scholarly journals Obesity: epigenetic aspects

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 145-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prashant Kaushik ◽  
James T. Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Lifestyle Changes ◽  
The Body ◽  
Lifestyle Choices ◽  
Early Life Conditions ◽  
Pair Sequence ◽  
Developmental Exposures ◽  
Affect Gene Expression ◽  
Made In

AbstractEpigenetics, defined as inheritable and reversible phenomena that affect gene expression without altering the underlying base pair sequence has been shown to play an important role in the etiopathogenesis of obesity. Obesity is associated with extensive gene expression changes in tissues throughout the body. Epigenetics is emerging as perhaps the most important mechanism through which the lifestyle-choices we make can directly influence the genome. Considerable epidemiological, experimental and clinical data have been amassed showing that the risk of developing disease in later life is dependent on early life conditions, mainly operating within the normative range of developmental exposures. In addition to the ‘maternal’ interactions, there has been increasing interest in the epigenetic mechanisms through which ‘paternal’ influences on offspring development can be achieved. Nutrition, among many other environmental factors, is a key player that can induce epigenetic changes not only in the directly exposed organisms but also in subsequent generations through the transgenerational inheritance of epigenetic traits. Overall, significant progress has been made in the field of epigenetics and obesity and the first potential epigenetic markers for obesity that could be detected at birth have been identified. Fortunately, epigenetic phenomena are dynamic and rather quickly reversible with intensive lifestyle changes. This is a very promising and sustainable resolution to the obesity pandemic.

scholarly journals Which College Students Are at Higher Health Risk?

2008 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcia H. Magnus
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Health Risk ◽  
Lifestyle Changes ◽  
The Body ◽  
Black College ◽  
Physiological Age ◽  
Chronological Age ◽  
Positive Real ◽  
Health Risk Appraisal ◽  
Lifestyle Choices

An electronic health risk appraisal was used to determine which demographic factors were associated with higher health risk among college students at an urban state university. Students’ real age was assessed as the primary indicator of health risk and it was associated to demographic characteristics. Real age represents the physiological age of the body based on lifestyle choices, and this is often different to chronological age. Approximately 26.0% of 576 students were more than 5 years older than their chronological age, 29.8% were 0 to 5 years older, 29.8% were 0 to 5 years younger, and 14.1% were more than 5 years younger than their chronological age. Students who were male, Black, and nonnutrition majors had significantly higher positive real age differentials: their bodies were more likely to be more than 5 years older than their chronological age. Students with significantly lower negative real age differential—those whose real age was lower than their chronological age—were female and nutrition majors. Students were significantly more likely to report that they were “very motivated” if they were female (88.6%), compared with male (66.7%). These data suggest that when health disparities are assessed at the level of real age differential and motivation to make lifestyle changes, male Black college students are at highest health risk and they are less likely to be “very motivated” to make lifestyle changes than their peers.

scholarly journals The growing years and prevention of osteoporosis in later life

2000 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 303-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Connie M. Weaver
Keyword(s):  
Bone Mass ◽  
Peak Bone Mass ◽  
Weight Bearing ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Adolescent Females ◽  
The Body ◽  
Risk Of Fracture ◽  
Skeletal Mass ◽  
Lifestyle Choices ◽  
Prevention Of Osteoporosis

Ca is the major mineral in bone, and 99 % of the Ca in the body resides in the skeleton. Skeletal mass is a determinant of risk of fracture in childhood as well as adulthood. Over 40 % of adult peak bone mass is acquired during adolescence. This period is when lifestyle choices, including ensuring adequate dietary Ca, regular weight-bearing exercise and avoiding hormonal insufficiency, are especially important. Current Ca intakes for adolescent females are woefully inadequate.

scholarly journals Epigenetics of obesity

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 2632
Author(s):  
O. M. Drapkina ◽  
O. T. Kim
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Deoxyribonucleic Acid ◽  
Fat Distribution ◽  
Epigenetic Modifications ◽  
Lifestyle Changes ◽  
Epigenetic Mechanisms ◽  
Epigenetic Changes ◽  
Critical Periods ◽  
Affect Gene Expression

The pathophysiology of obesity is complex and includes changes in eating behavior, genetic, epigenetic, environmental factors, and much more. To date, ~40 genetic polymorphisms are associated with obesity and fat distribution. However, since these options do not fully explain the inheritance of obesity, other options, such as epigenetic changes, need to be considered. Epigenetic modifications affect gene expression without changing the deoxyribonucleic acid sequence. In addition, environmental exposure during critical periods of development can affect the epigenetic tags and lead to obesity. A deeper understanding of the epigenetic mechanisms underlying obesity can aid in prevention based on lifestyle changes. This review focuses on the role of epigenetic modifications in the development of obesity and related conditions.

Do the microRNAs we eat affect gene expression?

Nature ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 582 (7812) ◽  
pp. S10-S11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristina Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Affect Gene Expression

Anti-Diabetic and Angio-Protective Effect of Guluronic Acid (G2013) as a New Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug in the Experimental Model of Diabetes

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 446-452
Author(s):  
Seyed S. Mortazavi-Jahromi ◽  
Shahab Alizadeh ◽  
Mohammad H. Javanbakht ◽  
Abbas Mirshafiey
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Blood Glucose ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Experimental Model ◽  
Serum Insulin ◽  
Fasting Blood Glucose ◽  
Diabetic Control ◽  
The Body ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Guluronic Acid

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effects of guluronic acid (G2013) on blood sugar, insulin, and gene expression profile of oxLDL receptors (SR-A, CD36, LOX-1, and CD68) in the experimental model of diabetes. Methods: 18 Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to three groups of healthy control, diabetic control, and G2013 group. Diabetes was induced through intraperitoneal (IP) injection of 60 mg/kg streptozotocin. The subjects were IP treated with 25 mg/kg of G2013 per day for 28 days. The body weight, food intake, fasting blood glucose and insulin were measured. In addition, the expression of mentioned genes was investigated through quantitative real-time PCR. Results: The data showed that the final weight increased significantly in the G2013-treated subjects compared to the diabetic control (p < 0.05). The results indicated that final food intake significantly reduced in the G2013-treated subjects compared to the diabetic control (p < 0.05). The study findings also suggested that the final fasting blood glucose significantly reduced in the G2013-treated group, whereas the final fasting serum insulin level significantly increased in this group compared to the diabetic control (p < 0.05). Moreover, the gene expression levels of SR-A, CD36, LOX-1, and CD68 in the G2013 group significantly reduced compared to the diabetic control (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that G2013, could reduce blood glucose and increase insulin levels and reduce the gene expression level of oxLDL receptors. In addition, it may probably play an important role in reducing the severity of diabetes-induced inflammatory symptoms.

Phenotypic plasticity

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen D. Williams ◽  
Marla B. Sokolowski
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Environmental Change ◽  
Behavioral Plasticity ◽  
Behavioral Flexibility ◽  
Insect Behavior ◽  
Behavioral Variability ◽  
Gene By Environment Interactions ◽  
Affect Gene Expression

Why is there so much variation in insect behavior? This chapter will address the sources of behavioral variability, with a particular focus on phenotypic plasticity. Variation in social, nutritional, and seasonal environmental contexts during development and adulthood can give rise to phenotypic plasticity. To delve into mechanism underlying behavioral flexibility in insects, examples of polyphenisms, a type of phenotypic plasticity, will be discussed. Selected examples reveal that environmental change can affect gene expression, which in turn can affect behavioral plasticity. These changes in gene expression together with gene-by-environment interactions are discussed to illuminate our understanding of insect behavioral plasticity.

Introduction

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nora Goldschmidt ◽  
Barbara Graziosi
Keyword(s):  
Material Culture ◽  
The Body ◽  
Specific Site ◽  
Entire Volume ◽  
The Third ◽  
Religious Significance ◽  
Classical Poetry ◽  
Life Of The Mind ◽  
The Mind ◽  
Made In

The Introduction sheds light on the reception of classical poetry by focusing on the materiality of the poets’ bodies and their tombs. It outlines four sets of issues, or commonplaces, that govern the organization of the entire volume. The first concerns the opposition between literature and material culture, the life of the mind vs the apprehensions of the body—which fails to acknowledge that poetry emerges from and is attended to by the mortal body. The second concerns the religious significance of the tomb and its location in a mythical landscape which is shaped, in part, by poetry. The third investigates the literary graveyard as a place where poets’ bodies and poetic corpora are collected. Finally, the alleged ‘tomb of Virgil’ provides a specific site where the major claims made in this volume can be most easily be tested.

scholarly journals Lifestyle Changes and Determinants of Children’s and Adolescents’ Body Weight Increase during the First COVID-19 Lockdown in Greece: The COV-EAT Study

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 930
Author(s):  
Odysseas Androutsos ◽  
Maria Perperidi ◽  
Christos Georgiou ◽  
Giorgos Chouliaras
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Lifestyle Changes ◽  
The Body ◽  
Weight Increase ◽  
Lifestyle Behaviors ◽  
Lifestyle Habits ◽  
Body Weight Increase

Previous studies showed that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown imposed changes in adults’ lifestyle behaviors; however, there is limited information regarding the effects on youth. The COV-EAT study aimed to report changes in children’s and adolescents’ lifestyle habits during the first COVID-19 lockdown and explore potential associations between changes of participants’ lifestyle behaviors and body weight. An online survey among 397 children/adolescents and their parents across 63 municipalities in Greece was conducted in April–May 2020. Parents self-reported changes of their children’s lifestyle habits and body weight, as well as sociodemographic data of their family. The present study shows that during the lockdown, children’s/adolescents’ sleep duration and screen time increased, while their physical activity decreased. Their consumption of fruits and fresh fruit juices, vegetables, dairy products, pasta, sweets, total snacks, and breakfast increased, while fast-food consumption decreased. Body weight increased in 35% of children/adolescents. A multiple regression analysis showed that the body weight increase was associated with increased consumption of breakfast, salty snacks, and total snacks and with decreased physical activity. The COV-EAT study revealed changes in children’s and adolescents’ lifestyle behaviors during the first COVID-19 lockdown in Greece. Effective strategies are needed to prevent excessive body weight gain in future COVID-19 lockdowns.

scholarly journals Concerted genomic and epigenomic changes accompany stabilization of Arabidopsis allopolyploids

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (10) ◽  
pp. 1382-1393
Author(s):  
Xinyu Jiang ◽  
Qingxin Song ◽  
Wenxue Ye ◽  
Z. Jeffrey Chen
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Small Rnas ◽  
Structural Variation ◽  
Self Incompatibility ◽  
Polyploid Evolution ◽  
Genomic Variations ◽  
Conserved Gene ◽  
Arabidopsis Suecica ◽  
Affect Gene Expression

AbstractDuring evolution successful allopolyploids must overcome ‘genome shock’ between hybridizing species but the underlying process remains elusive. Here, we report concerted genomic and epigenomic changes in resynthesized and natural Arabidopsis suecica (TTAA) allotetraploids derived from Arabidopsisthaliana (TT) and Arabidopsisarenosa (AA). A. suecica shows conserved gene synteny and content with more gene family gain and loss in the A and T subgenomes than respective progenitors, although A. arenosa-derived subgenome has more structural variation and transposon distributions than A. thaliana-derived subgenome. These balanced genomic variations are accompanied by pervasive convergent and concerted changes in DNA methylation and gene expression among allotetraploids. The A subgenome is hypomethylated rapidly from F1 to resynthesized allotetraploids and convergently to the T-subgenome level in natural A. suecica, despite many other methylated loci being inherited from F1 to all allotetraploids. These changes in DNA methylation, including small RNAs, in allotetraploids may affect gene expression and phenotypic variation, including flowering, silencing of self-incompatibility and upregulation of meiosis- and mitosis-related genes. In conclusion, concerted genomic and epigenomic changes may improve stability and adaptation during polyploid evolution.

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