three conducted studies, we investigated the role of serum albumin in metabolic processes, particularly in lipid metabolism and glucoregulation. The first study explored how disrupting the binding of free fatty acids (FFA) to circulating albumin affects lipid metabolism and glucose control. Male and female albumin knockout mice exhibited significantly reduced plasma FFA levels, hepatic lipid content, and blood glucose during tolerance tests compared to wild-type mice. Additionally, albumin deficiency led to changes in adipose tissue gene expression, indicating the importance of albumin and plasma FFA concentration in metabolic regulation. In the second study, the focus was on determining if impeding serum albumin's function in transporting FFAs could prevent hepatic steatosis and metabolic dysfunction in obesity. Albumin knockout mice, despite being obese due to a high-fat diet, showed lower plasma FFA levels, improved glucose tolerance, and reduced hepatic lipid accumulation compared to wild-type mice. Elevated gene expression in liver and adipose tissues suggested albumin's involvement in hepatic lipid accumulation and glucose metabolism in obesity. Lastly, in the third study, we examined the phenotype of heterozygous albumin knockout mice and compared it to wild-type and homozygous knockout mice. While homozygous knockout mice exhibited improved glucoregulation and reduced plasma FFA concentration, heterozygous knockout mice did not show significant improvements compared to wild-type mice. The findings imply that a minor suppression of albumin expression may not be adequate to enhance glucoregulation. In summary, the studies emphasize the crucial role of serum albumin in metabolic processes, illustrating how disrupting FFA binding to albumin leads to improved glucose control and reduced hepatic lipid accumulation. However, minor suppression of albumin expression may not effectively enhance metabolic health. These findings provide valuable insights into potential therapeutic interventions targeting the albumin-FFA pathway to improve metabolic outcomes.</p><p dir="ltr"><br></p>

To compare ultrasound-based acoustic structure quantification (ASQ) with established non-invasive techniques for grading and staging fatty liver disease.

A esteatose hepática é caracterizada histologicamente pelo acúmulo de triglicerídeos no citoplasma dos hepatócitos. A biópsia ainda é o padrão ouro para diagnóstico e avaliação da gravidade, no entanto, é um método invasivo e sujeita a erro de amostragem. Com os avanços dos métodos diagnósticos por imagem, a RM se tornou um método bem estabelecido para detecção e quantificação da esteatose. A maneira mais simples é a obtenção do cálculo da fração de gordura pela técnica gradiente-eco desvio químico. Todavia, não há estudos demonstrando a melhor forma de medir a intensidade de sinal para esse cálculo. Em nosso estudo, através da revisão de exames de RM, avaliamos três diferentes estratégias de medidas para quantificação com amostra de conveniência com 74 exames apresentando esteatose pareados em dois grupos, esteatose homogênea (n=37) e heterogênea (n=37). No grupo de esteatose heterogênea, o uso de ROI de 1cm² para medir a intensidade de sinal na área mais alterada apresentou variações significativas na quantificação, enquanto a média de quatro ROIs de 1cm² ou a segmentação de área representativa em corte axial não apresentaram variações significativas. Na esteatose hepática homogênea, qualquer estratégia utilizada não demonstrou diferença significativa. O coeficiente de correlação intraclasse variou entre 0,96 e 0,99, com IC 95% de 0,93-0,99. Assim, a quantificação da gordura hepática por RM utilizando apenas um ROI é menos representativa, principalmente na esteatose heterogênea. Não houve diferença significativa entre a obtenção da média de 4 ROIs e a segmentação de área representativa do parênquima. / Hepatic steatosis is characterized histologically by the triglyceride accumulation in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes. A biopsy is still considered the gold standard for diagnosis and assessment of severity, however, is an invasive and subject to sampling error method. With the improvement of diagnostic imaging methods, MRI has become a well-established method for the detection and quantification of liver fat. The easiest way is to obtain the calculation of the fat fraction by GRE technique with chemical shift technique. However, there are no studies demonstrating the best way to measure the signal intensity for this calculation. In our study by MRI review, we evaluate three different strategies for measuring the signal intensity with a convenience sample of 74 exams showing steatosis paired into two groups, diffuse steatosis (n = 37) and heterogeneous (n = 37). In heterogeneous steatosis group, the strategy with a ROI of 1 cm² to measure the signal intensity in the most altered area showed significant variations in the quantification, while the average of four ROIs of 1cm² or representative target area in axial section did not vary significant. In diffuse hepatic steatosis, any strategy used showed no significant difference. The intraclass correlation coefficient ranged between 0.96 and 0.99, with 95% of 0.93-0.99. Thus, the quantification of fat liver by MRI using only ROI is less representative, especially in heterogeneous steatosis. There was no significant difference between the average of 4 ROIs strategy and the strategy of representative segmentation area of parenchyma.

There are multiple immune mechanisms identified for persistence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. This thesis considers the vital role that inhibitory receptors play in contributing to impairment of the adaptive immune system in chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and the potential role they play in the innate immune system, focusing on the inhibitory receptor leucocyte-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor (LAIR)-1. The unique aspect of this work is that for the first time LAIR-1 expression has been investigated on natural killer (NK) cells in CHB. Our striking findings of increased LAIR-1 expression on peripheral NK cells in CHB and an inverse correlation between expression and effector function suggest this inhibitory receptor could have a potential role in exhaustion of NK cells in CHB. We therefore additionally explored the expression of LAIR-1 on circulating NK cells from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The particular relevance of LAIR-1 to liver disease is that one of its major ligands is collagen. We demonstrated a downregulation of LAIR-1 expression on intrahepatic NK cells, which we postulate might occur following repetitive engagement with abundant collagen within the liver. In line with this, intrahepatic NK cells with a liver-resident (CXCR6+) phenotype had even lower LAIR-1 expression than liver infiltrating (non-resident, CXCR6-) NK cells. Furthermore, preliminary experiments display attenuation of the cytotoxic degranulation capacity (CD107a) by circulating NK cells from CHB patients upon exposure to plate-bound collagen. We demonstrate differential expression of LAIR-1 on NK cells in viral hepatitis, HCC and NAFLD and between peripheral and intrahepatic NK cells. Preliminary experiments demonstrate a role in inhibiting NK cell function suggesting this as a novel therapeutic target to harness the capacity of NK cells to control chronic infection and cancer.

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.

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.

Orientador: Antonio Carlos Caramori / Resumo: A obesidade representa um dos maiores problemas de saúde pública no mundo e cursa com inúmeras complicações e comorbidades. As medidas de mudanças no estilo de vida, embora sejam as terapias mais duradouras, não têm conseguido resolver muitos casos, principalmente em pacientes com obesidade mórbida, onde a cirurgia bariátrica passa a ser uma opção no tratamento capaz de impedir a progressão de comorbidades. A DHGNA, uma das complicações da obesidade, tornou-se também preocupante, pois tem alta prevalência, potencial de progressão para doença hepática grave e associação com diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DM2), síndrome metabólica e doença cardíaca coronariana. O acompanhamento multiprofissional, principalmente nutricional, no pré e pós-operatório pode positivamente interferir sobre a ocorrência da DHGNA e suas complicações. O presente estudo avaliou a influência do acompanhamento com equipe multiprofissional sobre a evolução da DHGNA, com dados coletados dos prontuários de 76 pacientes do Ambulatório de Obesidade Mórbida do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu (HCFMB). A DHGNA foi observada por ecografia e biópsia hepática (em graus variados) nos pacientes submetidos à cirurgia bariátrica, cuja intensidade e frequência tiveram melhora no pós-operatório. Qualitativamente os registros da equipe demonstraram um atendimento humanizado que busca estratégias de aconselhamento, auxiliando o paciente nas mudanças do estilo de vida, porém, a atuação da mesma no serviço... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Obesity represents one of the major public health issues in the world and has a wide range of complications and comorbidities. The measures of lifestyle changes, even though they are the most long-lasting therapies, have not been able to solve many cases, mainly in patients with morbid obesity, where bariatric surgery becomes an option in the treatment able to prevent the progression of comorbidities. NAFLD, one of the complications of obesity, has also become a concern, as it has a high prevalence, a potential for progression to severe liver disease and association with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2), metabolic syndrome, and coronary heart disease. The multi-professional, mainly nutritional monitoring, both in the pre-and postoperative periods can positively interfere with the occurrence of NAFLD and its complications. The present study evaluated the influence of follow-up with the multi-professional team on the evolution of NAFLD, with data collected from the medical reports of 76 patients from the Morbid Obesity Outpatient Clinic of the Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu (HCFMB). NAFLD was observed by echography and liver biopsy (to varying degrees) in patients undergoing bariatric surgery, whose intensity and frequency had improvement in the postoperative period. Qualitatively, the team records have shown a humanized service which seeks counseling strategies, assisting the patient in lifestyle changes. However, its performance in the studied servic... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Orientador: Sergio Alberto Rupp de Paiva / Resumo: A doença hepática gordurosa não alcoólica (DHGNA) é um conjunto de desordens caracterizado pela esteatose macrovesicular no consumo de álcool insuficiente para causar lesão hepática. A disfunção do tecido adiposo e a alteração no padrão de citocinas têm de destacado no desenvolvimento da doença, especialmente a adiponectina, visfatina e resistina. Além disso, a vitamina D parece modular a expressão de citocinas, podendo influenciar o desenvolvimento da doença. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a associação das alterações histológica com a concentração sérica de adiponectina, visfatina, resistina e vitamina D em pacientes com DHGNA. Foram recrutados 82 pacientes com DHGNA. Foi realizada anamnese clinica e nutricional, avaliação antropométrica e de composição corporal, consumo alimentar, biomarcadores da DHGNA, dosagens séricas de adiponectina, visfatina, resistina, 25hidrovitamina D e biópsia hepática em todos os pacientes no intervalo de no máximo 3 meses. Foi observado na amostra 83% dos pacientes do sexo feminino, maioria branco,s 79% sedentários e 96% obesos. Verificamos associação da adiponectina como fator protetor para fibrose (OR:0,88; 95% CI0,78-1; p=0,05) e da visfatina como fator de risco para fibrose perisinusoidal (OR:2,66; 95% CI:1,3-5,44; p=0,007) e fibrose (OR:2,96; 95% CI1,19-7,35; p=0,02). Em relação à VD, observamos a presença de hipovitaminose D em 60% dos pacientes; com influência da concentração sérica de VD na visfatina como fator de proteção par... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a spectrum of disorders characterized by macrovesicular steatosis without enough alcohol to cause liver damage. The adipose tissue dysfunction and the adipokines pattern changes have been emphasized in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease development, especially adiponectin, resistin and visfatin. In addition, vitamin D may modulate the expression of adipokines, therefore influencing the disease development. The aim of the study was to evaluate the association of serum adiponectin, visfatin, resistin and vitamin D with histological changes in NAFLD patients. Thus, 82 NAFLD patients were enrolled. Nutritional and clinical anamneses, diet, physical activity, anthropometric parameters, a set of biomarkers related to NAFLD were evaluated within a range of 3 months. Out of the 82 patients, 83% were female, most of then whites, 79% sedentary and 96% obese. Adiponectin has been associated as a protective factor for fibrosis (OR: 0.88; 95% CI0,78-1; p = 0.05); while visfatin as a risk factor for perisinusoidal fibrosis (OR: 2.66; 95% CI : 1.3 to 5.44; p = 0.007) and fibrosis (OR: 2.96; 95% CI1,19-7,35; p = 0.02). Vitamin D deficiency was observed in 60% of patients. Vitamin D influences visfatin as a protective factor for non-alcoholic steato-hepatitis (NASH) (OR: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.73 to 0.979; p = 0.025) and resistin as a risk factor for lobular inflammation (OR: 1 13, 95% CI: 1-1.28; p = 0.051). Adipokines are associated with NAFLD hepatic... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

A esteatose hepática é caracterizada histologicamente pelo acúmulo de triglicerídeos no citoplasma dos hepatócitos. A biópsia ainda é o padrão ouro para diagnóstico e avaliação da gravidade, no entanto, é um método invasivo e sujeita a erro de amostragem. Com os avanços dos métodos diagnósticos por imagem, a RM se tornou um método bem estabelecido para detecção e quantificação da esteatose. A maneira mais simples é a obtenção do cálculo da fração de gordura pela técnica gradiente-eco desvio químico. Todavia, não há estudos demonstrando a melhor forma de medir a intensidade de sinal para esse cálculo. Em nosso estudo, através da revisão de exames de RM, avaliamos três diferentes estratégias de medidas para quantificação com amostra de conveniência com 74 exames apresentando esteatose pareados em dois grupos, esteatose homogênea (n=37) e heterogênea (n=37). No grupo de esteatose heterogênea, o uso de ROI de 1cm² para medir a intensidade de sinal na área mais alterada apresentou variações significativas na quantificação, enquanto a média de quatro ROIs de 1cm² ou a segmentação de área representativa em corte axial não apresentaram variações significativas. Na esteatose hepática homogênea, qualquer estratégia utilizada não demonstrou diferença significativa. O coeficiente de correlação intraclasse variou entre 0,96 e 0,99, com IC 95% de 0,93-0,99. Assim, a quantificação da gordura hepática por RM utilizando apenas um ROI é menos representativa, principalmente na esteatose heterogênea. Não houve diferença significativa entre a obtenção da média de 4 ROIs e a segmentação de área representativa do parênquima. / Hepatic steatosis is characterized histologically by the triglyceride accumulation in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes. A biopsy is still considered the gold standard for diagnosis and assessment of severity, however, is an invasive and subject to sampling error method. With the improvement of diagnostic imaging methods, MRI has become a well-established method for the detection and quantification of liver fat. The easiest way is to obtain the calculation of the fat fraction by GRE technique with chemical shift technique. However, there are no studies demonstrating the best way to measure the signal intensity for this calculation. In our study by MRI review, we evaluate three different strategies for measuring the signal intensity with a convenience sample of 74 exams showing steatosis paired into two groups, diffuse steatosis (n = 37) and heterogeneous (n = 37). In heterogeneous steatosis group, the strategy with a ROI of 1 cm² to measure the signal intensity in the most altered area showed significant variations in the quantification, while the average of four ROIs of 1cm² or representative target area in axial section did not vary significant. In diffuse hepatic steatosis, any strategy used showed no significant difference. The intraclass correlation coefficient ranged between 0.96 and 0.99, with 95% of 0.93-0.99. Thus, the quantification of fat liver by MRI using only ROI is less representative, especially in heterogeneous steatosis. There was no significant difference between the average of 4 ROIs strategy and the strategy of representative segmentation area of parenchyma.

Orientador: Gabriel Forato Anhê / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-21T11:57:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Silva_CarolinaSolonda_M.pdf: 587503 bytes, checksum: cd74a1063d709369d29c9a998e1cc9a4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / Resumo: A prevalência de esteato hepatite não alcólica (NASH) aumenta de 20% em indivíduos magros para 80% em pacientes obesos com inflamação hepática caracterizada por elevados níveis de TNF-alfa. Um dos eventos que caracteriza a evolução para NASH é a marcante morte de hepatóciotos resultante da ação do excesso de ácidos graxos livres circulantes. O mecanismo pelo qual o palmitato induz a apoptose é dependente, entre outros parâmetros, do aumento dos níveis de espécies reativas de oxigenio (EROS). O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar se a apoptose de hepatócitos induzida pelo palmitato é dependente do aumento da produção de TNF-alfa. Para testar tal hipótese, utilizamos o Infliximabe, um anticorpo monoclonal específico anti-TNF-alfa, como ferramenta farmacológica para reverter as injúrias provocadas pelo palmitato. Foi observado que após 6 horas de tratamento com o palmitato houve um aumento de expressão de mRNA de TNF-alfa levando a um aumento de apoptose 24 horas após à exposição com o ácido graxo. Este fenômeno concordou temporalmente com um aumento na fosforilação das proteínas IkK, IKbeta e JNK, indicativo de ativação da via de sinalização do TNF-alfa. A apoptose induzida pelo palmitato foi revertida pela adição de um inibidor geral de síntese proteica (Ciclohexamida) ou de um anticorpo neutralizante para o TNF-alfa circulante. Além disso, a produção de EROs e a disfunção mitocondrial induzidas pelo palmitato também foram revertidos por estas estratégias farmacológicas. Com base em tais resultados, concluímos que a apoptose, o acúmulo de EROs e da disfunção mitocondrial induzidas pelo palmitato em células HepG2 são dependentes da produção de TNF-alfa / Abstract: In the last three decades, the prevalence of overweight and obesity has been continuously increasing. Obesity is a risk factor for developing a series of diseases such as whole-body insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Adipose tissue, originally considered merely energy storage, today is recognized as an endocrine organ able of secreting a variety of cytokines, hormones and other substances with specific biological activities, such as saturated fatty acids. Both long chain saturated fatty acids, like palmitate, and the proinflammatory cytokines, as TNF-alfa, are known to activate signaling pathways that promote apoptosis. The mechanism by which the palmitate induces apoptosis is dependent on cell type, for example, human hepatocellular carcinoma line (HepG2) treated with palmitate led lipotoxicity and to increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate whether apoptosis in HepG2 cells is dependent on increased production of TNF-alfa induced by treatment with palmitate. To test this hypothesis, we used the Infliximab, a monoclonal antibody anti-TNF-alfa, as a pharmacological tool to reverse injuries caused by palmitate. We observed that palmitate increased the mRNA for TNF-alfa and phosphorylation of IkK, Ikbeta and JNK, all indicative of activation of inflammatory signaling pathways. Apoptosis induced by palmitate was suppressed by simultaneous treatment with cycloheximide or infliximab. Furthermore, the production of ROS and mitochondrial dysfunction induced by palmitate were also suppressed by these two pharmacological strategies. Based on these results, we conclude that apoptosis and related events such as increased ROS production and mitochondrial dysfunction induced by palmitate in HepG2 cells are dependent on autocrine action of TNF--alfa / Mestrado / Farmacologia / Mestra em Farmacologia